₦airaland Forum

STILL ON THE SARAKI DECLARATION
Our attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN MOVEMENT on Dr. Saraki's announcement of his presidential ambition at the event organised by the group in Abuja on Thursday.
We wish to clarify that the group had no prior knowledge of the declaration and therefore had nothing to do with it.
Dr. Saraki was invited to give the keynote speech at the group's dialogue series. In the course of the speech and while discussing the situation in the country, he mentioned that this was why he wants to contest for the President in order to lead the process of addressing some of the issues he had highlighted.
We wish to note that Dr. Saraki's intention to contest for the President is no longer a secret as he had hinted at his interest in an earlier interview with Bloomberg.
The Not Too Young to Run Dialogue session was therefore not organised for this purpose.

SIGNED
Yusuf Olaniyonu
SA Media and Communications to the Senate President


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGhykiUJfak

http://thepunditng.com/sarakis-declaration-senate-president-clears-the-air-on-not-too-young-to-run/

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…As Ugwuanyi inaugurates agency’s projects, amid jubilation

The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, has commended the efforts of the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State in sustaining the set objectives of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in tackling ecological challenges in the country.

Speaking during the inauguration of three projects executed by the Enugu State Project Management Unit of NEWMAP in the state, which is a World Bank assisted project, the Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bolatito Obisesan, said that Enugu NEWMAP is “a leading light” in the implementation agency’s objectives.

The projects inaugurated were the 9th Mile Erosion Site, Ajali Water Works Gully Erosion Site and the Enugu NEWMAP Ultra Modern Office Complex in Enugu.

Alhaji Jibril, who commended the state government “for bringing succour and big relief” to the benefiting communities, also expressed delight that the Enugu NEWMAP has recorded the remarkable achievements in tackling the issues of gully erosion in the state.

The Minister added that the interventions by Enugu NEWMAP have “led to land reclamation and restoration of areas affected by land degradation thereby leading to more sustainable and greener environment”.

He stated that such vital interventions have resulted in the protection of lives and property and provision of more opportunities for growth and development in the communities.

The Minister maintained that “all these gains would not have been achieved without the synergy, commitment and collaboration of the state government”, stressing: “This is important and has immensely contributed to the achievements of the project’s objectives of reducing the vulnerability caused by erosion and land degradation”.

In his opening address, the Project Coordinator of Enugu NEWMAP, Barr. Vincent Obetta, applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for “fulfilling the conditions given by the World Bank for states to participate in the additional financing by approving the sum of about N500 million for counterpart funding for operational activities in this phase”.

Inaugurating the projects, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who was elated with the completion of works at the erosion sites by the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of the agency, noted that it will not only guarantee continuous water reticulation and a significant improvement in water supply to the entire Enugu metropolis but also remove the threat that gully erosion had posed to lives and property of people around the 9th Mile area”.

The governor disclosed that his administration had made available the sum of N500 million to demonstrate the political will to qualify for Additional Finance Programme of the World Bank, and has equally approved “Anyazurum Ohom-Orba, Onuiyi-Nsukka and Enugu-Ngwo gully erosion sites as priority sites of this administration”.


http://thepunditng.com/enugu-newmap-a-leading-light-says-environment-minister/

There has been a lot of drama around Senate President Bukola Saraki. He recently decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) amidst controversy and announced interest to contest for presidency. Daily Trust sought the opinions of some Nigerians on his presidential ambition

Comrade Seiyefa Uzaka, Journalist, Bayelsa
Senate President Bokula Saraki is qualified to contest for the office of the president of Nigeria. He is a Nigerian citizen and nothing should hold him back. The decision to elect him rests on the people of Nigeria, and in the Nigerian constitution, the educational qualification for someone to contest for the office of the president is just the Senior Secondary School Certificate. So, for someone who is a medical doctor, which means that he is a degree holder, he is qualified to run for the office of president. If God wants him to be there, he will win and if God says no, he will not win.

Dr. Obuma Paul, Politician, Bayelsa
Bukula Saraki has been a leader in the senate and has done well, so Nigerians cannot rule out the fact that he can do well if he becomes the president. It is a good idea for him to aspire to rule this great country. It is a welcome development. I see him as a good material. If he comes on board, the difference will be clear, because for the period he has been president of the senate, he has done well. I think he is a principled man and will make a good president.

Abubakar Abba, 42, Communicator, Kaduna.
Saraki is just a joker, because many people in this country, especially the masses, even those in the village, know that he has been using his position as Senate President to cause confusion in the affairs of the executive arm. An example is the issue of delay in passing previous budgets, including his role in the delay of INEC funds for 2019 general elections. Many people in the northern part of the country will not vote for him.

Frank Olotu, 34, Politician, Bayelsa
Senate President Bokula Saraki is a good leader. He did well as a governor and he is doing well as a senate president. So, I see him as a very credible leader that can contest the 2019 presidential election. He is better than many leaders and presidents who have led this country, so he has the right to offer himself for the highest office if he becomes the flag bearer of the PDP. He will challenge the ruling APC and wrestle power from them during next year’s election. Besides, he is a young man who can work to put the economy of the country on a fast-growing track. He has the capacity to bring back the lost glory of our nation and handle the security challenges.

Muhammad Bin Ibrahim, 44, Journalist, Kaduna.
For me, Saraki is a victim of democracy. So, for that sole reason, and considering his competence to lead the senate harmoniously, he deserves to try his luck in the presidential race. This is why I support his move to run for president.

Eunice Nnachi, Journalist, Bayelsa
Dr. Bokula Saraki is a good leader. He will do well if given the opportunity to lead the country. He is a man of his words and in terms of academic exposure, he is a medical doctor who knows what Nigerians want. He is also smart and intelligent. That is what Nigerians want at the moment. He knows how to turn things around and has been able to hold the National Assembly together these past years, despite the storm. Such a person, when given the opportunity, will lead the country well.
In addition, if you look at his pattern, he always works for the good of the country. In 2014 for example, when the nation was facing challenges, he left his former party then and joined forces with APC that eventually brought onboard President Muhammadu Buhari. Now that he sees APC is not helping the economy of the nation, he has taken the destiny of the nation upon himself and pulled out again from APC to effect change for economic progress. So, I think he needs the support of Nigerians.

Tida Leo, 28, Development Worker, Kaduna
For me, Bukola Saraki is first of all a Nigerian who is eligible and fit to throw his hat in the ring for the presidency having served in the Senate despite all the court charges. He is also learned and very conversant with the Nigerian Constitution. And since he is now riding on the crest of his freedom from legal encumbrance, I support Bukola Saraki, knowing fully well that PDP has accepted him back and the race is for everyone. And at last, only one man will be president

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/what-nigerians-think-about-saraki-joining-presidential-race-267402.html

With his emergence as Senate President in 2015, his emergence as the the National Leader of the main opposition party, Dr Bukola Saraki has now become the main Oposition leader in Nigeria and people love him for it.

This is a video of Nigerians praising his style of leadership


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSEH9A4hRFA

PICTURES: The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, at the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu Ode, with the Awujale of Ijebu Kingdom, HRH Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The Ojude Oba festival, held annually in Ijebu Ode, is a celebration of the rich and colourful culture of the Yoruba people. This is why, today, it was an honour to join the Awujale of Ijebu Kingdom, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, at this year’s edition.

https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/1032580441599963136?s=19

A Video of Adams Oshiomole's mansion has turned up on the internet.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aao0MTd7_wU

Enugu State Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left); his predecessor, His Excellency, Sullivan Chime (right) and the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in a light-hearted mood performing a traditional dance during the funeral ceremony of Senator Akpabio's Grand Mother-in-Law, Madam Mercy Uduoku Neife Igwenagu (nee Adinde) at her hometown in Ozom Village, Aguobu-Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Area, yesterday.

Enugu State is truly in the hands of God! #amokelouis

PHOTO NEWS:

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right) in a light-hearted mood with his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (2nd right); the National President of Student Christian Movement (SCM) of Nigeria, Rev. Eric Ighalo (middle), his wife (left) and others, during the airport reception for the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, when he visited Enugu for the 30th National Biennial Conference of the association, recently.#amokelouis

R-L: Chairman of Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Enugu State chapter, Engr. Ifeanyi Ofili; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Enugu State, Engr. Greg Nnaji; NSE's Vice Chairman, Engr. Festus Ozoemene; Chairman of Performance Investigation Failure Analysis Committee (PIFAC) of the association, Engr. Dr. Victor Chiwuzie (middle), others, during the assessment tour of the ongoing erosion control work at the Milliken Hill road in Enugu, yesterday

The Enugu State Government has announced its plan to commence the immediate and comprehensive repairs of emerging potholes on urban carriageways in Enugu and Nsukka, including the intercity roads “to ensure adequate maintenance and sustainability of our roads for safe passage at all times”.

A statement by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. (Sir) Greg Nnaji, stated that “the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Operations Team has taken inventory of potholes at the various locations and made adequate provisions for on-the-spot remediation works”.

The Commissioner added that the repairs will be carried out simultaneously at the different clusters/zones for effective impact and an aggressive maintenance campaign, in keeping with the state government’s urban renewal agenda.

He therefore, appealed to “the general public, the good people of Enugu State, road users including those passing through the state”, to exercise caution during the maintenance exercise.

http://thepunditng.com/enugu-commences-repairs-of-potholes-on-urban-roads/

The Nigerian police, through the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Tuesday arrested and detained Samuel Ogundipe, who covers the security sector.

Apart from Mr Ogundipe, this newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and manhandled by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba was later released after about three hours of detention.

Mr Mojeed and Mr Ogundipe were driven from the SARS headquarters in Abuja to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write a statement.

At the Force headquarters, a DCP at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, was heard directing lawyers to “rush to court” to obtain a warrant to detain Mr Ogundipe.

They repeatedly asked the journalist to disclose his source for a story published by this newspaper.

The story, also published by other media, revealed a letter written by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on last week’s siege to the National Assembly by security officials.

When Mr Mojeed alerted the DCP that it was wrong compelling a journalist to disclose a source of information, the police officer became furious threatening the journalist.

He said the police was acting within the law and that Samuel would remain detained unless he discloses those who gave him the document,” the journalist said.

“He said the police was acting within the law and that Samuel would remain detained unless he discloses those who gave him the document,” the journalist said.

Officials at the police headquarters told PREMIUM TIMES that the directive to detain the journalist came directly from the Inspector General of Police who is said to be angry at this paper’s critical reporting of his activities.

How the journalist was arrested
Moves to arrest Mr Ogundipe started on Saturday, August 11, when a Police Superintendent, Emmanuel Onyeneho, phoned a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Azeezat Adedigba, requesting her to show up at their station.

PREMIUM TIMES management had then insisted that the request be formally sent to it so the reporter could honour it on Monday.

A formal of invitation letter from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Muhammed, said the police was investigating a crime of which her name and number was involved.

How the journalist was arrested
Moves to arrest Mr Ogundipe started on Saturday, August 11, when a Police Superintendent, Emmanuel Onyeneho, phoned a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Azeezat Adedigba, requesting her to show up at their station.

PREMIUM TIMES management had then insisted that the request be formally sent to it so the reporter could honour it on Monday.

A formal of invitation letter from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Muhammed, said the police was investigating a crime of which her name and number was involved.

How the journalist was arrested
Moves to arrest Mr Ogundipe started on Saturday, August 11, when a Police Superintendent, Emmanuel Onyeneho, phoned a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Azeezat Adedigba, requesting her to show up at their station.

PREMIUM TIMES management had then insisted that the request be formally sent to it so the reporter could honour it on Monday.

A formal of invitation letter from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Muhammed, said the police was investigating a crime of which her name and number was involved.

“This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, cybercrime, attempted kidnapping and fraudulent act that your name and phone number featured.

“You are kindly requested to interview the undersigned officer on 14th August 2018 by 1000hrs for fact findings,” the letter reads.

It turned out it was all a lie when the reporter arrived at the SARS office as directed.

As early as 10 a.m. Monday morning, the reporter, in the company of Mr Mojeed and another staffer was at the SARS headquarters, Guzape, but was told the investigating officer, Emmanuel Onyeneho, was not available.



An armed operative (ostensibly on directives), who attended to the trio subsequently confiscated Ms Adedigba’s phone and detained her, after physically manhandling PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief, who attempted to intervene.

After she was led in, the editor and the staffer had to wait for over four hours before Mr Onyeneho eventually sauntered in.

Subsequently, the official, who declined giving details on the reason for the invitation requested that Ms Adedigba dial a number, he provided, with her phone. The dialled number turned out to be that of Mr Ogundipe. The official requested that Mr Mojeed ask the reporter, to come down, a request he immediately obliged.

Immediately, Mr Ogundipe came in, Ms Adedigba was allowed to go while Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were detained.

It was at this point that the two were notified that the police were investigating the source of the interim report sent by the IGP on Mr Daura as published by PREMIUM TIMES.

Subsequently, the official, who declined giving details on the reason for the invitation requested that Ms Adedigba dial a number, he provided, with her phone. The dialled number turned out to be that of Mr Ogundipe. The official requested that Mr Mojeed ask the reporter, to come down, a request he immediately obliged.

Immediately, Mr Ogundipe came in, Ms Adedigba was allowed to go while Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were detained.

It was at this point that the two were notified that the police were investigating the source of the interim report sent by the IGP on Mr Daura as published by PREMIUM TIMES.

Subsequently, the official, who declined giving details on the reason for the invitation requested that Ms Adedigba dial a number, he provided, with her phone. The dialled number turned out to be that of Mr Ogundipe. The official requested that Mr Mojeed ask the reporter, to come down, a request he immediately obliged.

Immediately, Mr Ogundipe came in, Ms Adedigba was allowed to go while Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were detained.

It was at this point that the two were notified that the police were investigating the source of the interim report sent by the IGP on Mr Daura as published by PREMIUM TIMES.



0 5'
The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja [Photo Credit: www.npf.gov.ng]
DEVELOPING STORY: Nigerian police detain Premium Times journalist, ask him to disclose his source
August 14, 2018Tosin Omoniyi
On the day the Nigerian presidency was complaining about the excesses of a unit in the police, the same unit was forcing a PREMIUM TIMES journalist to disclose his source.


The Nigerian police, through the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Tuesday arrested and detained Samuel Ogundipe, who covers the security sector.

Apart from Mr Ogundipe, this newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba, were also briefly detained and manhandled by the police at the SARS headquarters in Abuja.

Ms Adedigba was later released after about three hours of detention.

Mr Mojeed and Mr Ogundipe were driven from the SARS headquarters in Abuja to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write a statement.


At the Force headquarters, a DCP at the IGP Monitoring Unit, Sani Ahmadu, was heard directing lawyers to “rush to court” to obtain a warrant to detain Mr Ogundipe.

They repeatedly asked the journalist to disclose his source for a story published by this newspaper.

The story, also published by other media, revealed a letter written by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on last week’s siege to the National Assembly by security officials.

More inHome
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Why I visited Obasanjo – Dankwambo
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Sowore support group registers political party
When Mr Mojeed alerted the DCP that it was wrong compelling a journalist to disclose a source of information, the police officer became furious threatening the journalist.


“He said the police was acting within the law and that Samuel would remain detained unless he discloses those who gave him the document,” the journalist said.

Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter at Premium Times
Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter at Premium Times
Officials at the police headquarters told PREMIUM TIMES that the directive to detain the journalist came directly from the Inspector General of Police who is said to be angry at this paper’s critical reporting of his activities.


How the journalist was arrested
Moves to arrest Mr Ogundipe started on Saturday, August 11, when a Police Superintendent, Emmanuel Onyeneho, phoned a PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Azeezat Adedigba, requesting her to show up at their station.

PREMIUM TIMES management had then insisted that the request be formally sent to it so the reporter could honour it on Monday.

A formal of invitation letter from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Muhammed, said the police was investigating a crime of which her name and number was involved.


“This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, cybercrime, attempted kidnapping and fraudulent act that your name and phone number featured.

“You are kindly requested to interview the undersigned officer on 14th August 2018 by 1000hrs for fact findings,” the letter reads.

It turned out it was all a lie when the reporter arrived at the SARS office as directed.

As early as 10 a.m. Monday morning, the reporter, in the company of Mr Mojeed and another staffer was at the SARS headquarters, Guzape, but was told the investigating officer, Emmanuel Onyeneho, was not available.


An armed operative (ostensibly on directives), who attended to the trio subsequently confiscated Ms Adedigba’s phone and detained her, after physically manhandling PREMIUM TIMES editor-in-chief, who attempted to intervene.

After she was led in, the editor and the staffer had to wait for over four hours before Mr Onyeneho eventually sauntered in.

See the police letter containing totally fabricated allegations against a Premium Times reporter.
See the police letter containing totally fabricated allegations against a Premium Times reporter.

See the police letter containing totally fabricated allegations against a Premium Times reporter.—

Subsequently, the official, who declined giving details on the reason for the invitation requested that Ms Adedigba dial a number, he provided, with her phone. The dialled number turned out to be that of Mr Ogundipe. The official requested that Mr Mojeed ask the reporter, to come down, a request he immediately obliged.

Immediately, Mr Ogundipe came in, Ms Adedigba was allowed to go while Messrs Mojeed and Ogundipe were detained.

It was at this point that the two were notified that the police were investigating the source of the interim report sent by the IGP on Mr Daura as published by PREMIUM TIMES.


They were subsequently driven to the IGP Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters where Mr Ogundipe was made to write

The Story
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, recently accused Mr Daura of gross violation of Nigerian constitution in Tuesday’s barricade of the National Assembly by State Security Service operatives.

In a preliminary report on the controversial incident prepared for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, Mr Idris said Mr Daura was working for some politicians for selfish interest, but did not name the accomplices.

He said Mr Daura did not consult with other security agencies before ordering the siege, and questioned the validity of a security report that allegedly anticipated a violence at the parliament.

Mr Daura was sacked by Mr Osinbajo on Tuesday afternoon. He was immediately handed over to the police for further interrogation, after unathorised deployment of SSS officers that sparked nationwide outrage and condemnation.

Mr Idris said the police have been interrogating Mr Daura in Garki, Abuja, since he was arrested.

The report, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, was signed by Mr Idris on August 8, but it was not immediately clear whether Mr Osinbajo has received it.

Apparently disturbed by the report, the police operatives are bent on making Mr Ogundipe disclose the source of the documents.

However, the report was also published by other newspapers who had access to the documents.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/280119-developing-story-nigerian-police-detain-premium-times-journalist-ask-him-to-disclose-his-source.html?

Director of Finance and Account, Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue, Dr. Aloy Agada (left) with other officials of the board, during the distrainment exercise on four banks and two private companies in Enugu for non-payment of over N200 million taxes due to the state government, yesterday.

The Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) has given insight into why it carried out a distrainment exercise on four banks and two other private firms, located in Enugu metropolis and Nsukka, on Tuesday, after obtaining Court Orders. 

Speaking to newsmen immediately after the exercise, the board's Director of Back Duty Audit, Mr. Edwin Iyidiobi disclosed that the affected companies were distrained for non-payment of taxes due to the state government, totaling over N200 million.

The business establishments according to him, include Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc; Sterling Bank Plc; Unity Bank Plc; Heritage Bank Ltd; Robertson Nig. Ltd and Paladium Hotels Ltd.

Mr. Iyidiobi further disclosed that the companies were owing the state the following amounts: GTB (N46m); Sterling Bank (72.2m); Unity Bank (N22m); Heritage Bank (53.8m); Robertson Nig. Ltd (3.1m) and Paladium Hotels Ltd (N3m), totaling over N200 million.

The Director stated that the distrainment exercise became imperative “after several failed appeals to these companies that are indebted to us”, adding that “they did not comply with our request and of course being law abiding citizens we had to ask for court’s assistance”.

He maintained that the exercise followed due process and was successful, saying: “We got Court Orders to seal off the affected companies, and distrain them until they pay what they owe the state government”.

Mr. Iyidiobi further explained that the taxes being owed the state government by the affected companies were in form of “unpaid PAYE; under-remitted PAYE; under-remitted Withholding Tax; under-remitted Development Levy and interests and penalties charged on the under-remitted taxes as provided by the law”.

While emphasizing the board’s need to raise sufficient funds for the execution of state government’s development projects, Mr. Iyidiobi therefore, urged the defaulters to comply with their civic responsibilities by paying the outstanding taxes for the overall benefit of the people of the state.  

http://thepunditng.com/why-we-sealed-off-banks-others-enugu-state-board-of-internal-revenue/

More….

More..

More

Breaking:

Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue after obtaining Court Orders seals Rangers Avenue and Ogui Road branches of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and the two branches of Sterling Bank in Enugu for non payment of Withholding Tax on interest deduction due to the Enugu State Government for the period of 2015 and 2016, totaling N46 million and N72 million, respectively.

Other business establishments to be affected in the ongoing exercise.

Enugu State is in the hands of God!

http://thepunditng.com/enugu-state-board-of-internal-revenue-closes-gt-and-sterling-bank-branches/

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…Certifies ongoing protective measures on the road

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Enugu State chapter has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for reconstructing and modernizing the historic Milliken Hill federal road in Ngwo, Enugu North Local Government Area of the state, after so many years of neglect.

The body also applauded the governor for his quick response in the ongoing construction of more massive concrete retaining walls on the erosion-prone areas of the road, following the recent slight challenges witnessed on it during the last heavy rains in the state that lasted for over seven days.

Speaking after an assessment tour of the site, the state Chairman of the association, Engr. Ifeanyi Ofili (FNSE), who was accompanied by a team of Engineers, certified the ongoing massive erosion control and remediation work on the road, declaring that it was in compliance with the standard engineering specification for construction of a concrete retaining wall of such magnitude.

Engr. Ofili noted that the road was built on a difficult terrain and was hitherto neglected for so many years without any form of maintenance until the recent intervention by the state government, stressing that the governor deserves a commendation for reconstructing and remodeling the hilly and undulating road.

“We want to thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for what his administration has done so far on this Milliken Hill road. We know this road for a very long time. Attention has not been given to the road until now. So we commend the state government for paying attention to this road.

“We have come as a society for assessment; we have looked at the road and what they did. We have looked at the prevention measures they are putting in place concerning the erosion that has affected some portion of the road and we have certified on our own human capacity that what they are doing is encouraging”, the chairman stated.

Engr. Ofili further disclosed that the body also gave advice on how to deliver the work better and urged the people of the area to stop the cutting of trees on the road side to prevent erosion.

He added that they were pleased with the introduction of sufficient drainage on the retaining walls aimed at reducing the pressure of water flowing from the hill through the road and down to the valley when it rains.

“My final message is that the public should exercise patience and encourage the state government in its efforts to provide infrastructural development and other dividends of democracy for them”, the NSE Chairman stated.

Earlier in his remark, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, stated that the state government took the initiative to reconstruct and modernize the road with streetlights out of its genuine concern for the safety and wellbeing of the people, especially the road users.

Engr. Nnaji added that the entire road was 12-kilometer, disclosing the state government identified some flash points that are prone to erosion and has immediately started taking proactive measures to protect and enhance the road’s lifespan.

“What we are doing is erosion control measures, more or less protective. So this is a protective measure to save this road, to sustain its use for a very long time”, the Works Commissioner stated.

Other members of the NSE at the assessment tour, who are all Fellows of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) include, the Vice Chairman, Engr. Festus Ozoemene; Chairman of Performance Investigation Failure Analysis Committee (PIFAC), Engr. Dr. Victor Chiwuzie; Engr. Anthony Nebo; Engr. Bartholomew Edeh; Engr. Ben Ogidi, etc. !.

http://thepunditng.com/nse-commends-ugwuanyis-intervention-on-milliken-hill-road/

The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin has denied a report in front page of Vanguard newspaper of August 13, 2018, alleging a spread of Lassa fever in the state, stating that the publication is false and misleading.

Reacting to the development, the Health Commissioner said that the false report is capable of causing undue panic among the residents of the state at a time when personal hygiene and environment sanitization should be the paramount message.

Dr. Ekochin explained that the state had one confirmed case of Lassa fever, which was duly made public last week, adding that none of the close contacts of the confirmed victim has till date tested positive for the disease.

Wondering who the “source” that the reporter quoted was, his or her integrity and medical proficiency, Dr. Ekochin urged the general public to disregard the report of the purported spread of Lassa fever in Enugu State.

He therefore, maintained that the state government is committed, through its new Public Health Emergency Centre, to continue active surveillance and control measures in keeping with its resolve to ensure health security and wellbeing of the people of the state.



http://thepunditng.com/no-spread-of-lassa-fever-in-enugu-says-health-commissioner/

The Tuesday, August 7, 2018, DSS siege on the nation’s foremost democratic institution has attracted widespread condemnation not only from good spirited Nigerians, but it has also drawn the ire of the international community which was alarmed by the reckless and illegal invasion.

Unfortunately, this executive recklessness has assumed a very dangerous dimension that nobody knows what our security agencies hold in stock for the citizens tomorrow. Almost on a daily basis, the nation is awoken by one rude shock or the other of citizens’ brutalization, torture and even murder by our security agencies paid to Nigerians. Policy & Civil Society Analysts have also agreed that such irresponsible actions which have been left unchecked by relevant authorities, indicates the Presidency is losing control of security forces directly under the control of the Commander in Chief.

This loss of control is further indicated by the rapidly escalating insecurity situation in the country with violent crimes as kidnapping, Pastoral conflicts, and renewed attacks on our military by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists. Analysts have also said that the undue rivalry, unnecessary bickering, lack of cooperation and absence of the needed synergy among the respective security agencies have not helped the situation.

Even the National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno, lamented this ugly trend at an interactive session with the 8th Senate. Babagana Munguno, in the Senate ad-hoc committee report, regretted that his functions as NSA have been hijacked by the security agencies leading to the uncontrolled acrimony among them and that the situation was made worse by rising indiscipline among the agencies. In its findings, the Senate ad hoc committee set up under the leadership of Dr. Olubukola Saraki, observed that its investigations show that the security agencies have been divided into camps with the EFCC and the NSA belonging to one group and the NIA and DSS belonging to another. Despite the damaging reports and the recommendations made, it is quite unfortunate that President Muhammadu Buhari has neither deemed it fit nor been able to arrest the ugly situation.

The irreparably broken cohesion, rivalry, and indiscipline among these agencies have exposed them to the easy manipulation and politicization by politicians aligned with the ruling party agenda, as they have been illegally deployed to ride roughshod on our constitution and rule of law. For example, just few days after Governor Samuel Ortom left the All Progressive Congress APC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, froze the accounts of the state government without any judicial process and even against the instructions of the courts that only the Auditor-General and House of Assembly of a state has the legal right in law to look into the finances of a state government. The action of the EFCC which surely has no basis in law, was obviously executed out of vindictiveness for the defection of Ortom to the opposition PDP, and was also extended to the Akwa Ibom State government in an attack on the government and good people of the state reportedly at the behest of the APC who only recently received a former chieftain of the PDP, Godswill Akpabio, former governor of the state, into its fold.

To further confirm that its action was merely in response to political manipulations of the ruling party, the EFCC quickly unfroze the accounts of the two states after a torrent of criticisms from Nigerians. Given this scenario, and the vows made by several APC lawmakers and chieftains including their chairman and those in the presidency to remove Saraki by all means, it was not surprising that the DSS succumbed to the totalitarian and fascist dictates of the ruling party to execute the hatchet job carried out against the national assembly on that Tuesday, an action which many have rightly described as a “Legislative coup”.

The Nigerian Police Force is certainly not immune to such manipulations as they have, at one time or the other, also fallen prey to the ravenous appetite for abuse of our laws, and democratic institutions. The police were used to attempt to carry out an illegal invasion of the Benue State House of Assembly where they gave security cover to eight of the members and locked out both staff and the other majority 22 members with the hope that the minority members along with a Speaker who was barred by a court of competent jurisdiction, having been legally removed by the needed majority number, would be used to impeach the defected Governor.

Political opponents, pro-democracy activists, groups and ordinary citizens have tasted the bitter pills of the police albeit illegally. The unbearable excesses of the police’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, has remained a sour point, torturing citizens and brutalizing them at will, a situation which has led to the unabated calls from Nigerians for it to be scrapped. The atrocities of the police especially under President Buhari are legion, yet, the president seems helpless, weak or worse, unconcerned.

These lapses have given some foreigners, as declared by the Presidency, the leverage to take advantage of the gap in our security architecture to freely rein terror on citizens, kidnapping, raping, and butchering them with reckless abandon under the guise of farmers/herders clashes. Added to this grievous dereliction of duty by the Buhari administration, is that no one is being prosecuted today for those heinous crimes against our people.

Evidently, there is a gross failure in the Nigerian security system under the leadership of President Muhammdu Buhari. The big question now is, what are going to do about it?

http://rapidnewsnigeria.com/opinion/nigerias-security-disaster-under-buhari-by-jude-ndukwe/

Head Of IrokoTv, Jason Njoku shares his wife's experience with a high class lebanese hair saloon in Lagos that turned down their services to his wife because they don't offer services to Nigerians.

He reported to the police and it turned out the barber is an illegal immigrant

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s senatorial by-election in Katsina, Ahmad Babba-Kaita, is the winner, released results show.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is soon to formally declare the winner.
But its released results, already pastes at the collation centre, show that Mr Babba-Kaita, currently a member of the House of Representatives, polled 224, 607 votes to beat five other contestants.
His closest rival, who is his elder brother, Kabir Babba-Kaita, was only able to garner 59, 724 votes. The elder Babba-Kaita was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The other results show that GPN scores 1056, DA got 796, MPN secured 633 while MMN got 343 votes to emerge third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
The seat became vacant in April following the death of Senator Mustapha Bukar.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/279825-breaking-apc-candidate-ahmad-babba-kaita-wins-katsina-north-by-election.html

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Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State yesterday, amid jubilation inaugurated the ultra modern civic centre in Enugu-Echi Ihe, Awgu Local Government Area, constructed with the first tranche of N5 million each recently released to the 450 autonomous communities in the state to execute development project of their choice.

Gov. Ugwuanyi's administration recently launched a grassroots development programme tagged "one community, one project", which earmarked N10 million for each community in the state to carry out a project of their choice according to their peculiar needs to ensure that there is government presence in all the communities in Enugu State.

The ultra modern civic centre in Ihe was constructed with the first tranche of N5 million of the N10m.

Presenting the civic centre to the governor for inauguration, the traditional ruler of Ihe community, HRH Igwe Godwin Ekoh said the project is "the first of its kind" and "a vista to the avalanche of both realized and realizable development that the good government of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has engendered in Enugu State since its inception".

Igwe Ekoh added that the people of Enugu-echi Ihe prior to the the construction of the civic centre lacked a place of gathering and hosting of community activities, expressing delight that the "priority project" has provided solution to the need of the people.

"It is a symbol of real and appreciable infrastructure that sprout and span the length and breadth of the state since Gov. Ugwuanyi took over the helm of affairs of Enugu State. It is a perfect example of promise fulfilled by a responsible and responsive government", Igwe Ekoh said.

The monarch also commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration's grassroots development initiatives aimed at opening up the rural areas for all round economic growth as well as providing the basic needs of the dwellers.

According to him, "When His Excellency made the promise to make available N10m (in two tranches) to the 450 autonomous communities in Enugu State for developmental projects, it sounded too good to be true. Today, we are witnesses to the fulfillment of this promise which has translated into tangible projects across Enugu State".

Expressing gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for the "milestone" feat, Igwe Ekoh noted that the governor has not only advanced development in the rural areas but has also accelerated his dynamics and prospects for urbanization.

He said: "We are therefore overjoyed to receive the man of the moment. The man behind the accelerated development of Awgu, the brain behind the peace in the state and the architect of the transformation of Enugu State and the incoming governor come 2019, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi".

Inaugurating the project, Gov. Ugwuanyi thanked the Royal Father and his subjects for the vision in constructing the event centre with the first tranche of N5 million recently released to them and reassured of more development projects that would address their peculiar needs.

http://thepunditng.com/jubilation-as-ugwuanyi-inaugurates-project-built-with-n5-million-grant-for-every-community/

I'm really angry this morning after spending hours trying to convince IBEDC to reconnect light illegally disconnected in Olorunsogo area of Abẹ́òkúta where I stay.

Okay, so let me start from the beginning. IBEDC doesn't give the Olorunsogo and Abiola Way area of Abẹ́òkúta more than 2 hours of electricity per day, on the days they manage to give us at all compared to other close areas of Abeokuta like Aké and Ìdí-Aba that get about 8 hours of electricity.

We have written NERC so many times wondering why we have to suffer darkness when Nigeria is supposedly generating more electricity. What we have is stone cold silence.

Then suddenly in the middle of the night I noticed that IBEDC decided to have pity on our destiny and give us our measly daily dose of token electricity supply. However only some part of my side of Olorunsogo had light.

Thinking it was a fault from the transformer, we went to report to IBEDC area office on Abiola Way only to be told that the community in Abiola Way (not Olorunsogo ó) decided to opt out of electricity supply until IBEDC can guarantee at least 6 hours of electricity daily.

My people, we could not convince this people to come back and remove only Abiola Way people and leave us in Olorunsogo alone.

These same people that over billed me up N10, 000 until I discovered and screamed are insisting some parts of Abiola Way are connected to us. We cajoled one of them (a certain Mr Johnson) to come and check the pole and transformer to see that they can remove Abiola Way people without removing us and these people that are still owing me money from over billing are saying that I should wait till Monday while making allusions to that if I can "wet the floor" a little (bribe), they'll come and do it.

In anger I went to their Abẹ́òkúta headquarters to see their manager but was prevented in doing so.

My Nairaland people, please advice me on what to do. Is this how I'm going to be in darkness all weekend? I have jobs I need to deliver and money for fuel is not available. What should I do?