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Tambuwal Upgrades SSCOE to University
By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
As it marks 50 years of its existence on Monday, the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto will soon become a University of Education that will retain the name of the former President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari after whom it was named.
The college has been so named even before the death, two years ago, of President Shagari.
By this gesture, the College will be the first of its kind to be raised to the level of a university in Northern Nigeria.
Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State disclosed this on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebration and 22nd convocation of the College.
According to Gov. Tambuwal, the decision to upgrade the institution is premised on the enviable track record it has established in the past half a century, its “uncommon and trademark foresight, vision, creativity and leadership acumen historically associated with our forefathers for over two centuries.”
In addition, the College, the Governor notes “is one of the high-ranking teacher training institutions and among the largest producers of teachers in Nigeria.”
Applauding the past and present leaders of the College for raising the College “to this enviable level,” Gov. Tambuwal said in furtherance of its upgrading, “approval has been given for the construction of two-storey students’ hostels, capable of accommodating over 400 students… in order to address the challenges of students accommodation.”
He appreciated “the combined efforts of the College Council, Management, staff and students for maintaining relative peace and a conducive environment for academic activities on the College campus,” while urging them “to work harder to improve the quality of teachers produced in this institution. This has become imperative for us to achieve our ambition for higher standard in Basic and Secondary Education.”
He added that: “while I am happy for the progress recorded by the College over the past 50 years, I urge the leadership of this glorious institution at all levels to be more prepared to position the College for greater achievements in the 50 years ahead. This calls for renewed vigour, creativity, innovative ideas, quality control, cooperation and collaboration to the College to attain its vision of impacting knowledge and skills suited for practice in the 21st Century.”
Gov. Tambuwal said his administration has been embarking on extensive rehabilitation, reconstruction and building of hundreds of primary and secondary schools in the State, just as it will give more premium “to the needs of its tertiary education sector.”
In his address the Commissioner for HIgher Education, Prof Bashir Garba said through the support of the state government, the college has recorded several milestones over the past 50 years of its services to humanity.
Prof. Garba also added that with the encouragement of Sokoto state government, the college, in a multiple affiliation with the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has also been running undergraduate programmes in education for over 20 years
In his address the Provost of the College, Dr Wadata Hakimi said the college from its inception to date has recorded a total of 48,936 holders of the National Certificate of Education (NCE).
He added that the college affiliated undergraduate programmes have equally produced over 12,500 holders of degree in education.
At the ceremony six personalities where presented with the award of fellowship which include former executive governor of Niger state, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, former chairman of the college’s governing board, Ambassador Shehu Malami and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof Bappa Aliyu Muhammad.
The rest are Dr Muhammad Mustapha Bunza, Captain Muhammad Bala Shagari (rtd), who is also the Sarkin Mafaran Shagari and Alhaji Abdullahi Sarkin Gobir Adiya.
Highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of the college’s Golden Jubilee monument by Gov Tambuwal with the assistance of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
December 29, 2020
Arewa youths call for arrest and prosecution of Bishop Kukah over his Christmas day statement
The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, over his Christmas day message.
Bishop Kukah in his Christmas day message, attacked President Buhari, accusing him of being nepotistic. He went on to also accuse President Buhari of institutionalizing “northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second-class status. He went on to state that there would have been a coup if a non-northern Muslim president does a fraction of what Buhari has done. Read here.
Reacting to the clergyman’s statement, the Arewa Youths Consultative forum described Kukah’s statement as unguarded and open incitement to military coup and insurrection against the democratically elected government.
In a statement signed and released by its National President, Yerima Shettima, the group called on the Federal Government to place Bishop Kukah on a special watch list for this open attempt to “set the South against the North in order to destabilize our country and further complicate matters.”
The statement in part reads
“Such a reckless statement by Kukah betrays something much more sinister against both the North and the nation as a whole because Nigeria is at a stage that it requires responsible advice for attaining peace and stability, not deliberate attempt to mischievously compound our problems.
If Kukah wants to play politics, he should not do so in the pulpit and he should keep the Bishop’s office aside and choose any Nigerian political party platform to contest for President in 2023 and stop all the pretences”
The group then reminded the cleric of the rough road tread by democracy heroes to rid the nation of military dictatorship at a time when he was nowhere in sight.
“We will not allow opportunists who did make any contribution to scuttle the democracy achieved through our sweat and toil and the sacrifice of our liberty,” the statement read
December 29, 2020
Twisting Bishop Kukah”s Christmas Message Injurious to nation-building – CAN
..Say’s those castigating referred cleric are sectional zealots
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
The leadership of Christan Association of Nigeria (CAN), has expressed great shock over what it described as twisting of the crux of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at the Christmas by presidency, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), other individuals and groups, saying, the action is an attempt to further divide the nation.
CAN, 19 northern states and Abuja, in a statement issued on Monday by it’s Vice chairman Rev. John Joseph Hayab, stated that it “has read with great shock attempts to further divide the nation by the Presidency, the leadership of MURIC and other individuals and groups aimed at twisting the crux of the homily Bishop Kukah gave at Christmas.
CAN noted that “Of grave misgiving is the baseless claim in a statement signed by the President of MURIC, Prof Ishaq Akintola, that Bishop Kukah had “referred to Islam as a violent religion” and “calls for a coup.”
According to CAN, “That such a statement comes from Prof Akintola is not only laughable but misleading and tissue of lies.
“Records show MURIC’s leadership is often careless with assertions and many times acting as if it was a political platform instead of a religious one.
“CAN 19 northern states and Abuja, therefore, condemn in its entirety, the misleading and inciting statements of MURIC and its likes, calling on the international as well as the local community to particularly counsel Prof Akintola of MURIC to learn to walk the path of honour and not be a merchant of crisis.
“Reading through Bishop Kukah’s homily, “A Nation In Search of Vindication” CAN stated that, it’s unable to find any expression suggesting an affront to Islam or a call for a coup.
CAN expressed sadness that MURIC is aimed at inviting citizens against one another along the lines of faith instead of denouncing the insecurity witnessed across the country, “which is the point of Bishop Kukah’s message.
“From the east to the south, west and all over the north, travelling has become a nightmare while hapless people are dragged from their homes for ransom.
“Our memory is fresh with the gruesome killings of 76 farmers in Borno State in early December 2020 whose crime was simply being farmers irking for a source of livelihoods for their families”, CAN stated.
While CAN demanded to know what was MURIC’s statement at the time of the national tragedy, when Kankara boys Kidnapped and the excruciating pains the kids, their parents and school went through, the body added that it did not red a statement from MURIC and their likes.
“Now from the blues as Bishop Kukah talked the truth to power, we read unscrupulous statements aimed at painting black, a message that was clear and concise, alerting the government of its failure on the security of lives anf property of Nigerians.
“Given the current happenings in Nigeria with kidnapping, banditry, horrible atrocities committed against hapless citizens by members Boko Haram, Nigerians should be united in condemning and finding solutions to the awful condition that we are in as Bishop Kukah has rightly done.
“For those castigating the referred cleric, we would call them by name – they are sectional zealots who only see the trouble in Nigeria from their primordial views.
“It is time for the Presidency, MURIC, and misinformed individuals to eschew their intolerance and admit that Nigeria under Buhari has strayed from the path and vision that the independence of this great country was fought for and won.
“Let the government do the right thing by creating a sense of inclusion for all sundry, defending the citizens from harm, bringing an end to the growing insecurity in towns, cities, and villages that we could attain greatness together”, CAN stated.
December 28, 2020
Lagos to takeover traffic management from PTF
The Lagos State Government on Monday, said it would take over traffic management from the Presidential Taskforce Team, in order to restore sanity to the Apapa area.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said this during a fact-finding visit to the Apapa Ports to ascertain the reason for the incessant congestion in the port area, in spite of providing a park for the articulated trucks.
Sanwo-Olu said that a special team would be set up by his administration to takeover traffic management in the area.
He also said a stakeholders’ meeting, involving representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), haulage transport unions and port operators, among others would be convened.
According to him, the meeting is to work out means of solving the protracted traffic gridlock in Apapa, as well as having more efficient, effective port operations in the general interest of the public.
The governor decried the level of indiscipline among port players and promised to tackle head-on, the menace of extortionist tendencies levelled against security personnel in the Apapa environs.
“This is not the first time, certainly not the second and in fact this is about the third or the fourth time in my government, that we are trying to see how we can bring an enduring solution to the Apapa gridlock.
“On all of the times we have come, we knew that we are having a road construction, but you can see now that inside Apapa, there is significant progress. A lot of roads have been done.
“Today even being public holiday, it is even difficult for us to say that we have achieved a 100 per cent traffic free flow into Apapa,´´he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that there had been accusations over a cabal collecting money from operators and there were also counter accusations.
“You are aware that since last year the presidential task force had been working. Now, there is a process that is starting, in which the state government needs to take over that task force.
“One of the reasons for this trip is to start that process, to see things for myself.
“The state government is to set up a seamless operation to have a team of LASTMA about 400 to 500, dedicated to Apapa gridlock.
“To also have a team of policemen from Area B dedicated to the same gridlock. Understand what the airport police command is doing, because they are also part of the problem,´´ he said.
December 28, 2020
Gov. Abubakar Bello condemns bandits attacks on communities
Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has condemned recent attack by bandits on some communities of Maitumbi and Kuchi in Bosso and Munya local government areas of the state
Bello, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Mary Noel-Berje, in Minna on Monday decried the incessant activities of the gunmen and urged the people to support government efforts aimed at identify and dislodging the criminals.
Daybreak reports that about 20 people were allegedly abducted by the bandits, numbering over 50, when they attacked communities in the two areas leaving scores injured in the process.
He appealed to residents of the state to cooperate with security agencies by providing necessary intelligence that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of such heinous act.
Bello disclosed that the recent meeting of the North Central State Governors in Makurdi, provided ideas and offered new approaches in dealing with the issue of banditry in the region.
He added that both the states and Federal government were doing their best to restore order in the affected states.
The governor gave the assurance of governments logistical support to the security agencies and enjoined them to brace up to their responsibilities through collaborative intelligence sharing.
He condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in recent attacks and directed the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to attend to the injured as well as those taking refuge at the Maitumbi Primary School.
December 28, 2020
Former Cross River lawmaker’s son, 2 others arrested for armed robbery
A son of an ex-House of Assembly member in Cross River State and two others have been arrested for alleged armed robbery.
Day Break gathered that the suspects were in a car driven by the son of the ex-member of the House of Assembly.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Francis, said the incident occurred at Chief Obot Street Housing Estate, Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of the state
He alleged that the six robbery gang attempted to attack a policeman at gunpoint while carrying out a robbery attack on Sunday night.
READ ALSO: Hate speech: Arrest Bishop Kukah, Arewa youths appeal to FG
The eyewitness further said the gang was confronted by Operation Akpakwu, who later arrested three after a serious gun duel with the robbers.
“One of the armed robbers is a son to a former House of Assembly Member in the state. The robbers were chased from State Housing by Chief Obot Street while they were shooting sporadically.
“During the process of chasing after them by the Operation Akpakwu team, the driver of the vehicle lost control and ran into a deep gutter.
“Three of the armed robbers were arrested, the other three escaped, one of them had bullet wounds. The son of a former House of Assembly member was the person who drove the car the robbers used for the operation,” the witness stated.
When our reporter called at the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, the PPRO DSP Irene Igbo, she did not pick several calls made by us.
December 28, 2020
Enugu to employ 1,000 youths as traffic officers, forest guards
Enugu State Government has concluded arrangements to employ 1,000 youths as traffic officers and forest guards.
The Head of Service of the state, Mr Ken Chukwuegbo, made the disclosure in a statement in Enugu on Monday.
READ ALSO: Hate speech: Arrest Bishop Kukah, Arewa youths appeal to FG
Chukwuegbo advised interested and qualified youths to summit applications to his office or online via https://bit.ly/ohosenugu, before January 14.
He said that the jobs would be for people between the ages of 18 years and 35 years.
Interested youths must be indigenes of the state and possess a minimum of Senior Secondary School Certificate, according to the head of service.
December 28, 2020
Orji kalu will not be Nigeria’s next president – TB Joshua
Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations Prophet T. B. Joshua has stated that Senator Orji Kalu would not be Nigeria’s next president.
The televangelist made this known in a tweet on Monday, December 28, while reacting to rumours of him prophesying about that.
READ ALSO: Hate speech: Arrest Bishop Kukah, Arewa youths appeal to FG
The Prophet described it as “fake news”, adding that he has been at his prayer mountain since the past five days and could not have made the statement.
Joshua was reported to have said over the weekend during a church service that President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor would be a former governor from the southern part of the country who was held in prison.
The Supreme Court had in May nullified Kalu’s 12-year sentencing handed down to him by a Federal High Court in Lagos on corruption charges.
FAKE NEWS ALERT!
Please be informed that the story circulating titled "Orji Kalu is Nigeria's Next President, says TB Joshua" is NOT from TB Joshua.

TB Joshua is not around; he is at the Prayer Mountain in a rural area for the past five days.
— TB Joshua (@SCOANTBJoshua) December 27, 2020

December 28, 2020
COVID-19: Fake result certificates on sale in Lagos – Abayomi
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has raised an alarm that international travellers in the state are gaining access to fake COVID-19 certificate.
Abayomi, at a briefing on Monday, said the state government was putting machinery in place to apprehend those doing such unscrupulous businesses.
The commissioner also raised the alarm that there had been an increase in positive cases from inbound travellers.
“Positivity for inbound travellers is on the rise as Nigerians in the Diaspora return to spend Christmas in Lagos. It has come to our attention that a number of people are patronising individuals that sell fake COVID-19 results.
“We are currently putting in processes to identify both buyers and sellers and we will not hesitate to prosecute them,” he said.
December 28, 2020
COVID-19: Lagos to inaugurate 10 oxygen centres
The Lagos State Government will inaugurate 10 Oxygen and Sampling centres to improve management of severe-to-critical COVID-19 cases. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this during a media briefing on the update of the second wave of COVID-19 in Lagos on Monday. Abayomi said that the state would deploy oxygen therapy centres in high burden local government areas to manage severe-to-critical COVID-19 patients.
According to him, the centres were sited at the Mother and Child Centre, Eti-Osa; General Hospital Alimosho; General Hospital Isolo; Aguda Primary Healthcare Centre, Surulere; and General Hospital Gbagada.He listed others as, Mother and Child Centre, Ifako Ijaiye; Ibeju-Lekki Primary Healthcare Centre; General Hospital Apapa; Odi Olowu Primary Healthcare Centre, Mushin; and Amuwo-Odofin Mother and Child Centre.Abayomi said that the oxygen centres at Mother and Child Centre, Eti-Osa; General Hospital Alimosho and General Hospital Isolo were already completed, while the remaining seven centres would be completed in the next two weeks.
He noted that medical oxygen is the primary treatment for the majority of patients who were suffering severe COVID-19 symptoms.”Many of these patients present late to the isolation centres, thus leading to fatalities.“This life-saving gas helps patients breathe when they cannot do so on their own, and timely access to oxygen is critical to ensure the patient’s survival.“If anyone is breathless, go to any of these centres, and the doctors and nurses there will assist to stabilise you with oxygen before moving you with the ambulance to the isolation centre,” he said.The commissioner stressed that the state was committed to ensuring improved healthcare system toward enhancing quality healthcare and saving the lives of its citizens.He, however, warned that the rate of COVID-19 infection positivity was increasing in the state due to the festivities and disregard for safety measures.”On Dec. 26, the state confirmed 253 new COVID-19 infections, increasing the total confirmed cases of infections in the state to 28,774,” Abayomi said.He added that 75 confirmed cases were currently being managed at the isolation centres while 3,716 active cases under home-based care were under the state’s EKO TELEMED.
Abayomi said that one fatality was recorded on the reported day.He said that as the COVID-19 pandemic continued, residents would need to make lifestyle adjustments to live with the pandemic.“Living with the pandemic means that you should wear your face mask everywhere, follow physical distancing rules, avoid social gatherings, ensure regular hand washing or hand sanitising.“If you feel unwell, get tested; if positive, self-isolate or present to any isolation centre or follow up clinics,” the commissioner said.He also said that the state would deploy effective messaging and education through its various platforms, while enforcing all guidelines through the respective state agencies.Abayomi noted that the state was discovering more positive cases among international travellers into the state.“Positivity for inbound travellers is on the rise, eight per cent this week, four per cent cumulative as Nigerians in the Diaspora return to spend Christmas in Lagos“
It has come to our attention that a number of the people are patronising individuals that sell fake COVID-19 results. “We are currently putting in processes to identify both buyers and sellers and we will not hesitate to prosecute either to the full extent of the law,” he said. Abayomi said that the state’s goal from inception was to flatten the curve, and would intensify its strategies of identifying, testing, isolating and management of cases to reduce the rate of transmission. He said that the state had increased its daily testing capacity from August to December, and that the state was now testing between 2,000 and 3,000 samples daily.
December 28, 2020