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Ebonyi: Gov Umahi declares Wednesday public holiday to mourn late Commissioner
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has declared today, Wednesday, June 23, as a public holiday in the State to mourn the state’s late Commissioner for Infrastructural Development, Mr Fidelis Nweze.
Umahi made the declaration on Tuesday in Abakaliki while announcing the death of the commissioner from injuries sustained in a ghastly motor accident on June 19.
The Governor directed that all offices and markets be shut in the State and declared a four-day mourning period to elapse on June 26.
“All government officials in collaboration with the state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) would organise prayer and fasting sessions all through the mourning period.
“We have to pray for his family and the ring-road project which he was the chairman of its committee for the past six years,” he said.
He described Nweze as his younger brother, son and indispensable pillar of his administration since 2015.
“He died on the morning of June 21, at the Turkish Hospital Abuja.
“He was travelling to Enugu on Saturday, June 19, about 7.pm with his orderly and driver as his vehicle rammed into a stationary articulated vehicle around Obinagu area of the state.
“They were all conscious after the accident as his orderly and driver sustained slight injuries and were discharged from hospital,” he said.
Umahi further explained that Nweze had neck injuries and experienced severe pains in the stomach, which made him direct that he be transferred to the Turkish Hospital, Abuja.
“I directed my personal physician and another reputable doctor to assist in his treatment and it was discovered after examination that the seat belt he used ruptured his intestines.
“He underwent a successful operation and I directed that he should be placed in the intensive care unit for adequate care.
“I called the hospital about 8’o’clock on the morning of June 2, and learnt that he experienced a crisis as I was later informed that he died at about 9.50 am,” he said.
Recall that the State had, on May 15, lost its commissioner for Housing, Mrs Uchechi Okah.
June 23, 2021
Gunmen Kill APC Scribe in Ondo
Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have killed a member of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Hon Dele Isibor.
Isibor was said to have died on Monday from injuries he sustained from the attack.
Isibor was Secretary of the APC in Ose Local Government Area.
A statement by spokesman of the party, Mr. Alex Kalejaiye, said the late Isibor was a dependable ally and deeply committed to the development of the APC at the grassroots.
Kalejaiye said Isibor was attacked at the weekend while on his way to Ifon, headquarters of Ose Local Government Area.
According to him: “The party condemns the violent attack on its stalwart, which led to his painful exist, at the time the party is warming up for its congress.
“Security challenge has been a major focus of the APC-led government in Ondo State for which so much has been done. The attack on Isibor and others has again underscored the need for every stakeholder to support the security initiative of the State Government to stamp out all forms of criminality.
“Praying for the repose of his gentle soul, the party condoles with the Isibor family, his community, and the APC fold in Ose, and indeed, Ondo State, asking God to grant us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
June 23, 2021
Insecurity: UNIJOS Employs Local Hunters to Secure Campus, Hostels
The authorities of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) yesterday revealed that they engaged the services of local hunters to protect students on campus and their hostels.
The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this yesterday during the valedictory session to mark the end of his five-year tenure.
“It is no longer news that the security situation in the country is quite tenuous.
“This is why under my administration, we made frantic efforts to ensure that all lives and property within the university are adequately protected.
“When we got a security report that we were the soft target, we close our hostels for almost two weeks and suspended lectures eventually. Before we could reopen, we were given a condition that we must employ the services of local hunters to help us secure our hostels, particularly at night.
“Today, this is where we are, but thank God, the Director of Peace and Conflict Studies, looking at the happening, has offered to train these hunters on the rule of engagement in their working in the university.”
He noted that apart from his collaboration with various security experts which led to significant drop in crime in the university, the institution under his leadership also recorded tremendous achievements in other areas under the period of five years when he served as Vice Chancellor
June 23, 2021
Buhari appoints Buratai ambassador to Benin Republic
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (retd.), has been named Ambassador to the Benin Republic.
A former Defence Chief, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), was named the Head of Mission to Cameroon.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, according to a statement by the Information Officer in the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, presented letters of credence to the ex-service chiefs, during a brief ceremony in Abuja.
He said, “The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama today, June 22, 2021, presented Letters of Credence to the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (retd.), and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Retd.).
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs during the brief ceremony congratulated the immediate-past service chiefs on their appointment by Mr. President and called on them to deploy their wealth of experience to promote Nigeria’s interest during their tour of duty in countries of accreditation.”
The statement was, however, silent on the posting of the other former service chiefs – former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok- Ette Ibas (retd), ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.); and former Chief of Defense Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Usman (retd.).
President Muhammadu Buhari had on February 4, 2021, appointed the ex-service chiefs as non-career Ambassadors.
The President appointed the ex-service chiefs in 2015 and refused to bow to the pressure to relieve them of their duties until they “voluntarily resigned”.
Before their “retirement” there were widespread calls for their removal over failure to contain insecurity.
Their appointment as Nigeria’s ambassadors to foreign countries sparked public outrage, with calls on the Senate to reject their nominations.
Despite the outrage, the Senate, on February 23, 2021, confirmed their nominations.
June 22, 2021
Buhari Inaugurates Committee To Lift 100 Million Nigerians Out Of Poverty
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to be chaired by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
In his remarks at the event on Tuesday in Abuja, the President reiterated his commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, with a well-researched framework for implementation and funding.
“This journey began in January 2021 when I directed the Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and Secretary to the Government of the Federation to collaboratively work together to articulate what will lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“I am happy to note that the process of designing this inclusive poverty reduction strategy recognised and addressed past mistakes, as well as laid the foundation for a sustainable poverty reduction through the wide range consultations held at all levels of government, development partners, the private sector as well as the civil society,” he was quoted as saying by his media aide, Femi Adesina.
President Buhari was confident that the NPRGS would address the underlying causes of poverty on the basis of which it developed programmes that would deal with the multi-dimensional nature of poverty within the practical context of comparative advantage of human and natural resources in the various geo-political zones.
According to him, the major challenge before the committee is to translate the good intention of the government into a positive impact on the average Nigerian in order to create an appreciative impact on the poverty situation in the country.
“If India can lift 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016, Nigeria can surely lift 100 million out of poverty in 10 years. Fortunately, we have already started but we need to unlock the challenges of slow implementation, inappropriate targeting, and absence of adequate resources,” the President said.
The responsibilities of the committee, he noted, include anchoring collaborative efforts; provide oversight for the implementation of the strategy; provide guidance to Technical Working Group and federal ministries, extra ministerial departments and agencies, subnational governments and other stakeholders on meeting the objectives of the programme; as well as monitor progress and any other effort that would enhance the attainment of the objective of lifting 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years.
“The performance of our economy despite COVID-19 gives me comfort that we can achieve our goal, but we need to seriously scale up and work more with state and local governments.
“This call becomes more pertinent in the face of recent forecasts by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and our own Nigerian Economic Summit Group which all agreed that Nigeria needs to frontally tackle her poverty situation if our economic gains are to be sustained,” he told the gathering at the event.
President Buhari asked the committee to commence work immediately to enable the Technical Working Group to begin to put the nuts and bolts together.
He said the responsibilities were onerous but expressed confidence that the committee would be able to lay the foundation and demonstrate, within the next two years, the practicality of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in or under 10 years.
In his remarks, Vice President Osinbajo said the NPRGS would consolidate other efforts of the government to reduce poverty in the land.
He noted that the President’s position that local governments, states, and the federal government should work jointly to alleviate poverty in the country would be properly reflected in the framework and implementation, stressing the need for access and inclusivity.
The SGF, Boss Mustapha, who is a member of the committee said the poverty situation in the country assumed an enormous proportion with an increasing population, adding that the situation was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He, however, said the administration responded to the COVID-19 poverty fallout swiftly and was able to ameliorate the situation and ensured a quick exit from recession.
The committee also has as members Chief of Staff to the President, Governors of Ekiti (South West), Delta (South South), Sokoto (North West), Borno (North East), Nasarawa (North Central), and Ebonyi States (South East).
Others are Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning; State for Budget and National Planning; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Agriculture and Rural Development; Industry, Trade and Investments; Labour and Employment, Education and Health.
June 22, 2021
Two Killed Over Stolen Mobile Phone In Kogi
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Felele axis, a surbub in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital was thrown into confusion as panic enveloped when three people were allegedly Killed Over a Stolen Mobile Phone
An eye witness revealed that a suspected thief who snatched a mobile phone and sneaked into a shop where the innocent shop owner was mistaken for being the thief on the run was killed by a mob, while the suspect escaped.
Our correspondent gathered that in a reprisal, sympathisers of the late shop owner, identified one of his alleged killers, beat him to death and set the corpse ablaze, while some persons have been taken to the hospital following injuries they sustained during the clashes.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kogi Police Command, DSP Williams Aya, said the command received a distress call from Felele at about 10 am on Monday, and on arrival at the scene discovered two dead bodies said to have been killed in a clash.
The PPRO explained that one Salisu Ado and Muhammad Mukaila all dead were alleged to have engaged in a fight over yet to be ascertained cause leading to their death.
He stated that Muhammed Mukaila was alleged to have stabbed Salisu Ado to death, prompting a reprisal attack by his relations and sympathisers who equally killed Mukaila and set his corpse ablaze.
According to DSP Aya, two suspects Muhammed Mubarak and Suleiman Yakubu all believed to be members of Aro Barger cult have been arrested in connection with the killings.
It was gathered that investigation into the matter has commenced as the state Commissioner of Police has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department .
June 22, 2021
Gov Ortom Lauds NCDC Over Fight Against insecurity in Benue State
By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has lauded the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp, NCDC, over its fight against insecurity in the state.
The Governor gave this commendation when the new Commandant of the Corp in Benue State, Mr Philip Okoh paid a courtesy visit to him at the Government House Makurdi.
He stressed that the Agro Rangers of the organization have distinguished themselves in the fight against banditry and criminality in the state.
Ortom promised to sustain the support of his administration to the Corp as well as other security operatives to enable them carry out their duties more efficiently.
The Governor stated that the implementation of the shoot at sight order by President Muhammadu Buhari against people who illegally carry AK47 rifles would help in no small measure in tackling security challenge in Nigeria.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the Corp, Mr Okoh said his mission in the state was to ensure peace and order. He appealed to the Governor to support the Command to enable it address some of the challenges confronting it.
June 22, 2021
Private Poly owners vows to clampdown on illegal Polytechnics
The National President of Association of Private Polytechnic Founders and Rectors in Nigeria, Mr Bassey James has said that the association would soon begin a nationwide clampdown on illegal Polytechnics.
James made this known on Tuesday in Uyo during a media briefing to mark the maiden matriculation of his polytechnic, Southern Atlantic Polytechnic holding next Saturday in Uyo.
The president who decried the proliferation of private Polytechnics nationwide said the association has already written to both the National and State Assemblies on the matter and given the perpetrators a timeline to legalize their schools
James who promised to eradicate illegal polytechnics in the state in the next one year, regretted that such illegal institutions have nothing to offer to the society describing ot as crime against humanity.
He however called on the Federal Ministry of Education to lend it’s voice on the campaign against the menace.
“have written to the Federal Government, the National and State Assemblies about the the dangers of these illegal Polytechnics and the need to clampdown on them.
“I have even raised the issue to the National Board for Technical Education and they promised to do something. I know some of the people who are doing this illegal business and I have given them a timeline.
“This, must disappear because it waters down the quality of education and everything about our people. It is very annoying that you spend upto One Billion Naira to build an institution and you see someone that will stay in his bedroom to say he is running a polytechnic too.
“Some even run theirs under the tree and you see people attend those schools. Some people are studying computer science without seeing a computer set in the school, and other courses such as Engineering without any facility.
“At the end of the year they will be issued a certificate. This is a crime against humanity, against quality education and something has to be done.” He explained.
He said that 300 students would matriculate in the forth coming Matriculation of his institution which would also witness the official launching of the institution’s entrepreneurial initiatives in Garri processing and shoe making.
On the harmonisation of the HND/BSC Dichotomy by President Muhammadu Buhari ,James said such lacuna and disparity was disheartening considering the experience of a HND graduate after the mandatory one year internship.
He however commended Buhari for removing the dichotomy saying that graduates of polytechnics now have a brighter future
June 22, 2021
Kaduna: NLC threatens to resume its suspended strike
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday threatened to resume its suspended strike in Kaduna State.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba disclosed this during a press conference after an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the congress in Abuja.
Wabba said state councils and affiliate unions have been directed to mobilise for the latest action.
Wabba accused the State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai of failing to respect the Memorandum of Understanding brokered between the NLC and the state government by the Federal Government.
He said the congress “after exhausting all avenues, including writing letters to President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Union has decided to resume the strike.”
June 22, 2021
ECOWAS Court Restrains FG from prosecuting Twitter users
The ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja has restrained the Federal Government from imposing sanctions or harassing, intimidating, arresting, or prosecuting Twitter.
It also restricted the government from carrying out such actions against any other social media service provider, as well as media houses, pending the hearing and determination of a suit challenging the government’s suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.
The court gave the restraining order after hearing arguments from parties in a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 176 concerned Nigerians.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, represented the plaintiffs while a legal practitioner, Maimuna Shiru, represented the government.
According to the court, interference with Twitter is a violation of human rights and the Nigerian government must take immediate steps to implement the order.
It stressed the need to hear the matter as soon as possible and adjourned until July 6, 2021, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
In the suit, the applicants argued that the suspension of Twitter by the government and criminalisation of Nigerians and others using the social media platform has escalated repression of human rights and unlawfully restricted the rights of citizens and others to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom in the country.
This followed the suspension of Twitter by the Federal Government after the social media giant deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Thereafter, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) ordered television and radio stations to suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately.
The plaintiffs, in the suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/23/21, sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Federal Government from implementing its suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and subjecting anyone, including media houses and broadcast stations using Twitter in Nigeria to harassment, intimidation, arrest, and criminal prosecution, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
June 22, 2021