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Ondo Polls: NYSC Director-General Seeks Protection For Corps Members

Published

6 years ago

October 2, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The Director-General of National Youth Service Corps NYSC Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has appealed to all stakeholders in Ondo State to provide adequate security for Corps Members that will be engaged as polling officials in the forthcoming the gubernatorial election in the state.

He said Corps Members were apolitical and focused on contributing their quota towards national development.

General Ibrahim stated these today during a courtesy visit to the Deji of Akure, His Imperial Majesty Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, and also the Olowo of the Owo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III in their palaces.

He assured that the youth on national service would perform the election duties with a high sense of responsibility and neutrality, but added that all stakeholders must contribute towards giving them maximum protection.

The NYSC boss, who appreciated the monarch for his support for NYSC, stressed that the Scheme placed a high premium on the welfare and security of the Corps Members.

“I want to plead with the good people of Ondo State to protect my Corps Members.

“We want to ensure that our Corps Members are safe as we look forward to a hitch-free election”, the DG added.

Ibrahim further urged residents of the State to tap from the potentials of Corps Members for socio-economic development, adding that their knowledge, loyalty, and dedication to duty were of immense benefit.

Responding, the Deji of Akure commended the NYSC Scheme for its role in mentoring of the nation’s youth.

He added that residents of Ondo State were looking up to the Corps Members’ credible conduct of the Governorship Election.

“We believe in them because they are up to the task and residents of the Ondo State trust them”, the monarch said.

Also the Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye commended General Ibrahim for his efforts in mentoring graduate youths.

He lauded the NYSC for its roles in adding more credibility to the electoral assignments in the country

“Corps Members are treasures that must be protected and no matter what, nothing will happen to Corps Members in this kingdom, and even in Ondo State l can assure you of their safety.

The NYSC Scheme has to be a pride of the nation because it is uniting us”, he said

During separate visits to the 32 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Owena, Akure; Ondo State Command of the Department of State Services, and the State Police Command, the Director-General appealed to the agencies to provide adequate security for all Corps Members before, during, and after the election.

In their responses, the Brigade Commander, 32 Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Zakari Abubakar; Director, Department of State Services, Mr. Emmanuel Esomonu, and State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salami Amidu Bolaji all assured that measures had been put for the protection of all Corps Members during the election.

Earlier in the day, the Director-General addressed the Corps members that will serve as election officials urging them to abide by the electoral laws, be security conscious, and avoid infractions.

“You must abide by the electoral laws. If you run a foul of the law, NYSC will not be there for you.

Be security conscious, don’t cut corners, and use only the vehicles accredited by INEC”, General Ibrahim said.

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Alake Inaugurates Nigeria-US Solid Minerals Committee, Dismisses $700bn Claim, Says No Assets Sold

Published

2 days ago

October 28, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria-United States Committee on Strategic Cooperation in the Solid Minerals Sector in Abuja, dismissing reports that Nigeria sold $700 billion worth of solid minerals to the US.

The inauguration followed the strategic cooperation framework established between Nigeria and the United States during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head PRESS and Public Relations Department Mrs. Kania Maliki Andeyaba stated that, Alake in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the US is a government-to-government platform to facilitate business-to-business engagements between American investors and Nigerian local operators, not a sale of assets.

Harping on the importance of the solid minerals sector to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, he noted that the administration was committed to reducing dependence on a mono-product economy through the sustainable development of Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.

According to him, the Nigeria–US partnership as a strategic initiative to attract investment, promote technology transfer, strengthen local mineral processing and create employment opportunities.

“There is no sale of any Nigerian asset. There’s nothing exchanging hands,” Alake declared.

“We created a platform to facilitate mingling of US investment ventures with Nigeria’s local operators. It is in the public domain. We signed it in public and published it in four or five national newspapers.”

The Minister said reports claiming the US was coming to take over Nigeria’s minerals and security architecture were untrue at best and products of riotous imagination at worst.

Explaining the policy thrust, Alake said Africa has historically held the short end of the stick in global economic transactions, and Nigeria is determined to change that model.

“We have the resources, the critical elements the world needs to transit to clean energy. So we are creating a new paradigm — you bring your capital, expertise and technology, to match with our natural resources and create a win-win situation . The investor gains, Nigeria gains.’’he said.

Nigeria, he stressed, had operated a mono-cultural economy dependent on oil, while solid minerals were exploited informally — with ores taken “from pit to port” without value addition.

Alake said government has now made local processing mandatory, refusing to grant mineral titles to investors without a clear pathway to processing in Nigeria.

He said the policy led to the springing up of processing factories, including the largest lithium processing plant in West Africa commissioned recently in Nasarawa by the Vice President, and informed the formation of the African Minerals Strategy Group.

Alake noted that investor confidence has returned due to macro-economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu that guarantee security of tenure and repatriation of profits.

He charged the committee to discharge its assignment responsibly, saying its work is strategic to achieving the President’s $1 trillion economy target.

To this end, he told the Committee to ensure effective coordination, identify investment opportunities and translate the framework into measurable outcomes capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global solid minerals industry.

In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, said the inauguration translates growing bilateral engagements into a structured framework for practical cooperation and investment mobilization

Economic Officer at the US Embassy, Jonathan Baas, said President Donald Trump has prioritized three areas for US embassies — energy, artificial intelligence/super intelligence, and critical minerals.

Baas said Washington’s direction is to work with partners to secure critical supply chains while ensuring partners capture value.

“We just signed a contract today on looking into building AI data centres in Nigeria at the Nigerian Economic Summit. That’s the direction Washington wants us to go,” he said.

In his vote of thanks, CEO/Managing Director of Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, NSMC said that the committee

is expected to coordinate implementation, facilitate investment and monitor progress towards achieving the objectives of the Nigeria–US cooperation framework.

The inauguration reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the solid minerals sector as a key driver of economic diversification, industrial development and national prosperity under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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