Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Hama Bachama of Bachama Chiefdom in Adamawa State,
Chief Honest Irmiya, has appealed to beneficiaries of the state government micro-credit facility to repay the loan promptly.
Irimiya made the call when he received a government delegation on advocacy visit to his palace on the programme known as “Bindow for Social Change’’(BSC).
He said that the prompt payment of such loan would enable others to benefit in the long run.
The monarch commended the state government for the gesture, which he said, would promote entrepreneurship and reduce the attitude of dependency on the government.
He urged the people not to sabotage the policies of the administration, adding that the policies were aimed at positive change.
He encouraged the government to sustain such policies, noting that policy summersaults were the cause of underdevelopment.
Bauchi
A combined operation of the Bauchi and Taraba States
police command has led to the arrest of members of a gang for alleged murder and armed robbery.
The suspects were said to be members of vigilante groups from Alkaleri and Karim Lamido, two towns in Bauchi and Taraba States who conspired to perpetrate the crime.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Bauchi State police command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said the suspects allegedly abducted their victim, Alhaji Bello from his village, Garin Gambo in Alkaleri Local Government of Bauchi State.
He added that the victim was later taken to Taraba State where he was allegedly shot dead by the gang.
“Following a formal complaint received on the 4/12/2015 by relatives of one late Alhaji Bello of Garin Sambo in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State that on the 29/11/2015 at about 1700hrs, (a) group of armed men suspected to be vigilante from Karim Lamido in Taraba State conspired with their counterparts in Gwana District of Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State and abducted one Alhaji Bello Mai Karfi Haruna (now late) of Garin Sambo in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State to Karim Lamido in Taraba State and carted away sum of four million four hundred and seventy thousand naira (N4, 470,000),” he said.
Borno
The Borno State Government has announced its plan
to return 50,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their communities in five local government areas in February.
No fewer than 200,000 IDPs from 23 of the 27 local government areas of the state were currently staying in 22 camps in Maiduguri after the communities were sacked by the Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
The Executive Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told newsmen in Maiduguri that “we are returning IDPs from communities in five local government areas in the state back to their homes in liberated areas.
“The communities are those located in Monguno, Gwoza, Askira-Uba, Mafa and Dikwa local government areas.’’
Ahmed said the movement of the IDPs would begin next week.
He noted that the exercise would involve about 10,000 IDPs from Gwoza, 8,000 from Monguno, 9,000 from Mafa and 500 from Askira among others.
FCT
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
said it would start free installation of prepaid meters pilot scheme in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this month.
Mr Abimbola Odubiyi, the Executive Director of the company’s Regulatory and Stakeholders Relations, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
According to him, AEDC in 2015 installed 5,000 free prepaid meters to customers in Minna, Niger State and would in February 2016, commence another installation of 1,250 free prepaid meters to customers in the FCT.
He said the installations were pilot schemes and the contractors that handled the Minna project were given 5,000 meters but that of FCT would be given 1,250 meters.
Odubiyi said the meters would be used as a test-case so as to ascertain the efficiency of the projects.
Kaduna
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged Nigerian
universities on research breakthrough to accelerate national growth and development.
Buhari gave the charge in a message to the 38th convocation ceremony of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Represented by Prof. Akanerem Essien of the National Universities’ Commission (NUC), the President also said Nigeria would not achieve greatness until “education is highly funded.”
He disclosed that the Federal Government, through TEDFUND, had established “institution based research and national research fund” to resuscitate research activities in Nigerian universities.
He, however, lamented that much of the funds were yet to be accessed by the nation’s public universities.
The President called on the universities to put in place tangible proposals for the purposes of research breakthrough that would make remarkable impact on national development.
Kebbi
The Extended Hands Foundation, an NGO, says it
has facilitated free surgical operation on 50 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in Kebbi State.
The organisation, established by a Nigerian actress, Mrs Stephenie Linus, said the surgery was performed at the VVF Centre, Birnin Kebbi.
The Project Manager of the organisation, Chinedu Omorie, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the organisation was established to assist women suffering from the disease and to help the victims to deal with the issue of stigma which they faced.
The project manager said the Foundation sponsored the surgery to enable the victims to live normal lives.
He added that “the founder of the organisation, who is an actress, is passionate about the issue of VVF and the trauma faced by victims and she is ready to
assist the women by producing a movie titled “DRY” to further enlighten them on the ailment.
Kwara
The Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr
Ali Ahmad, said the sudden demise of Hon. Moses Afolayan, member representing Oke-Ero Constituency in the House was a huge loss to the state.
The Speaker said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the departed member in llorin.
Ahmad urged the family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation.
He said “we all know that death is inevitable, but the manner it comes leaves much to be desired. We have lost a wonderful lawmaker and we are grieving
too.
“All we can say is for the family, especially the wife and children to remain strong, believing that he is resting with the Lord Almighty.
Nasarawa
The Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Raymond Tyohemba,
of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Akwanga, Nasarawa State has urged Nigerians to always stand by the truth no matter the circumstance.
Tyohemba made the call while delivering a sermon on Sunday, which he read from the books of Jeremiah 1: 4-5.17-19, First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 12: 31-13; 13 and Luke 4:21-30.
He said people should not be afraid to say the truth and do things rightly because they would be disliked by others, adding that “if people do not talk about you, then you are nobody.”
Osun
The Osun State of Osun House of Assembly has said
that it would give priority to its oversight function by strengthening its monitoring mechanisms in 2016.?
It said, this paradigm shift was necessary to ensure that the state government increases its internally generated revenue and judiciously use the same for the completion of all ongoing projects and execution of new ones.?
The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye dropped the hint during an interview with journalists.
According to him, the resolution of the Assembly was borne out of the fact that what the state needs at this critical period of the economic downturn was to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, especially for the completion of ongoing projects and pending programmes in line with the policy of the state government.?
Oyo
The Head, Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr Alfred
Dixon, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has called on Nigeria to focus more on high quality cassava flour production.
Dixon gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He said cassava flour could generate enough income for the country as the price of crude oil continued to fall in the international market, stressing that “this is the
right time for Nigeria to diversify its economy to agriculture.
“Cassava is one of the crops that should be considered because Nigeria is a global leader in its production; the country needs to increase its production.”
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government said it earmarked N500
million for the purchase of six new ultra-modern fire fighting machines to tackle the issue of fire outbreaks in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Isa Achida, made the disclosure at a news conference in Sokoto.
Achida, who was commenting on plans by the state government to stem the tide of frequent fire disasters resulting in loss of lives and property across the state, said part of the money, which was in the 2016 budget, would be used to repair six existing fire fighting machines.
According to him, the state’s Fire Service Department currently has only six fire fighting vehicles, out of which only three are fully operational.
L-R: Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani, Permanent Secretary, Wakama Belema, Paramount Ruler of Eneka, Port Harcourt, Prof. Rowland Woko, Former pdp National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Ibeshi and National Chairman, National Association of Community Leaders of nine Oil Producing States, Mr Ishmael Oputu, during the visit of the members of the association to the Minister in Abuja on Monday
The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a medical doctor, Jane Chioma Ofoma, in Auchi, Edo, for selling drugged cookies and biscuits.
Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement yesterday in Abuja, that Chioma sold the drugged cookies and biscuits through an online catering service, Omachi’s kitchen.
Babafemi said the arrest followed intelligence and surveillance where narcotic officers of the Edo Command of the agency on Saturday June 19, stormed her operational base at 1 Winners Way, Auchi.
This, he said, led to her arrest and at least 94 pieces of cookies produced with cannabis sativa were recovered from the suspect.
According to him, Chioma, 26, who is a graduate of medicine from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, recently completed her housemanship at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
“She has confessed to baking the cookies with skunk in her statement while under interrogation,” he said.
In the same vein, Babafemi said a 30-year-old Emmanuel Ehiramhen, of No. 10 Egan Street Ekpoma, has been arrested by officers of the Edo Command of the agency for dealing in crack cocaine.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Kwara have arrested a 52-year-old ex-Soldier, Ibrahim Musa, with 12.167 kilograms of Arizona (cannabis sativa), 4 grams of Cocaine and 25 grams of flunitrazepam.
Babafemi said the suspect was apprehended on Thursday June 17, at Oke-Odo, Tanke area of Ilorin, when he arrived from Lagos to supply his customers.
He said Musa worked in the maintenance department at Abati Army Barracks, Lagos from where he was deployed to 117 Battalion in Chibok, Borno, before he deserted the Army.
He added that the suspect had arrived Ilorin with his wife, Basirat Musa, in his Honda Accord car with registration number JJ 707 BL Lagos with the seized exhibit.
He was, however, arrested at the point of delivery by operatives of the Kwara Command of the agency.
“Under interrogation, Ibrahim revealed that while at Chibok he got the connection of a supplier of Arizona (Cannabis) and other drugs in Lagos who he immediately contacted when he deserted the Army in October 2020.
“He said he decided to go into the illicit drug business to enable him fend for his two wives and three children.
“The suspect revealed that the latest journey was his second trip to Ilorin to deliver the drugs and decided to travel with one of his wives who was not aware of his mission to Ilorin,” he said.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the Edo and Kwara Commands of the agency for their vigilance and commitment to the goal of ridding Nigeria of the menace of illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
He charged the Commanders, officers and men of the two Commands and their counterparts across the country not to relent in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He assured them of his commitment towards making their welfare a priority.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says six tankers, five trucks and two cars were destroyed in a tanker explosion at Ogere on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway yesterday.
Earlier, FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr Ahmed Umar, confirmed the incident to The Tide source, saying that it occurred at about 6.20 a.m.
Umar had said the explosion occurred in front of Romona trailer park on the expressway.
Giving update, he said, “the fire is serious, six tankers, five trucks and two cars are burnt in the explosion.’’
Umar said that one person had so far been rescued and taken to a private hospital in Ogere.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), has advised motorists plying the road to use alternative routes.
TRACE spokesman, Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi explained that the tanker which was laden with fuel suddenly burst into flames affecting other vehicles.
“Vehicles moving inbound Lagos should go through Saapade-Ode/Remo-Iperu-Sagamu to relink Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“In addition, vehicles moving inbound Ibadan should also go through Sagamu-Iperu-Ode/Remo-Saapade to relink Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,’’ Akinbiyi said.
The incident was the fifth of such tragedies involving fuel tankers in the Lagos and Ogun State axis since the beginning of the year.
A similar fuel tanker-related fire was recorded on Jan. 7 on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
On March 21, a fuel tanker was the cause of fire on Otedola Bridge, also on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in which many vehicles were burnt.
On March 25, a diesel-laden tanker went up in flames at the Ikotun area of Lagos, leading to the incineration of other vehicles and shops.
On June 17, fire from the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant at the Ogun State Property Investments Corporation (OPIC) Plaza in Lagos trailed a leaking gas truck which was on motion in the area.
This resulted in a fire snowball which engulfed many other vehicles and property.
Twenty-five cars were destroyed in the OPIC Plaza inferno, while 13 persons, mostly workers in the restaurant, sustained burn injuries.
Leaders of the South East geo-political zone have urged leaders of other geo-political zones in the country to protect Igbos living in their regions, even as they condemned in totality the activities of violent secessionist groups in the zone and elsewhere.
The lgbo leaders comprising the governors of the five states, members of the National Assembly, Ministers, Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly, the Clergy and Traditional Rulers, made their feelings known on Saturday, in a communique issued when they rose from a closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu.
Explaining that they made the request in view of what they described as “threats by some groups against our people”, the South East leaders promised to protect everyone, including Igbos and people from other regions, residing in the zone.
On the impression that South East leaders are silent over agitations for secession by some youths of the region, they stated that “is not correct”, stressing that “South East Governors, Ohaneze President, National Assembly members, notable leaders had come out publicly many times in the past to speak against such agitations”.
Proclaiming firmly that “we do not support them, they do not speak for South East”, the communiqué read by the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, Engr. David Umahi, made it clear that the leaders of the zone reiterated their “commitment to one united Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love and respect for one another”.
The communiqué revealed that South East leaders, in order not to mismanage the unfortunate situation, “have set up a committee to engage such youths to stop and allow elders speak to address such fears”.
It added that South East leaders also condemned the killing of security agents, burning of strategic infrastructure and killing of civilians in South East and in other regions, and requested the security agencies to discharge their duties within the rules of engagement and the law
They, however, explained that the meeting was held “for articulation of our positions and further meet with the Presidential team”, sequel to the earlier meeting with the Presidential delegation, led by the Minister of Defence, Retired Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi, on June 11, 2021.
The communiqué disclosed that the meeting consequently “set up committees under Ohaneze Ndigbo to articulate and address our positions on all burning issues to further meet among ourselves and thereafter meet with the Presidential team”.
On the safety of the Igbo indigenes in other parts of the country and the newly established regional security outfit, the communiqué added that the “meeting directed our Governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo to liaise with indigenes from the northern part of Nigeria and indigenes of other regions to assure the nation, Nigeria, and their people of their safety in South East.
“The meeting endorsed our South East joint security outfit – Ebubeagu and asked them to work with security agencies and to respect the rights and privileges of all those living in the South East and our visitors”.
By: Canice Amadi, Enugu
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