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17 States Economically Bankrupt -Report …10 States Viable

The Economic Confidential yesterday released its Annual States Viability Index (ASVI) report.
It showed that 17 States are insolvent as their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) in 2018 was far below 10% of their receipts from the Federation Account Allocations (FAA) in the same year.
The index declared that without the monthly disbursement from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), many states remain unviable, and cannot survive without the federally collected revenue, mostly from the oil sector.
The IGR are generated by states through Pay-As-You-Earn Tax (PAYE), Direct Assessment, Road Taxes and revenues from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The IGR of the 36 states of the federation totaled N1.1 trillion in 2018 as compared to N931 billion in 2018, an increase of N172 billion.
The report further indicates that the IGR of Lagos State of N382bn is higher than that of 30 States put together whose Internally Generated Revenues are extremely low and poor compared to their allocations from the Federation Account.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, which is not a state but the nation’s capital, generated N65bn IGR against N29bn it got from the Federation Account in 2018.
Lagos State remained steadfast in its number one position in IGR with a total revenue generation of N382bn compared to FAA of N260bn which translates to 146% in the twelve months of 2018.
It is followed by Ogun State which generated IGR of N84.55bn compared to FAA of N93bn representing 90%; Rivers with N112bn compared to FAA of N237bn representing 47% and Kwara State with a low receipt from the Federation Account has maintained its impressive IGR by generating N23bn compared to FAA of N81bn representing 28%.
Others with impressive IGR include Edo with IGR of N28bn compared to FAA of N112bn representing 25%; Kano generated N44bn compared to FAA of N183bn representing 24%; Enugu with IGR of N22bn compared to FAA of N92bn representing 23%; Ondo with IGR of N24bn compared to FAA of N108bn representing 22.77%; Kaduna with IGR of N29bn compared to FAA of N131bn representing 22.44% while Delta State earned N58bn IGR against FAA of N285bn representing 20%.
The report noted that ten states with impressive IGR generated N808bn in total, while the remaining states merely generated a total of N295bn in 2018.
While the report provides shocking discoveries, the states with less than 10% IGR have remained 17 as in the previous year 2017.
It added: “The poor states may not stay afloat outside the Federation Account Allocation due to socio-political crises including insurgency, kidnapping, armed-banditry and herdsmen-farmer clashes.
“Other states lack foresight in revenue generation drive coupled with arm-chair governance.
“The states that may not survive without the Federation Account due to poor internal revenue generation are Ebonyi which realized a meagre N6.14bn compared to a total of N76bn it received from the Federation Account Allocation (FAA) in 2018 representing about 7.98%; Bayelsa with IGR of N13.6bn compared to FAA of N192bn representing 7.10%; Taraba N5.96bnbn compared to FAA of N88bn representing 6.77%; Adamawa with IGR of N6.2bn compared to N97bn of FAA representing 6.77% and Borno with IGR of N6.52bn compared to N122bn of FAA representing 5.3% within the period under review.
“The major poor internal revenue earners are Katsina which generated N6.9bn compared to FAA of N138bn representing 5.03%; Yobe N4.48bn compared to FAA of N89bn representing 4.86% and lastly Kebbi N4.88bn IGR compared to FAA of N101bn representing 4.88%.”
The Economic Confidential ASVI further showed that only three states in the entire Northern region have IGR above 20% in comparison to their respective allocations from the Federation Account. They are Kwara, Kano and Kaduna States. Meanwhile seven states in the South recorded over 20% IGR in 2018. They are Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Edo, Enugu, Ondo and Delta States.
The four Southern states with the poorest Internally Generated Revenue of less than 10% compared to their FAA in 2018 are Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Ebonyi and Bayelsa. Similarly, 13 Northern States have poorest IGR, namely Benue, Nasarawa, Gombe, Zamfara, Niger, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Yobe and Kebbi States.
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Army To Review Troops’ Conduct During Elections, Other Operations

The Nigerian Army is set to review the conduct of troops in Operation Safe Conduct during the just concluded 2023 general elections across the country.
The review is expected to take place during the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff First Quarter 2023 Conference.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, yesterday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, would interact with the General Officers Commanding (GOC), field commanders and other senior officers.
He said that the interaction would help to provide possible guidance towards enhancing army operations and other activities.
He said the conference, which would hold from April 3 to April 6 would offer an avenue for reappraisal of the administrative affairs of the Nigerian army.
He added that it would also help in evaluation and comprehensive review of ongoing operational engagements within the first quarter.
According to him, this will provide the army an in-depth insight to enable far reaching decisions towards achieving its set objective of addressing the multifaceted security challenges confronting the country.
Nwachukwu said that the COAS would present a new Toyota Hilux vehicles each to 14 Army Warrant Officers who had attained the peak of their soldiering career.
“Similarly, the COAS will commission the newly constructed Faruk Yahaya Historical Park located at Asokoro Abuja.
“The conference will also showcase some research and development effort of the Nigerian Army in an exhibition.
“The three days conference promises to be very eventful, as it will witness a review of the conduct of troops during the recently concluded Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2023 and other operations across the country,” he said.
Nwachukwu reaffirmed the commitment and resolve of the Nigerian army to discharging its constitutional mandate professionally.
“We will also be resolute in upholding our values of courage, selfless sacrifice, respect, discipline and unalloyed loyalty to constituted authority,” he added.
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PDP Without Ayu Will Be Stronger -Wike …Says He’s Not Scared Of EFCC After Office

Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared his belief in a strong leadership for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which cannot be actualised with Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the embattled national chairman still on the saddle.
The governor maintained that under Dr. Ayu, PDP became weak, lacking that kind of leadership that should make it a strong political force to reckon with, because embattled national chairman was busy with personal gains he could grab.
Governor Wike made the accusation when he spoke at the Rumuigbo Civic Centre, venue of the inauguration of Rumuigbo Internal Roads in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, last Wednesday.
The governor said he cannot support Dr Ayu, who instead of providing strong national leadership to the PDP, was busy building private university in Benue State from the money realised from the party’s congresses
“I believe that we should have a strong leadership. I can’t support people whose interest is only to amass money.
“I can’t support people where we did congresses and raised about N12.5billion and within two months, that money was gone. And somebody has stayed in office for one year, he is building university, I won’t support such.”
Governor Wike explained that it is because of such unproductive leadership style to the party that he is supporting the removal of Dr. Ayu from office.
“That is why I am in support that that bloody criminal must leave office if we want PDP to be strengthened. I owe no apology to anybody. I said it before, this is the final fight we will fight and we are going to win this fight.”
Commenting on the internal roads project, governor Wike said in December 2022 when it was flagged-off, he promised that it will be completed and inaugurated by him, which has been fulfilled.
Governor Wike told them that he feels satisfied to have performed well in office and declared in good authority that he served Rivers people credibly without also disappointing or embarrassing his kinsmen.
He assured of inaugurating more projects until the midnight of 28th May 2023 without any project already ongoing abandoned.
Governor Wike informed that he is not afraid of any visit from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) when he leaves office, because there is nothing to hide and the numerous projects are evidences of how resources of the State have been used.
Inaugurating the project, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State commended governor Wike for achieving more projects for Rivers people. He attributed this not entirely to too much money at the disposal of governor Wike, but his commitment to providing better living condition for Rivers people.
Governor Mohammed also acknowledged the political sagacity of governor Wike demonstrated in ensuring PDP in the State won the governorship, all State Assembly and three senatorial seats, and delivering votes that contributed to his preferred southern president.
Providing description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works Dr George -Kelly Dakorinima Alabo said the roads are scattered in 17 streets of different sizes.
According to him, they measures 8.5 kilometres in length, and were delivered within 5 months without disruption from the host community.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu noted the internal roads being inaugurated in Rumuigbo as evidence of the urban renewal programme of the Wike’s administration.
He thanked governor Wike for being a rare politicians who has sustained delivery of projects that have impacted the life of Rivers people positively.
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Ayu, You Are Gone -Wike …Says Those Plotting Against Them Are Now Victims …You’ve Done Well For Rivers People -Makinde

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, yesterday celebrated the ouster of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu.
The National Deputy Chairman of the party, (North), Umar Damagum, was announced yesterday as Ayu’s replacement in an acting capacity.
Ayu’s exit comes barely two days after the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward, Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State suspended the former chairman with immediate effect.
Ayu had been embroiled in a bitter feud with some high-ranking PDP members led by five governors identified as the G5: Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
With the emergence of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the party’s May 2022 primary, the G5 refused to join the campaign unless Ayu resigned.
The face-off culminated in the party’s defeat at the February 25 presidential election.
Moments after Ayu’s removal was made public yesterday, Wike celebrated the defeat at the commissioning of the Trans-Kalabari Road Phase 1, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“You see how God works? All those people who were plotting evil against us, they are now the ones suffering it,” he said.
Wike further mocked the former PDP National Chairman: “Ayu said nobody can suspend him but today, he has packed out from the national office. We have an acting chairman. I told him he will go whether he likes it or not, he will go.”
“Those lawyers telling you that the ward has no power to suspend you, that it’s only National Executive Council (NEC), then you don’t understand what is happening. When you came, it was the ward that suspended (Uche) Secondus, and you went and took office, is it not?”
“So, is it now that you know that it is only NEC that can suspend you? Let me tell you, since they’ve not told you, the court has struck off that section of our constitution that says it’s only NEC can suspend (chairman). PDP did not even appeal the judgement.
“So, forget it, you are gone. You are wasting your time. We are ready for the battle. I am not from Benue, but I have interest and that interest is that Ayu must go”.
He advised Ayu to come to terms with the reality that his calamitous reign has come to an end.
The governor said Ayu’s claim that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can suspend him was a pointer that he was suffering from delusion of grandeur.
He declared that Ayu cannot reap from a party by presiding over its affairs, where he has not sown or secured any electoral victory for it.
Wike pointed out that Ayu’s suspension by his ward executive shows that he is not a formidable force and respected political leader who commands loyal followers.
“Look at it, a national chairman, your own ward will be suspending you. Does it not tell you that you are not on ground? Your own ward will be suspending you and you go to television to say only NEC can suspend you. Stay, wait for NEC, but then know that you’re gone”, he asserted
The governor noted that Ayu could not secure winning votes for his preferred candidate in the February 25 presidential election, in addition to electoral failure that greeted him because he lost his unit, ward, local government and the state to the opposition party.
“Ayu, the man you supported for president you didn’t give him the vote, he lost. We supported a southern president and we won in our states for equity, justice and fairness.
“A man who lost his unit, a man who lost his ward, a man who lost his local government, a man who lost his state and he is coming to preside over us who won our units, won our wards, won our local governments, won our state, something must be wrong”, he said.
Wike also told Ayu: “You cannot reap where you never sowed. If all of us have lost our states, what will you be chairing.
“You want to use Rivers State to be chairman, we are not party to that. Go and bring your own local government. Here (in Rivers), we won 32 over 32 seats for House of Assembly; Ayu, how many did you win? Here, we won the three seats for Senate too; Ayu, how many did you win? We won 11 out of the 13 seats for House of representatives; Ayu, how many did you win?”
Commenting on the Trans-Kalabari Road project, Wike dismissed sceptics who had assumed he won’t complete the project.
According to him, despite the kidnap of Lubrik Construction Company staff for five months in a bid to disrupt the project, he pressed on and ensured its completion in his tenure.
The governor commended Kalabari people for supporting the PDP and delivering winning votes in the three local government areas for Sir Siminialayi Fubara to emerge the governor-elect.
Performing the inauguration of the project, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State noted that Wike has done so well for Rivers people because of the spread of his development projects in virtually every community.
Makinde said he is following in the footstep of Wike to sustain the pace of delivery of democratic dividends to people of Oyo State who have graciously re-elected him for a second tenure.
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said the Trans-Kalabari Road that is 13. 545 kilometers long linking six Kalabari communities to mainland, was awarded on March 23, 2021, and completed on schedule.
“Several governments in the past had made futile attempts to commence this project, but they were all efforts in futilities. You came, you awarded and in no time we are here for the commissioning of the project. Your Excellency, you have put your name in the sands of time so far the Kalabari ethnicity is concerned.
“Before now, out of the 33 towns and villages of the Kalabari ethnic nationality, only 12 were linked up to the mainland. Your Excellency, Nyesom Wike has linked up extra six to the mainland.”
In his goodwill message, Chairman of Rivers State Elders Forum, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, noted that 18 months after he was privileged to perform the flag-off of the Trans-Kalabari Road, against the expectation of sceptics, it has been inaugurated.
According to him, it shows that Wike was not like other politicians who promise what they cannot fulfill, adding that Kalabari people were eternally grateful to him.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Michael Williams, flanked by his counterparts of Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru, expressed the appreciation of Kalabari people to Wike for fulfilling his promise of delivering the phase one of the Trans-Kalabari Road within his tenure.
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