Amb. (High Chief) Mike E. Loyibo Sends out Appreciation msg on his Birthday

It's very necessary and important to Appreciate those who Celebrated you Specially on your birthday, Chief Mike Loyibo took to his social media Page to Appreciate all who Celebrated him on his birthday.

See Details Below.


With a heart filled with gratitude to God and Joy overflow. First i want to thank the Almighty God for keeping my life and that of my family to see this day in good health and prosperity. I also want to say I big thank you to everyone who took out time to call, text, chart and post special prayers and kind words to me on the occasion of my Birthday.

I was deeply overwhelmed with your kind words, songs and prayers. In the midst of the Covid 19 and social distance,  I can still say that this is the best Birthday of my Life.
Your kind words, songs and prayers made my Birthday an extraordinary one and I will not forget this day in a hurry, the memories of this my  Birthday will last for a life time.
I want to specially Thank everyone who made my day a special one. In no particular order I say a big THANK YOU TO
The Governor of Delta State.
The Governor of Bayelsa  state.
The Governor of Kano State.
The Governor of Kogi State
The Governor of Kaduna State
The Governor of Bauchi State
The Governor of Lagos State
The Governor of Zamfara State
The Governor of Borno State. 
H.E Sen Lawan  Senate  president.
Sen Ovie  omagege  DSP. H.E Comrade  Adams  Oshiomhole.
H.E Justice  Amb  G.A  Oguntade  Nigerian  High  commissioner  to  the  United  Kingdom.
His Imperial  Majesty  the  Oni  of  Ife, His Royal  Majesty  S.P  Luke.
His Royal  Majesty  Hon Justice  F.F  Tabai, His Royal  Majesty  pere  Erebulu.
His highness  Emir Dantore  of Borgu kingdom.
His Highness  Etsu  nupe, His highness  the Emir kasina.
Emir of Maradun.
Hon Justice  Tanko  Muhammed  CJN.
Hon Justice  Suileman   Galadima  JSCRTD.
 Sen James  Manager the manager  of  the  senate.
H.E Sen Amosun, Sen.H.E  Shetima.
H.E Henry Seriake Dickson.
H.E Chief James Ibori. Amb Dr  Boladei  Igali. H.E  Timipre  sylva Hon  Minister  for  state  for  Petroleum.
Prof  Pondei Ag  M.D  NDDC.
Sen  Akpabio Minister  Niger  Delta
H.E Rotimi  Amaechi Minister  for  Transportation Fetus keyamo  Hon Minister  for  state  labour.
Pastor  Dr  Chris Otagbo  M.D  of Alliance  hospital Abuja.
Pastor Engr  Dr  Victor Egoh  my brother   from  another  womb & his dear wife.
Hon.Peres  Oloye  my bestie.
Hon  Julius  Pondi.
Hon  Nicholas  Mutu.
Hon Namdas.
Prof Benjamin  Okaba.
Mrs Tari Bozimo.
Barry Gbe.
Prof Christopher  Dime. Chief  Dr  B.A Angozi political  pope.
Mr Jim Ovia  owner  ZENITH  BANK.
Prof Monye.
Hon Chief  Barr. Lucky  Ekayama  Loyibo.
 The  great  Olotu  of  Tuomo  kingdom High  chief  J.T  Government.
Chief  Tunde Smooth.
Hon Justice  Adume. Hon Justice  Tony Okorodas and  family. Hon Justice  Excel Timi and  family.
Jaioyola J great  princess  of  the  Benin  Kingdom  my own who surprised  me  with  gifts. Dr Tukur  Chairman  federal  Civil  service  commission.
Owoupele  Jeremiah  the Palace  Chief. 
My staffs.
The  clergy.
Madam  Caro Adaku. Namidara  James.
My Palace  people led  by  the  chief  of  staff  himself  Barr  Ogbofini  Ofiyou, Supol  Samuel  Aguade villa, Sir  Ken febau, Barr Prince  Badukumor  Johnny  C.E.O  my blood, Engr  Ebikeniye  Febau, Yerin  Oyakemegha  my PA,Atimapre ,Samson  Paul,  Bibian  George, Pretty  touch  homes  Mrs  Ladidi  and others  too numerous  to  mention  love you  all.

Finally, as you have all taken out time to celebrate with me and pray for me and my Family so shall celebration, Goodnews and Joy not cease from   your entire family. I pray that Peace and Prosperity shall continually be our experience in the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria at large.

Thank you all for Celebrating me in such a special way.

With love to all
His Eminence, (Dr.) Mike Ekeyama Loyibo (The Traditional Prime Minister)

NDDC- AG Executive Director Finance Dies amidst Crisis in the Commission

The Ag. Executive Director Finance and Administration of NDDC Mr Ibanga Bassey Etang, died this morning , OBSERVERS TIMES learnt, the pressure of the crisis engulfed the agency since the inception of Godwill Akpabio as the Hon Minister.

OBSERVERS TIMES earlier reported that, the House of Representatives is to launch a probe into the alleged mismanagement of funds and other unwholesome practices in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and has summoned the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godswill Akpabio and members of the new Interim Management Committee.

Akpabio is former governor of Akwa Ibom.

The House also mandated its Committee on NDDC to investigate all issues relating to misapplication and misappropriation of funds, especially N40bn spent under two months by the Commission and report back to the House.

Details shortly

Lessons from Ayade_DeltaNews247 Blog

By: Gabriel Amalu

Was it compassion or emotion that drew tears from Governor Ben Ayade as he talked about the poor in Cross River State last week? If it was compassion, we celebrate him as a leader.

But if he was merely emotional, then we can be sure, he would get over it, so the cruelty against the poor will go on. Perhaps, we should give Ayade the benefit of doubt for he has set up a committee to lift the burden of taxation on the backs of the poor.

If Governor Ayade truly has compassion for the poor in his state, he should study the provisions of Chapter II of the 1999 constitution (as amended) to grasp the full standards of a compassionate government.

Any leader who abides by those provisions on the “fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy” qualifies as a compassionate leader.

But what is the difference between compassion and emotion? According to Advanced English Dictionary-online, the word compassion means: “the humane quality of understanding the sufferings of others and wanting to do something about it.”

On the other hand, the same dictionary defines emotion as: “any strong feeling.” Such strong feeling can make one to cry or laugh.

For instance, watching a single movie can elicit the two divergent feelings, as the scenes unfold, and at the end of it, the spectator would relapse to his usual self and engage in other things. Again, a good actor can also exhibit the two divergent emotions while portraying a character.

So, in a single movie, a character could laugh or cry, as part of the act; and of course that has nothing to do with the real feeling of the actor.

So, was Governor Ben Ayade acting a script, to impress the viewers? If we are to believe him, Ayade, is for real. He said: “I am not wired for this insensitivity to a weaker person.

I never knew that five years into office as governor, I will still find someone living in a thatched house in Cross River”.

Well, while living in a thatched house could be a metaphor for poverty, there are millions living in houses covered by corrugated iron sheets, who are as poor as the famous church rats.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), on poverty and inequality, from September 2018 to October 2019, about 40% of Nigerians lived below its poverty line of $1 dollar per day. That approximated to about 82.9 million Nigerians.

With the global pandemic, otherwise known as COVID-19, making a mincemeat of the poor in our society, the figure of the poor in our country would have gone a notch higher in 2020. While the poor would continue to be amongst us, Ayade, is saying they should not be Cross Riverians.

But if we are to rely on the available statistics, there are still many Cross Riverians caught in the web of poverty despite the strides of the professor turned politician.

According to a media report, there are about 230,000 households who are beneficiaries of the monthly Conditional Cash Transfer of N5,000, to the poorest of the poor, in 2019.

The report says that Bolinwo Ofegobi, the Cross River State Coordinator of Youth Employment and Social Support Operations, YESSO is working to capture at least one million poor beneficiaries of the programme in the state before the end of 2020.

So, Governor Ayade should be distressed, that after five years on the saddle, the number of the poor, in his state, is still very high.

But of course, Cross River is not amongst the poorest of the poor in the index of the poorest states in Nigeria. The states in the northwest and the northeast bears the medals for that unenviable positions.

According to the Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS) released by NBS, nine of 10 poorest states are in the northern part of Nigeria.

Some of the indices used to measure the poverty index include access to education, health and basic services, employment, assets and income.

These wide ranging socio-economic factors, are tested against the sustainable development indicators, to determine the living standards and the level of poverty in the country.

As stated in the report by the Cross River State agency and corroborated by the NBS report, the majority of the poor are in the rural areas of the states.

Of note, Ofogebi noted that in trying to garner data of the most vulnerable in the rural communities, some of the leaders insisted that their names must be included in the lists before the officials are allowed to garner the data.

Of course, that should be a lesson for the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, which generated the controversial lists for the Controversial Cash Transfers in states across the country.

For Governor Ayade, giving a tax rebate is one sure way to alleviate poverty in his state. No doubt, that measure is commendable, more so, for the reasons we all know; that the entrepreneur in Nigeria, personally provides most of the essential services to stay in business.

These include generating electric power, borehole, private transportation, and even security. That is why many small scale business are always struggling, and when the burden of taxation is added, then, it is a matter of time before the business dies.

So, we commend Governor Ayade to other state governors. The Kingdom of Dubai, one of the kingdoms that make up the United Arab Emirates, is one country that practices no taxation, as a state policy, to stimulate businesses.

That has paid off handsomely, as the country is the preferred destination for many businesses. So, taxation can be used both as an incentive and a disincentive to stimulate trade and businesses. Of course, taxation is not bad in itself, but tax holidays can be used to buoy up new businesses.

While commending Ayade, for his concern for the small scale businesses, we urge him to back his plans with laws where necessary to entrench it.

If he has the compassion, he should ensure that governance, in Cross River State, is formulated in accordance the provisions of Chapter II of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

A fervent practice of the provisions of the said Chapter II, would aid the socio-economic development of his state, nay Nigeria.

Section 14(1), in Chapter II, provides: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice.” Sub-section 2, further provides: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Perhaps, to govern compassionately, should be the lessons from a Governor’s cry on television.

Worries grow over Almajirai influx into Southsouth, Southeast_DeltaNews247 Blog

AMID growing concern over the influx of Almajirai to the Southeast and Southsouth, the Delta and Anambra state governments are meeting to find a solution.

Southeast leaders had last week lamented the increasing relocation of the Northern youths, despite the interstate travel ban by the Federal Government.

The highest Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo National Council (INC) and the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) called for a halt to the influx.

In a bid to stop the movement, the Willie Obiano administration had erected a small barricade at the pedestrian part of the Niger Bridge at Onitsha in Anambra State.

But, the barricade was dismantled by the Delta State government officials last weekend.

However, both states have held talks on how to work together to manage the situation.

Anambra Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment,  Don Adinuba, told our reporter that officials met three times over the matter.

He said they would meet again today to conclude arrangements on how to check the Almajirai influx.

“The meetings have been held in a very convivial and brotherly manner. Subsequent meetings will follow the same trajectory of peace and solidarity.

“Each party is quite committed to the battle against the coronavirus pandemic,” Adinuba said.

Ohanaeze President in Anambra State, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, last week said the Federal Government had failed to effectively enforce its order banning interstate travel.

“We must take our security in our hands. No other person can do that,” he said.

The INC described the relocation of the Amajirai as an assault on Ndigbo.

Its President, Chilos Confident, expressed dismay at what he called the clandestine movement of the Almajirai into various communities and towns in Igboland.

He urged Igbo leaders to reinvigorate their vigilante outfits and initiate an identification exercise in their communities.

ASATU National President Chief Alex Onukwue wondered why the Almajirai were moving to the Southeast rather than returning to their states of origin.

“We wish to warn that should this callous business of shipping strange persons continue, Almajirai or not, from the North or elsewhere to Anambra State in light of COVID-19 restrictions, we will be left with no choice than to confront the situation with all the seriousness it deserves. We can no longer take it as child’s play,” he said.

Also, Ohanaeze Youths, in a statement by its National Deputy President, Dr Kingsly Dozie, urged the Southeast states to ensure the Almajirai returned to where they came from.

“We will no longer tolerate the sabotage by security operatives who should man our borders and stop the influx of the Almajiris, including suspected Boko Haram extremists,” he said in a statement.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) said the free movement of the Almajirai, despite the lockdown, was a threat to efforts to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.

National Vice President (Southeast) Dr Cosmas Ilechukwu said it was strange and inexcusable that “these men and women are flooding into the Southeast despite the nationwide lockdown and ban on interstate travel”.

Traditional rulers in Anambra State also urged the Federal Government and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to strictly enforce the ban on interstate travel.

Obi of Onitsha Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and other monarchs made their position known in a communique issued after an expanded Executive Committee meeting of the Anambra Traditional Ruler’s Council.

The monarchs “noted, particularly, the mass exportation of Alamajiris from some Northern states to the South (Lagos, Edo, Abia, Rivers, etc) despite the ban on interstate travels”.

They “expressed serious concern that many of them may already be infected with COVID-19, and urged the government to ensure that they do not enter Anambra State since they would not fit into our economic, social and cultural environment”.

Source: thenationonlineng.net

Decreasing Oil Exploration Threatens To Unsettle Economy

LAGOS – There are growing apprehensions among stakeholders in the nation’s oil and gas industry over oil rigs that have become inactive partly as a result of the ravaging corona­virus.

Stakeholders are also wor­ried that the development would eat deep into oil exploration and production, thereby unsettling the economy if nothing concrete is done to reverse the downward trend in the activities of the oil rigs in the country.

Last week, the number of active oil rigs in the country fell by 23.8 percent to 16 in April amid the coronavirus-induced collapse in demand and prices of crude.

Data from Baker Hughes Incorporated and the Or­ganisation of Petroleum Ex­porting Countries (OPEC) on Tuesday showed that Nigeria’s rig count stood at 21 in March.

The country recorded the second biggest decline in the number of rigs among its peers in OPEC in April, after Venezuela whose rig count plunged by 11 to 14.

Rig count in Iraq dropped by four to 70; fell by three in United Arab Emirates to 65; and dipped by two in Gabon to six.

But Algeria’s rigs rose by eight to 42, while those of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia rose by four and two to 54 and 116, respectively.

Rig count is largely a reflection of the level of ex­ploration, development, and production activities occur­ring in the oil and gas sector.

The slump in oil prices caused by the coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies, including in­ternational oil companies, operating in the Nigerian oil industry to slash their capital budgets and suspend some projects, according to the data.

Besides, Nigeria ended last year on a slightly neg­ative note as its rig count witnessed a decrease to 17 as against 20 rig count last December when the 14-mem­ber Organisation of Petro­leum Exporting Countries (OPEC) recorded an addi­tion of 12 rig counts while the total world rig count in­creased by just one. Baker Hughes Incorporated and OPEC data showed that all through 2019 Nigeria’s oil rig hovered around 16 rigs count, a sharp decline from a three-year high of 35 rigs count recorded in February, 2018.

According to OPEC’s re­port, Africa biggest oil-pro­ducing country recorded 17 oil rigs in the last month of 2019, which was three rigs less of what was obtained in November, 2019 – an indica­tion of decreasing explora­tion activities.

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Exploration­ists (NAPE) had hinted the nation about the danger of low exploration activities in the petroleum industry as well as the continuous depletion of the country’s crude reserve.

The group warned that the reduction in hydrocar­bon exploration and steady depletion of oil reserves could drive Nigeria into the risk of long-term disruption to oil and gas supplies, pow­er generation, the collapse of industries, and signifi­cant loss of revenue.

Its former president, Aji­bola Oyebamiji, stated that the nation’s oil and gas busi­ness was being hampered by several factors, including long procurement and con­tracting cycles, insecurity, oil theft, and illegal refining, saying the latter even poses a bigger threat to the sector than the fall in oil price.

President of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, Alex Tarka, told reporters in Lagos that his members were already feeling the heat of the dwin­dling oil rig counts, adding that the development would impact on oil exploration in the country.

The Chief Executive Offi­cer of International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawibe, said: “The oil ser­vice sector will be badly affected because if these projects are suspended or cancelled, there is no way the oil companies will make use of service companies.

“Already, there are some projects being undertaken by international oil compa­nies that had been suspend­ed.”

Chief Martin Onovo, a renowned engineer, told Daily Independent that the dwindling oil rig counts in the country was deplorable and emphasised the need for a change.

But speaking on ‘Invest­ment Opportunities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Indus­try’ at the Oil and Gas Train­ers Association of Nigeria, OGTAN’s webinar in Lagos, recently, the Director/CEO, DPR, Engr. Sarki Auwalu, said investors had shown much interest in Nigeria, and are expected to enhance the engagement of addition­al rigs.

According to him, “Near­ly 200 percent of proven reserves produced in Nige­ria from 1970 have been re­placed by new reserves.

“Oil and gas industry is oiling the wheels of the nation’s economy. It sup­ports agriculture, finance and business services, real estate and hospitality, con­struction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, as well as telecommunications.

“It contributes approx­imately 10 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is the principal source of foreign exchange earnings and the major source of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).”

Source: independent.ng

Breaking news from Aso Villa_DeltaNews247 Blog

Quite a challenging week it has been for Nigeria, and, indeed, the rest of the world. Except perhaps in China only, where the affliction started from, figures of Coronavirus infections continue to mount in other parts of the world. Italy and Spain have been particularly badly hit.

But as the world reels under the impact of a most pernicious pandemic, a suicide bomber wreaking deadly havocs, merchants of fake, hateful news remain fully at work. Aso Villa, the seat of presidential authority, has been their focus for most of the week.

They have kept churning out spurious reports after the other about President Muhammadu Buhari, and some other people who work with him. If you choose to believe them, the President by now has even been evacuated, and is receiving medical attention at an undisclosed location somewhere in the wide world.

Breaking news from Aso Villa. That is what you have had day after day. And each time I am contacted to authenticate one story or the other, I tell the enquirers that the Presidential Villa is part of the world, part of humanity, and the people there are not immune from what is happening in the rest of the world.

But the outright fake, hateful news, I have ignored all week. Not a word in response. How do you begin to give wings to concocted stories through responses that will make the falsehood fly faster? No, purveyors of wickedness should not have the satisfaction of drawing us out all the time, and getting some tacit endorsement for their flight of fancy.

A top aide of the President tested positive early in the week. He is receiving adequate care, and he has our best wishes. But for the sinister minds, it was floodgate to all sorts of malediction.

All sorts of Breaking News followed:

‘Intensive care machines brought into Aso Rock.’ ‘President Buhari coughing ceaselessly.’ ‘PMB under intensive care.’ ‘Adesina among those who accompanied Abba Kyari to Kogi.’ (I never did). ‘Garba Shehu under self-isolation.’ ‘Buhari may be smuggled out of the country, as condition worsens.’ And by yesterday, a recorded message started circulating on WhatsApp, saying President Buhari had been sneaked out of the country. To where? By who? Their fecund imaginations did not say.

And more Breaking News: ‘Buhari bans journalists from covering Aso Villa.’ (A man supposedly in intensive care was still banning reporters. Lol). ‘Buhari in self-isolation’ (Yet he was in the office on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, even receiving visitors). ‘Aso Villa shut down.’ And the vile beat goes on…

Why do some people conjure nothing but evil? Why do they imagine vain things? In 2017, while President Buhari had his medical challenge, they were on orgy of negative wishes, misinformation, and disinformation. But God pulled a fast one on them.

He brought the President back, as right as rain. Haven’t they learned their lessons?

With the good people, however, positive things are happening. Tony Elumelu’s UBA is giving N5 billion to help Nigeria and Africa. Abdusamad Rabiu (BUA) has donated one billion Naira in cash. .

Folorunsho Alakija has imported test kits and other materials for Nigerians, worth hundreds of millions of Naira.

Aliko Dangote, after an initial donation of N200 million to combat Coronavirus, is leading top bankers and the private sector generally to raise aid. GTBank has donated a 100 beds care center.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God has provided ventilators. And many more.

These are the people and organizations that should define us as a people, not the conjurers of wickedness and doomsday. God is surely greater than them. And Nigeria too.

Femi Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

Akwa Ibom APC chiefs caution against media attacks on Akpabio_DeltaNews247 Blog

Chieftains of the Akwa Ibom State All Progressive Congress (APC) have cautioned its members against publishing inciting materials on social media, a situation they said was bringing the party to disrepute.

They also expressed concern about the action of some members who are still bitter over the outcome of the 2019 general elections, for which they were resorting to smear campaign against some leaders of the party in the state.

They urged such persons to sheath their sword in a bid to build a better front ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In a statement issued by immediate past secretary of the party, Dr. Efiong Etok and pioneer Akwa Ibom State University council member, Mrs. Glory Effiong, they condemned the media attacks on Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, by media aides of some aggrieved APC members aimed at embarrassing him (Akpabio).

“We have read several publications on social media in which the writers have tried to denigrate Akpabio with unfounded allegations and unsubstantiated stories. We insist that these allegations are mere fabrications politically motivated and designed to humiliate the minister.

“Former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Obong Nsima Ekere’s recent confirmation that it was not Akpabio who brought RODNAB Construction Company to the NDDC is quite telling.

“Ekere confirmed that the commission contracted RODNAB Construction and paid for constructing NDDC headquarter project during his tenure as MD. His admission discounts the false narratives that have been published against Akpabio on this matter,” the statement reads.

They advised APC leaders to redouble efforts for a better outing in 2023 elections instead of fighting among themselves.

Source: guardian.ng

900 female traders to get interest-free loans in Ondo_DeltaNews247 Blog

Dorian Homes for Charity and Social Development, an NGO, has set up a micro-credit scheme to give soft loans of between N30,000 to N100,000 to 900 female traders in Ondo State.

An executive member of the NGO, Mrs Olabisi Adefioye, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Akure.

Adefioye said the loan was to help ameliorate the sufferings of the downtrodden and the less privileged in Ondo State.

“The micro-credit scheme is set to give soft loans to over 600 traders, in addition to the 300 traders who benefited from this gesture, in November 2019.”

Adefioye said the loan was meant to help very small scale traders to have access to money without collateral security for the purpose of expanding their businesses.

“It enables artisans, street hawkers, and petty traders to have access to loan facilities from N30,000 to N100,000 in order to boost their businesses.

“This scheme, powered by Dorian Homes, is aimed at funding micro businesses in Ondo State,” she said.

According to her, the organisation is meant to put smiles on the faces of the people, with a passion to give back to society.

Minister donates May salary to secure release of inmates_DeltaNews247 Blog

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has forfeited her May, 2020 salary to secure the immediate release of five inmates who could not pay for their fines at the Kuje Correctional Service.

She made the donation while felicitating with the inmates as part of activities to celebrate this year’s Eid al-Fitr.

Aliyu in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austine Elemue, on Tuesday in Abuja said the donation would further go a long way to decongest the Correctional Service already overcrowded with inmates in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

She assured the inmates that the FCT administration would take further legal steps to see to the decongestion of the Kuje correctional service.

Aliyu described the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, as a God fearing man and a man with the heart of gold who believed in good governance.

“I will not only support the reduction, but I will also lend my voice in the reduction of prison inmates by picking up some bills.

”I will carry out the campaign and speak to well meaning Nigerians because you cannot leave the burden of good governance to government alone.

“We know that some of you are awaiting trial, we know that some have not been tried at all, but provided there is law, we will not be lawless.

”We will go by the law and get in well meaning Nigerians and pay up the fines. This will also go a long way to reduce the number, besides government pronouncements.

“Government pronouncement as we all know do not come easily in every nation.

” If government pronouncement comes very easily, then definitely, the name correctional centre will be misplaced. We know Mr President recently spoke our minds when he spoke about the need to decongest our prisons.

“And I know my minister, a God fearing man, and a man with a heart of gold, he will certainly send message across. God willing, FCT administration will make moves to decongest our prison based on merit.

”I in my own capacity, I stand here personally on this Sallah day, I want to donate my salary for the release of 5 inmates,” she said.

Aliyu affirmed that the correctional service had been positioned to refine the inmates in the rebuilding of a better society, noting that they could make the best out of the experiences gained at the service.

“There are times in our life that we erred, but to err is human, and to forgive is divine.

”There are times in our life that we are put to test, sometimes, we pass the test, sometimes we fail.

”For various reasons, we may have found ourselves at the correctional centre. But you know what, you can make the best out of it.

“As we appreciate you, we pray for you to come out to be better citizens that will give us a Nigeria of our dreams.

” Somebody else cannot give us Nigeria of our dreams and you cannot give us Nigeria of our dreams from outside, you can only give us Nigeria of our dream from within and I know you are already at the preparatory stage.

”When you leave here either by amnesty or whatever pronouncements, you can only become better citizens,” Aliyu stated.

Earlier, the Comtroller, Correctional Service, FCT Command, Mustapha Atta, who commended the minister for her visit, expressed displeasure over the number of inmates awaiting trial.

Attah revealed that 70 per cent of the inmates are on awaiting trial list, adding that Kuje correctional service with a capacity of 560 inmates, now accommodates no fewer than 866 inmates.

He appealed to relevant authorities to work toward the decongestion of the correctional service.

The minister donated 250 packs of cooked jollof rice, 500 bottles of soft drinks, 500 bottles of table water, 1000 face masks, 50 bags of rice, 50 cartons of spaghetti and 100 cartons of indoomie noodles to the inmates.