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Taraba govt launches committee on state policing
By Richard Emmanuel Benjamin
Taraba State government has Lauched the State community Policing Advisory committee (SCPAC) to search for a workable home grown solution to the issue of policing the country and Taraba State.
This development is contained in a stament issued during a state wide briefing and security meeting presided by the State Executive Governor who was represented by his Deputy Egr. Haruna Manu in Government house Jalingo.
The event is seen as part of Governor Ishaku’s rescue mission agenda in securing lives and property of all Taraban in the spite of risen insecurity within and outside the state.
Darius said The time has come for the government to take a more pragmatic approach to the various agitations across the length and breadth of the nation, calling for Regional Police, State Police, Community Police and other forms of self-help all aimed at complementing the regular Police.
He said the occasion therefore, is not only fundamental but timely, as the government seek robust ways of addressing the numerous security challenges facing the State.
He noted that the inauguration of the (SCPAC) should be seen as the right step in the right direction. “This Advisory Committee, no doubt, will help in reducing the tensions associated with calls from the States, pressure groups and regional bodies for different forms of security outfits” He said.
The Governor further emphasize that the (SCPAC) is a framework provided under the Nigerian Community Policing Structure designed to deliver the guideline and direction for the establishment of complimentary outfits that will collaborate with the Nigerian Police force.
“As you are very much aware, Taraba State has of recent, been faced with numerous security challenges ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping, farmer/herders conflicts and petty crimes to full blown communal clashes that call for a new and radical approach towards finding a durable and acceptable peaceful resolution”.
“The adoption of Community Policing should be viewed as a fruitful partnership between communities and the Police to ensure early detection and identification of potential security challenges and threats from escalating out of proportion. It seeks to engender trust and confidence in the Police as truly the friend of the people. It will also help keep the peace, promote safety and security awareness, gather intelligence, fight social vices as well as settle civil disputes”. He said.
June 6, 2020
‘No Knelling’: Trump renews criticism of protests during U.S. anthem
President Donald Trump on Friday lobbed barbs at protesters who kneel during the national anthem, after NFL quarterback Drew Brees apologised for remarks he made about the practice.
Brees said this week he would “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag,” referring to the possibility of players kneeling during the “Star-Spangled Banner” in the upcoming NFL season.
Brees apologised on Thursday, saying his words “lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy.”
The kneeling pose, popularised by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has become a symbol of the fight for racial justice in the United States.
Trump tweeted on Friday that Brees “should not have taken back his original stance.
“We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute or a hand on heart,” Trump wrote. “There are other things you can protest but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!”
The kneeling pose has been seen at protests in cities across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, while in police custody in Minneapolis.
Brees’ initial remarks angered top athletes, who objected to the equating of the protest with disrespecting the American flag.
The New Orleans Saints player responded to Trump Friday night in a lengthy social media post in which he said “we can no longer use the flag to turn people away.
“We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality and judicial & prison reform,” Brees wrote on Instagram.
Kaepernick popularised the move in 2016, appearing on NFL sidelines first sitting and later kneeling during the customary pre-game airing of the U.S. national anthem.
Trump was an early critic of the protest and in 2017, Vice-President Mike Pence walked out of an NFL game when some of the players knelt on the sidelines during the anthem.
June 6, 2020
Four Soldiers Killed In Indonesia Helicopter Crash
Four soldiers were killed and five others were injured after a helicopter crashed during a training exercise on Indonesia’s Java island on Saturday, an army official said.
The men were in the middle of a flying lesson when the MI-17 helicopter crashed and caught fire in central Java province.
“The incident killed four crew members and injured five others,” said Nefra Firdaus, Indonesian Army spokesman, in a statement.
The injured were evacuated and taken to hospital.
Firdaus said that prior to the accident the helicopter had undergone a pre-flight check and was found to be in good condition.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
June 6, 2020
Street in front of White House renamed ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has renamed a street in front of the White House “Black Lives Matter Plaza”.
The words were also painted in huge yellow letters on the roadway.
The Mayor tweeted footage of the street painting on a section of the 16th Street in the U.S. capital with a message to Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed by Louisville Kentucky police, who has inspired nationwide protests along with African American George
“Breonna Taylor, on your birthday, let us stand with determination.,” Bowser wrote. “Determination to make America the land it ought to be.”
Bowser and Trump have clashed over the president’s use of federal law enforcement agencies and military police to break up a protest on Monday night so he could have a photo op outside a church near the White House.
At a Thursday news conference, Bowser said: “We want troops from out-of-state, out of Washington, D.C.”
On Friday, the city also installed a street sign for Black Lives Matter Plaza at the intersection of H and 16th Streets, where the St. John’s Episcopal Church that Trump visited is situated.
City officials said the measure was done to recognize demonstrators who have demanded changes in police practices after the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
June 6, 2020
Gbajabiamila mourns Musiliu Smith’s wife
The Speaker of the House of Representative, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has commiserated with the former Inspector General of Police and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith, over the death of his wife, Alhaja Ariat Aderoju Smith.
The Speaker said Alhaja Ariat, who passed away at the age of 69, was a selfless woman who gave her life to the service for humanity.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Lanre Lasisi, said Alhaja Ariat would be missed not only by members of her immediate family but also by Lagosians in general. She was known as a great pillar of support to our elder statesman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith.
He prayed Allah to grant her Jannatul Firdaus and give Alhaji Musiliu Smith as well as other members of his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
June 6, 2020
After Trump tweet debate, Facebook to review policies on posts
Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to review the social network’s policies, amid heated debate over how social media should handle posts by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The company will review how it handles threats of state use of force and posts that could influence voter participation, the social network’s chief executive said in a post on Facebook.
It will also look into alternatives to simply removing a post or leaving it as it stands.
“I know many of you think we should have labeled the President’s posts in some way last week,” he wrote in a message to employees, but added that he worries such an approach risks leading Facebook to “editorialise on content we don’t like even if it doesn’t violate our policies.”
“So I think we need to proceed very carefully,” he wrote.
Zuckerberg has come under pressure from the public and his own employees after Twitter placed a “public interest notice” on a Trump post for violating the platform’s rules “about glorifying violence,” a move not mirrored by Facebook.
In the tweet, which was also visible on his Facebook page, Trump slammed demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis as “THUGS” and appeared to promote a violent response by saying, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Zuckerberg said last week that the post did not violate Facebook’s guidelines, even if he personally disapproved.
His public position is that internet platforms, including Facebook, should not be “arbiters of truth.”
Facebook largely exempts politicians’ posts from fact checks. (dpa/NAN)
June 6, 2020
NCDC announces 328 new COVID-19 cases, total infections now 11,844
The Nigeria Center For Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 328 new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 11, 844.
The NCDC announced this on Friday through it’s official Twitter handle, saying that as at June 5, 2020, 328 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in the country.
No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours.
The health agency said that till date, 11844 cases had been confirmed, 7815 active cases, 3696 cases have been treated and discharged and 333 deaths have been recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
It stated that the 328 new cases were reported from 14 states- Lagos(121), FCT(70),Bauchi(25), Rivers(18), Oyo(16), Kaduna(15), Gombe(14), Edo(13),Ogun(13), Jigawa(8), Enugu(6), Kano(5), Osun(2), Ondo(2).
The NCDC said that there is no cure yet for COVID-19, but, its supportive management of cases involve: management of symptoms , management of pre-existing conditions, Supplemental oxygen therapy, treatment of bacterial infection, and ensuring patients that were well-nourished and hydrated.
The NCDC, however, called on Nigerians not to pull down their mask down their chin.
“You can speak, cough or sneeze inside your mask, then wash or dispose properly,” it said.
One of the ways Africa Center for Disease Control is supporting the COVID-19 response in Nigeria was by deploying epidemiologists and volunteers to work with national and state level staff in carrying out outbreak investigation, contact tracing and other response activities. (NAN)
June 6, 2020
AfDB Probe: Group tells Board of Governors not to compromise
The Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) has called on the Board of Governors, African Development Bank (AfDB), to ensure no compromise and bias in the probe of AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.
Ms Mary Torunana, Chairman, Committee on Banking and Finance, Nigerian Youth Parliament at a news briefing, said the United States had requested the board to conduct an independent investigation on the 16-point allegations.
According to Torunana, NYP stands against any attempt to impune Adesina’s integrity and is sure he’ll be exonerated.
She noted that under the leadership of Dr Adesina, the bank had recorded tremendous successes, adding that he is, therefore, deserving of the support of African Leaders and youth organisations.
“The US has been successful in infuencing the decision of the Board of Governors to conduct an independent investigation, which is alien to the bank’s practices.
“We wish to remind the Board of Governors that the promoters of this independent investigation are not just attempting to frustrate the re-election bid of Dr Adesina but to undermine the independence of Africa, Africans and Africa’s development as a whole.
“We call on the Board of Governors to ensure that the independent probe is unbiased and not compromised as we are sure that Adesina will be exonerated off all the allegations.
“The NYP stands against any attempt to impune Dr Adesina’s integrity and his re-election efforts.
“He has greatly upturned the fortunes of the bank, thus, bringing about unprecedented growth not just to the bank but to Africa as a whole.
“These achievements are no small feat; therefore, he deserves all the support from African leaders, Youth organisations and the like.”
Torunana commended President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo for supporting and reaching out to other African leaders to support Dr Adesina.
She also urged African Youths to be visionary to build a united Africa that leads.
For his part, Mr Sultan Daniju, the Vice Chairman, Humanitarian Committee, Nigerian Youth Parliament, urged African Youths to stand up for a united Africa.
Daniju said that the parliament would abide by the decision of the board of Governors of AfDB to either carry out or not carry out an independent investigation of the president of AfDB.
He also said that whatever the outcome, NYP would continue to support Adesina, adding that, so far, he has the support of 51 African Leaders.
“For the United states, who is the second largest investor in the African development bank, single handedly calling for an independent investigation after the ethics committee of AfDB had cleared the president of the bank, is uncalled for.
“The US has only done that because African leaders sold out over the years; that is why African youths must rise up and understand all these and stand and fight for a united Africa.
“As a Parliament, and as young persons, we believe in what is right.
“So, if the board of Governors of the bank deem it fit, in their own wisdom, to bow to the pressure and order for an investigative hearing, we would abide by it.
“But whatever the outcome, he is a Nigerian; we’ll give him all the support we have to give.
“Part of the allegation is that he favours Nigerians; if he is favouring Nigerians over other African nations, how come 51 African countries are supporting him right now,” Daniju asked.
The Vice Chairman said other African leaders would not be supporting him for another term, if the allegations were true. (NAN)
June 6, 2020
AfDB approves $288.5m for Nigeria COVID-19 Response Support Programme
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved 288.5 million dollars loan to help Nigeria tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its impact on people and businesses.
The bank’s Communications and External Relations Department made this known in a statement on Saturday.
It explained that the loan would bolster the government’s plans to improve surveillance and response to COVID-19 emergencies, ease the impact on workers and businesses, as well as strengthen the social protection system.
The bank said Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and the continent’s largest oil producer, was facing twin crises of a health epidemic caused by COVID-19, and an economic crunch largely occasioned by a global oil price plunge.
The bank added that the loan was the Bank’s initial response to help mitigate the slump in oil prices and its impact on the national economy.
The statement quoted Mr Ebrima Faal, Senior Director of the Bank for Nigeria as saying that about 40.1 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line of 1.90 dollars per day, and it was feared that the fall in household income during the pandemic would result in wealth deterioration for both the formal and informal sector workers.
“The proposed programme will ensure that the fiscal position and the economy are sufficiently supported to weather the COVID-19 shocks, thereby limiting its potential adverse impact on livelihoods and the economy more generally.
“Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Nigeria’s economy was projected to grow by 2.9 per cent of GDP in 2020 and further expand by 3.3 per cent in 2021.
“But with the advent of the pandemic and the slump in crude prices, the economy is expected to shrink by between 4.4 per cent under a conservative baseline scenario, and 7.2 per cent should the pandemic persist to end-2020.
“Beyond the country’s immediate economic recovery needs, the Bank and other development partners will dialogue with the government on proposals for medium-term structural reforms to diversify and boost domestic revenues away from the oil sector”.
The Bank said it had instituted strong fiduciary measures to monitor the use of COVID-19 funds, and will maintain dialogue, particularly with the Office of the Auditor General in Nigeria, to ensure transparency and accountability. (NAN)
June 6, 2020
NNPC alerts on fake diesel, urges motorists to avoid use
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has raised an alarm over prevalent low grade and contaminated AGO, otherwise called diesel, offered at discounted prices in parts of the Country.
The warning is contained in a report by NNPC Retail Limited Managing Director, Sir Billy Okoye, on Friday advising motorists to be wary of the off-spec products.
Okoye stated that the warning became necessary because the low grade, contaminated diesel was harmful to machines and the environment.
He said that NNPC Retail Limited as a market leader considered it incumbent upon it to alert the public on the subject.
He assured consumers that NNPC Retail Limited was dealing only in premium, high-quality products in the interest of Nigerian motorists and users.
He urged consumers to patronise the company’s stations where the quality of their products was assured.
As a deregulated product, diesel is also imported by other major and independent marketers in the Country.
Meanwhile, the Corporation says it is taking measures to bring down cost of crude oil production to 10 dollars per barrel or below.
The Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ventures and Business Development, Mr Roland Ewubare, said this in a statement issued by the corporation in Abuja, on Friday.
The statement said that Ewubare spoke as a guest speaker at a TV programme in Abuja.
He explained that terrain peculiarity was an important factor in determining cost, arguing that issues such as pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, among others, were some of the factors peculiar to the Nigeria terrain that increased crude oil production cost in the country.
He, however, stated that NNPC was looking very closely at such variable as logistics, security and transportation with a view to reducing cost of production to 10 dollars and below per barrel.
He disclosed that much had been done over the years in the area of reducing contracting cycle which used to be a major factor responsible for high cost of production.
He added that the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) achieved a six-month contracting cycle under him as Group General Manager.
Amidst speculations of non-compliance by some countries with the production cuts agreed upon by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its non-member allies, he affirmed that Nigeria was in full compliance with the agreed output cuts.
He noted that reports including Nigeria on the list of non-compliant countries were not true.
Ewubare said that although Nigeria’s total production capacity was 2.3 million barrels per day (mbpd), it was currently producing only about 1.4 mbpd in compliance with the OPEC+ production quota.
He said that what made up the little extra over the 1.4 mbpd figure being bandied around for Nigeria was condensate which is usually not computed as part of production in OPEC quota.
“There’s some confusion in the market around the parameters for the production cuts.
“Nigeria has a full production capacity of about 2.3 mbpd. We are currently producing between 1.6 mbpd and 1.7mbpd.
“Our OPEC quota as a result of the cuts is about 1.4 mbpd. Condensate is not included in the computation of the cut numbers.
“So what we have is 1.4 mbpd of crude oil. The little you see above 1.4 mbpd is made up of condensate which does not count as part of the basis for assessing our OPEC quota,” he said.
It will be recalled that NNPC Group Managing Director, Malam Mele Kyari, in a recent interview said that NNPC was working assiduously to bring down the cost of crude oil production to not more than 10 dollars per barrel by 2021.(NAN)
June 6, 2020