₦airaland Forum

Following the various attacks in some villages of Plateau state which resulted in the loss of lives and properties, the Defence Headquarters on Sunday visited the state.

This move, it was learnt, is to find a lasting solution, sequel to a fact-finding delegation to investigate the incessant attacks.

The team, led by the Chief of Training and Operation, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohammed, had a closed door meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, ethnic groups, religious and community leaders where issues on security and peaceful coexistence were discussed.



It is expected that the meeting will give birth to an accelerated peace in the region, as the state government is set to prosecute anyone caught breaching the peace of the state.

Meanwhile, the Benue state government has appeal to the Federal government to upgrade the status of the state-owned polytechnic to a federal institution, with a view to promoting technical education.

Governor Samuel Ortom made the appeal during a convocation ceremony of the institution, for over 32,000 graduates in the past 10 years.

Mr Ortom had while admitting infrastructural challenges like power supply and water reticulation system faced by the establishment, however gave the assurances that they were being addressed, to encourage the FG in this regards.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/12/defence-headquarters-visits-plateau-state/

After several warnings issued to companies whose books are not up to date, the Lagos State Govt is set to shut down corporate organisations who have defaulted in tax payment.

The move, it was learnt, is aimed at boosting the infrastructural drive of the Ambode-led administration.

Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, disclosed this on Sunday, in a press statement.



Mr Ashade thereafter warned that any company found to have evaded tax would not be spared.

“All law abiding corporate organisations are advised to adhere to this directive as the state govt has given enough grace period for them to remit their taxes.

“The govt will on Monday, November 20, commence the process of shutting down the headquarters of corporate organisations, including banks who have failed to remit statutory taxes to govt coffers.

“It is in the interest of companies who are yet to remit their taxes to do so on or before Monday,” he said.

Prompt payment of tax, according to Ashiru, will enable the govt provide the necessary infrastructure and improve the standard of living of the people.

The Finance boss added that the state would be encouraged to do more if its residents cooperated regarding the prompt payment.

“Prompt payment of tax will enable the govt provide the necessary infrastructure and improve the standard of living of the people, but when people pay their taxes promptly, govt is encouraged to do more.

“The administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has shown in the last two and half years that taxes paid are judiciously spent on projects that have impacted positively on the lives of Lagos citizens,” he explained.



It would be recalled that the state govt had last week directed all its revenue agencies to ensure prompt payment of taxes including land use charges, thereby commence enforcement of payment by all tax defaulters with immediate effect.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/12/lagos-govt-shut-owing-companies/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike accused the Federal Government of creating crisis in the state using the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.

Wike’s accusation comes barely 24 hours after he escaped an alleged assassination attempt involving his security aides and that of the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.



The security details of the duo almost resulted in a clash in Nwanja junction in Trans Amadi area of the state.

The tension was, however, heightened when some of the SARS operatives allegedly cocked the guns, resulting in the chief security detail to the governor physically chasing the men away.

The drama lasted for over 30 minutes before Governor Wike proceeded on the inspection of some ongoing projects in the state.

But speaking during a thanksgiving service on Sunday at the State Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt, the state’s governor said that he resolved to bring the perceived ugly actions at the Court of Appeal to the attention of Nigerians, law professionals and the political community “for them to take the necessary steps.”

He added, “The President, Court of Appeal is being used to cause crisis in Rivers State. When you see that something is going bad, you let your people know. That is what I am doing.

“Despite the fact that the appeal on the Local Government matter has been scheduled for February 2018 at the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal at the last sitting resolved to respect that position, the President of the Court of Appeal has set up a Special Panel for the matter.”

The state’s Chief Executive explained that the FG has alerted the security forces to assist the ruling All Progressives’ Congress forcibly take over the local government council secretariats despite an earlier court ruling in their (PDP) favour.



Reacting to Saturday’s attack on his convoy, Wike urged his people not be surprised at the level of desperation by the Minister of Transportation , noting that they should expect worst actions by the APC in the future.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/12/wike-accuses-fg-creating-crisis-rivers/

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says no amount of blackmail will change the government’s decision to sack about 22,000 teachers in the state.

This follows the two weeks ultimatum issued to the state government by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kaduna that they would embark on an indefinite strike if the government fails to suspend its plan.



Governor El-Rufai, however, insisted that government will not back down from sacking the teachers who he described as incompetent to remain in the teaching profession.

“Many times, the decisions we take offer us slow political advantages, but we do what is necessary not minding the direct impact on us personally but conscious of the dire consequences of inaction on our people,” he said while addressing members of the State House of Assembly earlier in the week.

“Change is not a slogan to win elections; change represents hard work required to refocus our state on the path of progress,” he added.

The governor said government has been facing threats and blackmail from some teachers, even when it was apparent that many of them were of very low grade.

According to him, this prompted his administration to take immediate action to address the situation, maintaining that there is no going back on the decision.

El-Rufai added that he is not afraid to sack unqualified teachers in the system in order to secure the future of the over two million pupils in the state, even if it would cost him his second term re-election.

“Mr Speaker sir, the APC got elected in 2015 because the people of Nigeria and the people of Kaduna State believe that while that one-time ruling party plans to win the next election, the APC will plan for the welfare of the next generation.

“It is irresponsible not to act when most of our primary school teachers cannot score 75 percent in a class four examination, or to shrink from the edifying workers and pensioners because the ghost workers and others affected will scream and make the world believe that nobody in Kaduna State is being paid salary or pension,” he said.



According to the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, about two-thirds of primary school teachers who sat for the test, made up of primary four questions, failed to score up to 75 percent in the grading.

The state government, however, said it would recruit as many qualified teachers as possible to replace those reportedly marked for dismissal.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/12/must-necessary-el-rufai-says-sacking-teachers/

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured all Nigerians that his administration will address rising concerns of corruption, insecurity, and injustices in various parts of the country.

The President gave the assurance on Friday when he received some Christian and Muslim leaders in separate meetings at the State House in Abuja.



The Christian delegation was led by the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Olasupo Ayokunle while the Muslim delegation was led by the Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr Khalid Aliyu.

President Buhari told the CAN delegation that he had already given instructions for the submission of all the names of heads of parastatals to address the allegations of lopsidedness in appointments.

“On the question of one-sided appointments, we will look at it. I have given instructions that a list of all heads of parastatals be submitted to me and I know they will not delay in doing that,” he said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

The President also said his administration would ensure reform of the police and judiciary, describing both institutions as critical for the security and stability of the nation.
“There is no way we can be comfortable in our country unless we are lucky to have a good police force and judiciary.

“We need a good police force and judiciary to really maintain the legitimacy and the confidence of the populace in governance,” he added.

On the fight against corruption, the President assured the religious leaders that his administration would always be guided by the rule of law and constitutionality in prosecuting all those that had been accused of corruption.

He told the JNI delegation that corruption in the country had taken a cultural dimension and urged all religious leaders and Nigerians to join in the fight in order to reverse the trend.

“When something becomes a culture, it is more difficult to stop, but collectively we will prevail,” he assured the leaders.



In his remarks, Reverend Ayokunle commended the President’s achievements in the fight against corruption, empowerment of the military to flush out Boko Haram terrorists and the recovery of some of the kidnapped Chibok girls.

Dr Aliyu, on his part, urged President Buhari to pay more attention to the yearnings of Nigerians and also to continually walk in the fear of God.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/12/president-buhari-promises-tackle-injustice-insecurity/

A Nigerian Police Officer, Sanusi Lanre, who was part of the Police team that rescued British hostages abducted by Kidnappers in Delta, reportedly died after a surgery following the gun injury he sustained during a 4-hour gun battle with the kidnappers.

Top Police Officer, Abba Kyari who shared the sad story wrote;

Sgt. Sanusi Lanre of the IRT, One of the best Tracking Officers Who was Shot by a Kidnapper in Delta State on 8/11/17 during Gun battle with Kidnappers of 4 British Citizens in Delta State died 12noon Today, after Surgery was Conducted early Yesterday to remove the bullet in his Stomach and rectify the damages caused by the Kidnapper’s bullet.

We Thank GOD that The Kidnapper that Shot him also met his Water-loo, while two others were arrested earlier.

We Pray that our Gallant Officer who died in the line of duty will Rest In Peace. May Almighty GOD give his family the fortitude to bear the loss, Ameen.”

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/11/nigerian-police-officer-shot-rescuing-british-hostages-dies/

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has called on Christians in Nigeria to be guided by the word of God for the overall unity of the body of Christ.

He lamented that the different denominations in the Church had caused dissatisfaction, stressing that the word of God should be the watchword of every believer.

Speaking in Kaduna on Saturday at the official inauguration of Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians, CNNC, he noted that there was the need among different denominations to be united based on the scripture, adding that without the word of God, it may not be possible for the congress to achieve its noble objective.

He enjoined the officials of CNNC to work in harmony with other Christian bodies to propagate the true word of God for the salvation, peace and unity of the region and the country in general.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, observed that the biggest problem confronting the Church was disobedience, adding that unless the Church realised that, it would continue to have problems.

He enjoined Christians to learn to forgive, stressing that it was only when believers forgived that they would be forgiven by the Almighty.

The Speaker observed that denominations have taken the center stage of the Church other than the unity that was supposed to help Christians work as a family irrespective of their denominations.

“The word of God should guide every Christian in all spheres of life. Until the Church understands this, the better for it or it will continue in endless challenges,” he noted.

He praised the founders of CNNC for their foresight in bringing Christians in the north together, while assuring of his support to the congress.

The interim chairman, Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians, CNNC, Professor Adamu Baikie, said that the congress was not a political organization neither was it a front for any political party.

“We shall also resist any attempt to clandestinely use the platform of the congress to promote the political interests of any individual or group of individuals.

“We are also committed to creating awareness among Northern Nigeria Christians to stand firm against every form of violence, discrimination and intimidation being meted out to any citizen of this country; and above all, to work towards the unity and indivisibility of the Nigerian State. These, among other things, are the basic tenets of the objectives we intend to pursue.

“We wish to make it clear that we are not unmindful of the fact that there are other organizations and/ or religious associations that abound in the country, the North in particular. We acknowledge their pioneering efforts and appreciate the work they have done and have continued to do. We have no desire whatsoever to undermine their efforts or obliterate their very coexistence with all people irrespective of religion, tribe or ethniccity.

“We shall eschew bitterness; we shall promote and uphold the principles of mutual respect and understanding as is expected of decend people. A machinery will be put in place to concretize the involvement of other associations in the activities of the congress on a mutual basis having regard to the unifying objectives of the congress,” he said.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/11/gowon-raises-concern-disunity-among-christians/

Professor Moji Christianah Adeyeye, wife of Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central), has been appointed as the new Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. She will be taking over from Mrs. Yetunde Oni, who was appointed as the Acting Director-General of NAFDAC in September, but attained the retirement age of 60 years in September, and also served in the acting capacity for 18 months following the sack of Dr. Paul Orhii.

Professor Moji Christianah Adeyeye, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Elim Pediatric Pharmaceuticals Inc, is the founder of Drugs for AIDS and HIV Patients, a nonprofit organization committed to prevention, education, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS children in Nigeria.

The new NAFDAC DG attended the University of Nigeria, obtaining a BSc in pharmaceutics in 1976, and went on to the University of Georgia where she obtained an M.S and a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics in 1985 and 1988. Mrs. Adeyeye is a Professor of Pharmaceutics, Manufacturing Science and Drug Product Evaluation, College of Pharmacy, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL and Chair, Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL.

SOURCE http://www.naijanews247.com/2017/11/11/nafdac-dg-president-buhari-approves-appointment-prof-moji-christianah/