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Politics / Open Grazing No Longer Sustainable – Northern Governors by agwom(m): 9:58am On Feb 09, 2021 |
The Northern States Governors Forum has said the current system of herding conducted mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable in view of growing urbanization and population of the country. The forum reached this conclusion during its emergency meeting held virtually to discuss issues affecting the region and the nation in general and presided over by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong. It added that it will aggressively sensitise herdsmen on the need to adopt new methods of herding by ranching or other acceptable modern methods. The governors, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to support states with grants to directly undertake pilot projects of modern livestock production that will serve as springboard and evidence for breaking resistance to the full implementation of new methods of livestock production. Concerns Meanwhile, the forum has expressed concerns over the tension generated by the eviction order issued to herdsmen in some parts of the country, saying that it is heating the already fragile security atmosphere. The governors said there were already threats of reprisals which they were working assiduously to contain. They resolved to urgently meet to discuss the issue holistically with a view to resolving all areas of misunderstanding and conflicts arising from these threats and suspicion for the sake of national unity. The governors called for restraint from leaders, including those in the Southern parts of the country where passions are high. Similarly, they called on all the citizens of the north to continue to live in peace with all Nigerians irrespective of their origins and backgrounds. Also, they urged political leaders to segregate between criminality and social groups in their domains with a view to treating criminals like criminals. They condemned every form of criminality whether from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally. A resolution was also reached to engage elders and youths in a robust discussion in order to douse the tensed security environment in the north, and a four-man committee was set up in that respect to be headed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum. Fulani herdsmen are being evicted from some states in the southern part of the country. Their settlements were attacked in parts of Ogun and Oyo states while there have been protests in Edo State for them to leave. Also, in the eastern part of the country, the regional security network is clashing with Fulani herdsmen. They are being accused of kidnapping, killing and destruction of farmlands. https://dailytrust.com/open-grazing-no-longer-sustainable-northern-governors |
Politics / Banditry, Kidnapping: North West Govs Working At Cross Purposes – El-rufai by agwom(m): 7:31am On Feb 09, 2021 |
Lack of unity and cooperation among the governors of the North West in tackling banditry and kidnapping has worsened insecurity in the region, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has said. El-Rufa’i said the governors have different approaches to ending banditry and kidnapping, adding that this would not bring a lasting solution to the security challenge, which has claimed hundreds of lives of recent. He also said he was not comfortable with amnesty for criminals terrorising the North West geopolitical zone, even as he called for an enduring approach to tackle the menace. The states in the North West are Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara. El-Rufai said if the governors did not coalesce into a single force and adopt a common approach, it will be difficult for any of them to tackle the problem. Until a few years ago, the region was generally peaceful but recent events in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, and to a certain extent Kebbi, the North West is now another major regional theatre of violence, like the North East where Boko Haram terrorists have wreaked havoc for over 11 years. El-Rufai’s frustrations Governor El-Rufai who spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Monday picked holes in the decision by some governors to engage in dialogue with the bandits, saying he will not negotiate or forgive any of them. He said during their first tenure as governors they were united and recorded successes in fighting cow rustlers. The second term governors include: El-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano); Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa); Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto); and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi). Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara is in his first term. The governors had before the 2019 elections held meetings during which they reviewed their security approaches in tackling banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in the region. El Rufai said: “The first time we came as governors we were able to unite and fight against cattle rustling; that one has worked. “But when we attempted to unite and fight against bandits and kidnappers, it was not successful. Every state is on its own. “This issue of banditry and kidnapping, if we don’t unite and get support from the federal government, we cannot succeed. “We need to unite and cooperate among ourselves and then the federal government supports us with the air force, army, and police to go into the bush and kill them at once. This is the only solution. “Honestly, there is no unity among us, the governors. Everyone is adopting a different strategy. “But like in Kaduna, we unite with Niger State (from North Central), we are doing everything together. “The governor used to call me from time to time; we are comparing notes and doing things together. The other states are not like that. “In some states, the governors think that they should dialogue with the bandits and forgive them to stop what they are doing. I don’t agree with that. “In Kaduna, we are telling the bandits we will not forgive them and no dialogue with them…If we catch any of them he is dead. “So, we are in a battle with them. But people like the governor of Zamfara State think that dialogue is the best solution, so there are differences and divisions among us,” El-Rufai said. The governor further added that he does not agree with Dr Ahmad Gumi’s idea of going to the bush to discuss with the bandits that requested to be given compensation and be forgiven. “Whoever tells me that a Fulani man that is getting millions from kidnapping will go back to his previous lifestyle when he has to sell his cow to get N100, 000 or N200, 000 in a year is deceiving himself. “What have we done to the bandits that we have to compensate and forgive them before they will stop their activities? They kill people, burn down houses, kidnap many and they are waiting for us to pay them? “Ahmad Gumi is my friend and I spoke with him. I told him that most of these Fulani don’t even have a religion. “We have arrested many of them and they can’t even recite Fatiha. This is what I discussed with him. “But what he went on doing that we should forgive and compensate them is not acceptable. We didn’t agree with this and we can’t forgive them,” the Kaduna governor said. Governors react While some governors agreed with El-Rufai on his position not to dialogue with the bandits, others have a contrary opinion. Governor Tambuwal said he was bound by the decision made at the last meeting of the Northern Governors Forum. According to him, at their last meeting, they resolved to apply the “Carrot and Stick” approach in tackling the menace. He maintained that “We all agreed that we should employ kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in tackling the situation. “By this token, it means we could support the deployment of force where necessary and at the same time pursue negotiation where applicable. “If anybody is in doubt, he should cross-check with the Chairman of the NSGF, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State,” he maintained. On its part, the Zamfara State government said it would not backtrack on negotiation with bandits in the state no matter what people might say about it. The Special Adviser to Governor Matawalle on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communication, Mallam Zailani Bappa told Daily Trust that the state government had seen the positive impact of the peace deal it initiated as such they would not abandon it. He said those criticising the dialogue initiated by the state government should also tell where the use of force had worked, adding that it will be difficult to quell banditry militarily. “We had secured the unconditional release of hundreds of kidnapped victims and negotiated the surrendering of arms in the state. “This is not the same case in Birnin Gwari or along Kaduna-Abuja road,” he said. “We are not saying that we have succeeded 100 per cent but we have witnessed a sharp reduction in attacks on communities and spate of kidnappings compared to what was obtainable in the past,” he added. On the issue of unity among the governments of the affected states, Mallam Bappa admitted that there was no synergy between the states. He said the affected governors held a meeting in Katsina and after the meeting, everyone went his way instead of working on the resolutions of the meeting simultaneously. Also reacting, Governor Ganduje urged state governments to do their part in securing the lives and properties of their people, stressing that it would be simplistic to blame the insecurity in the North West on the lack of cooperation among governors. https://dailytrust.com/banditry-kidnapping-north-west-govs-working-at-cross-purposes-el-rufai |
Politics / Tambuwal: "Fura Da Nono" Hawkers Supplying Drugs To Bandits by agwom(m): 11:57am On Feb 08, 2021 |
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has alleged that female dairy hawkers, known to sell yoghurt made from cow milk and millet, have been supplying drugs to bandits. https://dailytrust.com/fura-da-nono-hawkers-supplying-drugs-to-bandits-tambuwal-alleges 1 Like
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Politics / Buratai: I Won’t Reply PDP On My Ambassadorial Appointment by agwom(m): 5:22pm On Feb 07, 2021 |
The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (Rtd) has said he owes no one explanation over his recent appointment as one of the non-career ambassadors. https://dailytrust.com/ambassadorial-appointment-why-i-wont-reply-pdp-buratai 3 Likes
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Politics / Child Rights Act: Kano Gov’t Approves Bill To Protect Children by agwom(m): 12:24pm On Feb 06, 2021 |
Kano State Executive Council has approved the proposed bill on Child Rights (protection) Act 2010. The council said it approved the bill, which reflected the position of Shari’ah on each and every section of the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003 adopted by the federal government and has already been transferred to the State House of Assembly for passage. The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, disclosed this at the end of the council’s meeting held at Kano Government House on Saturday. Garba said: “The administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje took the decision due to its commitment to child welfare, after assenting to the bill on Free and Compulsory Education in the state.” According to the Commissioner, when passed, the approved bill will seek to protect the rights of the children from violations. After its adoption by the Federal Government in 2003, the State Government and other relevant stakeholders, including the Ulama, academics and Non-Governmental Organisations, met before they later drafted the revised 2010 act. Garba, however, said even the revised draft could not be passed due to lack of political will of previous administrations in the state. The bill has generated a lot of controversy in the state when it was first passed by the Federal Government who asked states to do the same due to the perceived disparities of its provisions with the culture and religion of most people of the state. https://dailytrust.com/child-rights-act-kano-govt-approves-bill-to-protect-children |
Politics / Adeboye: How Boxing Legend, Muhammad Ali, Made Me Cry by agwom(m): 12:16pm On Feb 06, 2021 |
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has given an insight into his love for boxing and the legend of the gloves, Muhammad Ali. Speaking at the virtual February 2021 Holy Ghost Service of the church with the theme: ‘God Bless You (2)’, Adeboye said he once cried over the health status of Ali. Describing him as his boxing hero, the cleric said at a time, Ali was the undisputed champion of boxing but like all champions, he faded away. The pastor said God is the only champion who will reign forever. He said, “It is one thing to be a champion, it is another thing to still be a champion. I will illustrate this by using Mohammad Ali of blessed memory “He was my hero, incidentally, we were born the same year and I was a boxer too; not of his class but I followed every fight that he fought. At least beginning from Sonny Liston, I can tell you every person that my hero fought. “But then, one day I saw him when they asked him to light the torch for the Olympics and I saw my hero, the man who used to float like the butterfly and sting like a bee, I watched him shaking like the reed blown by the wind. His hands were shaking and it took a special effort to hold to the torch and I cried that day.” “The question I am asking is: ‘Is God an ex-champion?’ Glory be to God, the God who is going to bless you is not an ex-champion.” Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74. https://dailytrust.com/adeboye-how-boxing-legend-muhammad-ali-made-me-cry |
Religion / Re: Pastor Who Accused Apostle Suleman Of Sleeping With His Wife, Files N2bn Suit Ag by agwom(m): 2:04pm On Feb 05, 2021 |
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Politics / What Bandits’ Commanders Told Me In Zamfara Forests – Sheik Gumi by agwom(m): 2:01pm On Feb 05, 2021 |
A prominent Kaduna-based cleric, Sheik Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, said top bandits’ commanders in the state’s forests told him that Yan Sakai is still carrying out extrajudicial executions of Fulani and until it stopped, peace would not return to the state. Sheik Gumi spoke on Friday while he was briefing Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle on his meeting with bandits in the state. The cleric, who was in the state to meet with leaders of the armed men in the state, said the commanders told him that unfulfilled promises from the state authorities and such extrajudicial killings of the Fulani in the state are threatening the lasting peace in the state. “They, the commanders, further told us that the Yan Sakai’s executions and the combined airstrikes of the military had affected almost every Fulani family in the forest and these must stop if peaceful coexistence is to be achieved. “On this matter, opinions differ, some people are saying that authorities should not hold dialogue with criminals while some are of the opinion that they should be crushingly defeated. “What we observed is that these people are stark illiterates with no education whatsoever. “But if they should be called upon and talked to they could be persuaded to embrace peace,” the cleric said. Sheik Gumi said an attempt to militarily quell armed banditry is dangerous and would not succeed, adding that the best way to tackle the menace is adopting a carrot and stick approach and this should be put into consideration by all the stakeholders. On how best the peace dialogue should be handled, the cleric said Governor Matawalle should remove any intermediary and be dealing with them directly as many of the promises made to them did not materialize probably because of these intermediaries. He said amnesty programme for those who want to lay down their arms should be initiated as was done to the militants in the Niger Delta region, saying that carrying out good steps like these would bring peace to the state. Blackmail In his address, governor Matawalle said he was being blackmailed from different quarters for having a dialogue with bandits. “We know our security operatives can’t stop them and we were convinced that the dialogue remains the best option. “We have drilled boreholes in 138 identified bandits’ camps in the state and we will not relent until peace returned,” he added. https://dailytrust.com/what-bandits-commanders-told-me-in-zamfara-forests-sheik-gumi |
Politics / Gov’t Officials, Not Churches, Violating COVID-19 Protocol – CAN by agwom(m): 9:16am On Feb 02, 2021 |
The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Samson Ayokunle, says the CAN churches are adhering to the COVID-19 protocol; while government officials are violating it. Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a sensitisation meeting the Ministry of Health had with Christian leaders and scholars on the much expected COVID-19 vaccine, he said: “The book of Leviticus 13 contains a comprehensive quarantine protocol for God’s people. “Whether a swelling, a scab, a blotch, or a boil, every skin infection was to be treated first as capable of spreading to other families in the camp and thus a threat to the greater community. “And Isaiah 26:20 simply cautions: ‘Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you.’ Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Faisal Shuaib, urged religious leaders in the country to give their followers the right information on the vaccine. https://dailytrust.com/govt-officials-not-churches-violating-covid-19-protocol-can |
Politics / Gov Abiodun Invited Me To Sack Herdsmen – Igboho by agwom(m): 9:04am On Feb 02, 2021 |
Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, alongside his supporters, on Monday, stormed some areas in Yewaland, Ogun State, asking killer herdsmen to vacate Yorubaland. He said he was in Ogun on the invitation of Governor Dapo Abiodun to sack killer herdsmen from the state. Igboho was in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, before proceeding to Eggua, Asa and Eseluland which had complained about activities of killer herdsmen. He said he would visit the entire Yorubaland to ensure peace. Igboho had recently visited a Fulani settlement in Igangan, Oyo State, where Sharki Fulani Saliu Abdulkadir’s residence was attacked for alleged complicity in attacks by suspected herdsmen in the area. Igboho explained on Monday: “The reason for our visit to Ogun state is to flush out the killer herdsmen. “We’ve not visited the governor, we’ll do that after we’ve flushed the Fulani herdsmen out of the state. “Let’s thank God and the governor of the state; he said himself that he wanted us to come and send the killer herdsmen out. “His action shows that he loves the people of Ogun state. “If he doesn’t love the people of Ogun state, he wouldn’t have allowed us to come to the state.” However, Governor Abiodun, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Waheed Odusile, denied enlisting Igboho to combat crime in the state. Abiodun was silent on the Igboho’s Monday visit but denied earlier report credited to his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Remmy Hazzan, welcoming Igboho to the state. “At all times, the government will ensure all security agencies and indeed all stakeholders operate within the ambit of the law and will neither welcome nor endorse any initiative that amounts to self-help or is outside the contemplation of the constitution which is the ground norm binding on all governments and persons in the country,” he said. He emphasized that Ogun “is home to all Nigerians and foreigners alike.” https://dailytrust.com/gov-abiodun-invited-me-to-sack-herdsmen-igboho |
Politics / FG Faults Transparency International Corruption Rating Of Nigeria by agwom(m): 9:26am On Feb 01, 2021 |
The Federal Government says Nigeria’s low rating in the 2020 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI) do not truly reflect the great strides by the country in its fight against corruption. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The minister said Nigeria’s anti-corruption agenda which had placed great emphasis on corruption prevention measures and the building of integrity systems remained on course. He said the implementation of the various reforms, especially in the Ease of Doing Business was expected to yield positive outcomes in the country’s corruption perception and other relevant assessments in the next 12 to 24 months. ”For instance, following the release of the 2019 TI-Corruption Perception Index, the government initiated reforms to improve on Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business indices. “This is because we found that up to 40 per cent of the country’s corruption perception survey indices relates to business processes and general public service delivery processes. “Government’s swift action has led to major reforms in the processes at our ports and business process points,” he said. Mohammed said in addition to placing more emphasis on corruption prevention measures and building of integrity systems, high profile corruption cases were currently under investigation and prosecution. He said the emphasis on preventive mechanisms was in response to various local and international reviews and evaluation that Nigeria had gone through, including those from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and even from the TI-CPI. “In response to these evaluations, a number of significant policies have been instituted to enhance transparency and accountability and prevent corruption. “Even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of key transparency and accountability policies were developed and are currently being implemented,” the minister said. He listed such policies to include the launch by the ICPC, of the National Ethics Policy which addressed integrity issues on all sectors of the polity. He said the policy was directly linked to a key pillar of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) which was Ethical Reorientation; efforts by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to energise the Code of Conduct for Public Officers (CCPO). Also the launch of the Nigerian Port Process Manual (NPPM) was ultimately aimed at sustaining Nigeria’s improvement in the Ease of Doing business. “While we expect the results from these reforms to speak for us in due course, we are also taking measures to improve our data collection and retrieval on these issues to reduce the current under-reporting of our ongoing corruption reduction measures,” he said. He said having analysed the 2020 TI-CPI rating for Nigeria, the Federal Government was interrogating a number of issues and discrepancies that had been observed in the rating processes. “These included some data sources in which Nigeria’s scores have remained flat over the past 10 years, reflecting no improvement, decline or fluctuation. “This is very improbable given the nature of behaviour of variables which are normally influenced by a variety of factors (which is the reason they are called ‘variables’). “In this case, the corruption scores would have been affected by changes in the size and structure of the public sector over the past 10 years “Changes in policies and personnel and systems over the period including, for instance, process automation, etc. “There is therefore, the need to verify that there is no transposition of figures from year to year due to absence of current data,” the minister said The minister added that different assessments on the same indicators (for instance corruption in the bureaucracy) by different rating institutions had generated different scores and different rankings across the ranking agencies “There is the need to understand why these variations occur and consequently the robustness of the methodology and validity of data,” Mohammed said. He added that there were missing assessments for Nigeria in the data entries where the country had performed well in previous CPI calculations, like the African Development Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment. “There is the need to understand why scores for this assessment have not been recorded for Nigeria for the past two years. “This has had the effect of reducing Nigeria’s cumulative score and ranking relative to countries with those scores included in their CPI for both years,” he said. In the recent TI CPI released on Friday, Nigeria scored 25/100 which was one point less than its 26 points in the previous year. It said Nigeria was now 149 out of 180 countries, a record that was three steps lower than its rank of 146 in 2019. (NAN) https://dailytrust.com/fg-faults-transparency-international-corruption-rating-of-nigeria |
Politics / Why I Presented Yar’adua For Presidential Election Despite His Kidney Transplant by agwom(m): 8:46am On Feb 01, 2021 |
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday said he knew that former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was ill, but had been certified medically fit before he emerged as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2007 general elections. He said he got medical advice that Yar’Adua, who had a kidney transplant, was fit to run as President. Obasanjo was responding to questions in a virtual interview with a Nigerian historian and professor of African Studies, Toyin Falola. Falola had asked Obasanjo to respond to allegations of imposing the Late Yar’dua despite knowing his health status. Obasanjo described the allegations as “absolute and total nonsense,” asking: “How? For the like of me… should I deliberately weaken the country that I fought for? The country of my birth. The country I want to be great.” He said: “Let me tell you the story of Umaru Yar’Adua. I knew he was ill and before I put him forward, I asked for his medical report which he sent to me and I sent it to one of the best doctors of our time and a good friend of mine who died only last year, Professor Akinkugbe. “I said look at it because it’s confidential and he said to me that from this report, this man has had a kidney transplant and it’s successful, he’s no longer under dialysis. “And if you have a kidney transplant and it’s successful, it’s as good as if you didn’t have a kidney transplant at all. I accepted that and Umaru Yar’Adua contested within the party and he contested within the country and came up. “In the process of the campaign, I remembered that he had to go for a medical checkup abroad and he was not around for a campaign here in Abeokuta. “I called him because the rumour was that he had died. I called him on my telephone and put it on speaker. I said, ‘Umaru, are you dead or alive?’ and he said, ‘I’m not dead, I’m alive’. “Within a couple of days, he came back and reported that he was checked up and he was well. That was the position of Umaru Yar’Adua. And if anybody in his right sense will think that what I’ve done in that position was not right, I leave him in the hands of God.” Speaking on former President Jonathan, Obasanjo said after Yar’Adua’s emergence as candidate, the party was left with two choices: between Jonathan and Peter Odili. He, however, said Jonathan was picked over Odili, who, had an alleged corruption case with the EFCC. Obasanjo admitted that Jonathan was not a strong character compared to Odili. “Goodluck Jonathan had all that was working for him. He was not a strong character as Peter Odili. I would admit that, but he was not a pushover,” he said. https://dailytrust.com/why-i-presented-yaradua-for-presidential-election-despite-his-kidney-transplant-obasanjo |
Politics / ‘APC Will Not Participate In Rivers LG Election’ by agwom(m): 7:21pm On Jan 30, 2021 |
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman in Rivers, Mr Isaac Ogbobula, has said the party will not participate in the forthcoming local government council elections in the state. Ogbobula, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Port Harcourt, alleged that the “electoral process is faulty’’. He further alleged that the constitution of the membership of the Rivers Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) was faulty because some of the members were card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “The electoral process is already faulty with the constitution of the commission’s membership, so they cannot conduct a free and fair local government council elections. “We decided that as a party that we are not going to contest to give credit to an illegitimate process, and we have the backing of the national secretariat of our party,’’ Ogbobula said. He urged APC members in Rivers to ignore statements and actions of “some persons without the power and authority to participate in the elections’’. “I call on our party members to continue to go about their activities without bothering whether anybody wants to give the impression that they are going to partake in the elections,’’ he added. According to him, the APC in Rivers is focused on sensitising and mobilising its members for the forthcoming membership revalidation and registration of new members. “We have a court judgment backing us to carry out the exercise and our interest is to have a hitch-free and successful exercise in the state. “There is no court order stopping All Progressives Congress in Rivers from participating in the party’s membership registration and revalidation,’’ he stated. Ogbobula urged APC members and intending members to participate in the exercise in preparation for the 2023 general elections. (NAN) https://dailytrust.com/apc-will-not-participate-in-rivers-lg-election |
Politics / Kaduna Gov’t Announces Resumption Date For Secondary Schools by agwom(m): 2:59pm On Jan 30, 2021 |
The Kaduna State Government has directed public and private secondary schools across the state, to reopen for academic activities on February 1, according to Mrs Phoebe Yayi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education. Yayi, who conveyed the directive in a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Kaduna, however, said that only Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1), JSS 3 and Senior Secondary School 3 (SS 3) were to open. She added that the government also approved primary four, five and six, in private schools to reopen, while all public primary and nursery schools would remain closed. The permanent secretary said that resumption date for JSS 2, SS 1 and SS 2, would be communicated in due course, subject to such schools’ compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines. She said that the government arrived at the decision, after extensive appraisal of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state and series of consultations with relevant stakeholders. “In view of this, the ministry of education is directing all Principals and Head Teachers to make necessary arrangements to receive Boarding and Day students of the above-stated classes on Monday, Feb. 1. “However, the State COVID-19 Task Force will continue to monitor all schools to ensure safe learning environments against the pandemic, in addition to strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the State Government. “All administrators of public and private schools must comply with all COVID-19 Protocols. “Any breach of the protocols will lead to the closure of the affected school, without any notice,” she said. Academic activities on shift bases Yayi said that academic activities in the schools would run on shift bases to ensure compliance with COVID-19 guidelines. She said the first shift will be running from 08:00 am to 12:00 noon while the second shift will be from 01:00 pm to 05:00 p.m. “The class size should not exceed 20 students with 1.5m to 2.0m physical distancing. “The schools must also have COVID-19 Committees, which will comprise School-Based Management Committees, Parents Teachers Association, community representative, health personnel, students and teachers’ representatives, to monitor and ensure compliance. “Parents are also advised to provide their children with face masks and other sanitary items, to help in curtailing the spread of the virus,” she stated. The permanent secretary assured the public of the ministry’s commitment to continuing the e-learning programme, using Google classrooms, radio and television stations and other online applications. She urged all stakeholders to join the ministry’s various monitoring teams in ensuring a safe learning environment for children. Education stakeholders in the state had, in a recent meeting, agreed that public and private secondary and primary schools should be reopened in phases. On January 24, the government gave approval for tertiary institutions across the state to reopen from January 25. (NAN) https://dailytrust.com/kaduna-govt-announces-resumption-date-for-secondary-schools |
Politics / Buhari Writes Senate, Seeks Confirmation Of Service Chiefs by agwom(m): 11:27am On Jan 29, 2021 |
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm the nomination of the new Service Chiefs. The nominees are Major General Lucky Irabor, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff respectively. The president’s letter seeking confirmation of the nominees was addressed to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, dated 27th January 2021, said a statement by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly matter (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare. Omoworare quoted the President as saying that the Senate confirmation was in furtherance of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. He said contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari had “bypassed” the National Assembly in the process of appointment of the Service Chiefs and that he has no intention of seeking consideration and confirmation of their appointment, Mr President, upon nomination for the appointment, sought confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of the service chiefs. He said: “It is on record that this same procedure was adopted when the immediate past Service Chiefs were appointed. “Upon announcement of the appointment of the then Service Chiefs – Major General Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Ibok-Efe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff), Mr President had written the 8th Senate on 14th July 2015 for confirmation. “Whilst the correspondence was read on the floor of the Senate on 28th July 2015, consideration and confirmation of the appointments was carried out at the Committee of the Whole on 4th August 2015.” The National Assembly will resume plenary sessions on 9th February 2021. Service Chiefs appointment President Buhari had appointed new service chiefs on Tuesday, long after rising clamour calling for the sack of existing ones. Major-General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff; and Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; A presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the appointment followed the acceptance of immediate resignation of the former service chiefs, and their retirement from service. Adesina took to Twitter to announce the new appointments. https://dailytrust.com/buhari-writes-senate-seeks-confirmation-of-service-chiefs
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Politics / Re: I Have Been Receiving Death Threats From APC Chieftans- Ajasin’s Daughter by agwom(m): 11:10am On Jan 29, 2021 |
Ok |
Politics / Re: Tukur Buratai Is My Kinsmen And Friend But I'm Happy He's Sacked - Shettima by agwom(m): 11:08am On Jan 29, 2021 |
hmmm |
Politics / Re: Another Chibok Schoolgirl Rescued 6 Years After Abduction: Report by agwom(m): 11:04am On Jan 29, 2021 |
Good one |
Politics / New Service Chiefs Can’t Do Better Than Their Predecessors – B/haram by agwom(m): 9:00am On Jan 29, 2021 |
The Boko Haram sect on Thursday said the new service chiefs could not do better their predecessors in the counter-insurgency operations. A factional leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, according to an online medium, HumAngle, said this in a video. In the nine minutes 56 seconds video, Shekau reportedly said there was nothing the new service chiefs could do. Obasanjo nearly retired me from army 21 years ago Meanwhile, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Thursday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo nearly retired him 21 years ago. Buratai, who said he was at the rank of Major at that time, described his attainment to the peak of his career, Lieutenant General and Chief of Army Staff, as historic. He spoke at the Army Headquarters in Abuja at a formal handover to his successor Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru. Buratai said the army would never remain the same after his exit owing to his transformational leadership and landmark achievements. He said the army had been better positioned with intelligence gathering techniques and equipment. He said the security situation across the country was largely stabilised under his watch. On his part, Attahiru appealed to the soldiers and officers to reposition the army. https://dailytrust.com/new-service-chiefs-cant-do-better-than-their-predecessors-b-haram |
Crime / Gunmen Kill 10 In Katsina, Abduct 81 In Niger, Taraba by agwom(m): 8:46am On Jan 29, 2021 |
Bandits and kidnappers have launched multiple attacks in Katsina, Niger and Taraba states, killed many people, injured dozens and abducted over 80 others, including women and children. In Katsina, Daily Trust reports that at least 10 people were reportedly killed and dozens injured when bandits attacked Unguwar Sarki of Shema Village in Faskari Local Government Area at night on Wednesday. It was learnt that the bandits in large numbers attacked the community at about 11 pm and operated for hours before they left in the early hours of Thursday. Daily Trust reports that insecurity has permeated almost all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and other miscreants wreak havoc on a daily basis. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sacked his service chiefs and appointed new ones. During his meeting with them on Wednesday, the president told the new service chiefs that Nigeria was in a state of emergency and tasked them to change the narrative. Katsina corpses A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said corpses of nine men killed during the night raid in Shema Village were found when the attackers left, while the body of the 10th victim was found Thursday morning. He added that the gunmen also injured scores of people, rustled animals and carted household items including foodstuff, and money. Daily Trust gathered that the deceased were buried on Thirsday, while the injured have been moved to hospital for medical attention. Another source in the area said there were concerns that the number of people killed might be more than 10 as the whereabouts of many villagers could not be ascertained. He said a headcount of members of the community was ongoing to get an idea about those missing. “And from what we have seen so far, there are concerns that more people might have lost their lives following the incident; probably they have been killed while fleeing to safety.” He added that security personnel had been deployed to the village while some residents had reportedly fled the community and took refuge at the headquarters of the local government. Spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, told our correspondent Thursday night that they were yet to get details of the attack. On his part, Alhaji Ibrahim Katsina, who is the Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Masari on security matters, told our reporter on telephone that they were closely working with traditional rulers to ascertain the veracity of the attack. Over 50 abducted in Niger Reports from Niger State in North Central indicate that over 50 people were abducted by bandits in Bassa community in Shiroro Local Government Area on Thursday. The incident according to sources took place when the bandits stormed the village on motorcycles brandishing weapons. It was learnt that the locals were getting set for the day when their activities were disrupted, causing them to run to the bush for safety. The Co-convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Kokki, confirmed the attack. He described the gunmen as terrorists and wondered why they attacked “unsuspecting peaceful, unarmed and defenceless people without any provocation.” Kokki, who said over 50 people have been abducted, also disclosed that on Tuesday, some communities in Bassa/Kokki were attacked and the people suffered losses. He said that the Shiroro Local Government Area was in dire need of help as people continued to live at the mercy of bandits. Elsewhere in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, the bandits also on Thursday stormed Avu community in Gupa- Abugi Ward. The gunmen according to sources, attacked the community and opened fire on people who were scampering for safety. One person was reportedly killed in the process while six others were kidnapped. A member of the community, Idris Musa Avu, while narrating the incidence said “The gunmen arrived the village around 1 am in large numbers and upon seeing them, people started running for safety as they were shooting sporadically. One person was killed and six people were kidnapped.” Musa added that members of the vigilante group in the village tried to repel the attack but could not get police backup while the siege lasted. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abiodun Wasiu, said he will get back to our reporter when he gets the details of the incident. He was yet to give an update up till the time of filing this report. A source close the police said it would be difficult to get any response on the attacks. “The officials would give their side of the story at the appropriate time,” he said. 25 kidnapped in Taraba Unidentified gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted 25 youths along Wukari-Takum road at about 6 pm on Wednesday. Reliable sources in Wukari and Takum told Daily Trust that the 25 youths were on their way back to Takum from Wukari where they attended a marriage ceremony when they ran into a roadblock mounted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. Daily Trust gathered that the victims, all males, were travelling in a commercial bus and ran into a roadblock at a spot between Kofan Amadu and Chanchangi before the gunmen commandeered the bus into the bush. A relative of some of the victims, Mallam Muhammed Takum, told Daily Trust in a telephone interview, that the victims had attended the wedding ceremony of a friend in Wukari and were abducted while on their way back to Takum. He said kidnappers and bandits chased from Benue State had regrouped in the forest along Wukari-Takum and Takum-Katsina-Ala roads terrorising innocent travellers. Another source told our correspondent last night that the abductors had called families of the victims and demanded ransom. “They confirmed that they are in the custody of all the 25 youths but did not mention the amount to be paid for each of them as ransom,” he said. The source further informed our reporter that the boys of the late notorious bandit, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, were responsible for the kidnapping. “The abductors did not allow relations of the youths to speak with them. They told us that we should not panic as all the 25 youths and their driver are alive, safe and in good health. They said all they want is ransom for each person,” he said. The spokesperson of Taraba Police command, DSP David Misal, had earlier on Thursday confirmed the incident. “We confirmed that they are missing but not established either kidnapped or otherwise. An investigation has commenced,” he said. However, our correspondent could not get him on the telephone last night to get an update on whether they heard of the new development relating to ransom. New approach needed A retired military officer, Salihu Bakhari, told the Daily Trust Thursday night that new security architecture was required to restore hope. “We are glad that new service chiefs have been appointed but the euphoria should go beyond that,” he said. “The service chiefs are just four in number and after all, they were all holding strategic positions in the military before their latest call. “Therefore, we should not expect magic from them overnight rather; the commander-in-chief should lead the battle in terms of closely monitoring what is happening. “He should also invest heavily in equipment acquisition and at the same time serve as the rallying point for all the security establishments in the country. “Addressing our security challenges will require synergy among the military, police, DSS, civil defence, NIA and others. They must share intelligence without envy,” he said. By Tijjani Ibrahim (Katsina), Romoke W. Ahmad (Minna) & Magaji Hunkuyi (Jalingo) https://dailytrust.com/gunmen-kill-10-in-katsina-abduct-81-in-niger-taraba |
Politics / PDP Tells Tinubu, El-Rufai, Amaechi, Others To Speak Out On Restructuring by agwom(m): 9:31am On Jan 25, 2021 |
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to speak out on President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to go back on their party’s campaign promise of implementing an administrative restructuring for better governance of the country. https://dailytrust.com/speak-out-on-restructuring-pdp-tells-tinubu-el-rufai-amaechi-others 4 Likes
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Crime / Cultists Raze 35 Houses, Market In Enugu by agwom(m): 6:33am On Jan 25, 2021 |
There was commotion as a man was injured while over 35 houses and a market were razed by gunmen said to be cultists in Oruku community, Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State. Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened between 6:30pm on Saturday and 7:30am on Sunday. When the new State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, alongside newsmen, visited the troubled community, some houses were still burning. A former chairman of Nkanu East Local Government, Mr. Ejike Ani, who conducted the commissioner round the torched houses, said he got the information that some group of people were going to attack the community and reported it to their council chairman. Ani said the chairman, Mr. Uchenna Nwobodo, assured him that he had informed the police but unfortunately, the community was attacked and over 35 houses and market were burnt. However, the chairman of Oruku Neighbourhood Watch, Mr Emmanuel Ani, appealed to both federal and state governments for urgent intervention to rescue the community from those who have refused to give peace a chance. He attributed the crisis in the community to the alleged connivance of the commander of the Inspector General of Police Special Tactical Squad, whom he said, disarmed the neighbourhood watch and released hoodlums they arrested and handed over to the police in the state, to continue to terrorise them. The Police Commissioner, Mr Aliyu, later briefed newsmen, decrying the incident. https://dailytrust.com/cultists-raze-35-houses-market-in-enugu |
Politics / Re: Attack On Sarkin Fulani: My Silence Not Cowardice— Gani Adams by agwom(m): 6:25am On Jan 25, 2021 |
Food / Despite Importation Ban, Foreign Rice Floods Nigerian Markets by agwom(m): 6:20am On Jan 25, 2021 |
* Fear grips processors, growers want govt interventionhttps://dailytrust.com/despite-importation-ban-foreign-rice-floods-nigerian-markets 2 Likes 1 Share
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Crime / Gunmen Kidnap 8 Orphans, 3 Others In Abuja Orphanage Invasion by agwom(m): 3:37pm On Jan 24, 2021 |
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have invaded Rachael’s Orphanage Home opposite UBE Junior Secondary School in Naharati, Abaji Area Council, Abuja, and abducted seven orphans, including a security guard of the home in the area. Daily Trust learnt that three persons, which comprised of two house wives, Rukaiyyat Salihu, Suwaiba Momoh and Momoh Jomih, who reside behind the orphanage home were also abducted by the Kidnappers. The names of the kidnapped orphans were Elizabeth Andrew, Dayo Udeh, Jacob Ukpas, Melody Ijeh, Benard Itim, Issac Mathew and Laruba Emmanuel as well as the security guard of the home, Joseph Mathew. A resident of the area who preferred anonymity, said the incident happened on Saturday around 1:am when the gunmen in their large numbers with sophisticated weapons invaded the orphanage home. He said the gunmen gained entrance through the main gate. He said the gunmen forced the gate opened and went straight into the rooms of the orphans and whisked seven of them along side the guard at the gunpoint. “In fact, they came in, in their large numbers heavily armed, even though they didn’t shoot as they carried out the operation quietly before they proceeded to neighbors houses,” he said. A victim, Mohammed Nurudeen, whose wife, Rukaiyyat Salihu, was abducted by the gunmen, said he was sleeping when gunmen came and forcefully opened the door and whisked his wife away at gunpoint. “I was sleeping when they came and threatened to shoot me if I refused to open the door for them, in which I refused until they forced the door opened and entered inside the room and whisked my wife away,” he said. Nurudeen, who sustained bullet wound from the shot by one of the Kidnappers, said the gunmen spared him after they discovered that he was bleeding profusely due to gun shot. The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, confirmed the incident via telephone interview with our reporter, saying he had alerted the relevant security agents about the incident. When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT police command, ASP Maryam Yusuf, confirmed the incident, even as she claimed that only six persons were kidnapped while one person has been rescued. She said the command had deployed its men to the forest to ensure that the remaining victims are rescued unhurt. https://dailytrust.com/gunmen-invade-orphanage-home-kidnap-8-orphans-3-others-in-abuja |
Politics / We’ll Paralyse Academic Activities By February 5 — Varsity Workers by agwom(m): 6:22am On Jan 23, 2021 |
The Joint Action Committee of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), on Friday said it had resolved to cripple academic activities in all tertiary institutions by February 5 over government’s failure to address lingering issues. It would be recalled that the unions had embarked on a three-day nationwide protest last week to press home their demands after which it directed all its members to hold congress nationwide to take a unanimous stand. They reiterated contentions issues as: inconsistencies in the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of Earned Allowances, non-payment of arrears of national minimum wage, delay in renegotiation of FG/NASU and SSANU 2009 agreement and non-payment of retirement benefits of outgone members. Other issues raised in contention include: the usurpation of headship of non-teaching units by the teaching staff in clear violation of condition of service and establishment procedures, neglect and poor funding of state universities and non-constitution of visitation panels universities. Addressing journalists at a joint press briefing in Abuja, SSANU President, Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim and NASU General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, said this was part of the resolutions reached by members of both unions in all branches during the recent nationwide congress. The union leaders disclosed that 90% of NASU members was in support of total strike and 10% went against it, while 83% of SSANU members was in support of the complete strike, 11% was against it while 6% was indifferent. Reading the text of the briefing, Adeyemi said, “It is in line with the resolution of our members nationwide, that the leadership of the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU hereby resolve as follows: “That the two weeks notice, effective from today, January 22 is hereby given to government and relevant stakeholders of this development.” The union leaders insisted that despite series of strike notifications given to Federal Government, only one issue had been partially resolved while others were unattended to by the government three months after signing a Memorandum of Understanding. https://dailytrust.com/well-paralyse-academic-activities-by-february-5-varsity-workers |
Politics / Boko Haram Now Regrouping In Nasarawa State – Gov Sule by agwom(m): 1:35pm On Jan 22, 2021 |
Governor Abdulahi Sule of Nasarawa State has confirmed the presence of the Boko Haram terrorist group in his State which has been witnessing serious security challenges recently. Governor Sule disclosed this on Friday while briefing State House reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The governor, who said the group was part of the elements fueling the security challenges in the State, recalled that the terrorists had been dislodged from their camp in Toto before regrouping at the Nasarawa/Benue border from where they are now launching attacks on residents. Engr. Sule, who said some of the Boko Haram elements active in Nasarawa State belong to the Darussalam group that had been dislodged from Niger State, disclosed that a lot of them were hitherto killed while 900 were arrested after a joint security operation. He said their membership of the Boko Haram insurgency group was confirmed by those arrested, expressing confidence that action will be taken to curtail the menace, having briefed the President on the situation. He said that his meeting with President Buhari focused on the insecurity issue and the possible federal government take-over of Jitata road, which serves as an alternative route from the state to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Details later. https://dailytrust.com/breaking-boko-haram-now-regrouping-in-nasarawa-state-gov-sule 1 Like |
Travel / Private Firm, SecureID To Manage Abuja-Kaduna Rail E-Ticket For 10 Years by agwom(m): 6:30am On Jan 22, 2021 |
A private firm, SecureID, has the concession to manage the Abuja-Kaduna e-ticketing platform for 10 years and recoup up to N900 million before handing over to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NCR).https://dailytrust.com/private-firm-to-manage-abuja-kaduna-e-ticket-for-10yrs 6 Likes 3 Shares
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Politics / Buhari Orders Swift Response As Bandits Abduct Scores In Zamfara Village by agwom(m): 6:20am On Jan 22, 2021 |
Suspected bandits on Thursday stormed Nahuche village in Bungudu local government area of Zamfara state and abducted residents including women. https://dailytrust.com/zamfara-scores-abducted-as-buhari-orders-speedy-response-to-bandit-attacks
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Politics / Re: 127 Soldiers Resign From Nigerian Army by agwom(m): 7:07pm On Jan 21, 2021 |
fear |
Politics / Jega: Why Nigerians Are Demanding For Restructuring by agwom(m): 1:34pm On Jan 21, 2021 |
Professor Attahiru Jega has said the heightened politicization of ethnic, regional and religious identities by politicians and opinion leaders is responsible for the call by Nigerians for restructuring. The Professor in the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano, said this while speaking at the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue with the theme: “Restructuring: Why? How?” held on Thursday in Abuja. Also, he said calls for restructuring steered from deep rooted perceptions of marginalisation and inequities in the management of the affairs of the country by successive governments at the federal level. Besides, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said bad governance; driven by incompetent, inept, inefficient and self-serving leadership, at both federal, state and local government levels were also responsible for the calls. He also said: “Failure of governance to satisfy the needs and aspirations of citizens, increasing devastating poverty and deteriorating socioeconomic conditions of the citizens and political brinksmanship by some elite, especially politicians and/or ethno-religious ‘war lords’”, were other reasons for the clamour for restructuring. Peculiar solution While acknowledging that there was a need for restructuring, Prof Jega pointed out that solutions to Nigeria’s problems should be encompassing. “For its stability, progress and development as a modern nation-state, Nigeria’s current federal structure needs refinement and improvement, or some form of what can be called restructuring. “We need elite consensus to bring it about, and we need good democratic governance to nurture and entrench political accommodation of diversity, as well as equitable power and resources sharing. “The near absence of the two intervening variables has obstructed the attainment of the aforementioned desirable objective of a federal system,” he posited. https://dailytrust.com/jega-why-nigerians-are-demanding-for-restructuring |
Politics / FG Extends NIN, SIM Linkage Deadline To Feb. 9 by agwom(m): 7:44am On Jan 21, 2021 |
The Federal Government has extended the deadline for linking the National Identity Numbers to SIM registration database, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said on Wednesday. ALTON, in a statement, said it had received a formal confirmation from the Nigerian Communications Commission that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the extension of the deadline for subscribers with NIN to link it to their SIM registration data from January 19 to February 9, 2021. “We want to thank the president for giving us more time to deliver on this all-important assignment of creating a credible national identity database for the country. We’re also grateful to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Ali Pantami, for his commitment to enabling digital economy’’, the association said in the statement jointly signed its chairman Gbenga Adebayo and publicity secretary, Damian Udeh. It added: “To ensure that we utilize the extension period judiciously, we urge all telecom subscribers who have a NIN to link it to their SIM Cards through available channels as soon as possible. Those yet to enroll are advised to visit www.nimc.gov.ng <http://www.nimc.gov.ng/> for a list of enrolment centres close to them.’’ |
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