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LG Polls: A’Ibom to shut down State borders
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Akwa Ibom state government has said it would shut its borders on Saturday as part of measures to ensure a hitch free Local Government elections in the state.
A statement from the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem yesterday in Uyo explained that this would affect all Inter-state border entry points, leading into the state and would be between 7am and 2pm.
The statement further directed that human and vehicular movements would also be restricted from 7am to 2pm while eligible voters are tenjoined to stay within the premises of their polling units during the period of the elections.
“Those on essential duties, viz: medical personnel, electoral officials and election observers, accredited pressmen be exempted from the movement restrictions.” It said.
Meanwhile, in order to enable active participation of civil servants in the election, work would close at 2pm on Friday while the subsisting state-wide daily curfew of 8pm to 7am would remain in force till further notice.
“All citizens and residents are advised to continue to be law-abiding while voters, while queuing to exercise their franchise, should comply with the AKSG/NCDC/WHO approved COVID-19 Guidelines and Protocols.
“All Security Agencies have been briefed to strictly enforce this restriction of movement directive.” It said.
In the meantime, chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Aniediabasi Ikoiwak has announced that the commission would deploy new electronic gadgets for more effective operations.
Ikoawak said the new device would enable the commission’s officials monitor the time of arrival of materials at respective polling units in the state.
He further declared that candidates of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, were disqualified because the party attempted to field candidates without supplying adequate details as required by the electoral law.
“The Chairman of the National Rescue Movement came to my office after the deadline for submission of forms of all candidates to tell me to input the name of candidates of Esit -Eket and Ukanafun, and I told him that such act is against the electoral law.
“AKISIEC did not disqualify anybody. Let me also say that for you to be a candidate you must qualify to be a candidate and follow given guidelines for electoral process.
“The details of the running mates of the two candidates were not supplied and as such they failed to meet the requirements.” The chairman explained.
October 29, 2020
Gov. Wike signs Executive Order proscribing IPOB in Rivers
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has signed an executive order to reinforce the ban on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities in the State.
He made this known in a statement by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor.
Ebiri stated that the governor, in a broadcast on Wednesday night in Port Harcourt, maintained that Rivers remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities.
He said that the government acknowledges and appreciates the enormous contributions from non-indigenes to the political, social and economic development of the State.
According to the statement, the State Government will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property under any guise.
It stated “the State government is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.
“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State.
“But we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed IPOB and whatever that group stands for in Rivers State,” the governor warned.
“This is clearly a terrorist group which existence, creed, mission and activities are strongly denounced even by the Government and peoples of South-Eastern States of the country.
“I have, therefore, signed the executive order to reinforce the total ban on IPOB and its activities in Rivers State or any part thereof and nothing will stop us from enforcing this ban in its entirety,’’ he said.
The statement also added that Wike also “directed security agencies and the Chairmen of Local Government Areas to fish out and resolutely deal with any member of IPOB found in any community following the executive order and other legal instruments’’.
The governor also announced the lifting of existing curfew on Mile 1; Mile 2; Iloabuchi; Emenike; and Ikokwu areas of Port Harcourt as well as Rumukurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He, however, said that the curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area will remain in force until further notice while the entire Ikokwu motor spare parts market will remain closed until further notice.
In the quest to restore sanity and enhance free traffic flow in roads in the State, the governor said he will constitute a task force to enforce the ban on illegal street trading and the emergence of motor parks along public roads.
He also stated that, in the interim, he has approved the ban on the operations of tricycles, also known as `Keke NAPEP’, on all major roads in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The major roads are Aggrey road; Dame Patience Jonathan road; Eastern Bypass road; Ikwerre road; Aba road; Agip road; Ada George road; Olu Obasanjo road; Rumuokwuta – Rumuola road; and Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni (leading to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education) road.
Others are: Rumuokwuta – Choba road; Chief G.U. Eke road; Peter Odili road; Ken Saro-Wiwa road; Nkpogu road; Trans-Amadi road; Elekahia – Rumuomasi road; Yakubu Gowon road; and Woji – Elelenwo road.
Wike also directed the State Civil Service Commission to take immediate steps to employ 5,000 youths into teaching and other career positions in the State’s Civil Service.
He said such steps should be taken as an immediate measure to reduce the level of youth unemployment.
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has signed an executive order to reinforce the ban on the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities in the State.
He made this known in a statement by Mr Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant (Media) to the Governor.
Ebiri stated that the governor, in a broadcast on Wednesday night in Port Harcourt, maintained that Rivers remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities.
He said that the government acknowledges and appreciates the enormous contributions from non-indigenes to the political, social and economic development of the State.
According to the statement, the State Government will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property under any guise.
It stated “the State government is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.
“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State.
“But we have everything against the presence and activities of the legally-proscribed IPOB and whatever that group stands for in Rivers State,” the governor warned.
“This is clearly a terrorist group which existence, creed, mission and activities are strongly denounced even by the Government and peoples of South-Eastern States of the country.
“I have, therefore, signed the executive order to reinforce the total ban on IPOB and its activities in Rivers State or any part thereof and nothing will stop us from enforcing this ban in its entirety,’’ he said.
The statement also added that Wike also “directed security agencies and the Chairmen of Local Government Areas to fish out and resolutely deal with any member of IPOB found in any community following the executive order and other legal instruments’’.
The governor also announced the lifting of existing curfew on Mile 1; Mile 2; Iloabuchi; Emenike; and Ikokwu areas of Port Harcourt as well as Rumukurushi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He, however, said that the curfew in Oyigbo Local Government Area will remain in force until further notice while the entire Ikokwu motor spare parts market will remain closed until further notice.
In the quest to restore sanity and enhance free traffic flow in roads in the State, the governor said he will constitute a task force to enforce the ban on illegal street trading and the emergence of motor parks along public roads.
He also stated that, in the interim, he has approved the ban on the operations of tricycles, also known as `Keke NAPEP’, on all major roads in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The major roads are Aggrey road; Dame Patience Jonathan road; Eastern Bypass road; Ikwerre road; Aba road; Agip road; Ada George road; Olu Obasanjo road; Rumuokwuta – Rumuola road; and Rumuepirikom – Rumuolumeni (leading to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education) road.
Others are: Rumuokwuta – Choba road; Chief G.U. Eke road; Peter Odili road; Ken Saro-Wiwa road; Nkpogu road; Trans-Amadi road; Elekahia – Rumuomasi road; Yakubu Gowon road; and Woji – Elelenwo road.
Wike also directed the State Civil Service Commission to take immediate steps to employ 5,000 youths into teaching and other career positions in the State’s Civil Service.
He said such steps should be taken as an immediate measure to reduce the level of youth unemployment.
October 29, 2020
Hard time awaits hoodlums as FCT minister tours looted warehouses
… as police arrests 71 lotters
By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCDA, Mallam Musa Muhammad promised to arrest and punish hoodlums responsible for looting warehouses and factories at the Idu Industrial zone of the territory.
Bello who took a tour of the zone . yesterday to assess the level of damage done to some of the factories and warehouses in the wake of #EndSARS protests was accompanied by the heads of the various security agencies and military formations in the FCT, traditional, community and business leaders as well as senior staff members of the FCTA.
Mallam Bello who expressed extreme displeasure at the looting and damage to property by the hoodlums pledged that the arrested culprits will be duly prosecuted.
The Minister assured that the FCT Administration was working with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Idu Industrial Zone is protected because it is the industrial nerve center of the city where thousands of residents are employed along the manufacturing value chain.
He also called on the residents of the community especially staff of the affected companies to be vigilant and volunteer information to the security authorities as to the possible identity of the looters adding that discussions were being held with the community leaders in the area with the intention of tracking and recovering the looted items.
He also urged the business owners to cooperate with the security agencies for the recovery of the looted items, many of which he said are specialized machines and equipment that cannot be easily disposed of.
The Minister urged residents to be more security conscious as efforts are made to beef up the security of the area.
He said, “All these shanties attached to the walls of factories shouldn’t be here because once they are here, you don’t know who is there. They are neither staff, they are neither people from the city. But if it is inside the factory, we know they are staff.”
” So, this is one area we have to work together with you to clear everything so that whoever is here is somebody that is meant to be here”.
Meanwhile FCT Commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma said that the police command has arrested 71 suspected looters, vandals and hoodlums and recovered some of the stolen items.
He said “. We have adopted a very strong strategy in most of our neighboring villages where we are liaising with the villages there. Wherever they see items stolen and hidden in the forest, we will be going there to recover them. The company officials are also cooperating with us and giving us every necessary assistance to recover most of the items”.
Chairman of the Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr Odun Emasealu commended the efforts of the FCTA in containing the situation during the vandalisation of warehouses and factories.
October 29, 2020
Hoodlums Looted, Destroys Equipment Worth N2 billion In Kogi Medical Store
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, said
Hoodlums invaded Kogi State Central Medical Store, looted and vandalised medical equipment and consumables worth billions of naira.
Dr Saka Audu, disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday, after he led a team from the ministry and the media to inspect the burgled medical store located along Zone 8, Lokoja.
The commissioner who expressed shock over the unfortunate development, pointed out that it would be very difficult for Kogi to recover quickly from the set back.
He stressed that the state do not have the capacity to recover what had been carted away or vandalized in a short term period without adequate external intervention and support.
”The Kogi State Central Medical Store was burgled and equipment worth billions of naira were stolen.
”Those equipment that couldn’t be stolen like the refrigerator for immunization, components of MRI/CT Scan machines were vandalized beyond repair, while others were moved from the store and broken into pieces in nearby bushes.”
”The situation is indeed worrisome, and should be a cause for concern to all Kogites as it has given a great set back in many paces in our efforts to provide quality healthcare to Citizenry.”
He added that the state was currently quantifying the extent of the damage and would eventually make public the list of stolen items and cost implications.
According to him, medical equipment such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Computed Tomography machines, Digital Mammography, Digital Radiography, consumables, drugs, office furniture, air conditioners, solar power unit, fans, among others were either looted or vandalised.
”The implication of this according to the commissioner is that the Drug Supply Chain and cold chain for routine immunization would be disrupted in Kogi State.”
”A store that successive State Government Administrations and Health Development Partners have invested billions of naira to equip was emptied in a matter of hours,” the Commissioner lamented.
He appealed to the federal government, development partners, donor agencies and well meaning Nigerians to assist Kogi State Government in that regard.
Also speaking, Dr Abubakar Yakubu, the Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), noted that 20 tonnes capacity Cold Room recently built for vaccines by the agency was completely vandalised.
He stressed that the cold room which was fully sponsored by the state government to be commissioned soon were destroyed, and its 100KVA inverter and 36 solar batteries carted away.
October 29, 2020
Eid-Maulud: We seek justice for alleged Police brutality victims – APC
Tom Okpe, Abuja
As the Muslim faithfuls celebrates Eid El Malud, commemorating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed; the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has called for justice, for alleged Police brutality victims in the recent Endsars protest that ravaged the country in the past few days.
The party through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena said in a press statement in Abuja on Wednesday that the party also embark on the needed Police reforms, urging peaceful agitation.
He said: “While we seek justice for alleged Police brutality victims and embark on needed police reforms, we also urge peaceful agitations and engagements on all sides. To this end, we call on citizens and all stakeholders to take advantage of the Judicial panels of inquiry and restitution being established in states.
“We urge Nigerians to be influenced by the great virtues that the Holy Prophet epitomised by imbibing the true meaning of piety, sacrifice, patience and fellowship.
“Today many parts of the country is ravaged by the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests and the unfortunate arson attacks and looting which marred the agitations.
“In our public and private spaces, particularly the social media, we must collectively resist individuals and interests that try to sow seeds of discord among us by inciting violence and dividing us along religious, ethnic and other perceived lines. Their intentions are unpatriotic and self-serving.”
The party further stated that, “From social inclusion, deregulation, anti-corruption, electoral reforms and now police reforms, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has not shied away from systemic and institutional reforms when necessary. We urge Nigerians to support these progressive reforms.
Nabena noted that as the nation progressively reforms, rebuild and reposition the country, the APC calls on everyone to be circumspect, humane and measured in utterances and actions adding; “we renew our call for an end to looting and arson attacks.”
The party urged Muslim faithfuls as they celebrate to imbibe the teachings of Prophet Muhammed saying; “Islam is centred on belief in Allah, devotion and service to humanity.
“We call on Nigerians to use the occasion of Eid-El-Malud to pray for peace, progress and unity of the nation,” the statement added.
October 29, 2020
Eid-Maulud: Gbajabiamila urges Muslims to pray for peace, progress of Nigeria
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has enjoined the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians to exhibit more love for one another.
Gbajabiamila, in a congratulatory message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi also said that the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) should be used to pray for peace, progress and unity of the country, especially at this period of challenges facing the country.
While congratulating Muslims all over the world for the Eid-Maulud, the Speaker urged that the characters and teachings of the holy Prophet should be the watchword for all.
October 29, 2020
Gbajabiamila reiterates Reps’ determination to empower Nigerian youths
The House of Representatives is determined and ready to empower the Nigerian youth to make them competitive globally, the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, said on Wednesday.
Gbajabiamila said issues concerning the Nigerian youth have been a priority to the 9th House, which was the reason behind several proactive measures to address them, even before the outbreak of the recent youth protests around the country. This emerged when Speaker Gbajabiamila met with a group of young lawmakers from the House under the aegis of ‘Young Parliamentarians Forum’ of the National Assembly in his office, where he reiterated that some of the demands of the youth following the EndSARS protests would be addressed constitutionally.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said, “All of us, every segment of the government, especially the House of Representatives, that before the protests took the initiative, debated motions and took far-reaching decisions on the floor.
“Part of the decision was to reform the Police to accommodate a better, more reformed Police.
“We gave ourselves 30 days, and since then, we’ve been working night and day, especially with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“We thought the best way to go about it is that we amend the Police Service Commission Act, and that has been done and the report has been concluded and soon, it will be published and be on the floor.
“We are determined to resolve the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) matter, and if we can resolve two out of three issues, I think we would have gone a long way to help the lecturers who are on strike.
“There’s a bill on vocational education, I think from the 8th Assembly that was even my bill. We’ll pick it up again and pass it to you (Young Parliamentarians Group) to polish it up and add it to whatever ideas you have”.
On youth empowerment, the Speaker said though a lot still needs to be done but that the present government has done a lot.
“I make bold to say that no government, in Nigerian history from inception, and I stand to be corrected, has put in as much in youth empowerment as this present government.
“Facts don’t lie, a government that has devoted N500bn to youth empowerment every year. There’s Trader Moni, N-Power, and several others, they are all there.
“This government has done a lot about youth empowerment and is ready to do more. We can never be bereft of ideas. If you have anything that we need to look at, the House is willing and ready to add to those ideas.
“We will be happy to accelerate bills on youth development”.
Earlier, the young parliamentarians commended the leadership quality of the Speaker for his various interventions on national issues.
The leader of the delegation, Rep. Kabir Tukur a, noted in particular, the proactive measures taken to address Police reforms and EndSARS demands.
The young federal lawmakers also commended the Speaker for his interventions on labour issues in health, education and power sectors.
While presenting the demands of the group to the Speaker, Rep. Tukura said their major concern was a lasting solution to youth restiveness through the allocation of more resources to youth-related matters as well as education, especially vocational training.
The group also noted that the youth should be given a sense of belonging in government through better representation to enable them to bridge the existing gap, which was part of the reasons for the recent unrest.
To this end, he said, the group would be seeking the amendment of Section 171 of the Constitution to reflect federal character in accommodating the youth and people living with disabilities.
While informing the Speaker of the group’s request for an emergency session of the House to discuss its demands, Tukur also added that the group would be seeking his support for the group’s push for the establishment of a National Youth Development Commission.
Others at the meeting included Deputy Chief Whip, Peter Akpatason and Chairman, Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations, Rep. Zakariya’u Galadima, while Rep. Onofiok Luke, Rep. A. G. Suleiman, Rep. Shehu Kale and Rep. Saidu Abdullahi represented the Young Parliamentarian Forum.
October 29, 2020
S/Kaduna Joint Peace C’tee Urge Farmers to Open Cattle Routes
By Ujah Simon, kaduna
The Southern Kaduna joint Peace Committee inaugurated by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Monday Pam has urged farmers in the region to open all Cattle Routes as Herders Trans-humans will be returning for grazing as they approach dry season.
Co-Chairmen of the Committee, Professor Ben Gugwong and Dr. Ahmad Yande gave the advised during a courtesy visit to 12 Chiefdoms and Emirs in Southern Kaduna.

The Committee disclosed this while in Agwam Bajju Palace in Zonkwa the headquarters of Zango Kataf local government area of Kaduna State as well as the Chief Palace of Kagoro respectively in Kaura local government of Kaduna state.
The duo stressed that one of the major remote causes of the Herders/Farmers clashes that need to be immediately address is to ensure all Cattle routes are open for Fulani Herders who would be returning for grazing during the dry season.
According to them, the 10-Man committee was inaugurated to consolidate on the already peace effort built and continue to find lasting solutions to handful problems that are still existing in some parts of the region.
The committee also urged the Chiefs to help talk to their subordinates who will also assist in conscientising the local Farmers at the grass roots about the Cattle routes to ensure peace is totally restored in the areas.
“We want to go back to our normal way of life where you find it difficult to distinguish between a Fulani Man and a Bajju Man or Kagoro Man”, he said.
Dr. Yande specifically commended Agwam Bajju for the relative peace in his Chiefdom, praying that the Chiedom will continue to experience peace.
Responding, the Agwam Bajju 1, His Highness, Mal. Nuhu Bature commended the committee for their tactfulness and for working for peace in Southern Kaduna.
The Royal Highness, appealed to the Committee to help advised both the Farmers and Herders to stay away from the Kurmin B Forest which has been reserve for history.
“The Kurmin B Forest has been there before we were born for almost 400 years and we must not allow it to be tempered with,” Nuhu Bature said.
Similarly, the Chief of Kagoro, Mr. Afuwei Bonet said without peace there is no human existence, adding we must all work for peace and consider humanity first as we all came from the same God.
He further explained that one of the major problem of the Farmers/Herders is the under-age Children who are seen grazing and do not have the capacity to control Cows, calling on the Fulani Herders to always ensure a matured person is attach to the underage Children whenever they’re going for grazing.
The monarch noted that most of them Schooled in Zaria were they visited Mosques, while the Muslims visited their Churches and no one’s religion was ever been insulted.
He blame the current security challenges that have grappled the country on modern education and politics, stressing that if the political class play a clean politics everything will work for everybody.
The committee is expected to finish its mandate on Friday and to handover their reports to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for implementation.
October 28, 2020
Wike donates N20m to families of killed policemen, soldiers
Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to pay N20million compensation to each family of soldiers and policemen killed by members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The Governor also promised to rebuild all burnt police stations in Oyigbo and ensure the terrorist organisation no longer exists in Rivers.
Wike, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke when he paid a condolence visit to the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan and families of the slain policemen at the Rivers State Police Command on Wednesday.
Wike described the gruesome murder of the policemen and soldiers as unacceptable and unfortunate.
He said the State Government would support the police to ensure all IPOB members, who masterminded killing of the policemen and soldiers, as well as the wanton destruction of police stations in Oyigbo were apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.
He said: “IPOB masterminded the killing of our gallant officers of the Nigerian Police and Army. We want to state clearly that Rivers State Government will support you to make sure that any of the perpetrators of this hideous crime does not go free.
“Enough is enough. You cannot continue to kill our policemen who have not done anything; who have not committed any crime”.
The Governor, who was emotional when he saw the grieving wives and children of the deceased policemen, vowed to ensure that IPOB would no longer exists in any part of Rivers.
“The killing of policemen was one crime that the State government will never condone,” he said.
October 28, 2020
Court declines requests to order Diezani’s arrest
The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to issue a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is alleged to be resident in the United Kingdom.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu rejected the EFCC’s request for an arrest warrant on the basis that it failed to enforce criminal summon granted against the former Minister as far back as July 24, 2020.
The Commission had in requesting for the criminal summons in July claimed it was required to facilitate the ex-minister’s extradition to Nigeria.
Faced with failure of the ex-Minister to honour the summons on Wednesday, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Farouk Abdullah, urged Justice Ojukwu to issue a warrant of arrest against her.
But Justice Ojukwu rejected it as she noted the criminal summons which the court issued on Diezani in the ruling of July 24, 2019, ought to be sufficient for the commission to process her extradition to Nigeria to face her trial.
The judge, who expressed willingness to give the extradition bid a chance to survive, however, demanded an affidavit with evidence from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (the office with exclusive power to facilitate extradition), to prove that there was a need for the arrest warrant to have Diezani extradited.
She ruled: “It is my view that the summons should have assisted in the extradition of the defendant by the Office of the AGF.
“Today, the defendant is not in court and no reason was given.
“I am being informed that the defendant is believed to be in the United Kingdom.
“The learned counsel also informed the court that the extradition process has failed as a result of the absence of the warrant of arrest.”
October 28, 2020