I won’t stop talking on herdsmen killings – Ortom
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said on Monday he would not stop talking on the killing of harmless farmers by Fulani herdsmen until perpetrators of the act are arrested and brought to justice.
Receiving a delegation of Nigeria Peace Ambassador who was on a fact- finding mission to the state, the governor said the only way the Federal Government can stop him from talking is to arrest members of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Houre who have openly confessed to the killing.
“Let the Federal government shut my mouth by arresting those behind the killings, especially Miyetti Allah Kautal Houre who openly confessed to the killings,” Ortom said.
He attributed the impunity in Benue to immunity conferred on Fulani herdsmen “who are above the law.”
“The killings are going on because Fulani herdsmen are above the law in this country and as such they are killing people in Adamawa, Edo, Ekiti, Taraba and Plateau States. Yet no security agent has deemed it necessary to arrest any one of them to face the law,” Ortom added.
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Native doctor arrested for selling babies
An Enugu-based native doctor, Chigozie Emmanuel, has been arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) for selling babies.
The herbalist, also known as Akuchi, was accused of deceiving women into thinking they are pregnant and handing them other peoples babies after collecting a lot of money.
In a statement isuued by one Nneka Aniagoh on behalf of the Head, Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Emmanuel is the owner of Akuchi Herbal Concept, located at New Nyanya, Abuja.
NAPTIP said the man was arrested after weeks of diligent surveillance by officers of the agency and those of the Department of State Service (DSS).
She said: “His arrest was based on a previous arrest by the police, of a woman whom they saw with a baby in Abuja enroute Minna, Niger State. Based on their suspicion, they detained and questioned the woman on the identity of the baby she carried. She admitted to being a patient of Mr. Emmanuel, whom she said administered some herbs to her after years of infertility.
“She thereafter appeared pregnant and was cautioned against going to the hospital for any medical treatment or ante-natal care. When it was time for her ‘delivery’, Mr. Emmanuel directed her to Port-Harcourt where a baby was handed over to her. She confessed to paying Mr. Emmanuel the sum of N650,000 for his services.
“Mr. Emmanuel who was arrested at the weekend is helping with further investigations on sale of human beings and child trafficking.”
Reacting to the arrest, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the officers for their painstaking surveillance which culminated in the arrest.
Shewarned the public, especially women, to stop patronizing such “herbalists,” as the sale of babies is a crime punishable under law.
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Why we demutualised NSE – Dogara
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said on Monday the House demutualised the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to make it more attractive to investors.
Dogara, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, said the action would enable more multinational corporations to get their companies listed in the NSE and consequently contribute to the development of the economy.
“By implication, the demutualisation of the NSE will bring the ordinary Nigerian closer to benefiting from the nation’s commonwealth,” he stated.
The House had last week demutualised the NSE following the adoption of a report submitted by Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen- led Committee on Capital Market and Institutions on a Bill for an Act to facilitate the development of Nigeria’s Capital Market.
Dogara noted that the changes made by the House when concurred to by the Senate and signed into law by the President would ensure flexible governance structure in the capital market and stimulate the involvement of investors in governance.
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Buhari Will Lead Africa In Right Direction Against Corruption, Says Malami
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will steer African countries in the right direction to fight against corruption.
He commended the selection of the President to champion the cause in 2018 by African leaders as a sign of the success of the anti-graft war in Nigeria.
The minister made this known in Addis Ababa, venue of the African Union Summit.
The AU summit is a gathering of Head of States and Government of the African Union.
President Buhari was on July 4, 2017, endorsed by African leaders to champion the fight against corruption on the continent.
The endorsement, which took place during the 29th Session of the AU, was in recognition of his personal commitment and acclaimed anti-graft drive at the domestic level.
The President Buhari had also accepted his nomination on July 25, 2017, in a letter to President Alpha Conde of Guinea, the out-going AU Chairperson.
While thanking his colleagues for the honour, the Nigerian leader reiterated his “commitment to contributing towards our collective efforts to strengthen good governance and development on the continent.”
Apart from anti-corruption, other issues lined for consideration by African leaders and their delegations include peace and security (transnational terrorism); institutional reforms of the continental body; free movement of persons; climate change; trade; aviation; education; gender and development.
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Osinbajo Pays Tribute To ‘Selfless Ekwueme’
File photo
More tributes are pouring in for the former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, who died on November 19, 2017 at a London hospital.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday, described Ekwueme as a selfless and timeless person who built bridges across the ethnic lines.
Speaking at a parade of honour as the chief mourner in the funeral activities, Osinbajo prayed for the nation to be united as Ekwueme who is known for his loyalty wished for.
His corpse arrived the country from London, United Kingdom on Monday, January 29 around 5:00 am.
Family members, cabinet members and top government functionaries including the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, were on standby to witness the parade of honour of the former Vice-president.
After the prayers, his remains were wheeled into the waiting Military Airforce C 130 aircraft en route Enugu his residence from where he will be moved to Anambra his home state for interment on Tuesday, January 30.
The Vice President while receiving the corpse prayed that the death of the Former Vice President who he describes as selfless will consolidate the relationship between every Nigerian and bring about a truly united nation as the Ekweme had always wished for before his death.
Dr Alex Ifeanyi Chukwu Ekweme served as Nigeria’s former Vice President between 1979 and 1983.
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Obasanjo: Ex-President enjoys being sensational – Shittu
Shittu has also said that ex-President Obasanjo has the right to hold an opinion even if he is ignorant of Buhari’s achievements. The minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, has accused ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of enjoying sensationalism weeks after his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.This is coming barely 24 hours after Obasanjo shook hands and exchanged banter with President Buhari during the weekend.“You see, there are some people who enjoy engaging in sensationalism. With due respect to General Obasanjo, if you take his history over the last 30 years, there is hardly any regime, other than his own, that he did not criticise. Sani Abacha didn’t wait for Obasanjo to criticise him before sending him to the gulag.ALSO READ: Is Obasanjo’s messiah complex good for Nigeria?“So, many Nigerians know that Obasanjo enjoys this type of sensationalisation. In any case, no matter what impression you have of me, do you have a right to tell me not to contest an election? I mean we should talk like people who are educated, who know our left from the right,” Shittu said.Shittu, who is the main leader of the president’s reelection in the south-west, accused Obasanjo of engaging in sensationalism, saying he (Obasanjo) could be enlightened on Buhari’s achievement if ignorant. Obasanjo’s has a right to his opinion – ShittuThe communications minister has also said that ex-President Obasanjo has the right to hold an opinion even if he is ignorant of Buhari’s achievements.He said: “Obasanjo as a Nigerian has the right to hold an opinion. If Obasanjo holds an opinion that Mr President has performed less than it should be, those of us who are in the position to know better have a right to also state the other side which perhaps Obasanjo is ignorant of.” Obasanjo isn’t a politician, let the politicians decide Buhari’s fate – ShittuALSO READ: Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign bid kicks off in South WestShittu has also noted that Obasanjo is neither a card carrying member of any Nigerian political nor an active politician, hence, he should allow politicians and the citizenry decide Buhari’s fate.“There are procedures for elections. President Buhari is a member of the APC and the APC has its rules and regulations as to how candidates will emerge, if members of the party feel that the president has not performed well enough, it is for them to show that during the primary election. It’s not for anybody to shortchange Nigerians and prevent people from offering themselves for an election. “In any case, since Obasanjo is no more a member of a party, with due respect, it doesn’t lie in his mouth to tell us who among our party members or leaders to contest or not to contest. I think Nigerians should concede this privilege to we the members of APC to decide the fate of Mr President when the next round of primary comes.”Shittu kicks off campaign for Buhari;s re-electionShittu revealed that he had been appointed the national chairman of the board of trustees of Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo dynamic support group ahead of the 2019 elections.Shittu made the revelation on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari about the campaign organisation.Shittu also disclosed that the south-west campaign office would be inaugurated on January 20, 2018 saying Buhari’s ardent supporters would prevail on him to seek re-election.
Bafarawa: Ex-governor believes politicians are behind herdsmen-farmers clash
Bafawara also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to always act on advice and recommendations by eminent Nigerians. Ex-governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa has said politicians are behind the incessant killings attributed to conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, Daily Trust reports.Bafarawa made this known after a political meeting that held at his Sokoto residence. Bafarawa said: “Politicians are behind the killings. If you observe it critically and objectively, you will realise it is not the normal Fulani-farmers conflict. it is purely political because herdsmen are not known to be carrying dangerous and sophisticated weapons. “It means some politicians are using these people to achieve their selfish political goal,” Bafarawa added. Bafawara also advised President Muhammadu Buhari to always act on advice and recommendations by eminent Nigerians not minding the personality of the adviser or party affiliation.ALSO READ: Bafawara fails to convince court from prosecution in arms deal fraudThe ex-governor reiterated further saying President Buhari should study the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo aithfully and do the needful.Bafawara also said the call for President Buhari to contest in 2019 should be at the President’s discretion.
Wike: Rivers State governor is happy Don Wanny’s brother is dead
The late Obatosu, was amongst the 32 cultists declared wanted by the State Security Council after the the New Year Mayhem at Omoku. The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has commended the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army for the death of Obatosu, Don Wanny’s younger brother.Wike had commended the men of the security agencies, who took part in the joint operation that led to the killing of Oluchi Igwedibia aka Obatosu.The late Obatosu, was amongst the 32 cultists declared wanted by the State Security Council after the the New Year Mayhem at Omoku.Obatosu was killed at Sabo Iyakpe, Etsako West in Edo State on Sunday, January 28, 2018, following accurate DSS intelligence.The late Obatosu played a prominent role in the New Year killings by the Don Wanny gang in Omoku.Don Wanny, Obatosu declared wantedGovernor Wike had declared Don Wanny and his brother, Obatosu wanted after the Omoku massacre.The governor and the Rivers State Security Council had stressed that perpetrators of the killings will not go free, saying that they will all be brought to justice.ALSO READ: Here are family pictures of notorious kidnap kingpinThe governor further declared that the N20million bounty placed for credible information that will lead to the arrest of the wanted cultists is still in place.Wike also stated that those who participated in other security infraction in the state will be traced and brought to justice.
Abiodun Olujimi: How Ekiti Senator ‘got slapped’ in NASS elevator
Ekiti lawmaker, Senator Abiodun Olujimi ‘got slapped’ by a NASS staff today. Here’s how it all happened. The Senate wing of the National Assembly was in frenzy on Monday, January 29, 2018, following an “elevator fight” between Ekiti lawmaker, Senator Abiodun Olujimi and a legislative staff.Despite being a plenary-free day, today happened to be a very busy day at the National Assembly.This was because the Senate committee on petroleum (downstream) had fixed it’s investigative hearing on petrol scarcity almost at the same time with the meeting of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN).The PASAN members were meeting ahead of a planned strike.The elevator fightElevators at the National Assembly are installed in pairs with bold inscription on the them. While one is expected to aid the mobility of lawmakers up and down the building, the other is reserved for ‘ordinary’ Nigerians.Trouble started when Senator Olujimi, who was on her way to the subsidy hearing, sighted the PASAN member in the elevator reserved for lawmakers. However, there are no strict adherence to this rule.When both elevators are free – no lawmaker or operators – ‘ordinary’ citizens would use both machines.This was the case of the PASAN member.Luck, however, ran out of the PASAN member as Senator Olujimi caught him in the act.The Ekiti lawmaker had questioned his decision to use the elevator reserved for lawmakers.ALSO READ: Restore Willie Obiano’s security aides immediately, Senate tells IGPAn argument broke out and Senator Olujimi “asked her aide to slap the PASAN member”, a source told Pulse.The PASAN member staff retaliated by “slapping Senator Olujimi” and not her aide, the source added. This sparked mixed reactions with argument largely against the lawmaker.While some PASAN members had threatened to attack the lawmaker, others resolved to start using both elevators, Pulse learnt.Videos and pictures of the event were highly prohibited by the security officers.Both the lawmaker and the PASAN member were unavailable for comments on the squabble.But speaking to journalists at the after the hearing, Senator Olujimi categorically said she would take up the matter with the Police.Buhari not in chargeSenator Olujimi who is the deputy minority whip had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of losing grip over his government.Olujimi, accused a certain ‘cabal’ of running the Buhari administration.She urged President Buhari to call “his boys” to order.
Kwankwaso suspends visit to Kano
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso
The former governor and senator representing Kano Central, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has suspended the planned visit to Kano State.
Addressing journalists in Kano on Monday, former secretary to the State government under the administration of Kwankwaso, Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi said the proposed visit has been shelved till further notice.
“In view of the apprehension and tension that envelope the ancient city of Kano over his planned visit and after lengthy consultations with well-meaning Nigerians home and abroad, the Senator painfully decided to withdraw his homecoming,” Bichi said.
Don Waney: DSS guns down brother of notorious kidnapper
The DSS has killed kidnapper Don Waney’s brother in Edo State. The Rivers State police command has confirmed the death of Oluchi Igwedibia alias Obatosu; younger brother of Don Waney—the late fearsome kidnapper who masterminded the deaths of 22 in Rivers State on New Year’s Day.According to the police, Obatosu was killed by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday January 27, at Sabo Iyakpe, Etsako West in Edo State.Obatosu’s lifeless body was displayed at the headquarters of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Monday. State Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Zaki Ahmed, says “This is indeed the fruit of collaborative effort by the security agencies to get the State free of crime and cultism. No evil doer will go free. Every youth should shun crime and embrace peace.“Oluchi Igwedibia was caught up by law in Auchi, Edo State, where he ran to and was planning to come back and attack his local government before he was killed. The law caught up with him”.Death of the cultistsObatosu joined his brother to murder 22 on January 1, 2018, police say. He was subsequently declared wanted alongside 32 other infamous cultists who had operated with impunity in the Rivers/Niger Delta area. On January 7, 2018, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu who is Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, told Pulse that Don Waney had been killed in a shootout in Enugu where he had fled to; as the manhunt for him intensified.
Osinbajo, Saraki, others honour Ekwueme at Abuja airport
Dignitaries on Monday stormed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in honour of the late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
A Parade of Honour was held at the Presidential Wing of the airport in honour of the deceased.
Ekwueme died in London in December 2017.
The Nigerian Police Force led the Parade of Honour at the brief ceremony.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said Ekwueme was committed to selfless service to the nation, West Africa, Africa and the world at large.
The deceased, he noted, had timeless ideals of integrity, loyalty and kindness to all.
He was optimistic that the vision and sacrifice of the late Ekwueme for the nation would not be in vain.
Osinbajo said: “As we receive the body of the first elected Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme (GCON), this morning, we are reminded of his selfless service to nation, to our region, to Africa and indeed the world.
“We are reminded of his commitment to the timeless ideals of integrity, loyalty and kindness to all.
“We thank the almighty God for giving us 85 glorious years of Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
“When he was asked what his vision was for the county, he said, ‘I will want to see Nigeria to be a nation and not just a country.’
“Those words tell us how committed he was to the unity of this country and I pray that in death and as we remember him, that this will not only encourage us but also cement the relationship between all of the people and nationalities of this country, so that we become and remain one.
“We thank the almighty God for his family and for all of us who he left behind and we pray that his great wishes for this nation and all that he sacrificed for will not be in vain.”
Among those present at the event were – the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Others were – Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, representative of Former President Shehu Shagari, Hon. Aminu Shagari and Senator Andy Uba, who represented Ekwueme’s constituency in the Senate.
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Expect more aerial bombardment in Lagos, others – NAF
The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) on Monday said there would be increased aerial bombardment and patrols within the South West to prevent criminality.
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ekeh, stated this during an interview with journalists at the command’s headquarters in Lagos.
Ekeh, who took over headship of the command from AVM Ibrahim Yahaya, assured that the NAF was committed to improved security across the country.
According to him, efforts were ongoing for the induction of additional air assets.
Ekeh said: “You will recall that just recently, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, was here to inaugurate one of Nigerian Air Force’s platforms, an helicopter. These are parts of the efforts the Force is doing to ensure that security issues are taken care of.
“So the Air Force is coming with additional platforms to ensure that we put in more efforts and this means that there will be increased aerial patrols within our Area of Responsibility (AOR).
Ekeh solicited cooperation from officers in the command, assuring them that they would work as a family to achieve set goals.
According to him, that would sustain the tempo of successes recorded under his predecessor.
Yahaya, who has been appointed the Chief of Administration, NAF headquarters, said the challenges of the command were enormous but could be surmounted.
He said: “The challenges I met on my assumption of office 13 months ago were quite enormous. From accommodation problems to deteriorating barrack infrastructure and so on.
“These situations were overwhelming but the marvelous cooperation I enjoyed from my commanders and continuous support from the NAF headquarters helped us to record remarkable achievement.
“Though we have recorded some modest achievements within this period, there are still a lot of challenges, which I believe that the new AOC is very competent to handle.”
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Medview Airline suspends Dubai operations
Medview Airlines on Monday announced the suspension of flight operations on the Lagos /Dubai route till March 25.
The decision, according to the airline was taken to resolve issues on aircraft with its Euro Atlantic partners.
The Managing Director of Medview, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos.
Medview began Dubai route operations on December 7 last year.
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Muhammadu Buhari: President remains best choice in 2019 – APC chieftain
According to him, the electorate should vote for continuity in order to consolidate on ongoing changes in the country that would set the nation on the path of progress. Alhaji Abubakar Ma’aji, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger says President Muhammadu Buhari remains the only credible choice in the 2019 general elections.Ma’aji, who made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, said the choice in 2019 would be between credibility and return to years of massive corruption and insecurity.According to him, the electorate should vote for continuity in order to consolidate on ongoing changes in the country that would set the nation on the path of progress.“President Buhari has proved beyond reasonable doubt to be honest, sincere and committed to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians irrespective of political, tribal and ethnic differences,” he said.Ma’aji lauded President Buhari for his commitment in the fight against corruption, militancy, cattle rustling and Boko Haram.According to him, the profile of Nigeria has risen high since Buhari assumed duty, because of the high regard the international community has for him.“The nation’s credibility before the international community has improved and that would attract more foreign investors to boost our economy.“The President’s track record of real integrity was purely responsible for foreign nations positive disposition to assist in revamping our economic, security and anti-corruption initiatives,” he said.“What the country needs at this material time is a peaceful atmosphere for which the Federal government is committed to,” he added.Ma’aji called on politicians to play responsible politics and shun all kinds of political violence and thuggery for peace, progress and political growth of the country.
Deji Tinubu: Immortalise special adviser, Lagos Assembly tells Ambode
He was moved to become Special Adviser to Ambode on Commerce and Industry in a cabinet reshuffle two weeks before his death. The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to immortalise Mr Deji Tinubu for his achievements in the field of sport in the state.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Deji Tinubu, who died on Thursday, had served as Ambode’s Special Adviser on Sports and Chairman of the State’s Sports Commission.He was moved to become Special Adviser to Ambode on Commerce and Industry in a cabinet reshuffle two weeks before his death.The 54-year-old football enthusiast slumped and died during a novelty football match in Epe on the sideline of a retreat for Lagos cabinet members, permanent secretaries and directors of ministries.The Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said his death was shocking.“There is a need to write to the governor to commiserate with him.“We also appeal to the governor to immortalise him in the area of sport within our facilities in Lagos State,” he said on the floor of the House.Obasa, thereafter, directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni to send a letter of condolence to the governor and the family of the deceased.Earlier, Mr Tunde Braimoh, the Acting Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security,in his contribution, said the late Tinubu did a lot in the field of sport.“Deji Tinubu should be immortalised for what he has done in the field of sport.“He died while doing what he knew how to do best. He was for many years a top notch in the field of sport.“As a calling, he was a sport analyst, sport commentator and sport administrator. It was so ironical that he died in the field of sport.“I want to urge the Lagos State Government to immortalise him for what he had done in the field of sport,” he said.The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade said that the death of Deji Tinubu showed that no matter how sound and how careful anybody is, one day, he or she would pass away.“It is always good to live our lives as if we would not see the next day.“I don’t think it will be out of place to immortalise his name with any structure around the area where he died, ” he said.The Acting Chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Mr Oladele Adekanye, said that the sporting community had lost a prominent person with the death of Tinubu.“I pitch my tent with those who call for his immortalisation for the great work he (Tinubu) did in the field of sport not only for the Lagos State but also for Nigeria as a whole,” he said.The late Deji Tinubu, son of late Kafaru Tinubu — one of Nigeria’s foremost police officers — is survived by an aged mother, Bintu Tinubu and wife, Yemisi.He will be buried on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Nasir El-Rufa’i: Governor’s mass sack of workers threat to security, says group
The group in a statement issued in Kaduna by its Secretary, Ibrahim Zango said that the action of the government would create poverty, hunger and raise the crime rate in the state. The media committee of Maina Zazzau Campaign Organisation on Monday, criticized the sack of over 36,000 workers by the Kaduna State Government.The group in a statement issued in Kaduna by its Secretary, Ibrahim Zango said that the action of the government would create poverty, hunger and raise the crime rate in the state.The committee, which coordinates media activities of Dr Muhammed Sani-Bello, a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), added that the move would also erode gains made in reducing unemployment by President Muhammadu Buhari.“This move is not only insensitive to the extreme economic hardship plaguing the citizens, but would also create unemployment.“It’s a scheme set to undo the minimal gains recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari’s N-power project and the economic diversification programme of this administration,” the group said.The group believed that, if the ultimate objective of the state government was massive reduction of workforce across ministries, Departmentsand Agencies, “there were better ways of doing it.“” We stand in complete opposition to the anti -workers policies of governor Nasir El-Rufa’i that are deepening poverty and deprivations as well ascircumscribing the fundamental rights of the people, particularly workers in the state.” The basic minimum is that the principle of collective bargaining in Labour relations as enshrined in our national Labour laws and conventions of the International Labour Organization must be followed,” it added.The group also advised the governor to put in place measures to cushion the serious social consequences of adding 36,000 workers and their families tothe number of unemployed people in the state “at a period when crime rate is growing at a frightening speed.“It would be recalled that the state government had said that there was no going back on its ongoing reform of the civil service.
Rabiu Kwankwaso: Senator suspends planned visit to Kano
He said the decision followed the intervention of some well meaning Nigerians who called from home and abroad. Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso has suspended his planned visit to Kano earlier scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30.The Chairman of Kwankwaso Visit Reception Committee, Dr Rabi’u Bichi, announced the suspension while addressing newsmen in Kano on Monday.He said the decision followed the intervention of some well meaning Nigerians who called from home and abroad.“This standoff has attracted the attention of well meaning Nigerians at home and abroad.‘’They have called to give advice that mostly borders on the preservation of lives and property of our supporters and admirers.“In view of the above and after lengthy consultations with well meaning Nigerians, we painfully have decided to shelve the visit at the moment,“ he said.Bichi, therefore, thanked all those leaders and supporters who advised and showed concern as well as put in a lot of time, energy and resources to make the visit successful.“It is important to state that Kwankwaso’s visit will never be a reason to deliberately inconvenience any citizen, small or big let alone spill a drop of blood.“We, therefore, appeal for peace, calm and call on our supporters to disregard any provocative statement,” Bichi said.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state police Commissioner, Mr Rabi’u Yusuf, had on Friday advised against the planned visit for security reasons.
Court returns Lamido’s case file to central registry for reassignment
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.
Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday returned the case of the former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido to the court’s central registry for reassignment.
Lamido, his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, alongside Aminu Abubakar, Batholomew Agoha, and three companies are facing a 43-count charge, bordering on corruption.
Quadri had admitted Lamido to bail in the sum of N100 million, while others were admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million each and two sureties each in like sum.
Lamido and his co-defendants were arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Kano State, on July 9, 2015 for allegedly misappropriating funds belonging to Jigawa Government.
The case was later transferred to the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice Gabriel Kolawole, a vacation judge, granted them bail, and adjourned the matter until Sept. 22, 2015.
The matter was then assigned to Justice Adeniyi Ademola, but following his arrest and prosecution by the Department of State Service (DSS), the matter was transferred to Quadri.
Following the acquittal of Ademola, one of his counsel, Mr Offiong Offiong (SAN) prayed the court to return the matter to Ademola on the grounds that 18 witnesses had already testified.
But the prosecuting counsel, Mr Chike Okoroma, objected on the grounds that the lead counsel to Lamido, Mr Joe Agi (SAN) was tried alongside Ademola for corruption related offences.
He said that it would be wrong for Agi to defend a case before Ademola because the public perception would be that the judge was bias, whichever way the verdict went.
The matter later went to the Court of Appeal and the appellate court held that the matter should continue before Ademola.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Quadri noted that, “in view of the recent developments, the case is remitted to the central registry for further directives by the Chief Judge of the court.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Ademola had in December 2017, tendered a letter of resignation as a judge of the court.
This was followed shortly by the announcement of his compulsory retirement by the National Judicial Council.
Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever vaccination
Zamfara Government will vaccinate 3.2 million people during the ongoing yellow fever vaccination campaign, the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Lawal Liman, has said.
Liman said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Monday that the vaccination would be conducted in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
“We have already concluded the first phase of the exercise which covers four local government areas of Anka, Gusau, Maru and Maradun and we have recorded great success.
“We are now on the second phase which would cover ten local government areas of Bungudu, Birnin-Magaji, Bakura, Bukkuyum, Gummi, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi Talata-Mafara, Tsafe and Zurmi.
“We started the second phase of this exercise last four days, we have reached about 40 percent coverage now and it would end in the next six days”, he said.
According to him, the vaccine is for the people from 9 months to 45 years of age.
The commissioner therefore urged residents to cooperate with the government for the success of the exercise.
He said that, “the reports we are receiving from our officials on the fields is indicating that the exercise is moving smoothly, our people are participating across the state, we have been enlightening them through jingles, programmes on radio and television.
“We are still calling on stakeholders to continue enlightening members of the public on the importance of the vaccine so as to achieve the desired objective,” Liman added.
He assured that measures had been put in by all stakeholders including development partners “to reach out to the targeted number of people or beyond at the end of the exercise.
Nigeria To get National Carrier Soon – Sirika
The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has Nigeria will get a national carrier soon in order to take full advantage of the newly launched single African air transport market.
The minister said that the national carrier will be private sector driven.
He made this known while speaking on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia following the launch of the new regional aviation initiative.
The minister had earlier said that Federal Government will ensure the establishment of a national carrier takes place before the end of 2017.
He made the disclosure at a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.
Nigeria’s first national carrier was established in 1958 and stopped operations in 2003 with more than 30 aircrafts on its fleet in the 1980s.
The post Nigeria To get National Carrier Soon – Sirika appeared first on Channels Television.
Shema: Ex governor insists he didn’t steal N11B
Former Katsina Gov Ibrahim Shema says he’s not afraid of defending himself over N11B fraud. A former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, says he has nothing to fear in the case of fraud against him to the tune of N11B.In September 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Shema a wanted man.Shema would go on to turn himself in soon after. Appeal In 2017, Shema and his co-defendants had filed a case before the apex court, challenging their trial. It was a case they lost before settling for an interlocutory injunction. Not satisfied, they took their prayers to the Supreme Court. They contended that EFCC lacks the powers to have them tried under a law they said was enacted by the Katsina State government. Shema has always considered his trial a case of witch-hunt by his successor Aminu Bello Masari (APC).However, the Supreme Court ruled that Shema and his co-defendants have a case to answer.“This interlocutory appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” ruled Justice Bage. Nothing to fearSpeaking through his media aide, Olawale Oluwabusola, Shema says he isn’t scared of facing trial.“Now that the highest court in the land has spoken, he expects the EFCC and the Katsina State government to comply with and provide necessary documents to prepare his defence as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, Shema says in the statement made available to journalists. “The former governor is always ready to defend himself and to prove his innocence on universal principles of rule of law and fair hearing, against the politically motivated smear campaign of calumny being ochestrated by the Katsina state government, using agencies of state and federal government as tools to cow the opposition”, the statement added. Shema, 61, served as Governor of Katsina State on the platform of the PDP from 2007 to 2015.
FAAN begins evacuation of abandoned aircraft from MMA airside
Murtala Airport Lagos
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Monday said it had started the evacuation of abandoned aircraft at the airside of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, FAAN, confirmed the development to newsmen in Lagos.
Yakubu said that no fewer than 13 aircraft had been abandoned at the airside by different airlines over the years, despite several warnings issued to them by FAAN.
“We have about 13 aircraft abandoned at the airside. On Friday, we moved four aircraft from the airside and the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of Lagos airport told me again this morning that they are going to move another set of four aircraft.
“We have taken the legal issues into consideration; if you agree with me, these aircraft are not helping us in anyway. They are taking up a lot of space. Space for aircraft landing and taking off are being taken by these aircraft.
“The airports belong to FAAN, which means that it is the property of the Federal Government, and there is no airline that is bigger than Nigeria. Nigeria has given them a long time to be able to move their aircraft, and they have refused to do this.
“FAAN is not taking possession of their aircraft; but we are moving them away from where they are to another place within the airport, where they will not serve as eyesore, and where they will not constitute nuisance to activities on our airside,” she said.
Yakubu said the owners of aircraft evacuated by the agency on Friday are Associated Air, IRS, Dana Air and Hak Air.
She said that the other aircraft to be evacuated on Monday belonged to the liquidated carrier, Air Nigeria, Associated Cargo, Bellview, JedAir, Precision Aviation Handling Company and PAC, TopBrass and others.
The FAAN general manager said the relocation was necessary to give more space for airworthy aircraft to land, take off and manoeuvre as expected during operations at the airside.
She said FAAN would continue to give top priority to the safety and comfort of airport users.
Yakubu said plans had reached an advanced stage for the agency to install Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at strategic locations within the airside, to forestall aircraft poaching and other incidents.
Apart from this, Yakubu said that FAAN had embarked on grass cutting at the airside and taken other measures to improve safety and security within that area of the airport.
“What we had in the past was that the ‘Follow Me’ vehicle used to be in the front of aircraft, but we have decided to reverse the order.
“The vehicles are now at the back of the aircraft, to ensure that the aircraft go to parking bay without any incident or aircraft poaching,” Yakubu said.
National Population Commission Staff Members Protest In Abuja
Two weeks after an initial protest by members of staff of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Abuja, the workers again have again trooped out in protest.
The staff members on Monday, January 29 mobilised their colleagues from states to protest at the commission’s Headquarter in Abuja.
Unlike the previous protests, the protesters this time bared every staff of the commission from gaining access to their offices as they blocked the gate.
The Federal Government had earlier appealed to the aggrieved workers on Friday, January 19, to resume duty as their grievances were being addressed.
The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, made the appeal at a stakeholders meeting to resolve the crisis in Abuja.
Part of the demands of the protesting staff members is the call for the sack of the reappointed Director-General, Dr Ghaji Bello. The union leader also confirmed that the Directors and Commissioners of the commission have passed a vote of no confidence on the newly appointed DG.
The post National Population Commission Staff Members Protest In Abuja appeared first on Channels Television.
Tunde Bakare: ‘Buhari is allowing Nigerians kill themselves’, pastor says
Pastor Tunde Bakare says Buhari is allowing Nigerians to kill themselves. Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly has come down hard on the Buhari led federal government, stating; “this is not the government we all hoped for”. He also castigated the administration for “allowing Nigerians to kill themselves”.Bakare was speaking as guest of ‘Politics Today’ on ChannelsTV.“This government that promised change at the beginning…we never thought this is how they’ll perform so woefully”, Bakare said when asked if he thought the Buhari government has been a failure.Fulani herdsmen have been blamed for recent killings across Nigeria and Bakare is of the opinion that the federal government has handled the entire crisis poorly. “With all the powers at the disposal of the federal government, to allow Nigerians to be killing each other this way is unfortunate”, the clergyman said. Who gave them guns?”Some of this could be avoided. You are now preaching peaceful coexistence to farmers to fold their hands and watch the people who are coming to take their lands. “I watched the video of how Falae’s farm was burnt to the ground by the criminal and heartless people.”I have seen Fulani herdsmen before. I grew up in the north, we play with them, they play with us, all these ones carrying AK47, who gave them the guns? Who licensed it for them?” Bakare asked. Bakare was candidate Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate during the 2011 presidential contest and is still considered an ally of the president. However, he’s become a staunch critic of the Buhari administration in recent times. He’s backed Buhari through his political journey for as long as anyone can remember. Recently, Bakare announced that he’ll be seeking the position of president some year soon.
NDDC, China plan 7,000 mega watts regional power project in Niger Delta
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is in discussion with a Chinese firm to establish a regional power pool project in the Niger Delta.
The NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere, disclosed this in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Ekere, represented by the commission’s Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, said at the meeting with officials of the Chinese company, SINOTEC, that the project was designed to stimulate industrial growth of the region.
He said on completion of the project, 7,000 mega watts of electricity would be produced from 18 power stations spread across the region.
“We have looked at some indicators and it is obvious that the power requirement for industrial growth in the region is not available.
“So, we need to make deliberate efforts to set up projects that can boost power and attract investors to the region.
Ekere said the commission was fully focused on diversifying the region’s economy from its over-reliance on oil and gas for survival.
“NDDC is interested in setting up the regional power pool to help provide adequate power that would be subsidised for the industrial parks planned for the nine states of the region.
“The power pool arrangement would benefit all Niger Delta people,” he said.
According to Ekere, the feasibility study for the project has been concluded across the Niger Delta states.
He said that the next stage would be to prepare the actual design for the project and produce the agreement spelling out conditions and terms of engagement.
The NDDC boss urged the Chinese firm to work out details including funding requirements which should be presented to the commission on Feb. 6.
Matthew Edevbie, the Managing Director of Income Electrik and consultant to NDDC, said the project aimed “to harness cheap, abundant, reliable and available power in the region’’.
Edevbie said that aside the 7,000 mega watts the 18 power stations would generate, industrial parks would also be built in each of the Senatorial districts in the region.
Responding, the General Manager of SINOTEC, Mr Bu Songo, said there was the need for a Public-Private Partnership for development of the power plant in the region.
He said that international funding was critical to the successful execution of the project, adding that SINOTEC had experience in power generation, transmission and contract financing.
Techpoint Build: 10 top quotes from start-up pitch competition
“One shocking truth we have discovered is that people don’t know how to use their mobile phones.” – Jason Njoku The inaugural edition of the start-up pitch competition Techpoint Build held on Saturday at the Landmark Event centre. The much anticipated event had thousands of entrepreneurs and technology stakeholder from all over Nigeria, gathered together to network and learn.Internship classifieds site Placements.ng vied with eight other start-ups and won the N1 million prize competition. There were also breakout panel sessions primarily around funding – is it right to take investor money early on; investments in Africa, etc.Below are wise nuggets from the sessions Quotes”I don’t believe in smart money. I believe in fast money. Collect from the investor who gives first, and with clear terms. No complexities. If a lawyer is needed to understand their proposal, I’d ignore.” – Shola Akinlade (CEO, Paystack)”We did 98 different pitches, tweaking the business model and value ad with each, before finally attracting investment from Techstars. You have to do the work.” – Onyeka Akumah (CEO, Farmcrowdy)“If you have a brilliant idea in an untested territory, don’t bootstrap to prove the concept, because if you eventually do, then vultures who can raise more and market more than you, will duplicate your idea and take market lead. So, see to it that you get funding in that scenario, so you can grow aggressively before second movers catch up.” – Onyeka Akumah (CEO, Farmcrowdy)“One shocking truth we have discovered is that people don’t know how to use their mobile phones. So we rolled out market education through physical outlets where salesmen collect your phone, help you download the iROKO app and sign in.” – Jason Njoku (CEO, iROKOtv)“I used to be all techy before until one day I was on Adeola Odeku and this big man steps out of his exotic car with two expensive mobile phones asking me for directions to a nearby street. I thought to myself, “this rich man has Google products on his phones that can direct him yet he can’t or wouldn’t use it?” – Simeon Ononobi (CEO, SimplePay) Chika, are you looking to take bets on small startups now as you did with Jobberman back then? “No. They are hell (laughs). There’s not so much capital, resources and time so I have to focus on the portfolio I currently have and guard against spreading myself too thin. But I can work with credible investors playing at that seed phase.” – Chika Nwobi (founder, L5Lab)“Startups need to look more at substituting investments for partners who have access to market or other things they need. A lot of conventional people have made money in this clime through partnerships and without raising money. That’s how I started in business at Mtech. We approached MTN that had millions of subscribers and said, look let’s partner and share earnings and that’s how we got millions of customers.” – Chika Nwobi (founder, L5Lab)“There’s a market online but most offline. You have to wait, survive, till they all come online.” – Muyiwa Matuluko (co-founder, Techpoint)”Online today is like 25 percent of iROKO revenue. In 10 years we want it to be like 80 percent. We believe it will take 10 years before online market becomes really big in Nigeria” – Jason Njoku (CEO, iROKOtv)Should we be expecting Unicorns in Nigeria?“Yes. Within the next ten years.
Ekwueme had impeccable integrity, courage, selflessness – Osinbajo
*Ngige: Ekwueme rejected Senate President offer from Obasanjo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said that the late Vice President in the Second Republic, Dr. Alex Ekwueme had impeccable integrity, courage and selflessness.
Ekwueme had died in a London hospital last year.
Speaking at the Night of Song service organized by the Federal Government in honour of the deceased, Osinbajo said that the late Ekwueme worked tirelessly to build and maintain bridges across the country.
According to him, Ekwueme understood the symbolism of leaders of the nation to honour God.
He said, “Dr. Alex Ekwuene is perhaps one of the most remarkable persons who have served our nation. Despite being probably one of the most thoroughly educated persons anywhere in the world with degrees in disciplines as distinct as architecture, philosophy, sociology and law.
“He possess the profound humility that comes from understanding how much more there was to learn and he demonstrated it by his willingness to listen and to learn at all time.
“As Vice President he set an excellent example with loyalty, discipline, team spirit and fidelity to the nation.
“He was fearless and with the courage of his conviction, he led the G-34, a group of eminent Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship in its darkest and most fiercesome days in Nigerian history.
‘In public discourse nationally and regionally as an elder in ECOWAS even in the most emotive subject, he spoke truthfully but maintaining a forthful balance ensuring that his words built rather than destroyed.
“He worked tirelessly to build and maintain the bridges established across ethnic and religious lines. He never once doubted the validity of one indivisible Nigeria.” he added
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige disclosed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, offered the late Ekwueme, Senate Presidency, after the later lost the Jos primaries of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ).
Ngige said he personally advised the late Ekwueme to reject the offer as he was sure that the former Vice President was too rigid to be a Senate President and that he would be impeached within three months.
He said, “I told Ide (Dr. Ekwueme) that he was too rigid and that he would not be able to do that job. When the committees come to you and say do this and do that, you will not agree and the next thing they will go and gather signatures and in no time, the will impeach you.
“Ide was very strict on accountability. Even when we were campaigning, whenever we returned, he would call you and ask you to give account of how you spent the campaign money. He will have his paper and pen in his hands. You know politicians don’t like that. They don’t like accountability.” he said
Ngige also disclosed that the late Vice President, lost the Jos PDP presidential primary ticket because he refused to bribe the delegates.
He said that Ekwueme failed in bribery and corruption and refused to give false promises, which were the hallmark of typical politicians.
Stressing that the late former VP was not a religious bigot, as his father was an Anglican pastor, Ngige said that Ekwueme never discriminated against people of other faiths.
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, urged Nigerians to learn from late Dr. Ekwueme’s courage, which made him confront late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, with the G34 initiative.
He also urged Nigerians to imbibe Dr. Ekwueme’s patriotic zeal.
He said “We must first see ourselves as Nigerians, irrespective of our religions and tribes.”
Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who was also the former Secretary of the G34 and political ally of the Late Dr. Ekwueme, said that Ekwueme was “a great son of Nigeria, a loving leader, creative designer, first class architect, wise counselor, elder statesman, a great patriot, defender of the people, an advocate of social justice, fairness and equity.”
He said that Dr. Ekwueme led the G34 which confronted Late Gen. Sani Abacha to stop his self-succession bid, and was at the vanguard of the return to democracy after more than two and half decades of military dictatorship.
Prof. Gana also revealed that the letter by the G 34 was written by himself and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu but that Dr. Ekwueme, who was the chairman of the group personally edited and submitted it at the Aso Rock Villa, to ensure it got to Late Gen. Abacha.
Prof. Jerry Gana described the late Ekwueme as a defender of the people, a political colossus and an advocate of social justice and equity.
The President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo said he didn’t come to mourn rather to rejoice for the gift of nature from God to Igboland.
He said, “He was multi disciplinary and distinctive in what he set out to do and loyal in his convictions and believed in his intellectual perception.
“I haven’t come here to mourn on behalf of the Igbos, I have come here to rejoice that God gave us an exemplary son.
“On a night like this what is important is to christenize the distinctive achievements and characteristics of Dr. Alex Ekwueme and I’m the process hope that those of us who are living will derive example from it and create a better society.”
He said that Dr. Ekwueme was very loyal to Shehu Shagari.
He said “Dr. Ekwueme never thought of leaving PDP. What was important to him was his sense of contribution. Whether or not he made money from it or not. Ekwueme was a very humble man. Chief Nwodo urged Nigerians politicians to emulate.”
Also speaking, Prof. Uzodimma Nwala who worked closely with the late Vice President said he respected him for his great intellect and not the typical Nigerian politician, adding that he had the carriage.
He said that Ekwueme came up with the establishment of six geopolitical zones as basis for optical and resources sharing.
“We are celebrating a man that had contributed in laying the foundation of unity in Nigeria.
“The true components of Nigeria is the ethnic nationalities. We must come back to a loose federation.”
“Dr. Alex Ekwueme was not a typical Nigerian politician,” and urged Nigerian politicians to take lessons from the departed VP.” he said
The former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari represented by his son, Aminu Shagari said late Ekwueme lived a simple and uncomplicated life and that his father’s choice of Ekwueme as his Vice President was a right choice.
He said the late former Vice President exhibited tolerance and total loyalty, describing him as patriotic and a statesman.
The post Ekwueme had impeccable integrity, courage, selflessness – Osinbajo appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.
KOWA: Party’s ex presidential candidate apologises to Nigerians
KOWA presidential candidate apologises to Nigerians, says the old has failed the young Prof Oluremi Sonaiya who was presidential candidate of KOWA political party during the 2015 general elections, has tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians.Sonaiya was speaking in the wake of the Osun local government elections which saw the governing APC sweep every poll and council in sight. The PDP reportedly boycotted the vote and smaller political parties like KOWA were not even at the races. Apology“Good day. We owe the public an explanation and apologies on the Osun State LG election. In promoting leadership by younger people, the risk of mistakes due to lack of experience is high. Means we need closer supervision. This has cost us a lot, but we’re learning. We are sorry”, Sonaiya tweeted. Local government elections in Nigeria are often treated with apathy; with the third tier only managing to stay afloat thanks to paltry allocations from the center.
Tunde Bakare: Buhari has failed woefully – Cleric
Bakare expressed confusion in the personality and ideology of the President Muhammadu Buhari he knew in 2011 and now. Former presidential candidate and senior pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has said scored the President Muhammadu Buhari administration zero.He said the APC-led government has dashed the hopes of Nigerians.Speaking on Channels TV, Bakare, who ran with Buhari as a vice presidential candidate in 2011, said the person currently running the affairs of Nigeria is not the Buhari he knew. He said, “no matter how you look at it, this is not the government we all hoped for. This is not what we thought the government that promised change in the beginning will perform so woefully. Any right thinking Nigerian will agree with that. They could have done better than what they have done so far. They themselves know that.”I once did a video, ‘The Buhari I know’, and I meant every word I said in that video. I hope I will not be pushed to do a video of the Buhari I didn’t know”.The cleric further said, “I had no reason at the time I ran with him to ever believe he was nepotic. There was no reason because he did say to me he will assembly the best and the brightest from the East, West, North and South of our country to fix the nation. But when I read what Obasanjo wrote, and I saw the list of key appointments made, one would begin to think whether they just put the things on his tabel to sign or is this just what he did deliberately. That is food for thought”.ALSO READ: Presidential aide vows to ensure re-election of BuhariAbout two weeks back, Bakare announced that God instructed him to run president but he did not specify whether he would run in 2019.In an explosive letter written by former president Olusegun Obasanjo last Tuesday, he accused Buhari of nepotism, urging him not to seek re-election in 2019.
Alex Ekwueme: Body of ex VP arrives Nigeria for final burial
Alex Ekwueme’s body has arrived Nigeria for burial. The body of Second Republic Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, has touched down in Nigeria for burial, Pulse has learnt.Ekwueme died in a London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2017. He was 85 years of age when he passed on.Ekwueme served as Nigeria’s first elected Vice-President from 1979 to 1983.The Ekwueme’s hail from Anambra State. The final rite of passage for Alex will be held in the Southeast State on February 2.The federal government will grant the late politician a state funeral.
33 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports
Thirty three ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos from Jan. 29 to Feb. 19.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
It explained that seven of the expected 33 ships would sail in with petrol.
NPA said that 26 other ships contain buck wheat, frozen fish, soya beans, rig, bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, empty containers, diesel and containers laden with goods.
The document indicated that six ships had arrived the ports waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, containers, lubrication oil and petrol.
33 ships laden with petroleum products, food items to arrive Lagos ports
Thirty three ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports in Lagos from Jan. 29 to Feb. 19.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
It explained that seven of the expected 33 ships would sail in with petrol.
NPA said that 26 other ships contain buck wheat, frozen fish, soya beans, rig, bulk fertiliser, bulk sugar, empty containers, diesel and containers laden with goods.
The document indicated that six ships had arrived the ports waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, containers, lubrication oil and petrol.
Fulani Herdsmen: Gunmen kill 73 cows belonging to livestock farmers
The Gunmen shot sporadically and killed 73 cows belonging to herdsmen Gunmen attacked a band of Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa on Sunday, before killing 73 cows belonging to the herders.Daily Trust reports that the attack occurred at the Kadarko community in Keana local government area of Nasarawa State in the early hours of Sunday, January 28.According to Muhammed Sani who is the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Nasarawa chapter, the gunmen attacked the village, which is located between Benue and Nasarawa states, while shooting sporadically. Reports say the gunmen numbered about 100 and allegedly belong to a Tiv militia in Benue. A spate of killings in Nigeria in recent times have been blamed on marauding Fulani herdsmen.
El-Rufai: ‘No candidate can defeat Buhari in 2019,’ Governor boasts
El-Rufai also said that he has not read former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s explosive letter to Buhari because it is too long. Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari to beat any candidate in the 2019 presidential election.He also noted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of which he belongs, will retain its 24 states in 2019.Elrufai said this while speaking in an exclusive interview which aired on Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics.He said, “I do not have any doubt in my mind that we are going to win the next elections; not only in the centre but we are going to present our 24 states, and even more,”We are not saying this foolishly, this is scientific. We are monitoring the pulse of Nigerians, not the pulse of a section of Nigerians and I am confident that we are going to win the 2019 elections.” According to the governor, the APC is unshaken by the most recent criticism of President Buhari by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, which was contained in an explosive letter made public last Tuesday.Elrufai said the Buhari-led government is focused on delivering on its campaign promises.Elrufai said, “We know the pulse of the nation, we know where we are losing support, we know where we are gaining support; I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to win the 2019 elections.”There are two pulses of Nigerians – there is the pulse of the Nigerian elites which is the noise that you hear in the media, the social media and so on; then there is the pulse of the people.”If you remember how many people came out to welcome President Buhari in Kano, then you will know that there are two Nigerias.”Reacting to Obasanjo’s letter, El Rufai said he is yet to read it, noting that “it is too long and I am very busy.”He added, “You know (former) President Obasanjo is a Nigerian, he’s a patriot and he is entitled to his opinion just like every other Nigerian.”We are moving on, we are planning to deliver on our promises and when the time comes we will be ready for the 2019 elections with whoever and whatever party that exists. There are 73 parties in Nigeria; we are going to face them and I’m confident as I said.”The governor, who has been one the Buhari loyalists urging the President to seek a second term in office, explained that his agitation is in the best interest of Nigerians.”I believe that it is in the overall interest of our party and the stability of Nigeria; It is not because I stand to gain or lose anything. But it is because in everything I’ve done since I got into public service, for me the interest of Nigeria comes first.”God has given me everything through the instrumentality of this country – I don’t need anything as a person but what I need is to see a country that is making progress, that is stable and leave a legacy for our children to build on it”, El-Rufai said.In Obasanjo’s letter, he accused Buhari of non-performance and nepotism, and urged him not to seek re-election in 2019.Obasanjo, who also berated his former party, People Democratic Party (PDP), called for a ‘Coalition for Nigeria’ movement which would end the era of the APC and PDP.
BREAKING: 73 Cows Killed, 18 Others Injured By Suspected Cattle Rustlers In Nasarawa
73 cows were killed while 18 others cows were injured in an early morning attack on Yamadaga village, Kadarko community in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa state by suspected cattle rustlers.
The gunmen struck around 4:00 am on Sunday, January 29 shooting into the air. They were reported to have kidnapped two persons, chasing other cows into the bush in the process.
The victims of the attack who were mostly herdsmen claimed that the masterminds of the attack were Tiv farmers and that it was a reprisal attack.
Ahmed Abdullahi one of the cow owners said the unleashed mayhem when the villagers were asleep.
“I was sleeping and then I heard bullet sound everywhere, I didn’t see anybody but they killed my 73 cows, some of them were dispersed into the bush and I haven’t seen two of my children.”
Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Bello, confirmed the report of the attack to Channels Television. He said investigations are on to unravel the identity of the attackers.
The post BREAKING: 73 Cows Killed, 18 Others Injured By Suspected Cattle Rustlers In Nasarawa appeared first on Channels Television.
Accident claims 20 lives along Kaduna-Abuja expressway
No fewer than 20 people died in a ghastly motor accident along Kaduna-Abuja expressed way on Sunday night.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Corps in Kaduna State, Umar Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday that the accident occurred around 7 p.m. at Dutse U-turn, 22 kilometres from Kaduna metropolis.
Ibrahim said the accident involved a white DAF articulated vehicle with registration number: AJG118XA and a white Toyota HAICE bus with registration number: XA866MLF.
He said that the 16-seater bus was overloaded with 30 passengers, 29 males and a female going to the southern part of the country.
According to him, the accident occurred when the truck that was coming from Abuja axis was trying to make a u-turn at Dutse when the bus coming from Kaduna axis rammed into it, killing 17 people instantly.
“Ten others sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital by an FRSC official, where three of them also died.”
The sector commander said that the truck was going to evacuate cows from a broken down truck closed to the accident scene.
He said that the number of the death was this high because the bus was extremely overloaded.
“The bus was not only overloaded with passengers but also choked with dismembered motorcycles belonging to the passengers, “he said.
He said that the accident caused a trafficking gridlock that lasted for about four hours, saying, “we had to divert traffic to single lane before we were able to clear the wreckage and allow free flow of traffic.”
An eye witness, Kabiru Mohammed, told NAN that he was on his way to Abuja when he came across the accident.
“Initially I thought it was armed robbery in progress, because I saw motorists turning back and taking the other lane, before I saw the articulated vehicle by the u-turn that obstructed traffic.
“On getting there after I took the other lane, I saw a lot of people laying dead, while FRSC officials were trying to take the injured to the hospital.
“It was really a terrible sight, “Mohammed said.
Federal Government: FG probes tax officials for allegedly collecting bribe from whistle-blowers
Adeosun said the Federal Government is committed to flushing out those undermining the integrity of the tax administration. The Federal Government has begun investigation into over 200 whistle-blowing tips on tax officials and taxpayers for under-declaration of taxes.The officials were also accused of demanding gratification from whistleblowers.The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, disclosed this in Abuja on Sunday, January 28, while presiding over the meeting of the Whistle-blower Unit in the Ministry of Finance and the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit.According to her, two senior tax officials in Delta and Benue states have already been suspended for allegedly collecting tips from whistle-blowers.Adeosun said the government through also started getting rid of dishonest operatives in the tax administration and revenue collection system.This was contained in a statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde.The statement said the sanitisation of the tax administration and revenue collection system is part of the government’s efforts at enhancing the willingness of the citizens to pay their taxes.ALSO READ: Whistleblower quietly leaves Nigeria after collecting N421mAdeosun said, “The ministry is currently analysing over 200 additional whistle-blowing tips, including recordings between tax officials and potential taxpayers in which various practices designed to reduce tax payable were detailed.”These practices include demands for personal gratification by tax officers, promises to procure backdated tax clearance certificates, and offers to conspire to reduce taxes payable.”The minister has also ordered the reorganisation of the Whistle-blower Unit to fast-track reports relating to those in the revenue-generating agencies.She said, “Encouraging our citizens to pay taxes is a matter of law but it is also a matter of trust. Those who work in our tax offices must, therefore, demonstrate the highest level of integrity. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari understands that to reduce our reliance on oil means every citizen must pay their taxes as and when due.”However, people will not be encouraged to pay if they believe that those involved in the assessment are not transparent or are dishonest. We will continue to sanitise the system and also improve our controls.”Adeosun assured that the ministry will continue to root out fraudsters who compromise the integrity of the tax administration and revenue collection system.
Corruption, greatest evil of our time, Buhari tells AU summit
President Muhammadu Buhari has in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia described corruption as one of the greatest evils of our time.
He spoke while formally launching the African Anti-Corruption Year 2018 during the Opening Ceremony of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
“Corruption is indeed one of the greatest evils of our time. Corruption rewards those who do not play by the rules and also creates a system of distortion and diversion thereby destroying all efforts at constructive, just and fair governance,” he stated.
The theme of the 30th African Union (AU) Summit is “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”
Buhari, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu yesterday, thanked his African colleagues for entrusting him with such a noble responsibility.
He pledged to do his best “to ensure that the anti-corruption agenda will receive the attention it deserves and make the impact we all hope for, during 2018 and beyond.”
The President, who noted that Africa has made some significant strides in enacting legal and policy frameworks such as the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) to address the vice, said the desired impact had been lacking.
“Fifteen (15) years after the adoption of the AU Convention, 2018 provides a good starting point to take stock of progress made so far, assess what still needs to be done and devise new strategies to address new corruption challenges,” he said.
According to Buhari, in spite of sustained economic growth on the continent for the past two decades, “public confidence has been eroded by a focus on short-term priorities and payoffs, propelled by corruption, which too often leaves projects uncompleted and promises unfulfilled.”
The statement said he identified other negative effects of corruption as, posing a real threat to national security; eroding the development of a universal culture of good governance, democratic values, gender equality, human rights, justice and the rule of law.
In tackling bribery and corruption, the Nigerian leader said the crucial place of strong institutions cannot be over-emphasised.
“A Judiciary which stands firm against arbitrariness and injustice by the executive is a vital pillar in the anti-corruption fight. As leaders, we must build synergy between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government in order to entrench good governance, transparency and accountability.
“Strong institutions are a necessary condition in any society which aims to fight corruption. In building strong national and regional institutions, we must adequately empower our national anti-corruption agencies and insulate them from political influence. We have to encourage increased institutional collaboration between Law Enforcement Agencies and anti-corruption Agencies in order to win this fight,” he stated.
Justifying further the imperative to defeat the evil which corruption represented, Buhari said: “It is evident that Corruption has a devastating impact on marginalized communities especially the youth, women and children. Corruption breeds unequal societies, renders vulnerable groups prone to human trafficking, as well as recruitment into armed groups and militia. In effect, corruption deprives our young citizens of opportunities to develop meaningful livelihoods.
Kogi government, PDP disagree over cattle colony policy
Yahaya Bello. Photo: Twitter/lugardhouseThe People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has flayed Governor Yahaya Bello for buying wholesale into the cattle colony policy of the Federal Government without allegedly consulting widely.
In a statement in Lokoja, the state party publicity secretary, Bode Ogunmola, queried why the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration offered land for the project that had allegedly been opposed by states, including those where the party holds sway.
He said the PDP has been following the debate on the policy since the unfortunate New Year Day massacre of over 70 villagers in Benue State by suspected herdsmen.
His words: “Not surprisingly, most states, many of which are governed by the APC rejected the idea. But, without the needed consultation, Governor Yahaya Bello eagerly and enthusiastically welcomed it.
“As we speak, truckloads of the herdsmen have started arriving our communities.
“Three trailer loads of herdsmen arrived Aghara, a small community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government.”
Ogunmola claimed that the new arrivals came with a letter directing the traditional ruler of the village to receive them without opposition.
He alleged that this party had received similar reports from other parts, adding that that state was under siege.
The spokesman decried the high security risks and long-term implications.
He went on: “We reject the evil scheme in totality and therefore demand its immediate reversal. Farming is the mainstay of our economy. We cannot submit our collective patrimony or donate our God-given land to herdsmen, who at best, are private businessmen.
“We are saying it loud and clear that cattle colony is a satanic policy. Kogi people reject it.”
But the Director General, Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik, said those opposing the idea were acting out of ignorance.
He maintained that cattle colonies would check criminal activities and frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers nationwide.
The governor’s aide said the establishment of cattle colonies in the state would help government to effectively monitor the activities of herdsmen, as their operations would be restricted to a particular location.
Ekiti government sues Fayemi, Kolawole for allegedly stealing N4.9b, others
Minister of Solid Mineral Resources Dr. Kayode FayemiEkiti State government has sued former governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and his finance commissioner, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, for allegedly misappropriating N4.9 billion while in office.
The development came less than two weeks after releasing a white paper on the report of the Justice Silas Oyewole Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the finances of the state during the administration of Fayemi, who is now the minister of mines and steel development.
In the 19-count charge filed before the State High Court, Ado Ekiti at the weekend, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing, abuse of office and criminal contempt, among others.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Governor Ayodele Fayose, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of misappropriating N4.9 billion being the proceeds of Ekiti State Bond for the sum of N20 billion earmarked for various projects that were either not executed or partly done.
When the white paper was released on January 15, 2018, the government directed the Ministry of Justice to institute appropriate legal action(s) against the minister and others, saying they should be made to account for the whereabouts of the funds.
Count 12 of the charge read that Fayemi and Kolawole between 2011 and 2014 conspired to steal N2,750,000,000.00 (N2.75 billion) earmarked and released for the construction of ultra-modern market in Ekiti State, which they never built and thereby committed an offence.
Also on the N25 billion bond, Fayemi and Kolawole were accused of stealing N716,688,790.92 out of the N750 million earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State School of Agriculture out of which only N33.311,209.08 was allegedly spent.
The duo were also accused of stealing N198,860,023.00 being outstanding of the N500 million earmarked and released for the construction of Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos, out of which only N301,139,977 was expended for the said project.
Also, out of the N767, 970,167.47 earmarked in the bond prospectus and released for renovation of the governor’s office, only N87, 622,912.25 was allegedly spent, leaving an outstanding of N681, 347,255.22.
For the renovation of Ado Ekiti Water Works, N335.5 million was earmarked and released but only N155, 523,558 was spent, leaving N197, 979,441.77 as outstanding. The Ero water project, for which N468.6 million was earmarked, was allegedly not executed.
Fayemi and Kolawole were further charged with criminal contempt for allegedly refusing to appear before the commission of inquiry, an offence punishable under Section 13 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap C. 10, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010 and Section 126 (2) of the Criminal
Code laws, Cap C. 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2010, among others.
The government had banned the duo from holding public office in the state for 10 years, for their refusal to appear before the commission of inquiry, even after the determination of the case challenging the inauguration of the commission.
Meanwhile, Kolawole has filed a N20 billion libel suit against Fayose and two of his aides.
Also joined in the suit are the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, attorney general of the federation, accountant general of the federation, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO). Others are chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), secretary to Ekiti State government, accountant general and the commissioner for finance.
Though the suit was filed on January 18 at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Division, copies were obtained by reporters in Ado Ekiti yesterday.
Kolawole is asking the court to withhold the outstanding N11 billion being awaited as refund from the Federal Government on Ado-Ifaki road, saying it should not be given to the Fayose administration as the road was constructed by Fayemi asministration.
Kolawole is demanding damages of N10 billion each from Fayose’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka and a House of Assembly member for alleged criminal libel and defamation in a statement they made on a television and radio programmes.
Kolawole said Olayinka and the lawmaker claimed that he and his boss, Fayemi plunged the state into debt to the tune of N85 billion that would not be liquidated until 2036.
Other prayers of Kolawole include an order mandating the EFCC (9th defendant), to investigate the circumstances for the diversion and breach of the appropriation laws of Ekiti State through the cancellation of the original contract for Ikere-Iju-Ondo boundary dualisation without first ensuring that all laws and processes of government are strictly adhered to.
He is also seeking an order directing the Federal Ministry of Power Works & Housing to investigate contract relating to the Ikere-Iju-Ondo boundary road and stop further payments or reimbursement due on the project.
The former commissioner also wants disbursement of bailout funds, grants or other reimbursement due to Ekiti State, being Federal Government palliatives, to be disbursed directly through a committee of EFCC, accountant general of the federation, Federal Ministry of Finance, accountant general of Ekiti State, auditor general of Ekiti State and auditor general for local government to avert alleged further diversion or misappropriation of such funds by the state government.
The case will be heard on February 23.
Preparations in top gear for Ekwueme’s burial Friday
Late Alex EkwuemePreparations are in top gear for this Friday’s burial of Second Republic Vice President Alex Ekwueme.
A visit at the weekend to the family compound of the Ekwuemes in Oko, Anambra State indicated upbeat preparation for the rites of passage to the late octogenarian.
Agents of the federal and state governments were seen tiding up necessary things to a successful outing.
It was learnt that governors from the South East region had pledged full support for the programme.
Briefing newsmen in Oko, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said the Federal Government was doing everything possible to ensure that Ekwueme gets a befitting burial.
The minister, who doubles as chairman of the burial committee, added: “The President is doing more than the ordinary, to give the former vice president a befitting burial.”
Ngige said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had been directed to maintain the roads leading to the hometown of the departed leader, noting that work was ongoing.
He also told newsmen that the tomb of Ekwueme was being constructed by the Federal Government, just as funds had been disbursed to the family to perfect logistics.
The minister, who promised to return tomorrow, expressed satisfaction with the pace of work. He, however, urged the contractors to deliver on schedule.
Ex-speakers’ forum rallies support for Buhari
Muhammadu BuhariFormer speakers of the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly have met in Abuja to plot the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The speakers met at the residence of the Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Rotimi Amaechi. They met on the platform of Forum of former Speakers.
Its chairman, and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, was among the ex-speakers from across the country.
A former two-time speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Stanley Ugochukwu, briefed newsmen shortly after the meeting.
According to him, the members resolved to serve as a pressure group to ensure that there is good governance in the country.
He said Nigerians deserve cooperation from all fronts, including non-political organisations to strengthen the country’s democracy.
He stressed that the need to accomplish this task necessitated the forum’s resolve to do the needful.
While passing a vote of confidence in Lalong, the forum pledged to remain non-partisan and confront issues affecting the country without any form of bias.
A former speaker in one of the middle belt states, who was also in attendance, confided in The Guardian that the meeting was geared towards rallying support for Buhari in the 2019 elections.
He said: “We discussed extensively, but of course what do you expect from meetings like this? It is to mobilise support for the president and other intending contenders in the forth-coming polls.
A serving minister, who declined to be mentioned, disclosed that part of the forum’s concern was to beef up the waning popularity of the president, especially in some northern states.
“We also resolved to within our strength in our various constituencies, begin to pacify people and convince them on the need for continuity.
“This is despite the existing challenges facing the Buhari administration,” he said.
APC faction in Cross River rejects alleged suspension of Usani
Minister of Niger Delta of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru UsaniA faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, has rejected the indefinite suspension of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani.
The faction on its own announced the suspension of the south-south National Vice Chairman of the party, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, as well as the Acting state Chairman, Sir John Ochala.
They said the decision to also suspend Eta and Ochala was taken for masterminding the purported suspension of the minister.
This was contained in a communiqué by the state Organising Secretary, Ekpe Owan Ayang, the Legal Adviser, Lazarus Undie and the Financial Secretary, Ekum Ekok Ojogu.
Others who joined in the statement were the Welfare Secretary, Statulus Ikenga and 21 other members of the party’s working committee.
According to them, there was no competent meeting held last Saturday to warrant the suspension, adding that the action was capable of dividing the party in the state.
The faction described as a nullity and cheap blackmail, the decision by the acting chairman and a few others to suspend Usani at the party secretariat.
The Ochala faction had accused the minister of indiscipline, and recommended him to the national leadership for expulsion.
The faction also cited Usani’s offence to include his membership of a 15-man committee, which the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, had approved to resolve all contending issues and appoint an acting chairman for the party in the state.
BEDC worker electrocuted
An employee of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mr. Daisi Isaac Aregbesola, aged 38, was electrocuted in Akure, Alagbaka area of Ondo State yesterday when trying to fix a faulty public utility pole.
The incident, which happened around 5p.m. attracted some passersby, mostly motorists, who tried in vain to save the life of Aregbesola, as his body was dangling lifelessly between the high tension cables.
The Guardian gathered that the deceased resumed for work as early as possible but his boss instructed him to rectify a fault on an electric pole at the front of the Zenith Bank in Alagbaka. The deceased, fondly called ‘Sapee’ by his colleagues and friends, until his death served as an electrical engineer and a contract staff worker with the BEDC.
An eyewitness revealed that sympathisers were attracted to the scene as a result of the loud scream of passersby when the late worker received a shock from the high-tension wire while performing his duty.
“I had barely walked pass him when I heard a very loud noise and saw him dangling on the pole. It was an unfortunate scene to behold as people rushed down to the ladder to bring the man down from the pole. In fact, it took the BEDC almost an hour to arrive at the scene after the man had died and his body already brought down from the pole by sympathisers,” he said.
A source in the electricity firm said the victim was working on the feeder due to some faults detected on the high-tension wires that caused power outage in the area.
The estranged wife of the deceased, Funke Adeniyi, also confirmed the incident in a phone chat with journalists in Akure, lamenting that the circumstances surrounding his death was questionable. Adeniyi said her husband was rushed to the Ondo State Specialists Hospital Akure but was confirmed dead on arrival by doctors.
“Workers in his office told us that a boss sent him a message to work on the high tension cables due to some fault on the poles. I asked them why did they switch on the light (electricity) when they knew my husband was working on the pole. I am smelling a conspiracy.”
Several efforts to reach the BEDC and get the reactions of top management workers proved abortive, as calls made to them were unsuccessful yesterday.
Trailer crushes five, as two others die in Ondo auto crash
Scene of the accidentThe university community of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, was thrown into mourning yesterday as a trailer lost control and rammed into a roadside market.
An eyewitness, Mr. Muritala Rauf, recounted that the truck, which was coming from Ikare axis of the road, lost control while its driver was attempting to dodge a car near the market.
Rauf disclosed that the incident killed five people instantly while several traders and passersby who were severely injured had been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Another witness, Mrs. Iyabo Adewale, noted that the casualties would have been more than the number recorded if students of Adekunle Ajasin University were not on holiday. She added that men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police promptly intervened to rescue the victims and forestall any outbreak of law and order in the community.
Another auto crash occurred at Ajebamidele axis of Benin-Ore-Lagos Expressway in Odigbo LGA of the state, resulting in the death of two persons. It was gathered that the Ore road accident involved a black SUV and blue Sienna bus, and was caused by reckless overtaking, which led to a head-on collision.
Two critically injured as suitors clash during birthday bash
Tragedy struck at the weekend during a birthday bash that toured sour over suitors’ clash in Ondo, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the state, as two persons were reportedly injured. Tragedy struck at the weekend during a birthday bash that toured sour over suitors’ clash in Ondo, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the state, as two persons were reportedly injured.
It was learnt that a 25-year-old woman identified as Bunmi Akinlotan, organized a birthday party, which was attended by two of her boyfriends, who eventually attacked each other.
According to a source, who pleaded anonymity, the party held at a popular hotel in the town and was well attended by youths in the area. It, however, turned bloody when there was misunderstanding between the two boyfriends of the celebrant, who engaged in verbal exchanges, leading to physical assaults.
The source disclosed that the celebrant invited the two men to the ceremony not knowing that they would identify themselves as rivals. She said trouble started when the celebrant was invited to dance and insisted that only Solomon Endurance, the boyfriend who reportedly financed the ceremony, would dance with her.
Unfortunately, this provoked the anger of the other boyfriend, whose name was given as Olaniyi Ososanmi, insisting on dancing with the celebrant or he will disrupt the occasion.
“Ososanmi angrily left the venue and came back few minutes later with broken bottles in his hands and attacked his rival, Akinlotan and some others. He stabbed his rival on the neck and other parts of his body,” she said.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Enuowa Police Station, Mr. Simon Isinkaye, who confirmed the incident, said the two persons including the celebrant have been arrested.
Isinkaye revealed that the victims who sustained serious injuries were currently receiving treatment at the state Trauma Centre, Ondo. He added that the suspects would be arraigned as soon as investigation is completed on the matter.
Herdsmen kill man in Edo, behead another in Plateau
Edo StateThere was intense fear in Igarra and its environs in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State over fears of attacks by suspected killer herdsmen, who had on Saturday shot dead the driver of a school bus on the Igarra-Auchi road.
The killing of the driver came a day after a farmer was robbed by suspected herdsmen on the Igarra-Okpe road before escaping into the bush.
Luck, however, ran out on nine of the herdsmen yesterday as combined efforts of vigilance group and youths in Okpe led to their arrest with assorted weapons. They were travelling in a Volkswagen vehicle marked Kaduna MKA 555YJ along the Igarra-Okpe road around 7:00a.m. when they were apprehended.
Some angry youths besieged the police station in Igarra demanding that the suspected herdsmen be brought out to face jungle justice. The police had to call for re-enforcement from the Area Command in Auchi and military personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army School of Mechanical Engineering (NASME) to curtail the angry youths.
Some of the youths complained of police’s reluctance to spring to action when alerted of the presence of the killer herdsmen and the killing of the driver. “They normally come to mount check point between Ago and Igarra but when we called them to go after the killer herdsmen in that same area, they complained that they do not have enough fuel in their vehicle. It took the combined efforts of vigilance groups from Igarra and Okpe to pursue them into the bush before they were arrested yesterday.”
Also speaking, the Palace Secretary of Igarra, Elder Folorunsho Dania, told The Guardian yesterday that: “Today is Igarra market day, but many people did not go to the market for fear of attacks. Even churches closed early because of this. We are now living in fear, just few days ago, they chopped off the hand of a farmer in Ojah.
“Few days later, they attacked a cattle farmer, Hassan, cutting him severally in the head, the man died two days ago. Last week, they kidnapped three people from the mining site near Igarra and up till now, their whereabouts are still unknown. We are appealing to the government and security agencies to come to our rescue.”
As at the time of this report, sources at the Igarra police station said the suspects would be transferred to the state command. Several calls to the Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, and the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, were not answered.
Meanwhile, the people of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State were thrown into mourning yesterday following the beheading of their kinsman at Kpara village in Jebbu-Bassa town of the council.
According to the National President of Irigwe Development Association (IDA), Sunday Abdu, attackers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, arrived the community at night and beheaded the old man.
Abdu, who was one time member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, said the herdsmen destroyed all their dry season farm crops put in place by the Irigwe farmers.
“They put their cattle on the farms to eat and destroy all the crops without any left. They are armed to the teeth and were herding their cows with unabashed recklessness,” he said, adding that before the villagers could alert the police post there, the herdsmen had left the farms, entered the community, beheaded the man and took to their heels.
He claimed that with the latest development, no fewer than 25 people had been massacred in Irigwe land in the past one week.
Abdu described the incessant attacks on Irigwe communities as a deliberate pogrom to exterminate the race, urging the authorities concerned to come to their aid to end the carnage.
Plateau State police command’s spokesman, Assistant Superintendent Mathias Terna Tyopev, confirmed the killing yesterday to The Guardian on phone.
Foreign airlines, travel agencies earn N503b from tickets
LufthansaForeign airlines operating in Nigeria earned $1.4 billion (N503.3 billion) from tickets in 2017.
Travel agencies, however, attributed the record sale to improved capacity by a couple of airlines as well as upward review of the official exchange rate for the aviation industry from N306 to N359.5 per dollar.
Besides, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), in partnership with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is to check the activities of unregistered travel agencies often accused of sharp practices in the downstream sector of the industry.
Under the new arrangement which takes off in March, illegal travel agencies, agents and ticket-selling banks are to face prosecution henceforth.
According to the figures made available by the NCAA, 7.7 million passengers flew the local routes, while international passengers accounted for 3.6 million, totalling 11.3 million travellers in the year under review.
Some of the top gainers are Ethiopian Airlines with 416,229 passengers; British Airways (275,223); Air France (254,290); Lufthansa, 245,151; Emirates, 242,033; Turkish, 219,551; Virgin Atlantic Airways, 185,994; KLM Airlines 185,999 and Qatar Airways got 170,159 figure.
The list also included Egypt Air (151,018 passengers); South African Airways, 140,273; Asky Airways, 119,154; African World Airlines, 112,542; Rwandair, 108,256 and Kenya Airways airlifted 93,307.
The rest were Delta Air Lines with a passenger turnover of 93,244; Royal Air Maroc, 88,015; Etihad 84,984 and Med-View’s 72,175 tally.
The president of NANTA, Bernard Bankole, also confirmed to reporters the huge ticket earnings at the weekend in Lagos.
The challenges of foreign exchange, stuck funds and the six-week closure of the Abuja airport last year notwithstanding, he noted that the airlines relatively picked up, adding that the current reality indicates that there are a lot of money in the travel business to attract banks, agents hence the need to curb faking in the industry.
He said: “A lot of them out there are not travel agencies or agents but simply there to swindle unsuspecting travellers. So, people get to pay for ticket only to find out at the airport that they have been scammed. And instead of calling names, they will label all travel agents as thieves. That is how bad it has been.
“We, at NANTA, will be most delighted to see the identification scheme come to reality when it’ is launched in March for registered operators only.”
This would not only change the perception of the public, but will also give a sense of belonging to the practitioners as true professionals that we are.”
Bankole revealed that scheme comes with strategic security features to check the shady activities of “fake and fly-by-night operators.”
The Guardian learnt that the 6000 travel agencies recognised by NANTA only constitute just 10 per cent of practicing agencies in the country.
The vice president of the association, Lola Adewole, noted that the first point of contact for foreigners coming into the country was the travel agents, hence the need to sanitise the sector.
She added that the NANTA Act was part of efforts by the current leadership to santise the industry.
Maritime workers threaten shutdown at nation’s seaports
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has vowed to shut down the nation’s seaports over Federal Government’s failure to fix dilapidated access roads.
The union issued a seven-day ultimatum for the removal of abandoned trucks on the Oshodi-Apapa Road, which leads to the Apapa and Tin-Can Ports. It demanded that roads to the seaports be motorable, failing which members would embark on an indefinite strike, beginning Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
If the union makes good its threat, the economy could lose billions of naira daily. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, had, in September 2107, disclosed it realised N32.1 billion the previous month, a minimum of N1 billion everyday.
Apart from the Apapa port, which has remained virtually inaccessible due to bad link roads, ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri and Onne have been largely under-utilised. This means that trucks carrying export goods to the Apapa port have to spend about three weeks on roads within the area before gaining access to the terminal.
With the prolonged delay, the quality of most of the goods depreciates before they get to their destination. This explains why Nigerian goods are often rejected for failing to meet international standards. This basically pertains to perishable goods.
Tola Faseru, the President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria, was once quoted as saying: “Export warehouses are filled with commodities. Instead of being promptly shipped out, they are rotting away.”
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and cement manufacturer, had, while offering to assist in repairing the link roads, also tried to quantify the loss Nigeria incurs from running seaports without good access roads. “The economy loses more than N20 billion daily. It affects businesses across the country,” he said.
The figure amounts to N7.3 trillion per year, an equivalent of the country’s annual budget.
MWUN’s threat was contained in a statement signed by President-General, Adewale Adeyanju, and Secretary-General, Felix Akingboye.
The statement recalled a 21-day ultimatum issued by the union last year, May 14, 2017, calling for the roads to be fixed. The union disclosed that before expiration, the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) met with the workers, pleading it had begun repairs. It also explained that major works were not captured in the 2017 budget. Consequently, the union suspended its planned action.
“Nine months after we suspended the ultimatum, the roads have completely deteriorated and have claimed several lives and properties. In fact, we lost two of our members on the Oshodi-Apapa Dual Carriage Way, which has completely failed.
“From Berger Bridge, there are countless craters and potholes. To worsen the already terrible situation, from Otto Wharf, the road has become a park and mechanic workshop for heavy-duty trucks abandoned by drivers and owners in the last few months.
“People defecate, sleep, cook, wash clothes, bathe and do whatever they like on the road. As a result, it is now a haven for criminals who seize every opportunity to assault and rob innocent Nigerians including our members who trek to and from work, daily, on the unmotorable road.”
The union said: “Today, only few vessels berth at our seaports, as most ship owners and businessmen prefer neighbouring ports, especially Cotonou. While these ports are booming, ours have become deserted because of failed access roads at the gateway to the nation’s economy.
“Last week, we took an assessment tour of the road. To our dismay, the Apapa axis, said to be under reconstruction by a consortium of private individuals, is at a standstill. Yet, we understand that NPA has paid the substantial part of a N270 million pledge it made on the reconstruction. In fact, at the rate work is going, that part of the road will not be completed in the next two years.”
The union regretted the depreciation of business activities at the ports, stressing that as a major stakeholder, it found the situation unacceptable. “We are afraid that if things continue like this, it would lead to the retrenchment of workers and we cannot afford to lose any of our members to joblessness.”
It, therefore, declared: “If by Monday, February 5, 2018, the trucks are not removed and the craters and potholes filled, the union will withdraw all its members from ports nationwide.