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Borno Suffers $6.8bn Loss Due To B’Haram Insurgency – Shettima

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Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed on Saturday that the assessment conducted in the aftermath of the insurgency in the North-East indicated that Boko Haram attacks had inflicted a financial toll of $9 billion on the region.

 

Borno State, at the heart of the insurgency, bore the heaviest burden, suffering losses amounting to $6.8 billion.

 

Shettima made these remarks while addressing the audience in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, during the launch of palliative distribution for the states in the region by the North East Development Commission.

 

He also expressed concern about the displacement of numerous emirs who were left without an emirate to govern. The initiative by the NEDC aimed to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the region’s residents.

 

Shettima, who simultaneously inaugurated the eighth North-East Governors’ Forum meeting at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri, highlighted that the North East Development Commission (NEDC) was actively carrying out its mission of rehabilitating and resettling victims of the insurgency.

 

He added, “A lot of our emirs here were emirs without emirate. Ten years ago, the palace that Governor Babagana Zulum calls home was under the control of Boko Haram. 10 years ago, the hometown of the governor of Yobe State was under the grip of Boko Haram. 10 years ago, a chunk of the North-East was under Boko Haram.

 

“Maiduguri was effectively encircled apart from Maiduguri/Kano Road that was sporadically attacked by Boko Haram.

 

“Based on the post insurgency, recovery peace building assessment report of the North-East which was validated by the World Bank, European Union and the Presidency, Boko Haram inflicted damages in the North-East to the tune of $9bn, Borno alone has damages worth $6.8bn.”

 

While lamenting the challenges of the region Shettima added, “If the North-East was to be treated as a nation, we are poorer than Chad and Niger. But I want to commend our governors, the PDP Governors’ of Bauchi and Adamawa states are the closest to the governor of Borno.”

 

Addressing the speculations surrounding the NEDC leadership transition that saw both the reappointment of Managing Director Mohammed Goni and Chairman Paul Tarfa, Shettima clarified that their continued roles were well-deserved. He emphasized, “They left behind N237 billion, an unprecedented achievement in contemporary Nigerian governance.”

 

Goni, in turn, affirmed the commission’s dedication to alleviating hunger across the 110 Local Government Areas in the region. He stated, “Today, we are set to donate food and non-food items valued at approximately N15 billion through the Vice-President to all state governors, 18 senatorial districts, 48 federal constituencies, as well as the six state Houses of Assembly.”

 

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JUST IN: Fear As Oyo Destroys Shops In Popular Ibadan Market

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Locals and traders have became frightened after the government demolished numerous shops and kiosks in the famed Ojoo market in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State on Thursday.

Biztellers gathered that the traders were handed a quit notice by the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development a long time ago, but they refused to vacate the market.

The Chairman of the market, Muhdeen Ganiyu, fondly called Elewedu, however, told our correspondent that the quit notice was too short but the executive members of all the affected markers would meet after the demolition exercise.

“The quit notice was too short. All executive members of all the affected markers will soon meet. So, I cannot say anything for now,” he stated.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, confirmed the ongoing demolition exercise.

He said, “The State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had gone there personally to address them. The government will provide another place. That place is dangerous. And the new place is not far. Just at the front of the Barracks.”

Additional images from the demolition:

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VIDEO: Nigerian Man Spends 23 Hours Buried Alive In Coffin

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Young C, a Nigerian man, has been buried alive in a coffin for twenty-three hours.

On Thursday, he posted an update on his Instagram account saying, “Guys, I am still alive, I am still fine, I am okay. A lot of you might think something has happened, but nothing has happened, I am fine.

Breathing heavily he said, “My problem is just that I have run out of water, I might be forced to drink this (my urine). Guys, I am fine.”

Young C had embarked on this daring challenge on Wednesday, announcing his intention to be buried alive for 24 hours.

He shared a video on his Instagram account, emphasizing that the stunt was genuine and not a hoax. He also announced his plan to broadcast live footage from the coffin at night.

In an earlier update, Young C revealed that he had been buried for over 8 hours and was experiencing physical discomfort, including excessive sweating.

He shared a video from the coffin, showing his camera and light still functioning, and expressed his determination to complete the challenge.

This accomplishment brings to mind another challenge that American YouTuber MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) undertook two years ago to raise awareness about deforestation. In that challenge, he buried himself alive for fifty hours.

He overcame both physical and mental obstacles to finish the task and was ultimately exhumed, warning onlookers not to attempt such exploits since they could be dangerous.

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Court Grants N100m Bail To Sirika, Daughter In N2.7bn Fraud Case

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Former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, along with his daughter, Fatimah Hadi Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma, secured bail from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

This follows their indictment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their alleged involvement in a N2.7bn fraud tied to the Nigerian Air project.

The defendants, including Sirika and his family members, vehemently denied the charges during their appearance before Justice Sylvanus Orji, who granted them bail pending further legal proceedings.

Recall that Sirika faces a 6-count amended criminal charge before Justice Oriji, where the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN, presented an amended charge by the EFCC dated May 7 and filed on May 8.

This amendment was unopposed by the defendants’ counsel. Lead counsel Kanu Agabi (SAN), representing Sirika, submitted his client’s bail application dated May 6 during the proceedings.

The remaining defendants also filed their bail applications, urging the court for leniency in setting the bail terms.

Prosecutor Jacobs highlighted that all defendants were on administrative bail and requested bail conditions ensuring their presence for trial.

Following arguments from both sides, Justice Orji granted bail to each defendant in the amount of ₦100 million, requiring two sureties for each.

Furthermore, the judge stipulated that one surety must possess a landed property with valid land titles within the Federal Capital Territory.

Additionally, the sureties must provide an affidavit of means..

The defendants were restricted from leaving the country without the court’s permission, with the consequence of non-compliance being detention in a correctional facility.

He said, “I admit the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendant to bail in the sum of 100 million each with 2 sureties of like sum.

“One of the sureties must have a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory. The defendants must not travel outside the country.

“Any of them who is unable to fulfil the bail conditions will be remanded in the correctional centre.” he added

The trial dates were set for June 10th, 11th, and 20th, marking the next steps in the legal proceedings.

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