₦airaland Forum

Sanwo e

They said IPOB want to overthrow Buhari
They said Atiku, PDP want to overthrow Buhari
Very soon Nigeria will overthrow Buhari

Native Reporters

An Enugu East Magistrates Court presided by Magistrate A. N. Chioke has remanded 140 members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) over an alleged treason.

The defendants, who were brought to the court in three 608 buses and one 18-seater bus, were said to have conspired to commit treasonable felony.

They were however, arraigned outside the court for about two hours as the court room could not accommodate them.

The offence was said to be punishable under Sect. 516 (A) of the Criminal Code CAP C38, Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Enugu State.

When the charge was read, the defendants pleaded not guilty.


One of the defense counsels, Osita Abalu, applied for their bail on the grounds that there was no evidence to back up the charge.

Mr Abalu said the prosecution had failed to provide probable cause why the defendants should be remanded in court in line with Sect. 234 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL) of Enugu State, 2017.

He urged the court to exercise its powers under Section 225 of the same law and grant bail to the defendants.

Mr Abalu said though the offence for which the defendants were charged was punishable with life imprisonment, Section 88 of the ACJL, the Magistrates Court was qualified to grant bail.

He also urged the court to order the release of the four buses conveying the defendants to the venue of the burial.

Counsel to the 107 defendants, F.C. Okeke, told the court that it was ridiculous for the prosecution to claim that the defendants attempted to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Okeke said the defendants were arrested on their way to a burial and wondered how that could translate to over throwing the government.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is in Abuja, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is in Enugu while the defendants were arrested in Nsukka,” he said.

The counsel described the charge as trumped-up and meant to deny the defendants of their fundamental rights.

Mr Okeke said the prosecution deliberately brought the matter to the Magistrates Court just to punish them.

“An accused person cannot be brought to a court when such court has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter just to punish them.

“That is the essence of the ACJL of Enugu State. The law does not want an innocent soul to suffer.

“The defendants were arrested with no evidence; not even a razor blade. They were going to a burial,” he said.

Mr Okeke urged the court to grant them bail in the most lenient means.

However, the prosecution counsel, Paschal Nwachukwu, urged the court to discountenance the bail application.

Mr Nwachukwu said the law empowered prosecutors to bring defendants to a magistrate for remand.

He said a court could not grant bail in a matter it had no jurisdiction.

In her ruling, Mrs Chioke declined jurisdiction in the case and remanded the defendants in Enugu Prisons and urged the defense team to make application in the appropriate court.

The magistrate ordered the release of the four vehicles to their owners on bond and on the provision of proof of ownership and particulars.

“The charge the defendants are remanded for is treasonable but the prosecution did not list any exhibit of weapon of warfare against them.

“The only document against them before the court is the charge sheet. This looks to me like a trumped up charge,” Mrs Chioke said.


http://www.nativereporters.com/140-ipob-members-detained-for-allegedly-plotting-to-overthrow-buhari/

When flies bite man that has sore people will not complain, but when owner kills flies people start complaining.

You send your children to best school even abroad with masses money. One day the children will come back with hope to govern over neglected children.

Watch out! for revolution.

Failed judiciary system. Since when?

Native Reporters

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, has declared that nobody can intimidate the justices of the Supreme Court, as they are only answerable to God and their conscience while writing their judgements.

Muhammad, who insisted that justices of the court are independent-minded, disclosed that cases are usually subjected to intense debates and arguments by the justices involved before arriving at a decision.

Muhammad stated this while addressing the management of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) who paid him a courtesy visit yesterday.

A statement by the Director, Press and Information of the Supreme Court, DR. Akande Festus, quoted the CJN as follows: “We take our time in taking notes and writing judgments to avoid making mistakes. We subject every case before us to intense debates and arguments during our conferences in order to be as dispassionate and objective as possible.

“Let me state clearly that we are not answerable to anybody and can never be intimidated by anybody whatsoever in taking our decisions. But for certain, we are only answerable to God Almighty because he is the owner of our lives. No human being, living or dead, can influence the reasoning or judgments of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.


“We are very independent in Supreme Court because of the enormity of the trust and responsibility reposed in us by the Almighty God, the constitution and our dear nation.”

He further informed his visitors that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has so far remained the busiest and most hardworking Supreme Court in the world, in view of the number of appeals received and heard on weekly basis as well as the number of judgments delivered within short durations.

He said: “I beat my chest to say that there is no Supreme Court in the world that works the way the Supreme Court of Nigeria does.

“Except when we go on our annual vacation between late July and early September of every year, we keep hearing appeals. It is on record that there is no day of the week, between Monday and Friday that we don’t sit.

“We deliver judgments on Fridays. Sometimes, we give as much as 35 judgments on some Fridays. We oftentimes overstretch ourselves, as we work assiduously day in, day out.

“If you see the number of appeals that come to this court on a regular basis, it will shock you. Basically, as it is today, there is nothing we can do about it for now, except there is a constitutional amendment. Ideally, it is not every case that is supposed to reach Supreme Court. Some ought to be terminating at the Court of Appeal.’’

Muhammad, however, assured the AMCON Management that the court, in spite of the rapid inflow of appeals, will always endeavour to bend over backwards, to give all cases involving both private individuals and other critical sectors of the Nigerian state expeditious hearing and attention with a view to oiling the wheel of the nation’s economic development.

Earlier in his address, the AMCON Chairman, Dr. Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had intimated the acting CJN and other justices of the Supreme Court present that the AMCON was created in 2010 by an Act of Parliament to assist in the financial system stability as a result of economic downturn of 2006-2008.

According to Banire, the corporation consequently acquired over 120,000 loans from 23 banks totalling N3.8trn.

The AMCON chairman further stated that additional N2.2trn was paid as financial accommodation for the then ailing banks.

http://www.nativereporters.com/8102-2/

Ok

Native Reporters

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, on Wednesday night, traveled out of the state, despite the controversial law creating additional emirates in the state which substantially reduced his powers.

The Emir whose trip came a few hours after the state governor, Dr Abdullahi, Umar Ganduje, assented to the controversial bill, was initially believed to have travelled out to perform the lesser Hajj but there were indicators that he might have travelled to London.

A top government source told our correspondent that the monarch had applied to embark on the trip some three days ago, adding that he did not wait to get the approval of the state government before leaving the state. He said that he was supposed to have applied for the trip seven days before the scheduled date.

Meanwhile, investigation into the financial management of the Kano Emirate Council Fund under his charge kicked off in earnest at the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Agency on Thursday.

The commission had invited the Secretary of the Kano Emirate Council, Alhaji Isa Bayero, and three others to appear before it to shed light on an alleged violation of Section 26 of the commission’s enabling law.

Native Reporters learnt that Alhaji Isa Bayero, who appeared before the investigators, was grilled for about an hour behind by the assigned officers.

Speaking to the media shortly after his interrogation, Alhaji Bayero explained that he was confronted with some documents for which he requested for time to study and return back to the investigators.

He expressed satisfaction with the investigation, adding that at the close of the day, the truth will prevail even as he added that he was not in a position to say why the rest of the invitees failed to honour their invitations.

In the meantime, a group of protesters under the auspices of Kano First Forum took to the streets of metropolis to condemn the creation of additional emirates in the state.

The protesters who said the state did not need additional emirates but health care, education and better security, also condemned the new Life Pension law which the House Speaker and his Deputy are beneficiaries.

http://www.nativereporters.com/emir-sanusi-jets-out-of-the-country-as-ganduje-orders-probe-of-emirate/

Shorry!

Ancestral Olosho

Even God is not interested in those that easily give up

For helping to build infrastructure over nearly a decade, a Chinese rail engineer has been made a tribal chief in the capital of Nigeria.
Native Reporters learnt Kong Tao, a manager for China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC), is now the honorary Emir of Jiwa district in Abuja.

The chieftainship is permanent, but Kong, 34, said it was more of “an honour and responsibility” and that he wouldn’t actually rule the local populace.

Hailing from Puyang in Henan province, Kong arrived in Nigeria nine years ago, reports South China Morning Press (SCMP).

Since then, his team has built two railways in Abuja, repaired two public roads, built three school buildings and a village soccer field.

Kong told the Beijing Times the emir, Alhaji Idris Musam wanted to express gratitude for the benefits his work had brought.

He is not the first Chinese national to be given this kind of honour in Nigeria.

SCMP reports that in December, Li Manhu, of state-owned construction company CGCOC Group, received the same honour from the Emir of Etung in southern Nigeria’s Cross River.

In 2001 Hu Jieguo became the first Chinese expatriate to be named an honorary tribal chief in Nigeria

http://www.nativereporters.com/photos-chinese-rail-engineer-made-emir-in-nigeria/

Kano State House of Assembly has yesterday initiated a move to create four additional Emirate Councils in the State that would elevate the current status of some District Heads to First Class Emirs.

The current debate came on the heels of a petition presented to the House by Salisu Ibrahim Chambers, seeking the nod of the legislators to accede to the demand, which was eventually presented on the floor of the House with the lawmakers giving their individual contribution for and against, a debate that had taken them hectic time to deliberate and adjourned its sitting to today for further continuation of the debate.

However, with the petition being hotly debated on the floor of the House, 13 legislators have already assented to the petition while the former Speaker of the House, Alhaji Isiyaku Ali Danja, who is from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vehemently resisted the prayer contained in the petition, urging his colleagues in the House to maintain the status quo by allowing the existence of one emirate council to remain.

It was, however, the contention of the petitioner that, the demand it had presented was in consonance with the Kano Emirate Council Amendment Law which the House majority leader, Alhaji Baffa Babba Danagundi concurred with the submission of the petitioners on the existence of the Emirate Council Amendment Law.

With the clamour for the creation of additional Emirate Councils in Kano state generating considerable interest, the leadership of the House had adjourned its sitting to today, to give ample time for the lawmakers to further deliberate on the issue with a view to arriving at a unanimous decision.


It would be recalled that there was tension during the immediate past election and the inconclusive election where the Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II fell in the bad books of the ruling APC in the state as he was accused of supporting the opposition PDP.

His pictures were destroyed at the Coronation Hall of the government House in Kano by supporters of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who were chanting song calling for his replacement. This move, if successful can reduce the Emir of Kano’s influence in the state with the creation of four more emirs like him.

http://www.nativereporters.com/ganduje-moves-to-destroy-sanusis-kingdom-breaks-kano-emirate-into-four/

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Faces At The Nigeria Governor's Forum/Get-together In Abuja For New, Outgoing And Returning Governors.

@Native Reporters

Elders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi sate have kicked against the second term bid of the state governor, Yahaya Bello, Native Reporters learnt.

Among other allegations, the elders said the governor had nothing to account for the N344billion allegedly received as allocation in the last 38 months of his administration.

In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari signed by the Convener of Kogi APC Stakeholders Forum, Sen. Alex Kadiri described the governor as non- performing and violent.

The elders described the emergence of Bello as an accident which came to manifestation after the death of the elected governor of the state, Abubakar Audu.

The petition reads, “Governor Yahaya Bello was never elected by the good people of Kogi State. The death of Abubakar Audu made it possible for Bello to be Kogi State Governor. He has shown everyone that he lacks leadership abilities. He can’t fight for the rights and privileges of Kogi people.

“We request you to step down your support for the candidature of Governor Yahaya Bello for the forthcoming election in Kogi State.

“If the party fields him as a candidate, we are sure of losing the state to the opposition.”

The stakeholders further gave an analysis of how the governor had mismanaged state resources.

They said: “For the past 38 months including February 2019 Governor Yahaya Bello has not paid full salaries to the workers of Kogi State, despite the fact that the state received full allocation from the Federation Account as detailed below: Statutory allocation, Excess Crude and Value Added Tax (VAT) (N132b); Internally Generated Revenue by the state(N51b); total allocations to local governments(N111b).

“Total funds received by the state and local governments: N294 billion. The other funds received by the state are as below: Bail Out (N20b); Paris Club refunds 1, 2, and 3 (N19b); and refunds for road construction by previous governments (N11b).

“The governor had conducted multiple staff screening for both the state and the local governments. And from the report of the screening, the monthly wage bill (state, local governments and pensions) at the inception of the administration stood at N5.8 billion. After screening, this figure reduced to N4.4 billion.

“From the table above it is evidently clear that the total revenue received by the state government was more than enough to settle all salaries, pensions and gratuities with huge balance remaining for overheads and capital projects.

“It is very instructive to note that even without bailout and other funds received outside statutory allocation, Governor Yahaya Bello could have still paid all salaries including pensions without conducting multiple screening and inflicting pains on Kogi State and local government workers. This must hurt APC at the polls.

“Even after the screening, all salaries and pensions payments were paid using arbitrary percentages, thereby still owing workers huge outstanding salaries,’’ the elders said.

http://www.nativereporters.com/no-2nd-term-for-yahaya-bello-he-mismanaged-n344bn-apc/

He has more of practical to learn at Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos

Kano state government has concluded arrangement for a multi billion Naira Bus Rapid program, BRT, in Kano metropolis, in furtherance of effort to ensure urban regeneration and sustainable transportation, Native Reporters learnt.

The initiative, which is the first of its kind in the state, is a “tip of the iceberg infrastructural project” as the Ganduje administration commences its second term in office on May 29.

BRT is a high quality bus – based public transport system designed to deliver fast, comfortable and cost effective services at metro – level capacities. It does this through the provision of exclusive lanes with busways and distinctive stations typically aligned to the center of the road, off – board fare collection and fast, regular operations.

Already, the Kano state government, Kano Metropolitan Transport Company, Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company, China and Zhengzhou Public Bus Communication Co. Ltd., China have signed an MOU for the supply of 100 buses for the project.
The MOU further entails integrated transport solutions that includes routes network and infrastructure planning, suitable bus models, Intelligent Transport System, ITS, modern management of operation and maintenance of the fleet data analysis systems, regulation improvement and local talent improvement.

Speaking shortly after completing discussion and signing of the MOU, in Zhengzhou, Henan, China, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed that his administration decided to embark on the project “to revolutionize transport and enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria’s foremost commercial center”.

“Presently, Kano is the most populous state in the country. It has a population of over 16 million people. The main public vehicles are mini buses and tricycles which are not supportive of long – term mega city development, therefore an efficient modern system of public transportation must be established. This will reflect the position of Kano as a truly megacity”.

Represented by the State commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Aminu Aliyu Wudil, the governor explained that the project has several benefits in terms of job creation, urban mobility and air pollution reduction besides improving the physical outlook of the state capital.
“We decided to partner with Zhengzhou Yutong because it is the world’s largest and reputed bus manufacturer with capacity providing Integrated Solution of Public bus transport system and several decades of experience”.
“Kano state government is expected to invest not more than 25 percent of the project cost while the operator, Kano Metropolitan Transport Company is the main shareholder while the Chinese company will serve as the technical partner”.

The State Commissioner of Work, Engr. Aminu Aliyu Wudil his counterpart of the Ministry of Finance, Aminu Mukhtar DanAmu and Yusuf Aliyu Umar signed for Kano state government and Kano Metropolitan Transport Company, while Mr. Zou Meikan and Guo Yuanyuan signed on belalf of Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company, China and Zhengzhou Public Bus Communication Co. Ltd., China respectively.

http://www.nativereporters.com/gov-ganduje-plans-multi-billion-naira-brt-system-in-kano/

The report reaching Native Reporters is that the Kaduna state government has imposed a 24 hour curfew on Kasuwan Magani, a community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna state, to avert another bloody ethno-religious crisis.

It was learnt that since Thursday evening, tension had been mounting in the community, following attack on two Adara boys allegedly by some Hausa youths.

According to sources in the area, “the two boys were coming from a local market in the evening on Thursday and decided to follow the bypass.
”They were attacked and thoroughly beaten by some Hausa boys. One of them was taken to St. Gerald Hospital where he later died as a result of the beating”.

The incident was said to have raised tension, prompting the deployment of more security personnel in the community to avert violence.

However, it was learnt that there was serious hostility between the two groups on Friday morning following news of the death of one of the boys that were beaten.

Sources said a house was burnt following the confrontation between the two groups.

Chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Cafra Caino, who confirmed the incident said the situation had been brought under control.

He said the state government had imposed a 24-hour curfew on the community to avert violence.

Caino said: “Yesterday there was tension and security personnel were deployed and the whole area was condoned.

“But this morning, there was another growing tension, but the situation has been brought under control.

”The state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew to avert violence”.

http://www.nativereporters.com/breaking-el-rufai-imposes-24-hour-curfew-on-kajuru-community/

Less talk, act.

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, praised the efforts of outgoing administration of Governor Kashim Ibrahim Shettima in promoting education as counter strategy to Boko Haram ideology and insurgency.

President Buhari gave the commendation at a ceremony to commission six model schools, out of 40 world class facilities established to provide quality education to mostly children of the poor, and those turned orphans by the 10-year insurgency.

The President said expansion of educational facilities in the state was the best response to Boko Haram’s actions to stifle education, especially that of the girl child.

“This is a wise response to Boko Haram terrorism. Education plays a significant and remedial role in the efforts to provide equal opportunity and achieve a higher standard of living for citizens,” he said.

President Buhari assured Governor Shettima and Borno indigenes that his administration is still focused on recovering the abducted Chibok and Dapchi school girls.

“We will not give up. As a President, Nigerian and parent, I share in the agony of parents whose children have been abducted. We will do all that can be done to reunite them with their families,” he said.

The President said an end is already near for Boko Haram insurgency.

President Buhari commended the outgoing governor for achieving so much in provision of infrastructure, expansion of educational opportunities, especially for the girl-child, improving health facilities and stimulating the manufacturing sector in spite of distractions by Boko Haram.

In his remarks, Governor Shettima said the entire state remains eternally grateful to the President for the succour he brought by providing good and responsive leadership.

“We are grateful for the succour you have brought to our people. Nigeria has never had a leader with as much passion and love for Borno State,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that the state’s massive investment in education will pay off in due course.

At the event, the Shehu of Borno, His Eminence Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai extoled President Buhari’s leadership qualities, and his passion for empowering ordinary Nigerians through youth programmes, investments in agriculture, provision of stable power and security.

While condoling with the Armed Forces on loss of officers and men, he promised a regular update by traditional rulers on all security threats.

President Buhari commissioned schools with boarding facilities for about 1,200 students, while 1,000 will be day students. The schools will provide free education, uniforms, sandals and two meals for students. And the non-boarding students will get bicycles.

Two of the schools he commissioned were named “Muhammadu Buhari Academy,” and “Yemi Osinbajo Primary School”.

Six of the schools were named after Amb. Babagana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Asheik Jarma, a former elected governor of the state; late Alhaji Mala Kachalla, another former civilian governor and a “mega primary school” was named after late Ibrahim Damcida, a distinguished career civil servant.

One of the schools was branded “Aliko Dangote Academy”, in honour of Africa’s richest man for his “enormous contributions” in reconstructing the state after destructions by Boko Haram.

Significant projects commissioned by the President were Borno State industrial hub, incorporating 16 integrated manufacturing plants, which produces varied products like plastic mats, candies, sacks, PVCs, solar power panels, biscuits and cassava powder.

Other projects were a state of the art Radio Diagnostic Complex at the State Specialist Hospital, a housing estate named “Zanna Umar Mustapha Gardens’’ which provides 246 3-bedroom houses and a newly completed “Baga road’’.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 25, 2019

http://www.nativereporters.com/education-is-the-key-solution-to-boko-haram-buhari/

Okay

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for his “slow response” in dealing with the terror caused by Fulani herdsmen across many parts of Nigeria.

He said Buhari has failed on the security threat posed by herdsmen, adding that he was repeating the mistakes of his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, in not dealing with the Boko Haram menace in a timely and adequate fashion.

“The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny”, he said.

Soyinka appeared on the BBC’s Hardtalk programme on Monday and anchored by Zeinab Badawi.

Reacting to Badawi’s question that he backed Buhari in 2015 describing the ex-army general as a “reformed democrat”, Soyinka said Buhari “won by default” in 2015 because it was difficult to back Jonathan and which meant supporting a continuation of the corruption associated with that regime. Nigerians were caught “between the devil and the deep blue sea”.

Soyinka criticized Jonathan’s ineffective response to Boko Haram, but placing the blame for failing to nip the problem in the bud at the feet of Olusegun Obasanjo, who was president from 1999 to 2007.

He said; “Obasanjo contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram by not preventing the first governor in one of the northern states from establishing a “theocratic state”.

Soyinka said that the president failed to act because he was “compromised” by his ambitions to continue in office beyond the second term limit.

He was however silent about why Buhari’s response to the killings of the herdsmen was so inadequate and said little about how the problem could be tackled effectively.

http://www.nativereporters.com/no-doubt-president-buhari-failed-on-security-wole-soyinka/

What of now, gained 60kg?

As Kogi State prepares for Governorship election comes November 4th 2019. In a document available to Native Reporters, the incumbent APC Governor, Yahaya Bello seeking reelection has listed 110 achievement within Three Years Six Months in office.

They are:

1. Reduction of ghost workers
2. Sanitation of civil service workers in the state
3. Democratic Humanist
4. Security Engagement
5. Payment of three months salary abandoned by his immediate predecessor
6. Epitome of power shift
7. Epitome of inconclusive electoral reform
8.Detribalised governor
9. unifier governor
10.Breaker of ethnic jingoism
11.Provision of 200 utility vehicles for security operation.
12. Freedom of expression in the state
13. Destruction of intelligence gathering at the detriment of criminals
14. Best governor in security programne
15. Restore confidence to local and foreign investors
16. Farmers are now more confident than ever before.
17. Father of new direction agenda
18. Youth Ambassador in governance

19. Purchased over 500 motor cycles as security outfits to reduce crimes

20. Construction of Army forward operation at different places in the state


21. Training of forest guards

22. Recruitment of thousands of vigilante Corps to enhance security

23. Provision of free Toll Lines to enhance good information

24. Creation of dialogue and cooperation platform for peace between the herdsmen and farmers.

25. Training of security personnel

26. Establishment of health plus prpgramme

27. Renovation, remodelling and reequipping 21 primary health centres in all the 21 local government.

28. Provision of free maternal and newborn health care services

29. Saving of 168 patients with life threatening issue

30. Procurement of assorted custonerized paediatric drugs for the state

31. Adoption of Clorhexidine gel for umbilical cord care

32. Prompt payment of counterpart fund to partners

33. Addressed the menace of quackery in the health profession

34. Enhanced the state sustainable Drug supply system

35. Unparalleled response to medical emergency situation

36. Introduction of PPP (Public Private Partnership onto the health sectors.

37. Having the likes of performing and hardworking aides as Asuku Jamiu, Abubakar Ohere, Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, Professor Ahmed Adam, etc in his government.

38. Establishment of Confluence Advance Medical Diagnostic and Imaging Centre ( CAMDIC)

39. Give facelift to the College of Nursing, Obangede

40. Renovation of Zonal hospital in Kabba (Kogi West), Idah ( Kogi East) and Okene (Kogi Central).

41. Construction of cottage hospital in Kpareke

42. Massive renovation and construction of new hostel and clinics at the School of Nursing Obangede,

42. Construction of administrative block at the School of Health Technology, Idah

43. Strengthening of the State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS

44.Established modality of workplace Diagnosis to prevent workplace Deaths as a result of unknown or lately discovered health condition

45. Unprecedented agricultural revolution in the state just as in the Agricultural Renaissance Policy of the Federal Government to ensure good security and promotion of non oil sector for economic transformation.

46. Encourage Youth to key into farming through orientation, sensitisation, mechanisation input subsidiary

47. Facilitating loans for farmers to encourage mechanization and improved production of food.

48. Clearing of 1000 hectares of land across the state which were allocated to youthful farmers with farm inputs and agric machines services.

49.. Procurement of 375 Fergus Tractors with complete implements, three quantities each for Mini Harvesters, Planters, Broom Sprayers, Rice Reapers and other similar equipment to enhance agricultural activities and boost production.

50. Procurement and assemblage of 1500 Tillers which were distributed to small scale farmers in 2017.

51. Along the value chains, Agriculture has created about 20,000 jobs for Kogites, thereby depopulating the unemployed demography in the state.

52.. Contributed in no small measure to the cultivation of 3000 hectares of rice and 5000 hectares of cassava in the state.

53. In order to bridge the gap in vegetable production using the advantage of the nodal location of the state, the State Government has established a state of the art greenhouse Farm at Osara to produce tomatoes and other vegetables.

54. Keying into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (ADS) through payment of the State’s counterpart fund. the Ministry of Agriculture has constructed 500 fish ponds as a pilot scheme and have been handed over to over 1000 youth across the state to own and operate.

55. In a related development, over 300 youth will also be empowered in Akpata Ega in Idah Local Government where 400 ponds have already been constructed. This is being replicated in all the Senatorial Districts in the state. The main scheme is targeting 10,000 youth across the state.

56. In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the State Government took delivery and distributed 76btruck-load of inorganic fertilizer to farmers at a subsidized rate to boost soil fertility.

57. As the leading producer of Cassava in Nigeria and coupled with the guaranteed security of investors, Kogi State has been able to attract the biggest ethanol company in Nigeria known as Unicane. The company uses cassava as its main raw materials, thereby sparking massive production of the crop. Kogi farmers have never been richer.

58. The Federal Government must have seen the seriousness of the State Government in promoting agriculture when it nominated the latter as the pioneer state for the National Egg Production Scheme. 135 youth are empowered with N4.2 million each to support their poultry farms.

59. The Omi Dam success story is a massive testimony of the achievement of the Yahaya Bello-led administration in agriculture. The scheme is positioning the state as the rice detination of Nigeria. The State Government has also empowered hundreds of youth to grow rice in the riverine areas of the state.

60. Thousands of farmers across the state have benefitted from the Anchor Borrowers Scheme of the Federal Government.

61. Ongoing construction of the Kogi State Rice Mill at Omi. Apart from the massive Mill at Omi, others with smaller capacities are being constructed at different locations across the state. Good Governance and Institutional Reforms The cog in the wheels of our progress as a state had been the wanton disregard for institutional correctness and reforms. The following are verifiable achievements in this area:

62. The Bureau for Public Procurement was rejigged by the present administration under the leadership of a new Director-General, Dr Stella Adejoh. The pragmatic woman was given the job based on competence acquired through training both nationally and internationally. Today, the Bureau has restored sanity in public procurement and has woven a water-tight net that has made corruption almost impossible. The efficiency of the Bureau has been one of the reasons the Governor has been able to combat corruption in public procurement. Due process is the order of the day in Kogi State contractual dealings today.

63. The Bureau of Public /Private partnership has been repositioned to engage the private world in businesses that were used as conduit pipes to defraud the state in the past. Today, the Bureau has been able to facilitate some blue-chip deals that have added value to the state as well as elevate our respectability in the business community. Governor Yahaya Bello has used the BP3 to improve Kogi State’s acceptability in the business world and in the international community.

64. The Tax Reforms of the Yahaya Bello Administration has impacted positively on the finances of the state. It will be right to say that without the reforms, it would have been impossible to survive the current financial depression occasioned by the reckless borrowing and stealing of the past. On the assumption of Office, the Governor granted the Board of Internal Revenue autonomy. It became the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service. The government built and delivered, a gigantic Revenue House, which has added to the aesthetic beauty of the capital city. Competent hands were employed and revenue administration became digitalized. What we have today is a product of having a youthful and digital Governor at the helms of affairs who is digitally mobile and intellectually poised to move the state forward. Today, revenue has moved from the paltry N350 million naira that we inherited from the Idris Wada Administration to nothing less than N1.3 Billion naira monthly.

65. The Civil Service Reforms was a monster that many administrations before the incumbent avoided as a result of the fear of losing elections. Powerful Kogites who have so enriched themselves at the expense of the people of the state were involved in loading the payrolls of government with thousands of fictitious names to defraud the state. Governor Yahaya Bello refused to be cowed. He dared the cabal and stopped the stealing through a rigorous and thorough verification exercise. Mind-boggling revelations were left at the wake of the exercise and today, the government didn’t only succeed in removing ghost names from the service but have also digitalized the operations of the service as well as re-engineer the work psychology of the civil servants. A massive achievement that has set the state on the path of progress.

66. The present administration in the state has been able to promote peace and unity through detribalized leadership. The Governor has succeeded in spreading appointments and projects in a way never witnessed in the history of the State. The people of the state now trust one another. There are peace and harmony. Rural Electrification Electricity is pivotal to industrial development. In order to catalyze the economy of the state, Alh. Yahaya Bello-led administration has intervened to deliver the following electrification projects:

67. Completion of the Lokoja(Banda)-Kotonkarfe electrification project. This has brought succour to the people of the area and sparked industrial development to promote production and generate jobs as well as improve the living standards of the people.

68. The Electrification Project of Abejukolo in Omala Local Government Area. The people were grateful that it was a Governor from Kogi central that has decided to give them electricity despite the failure of their own son to do it despite being at the helms of the state’s affairs for 9 years.

69. Improvement of power to the electrification project of Agassa Town in Okene Local Government Area of the state.

70. Intervention to restore power to Ogori Community in Kogi Central

71. Intervention to restore power to the Isanlu Community after many years of darkness. It should also be noted that the Governor has used his personal resources to restore power to Takete Ide Amuro and Ayede Communities. Infrastructural Development

72. In order to improve on the road infrastructure of the state, the administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello procured modern technology in road construction. Construction equipment were imported to raise the capacity of KOGROMA to deliver quality roads at a lower cost to the state. This has paid off as we have better roads constructed or rehabilitated by the Agency.

73. The Ongoing rehabilitation of Shintaku/Gboloko/Dekina road. This is a major road in the Eastern flank of Kogi State.

74. Construction and rehabilitation of Lokoja Township road

75. Ijowa-Jege-Ife-Olukotun road

76. Ankpa Township Road

77. Provision of solar-powered streetlights in Lokoja

78. Many other road projects too numerous to mention that are in advanced stages of completion Education Education is at the top of the Thematic Areas of the New Direction Agenda. It is the best resource of any society and the bulwark for development and transformation. The administration has embarked on the following projects in the educational sector:

79. Ongoing construction of GYB Model Primary Schools across the 239 Wards of the state.

80. Remodelling of our legacy schools across the state to meet international standards.

81.. Construction of 50-bed capacity hostel at Government Girls Secondary School, Obangede

82.. Construction of Library Extension at Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba

83. Completion of the hostel project at Government Science Secondary School, Icheke in Omala Local Government Area

84. Restructuring of the Ministry of Education and its agencies to guarantee a good education for the people of Kogi State

85. Several ongoing projects at the Kogi State University, Anyigba and the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja Employment and Empowerment

86. Apart from the employment in Forestry and Vigilante service, the government has also employed health officers, law officers and other categories of the workforce.

87. The State Government has also set up a fund through which it has been paying tuition fees for indigent students across the state

88. Thousands of youth and women were trained and empowered through the Office of the Special Advisers to the Governor on SDG and Job Creation

89. The State Government has also sponsored the management of critical health conditions both at home and abroad. The fund has helped save many lives.

90.. Renovation of the State House of Assembly Complex, Lokoja. Today, the Assembly Complex can compete favourably with others around the country.

91.. Construction of the Kogi State Ministry of Justice Office Complex, Lokoja.

92.. Construction of the Kogi Revenue House.

93. Construction of the SDG House. Government Relations with Traditional Rulers The Administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello through the State Ministry of Local Government has been able to foster a robust relationship between government and the Royal Fathers. The following have been achieved:

94. Majoriy of the disputes relating to the installation of Royal Fathers have been resolved out of court.

95. Grading of royal stools has been regular, just and fair

96. Regular meetings of the Traditional Council to deliberate on issues that affect their people.

97. Robust relationship between the Traditional Rulers and aliens in their domains such as the Fulani, Tivs and many others. This has enabled peace and unity in the communities.

98. Amicable settlement consulted of communal disputes before they degenerate into a serious crisis.

99. The Traditional Rulers are and carried along in taking important decisions or formulation of crucial policies.

100. Renovation of palaces and royal institutions across the state.

101. An awakened sense of culture among the people as the government encourages cultural renaissance.

102. Unbanning of great cultural festivals in the Igala Speaking part of the state by Governor Yahaya Bello. Sports and Youth Development

103. The repackaging and enhancement of the state’s male and female football teams.

104. Provision of new buses for the sports teams of the state

105. Adequate funding of sports in the state.

106. The state has won many laurels in football, judo and other sporting events both in Nigeria and outside the country.

107. Kogi State under the New Direction agenda is fast becoming the home of Beach Soccer in Nigeria. We are the Champions of the 2018 Edition of Kebbi Beach Sallah Tournament.

108. The Handball Teams of the state are doing very well nationally and internationally. The recently won many national laurels and will be representing the country in some international competitions around the world.

109. The State Ministry of Youth and Sports have launched sensitization programs and campaigns against Drug Abuse, Cultism, Examination Malpractices and other societal vices across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

110. The administration of Alh Yahaya Bello has transformed Lokoja from being the second dirtiest State Capital in Nigeria to become the second cleanest capital in the country with better roads and streetlights among others. A number of road projects across the state have been completed such as the Ankpa Township Roads while others are in advanced stages across the three Senatorial Districts.


http://www.nativereporters.com/kogi-2019-yahaya-bello-lists-110-achievement/

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Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has said oil exploration in the North would continue until the commodity is found. Native Reporters has learnt.

Baru said this would enable the NNPC do massive appraisal of the discovery of gas reserves, made in 1999 in the region.

The NNPC GMD, who was in Kaduna for the 40th edition of the Kaduna International Trade Fair, said the Corporation is working on the Kolmani River 2; with optimism and high expectation. He said President Muhammadu Buhari had personally urged the Corporation to go back to exploration on the Kolmani River 2 Well, and that drilling has been going on smoothly. He said that as at Wednesday morning, the Corporation has dug 10,075 feet deep well with a target to reach 14,270 feet exploration.

 “The main purpose of this well is to start some massive appraisal of the discovery that was made way back in 1999 of some gas reserves in Kolmani River 1 and, so far, the drilling has been going on smoothly to enable exploration.

“We will do the needful. If we need to probe any particular section, we will take our time to do it.

“Our target date is to see that by the end of May, we complete exploration on that particular well and move to Kolmani River III, which site is almost ready for the rigs to move there and from there, we move to other locations,” he said.

Earlier, the GMD said that provides an opportunity for stakeholders and long term exhibitors like NNPC to take stock of their participation through the years, with a view to consolidating on areas of strength, while working on avenues for improvements.

Dr. Baru said the loss of agriculture to crude oil exploitation has retarded local industries that feed on agricultural produce as feedstock, prominent among which were the textiles industry, as well as tanneries in the North.

Meanwhile, Baru has said there were no plans to increase the price of petroleum products for now.
He said even though there is an agency saddled with the responsibility of fixing petrol price, President Muhammadu Buhari has said there would be no increase in the pump price of petroleum products for now.

In the last four decades, the NNPC has invested about $3billion in crude oil exploration activities in northern Nigeria. However, the investment has failed to yield any positive dividend, as the state-owned oil firm is yet to strike hydrocarbons in such commercial quantity for exploitation activities to commence. While some Nigerians see the continuous investments in the search for crude oil deposits in the north as a waste, those in favour of the search remain optimistic.

http://www.nativereporters.com/oil-exploration-in-the-north-would-continue-until-the-product-is-found-nnpc/

Some repentant members of the Boko Haram sect on Wednesday pleaded with Nigerians for forgiveness over their past unwholesome activities.
They made the appeal while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria during their graduation after a de-radicalisation exercise and vocational training organised for them by the Federal Government.

The de-radicalisation and vocational training took place at the former permanent NYSC Orientation camp in  Mallam-Sidi town in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe State.

A farmer-turned member of the sect who hails from Borno, Bappah Mura, said he was deceived into joining the group, only to realise that all they were told were lies, adding that he regretted all his actions while with the sect.
He said, “I beg Nigerians for forgiveness. I regret totally what we were forced to do; it was not my intention but I beg for forgiveness. I was a humble farmer before I was deceived to join the Boko Haram sect. All they told us were different from all we were made to do; they lied to me and deceived many of us.

“My heart bleeds that we were used to destroy lives and property by the sect. But today, I am so happy that we have been trained and made to acquire skills in different ventures. I am grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army.”

He pledged to return to Bama, his home town, and use his knowledge of the sect to expose their lies, so as to dissuade the youths from being deceived.

“Today, I am graduating as a trained shoemaker.  I can make shoes of different brands; I am now an ambassador of peace,” he added.

Also, a 62-year-old ex-Boko Haram member, Abana Ali, said he was sorry for everything, noting that they were also terrorised while with the sect until the army came to their rescue.

“I am deeply pained in the heart that we had been associated with such a devilish group; I beg Nigerians to forgive and accept us back. We were deceived and forced to join the sect; because of my age, I was not allowed to partake in their operations, but was made to do menial jobs in their camps; we were also terrorised and enslaved, until the Army rescued us.

“We are grateful to the Federal Government for the show of love; the de-radicalisation training has been helpful and now I do not need to go home to beg, but to contribute what I have been taught.
“Nigerian youths out there, I tell you the truth; there is no gain being Boko Haram members, except for regret and intense sorrow; we pray that no youth witness the harsh condition we were subjected to,” he said.

http://www.nativereporters.com/please-forgive-us-it-will-not-happen-again-repentant-boko-haram-members-beg-nigerians/

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