₦airaland Forum

HIGHESTPOPORI:
No jacuzzi party tonight and I wanted to see queen and Jmk on bikini.

fertilewomb:
Where she see school go
Person wey go do potopoto for Dubai

Sh uses that her fake accent to confuse her herders to think she has something upstairs

Geezeem:
If Pere gives in.... I will wash my hands off his matter

I hate nonsense

The only content we are having, they want the guy to take it away

they think I want to watch people playing TD? like seriously? "remove your pant", "press someone's boobies", "bring out your diick"

This is entertainment? or watch Saga sniff Nini's behind like a he-goat in a ship that has refuse to sail?

jezzz

Tranquility2345:
Cross looks like a 40 year old man. Look at his shaved face very well and tell me he doesn’t look like one uncle

Na that dada and beards dey help am hide him age

Demnan:
15-20 years ago... could mean 15 years ago which puts him at 29, 16 years ago, pits him at 30, 17 at 31 and so on.

A law seeking a maximum of a ten-year jail sentence for anyone who discloses the identity of a security personnel on duty resulting to their harm or death, is underway in the House of Representatives.

The “National Security Agencies Personnel Identity Protection Bill, 2021”, exclusively obtained by VANGUARD, is sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke(Osun-PDP).

“A person who willfully disclose the identity of a Security Agency Personnel or Agent to a person to whom he is not authorized on behalf of the government to disclose, is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of five years Ora fine not below the sum of five hundred thousand naira or both.

“Where the unauthorized disclosure of the identity of a Security Agency Personnel or Agent is likely to or results in grievous bodily harm or death of the Personnel or Agent or in any manner, impedes the intelligence collection of the Security Agency, the punishment shall be imprisonment for a term of ten years without option of fine”, the Bill states in part.

The piece of legislation is expected to be considered in September, when the National Assembly will resume from its Annual Recess.

SERAP said: “Any such investigation should establish whether public funds have been mismanaged, diverted or stolen. Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any misappropriated public funds should be fully recovered.”

In the open letter dated 7 August, 2021 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “These damning revelations suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], and international human rights and anti-corruption standards. Spending of public funds without appropriation will create opportunities for corruption.”

According to SERAP, “Investigating and prosecuting anyone who spent public funds without appropriation and authorisation will send a powerful message that this illegal and unconstitutional practice will not be tolerated under your watch.”

The letter, read in part: “Complying with constitutional requirements and international standards on spending of public funds would ensure effective and efficient management of public resources, and put the country’s wealth and resources to work for the common good of all Nigerians.public debts.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“According to part 2 of the 2018 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, ₦880,894,733,084.811 was spent by 367 MDAs without appropriation. 14 MDAs reportedly spent ₦162,924,630,539.20 without appropriation. Similarly, 100 MDAs spent ₦229,136,261,325.73 on ‘social benefits’ without appropriation.”

“Furthermore, 151 MDAs exceeded their 2018 Overhead Appropriation by ₦476,625,502,048.87 without any evidence of supplementary appropriation or approved virement to support the extra-budgetary spending. 102 MDAs also reportedly spent ₦12,208,339,171.01 on subsidies without budgetary provisions.

The Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have been misappropriated.”

“Identifying and naming and shaming those who spent public funds without appropriation would improve the chances of success of your government’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and end the impunity of perpetrators. It will also serve the public interest.”

“SERAP is seriously concerned about the adverse consequences of unconstitutional and poor management of public resources on the human rights of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, including denying them access to essential public goods and services such as quality healthcare, education, and clean water.”

“Public confidence and accountability in public administration are instrumental to the prevention of corruption and greater efficiency. Transparent and accountable public financial management is a key pillar of good governance, and of vital importance to provide public goods and services to citizens, as well as to create and maintain fair and sustainable economic and social conditions in the country.”

“Corruption thrives in contexts that provide opportunities to engage in illicit conduct, widespread motives to take advantage of such opportunities and weak controls.

The prevention of corruption is more effective environments that minimize opportunities, comply with constitutional and international legal requirements and standards, as well as encourage integrity.”

“SERAP also urges you to direct Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning to publish widely the details of MDAs and public officials involved in the unconstitutional spending of public funds.”

“SERAP urges you to ask the heads of the MDAs involved to explain why they reportedly spent public funds without appropriation, contrary to constitutional and international requirements, and standards of transparency and accountability in the preparation, processes and decisions on their budgets, and to return any money spent without approval to the public treasury.”

“Section 80(2) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the fund by the Constitution or where the issue of the money has been authorized by an Appropriation Act, Supplementary Appropriation Act or an Act passed in pursuance of section 81 of the Constitution.”

“Similarly, articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party impose legal obligations on your government to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds, and to promote sound and transparent administration of public affairs and public property.”

The letter was copied to Mr Malami; Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); Mr
Abdulrasheed Bawa, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); and Mrs Ahmed.

For some time now, residents in communities around Igberigbe area of Ikorodu Lagos, have been going through horrifying moments in the hands of men of the underworld who invade their homes unannounced.

Some of them resigned to fate by keeping a reasonable amount of money in the event of an invasion.

This is to avoid being beaten or even shot by the robbers, during operation.

Miffed by the continuous robbery operations, youths in the area decided to take the bull by the horn, by teaming up with some members of vigilante groups and the Police.

This action paid off as three suspected members of a robbery gang that stormed the community are cooling their heels in the custody of the Strike Team of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.

The suspects stormed Igberigbe area of Ikorodu recently, where they carried out a house-to-house raid of two streets, dispossessing victims of cash, phones, jewellery and electrical appliances.

During the operation, the youths who were alerted raced to the scene and overpowered the gang.

Our strategy
Surprisingly, the leader of the gang, Segun Adeleke, disclosed during an interview with Crime Guard that they had never operated with a gun.

Rather, he revealed that “ We used banga during operation. We have operated at Igberigbe, three times.

We would strike the banga which sound victims would assume to be gunshots. We operated between 12.30 am and 2.30 am.

“We don’t force doors open. Owners of the apartments open for us because we would threaten to shoot them if they acted otherwise.

“We don’t rape during operation too because we are not armed. In one of the rooms we entered, we saw a woman naked. I told her to put on her clothes but she said she was pregnant and was hot since there was no light. I collected three phones and jewellery from her.

“After operation, we would take the stolen items to Alakara Mushin, to sell. I sold one of the iPhones for N20,000.

Escape from Police custody
In the course of the interaction with Adeleke, he disclosed that he was once arrested but escaped from Police custody.

Explaining how that was possible, he said, “ I was arrested with a toy gun by policemen at Victoria Island division.

“I had joined a robbery gang to steal items from a supermarket.

“On the day we were to be taken to court, the IPO brought me and other suspects out of the cell.

“He said he forgot something in the office and left to get it. I mixed with the crowd and escaped.

“I went straight to a ghetto in Akala, Mushin. You don’t have to pay for accommodation there. I slept on the streets. I met two other boys there, with whom I formed a new gang.

Arrest
“This gang headed by me would leave Mushin for Igberigbe, to operate. At the last operation, youths chased us. I was lucky to escape.

“I rushed down to Mushin to hide, unknown to me that other members had been arrested. One of them brought the Police to arrest me”.

On his part, 21-year-old Quadri Adeniyi said his role in the operation was to stay outside and look out for any intruder.

He said, “I am a bus conductor. My job was to stand outside and alert members of any intruder, during operation. I also gathered all the phones collected from victims inside a bag”.

The third suspect, Abiola Fatai, 21, claimed that was his first time joining the gang for operation.

He said, “During the operation, I collected a Plasma television from one of the rooms. When the street boys came, we all tried to escape.

“I didn’t know the terrain because that was my first time joining them to rob. I ran into a street which led me to a dead end.

“My intention was to jump through a fence but I discovered that the Plasma television was heavy and slowed my pace. At the same time, I couldn’t throw it away”.

The suspects have been charged to court.

Residents of Kano and Jigawa states have blamed lack of access to potable water and poor sanitation for the cholera outbreak reported to have caused at least 295 deaths between March and July in the two North-western states.

About 195 persons died from the disease in Kano, while over 100 persons lost their lives in neighbouring Jigawa in less than one month, officials said.

The Permanent Secretary of Jigawa State Ministry of Health, Salisu Mu’azu, told reporters Wednesday that over 5,000 suspected cases of the disease were reported in the state within the four months.

Kano State’s epidemiologist, Bashir Lawan, also said as of Wednesday, about 5,555 suspected cases had been recorded from March.

Residents narrate ordeals

Hassan Galadima said he lost two relatives to the outbreak, including his elder brother’s wife, Aisha Muhammad. He said the 35-year old would have survived if the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in their hometown of Zareku in Miga Local Government Area of Jigawa State was functional and had drugs.

“We took her to the facility on July 29 but they asked us to go home after first aid was given to her.

But her condition deteriorated overnight and we returned her to the facility the following day. But she was not admitted due to lack of drugs to treat her at the centre,” Mr Galadima said.

He said they had to take the patient to Jahun General Hospital in the neighbouring local government area, about 20 kilometres away. Still, she gave up the ghost there, leaving behind a four-month-old toddler and four other children.

Mr Galadima said the following day, his younger sister, Adama Galadima, 16, also died from the disease.

“She died at home because we could not take her to the primary healthcare centre as we knew that there were no drugs there.”

He said four other family members infected with the disease were, however, responding to treatment at the centre, following supply of drugs to the facility.

Mr Galadima blamed the cholera outbreak on unclean water in the area and the deaths on the poor response by health workers.

He said many people in the community source water from damaged pipes, despite warnings by health officials of the danger in consuming the water.

As of Tuesday, Mr Galadima was still at the Zareku primary healthcare centre, taking care of some of his infected relatives. He said the community recorded the fatalities before the arrival of drugs at the centre.

The village head, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said five persons died on Friday in the village, but the figure had risen to eight by Tuesday.

Abubakar Idris from Kurna area of Kano metropolis said he took his 41-year-old wife to the Infectious Disease Hospital in Kano after she vomitted throughout the night.

“Our area does not have access to potable water. We rely on water vendors, but we don’t know the source of the water they sell to us. The poor drainage system in our area is also responsible for our poor hygiene.

“But we are happy that health officials received us well at the hospital and provided us medication free of charge. My wife is due for discharge,” Mr Idris told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday.

Rahila Salisu from Kawaji in Nasarawa LGA in Kano said her six-year old son, Muhammad Sani, survived the disease after prompt care at a health facility.

“After a downpour, I noticed him vomiting. When I gave him first aid, it stopped, but a day after, it started again, and he fell unconscious. When we arrived at the hospital, I thought he had died when he fainted. But Allah made it possible for the doctors to bring him back to life.

“As you can see now, he is okay following the treatment in the hospital. Everything given to us here, even feeding, is free. I am very grateful,” Mrs Salisu said. The little boy was discharged from the hospital on Friday.

Adamu Ahmad from Goron Dutse in Kano metropolis said he found himself in the hospital after eating a cabbage served to him by his wife.

“I used to discourage the consumption of such vegetables due to poor hygiene and shortage of water in our area, but I eventually became a victim,” Mr Ahmad said.

“I was brought to the hospital on Wednesday unconscious. Someone here told me they had lost hope on me but thank God I am okay after treatment in the hospital, and I am due for discharge now.”

The Kano State epidemiologist, Bashir Muhammad, said the outbreak was first recorded on March 5 in one local government area before it escalated to 41 out of the 44 council areas in the state.

“The state government has been doing the needful in emergency preparedness to handle the cases. The activities range from active case search both in the community and health facilities and contact tracing of relatives of the infected individuals,” the official said.

The official, a medical doctor, said that recorded cases had dropped to only four local government areas. He said the high number of cases recorded was due to the rainy season and the Sallah festivities.

“The state government has provided the gadgets and equipment the ministry needs and activities are going on at the community level like the treatment of the contaminated wells across the LGAs.

“The state ministry has also reached out to over 9,925 households, enlightening them about the preventive measures,” the official, who is also the incident manager said.

Measures in tackling the outbreak in Jigawa

Mr Mu’azu said because 90 per cent of the deaths in Jigawa occurred at homes, it is difficult for health officials to ascertain the numbers of fatalities.

“The residents’ attitude of not patronising health facilities until the case is severe, caused the high rate of fatalities,” Mr Mu’azu said on Wednesday.

“The state government with support from UNICEF , Doctor without Borders and World Health Organisation are up and doing in response to the outbreak,” he said.

Mr Mu’azu said with the support of the partners, the state has trained communities surveillance personnel across the state on how to identify cholera cases in their localities.

“Also, there are radio jingles sensitising the residents on the preventive measures. The facilities are available and the drugs and consumables have been decentralised across the three senatorial zones for easy access and distribution,” the permanent secretary said.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was not committed to delivering transparent elections to Nigerians in 2023.

Wike also said the rejection of electronic transmission of election results by All Progressives Congress, APC, members in the National Assembly, was tantamount to a coup against Nigerians, who are desirous of free, fair, and credible polls.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, Wike spoke during the official presentation of a letter of nomination to him as “the 2020 Governor of the Year Award” by the management of the Leadership Media Group at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Tuesday.

Wike said that the current National Assembly capitalized on the seeming political indifference of Nigerians to deliberately vote against the inclusion of electronic transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act, describing those NASS members who voted against transmission of election results electronically as enemies of the country.


He said: “Those who voted against e-transmission of results should be ashamed of themselves. They never mean well for this country. If you are a member of the National Assembly and you voted against electronic transmission of results, your children should call you and say daddy, are you well?

“I can’t believe anybody who went to school in this digital period, will vote against electronic transmission of results. What kind of country is this? What kind of National Assembly members do we have?”

Wike declared that the rejection of electronic transmission of election results by APC lawmakers, even when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had affirmed that it has the capacity to electronically transmit results, is tantamount to a coup against the citizens of the country.

The governor said he had expected President Buhari, who had openly declared that he respects former President Goodluck Jonathan, for not compromising the 2015 general elections, to build on the electoral legacy of his predecessor.

He noted that President Muhammad Buhari’s failure to prevail on APC members in the National Assembly to support the inclusion of electronic transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Acts, proves he does not intend to leave a legacy of a transparent electoral process.

He said: “If Jonathan did not believe in the transparency of the election, he would not have allowed card reader to be used. So, he introduced the card reader as a sitting President, knowing fully well that that could be an albatross to him. But he said no, I want us to move to the next level.

“Mr. President cannot tell us that sincerely he wants to conduct a free, fair, credible election. Let nobody deceive you. It is very clear that there is no sure intention at all.”

The governor, also stated that he has never and would never influence any media organization to nominate him for an award, advised media groups against bestowing awards on non-performing political officeholders.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Leadership Newspaper, Muazu Elazeh, said they were in Port Harcourt to formally present Governor Wike the letter of his nomination as the Leadership Governor of the year and then to invite him to attend the Leadership conference slated for September.

“When the board of editors of Leadership met for this nomination because it is something we do every year, when your name was mentioned, I think it is the only name that received unanimous endorsement because of your practical approach to leadership and governance; because of your focus in infrastructural development which is resetting the business and economy of Rivers State,” Elazeh

The Federal Government has expressed shock over yesterday commencement of strike by members of National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, despite a successful meeting with its leaders last week to sort out their grievances.

This is as the government said it held a successful meeting with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to iron out its grievances.

A statement by the Deputy Director Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan, said the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, was shocked that NARD directed its members nationwide to commence industrial action after having a successful meeting last week.

The Minister spoke at an interactive meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU aimed at evaluating the implementation of the Memorandum of Action, MOA, entered into by the parties.

Addressing the press, Ngige said the meeting evaluated seven key issues, with both parties expressing satisfaction with the implementation stages of what he termed “work in progress. “

He said some of the items in the MOA were nearly done hundred percent within the timeline.

Ngige explained that the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, was directed to expedite action on the integrity test on the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) which if successful, would eliminate the challenges posed by the peculiarities of the university system to the current payment platform.

According to the minister, government had also paid N30 billion as the University Revitalization Fund as contained in the MOA since January 2021.

The money according to him, was however still lodged with the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the conclusion of the audit report of the Implementation Committee on the use of previous funds disbursement to universities by the Ministry of Education and the National University Commission.

“ The report has been turned in deliberated upon and both the Education Ministry and the NUC have promised to write to the Accountant General of the Federation next week for the release of the money to the NEEDS Special Account for onward disbursement to universities shortly,” he said.

Ngige noted that the monies would be paid to successful universities based on the evaluation report of the committee while those with shortcomings will be made to make up before accessing the fund.

He disclosed that apart from the N40 billion Earned Allowance which the Federal Government had already paid, “the Budget Office of the Federation showed evidence that N22 billion Earned Allowances for year 2021 is already captured in the 2021 supplementary budget of the federation, and will soon be accessed .

On the proliferation of State universities , a bill has been sent to the National Assembly by the NUC to strengthen its arms in terms of delisting universities where funding and other parameters are inadequate.

This effort was commended as all the parties agreed that mushrooming and proliferation of state universities, some of which mock the ideals of an ivory tower, should stop.

“The inconsistencies in the IPPIS payment was also discussed. There was good interaction and documents were exchanged between IPPIS and ASUU.

ASUU is to go back to its members so that we can have a proper update on the extent of the inconsistencies in payment.

We expressed our displeasure that these things are happening – amputation of salaries, not-too-clear, foggy things happening over peoples monthly emoluments. So we have asked IPPIS and ASUU to work together over this.”

Similarly, he informed that evidence was presented that promotion arrears had been paid to some universities, while the Budget Office of the federation and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation were asked to liaise with ASUU to sort out the rest, noting also that the standing committee on the matter has been expended to include National Income Salaries and Wages Commission .

“A situation where a university professor is paid N107, 000 out of mistake or over deduction is unacceptable,” Ngige declared.

In his speech the President of ASUU Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed satisfaction with the outcome and promised ASUU will reach out to members.

Relevant Ministries and agencies were represented at the meeting, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Peter Tarfa and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Rasheed Abubakar.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has advised institutions of higher learning to set up rehabilitation centres for students who tested positive to hard drugs.

The Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, gave the advice during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to him, this is part of the agency’s efforts to rid higher institutions of illicit drugs use.

He said the rehabilitation centres would be attached to the schools’ hospitals where new students or returning students who tested positive to hard drugs would be taken for treatment and rehabilitation.

Babafemi reiterated that rehabilitation centres were essential as they would guide against attempts by school authorities to expel students that tested positive to hard drugs from the school system.

“Rather than throwing students who tested positive to illicit drugs out of school system, an action that may compound their woes; rehabilitation centres must be set up.

“This way, such students or new ones could be reintegrated into the school system and still be useful persons in life, not only to themselves, their families and communities but the country as a whole,’’ he said.

According to him, the infrastructure and all other plans to achieve this aim are in process in some higher institutions.

“A number of the institutions have started the process.

Babafemi said that the planned drug test, though not in the national law, was just to make stakeholders including higher institutions to key-in into and take ownership of it for the benefit of all.

“So, every institution has a responsibility to put mechanisms in place for the drug test, whether independently or in partnership with the NDLEA,’’ he said.

Naira fell marginally against the U.S dollar at the parallel market on Tuesday, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that it has ended the sales of forex to Bureau De Change operators.

The bank said the parallel market had become a conduit for illicit forex flows and graft.

The CBN said it will also call off the processing of applications for for BDC licences in the country.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this during a live TV broadcasting while announcing that the bank has retained its benchmark policy rate, noted that weekly sales of foreign exchange by the CBN will henceforth go directly to commercial banks.

“We are concerned that BDCs have allowed themselves to be used for graft,” Mr Emefiele said.

Data recorded on abokiFX.com , a website that collates the parallel market rates in Lagos, showed that naira closed at N505.00 per $1 on Tuesday, a N1.00 or 0.20 per cent devaluation from N504.00, the rate it traded in the previous session on Monday.

Similarly, the local unit also fell against the greenback currency at the official market segment on Tuesday, data posted on the FMDQ Security Exchange where forex is officially traded showed.

According to data posted, the naira closed at N411.67 per $1 on Tuesday, this represents a N0.17 or 0.04 per cent depreciation from N411.50, the rate it exchanged hands with the hard currency in the previous session on Monday.

This became evident as forex turnover slumped by 17.10 per cent, with $115.67 million posted at the end of the market session as against the $139.49 million recorded in the previous session on Monday.

The currency hit an intraday low of N412.95 and oscillated to a high of N387.67 before closing at N411.67 on Tuesday.

The spread between the official market and the parallel market segment rates is pegged at N93.33, translating to a margin of 18.50 per cent as of the close of business Tuesday.

The Federal Government on Tuesday said traffic would be diverted on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway around Makun section for 72 hours to enable the contractor install a bridge beam.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, said this during inspection of ongoing reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project.

He appealed for understanding and urged the public to disregard rumours that the road would be closed.

Popoola said traffic would be diverted on a stretch of just 400 meters around the construction zone where beams were to be laid on the flyover under construction at Makun near Sagamu Interchange.

He said the diversion would begin on Wednesday, July 28 and end on Friday 30 July, a total of 72 hours.

He explained that the reason for the diversion was to allow for safe installation of cross beams, adding that, vehicles would not be allowed to ply the area where the beams would be laid to prevent accidents.

“The purpose of this inspection is to check the extent of the flyover bridges being constructed on this Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“The contractor will launch this beam you are seeing on the ground here at Makun and that will take us about 72 hours to complete,” he said.

Popoola said contrary to media speculations, it would only take 72 hours to launch the beams of the flyover because the diversion points had already been created about 400 meters away from the construction zone.

“Any vehicle coming from Ibadan that is approaching this Makun at kilometer 37 plus 100 will now have to shift to Lagos bound lane and then after this place, another 400 meters away, he will now come back to his own lane originally.

“We are not closing the road. It is not partial closure and it is not total closure, motorists will still be allowed to move but there will be a diversion, 400 metres away and 400 meters after where we are working,” he said.

The controller said adequate road diversion signs had been provided and there would be a collaboration between traffic regulatory and law enforcement agencies to avert gridlock.

He appealed to motorists to be lane disciplined and obey all diversion signs and traffic laws and assured that there would be seamless movement on the highway.

He said increased alternative funding was speeding up construction works on the highway, assuring that both section one of the project being handled by Julius Berger and section two handle by RCC would be delivered in 2022.

Popoola said 31 kilometres of work had been completed to the final stage out of 43.6 kilometres of section one being handled by Julius Berger bringing the total completion to 76 per cent.

“We have achieved about 45 per cent completion of the bridge alone, if you add it together with the pavement work that we have done, the average completion percentage is in the neighbourhood of 76 per cent,” he said.
(NAN)

Bandits have released six from a group of 28 people they had been holding for 67 days, saying they released four of them as Sallah gifts to their community in Katsina State .

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the outlaws in May killed a local businessman, kidnapped 28 residents and rustled several cattle in Batsari town.

But local sources said the bandits on Friday evening communicated that they would release a woman and her son after her husband, Umar Tukur, paid them N2.5 million as ransom.

However, a resident, Misbahu Batsari, said “when they were to release Hussaina Umar and her son, they decided to select four out of the remaining people in captivity and sent them as a Sallah gift to the people of the community.”

Mr Batsari, who is a journalist, said the victims had been taken to the hospital for medical check-up.

He, however, said the victims released are from the same house, noting that the community had no clue why the bandits acted that way.

“They (the released victims) look very tired and frustrated.

They told us how heartless the kidnappers are. An infant, who was kidnapped alongside his mother, died in the kidnappers’ den.”

Hussaina’s husband, Mr Tukur, declined to comment on the development.

“What matters is my wife and son have come back to me,” he told our reporter.

The police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, said he had issued a statement on the ‘rescue’ of those kidnapped but added that he had no information “about the release of those six people”.

The four people “sent as Sallah gifts” include, Marwanatu Bello, Zainab Bello, Yakubu Bello and Muhammad Bello.

Yobe state Governor and National Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the ruling All Progressives
Congress APC, Job. Mai Mala Buni, has disclosed plans by his administration to drill boreholes in all fire stations across the state in order to boost the capacity of the fire service to respond effectively to emergencies.

Gov. Buni of Yobe who disclosed this Thursday in Damaturu, the state capital, when he received a modern firefighting truck from the Federal Fire Service FFS, added that the truck will boost emergency response services in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Idi Gubana, the governor said the firefighting truck will be effective in complementing the state government’s efforts.

“The new firefighting vehicles will no doubt complement our efforts in curbing the damages of fire incidents.

Plans are ongoing to drill boreholes at fire service stations across the state.

“There is also the procurement of 27 trucks, one ambulance and firefighting equipment as well as the renovation of the state fire service department office,” he said.

He stated that with the establishment of a new market in the state, firefighting vehicles and equipment were essential facilities for safer economic activities.

Mala -Buni however, requested for collaboration between the FFS and the states to foster training and retraining of fire men.

“Such partnership could further equip our fire fighting workers with modern ideas in the discharge of their duties,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Controller General of Fire, Dr Ibrahim Alhaji Liman said the deployment had become necessary following the constant threat from terrorists and insurgents to the state.

“Fire havoc like the above factors has the potential of threatening the physical well-being of the population
thereby destabilizing economic growth. The deployment of this truck was influenced by the Senate
President, Sen Ahmad Lawan to improve firefighting and rescue in the state.

“Firefighting is the responsibility of all, hence the need for a robust collaboration between the Federal and state governments,” he said.

Liman requested for “sponsorship of state fire service personnel in local and foreign trainings in view of emerging firefighting trends.

“Inclusion of the FFS in the State Security Council and strengthening of the state fire service through
recruitment of capable hands.

“Welfare enhancement package for fire personnel to the paramilitary salary structure.”

The CG urged the state government to invest in sponsorship of personnel on trainings and upgrade of salary structure.

Emir of Damaturu, Alh. Shehu Hashimi said the deployment was a milestone in the state.

“We consider this as a development that will add to the effective running of fire service in the state. It is one of my responsibilities to give enlightenment to my people and get them informed of this new equipment”, he stated.