Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The Nigerian Army says it will not be distracted in its
resolve to end Boko Haram terrorism in the North East.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Irabor was reacting to an online publication alleging diversion of money meant for the prosecution of the war by the military high command.
“The attention of Theatre Command has been drawn to some issues in the online Sahara Reporters of June 24, with a story line alleging that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and his wives own some properties in Dubai.
“The report among other vicious and smear campaign issues, impugned that some `concerned officers and soldiers in the North East’ allegedly wrote a petition on the state of affairs in the Operation Lafiya Dole,’’ he said.
Irabor described the reports as baseless, unfounded and wicked insinuation.
FCT
National President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ),
Waheed Odushile, has described the late Chuks Ehirim, the former Chairman of the FCT Council of the union as “a detribalised, fearless and patriotic Nigerian.’’
Late Ehirim, died on June 16 after a brief illness.
Speaking at a valedictory congress in Abuja in honour of the late Ehirim, Odushile said that the deceased stood for the profession, adding “he was a pillar of journalism.’’
The NUJ president stressed the need for the institution of life insurance, as well as health insurance scheme for journalists in the country.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the FCT Council, Mr Paul Ella, said that the late Ehirim, his predecessor, led the council well.
He said the council was shocked by Ehirim’s death, adding that the deceased would be remembered for his commitment to establish a befitting secretariat for the secretariat for the council.
Gombe
The wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has do
nated food items to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State.
Presenting the items on her behalf in Gombe State, the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the last general elections, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, said the items included 2,200 bags of semolina, 100 cartons of macaroni, 300 cartoons of spaghetti and 1,300 cartoons of noodles.
Yahaya said the food items which would be distributed to the less privileged was to cushion the effects of the current Ramadan.
“People should not look at the quantity of the items but the spirit behind the gesture,’’ he said.
In his speech, Mr Karu Ishaya, the Chairman of APC in the state, thanked the president’s wife for the gesture.
Jigawa
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
in Jigawa State said it arrested 91 drug suspects between January and June 25, this year, in the state.
The state Commandant of the agency, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdul, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen to commemorate the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Dutse.
Abdul explained that within the period, a total of 1.296.078.9 tonnes of hard drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from the suspects in the state.
He said cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp alone, measured 1.286.226.5 tonnes, while psychotropic substance which weighed 9.852.4kgs was recovered.
Abdul said that 51 of the suspects had been prosecuted in competent court of law in the state.
The commandant added that other suspects were standing trial at the Federal High Court in Dutse .
Abdul stated that in the last six months, 62 drug addicts were counselled and rehabilitated by the command.
Kaduna
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has concluded arrange
ment to acquire 10 super mesh training aircraft from Pakistan Air Force to boost the country’s security.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, made the disclosure at the graduation of Student Pilot Course (SPC) 41B in Kaduna.
He said that the aircraft would be inducted into the 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna. He said that Pakistani pilots would soon arrive in the country to train Nigerian pilots at the 310 Flying Training School.
He said that the induction of the super mesh aircraft would enhance the capability of student pilots to the full spectrum of military flying training.
Kano
The Kano State Government says it is ready to allow work
ing journalists in the state to visit and assess projects it executed within the last one year.
The Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, disclosed this while distributing food items to the executive members of various chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State Council, at the NUJ Press Centre in Kano.
He said the state government had considered the move as an opportunity to, not only partner but, also give journalists and the public a chance to scrutinise the projects so far executed by the administration in the last one year.
He said the Ganduje administration was prepared to support journalists with necessary logistics to assess the projects.
Katsina
Healthcare and Education Support Initiative (HESI), an
NGO has intensified awareness campaign against the spread and management of tuberculosis in communities in Katsina State.
The Coordinator of the NGO, Dr Halima Yalwa-Adamu, made this known at a four-day sensitisation lecture and interactive session in Malumfashi.
She also called for collective efforts to create awareness and prevention of the disease. Yalwa-Adamu said the NGO had conducted a sample survey in 2,500 households in Malumfashi Local Government Area.
Kwara
The Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Union of Local
Government Employees (NULGE), has rejected the distribution of the June allocation to agencies and councils by the state government.
A statement from Mr Afolabi Abayomi, the Secretary of the union, in llorin described the distribution as “unfair”.
The statement was issued after the Joint Account Allocation Account Committee meeting held on June 23 and June 24 in llorin.
Osun
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris
has reiterated the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to recover the Mobile Police Training School at Gwoza, Borno State.
Idris disclosed this at the Passing-Out of the Squadron Commanders Seminar/Combat Operation Course 02/2016 at Ila-Orogun in Osun.
He reiterated the determination of the police under his watch to accord more attention to special police unit.
According to him, the training school deserted due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgents will be recovered.
The Acting IGP added that due to enormous security challenges facing the country, the police would go through total restructuring and reforms to ensure the stability of the nation.
Sokoto
The Association for the Welfare of Indigent Women and
Children in Sokoto State, has donated assorted food items, worth about N500,000 to 95 needy persons in Sokoto.
Wife of the state governor, Hajiya Mariya Aminu, represented by the State Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Fatima ‘ Yar-Kangiwa, presented the food items to the beneficiaries.
Aminu commended the association for the gesture, saying it would go a long way to alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries. “Those who are more endowed with wealth should assist the less-privileged ones, especially during the ongoing Ramadan fast,” she said. The state Chairperson of the association Hajiya Amina Yusuf-Yabo, commended the wife of the governor for donating N200,000 to the association.
Taraba
Senator Yusuf Abubakar (APC-Taraba Central), has dis
tributed about N10 million worth of empowerment items to his constituents.
Our correspondent who monitored the distribution exercise said the items include 165 motor cycles, 60 electricity generators and 51 wheel chairs.
No fewer than 300 youths, women and people living with disabilities from across the zone, comprising five local government areas, benefited from the empowerment initiative.
Distributing the items in Bali, the lawmaker said the exercise was aimed at empowering youths and women of the area to be self-reliant.
Zamfara
Dansadau Community in Maru Local Government Area
of Zamfara State, has commended the Federal Government for combating cattle rustlers and other criminals in the area.
Sen. Saidu Dansadau, in a statement in Gusau on behalf of the community, lamented that Dansadau Community had, in the past two years, come under series of attack by unknown gunmen and cattle rustlers.
According to him, those attackers had killed hundreds of people, destroyed several houses and other property.
“The criminals had defied many security efforts to stop their activities and continued to come in different guises.
The Executive Director, Sahara Group, Kola Adesina, has called on various stakeholders to promote energy access in Africa, as lack of energy costs Nigeria and other African countries over $110billion annually.
He also urged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the need to galvanise the interest and support of various stakeholders to promote equitable global trade relations and energy access in Africa where almost 600 million live without electricity.
Adesina, who spoke on ‘Redirecting the World Trade Organisation’ at the virtual 2021 Horasis Global Meeting, said deploying multilateral engagements would help circumvent the status quo that has made global trade relations “somewhat lopsided.”
Horasis is one of the foremost annual meetings of the world’s leading decision-makers from business, government, and civil society.
Speaking on access to power in Africa, Adesina said the WTO should explore collaborating with the various stakeholders to accelerate the pace of technology needed to make alternative power cheaper and more accessible to the consumers.
Africa is home to 17 per cent of the world’s population, but accounts for just 4 per cent of global power supply investment.
On a per capita basis, power supply investment in Africa ranks among the lowest in the world and lack of energy costs the continent over $110billion annually.
“The Environmental Impact Analysis of conventional power sources should be the focal point of conversations with African presidents as well as key political and business leaders to ensure their support and agree to a collective and sustainable solution template.
“The WTO must ensure that multilateralism guides its decision-making. The countries of the world are not all on the same pedestal, there should be consideration for the poor countries.
“The WTO should create a system where countries come together to create a united front to handle the issues the world is facing,” he said.
Adesina explained that multilateral strategies would create “elastic solutions” that can be adapted with respect to the unique challenges and opportunities across global trade blocs.
He argued that while sustainability should be the ultimate driver of development, concessions need to be in place to effectively manage the current challenges of less developed continents.
He stated, “Africa still suffers from the twin challenge of access versus affordability of electricity. We all need each other to solve the global challenges we face as individual countries and the world.
“A strong commitment is needed to maintain open and free trade; to keep open borders and to help the poorest countries, particularly least developed countries, survive the economic shock created by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Horasis session noted that with protectionism gaining steam globally, the WTO would need to reinforce its influence on stabilizing global trade negotiations.
Experts expect that the WTO, under the leadership of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would spearhead effective reforms that would make the organization play a strategic role in promoting equity and transparency in the quest for global sustainable development.
The Management of the University of Ilorin says the institution is interacting with the Association of Landlords within its communities to ensure the protection of students.
Dean, Student Affairs, Unilorin, Prof. Lanre Ajibade, at a news conference in Ilorin yesterday assured that no stone would be left unturned toward ensuring safety of students.
According to Ajibade, the University has been engaging in consistent interactions with the landlord association of the communities to ensure students who live in the area enjoy the best treatment possible.
He said that although no fresh and returning student of the University was set to resume the 2021/2022 academic session, many live off campus, particularly within Tanke and the neighbouring communities,
He recalled the recent murder of a female student of the University and said management had been working vigorously with security agencies to ensure perpetrators of the heinous act were prosecuted.
The dean noted that the University was working assiduously with all the security agencies and other stakeholders within and outside the institution to ensure the safety of the community.
The University’s Chief Security Officer, Mr Abdulwasiu Oyewo, also said that his personnel were working day and night to provide maximum security in the area.
Oyewo said that the security officers were in constant patrol of the environment, adding that vehicles with tinted glasses and without registration number would not be allowed on campus.
Also, Officer-in-Charge of the Intelligence Unit in the University’s Security Division, Mr Ali Na’Allah, said that the unit would continue to engage in discreet information gathering on campus.
A 22-year-old unemployed man, Akinwunmi Rotimi, yesterday appeared in a Magistrates’ Court in Ota, Ogun for allegedly stealing two iPhones, an Hp Laptop and other valuables.
The police charged Rotimi, whose address was not provided, with two counts of burglary and stealing.
The Prosecution Counsel, Cynthia Ejezie, told the court that the defendant also stole N240,000.
Ejezie said that the defendant committed the offence on April 3 at about 4 a.m.at No.6 Ayoola Adeyinka, off Tetiku road, Owode-Ijako, Ota.
He said that the defendant broke into the house of the complainant, Mrs Adeleye Anike.
She said that the police from the Sango-Ota Police Station, tracked one of the phones to the defendant.
The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened the provisions of sections 383 (1) and 412 of the Criminal Code Vol.11, Laws of Ogun, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The counsel to the defendant, Mr Ambrose Aisedion, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal terms.
Magistrate Shotunde Shotayo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Shotayo ordered that the sureties reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with two-year tax payment to Ogun Government.
The case was adjourned until June 17 for a definite hearing.
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