Southern Kaduna: Religion Will Kill Nigeria If..., Warns Soyinka
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N396.5bn Multilateral Fund for New Development Bank as FG Applies for CBN's Licence Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja by the last administration, in the development of the real the issuance of its operating outstanding issues and set a World Bank, KfW (German is being congured as a sector. licence from the apex bank. target of 2017 for its take-off," Development Bank), the The federal government has wholesale development The Federal Ministry of "The DBN, was conceived a statement by the ministry's African Development Bank formally applied to the Central institution, designed to provide Finance yesterday conrmed in 2014. However, its take-off Director of Information, Mr. (AfDB) and the Agence Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for an Micro, Small and Medium the completion of the had been fraught with delays. Salisu Na'Inna Dambatta, said. Française de Development operational licence to oat the Enterprises (MSMEs) with recruitment exercise for the The President Muhammadu The DBN will have access (French Development Agency). proposed Development Bank lower interests and longer executive management team Buhari's administration to $1.3 billion (N396.5 The emerging bank, the of Nigeria (DBN). tenor loans, which have been of the DBN, adding that it inherited the project with a billion), which has been The DBN, initiated in 2014 considered the missing links had also formally applied for determination to resolve all jointly provided by the Continued on page NNPC Seeks More Royalty on Deep Offshore, Inland Basin PSCs... Page Friday January, Vol . No . Price: N www.thisdaylive.com T RU N TH & REASO TODAY'S WEATHER ABUJA °C-°C MAIDUGURI °C-°C ENUGU °C-°C KANO °C-°C LAGOS C-°C PORT HARCOURT °C-°C Southern Kaduna: Religion Will Kill Nigeria If..., Warns Soyinka Osinbajo laments government’s inability to bring bigots to justice James Emejo in Abuja in Nigeria, religion will kill us,” he said emphatically at Nobel Laureate, Professor the launch of a book, Religion Wole Soyinka, yesterday and the Making of Nigeria, by warned Nigeria against the Prof. Ayo Vaughan, in Abuja, dangers of religion bigotry, adding: “Many Nigerians have saying the country could not paid the ultimate price because step forward to its manifest of religion and religion is now destiny unless the growing embedded in our society.” fanatical approach to issues Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of faith was moderated. “If we do not tame religion Continued on page Executive, Legislature’s Disagreement over Closure of Abuja Airport Deepens Buhari submits lists of ambassadors, drops Mamora Omololu Ogunmade and Abuja. Damilola Oyedele in Abuja Although the Senate had on Tuesday advised against A showdown between the the proposed closure, the executive and the legislative Minister of State for Aviation, arms of the federal government Mr. Hadi Sirika, told the upper appears imminent over the legislative chamber yesterday proposed six weeks closure that the executive would be for repairs of the Nnamidi Azikiwe International Airport, Continued on page STRATEGISING FOR THE NEW YEAR... Slain Soldiers in Renewed Boko L-R: General Counsel/Head Legal Regulation, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Ms. Tinuade Awe; Chief Executive Officer(NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema; and Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo, at the Nigeria Stock Haram Aacks for Burial Today..Page Exchange Recap and Outlook held in Lagos ...yesterday FRIDAY JANUARY , THISDAY THISDAY FRIDAY JANUARY , FRIDAY JANUARY , THISDAY THISDAY FRIDAY JANUARY , FRIDAY JANUARY , THISDAY THISDAY FRIDAY JANUARY , FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017 • THISDAY PAGE EIGHT EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATURE'S DISAGREEMENT OVER CLOSURE OF ABUJA AIRPORT DEEPENS unable to take its advice to explaining that while the way can only accommodate the minister was asked to go at 5.30am," she said. Several lawmakers opposed explore alternative ways of entire runway is being used, smaller aircraft. back and consult members of Adedoyin further argued the motion, particularly effecting the needed repairs there have been several cases He said if the option was the NSE, consider the option that the re-routing of air lawmakers from Kaduna State at airport without shutting of pilots overshooting the adopted, the effects would be of constructing a second travellers through Kaduna such as Hon. Muhammed it down. runway. He said the situation disastrous. Sirika, therefore, runway, come up with the would subject them to Garba Datti, and Hon. The House of would be worse if only half said it was the consensus of cost of logistics during the danger of armed robberies, Chanchangi. Representatives on its part of it would be available for consultants engaged by the repair and return to the Senate kidnappings and other sundry Hon. Adams Jagaba was, however, divided over use because it could lead to ministry and other ministry next Tuesday with results. crimes along the Kaduna - (Kaduna APC) said Abuja the issue, opting to invite accidents. ofcials that closing the Abuja Highway. airport ranked among the Sirika to come and make Sirika who disclosed that airport was the best option House of Reps Her position was backed worst in the world, and that further clarications on the the project would cost N5.8 for now. by Hon. Daniel Reyeneiju the planned rehabilitation matter. billion with the exclusion of According to him, the Divided (Delta PDP), who said to would elevate its status. Sirika, who was the cost of logistics, added runway had failed beyond rehabilitate a runway was "There is no international accompanied to the that the logistics would management, pointing out The House of Representatives not 'rocket science', but disgrace more than the chamber by the Minister of involve the provision of that it had initially been was, however, sharply divided an exercise that could be potholes on what we call a Transportation, Mr. Rotimi buses and helicopters to designed to last for 20 yesterday over the matter. executed at specic hours. runway...there is no alternative Amaechi, told the senators convey passengers from the years in 1982, noting that The lawmakers, therefore, Hon. Hassan Saleh (Benue than Kaduna, Kaduna is a that among all options Abuja Airport to Kaduna and it is only being considered summoned the Minister of APC) opined that there was shorter distance than Minna," available for adoption for vice versa at the cost of the for repair now 14 years after State, Aviation, Senator Hadi an ulterior motive to the he argued. the repair, closure was the government. the expiration of its lifespan. Sirika and his team to appear position of the executive. Hon. Aminu Suleiman most viable. The minister who also He explained that the before the House Committee "There is more to relocating (Kano APC) said the Federal Although Federal legislators disclosed that the government total closure had therefore on Aviation, to provide airlines to Kaduna than just Government could not have have been very critical of of President Goodluck become imminent in view convincing argument on why resurfacing the runway. Even arrived at its decision without the proposed closure of Jonathan had in 2015, of several accidents which there are no alternatives to local contractors like Julius consulting experts. the airport, arguing that it approved N1.2 billion for the had happened on the the complete closure of the Berger can handle it," he said. He added that the elites would bring untold hardship repair of the runway without runway, some of which he airport. Hon. Ayo Omidiran (Osun are opposed to the closure to air travellers, they would, considering total closure, said said involved international The resolution followed a APC) who is a member of of the airport because they however, be unable to stop after integrity test was carried airlines such as the Air France. motion sponsored by Hon. the Committee on Aviation, do not want to be subjected the executive from going out by this administration, the He also rejected the option Olufunke Adedoyin (Kwara disclosed that she was part to the rigours of road travels. ahead with its plan since the government found that the of engaging multiple number APC) who called for a halt of the stakeholders' meeting "The problem is that people decision is the prerogative N1.2 billion earlier voted for of contractors to hasten the to the planned closure, and organised by the ministry do not want to travel by road of the latter. the project by the immediate execution of the work and consideration of alternative recently. to Kaduna. But airports are Amaechi later left the past government would no ensure faster delivery, arguing methods to carrying out the "It is painful that the shut down for days when chamber without making longer be sufcient to execute that doing so would only be renovation. stakeholders were not carried aviation workers go on strike. any submission. Sirika also it. more risky and cumbersome. "There exists new along in the decision making God forbid we are part of a disclosed that whereas the He also said another option However, the senators technologies that can be process, and right there at the decision that could lead to runway would be shut for available was to use the taxi reminded the minister of applied in such a way that meeting, they expressed their a disaster," he said. only six weeks, the entire way which he said would the rejection of the planned the repair works can be discontent with the decision. Referring the matter to the airport would be shut for involve only the closure of the closure of the airport by the undertaken at night, over the Some of the representatives Aviation Committee following six months. airport in the night. However, Nigeria Society of Engineers six weeks period while the of the NSE (Nigerian Society a voice vote, Speaker Yakubu According to Sirika, the he said the option could not (NSE), a body of professionals airport remains in operation of Engineers) said they know Dogara urged that some option of repairing a part also be explored because it is and experts which they felt during the day time given how it can be done without pertinent questions be raised.