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‘I’ll Improve Security, Revive Dead Industries’ —— Tinubu Presents Action Plan To Business Leaders

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Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says his administration would revive Nigeria’s dead industries if elected in 2023.

 

Tinubu said this during his town hall meeting with the business community and organised private sector on Tuesday in Lagos.

 

At the meeting, the APC presidential candidate laid out his action plan before the business leaders, while he noted that his administration will target double-digit gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

 

In a statement by Tunde Rahman, Tinubu’s media aide, business leaders at the event include Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group; Jim Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank; Tony Elumelu, chairman of UBA; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, former chief executive of Access Bank; Herbert Wigwe, group chief executive of Access Bank, among others.

 

Tinubu said having achieved similar economic success as Lagos state governor, he has the capacity to repeat the same in the country as president.

 

“Lagos is an appropriate venue for this meeting. You may have heard that I was once governor of this dynamic economic force,” Tinubu said.

 

“However, may I remind you that when I first entered the office, Lagos was a different story. My team and I developed a blueprint, a master plan, for Lagos. I can say that plan has been largely successful.

 

“We turned this state into a safer, more prosperous place where people can go about any legitimate vocation or venture regardless of their ethnicity, religion, region, or prior social status. We did more than open Lagos for business. We opened the door for all Nigeria to join and experience the decent things progressive democratic governance can bring.

 

“We were not perfect but we did a lot. In doing so, we worked hand in hand with the business community as partners sharing the same goals of prosperity and renewed hope. Well, as you might have heard at some point recently, I now stand before you, seeking a bigger yet similar job.”

 

The APC presidential candidate called on the business community to join hands with him to achieve his plans, stating that a viable economy requires collaboration between the political and business communities.

 

Tinubu said the nation needs to move from dependence on exporting its raw materials to nations that sell the finished products at exorbitant prices to one that refines its raw materials for upward export itself.

 

Tinubu further itemised his administration’s plans to build on the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

 

These, he said, include reviving dead industries, promoting agriculture, providing power, producing and using made-in-Nigeria goods, building infrastructure, and improving the country’s security.

 

“I have saved the single most important point for last. May I conclude with my thoughts on security? We shall continue the fight against insecurity by redefining our counterinsurgency doctrine and practice,” the presidential candidate said.

 

“Our response to terror, kidnapping, and violent criminality will be defined by the following elements. We shall enlist more people in the armed forces, security services and the police. Our forces will be given better tactical communications, and mobility as well as improved aerial and ground surveillance capacity.

 

“Through these and other measures, we shall better identify, monitor, track, and defeat these evil groups where they are. They shall have no respite until they surrender or are utterly defeated”.

BIG STORY

US Agency To Probe Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ System After Pedestrian’s Death

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The US government is set to launch an investigation into Tesla’s “full self-driving” system following reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions and the death of a pedestrian.

According to international media, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made the announcement on Thursday, citing incidents where multiple Tesla vehicles encountered poor visibility environments, including sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.

In addition to the pedestrian’s death, another crash resulted in an injury, the agency stated.

Investigators will examine the capability of “full self-driving” to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes.”

The NHTSA said the probe will cover approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from the 2016 to 2024 model years.

The agency also plans to determine whether any other similar crashes involving “full self-driving” have occurred under low visibility conditions.

The NHTSA is also seeking information from Tesla regarding any updates to the system that may have influenced its performance in these environments.

“In particular, his review will assess the timing, purpose and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact,” the agency said.

Tesla has already recalled “full self-driving” twice following investigations by the NHTSA, which in July gathered information from law enforcement and the company after a motorcyclist was struck and killed by a Tesla using the system near Seattle.

Reports from the Associated Press indicated the recalls were due to the system being programmed to run stop signs at low speeds and other violations of traffic laws.

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Students Set Kebbi College Provost’s Residence Ablaze Over Alleged Extortion

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Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have “set the residence of the Provost, Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, on fire” and “vandalised his vehicle.”

The protest began due to allegations that the college management “extorted N23m from the students” for “index registration for 250 graduating students.”

According to a source, the controversy started with a newly introduced Public Health programme initially affiliated with the Reproductive Health and the Public Health Association of Nigeria.

The college then merged the programme with the Department of Environmental Health, leading to a demand for an additional “N65,000 from each student for index registration,” on top of the “N30,000 already paid.”

In response to the allegations of extortion, the students resorted to violent actions, including “stoning vehicles and setting the provost’s residence on fire.”

Several staff members fled before security personnel arrived.

The provost, Saidu-Sauwa, described the allegations as “fictitious, baseless and mischievous,” denying any involvement in extorting students.

He stated that the college uses a “Single Treasury Account” where all funds are deposited, and “no one has access to the account, including me.”

He further claimed that the protest was fueled by an anonymous source attempting to discredit the college, urging students and staff to “exercise restraint” while the cause of the unrest is fully investigated.

Following the intervention of security agencies, normalcy has returned to the college.

The Kebbi State Police Command indicated that more details will be provided after a report from the Divisional Police Officer in Jega is available.

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Army Seeks Nigerians’ Support In War Against Terrorism, Says “We Can’t Do It Alone”

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The Nigerian army has urged the public to provide support in the fight against terrorism. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, noted that Nigeria is facing “asymmetric warfare” with non-state actors operating in various parts of the country.

In a video message on Friday, Musa emphasized that while the army is dedicated to restoring peace, success requires a “whole-of-society approach.”

He mentioned that Nigeria has a significant history of peacekeeping efforts both in Africa and internationally. Musa outlined the country’s current security challenges, including “Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast,” “banditry in the northwest,” “pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in the south-south,” and IPOB’s push for “secession” in the southeast.

Despite these ongoing issues, the armed forces are fully committed to ensuring peace across the nation. Musa also highlighted efforts to enhance “troop welfare” and training, aimed at creating a sense of normalcy in markets, schools, and the economy, especially in affected regions.

He reassured Nigerians that the military is a professional force focused on fulfilling its mission to restore “peace and security.” Musa urged the public to continue supporting the “government, the armed forces, and other security agencies” in this effort.

He concluded by stating, “We cannot do it alone… Together, we will succeed.”

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