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#Endsars: Gov Ortom inaugurates Judicial Panel of Inquiry
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Wednesday inaugurated members of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the human rights violation, extra-judicial killings by the State Anti Robbery Square, SARS, of the Nigerian Police Force, with the view to Addressing them.
Performing the ceremony at the government, Makurdi, Ortom noted that the inauguration of the panel is in line with the directive of the National Economic Council, NEC, in that regard. He maintained that the protest by Endsars has provided leaders with the opportunity to address the problems rocking the country, which are hitherto not attended to. The Governor applauded the Benue youths over the peaceful manner in which they carried out the protest. He enjoined them to maintain the tempo.
Ortom admonished them not to take to violence so as not to pay the way for hoodlums to hijack their program. ” Your protest has yielded positive results and so there is no need for you to be violent. Government is open to clarifications ” warning however, that the opportunity should not be misplaced. Members of the panel were charged to investigate the Police brutality, extra Judicial killings among others, and submit recommendations within two weeks for necessary action. Responding, Chairman of the panel and former Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Adam Onum (rtd) promised on behalf of members that they would be alive to their responsibility.
October 21, 2020
Indigenes flay A’Ibom govt. over complacency in coconut plantation
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Indegenes of Akwa Ibom have decried the state government lack of thoroughness in the establishment of the 11,000 hectare coconut plantation meant to service the state government coconut refinery at Mkpat Enin local council.
They have also lamented the inability of the state government to make due it’s earlier promise of commencing the production of Coconut oil in its Coconut refinery.
They argued that the state government was not thorough in the cultivation of the coconut plants since they are yet to start feeding the completed refinery with coconut, four years after they were planted.
This is contrary to promises by Governor Udom Emmanuel during the groundbreaking of the stte coconut refinery in 2017 that the 11,000 hectare plantation, lying across three local councils of Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obollo and Ikot Abasi would be ready to feed the refinery in less than three years.
Observers are of the opinion that this may have been caused by inadequate soil analysis by the relevant government agencies and promoters of the project or there was no adequate supervision of the plantation by officials.
Another group of opinion suggested that the government may have been decieved into believing that the coconuts would be ready for harvesting within a short time inorder for the promoters to get the state government to back their proposal.
Government had said that two million coconut stands were planted initially, a figure that has also come under scrutiny, and even at that sources say the plants could not grow as anticipated.
It was gathered that this forced the management of the plantation to plant another set after it was discovered that the soil was not fertile enough and the specie planted was not of the desired variety.
It was also gathered that the state government was dissapointed with the management of the plantation by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Direct Investment.
The current healthy state of the plantation it was gathered is as a result of the management of the plantation been directly handled and supervised by the state Ministry of Agriculture under the supervision of Dr Glory Edet.
The plants are however not expected to start producing coconut before 2023, further delaying the anticipated commencent of production of coconut oil by the refinery.
But the state government did not attribute the delay in the production of coconut oil by the refinery on the immaturity of the coconut plants, but rather attributed the delay on the outbreak of COVID-19
Governor Udom Emmanuel said this when he formally received the official gazette for the approval for 50,000 hectares Liberty Oil and Gas Free Zone in the state by a delegation from the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), led by its Managing Director, Mr. Umana Okon Umana in Uyo last week..
Emmanuel said the pandemic and it’s associated movement restrictions stalled the movement of expatriates and equipment acquired for the project and assured Akwa Ibom people of its commencement once the dreaded pandemic is abated.
In the meantime, it was gathered that inorder to augument possible shortfall from the state owned plantation whenever the refinery would be ready to commence production, government has began the distribution seedlings to schools and organisations in the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Glory Edet, said the government was ready to support different organisations as part of efforts to increase the production level of coconut in the state.
“The ministry of agriculture is poised to encourage individuals, organisations, institutions and corporate bodies to contribute to the collaborative effort of massive production of coconuts and its value chains towards production lines of the coconut oil factory in the state.” Edet said.
The state flagged off its coconut oil refinery in 2017. The factory, believed to be the only one in the country, is located at Mkpat Enin local government of the state, and is said to have a projected capacity of processing about one million coconuts a day, but would commence with a capacity of 300,000 coconuts daily.
Besides its wide applications in food processing and pharmaceuticals, coconut oil is used as raw material for the production of soap and as a medium in the paint and varnish industries.
It is also used in the manufacture of detergents, surfactants, emulsifiers and pesticides and sells higher than crude oil when measured in barrels, providing immense economic opportunities for investors, experts say.
October 21, 2020
BREAKING: FRSC, VIO offices set ablaze at Ojodu, Lagos
The offices of the Federal Road Safety Corps and Vehicle Inspection Unit at the Ojodu area of Lagos State have been set ablaze.
Eyewitnesses said many vehicles were burnt.
Our correspondents gathered that as of 02.20 pm, the fire was yet to be put out.
Also, hoodlums have reportedly set ablaze the terminus of the Bus Rapid Transport at Berger, Lagos State.
One of the eyewitnesses, identified simply as Ola, said, “Over 30 vehicles have been burnt. Many cars that were seized are also affected. The entire building is on fire.”
Details later…
October 21, 2020
Thugs takeover Oba of Lagos’ palace, steal staff of office
Thugs on Wednesday stormed the Palace of the Oba of Lagos located at Iga Idugaran, Lagos Island, vandalising vehicles and carting away several artefacts.
In a video which has gone viral on the Internet, the thugs are seen making away with the staff of office commonly referred to as ‘Opa Ase’.
Report had it that the thugs who invaded the palace were the same ones who set the family home of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ablaze.
“When the thugs went to attack Sanwo-Olu’s father’s home, some of them were shot by the police. This infuriated them and they were able to engage the police in a gun duel and overpower them. The policemen, who are attached to the Adeniji Adele Police Station, quickly made a retreat.
“The angry youths made their way to the Palace of the Oba of Lagos. They claim the king is part of the government. The thugs have only been attacking government institutions,” he said.
October 21, 2020
Kogi Poly Student Knocked Down By Runaway
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Students of Kogi State Polytechnic in Lokoja on Wednesday went on rampage following the death of a HND II male student that was knocked down by hit and run driver
According to our correspondent, students early morning blocked the major highway of the road along Felele- Abuja highway prevented vehicles as they attacked motorists and vandalised any cars that failed to comply with their order.
It was gathered that the HND 11 male student was knocked down when he wanted to cross the road before a moving vehicle heading to Abuja axis at about 8 pm on Tuesday night.
According to an eyewitness account the driver who was on high speed hit the student but refused to stop and ran away which angered the students to take to streets, blocked road and set tyres on fire.
It was gathered that Anti riots policemen that were drafted to the scene could not help the situation despite the fact that they were shooting sporadically to scare the angry students but could not dispatch them.
However, the public relation officer of the institution, Mrs. Uredo Omale who confirmed the incident to our reporter said the situation is under control.
The kogi state police command public relation officer, Mr. William Aya also confirmed the incident to our reporter stressing that the incident happened on Tuesday night and the victim was rushed to the hospital but died on Wednesday morning which angered the students most.
He stressed that the situation is under control as Kogi state commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba Ede had deployed more security men to the scene to avoid further protest by the students.
October 21, 2020
Sokoto Gov’t Enrolls About 76,000 Out-of-school Children, Establish 1513 Learning Centres
By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
Sokoto state government has established 1,513 learning centers and enrolled 75,650 out of school children.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this Tuesday at the launching of the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) at Government House, Sokoto.
This was contained in a release signed and issued to newsmen in Sokoto by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Muhammad Bello.
It further said the breakdown, according to him, indicates that there’s been an enrollment of 31,100 boys and 44,550 girls as well as an improved literacy rate of 60,159 children in 1,513 learning centers across the 23 local government education authorities in the state.
Gov. Tambuwal said this is an effort to increase equitable access to out of school children, improve literacy rate and strengthen accountability in basic education.
The governor, who also explained that a total of 1,513 mentors/facilitators were engaged and trained to handle the centres set up, said material such as mats, mobile white board, markers, magnetic dusters and uniform for the learners were procured and distributed.
He also stated that in order to encourage mothers to play their role in mobilizing girls child to go to school, mothers associations across the state were reactivated with 15 members trained from each local government area. These were in turn given the opportunity to step-down the training at the community and the center levels.
The governor maintained that the state government selected desk officers for the 23 Local Government Authorities in order to curtail child molestation or any form of abuse.
He enumerated that the State BESDA team focuses on 8 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) considering that other development partners are already supporting some selected LGEAs in that direction. These include Northern Education Initiative Plus (NEIP) which is supporting 5 LGEAs. The remaining 8 LGEAs currently supported by BESDA are Binji, Bodinga, Goronyo, Illela , Kware , Silame, Sokoto North and Tureta.
Tambuwal added that the literacy programme is being implemented in 629 primary schools across the LGEAs with a total of 60,159 participating grade 1 pupils.
The governor further added that emphasis is given to the training of major stakeholders so as to develop their skills and capacity to deliver effectively in a classroom situation.
Tambuwal added that a total of 981 mentors, coaches and teachers have been trained in early grade reading skills, even as 125,394 copies of pupils textbooks and 5, 076 teachers guides on Hausa and English: ‘Mu Karanta’ ‘ and ‘Let’s Read’ respectively, were procured and distributed to schools as well 213,000 learners copies and 4,260 facilitators guide were procured and distributed.
In the area of system strengthening and accountability, Gov. Tambuwal said the state has successfully carried out the 2018/2019 annual school census while the 2019/2020 estimate is in progress.
He explained that laptop computers were purchased and distributed and a BESDA data bank has been established across the 23 LGEAs while the review of the state medium term basic education strategic plan 2017-2019 and 2020-2021 has been done.
According to him state government has built and provided teachers and learning materials for over 100 Qur’anic model learning centers in communities across the state under the Consultative Committee for Educational Development led by Sultan Of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. The centers instruct Almajiris in Qur anic and Western learning skills.
In his address the minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba appreciated the federal government for initiating BESDA
He also gave kudos to the World Bank for providing credit for the sum of US$611 million to support the Nigerian government in strengthening Universal Basic Education as well as addressing the first pillar of the ministerial strategic plan which is out of school children.
According to the minister, the programme focuses on 17 states in the country which include the entire 13 states of the North West and North East geopolitical zones, Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers states. The selection of these states, he explained, was based on the prevalence of the number of out of school children.
He said since inception, the BESDA programme have successfully enrolled 1,053,422 out of the previous figure of 10’193,918 out of school children in Nigeria.
Nwajiuba lauded the effort of Sokoto state government on its giant stride in the education sector in the state.
In his remarks, Sultan Sa adu Abubakar represented by Wazirin Sokoto Professor Wali Junaidu also commended the state government for prioritizing education in the state.
According to him, Sokoto state has performed wonderfully in the field of education adding that a lot have been done in the interventions carried out under the chairmanship of Sultan Abubakar as chairman of the state consultative committee on education.
October 21, 2020
ICPC charges Lecturer to Court for Misappropriating N10.4m
By Mike Oboh
A former lecturer of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Mr. Bamidele M. G. Amosa, has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for misappropriating N10.4 million.
Amosa who is a facing a 3-count charge before Justice M. O. Agboola of High Court 4, Osogbo, Osun State was alleged to have fraudulently obtained N10,484,000 from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), to run a doctorate degree in an international university.
ICPC alleged that the accused, while being a lecturer at the institution, obtained the money by false pretense, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2004.
He was also charged for using his position to confer corrupt advantage on himself, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Furthermore, the lecturer is also facing the charge of making false statement to a public officer, an offence contrary to Section 25 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 25 (1) (b).
Amosa pleaded not guilty to all the charges when read to him, as his lawyer, Ayo Adesanmi, prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
The prosecution counsel, Kehinde Adetoye, did not oppose the bail. Justice Agboola thereafter gave the accused bail in the sum of N2 million and one surety in like sum. The matter was adjourned to 9th November 2020 for further hearing.
October 21, 2020
#EndSARS: Situation Room: Killing of Protesters in Lagos brutal, despicable
By Mike Oboh
The killing of young and peaceful #ENDSARS protesters by the army at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos has been described as brutal and despicable by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.
The Situation room while calling on the National Assembly leadership to immediately summon the President, Muhammad Buhari ,the chief of army staff and the Inspector General of Police to a public hearing in a public and open hearing of the National Assembly to explain the circumstance that led to the brutal massacre of peaceful protesters in Lagos.
They said it was also concerned that armed thugs have been mobilized, to attack innocent protesters across the country,, carrying out bizarre acts of violence against peaceful protesters, citizens and properties without the police or any security intervening to halt this slide into anarchy.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room Convener Clement Nwankwo who addressed the media on Wednesday said it was unfortunate that the killing of peaceful protesters by armed security officials came barely 48hours of what was it termed “Operation Crocodile Smile” came , thus opening questions about the connection about the connection between the military operation and the evil pre-meditated attack on innocent, ,peaceful protesters.
He said the Situation Room also called on the National Assembly public hearing to determine responsibility for the killing of innocent protesters and pursue commensurate action to bring perpetratorsÜ to justice, including their prosecution,
“Government institutions and individuals fanning and instigating armed thugs to attack innocent protesters should be held accountable ,” he said.
They also called on the international community to take urgent action to bring the international action and response to the brutality of security forces against innocent and peaceful prote
October 21, 2020
Hoodlums set fire on Nigerian Ports Authority Headquarters in Lagos
Suspected hoodlums have entered the Lagos headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Marina.
A member of the Lagos State Fire Service, who confirmed the incident, said they set fire to the building.
He noted that efforts were on to salvage the situation.
The firefighter explained that a statement would soon be released on the level of destruction done to the federal facility.
The arson was said to be a fallout of the attack on protesters at the Lekki tollgate.
While witnesses claimed that seven people were killed and many injured, the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said nobody died.
Although the governor said the military was responsible for the attack, the Nigerian Army denied complicity in the shootings and tagged reports on the incident as fake news.
October 21, 2020
#EndSARS: UK Parliament to consider petition demanding sanctions on Nigerian govt
The United Kingdom Parliament has confirmed it will consider a petition seeking to sanction the federal government for human rights abuses over the End SARS protests.
The petition which is on the UK government and parliament website, accused the Nigerian government and police of violating the rights of those protesting against police brutality and extortion.
It asked the UK to implement sanctions that would “provide accountability for and be a deterrent to anyone involved in violations of human rights”.
As of Wednesday morning, the petition has garnered over 150,000 signatures, less than 24 hours after it was created.
The government-owned website stated: “Parliament will consider this for a debate … waiting for less than a day for a debate date.”
It added that parliament considers all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures for a debate.
October 21, 2020