Author: Day Break
Akwa-Ibom senators withdraw petition challenging Buhari’s nomination of Yuguda as SEC DG
The three Senators representing Akwa-Ibom State have withdrawn a petition with which they challenged President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Lamido Yuguda as the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Senators are Bassey Akpan (Akwa-Ibom North-East), Christopher Ekpenyong (Akwa-Ibom North West) and Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa-Ibom South).
The lawmakers had challenged Yuguda’s nomination for the job on grounds that the President failed to nominate Mary Uduk from Akwa-Ibom State, who was already serving as Acting Director-General at the Commission.
According to a report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, the lawmakers had sought the intervention of the Upper Chamber to ensure that the people of Akwa-Ibom State were not further marginalized in Federal appointments.
In his presentation, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, explained that the three Senators found it “disheartening that Mary Uduk who was eminently qualified to be appointed DG, SEC, having represented Nigeria at the regional and international bodies such as the West African Capital Market Integration Council (WACMIC) and currently on the board of the International Organization of the Securities Commission (IOSCO), the international standards setter for securities regulation, was neither listed as DH nor as a full-time Commissioner.”
He, however, said following a move by the Committee to investigate the concerns raised by the lawmakers in the petition to the Senate, the petitioners and respondents met and resolved the matter.
According to Akinyelure, the resolution between both parties subsequently led to the withdrawal of the petition by the three lawmakers from Akwa-Ibom State led by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan.
Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North), in his contribution, called on the Federal Government to consider Akwa-Ibom in future appointments in view of the withdrawal of the petition.
Adamu Bulkachuwa (Bauchi North), on his part, said the consideration of the report of the Ethics Committee was not necessary as the petitioners had withdrawn the petition.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, however, observed that there was a procedural issue that made it mandatory for the Committee to submit a report to the Senate despite the decision by the petitioners to withdraw the petition in the first place.
Accordingly, the Senate while adopting a resolution by Senator James Manager (Delta South), resolved that “Consequent upon the withdrawal of the petition by the petitioner, the matter is hereby taken and withdrawal approved
No Protest will hold at Lekki Tollgate on Saturday – Odumosu
Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has declared that no protest will be allowed to hold at the Lekki Tollgate on Saturday, February 13.
On Tuesday, February 9, some Nigerians using the hashtag #OccupyLekkiTollgate announced plans to stage fresh protests over plans to reopen the toll gates
The protest was in response to the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry, which last Saturday gave permission to the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to take over the tollgates that have been shut since October 2020 after the shooting incident that reportedly left some EndSARS protesters dead and injured.
While the #OccupyLekkiTollgate proponents were making plans for their protests, another group using the hashtag #DefendLagos announced plans to hold a counter-protest at the same Lekki tollgate.
Odumosu told reporters neither of the two groups would be allowed to hold any protest come Saturday, February 13.
“Allowing both groups to carry out their planned protests will be counter-productive. No protest in any guise will be allowed to take place on Saturday 13th February 2021
Buhari offers automatic employment to 110 ex-NYSC members
President Muhammadu Buhari has offered automatic employment to 110 ex-members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC in the Federal Civil Service.
The President also offered the ex corp members scholarship opportunities to pursue their post-graduate studies up to a doctoral level in any university in the country.
Buhari spoke at a virtual 2018/2019 President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) honours award ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja on Thursday.
The President further announced cash rewards for the ex- corps members and directed the relevant agencies to fast track the implementation of all the incentives.
‘‘On behalf of the government and the good people of Nigeria, I heartily congratulate those honoured on standing out from their peers to merit the honour being bestowed upon them.
‘‘You have proved yourselves worthy ambassadors of your respective families and the National Youth Service Corps. I am very proud of you and confident that the Award shall spur you to greater service to the Nation and humanity,’’ he said.
Buhari used the occasion to appreciate the founders of the scheme which has been in existence since 48 years, notably General Yakubu Gowon.
The President pointed out that the scheme has remained a bastion of national unity
181 Kidnap Victims Freed In Katsina After Govt Negotiates With Bandits, Miyetti
NEGOTIATIONS with bandits in Katsina State by the state government, security agencies and Miyetti Allah have resulted in the release of 181 kidnap victims. Government and security forces said they plan to extend the negotiations to bandits in other ‘vulnerable’ northern states.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, on Friday, said no fewer than 181 kidnapped victims had been rescued from the bandits through negotiations in recent time. He made this known while receiving another set of 77 kidnapped persons at the Government House, Katsina.
According to the governor, the victims were released by their captors after negotiations led by the state government, in collaboration with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Service and other security agencies.The government plans to adopt the same method in other North West states where banditry has wrecked peace and order. Masari said 104 victims were recently released through the same collaboration. He explained that the 104 victims were from Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume and Danmusa, while the 77 others that were handed over to him were from Batsari and Jibia axes.
Masari stated that all the negotiations for their release were in continuation of an exercise that started with the recovery of 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
He said: “We saw an opener and we are working with the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), in cooperation with the police, army, DSS, air force and other security agencies, to bring back as many of the kidnapped victims as possible.
“The process is still ongoing. We are doing this as quietly as we can to make sure that nobody is harmed and further kidnapping is stopped. Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, said the bandits themselves made several appeals for peace to reign in their domains. “This process has been on for some days. We are making efforts to ensure that all those that are still in captivity are safely rescued without the payment of any ransom or hindrance.
“We hope and pray that this the method will not be limited to Katsina State but will go beyond all other vulnerable states.” In a similar situation, the defence headquarters, on Friday, said the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke rescued three kidnapped victims and neutralised one bandit in an operation carried out at the Maraba Udege general area in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Coordinator, Defence Headquarters Operations (DMO), Major General John Enenche He explained that the operation was executed in the early hours of Thursday by the troops following credible intelligence on the movements of the bandits in the area during which three kidnapped persons were rescued and the one-armed bandit was neutralised.
General Eneche stated that the kidnapped victims were subsequently reunited with their respective families. He stated that in a related development, the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole bombed three Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs)’ enclaves in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State and took out their hideouts in Alagarno, including a compound housing some high-value Boko Haram leaders.
He said the ATF also destroyed no fewer than two Boko Haram terrorists’ gun trucks and eliminated some of their fighters along the Wamdeo-Chul axis in the Southern part of Borno State. He said the compound housing terrorist leaders were concealed under thick vegetation and located 2.3km North-East of Kafa, and was being used by the terrorists to coordinate their activities.
General Eneche said: “The destruction of the locations was achieved through multiple airstrikes executed on 6 January 2021 as the ATF dispatched appropriate force packages of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and attack helicopters to engage the target areas in the day and night raids.
“The BHTs were spotted under the dense vegetation of the locations and the NAF attack aircraft took turns in engaging the targets, killing several of them “Upon sighting the NAF helicopter gunships, the terrorists, mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles attempted to beat a hasty retreat whilst firing at the attack aircraft.”
He said further that the terrorists were hit by the helicopters’ barrage of rocket and cannon fire which resulted in the immobilisation of two of the gun trucks, one of which was seen engulfed in flames. General Eneche vowed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would not relent until all enemies of the country were neutralised and normalcy was restored to all troubled zones in the country.
We are implementing new method to fight insurgency, banditry- DHQ
The Defence Headquarters, Thursday, said that the recent changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces will usher new methodology in the counter-insurgency war.
It said the new Service Chiefs had already hit the ground running with a visit to all operational areas across the country.
Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche stated this during the weekly media briefing with Defence Correspondents.
According to him: “You are all aware of the recent changes in the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. There is no doubt the changes would usher in new modus operandi for tackling the security challenges in the country.
“The Service Chiefs on assumption, immediately hit the ground running by conducting an operational visit to the North East.
” They have also visited some operational areas in the Country to interact with troops and commanders in the field in the various theatres. It is aimed at ensuring that the military High Command come up with new ways and means of tackling the security challenges”.
He added: “In line with the reorganization of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the appointment of new service chiefs, the operations of the Armed Forces is equally being reorganized to tackle the security challenges in the country effectively.
“In this regard, the Service Chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff Major General LEO Irabor (GSS) Commenced action at all levels. These include carrying out strategic, administrative, operational and logistics adjustments, changes and reviews, to improve the security situation in the Country. As such, all stakeholders are requested to give maximum support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff”.
Meanwhile, on the updates on military operations, Enenche, disclosed that in the North-West zone, “troops of Operations HADARIN DAJI have continued to sustain their efforts in the North-West Zone of the Country progressively. The gallant troops within the period in focus carried out several land and air operations in the Zone. These include clearance and ambush operations as well as aggressive ground and aerial patrols in order to ensure the security of lives and property within the Zone”.
In the North-East zone, he said, “the Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other security agencies have continued to sustain the onslaught against the insurgents. Within the period under review, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, on various occasions made contact and engaged some Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province criminal elements.
“In the various encounters, more terrorists’ enclaves have been destroyed along with their logistics facilities and scores of their fighters neutralized through the ground and air strikes at different locations in the North East Zone.
“Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies operating in the North Central Zone of the Country are also sustaining the fight against armed banditry and other criminal vices in the Zone with remarkable results. Several combined land and air operations were conducted within the period, which resulted in the neutralization of scores of armed bandits and recovery of caches of arms and ammunition.
“As the land troops maintain aggressive fighting patrols to dominate the theatre of operation, the air component dominated the airspace with air reconnaissance activities”.
Meanwhile, in the South-South zone, Enenche stated that troops of Operation Delta Safe have sustained the onslaught against economic sabotage.
Enenche said, “in the South-South Zone, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE have continued to protect and safeguard our coastal and territorial waters through the intensive sea and creek patrols.
“Additionally, troops conducted anti-crude oil theft and anti-illegal bunkering operations as well as other anti-illegal maritime activities, and in the process, deactivated several illegal refining sites within the period in focus. In the course of the operations, large quantities of stolen crude oil and illegally refined AGO as well as some equipment were recovered.
“In the South-West Zone, troops have sustained their efforts in the fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as well as other economic saboteurs through raids and arrests within the period. Consequently, several pipeline vandals and smugglers were arrested and handed over to appropriate prosecuting authorities for necessary action. Also, several bags of foreign parboiled rice and illegally smuggled items and vessels were seized.
“On this note, we urge Nigerians to support our efforts in tackling security challenges confronting our dear nation. Our collective efforts are essential in the fight against the various security vices in the country.
“The Military High Command reassures the general public of its untiring dedication towards securing the Country. Members of the general public are enjoined to continue providing timely information on the activities of criminals in their various localities to the military and other security agencies for prompt and effective action”
IPMAN: Allow investors to run Nigerian refinerie
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has advised the Federal Government to allow investors to take over the running of the country’s three refineries.
Alhaji Danladi Pasali, National Secretary of IPMAN, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He spoke while reacting to a report that the pump price of petrol might likely get to N190 per litre and the price of crude oil hit 60 dollars per barrel in the international market.
Speaking at the official launch of Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme in Abuja, Minister State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva said with no provision of subsidy in the 2021 budget, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, cannot continue to bear the cost of under-recovery.
At present, the pump price of petrol ranges from N160 –N165, the price band set when crude traded just above 43 dollars per barrel four months ago.
Pasali, commending government’s efforts, said that IPMAN controlled 80 per cent of the downstream sectors.
“IPMAN controls 80 per cent of the downstream sectors of the industry and with our investments running into trillion, the government should give us the three refineries.
“We can run it successfully in collaboration with our foreign investors,” he said.
Pasali said that allowing investors to take over would help in making the government’s job easy and improve the economic development.
He said increasing petrol price, for now, was not a good thing, as the economic index shows that the county was in economic hardship.
“The capacity of people buying the products is low now compared to before, for example, some people buy petrol of N1,500 for their cars but it was not like that in the past.”
Pasali also advised the government to call for stakeholders’ meeting to help solve the problem.
“We can look at other means because there are so many things in the oil template, for example, to see how we can reduce the tension.
“There are so many charges in the template like the unnecessary marine charges that can be reduced and it can help reduce the tension, among other suggestions
Farmer Dies In Ibadan After Fulani Herdsmen Set His Cashew Farm Ablaze
An Igangan-based farmer, Alfa Sikiru Akinlotan, from Gbogi Compound, Isale Akao Area, Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government, died on his farm on Wednesday after Fulani herdsmen set his cashew and cocoa farm ablaze. He died while trying to quench the fire on his farm.The commandant of Amotekun in the state, Col. Olayinka Olayanju, confirmed the incident in Ibadan on Wednesday night.Olayanju said; “Alfa Sikiru Akinlotan from Gbogi Compound, Isale Akao area, Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government, died inside his farm at Itigbo, Apodun Road, Igangan, on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.”It happened that his cocoa and cashew farm was set ablaze. He met his untimely death while he was trying to quench the fire. Hee was never attacked by any Fulani nor any other person.”Though Olayinka could not establish who set the farm ablaze in his statement, a source in Igangan told SaharaReporters that it was done by the Fulani herdsmen who are hellbent on destroying Yoruba farmers’ properties.The source said, “Can fire destroy a farm without somebody setting it ablaze? This is one of the reasons behind the notice to quit Yorubaland.”If Wakili and his men are still operating in Ayete, Igangan and Tapa axis, we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed. Don’t forget a similar thing happened in Ayete recently when the farm of Odomofin, Baba Saubana, was set ablaze. All their cashew farms were destroyed.” 
Police Inspector Shot himself In Imo
A police inspector attached to the Owerri Area command police headquarters, simply identified as Umoh, has shot and killed himself.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at the heart of the state capital, Owerri.
A source at the Area Command headquarters told The Nation the officer shot himself after locking himself up in one of the rooms in the quarters.
The development, our correspondent, learnt caused panic in the area.
According to the source, the inspector was a visiting cop who was at the area command on special duty.
The source said though the mobile officer complained of being sick nobody envisaged he was going to take his life.
The source said: “Mobile officers came back and one of them went to one of the rooms and locked it. The next minute, we heard a gunshot.
“When we approached the quarters, it was discovered that the door was locked. It was forced opened and the mobile policeman was found dead in the pool of his blood. He shot himself on his stomach.”
When contacted, a spokesperson for the police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the incident.
He however said Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Muhammed, had ordered an investigation into the incident.
Reasons why Femi Fani-Kayode Join APC
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Wednesday said it was certain that former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode had concluded his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
MASSOB in a statement made available to Our reporter described the move as an act of betrayal on the part of the former minister.
The statement signed by Comrade Uchenna Madu, Leader of MASSOB, said Fani-Kayode took the decision in order to enable him campaign for APC, leader, Bola Tinubu.
Ever since the former minister visited APC leaders, speculations are rife that he is on his way out of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Reacting, MASSOB said, “he has been romancing with the APC politically since mid last year after Bola Tinubu convinced him to stop criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari’s clueless administration.
“Fani-Kayode’s inroad to APC is primarily to support and campaign for the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu as a fellow Yoruba man. They are working seriously even to convince other top Yoruba leaders, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Wole Soyinka, to support the presidential ambition of Bola Tinubu for the sake of Yoruba political interest in Nigeria.”He added that, “the second reason for Femi Fani-Kayode’s defection to APC is to campaign for the former president Goodluck Jonathan if Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition crashes.
“Goodluck Jonathan will soon declare for APC because of the promise and assurances given to him by the Northern caliphate. These political arrangements and strategies will fail because Nigeria is heavily pregnant, only the people of Southeast will determine if she will live or die because we hold the lifewire of Nigeria.”
He added that, “MASSOB is not against APC, neither does it support PDP. We have respected Igbo leaders in both APC and PDP whom we equally respect. APC and PDP should not push the people of Southeast to the wall because Ndigbo holds the survival and destruction of Nigeria.
The destruction of Nigeria will never affect Ndigbo but it will totally destroy the Fulani and their Hausa collaborators, even the Yoruba will not survive it.
“The Northern caliphate can no longer dictate the political future of Nigeria again. The political reality of 2023 will prove them wrong because Ndigbo will take another political dimension that will determine the next step for Nigeria.”
The pro-Biafra group advised Igbo leaders associating with Fani-Kayode “to exhibit extra care because Fani-Kayode is a core full blooded Yoruba man who always hates everything about Igbo. He is a betrayer. He can never support an Igbo man to be president of Nigeria. He is an unrepentant political sadist against Igbo interest.”
