Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says food security will continue to be a priority to cut the cost of food commodities in the state.

He gave the assurance on Sunday in Lagos during the 2023 Lagos Food Festival at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island.

The Governor was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

The festival’s theme for 2023 was “A Fusion of Flavours.”

He stated that his administration would remain committed to developing the agricultural industry.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the sector has seen various efforts and is prominently featured in the state’s THEMES Agenda.

He was pleased with the large turnout at the event, saying it represented the true spirit of Lagos.

The Lagos Food Festival, according to the governor, showcases prosperity, resourcefulness, innovation, and the spirit of Lagos to young people.

According to him, the food festival provides a forum for Small and Medium Enterprises in agriculture and food to promote their products and network.

“The event is about young people mostly showing their talents and making money so we cannot be a society just sitting and complaining.

“We can see all these young people here today; they are doing various things, so they are looking inward to say how we can add value and be successful.

“That is what I see here, prosperity, ingenuity, innovation, and the spirit of Lagos,” he said.

The Police in Imo State said they have busted a criminal hideout at Obiangwu and Logara Forest in the Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of the state

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP, Aboki Danjuma disclosed this while parading fifteen (15) suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists on Thursday at the Command’s headquarters in Owerri.

He further said the operatives led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, tactically maneuvered into the hideouts of the suspected terrorist, gave the hoodlums a surprise attack, and forced them to surrender.

The CP said, “The arrest of the 15 suspects is sequel to a sustained follow-up to the confessions made by a notorious IPOB/ESN suspect arrested a few days back by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad.

“The gallant operatives led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, tactically maneuvered into the hideouts of the suspected terrorist at Obiangwu and Logara Forest in Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo State, gave the hoodlums a surprise attack, and forced them to surrender.

“On searching the suspects and their hideout, one AK 47 rifle, loaded with 21 rounds of live ammunition, charms, one cut-to-size double barrel shotgun, four locally made shotguns, three rounds of live ammunition, weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa, suspected hard drug substance, one militia camouflage T-Shirt, one Improvised Explosive Device IEDs, one Guinea foul with fetish items on it, One POS Device used in extorting money from their potential victims, and various denominations of Biafra currency were recovered.

“The suspects will be arraigned in court upon completing a comprehensive investigation.”

He assured that the Command would continue to clamp down on subversive and unrepentant criminal syndicates until the state is free from any form of violent crime.

The CP seized the platform to assure the people of Imo State and those in the diaspora wishing to return home for the yuletide celebration of their maximum safety and security during and after the seasons.

He assured the people of Imo State of the Command’s unalloyed determination to ensure that the entire length and breadth of the state is adequately protected and free from all forms of violent crimes.

He tasked them to support the Police and other sister security agencies with timely and actionable information that would assist in the crusade against crime and criminality in the state.

The Nigeria Police say the Second in Command to an Eastern Security Network, ESN Commander, Ebube Virus, has been killed in a fierce gunfight.

The deceased suspect is on the Command’s wanted list due to his nefarious activities in the Aboh Mbaise axis.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma said this in a statement issued by Police spokesman in the state, Henry Okoye, on Tuesday

The CP said, “Following the confessions made by the suspected IPOB/ESN Terrorist allegedly involved in the killing of DPO Ahiazu Mbaise and other dastardly acts in the Mbaise axis, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping squad led by CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa on Monday 4th of December, 2023 stormed the criminal hideout of a deadly IPOB/ESN Terrorist Syndicate led by Ebube Virus and Ishaka, at Umuogu Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise LGA of Imo State and dislodged the terrorists.

The statement reads,” In the process, a ferocious battle broke out between the terrorists and the combat-ready Police agents, neutralising the Second in Command to Ebube Virus, who is well-known on the Command’s wanted list due to their nefarious actions in the Mbaise axis. Others who had been shot at had escaped. From the neutralised terrorist, one AK-47 rifle with 19 rounds of live ammunition was found.

“An operation is underway to find additional fugitive suspects and bring them to justice.

“While praising the brave officers for their unwavering efforts in the fight against all violent crimes in the State, Imo State Command *CP Aboki Danjuma*, the Commissioner of Police, affirms the Command’s commitment to working with other

CP Danjuma called on ‘Ndi Imo’ to support the Police and other sister security agencies with timely and actionable information that will assist in the crusade against Terrorism in the state.

He encouraged owners of hospitals and first-aid outlets to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injuries to the nearest Police Station.

There is uneasy calm in Nasarawa State as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) await the ruling of the Supreme Court after the appeal court favoured incumbent Governor, Abdullahi Sule.

The APC in the state on Thursday expressed concern over the PDP’s purported plans to arrange ugly protests, overheat the polity, and produce havoc in the state.

The PDP had previously stated that the ruling party was tormented by its shadows.

Aliyu Bello, the APC’s state chairman, accused the PDP of inciting ethnic and religious hatred through protests aimed at generating disharmony among Nasarawa State residents who had been coexisting as citizens for a long time.

He alleged that since Governor Sule was declared the victor of the March 18 election, the PDP has continued to display divisive tendencies by mobilizing gullible and weak supporters who parade nude in the street and at the party’s secretariat.

“The poor women recruited to engage in this shameful act have been paid and convinced, that such equally primitive action has the spiritual powers to earn the party victory at the courts.

“So far, the gods or the deities and the spirits the PDP has been invoking have failed them, and will further fail them again at the Supreme Court,” he said.

The Federal Government has said its Renewed Hope Shelter Programme will provide one million low-cost housing units for the vulnerable population within 7 years.

Mrs Chidimma Makuachukwu, the National Programme Manager, Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, IDP and Refugees, stated this on Tuesday at the Sixth Nigeria Affordable Housing Finance and Innovation Summit (NAHFIS Expo 2023) in Abuja.

She said the Federal Government would collaborate with state and local governments to secure the lands for the houses.

She added that the project will be moved to all the states in Nigeria by 2024.

“We are working with the state government in conjunction with the local authorities to get land, currently we are in Benue, what we are doing is to resettle the IDPs back to their ancestral homes with the support of state and local authorities.

“The people will use the local labour and the local content so that the economic of the local authorities will be empowered.

“There is no selection process in this, it is about the vulnerable states across the Federation,” she said.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has been scheduled to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, on the absence of a Nigerian mission in Iraq.

The Speaker’s decision followed a concern raised by the Iraqi Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Anwer Saeed Aljabali, during his courtesy call on Tuesday.

Abbas, who expressed surprise that Nigeria does not currently have a mission in Iraq where her citizens could run to for help, said he would take up the matter with Tuggar with a view to addressing the matter.

According to the Speaker, Iraq is an important country in the community of nations, which is why efforts must be made to make the Nigerian mission in that country operational.

“I want to assure you that we will take this matter up. I will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to find ways of resolving the issues so that the Nigerian Mission in Iraq will be open once again,” the Speaker said.

Abbas also informed the Iraqi ambassador that the 10th House has established a Parliamentary Friendship Group that would relate with the Iraqi parliament for better cooperation between the two countries.

“We are serious about parliamentary relations with parliaments around the world. That is why we created the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Parliament of Iraq. The chairman of the committee will meet you in due course,” he said.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has hailed the Court of Appeal judgment affirming his election.

In a statement issued by Aliyu’s Press Secretary, Malam Abubakar Bawa, the governor said the judgment was a testament to Nigeria’s impartial judiciary.

Aliyu attributed the victory to the will of Almighty Allah.

“We view this triumph as a divine blessing, and we commend the judiciary for upholding truth and justice,” Aliyu said.

He urged the opposition to collaborate with him to ensure development of the state.

The governor assured the public of his administration’s dedication to delivering democratic dividends.

“We remain resolute in providing an environment conducive to development in our state.

“Our commitment includes ongoing efforts to eliminate bandits and criminals through sustained military operations,” Aliyu emphasised, seeking support from all stakeholders.

Aliyu urged continued support from the public, emphasising the need for unity in achieving the state’s transformation.

He expressed gratitude for the people’s support and prayers, acknowledging their role in the state’s successes while encouraging for more prayers, suggestions, and constructive criticisms of the state’s progress.

NAN reports that the Abuja appellate court upheld the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal’s ruling on Monday, confirming Aliyu’s victory in the 2023 polls.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, dissatisfied with the governorship election petition tribunal’s decision, appealed to the appellate court, contesting Aliyu and Deputy Alhaji Idris Gobir’s victory in the 2023 election. (NAN)

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State has rejected the Appeal Court judgment on the state’s governorship election.

The party said it would challenge the judgement at the apex court.

The APC said in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Barrister Valentine Onojeghuo that it was confident that the mandate given to it by the good people of the State, who believe in its laudable programmes and the capability of its candidate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, would be restored.

The past, which commended its team of lawyers for a good job, said it was hopeful of getting a favourable judgment at the apex court because it had a watertight case.

While commending its members for their steadfastness, support and loyalty, the party prevailed on them to remain calm and hopeful, assuring them that “there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

The statement further emphasised that “our stolen mandate will surely be restored. It is only a matter of time.”

The APC said the judgment of the Appeal Court cannot stand the test of time.

“We have no iota of doubt that we shall reclaim our mandate at the Supreme Court. We have absolute confidence in the apex court to do justice to our case,” it said.

Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has told the people of the state that he will never fail to fulfill his lawful duties as governor of the state.

Idris made the announcement while speaking to a large gathering of supporters at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi to celebrate his victory at the Court of Appeal in Sokoto on Friday.

The governor informed the people that he was ready to offer more democracy dividends to the electorate through the implementation of important development projects that would have a direct impact on their lives, particularly those of the common man.

He said that the Appeal Court decision demonstrated that the judicial arm of government was truly doing its job as an independent organization, as it was fair to all individuals regardless of tribal, political, or religious allegiance.

While praising the courts for performing a thorough and good job, Idris asked them to keep up the pace for the sake of the nation’s democracy and the country as a whole.

“This judgment has shown that the mandate of Kebbi people was given to them. This is an indication that Kebbi people have a good mind towards Kauran Gwandu and that’s why Almighty God is on their side,” he said.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has visited the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Jonathan visited Ganduje at his residence in Abuja on Thursday evening.

Disclosing this on its official social media handle, the APC wrote: “The National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, received in audience former President Goodluck Jonathan @GEJonathan at his residence in Abuja.”

Details of the meeting have not been made public as of the time of filing this report.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), says sexual harassment is a corrupt practice that can result in a seven-year prison sentence.

[/b]Mr Clifford Oparaodu, the Commission’s Secretary, issued the warning in Abuja during a One Day Sensitization Workshop on Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions.

[b]He said that the ICPC considers sexual harassment to be a corrupt practice, thus victims must be aware of their rights and how to seek justice.

He expressed concern that sexual enjoyment had become “illegal tender” in many institutions.

“Sexual harassment is a form of corruption.

“It is a deviation from the norm for an official to use his/her office or position to demand, receive, obtain, or attempt to obtain any form of sexual gratification for him to perform his duties.

“Ideally, official duties ought to be carried out with integrity, good conscience, and diligence without the expectation of any unlawful benefit,” he said.

The Labour Party in Imo State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying its candidate in the November 11 election, Athan Achonu, access to certified true copies of documents used for the concluded election as required by law.

The opposition party made the accusation in a statement on Saturday, signed by Chibuikem Diala, Director of Media and Publicity for the Senator Athan Achonu Campaign Organisation.

The statement reads:” Our notice has been drawn to mischievous plans by Imo State INEC under Prof. Sylvia Agu to deny our legal team access to certified true copies of documents used for the November 11 governorship election in Imo State as required by law.

“This is after an official request has been made by our solicitors to the State INEC Office, duly acknowledged and received on November 15, 2023.

“It is pertinent at this stage to alert the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies of these devious delay tactics, which may be to further deny our party and the candidate of the Labour Party in the November 11 election justice. This is unacceptable and we request that INEC do the needful immediately, as time is of the essence.

“Some pertinent questions begging for answers include: If INEC does not have anything to hide and is willing to come to equity with clean hands, why then delay the release of the CTC of requested materials?

“INEC was so efficient in announcing the results of 27 LGA in less than 12 hours after the elections; why then is it taking the same INEC over 144 hours to issue the documents backing their pronouncements? One would expect a better and more efficient approach from the electoral body.

“We only hope that this delay is not a decoy by Imo State INEC and agents of the APC-led government to perfect their rigging by tampering with sensitive materials in INEC office. This strategy to deny the people of Imo State the opportunity to have a leader of their choice will not work, as we call on INEC to do the needful and stop taking Imolites for granted.

“Therefore, we also call on the security agencies and INEC, led by Prof. Mahmoud, to do all they can to ensure that the certified true copies are released as requested and timely too.

“While we wait for INEC to do the needful speedily, we further assure the caretaker governor in Imo State to enjoy his “Certificate of Return” only for a moment as he will soon return it to the rightful owner.”

The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Bala of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of the March 18 governorship election.

But the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sadique Abubakar rejected the outcome of the election and sought redress in the court.

The Bauchi State Governorship Election Tribunal had dismissed the APC candidate’s petition, upholding the election of Bala.

But Sadique dragged the matter to the appeal court, insisting that the March 18 poll was marred by irregularities.

However, ruling on the matter on Friday, the panel of three justices, who were unanimous, upheld the verdict of the tribunal.