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Police To Investigate MC Oluomo Over Inciting Statement

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As part of measures to ensure a hitch-free governorship and House of Assembly elections, the Lagos Police Command has commenced investigations on the alleged threat issued by Chairman, Lagos State Parks Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, against voters that have decided they will not cast their votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the exercise across the state.

It noted that MC Oluomo and others that have made inciteful statements before, during, and after elections would be investigated and anyone found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015.

The Command said that no one would be allowed to intimidate as well as harass electorates, preventing them from casting their votes freely without being under duress during the elections scheduled for March 18th in Lagos.

MC Oluomo, in a viral video, was said to have allegedly threatened that any Igbo people and other non-indigenes living in Lagos should shelve the idea of voting during the poll if they would not vote for APC.

In the video that has gone viral on different social media platforms, MC Oluomo said, “Please tell them, we have begged them. If they don’t vote for us, it is not a fight. Tell them that Chukwudi’s mother, if you don’t vote for us, sit down at home. Do you understand? Sit down at home.”

The Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, disclosed the ongoing investigations on Friday while responding to plans already put in place by the command to prevent a breakdown of law and order during exercises across the state.

Owohunwa, who condemned the statement, added that the Cybercrimes Unit of the Command has commenced an immediate and comprehensive investigation into various incendiary and inciting videos making the rounds on social media in relation to the 2023 general elections.

He said: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms any act, statement, or an action that could be interpreted as hate speech or that could be interpreted as deepening political tension regardless of the brain that might be behind it. With regards to this specific video you mentioned, it is currently a subject of a detailed investigation.”

The police boss, meanwhile, assured Lagosians that the brains and motives behind the videos would be unmasked and those found culpable dealt with in accordance with the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015.

According to him, the outcome of the investigation on those that have made inciteful comments would be made public in the interest of transparency and public accountability.

Owohunwa also warned all those brewing violence in the state should desist or face the full wrath of the law, adding that the law enforcement agents will not spare any lawbreaker.

While the investigative process is advancing, Owohunwa urged voters to disregard the videos and proceed to exercise their franchise as adequate and improved security has been emplaced at various polling units and collation centres across the state.

“Of course, we are deploying our cyber security access to solve that. And, I can assure you that nobody is above the law. This country is regulated. Anybody that tries to use his position, or his influence on others to deepen hate, or engender political tension which could, of course, snowball into violence, it remains the responsibility and the mandate of the Nigeria Police to investigate such cases.

“This specific one you mentioned will not be in isolation. It is already a subject of review. And it will be in the interest of the actors behind it and all others that might wish to also engage in such ill-informed, indirect action to be very careful, to be firmly warned because in the fullness of time, the full law will take its course and it will be not different in this instance if established,” Owohunwa added.

BIG STORY

Lawmaker’s Bid To Revoke Airstrip Licences Is Lack Of Aviation Knowledge — Aviation Minister Keyamo

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has referred to the attempt by a member of the House of Representatives to revoke the licences of certain airstrips in the country as “a lack of understanding of the aviation industry.”

Addressing the concerns raised by the lawmaker on his X handle on Saturday, Keyamo explained that the House of Representatives as a whole had not requested the revocation of any private airstrip licences.

This clarification followed calls by some lawmakers, particularly in the House of Representatives, for the revocation of airstrip licences belonging to certain individuals and private organisations, citing security reasons.

A member of the House of Representatives, Sulaiman Abubakar, argued that the frequent approval of airstrips for private individuals could exacerbate the country’s security challenges.

However, responding to the lawmakers’ move, Keyamo then educated the public on the operations of the aviation sector regarding licence approvals.

“I think this is not correct. The House of Reps. as a body did not call on the Minister to revoke the licence of any private airstrip. I think what happened is that someone moved a motion in that regard and it was unanimously referred to the Aviation Committee to look into it.

“Whilst the intention of the Hon. Member who moved it is very patriotic, it was based on a complete lack of knowledge of the aviation sector. By the time we explain to them how private air strips work and the processes they undergo by our agencies before the final approval, they will be satisfied.

“The responsibility of the owners of private air strips is just to build the runway and terminal building. But after they build the control tower in particular, it is completely handed over to the Federal Government through NAMA (Nigerian Airspace Management Agency) which is in complete control of the entire airspace in Nigeria.

“An MOU is usually signed with NAMA in this regard before the airstrip is approved for operations. It is NAMA that provides the Air Traffic Controllers and Engineers in ALL AIRPORTS and AIRSTRIPS IN NIGERIA. And the private airstrip owners pay the Federal Government handsomely for these services.

“No object flies into Nigeria without the prior clearance by NAMA and without filing a clear flight plan, eg, where it is taking off from and where it intends to land. And I have recently directed that all aircraft coming into the country MUST first land at our international airports where they would be properly processed and checked before they make their local flights into whatever airport or airstrip they intend to go.

“So, it is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY impossible for any private airstrip owner to just jump on an aircraft and fly in and out of the country through that facility. The Federal Government does not permit that.

“You will not be cleared for take off or landing without prior request and authorisation. I thank the Member for his patriotism, but I wish he contacted us first to explain to him before rushing to move such a motion. I attach herewith for public consumption the NAMA Act that gives exclusive control of the Nigerian airspace to the Federal Government through NAMA,” he said.

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Nigeria SMEs Get A Boost As Afreximbank, Woodhall Sign $25 Million Facility To Support Export Businesses

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Woodhall Capital, a financial Services firm, has signed a $25 million loan facility with the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank) to provide a support vehicle for Nigerian SMEs entering export markets.

The signing ceremony took place during the inaugural Afreximbank SME Development Workshop and Stakeholder Engagement Programme, themed “Nurturing African SMEs: Bridging the Barriers to Export”, currently ongoing at the prestigious Zinnia Hall, Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos.

While declaring the workshop—attended by over 400 stakeholders—open, the Executive Vice President of Intra-African Trade & Export Development (IAED) at Afreximbank, Kanayo Awani, noted that the event is a call for Nigerian SMEs to be champions of trade that accelerate development in Africa.

“This event, held in collaboration with Woodhall Capital, aims to develop the capacity of SMEs, the backbone of Africa’s economy. It’s not just about nurturing SMEs; we’re also looking to identify financial institutions that can better serve SMEs,” she said.

In Africa, SMEs account for 90% of business activity, and studies indicate that they also represent an average of 60% of total formal employment in developed and developing countries.

Stressing the importance of the collaboration with the financial advisory firm, Awani disclosed that around 60% of SMEs struggle with access to finance.

“SMEs in Africa still face significant obstacles to growth and prosperity, as only a small fraction venture into the export market, and even fewer have sustained long-term success. Bridging these barriers can empower SMEs to thrive on a continental and global scale. Access to affordable, appropriate finance is consistently cited as a major obstacle for SMEs.

“Over the past year, Afreximbank has provided capacity-building and market access support to around three thousand SMEs across 34 countries.”

According to Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, represented by the Executive Director of MSMEs at the Bank of Industry, Alhaji Shekarau Umar, out of the 58 African countries, 39 do not have populations exceeding 39 million.

“So if, in Nigeria, we have SMEs alone totalling 39 million, it means that selecting Nigeria to launch the inaugural workshop is both deliberate and significant. We believe that Afreximbank’s interventions will enable African SMEs to overcome barriers to cross-border trade.

“I urge you all to go beyond the traditional issues SMEs face, like access to funds, and start discussing access to markets and capacity. We must understand that the funds provided to SMEs, if not accompanied by capacity-building, will be wasted,” Dr. Uzoka-Anite said.

Other notable speakers addressing stakeholders at the workshop included the Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, Oluranti Doherty; the Governor of Nigeria’s apex bank, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, represented by Director of Risk Management at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Blaise Ijebor; and the Head of SME Development at Afreximbank, Ody Akhanoba.

The US Consul General, Will Stevens, represented by the Managing Director of Trade at Prosper Africa, Daniele Jean-Pierre, and the founder of Oriki Group, Fola Olowu, also participated, discussing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

In addition to various presentations equipping over 400 Nigerian SMEs with tools for scaling up and succeeding in export, panel discussions addressed creating an enabling environment for sustainable growth and facilitating access to finance for African SMEs, with input from industry leaders across sectors.

Discussing the role of Woodhall Capital in enabling financial institutions, governments, and SMEs to access funding, the founder of the financial advisory firm, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, shared how the firm grew from a small-scale operation to a global institution with Afreximbank’s support.

“Afreximbank has been integral in taking this small company and giving us the audacity to believe an African indigenous company can go global. They have supported us with various products and the backing of our esteemed advisory board members. Woodhall Capital is living proof that a small firm, with proper training and guidance, can achieve global scale with the support of African institutions.

“This workshop demonstrates that any SME here, no matter how small, with the right mindset, can achieve success. We are here to discuss what African SMEs need to gain the right support,” she stated.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: Onigbongbo LCDA Chairman “Tant’olorun” Dies At 54

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Oladotun Olakanle, the Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), popularly known as “Tant’olorun”, has passed away after a brief illness.

The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the community.

Olakanle, who recently celebrated his 54th birthday, was a prominent figure in the council.

His sudden demise has left residents and politicians deeply saddened.

 

More to come…

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