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Nigeria’s future will be great, Osinbajo predicts at independence anniversary service

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The future of Nigeria will be far more glorious and peaceful than its past, and the nation’s lights will shine bright, with opportunities, equity, justice, and righteousness, despite Its Challenges, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo predicted

Professor Osinbajo made this prediction on Sunday at the 62nd Independence Day anniversary service, which held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

The Vice President, who brought warm greetings from President Muhammadu Buhari to the congregation, declared that “every year will be happier for you, more glorious, more prosperous and more peaceful, in Jesus’ name.”

The Vice president who was quoted as saying in a press statement by his media aide, Laolu Akande, said: “We stand at the gates of a new nation. And we see its lights shining bright,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, “The nation of God’s promises.

“A nation of opportunities, of equity and justice, a secure and prosperous nation, a nation of laws and righteousness. Even if what we see today seems bleak and dark, we are confident that God who owns the heavens and the earth will fulfil His promises concerning this nation.”

He said in a few days, we will celebrate the 62nd birthday of Nigeria. But Nigeria is not a natural person, it is made up of people, of men, women and children who are Nigerians.

“So, when we say that celebrate the birthday of Nigeria, we are in fact celebrating the birthday of the Nigerian people wherever they may be in this great and vast nation.”

So, every prayer and every blessing that we pronounce today on Nigeria, we also pronounce on every Nigerian and all our friends.

“So, this evening I will pray for Nigeria and the Nigerian people. My favourite prayer for people on their birthday is found in Deuteronomy 33.25(b): “as your days, so shall your strength be.”

“What does this prayer mean: as your days so shall your strength be? It means the older you become, the stronger you will be in various ways”

“For the average person, as you grow older you become slower and less fruitful and even barren. But the Word of God to Nigeria today is that it shall not be so with you.

Even as you grow in age, you will be more fruitful. You will not be weaker with age. And for every Nigerian, you will be more fruitful as you grow in age, and you will be stronger day by day in Jesus’ name.

The Word of God says in Psalms 92:13-14: it says: “those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” That shall be so for you and all you hold dear in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus.”

“Another implication of the blessing: ‘as your days so shall your strength be,’ is that every day, God’s promises will be renewed in your life. God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you; And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

“Let me repeat these blessings for Nigeria, and for you who are here, and every Nigerian because God added in that promise that in Abraham, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

So, you will be a great nation, and God will bless you, and anyone who blesses you will be blessed, those who curse you will be cursed; and through you, this nation and the world will be blessed, in the mighty name of Jesus”

Read the full remarks of the Vice President at the anniversary service below:

I bring you all the warm felicitations of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, on this occasion of the interdenominational service to mark the 62nd Independence Anniversary of our Republic.

Let me also congratulate His Eminence, Dr Daniel C. Okoh, the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and all the new members of the Executive of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). I pray that your tenure will bring blessings, light and encouragement to our nation in Jesus’ name.

In a few days, we will celebrate the 62nd birthday of Nigeria. But Nigeria is not a natural person, it is made up of people, of men, women and children who are Nigerians.

So, when we say that celebrate the birthday of Nigeria, we are in fact celebrating the birthday of the Nigerian people wherever they may be in this great and vast nation.

So, every prayer and every blessing that we pronounce today on Nigeria, we also pronounce on every Nigerian and all our friends.

So, this evening I will pray for Nigeria and the Nigerian people. My favourite prayer for people on their birthday is found in Deuteronomy 33.25(b): “as your days, so shall your strength be.”

What does this prayer mean: as your days so shall your strength be? It means the older you become, the stronger you will be in various ways.

The first is that you will become physically stronger and healthier as you grow older, in Jesus’ name. The Bible says in Deuteronomy 34:7, it says that Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died. And his eyes were not dim, nor his natural vigour diminished.

For the average person, as you grow older you become slower and less fruitful and even barren. But the Word of God to Nigeria today is that it shall not be so with you.

Even as you grow in age, you will be more fruitful. You will not be weaker with age. And for every Nigerian, you will be more fruitful as you grow in age, and you will be stronger day by day in Jesus’ name.

The Word of God says in Psalms 92:13-14: it says: “those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” That shall be so for you and all you hold dear in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus.

Another implication of the blessing: ‘as your days so shall your strength be,’ is that every day, God’s promises will be renewed in your life. God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you; And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

Let me repeat these blessings for Nigeria, and for you who are here, and every Nigerian because God added in that promise that in Abraham, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

So, you will be a great nation, and God will bless you, and anyone who blesses you will be blessed, those who curse you will be cursed; and through you, this nation and the world will be blessed, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Yet another implication of this blessing: as your days so shall your strength be, is that every day, every month, every year, you will be greater, better, happier, more prosperous, and more joyful than the previous one.

And concerning this nation, the Word of God says in Haggai 2:9: “The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place, I will give peace’ (in this nation, I will give peace), says the Lord of hosts.”

The future of Nigeria will be far more glorious, more peaceful than her past, and so it shall be for you too. Every year will be happier for you, more glorious, more prosperous and more peaceful, in Jesus’ name,

“As your days so shall your strength be.”

Another implication of this blessing is that your strength physically, mentally and spiritually and even financially will be sufficient and adequate for every new season, every new situation and every new challenge. You will have more than you need for every new season in your life in Jesus’ name.

Brethren, we stand at the gates of a new nation, and we see its lights shining bright. The nation of God’s promises; a nation of opportunities, of equity and justice, a secure and prosperous nation, a nation of laws and righteousness.

Even if what we see today seems bleak, and dark, we are confident that God who owns the heavens and the earth will fulfil His promises concerning this nation. Indeed, He says in Joshua 21:45: “not a word failed, of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”

And we pronounce concerning this nation, that not a word will fail regarding any good thing which the Lord had spoken to Nigeria. All will come to pass in Jesus’ name.

Finally, to every citizen of this nation, and every family that is represented here, we declare that in the name of Jesus, your best days are yet to come. Every promise that God has made to you will come to pass in Jesus’ mighty name.

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Yahaya Bello: Court orders EFCC boss, Olukoyede to appear over alleged contempt

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A Kogi High Court in Lokoja on Friday ordered the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, to appear before it on May 13 to show why he should not be committed for allegedly disobeying its order.

Justice I.A. Jamil of High Court IV gave the order while ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, brought before him by ex-Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi in Lokoja.

“The said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act.

“That same act of the respondent amounts to contempt, ” the judge said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for allegedly carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the court on Feb. 9, pending the determination of the substantive originating motion.

EFCC operatives had on April 17 laid siege on the residence of the former governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in a bid to arrest him, in spite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the originating motion.

Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf.

Bello prayed the court for an order to issue and serve the respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of Committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

“The Judge, after listening to the arguments of the applicant’s counsel, the submission and exhibits attached in the written address, granted Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.

“The applicant’s application before me is to the effect that the respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this court on Feb. 9, pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice before this court.

“That the said act was carried out by the respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same act of the respondent amounts to act of contempt.

“It’s against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem”  (listen to the other side).

“This matter is adjourned to May 13 for the respondent’s chairman to appear before this court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him,” the Judge said.

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Tinubu appoints heads of NESREA, NDRBDA

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Innocent Barikor as the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

The President also approved the appointment of Prince Ebitimi Amgbare as the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority (NDRBDA).

Barikor is an academic, politician and a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2015, while Prince Amgbare is a retired naval officer and former commissioner in Bayelsa.

He said that the President expected that the new heads of these important agencies to discharge their duties with utmost fidelity to the nation.

Ngelale also stated that the President called on the new appointees to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and excellent service to the people of Nigeria.

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NCP approves recommendation to reposition BOA

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By Matthew Denis

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has given its nod to the recommendations aimed at repositioning the Bank of Industry (BOA) to ensure food security for Nigerians.

Chaired by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the NCP approved the recommendations from the committee on BOA during its second meeting of 2024 held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President emphasized the importance of optimizing BOA as part of the administration’s agenda to provide food security for the nation. He urged the committee to engage professionals with integrity to manage the process effectively.

Presenting the committee’s report, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who is also the Vice-chairman of the NCP, highlighted the decision to reposition BOA for efficiency and effectiveness. He expressed confidence that the recommendations would guide the Council in revitalizing the Bank of Agriculture and positioning it globally.

One of the Key recommendations includes upgrading the Bank’s ICT infrastructure to automate processes and ensure accountability.

Recall that in 2023, an 8-member inter-ministerial team was set up by the NCP to review the state of affairs at BOA, given its critical role in agriculture and the administration’s commitment to food security. Additionally, in 2016, the NCP approved collaboration between the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, along with the Federal Ministry of Finance, to restructure and recapitalize BOA.

Established in 1972, BOA, formerly known as Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank, is owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) holding 60% and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holding 40%.

The Bank is supervised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).

BOA’s authorized share capital was increased in 2022 from N50 billion to N500 billion to facilitate its repositioning.

The committee, comprising the Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy as Chairman, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Governor of CBN, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Mr. Mohammed Mustapha Bintube, Chairman of the Technical Committee of the NCP, Chairman of the Legal Committee of NCP, and Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) as the secretary, worked diligently to arrive at these recommendations.

In another development, the NCP also noted a proposal for the establishment of an independent system operator from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to enhance efficiency in the nation’s power sector.

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