Category: News

…Enticing high profile political Leaders to commission local government projects

Stirring a wave of discontent among Nasarawa’s stakeholders, Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule’s recent attempts to salvage his political standing in the twilight of his term have drawn sharp criticism.

The governor’s desperate moves, including the orchestrated commissioning of local government projects by high-profile personalities, have triggered skepticism and raised questions about his intentions within the state’s political landscape.

Speaking on behalf of concerned stakeholders, Hasan Ibrahim, a prominent figure in Nasarawa, expressed deep concerns about Governor Sule’s consistent display of desperation.

“Governor Sule’s actions reek of desperation and an insatiable quest for political control,” Ibrahim emphasized during a conversation with journalists. “His manipulative tactics have been evident since his initial tenure, casting doubt on his governance approach and commitment to the people’s welfare.”

The stakeholders highlighted a series of allegedly coercive actions by Governor Sule to secure political advantage. Ibrahim shed light on these actions, citing instances where pensioners were reportedly coerced to pledge loyalty, civil servants were strategically utilized for political gains, and traditional rulers were allegedly pressured into influencing their communities’ voting decisions.

Governor Sule’s contested victory in the March 18th, 2023 Governorship poll against former House of Representatives member, Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu, remains a subject of dispute, further adding to the ongoing political turmoil in the state. Dr.

Ombugadu’s legal challenge against Sule and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Supreme Court underscores the deep-seated dissatisfaction and distrust towards the current administration.

As the legal battle intensifies, Governor Sule’s recent maneuvers, including enticing high-ranking political figures like the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shetima, and the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to commission local government projects, have sparked controversy.

“These attempts to bolster his image through high-profile commissions merely reveal a facade meant to mask four years of lackluster governance,” Ibrahim asserted. “The hastily executed projects, strategically chosen for commissions, do not reflect the true state of development in Nasarawa.”

The stakeholders unequivocally called for fairness from the Supreme Court, urging a verdict that upholds the will of the people as expressed during the 2023 gubernatorial election. “Nasarawa deserves transparent and accountable leadership, not political theatrics,” Ibrahim concluded, echoing the collective sentiment of hope for a just resolution.

The unfolding drama in Nasarawa’s political arena accentuates the palpable tension and growing anticipation surrounding the impending verdict, leaving the fate of the state’s governance hanging in the balance.

By Israel Adamu Jos

Police in Plateau state have arrested 8 suspects who allegedly perpetrated the killings of innocent villagers in some rural communities of the state .

It could be recalled that Gunmen on December 24, 2023, attacked 25 communities in three local government areas of Plateau State, killing over 150 people and razing about 221 houses.

The attacks, which affected Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu LGAs, led to the displacement of over 10,000 residents of the attacked communities.

DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO in the state, disclosed this to our correspondent in Jos .

President Bola Tinubu had earlier condemned the attack in Plateau State, describing it as heinous.

Reacting to the incident, President Tinubu ordered security agencies to arrest the perpetrators of the attack.

President Bola Tinubu also ordered the immediate distribution of relief materials to displaced persons .

In line with the President’s directives, more relief materials have arrived Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, and Mangu LGAs of Plateau state.

Communities are expected to work with the security agencies on the ground to ensure protection and fair distribution of items to all affected. They include both food and none food items as part of humanitarian response.

Several stakeholders including the Vice President Kashim Shettima , Security chiefs ,and the Inspector General of the Federation have visited displaced victims of the attack in the Bokkos Local government council of the state .

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum strongly opposes the West African Examinations Council’s decision to adopt a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format for the upcoming Senior School Certificate Examination. The forum, led by National President Yerima Shettima, advocates for the cancellation of the proposed CBT exams, arguing that its mandatory implementation could lead to widespread failure, particularly in rural areas where computer skills are limited.

Shettima suggests that the CBT exams should be optional, allowing candidates to choose between the traditional pen-and-paper format and the computer-based approach. The forum’s research in selected northern states reveals consistent misleading failure rates among students in public schools, where computer skills are often not taught. Shettima highlights the challenges faced by underprivileged students during previous CBT-based exams, citing systemic failures, insufficient facilities, network issues, and a lack of proper computer skills as contributing factors.

The AYCF calls on various educational and religious organizations, including the Ministry of Education, Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students, and Civil Society Organizations, to unite against the planned CBT exams. The forum emphasizes its commitment to promoting quality education, equitable examination processes, and collaborating with stakeholders to find suitable alternatives for a fair and level playing field for all students.

The NDLEA raises concerns over the alarming trend of substance abuse among youths in Borno State, revealing that some resort to consuming fermented human urine, lizard dung, and other unconventional substances as alternatives to hard drugs. The Commander of Narcotics in Borno, Iliyasu Mani, highlights the prevalence of psychoactive substance abuse and lists various unusual items being ingested, including camel urine, Mentholated spirit in soft drinks, and even 10-day-old human urine.

Mani acknowledges the agency’s efforts in combating drug abuse but emphasizes the growing challenges, particularly with the involvement of young teens, especially women. Despite these challenges, he expresses hope and mentions the establishment of a remodeled counseling/rehab center within the Borno State Command premises as part of the prevention strategy. Drop-in centers in tertiary institutions have also been established for drug abuse research.

Under Mani’s leadership, the NDLEA in Borno has seized 4.5 tonnes of illicit substances, leading to the arrest of 863 suspects. Out of those arrested, 53 have been convicted, while 736 are undergoing counseling. The commander cites a UNODC household survey indicating a high level of substance abuse in Nigeria, with the North-East at 13.6%, North-West at 12%, and North-Central at 10%. The national average is 14.3%, significantly higher than the global average of 5.6%, based on the survey conducted in 2018 and reviewed in 2021 and 2022.

By Israel Adamu,Jos

Protesting women on Friday afternoon allegedly burned down the house of a traditional ruler of Bokkos local government area of the state, Micheal Monday Adanchi.

According to a source from the area who does not want his name in print said the traditional ruler is the District Head of Bokkos town.

The Incident according to the source occurred around 12: 30am.

While confirming the development, the source said the women burned the house following the arrest of some members of the community for alleged involvement and in the recent silent killings in the area, adding that the entire of the traditional ruler’s residence and his administrative office were burned down.

“The incident began at the police station where they expressed their anger over the arrest of some members of the community. After leaving the police station, they proceeded to the house of the traditional ruler, protesting that he was a sellout. A few minutes after reaching the house, they set it ablaze, ” the source said.

Our correspondent gathered that soldiers have arrived the area and disperse the protesting women.

When Contacted the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, on the development, said he would call the DPO of the area and got back to our correspondent.

On Thursday, the state police command on Thursday, confirmed the arrest of eight persons in connection to the recent incidents in Bokkos and Barikin Ladi LGAs.

By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

  The State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Kano Alhaji Salisu Waziri Kutama has received an advocacy visit team from Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project.

The Component 4 team, saddled with mobilization, sensitization and advocacies. under the team leader Hajiya Halima Sadiya Tukur highlighted that, AGILE Project is an 8 year Project implementation in various states of the Federation for years.

She added that, the purpose of the project is to improve secondary school education opportunities among girls, right from enrollment, retention and completion of the basic education, in some selected schools in the States, Via it’s various components teams. 

She   Further, added that in Kano the AGILE Project has so far covers 24 LGAs, where number of schools from selected areas benefited from the project, among which are construction and renovation of Toilets, structures as well as some learning materials.

She then sought for partnership with the National Orientation Agency for successful achievement of the program, in the area of public enlightenment, sensitization and mobilizations for a wider coverage and more understanding. 

Responding, the State Director NOA Alhaji Waziri Kutama commended the component team for recognizing the Agency, being it as  a fore front in terms of public enlightenment, sensitization and mobilizations on government policies, programs and activities at all levels.

  He then assures the Agency’s willingness to partner and collaborate with component team towards promoting AGILE Project across the LGAs and the State through the Agency’s established structures and expertise.

During the advocacy visits Documents and souvenirs was presented during the visit, while more ideas were exchanged to enhance good mutual understanding between the two important sides.

In a chat with our correspondent, the NOA Public relations officer Malam Garba Nuhu Musa stressed that the agency is fully ready to enlighten every programme that would become a beneficial to the general public with optimum results where he called on the citizens to always refer to the agency for accurate information.

Rescue efforts in Japan faced challenges due to harsh weather conditions and damaged infrastructure, hindering the search for 222 people still missing four days after a powerful earthquake. The 7.5 magnitude quake struck on New Year’s Day, and the death toll neared 100.

Adverse weather, including rain, snow, and falling temperatures, compounded the difficulties for thousands of rescuers attempting to reach stranded communities in the central Ishikawa region. Aftershocks and damaged roads further complicated the operation.

While two elderly women were miraculously rescued from the rubble in Wajima on Thursday, hopes of finding more survivors diminished amid the challenging conditions. The Noto Peninsula’s port city, Wajima, was heavily affected, with remnants of a large fire that destroyed numerous structures on the first day.

Authorities reported 222 people unaccounted for, down from an earlier count of 242. The death toll rose to 94, with 464 injuries. Power outages affected around 30,000 households in the Ishikawa region, and nearly 90,000 homes had no water across three regions.

Government shelters housed hundreds of people, while the isolation of some villages hampered rescue operations. The earthquake impacted the Suzu area, where fishing boats were sunk or swept ashore by tsunami waves. Devastation also hit Anamizu, where Vietnamese residents faced challenges without heating, water, or adequate shelter.

Japan experiences frequent earthquakes, but the Noto region has seen intensified seismic activity over the past five years. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami left a lasting impact, claiming around 18,500 lives and triggering a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) conducted a search at the headquarters of Dangote Industries Limited in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged abuse of foreign exchange allocations by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. The EFCC is probing preferential forex allocations to Dangote Group and 51 other companies under Emefiele’s leadership.

The anti-graft commission had earlier directed the 52 companies, including Dangote, to submit documents supporting the allocation and utilization of foreign exchange sold to them at official rates between 2014 and June 2023. During the surprise operation at Dangote’s headquarters, operatives seized financial documents related to forex allocations from 2014 to June 2023.

The investigation follows revelations by the Special Investigator on the CBN and Related Entities, Jim Obazee, regarding Emefiele’s alleged unauthorized lodging of public funds in foreign currencies and manipulation of the naira exchange rate. The EFCC’s search at Dangote Industries shocked staff and visitors, lasting several hours.

While some companies complied with the directive, others requested time to gather the necessary documents. The forex scandal investigation aims to address distortions, market volatility, and fluctuations resulting from multiple exchange rates in Nigeria until June 2023. The EFCC did not immediately confirm if any company officials were arrested during the raid.

Dangote Industries had earlier denied allegations of involvement in forex malpractices and money laundering, attributing the accusations to a rival business group. Despite the ongoing investigation, the EFCC’s operation at Dangote’s headquarters raises questions about compliance with due process and the conduct of the previous administration.