Abuja

Nigeria spends about 120 billion Naira to print security documents and other sensitive materials outside the country.

This was made known by the CEO of International Institute for Training Research and Economic Development, Sani Dawop in Abuja Monday.

He observed that, “Nigeria spends N120 billion to print security documents abroad due to insecure local environment. Fraud related to cash and non-cash financial papers in the region of N300 billion occurs annually in both the public and private sectors of the economy through local and foreign collaborators.”

To this end, the body in conjunction with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc is organising a two day conference to underscore the importance of document protection in order to prevent cash and non-cash paper related fraud. Due to the poor level of printing and insecurity in important document corporations and even individuals.

Dawop also maintained that, the continuous printing of security documents abroad also put the country at risk and in national insecurity, stressing that, the ‘activities of fraudster involved in these nefarious activities have impacted negatively on the image of the country and the economy. We believe therefore, there is need for concerted efforts to put a stop to the menace.’

Adamawa

Former Director-General of Strategy and Research for Dr. Peter Odili Presidential Campaign organisation and a governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr. Umaru Ardo has said hat he does not recognise PDP leadership under Kugama because he is a product of illegality.

On his purported suspension from the PDP, he told journalists in Yola Tuesday that both the state and national secretariats lacked the constitutional powers to suspend or remove him from the party.

The governorship aspirant (Ardo) pointed out that he did not recognise the PDP leadership under Kugama, because he is a product of illegality.

Ardo disclosed that after exhausting all the procedures to address the unconstitutionalities in Adamawa PDP failed, he maintained that article 14 sub-section 5 of the PDP constitution stated that when a vacancy exists as a result of resignation or death, another member of the party from the same area with the former officer should be appointed to take over the vacant office, citing the case of the former National Chairman of PDP, Solomon Lar, he said.

Barnabas Gemade, replaced him because the office was for North Central and that Dr. Ahmadu Ali, also took over from Gemade and because of the party’s constitution the position remained in the North Central throughout President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government.

ONDO

The Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led national executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has received a vote of confidence from Akure branch of the association, which described it as toeing the path of honour in handling Nigeria’s legal matters.

At the commencement of the association’s law week in Akure Tueday, the NBA chairman, Kayode Ogundana, said lawyers in Akure shared the view of Akeredolu on matters involving the association at the national level.

According to him, “we encourage him to continue in the spirit with which he has so far conducted the affairs of the NBA realising the fact that being constructively critical of government policies, actions and individuals in authority does not automatically translate to partisanship.

“We have the privilege of knowing Akeredolu’s disposition to oppression, disobedience to the rule of law, arbitrariness and high-handedness way back when he was the Attorney-General of Ondo State under a government headed by a military man.

“We, on this note, pass a vote of confidence on him and appeal to those on the other side to cooperate with him bearing in mind that in unity, we stand and divided we fall. It is potentially perilous and portentous for anybody to attempt to derail the NBA at this critical stage of our democratic experience,” he said.

Ogundana however stressed the need to end the strike embarked upon by the judiciary workers in the interest of justice in the country.

The association, which also endorsed the overhauling of the judiciary, however cautioned stakeholders that the prolonged strike was not the solution to the problem.

He said the situation in the various police stations was appalling with a lot of detainees languishing in police custody because they could not be taken to court because of the strike.

Borno

The re-branding of Nigeria can only be achieved and sustained when there is an attitudinal change, re-orientation, imbibing positive cultural values and instilling the virtues of pride and patriotism among citizens, minister of information and communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili has declared

The minister made the observation Tuesday in Maiduguri, while presenting a keynote address at a three-day National Conference at the Elkanemi hall of University of Maiduguri.

She said that the re-branding project uses both the print and electronic media to effectively and efficiently communicate the positive aspects of influencing Nigeria’s image within and outside the country for the better.

She added: – Enhancing Nigeria’s image will encourage foreign investors to come and join other local investors in building the country, while the re-branding processes could be translated into the establishment and development of the critical infrastructures required for rapid growth and development of the country.

Kogi

Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi has called on the federal government to establish a federal university of technology and an ICT centre in the state.

Idris made the call on Monday at the inauguration of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Prime FM 101.5 station at Jimgbe, Lokoja.

He said that the call became necessary in view of the state’s technological advancement and the need to fast-track effective information management.

Idris also urged the federal government to either reconstruct or rehabilitate federal roads in the state in view of their bad condition.

He said his administration would provide conducive environment for federal establishments in the state to operate without hitches.

Idris acknowledged the role of the road as an effective channel of information dissemination due to its reach and in moulding and shaping of public opinion for socio-economic and political development.

As part of efforts to enhance information dissemination, he said that more than N2 million had been expended on the digitalisation of the state radio corporation while local stations were being serviced to enable optimal performance.

Speaking at the occasion, information and communications minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to providing infrastructural facilities for Nigerians.

She said that information was crucial and critical to national development and attainment of the seven point agenda of the present administration.

Akunyili added that the station brought to 27, the number of such stations across the country.

She commended Kogi State government for its moral and financial support to federal establishments in the state and pleaded for the sustenance of such support.

The Director-General of FRCN, Mr. Yusuf Nuhu in his address, urged the management of the station to encourage the practice of responsible journalism by ensuring balanced and objective reporting.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (JSUBEB) has released N200 million for disbursement as revolving loans to 3,853 teaching and non-teaching staff across the state.

This gesture was in fulilment of the pledge by the board to ensure that teachers are well catered for to boost their moral and get the best of them.

The chairman of the board, Alhaji Sani Abdullahib stated this in a statement signed by the public relations officer of the Board, Mallam Mati Ali, copies of which were made available to journalists in Dutse on Monday, while briefing Education Secretaries and officials of the Nigeria Union of teachers (NUT) about the criteria of the loan disbursement in his office.

He said permanent and pensionable staff of junior and primary school teachers would benefit from the loan.  Abdullahi explained that officers with less than 12 months to retire and those with queries would not benefit from the facility, adding that the process of disbursing the loan is tossing.

According to him, officers on grade level 13 would receive N100,000 each, while those from seven to 12 and grade level 01-07 would receive motorcycle loan of N80,000 and N20,000 respectively.

The chairman said the fund disbursement would commence next week, warning education secretaries to adhere strictly to the guideline.  The state chairman of NUT, Comrade, Usman Ya’u Dutse canvassed the formation of a committee to handle the disbursement of the fund to ensure transparency.

Taraba

The police in Taraba State are disturbed by the deplorable condition of detention camps at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The Tide learnt that several detainees in the two-room detention camp had been there for several months without trial in the law court.

Each of the rooms, which ought to accommodate eight to 10 suspects now hosts over 25 suspects.

Some of the suspects languishing in the cells, according to police sources are yet to be located by their families or relatives, who do not know their whereabouts.

A suspect, who recently regained his freedom, wondered why the federal government had not deemed it relevant to improve on the dilapidating condition of the detention camps and prison custody in the state.

The suspect, who sought anonymity for fear of being re-arrested, said: “Over 25 of us were kept in each of the two rooms without any form of respect to human dignity.

More heart-rending according to him, is that detainees are not allowed to take their bath until after one month in the camp. The food there, he adds, “is an eyesore.”

Detainees at the camp, as further learnt, have no access to any form of medication. The vicinity as observed by The Tide is unsuitable for habitation.

An Investigation Police Officer (IPO) who spoke on the bad condition of living in the camp, accused government of indifference to the conditions of detention camps.

He said it was sad that no steps had been taken by the government to improve the living conditions of detainees.

Ondo

About 3,000 policemen, consisting of four officers per each of the 244 polling units and several patrol teams would be deployed by the Ondo State Police Command for next Saturday’s by-election to fill the vacant seat of Akoko South West/Akoko South East Federal Constituency.

Commissioner of Police, Donald Iroham, who disclosed this Tuesday at a meeting with representatives of participating political parties, said Force Headquarters in Abuja had also put commands of neighbouring states on alert in case of any need for reinforcement.

The constituency seat became vacant following the death of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator at the House of Representatives, Col. Joe Ariota barely six months after the April 21, 2007 election that produced him.

At yesterday’s parley, Iroham, who expressed the readiness of his command to deal with trouble-makers, called on politicians to play the game according to the rule and avoid anything that may cause breakdown of law and order.

Ogun

Crisis rocking Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) echoed last weekend in Ago Iwoye, when speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, declared that the control of the party by the state governor, Gbenga Daniel, would soon come to an end.

Bankole, who led other top PDP chieftains in the state to the country home of former minister of state for finance, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, accused the state governor of acting God in the control of PDP in the state and cautioned him to stop playing God with the politics of the state, saying “Only Almighty God is in control of power and will decide who becomes what today or in 2011.”

He lamented that it has become the norm in the state for an individual and others to say that they are behind those who occupy elective offices, noting that only the Almighty has the exclusive right to make such claims.

Also, Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who in August this year, was allegedly harassed by Daniel’s top cabinet member, said she was wondering why the Governor loves” to bring somebody up and ensure that such person is again brought down.”

She said the intolerable attitude of the governor was a great disappointment to the party in the state, accusing him of always carrying the toga of “it’s me.”

In his speech, top PDP stalwart in the state and chairman of Omo Ilu Group, Prince Buruji Kashamu said his new political group “is open for all positive advice and support from our cherished elders and loyal members, in order for us to achieve peace, which is necessary for the development of our state,” alleging that some people have deliberately chosen to disorganise the mechanism that drives progress in our state.

Lagos

Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, has announced his intention to quit the State Executive Council, following his health problems which he has been battling with since 1974, when he was a student in the University of Ibadan.

Ayobolu disclosed his plan to quit the Fashola cabinet during a state valedictory session of the State Executive Council meeting held in the Governor’s Office yesterday, adding that he has to resign because his state of health has been impacting negatively on his productivity, which he said had become a clog in the state’s development process.

During the session, secretary to the state government, Princess Aderenle Adeniran – Ogusanya, Commissioner for tourism and Inter-government Relations, Senator Tokunbo Afikoyomi and his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire were absent.

Speaking at the session Ayobolu, who said his resignation took effect from today, said he could no longer stand the pressure of the office due to chronic ulcers and high blood pressure he has been battling with for more than two decades.