Travellers plying the 100-kilometre Gusau-Funtua road linking Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi to Katsina and many other states, have been put on edge by the resurgence of abductions by armed bandits along the road, Daily Trust on Sunday has learnt.
Travellers told our correspondent that from last Sunday till date, armed bandits had blocked the road and carried out a series of abduction.
The highway is linking the Sokoto-Kebbi-Zamfara axis with the larger part of the northern states as it remains the only route for those who want to travel to or out of the mentioned states.
Many travellers were kidnapped while others escaped with gunshot injuries in the last five days. The armed men are blocking the road in a broad daylight, a clear departure from their tradition of waylaying travellers at dawn or dusk.
Last Friday, many motorists were stranded in the morning after the armed criminals blocked a stretch from a community called Magazu to Yankara in the neighbouring Katsina State.
Earlier, the armed men blocked and seized travellers at a point few kilometres away from Yankara community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Residents from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara who want to travel to Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and many other states in the North, and even South, will have no alternative other than to forego their journeys. This because the other route, which is Gusau-Kaura Namoda-Zurmi-Jibia, has remained shut for a very long time due to the activities of armed criminals. In fact, the road is terribly unsafe to ply,” a resident Aliyu Sani said.
Another traveller said, “On Thursday, I was driving to Kaduna along the road when suddenly I saw motorists making u-turns in attempts to escape possible abduction by the bandits. They opened fire on vehicles that refused to stop.
“We are urging the authorities to look into the possibility of mounting strong checkpoints along the road, especially at the points they traditionally take positions to kidnap people.”
The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, did not answer calls from our correspondent up to the time of filing this report.
About eight insurgents have been reportedly killed when Boko Haram fighters clashed with members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of the terrorists in the fringes of the Lake Chad.
The ISWAP also seized large quantities of ammunition in the inter-rivalry clash which occured on October 6, when a team of the ISWAP group attacked and inflicted a huge casualty on its adversary at Krinowa axis in the North East of Marte in Borno State.
An intelligence source told Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad that 12 Boko Haram fighters were returning from Marte after receiving large quantities of weapons from the camp of the Boko Haram Amir Jay’s, Bakura Wulgo.
The Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, Boko Haram terrorists had despatched a 12-man team from Gaizuwa, in Bama to go in search of weapons after suffering devastating defeat and losses due to the sustained intensified intelligence-led Air Strikes, heavy artillery bombardment and ground, offensives by the Nigerian Military troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
The Boko Haram terrorists occupying Gaizuwa, otherwise known as Gabchari, Mantari and Mallum Masari had lost almost all its weapons, vehicles and motorcycles leaving the badly depleted fighters vulnerable for attacks by the Nigerian troops, as well as the ISWAP rival fighter led by Ba’ana Chigori in the area.
The sources said that eight terrorists were killed in the ambush, three terrorists including Goni Gado, Abou Adam and Abou Abubakar returned to Gaizuwa at about 12pm on Friday October 7, with bullets wounds, while one other was either missing or dead.
In the same vain, the Boko Haram leadership held a brief meeting and despatched another team of 11 fighters led by one Amir Baba Kaka to seek support from Amir Jaichige a terror kingping who was under the leadership Ali Ngoshe, in the axis of Mandara Mountains.
“The Boko Haram had cried out that the ISWAP may soon take over all its camps and urged other JAS fighters to help them from collapsing,” the sources said.
Party To Publish Income And Expenditure Account In December
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, declared today that he was elected to restore the party to power; and not to loot or mismanage party funds.
He also disclosed that he has instructed the Finance Department to maintain an update the party’s income and expenditure account for presentation to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at the first-year anniversary of the present NWC in December.
It was his first reaction to charges against him in the media of bribery and illegal payments to members of the party’s National Working Members (NWC).
Ayu said although he has many faults as a human being, stealing was not one of them, adding that the present NWC is being guided by the principles of transparency and accountability.
He spoke while welcoming the Forum of Elected Ex-Officio Members of the party who paid him a solidarity visit at the PDP National Headquarters.
His words: “The PDP was not founded to be in opposition. We founded the party to access power and develop the country. And my historic task is to return the party to power. I won’t be Chairman forever. For now my preoccupation is to return the Party to power. I did not come to steal. My public service record is there.
“I have been a leader of the National Assembly. I have been a minister many times. As a person, I have many faults, but stealing is not one of them. I am conscious of my place in history, and the NWC that I lead is guided by the twin-principles of transparency and accountability.
“You may be reading many things and expecting my reaction. If we don’t always talk, it is because we want to maintain and build cohesion in the party. We don’t want continuous altercations in the PDP Family. Our eyes are on the big picture i.e. winning the 2023 general elections."
He went on: “Therefore, let us not lose focus. Let us keep our eyes glued on the big picture. Everything else is secondary. We took office because there was crisis in the party. And we don’t want to keep moving from crises to crises. It’s not good for the party. We can’t be in perpetual crises, especially where the crisis is artificial.
He added: "The NWC met and discussed the issue of Housing Allowance. It was unanimously agreed that no bribe or any form of illegality took place. A statement has since been issued to that effect. The matter has now been laid to rest."
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Forum, Hon. Yunana Iliya, said the members were at the party secretariat to express solidarity with the National Chairman, and pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the Ayu-led NWC.
“We stand by the recent Vote of Confidence passed on you by the highest decision-making body of the party, the National Executive Committee (NEC), and we urge all party faithful to close ranks in PDP’s rescue work,” he added.
Simon Imobo-Tswam Special Adviser to the National Chairman (Media and Communications)
Manchester City will try to put Southampton away this time when they host an English Premier League match on Saturday at Etihad Stadium. Both matches last season ended in draws, but City will be fired up to keep pace as they try to defend their league title. City (6-2-0) are the only EPL team without a loss this season but are second in the table, one point behind Arsenal. Manchester City smashed rival Manchester United 6-3 last weekend in their most recent league match and come in off a 5-0 drubbing of Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday. Southampton (2-1-5) are 16th in the EPL table and lost 2-1 to Everton last week.
The President disclosed this on Friday while presenting a record N20.51 trillion 2023 appropriation bill to the National Assembly.
President Muhammadu Buhari says many economies around the world are currently contending with fiscal instability, slow growth, food crisis, and high-interest rates as a result of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The President disclosed this on Friday while presenting a record N20.51 trillion 2023 appropriation bill to the National Assembly.
The National Assembly had approved the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) — parameters on which the 2023 budget will be framed.
While presenting the details, Buhari said the 2023 transition budget was designed to address critical issues and lay a solid foundation for the incoming administration.
He said despite his continuing efforts, unemployment, underemployment, and poverty rates remain high in the country.
“Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, despite continuing efforts, unemployment, underemployment, and poverty rates remain high. We are currently implementing several skills development programmes and work opportunity programmes to enhance the employability of our youths and tackle the troubling level of youth unemployment,” Buhari said.
“While it is evident that our economy still faces significant challenges, what could have happened without the implementation of some of the measures we introduced, would have been much worse for the country.
“Distinguished and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, the implementation of the 2022 ‘Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability commenced on the first day of the year. It was, however, necessary to forward an amended budget proposal to address some exigent issues, especially the significant increase in fuel subsidy.
“The amended 2022 Budget was based on a benchmark oil price of 73 US Dollars per barrel, oil production of 1.60 million barrels per day, and exchange rate of 410.15 Naira to US Dollar.
“As at 31st July 2022, Federal Government’s retained revenue was 3.66 trillion Naira, excluding the revenue of Government-Owned Enterprises. Thus, revenue collection was only 63 percent of our target, largely due to the underperformance of oil and gas revenue sources.
“Despite higher oil prices in 2022, oil revenue was below target due to significant oil production shortfalls and high petrol subsidy cost resulting from the significant rise in Crude prices which ultimately increased PMS prices worldwide.
“Oil output stood at an average of 1.30 million barrels per day as at June 2022, while the sum of 1.59 trillion Naira was spent on fuel subsidy between January and June 2022. The NNPC, working in collaboration with security and other relevant agencies, is putting in place additional measures to curb the incidence of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in order to meet our crude oil production quota.
“On the expenditure side, the sum of 8.29 trillion Naira had been spent by July 31 2022 out of the total appropriation of N17.32 trillion. Despite our revenue challenges, we have consistently met our debt service commitments. Staff salaries and statutory transfers have also been paid as and when due.
“Total non-debt recurrent expenditure in January to July 2002 was 3.24 trillion Naira, of which 2.87 trillion Naira was for Salaries, Pensions and Overheads. A total of 3.09 trillion Naira was spent on debt service obligations during the period.
“Furthermore, about 1.48 trillion Naira had been released to MDAs for capital expenditure as at the end of July 2022. I am pleased to inform you that we expect to fund MDAs’ capital budget fully by the end of the fiscal year 2022.”
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, on Thursday, said Nigerians are living in hell as a result of the weak economy under the current administration of the All Progressives Congress.
According to the association, the weak economy has thrown millions of Nigerians into abject poverty and hunger such that Nigerians can hardly afford a square meal per day.
All these, the Northern CAN noted, remain a recipe for “criminality and crime” which negatively affect education as well as the quality of healthcare.
The religious body expressed concern that those who mismanaged the economy were using hunger as a weapon as the 2023 general elections approach.
Against this background, the Northern CAN called on Nigerians to ensure that the 2023 general elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace, noting that “election is not war” as “no politician is worth dying for.”
This was according to a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day National Executive Council meeting of Northern CAN in Kaduna.
The communiqué was jointly signed by its Chairman, Rev. Yakubu Pam, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission; the Secretary-General, Sunday Oibe, and released to journalists on Thursday.
The communiqué read in part, “Our weak economy has thrown millions of Nigerians into abject poverty and hunger. Life is becoming a living hell as people struggle to make ends meet. Almost daily, the prices of food and essential items are on the increase.
“There is no denying the fact that there is poverty and hunger in the land. The reality on the ground is evident for all to see. Poverty and hunger affect all spheres of life. It fuels criminality and crime; it affects education; it affects quality healthcare. Hunger affects citizens’ political choices.
“Already, those who mismanaged the economy are using hunger as a weapon as the 2023 general elections approach. We call on the government at all levels to address the problem of poverty and hunger.
“We call on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to ensure a peaceful transition at the end of his tenure in 2023. That is the enduring legacy he will leave behind.”
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said the resolve by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to unravel the infrastructural deficit in the country is gulping the majority of government revenue.
This was even as she said the current administration was committed to completing the ongoing legacy infrastructure projects that had been chronically underfunded by previous administrations.
The minister stated this at the Nigerian Institute of Architects Integrated Infrastructural Research for Development conference held on Thursday in Abuja.
She noted that key sectors such as power rail, roads, housing, agriculture have witnessed massive growth owing to the national development plan for 2021 to 2025.
She said, “Critical infrastructure development in our country has suffered a significant deficit and is at the heart of every policy agenda for this administration.
“Investment in critical infrastructures turns out designed to create the fiscal structures in which Nigerians can build their families and engage in business activities.
“These structures also create an enabling environment in which domestic and foreign capital can catalyze growth. So Nigeria can join the ranks of advanced industrialised societies.
“Our focus on infrastructure is extremely costly. But this has not deterred the federal government under the leadership of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The President and the Vice President have continued to prioritise the strategic use of our limited resources in initiating vital new projects and bringing to completion legacy infrastructure projects that have been chronically underfunded in key sectors such as power rail, roads, housing, agriculture.”
The Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has appealed the Federal High Court’s judgment that nullified his nomination as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the July 16, 2022, governorship election in the state. This was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ismail Omipidan, on Wednesday, in Osogbo.
Oyetola in the statement described the Federal High Court’s judgment as a miscarriage of justice and, therefore, urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the lower court and affirm their nominations as valid and lawful.
Justice Emeka Nwite, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, nullified Oyetola’s candidacy and that of his deputy, Benedict Alabi, following the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party.
Nwite based his ruling on the grounds that Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who had submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission, violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The statement, however, said Oyetola and Alabi, in an appeal filed by the APC through their counsel, Dr Abiodun Layonu (SAN) and Mr Abdulfatai Oyedele, listed 19 grounds of appeal against the lower court’s judgment.
In the appeal, the governor and his deputy argued that all the actions taken by Gov. Buni in respect of their nominations were valid and legally recognisable, saying it complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The statement further argued that the PDP lacked the locus to commence the legal action against Gov. Oyetola as the issue of nomination of candidate was an internal affair of political parties.
“By the provision of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2022, it is only an aspirant that participated in the primary election that can complain that the provision of the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of candidate of a political party for an election.
“The issue of nomination and sponsorship of candidates of a political party is strictly an internal affair of a political party which is not justiciable.
“The 1st respondent (the PDP), therefore, lacks the locus standing to bring any cause of action that relates to internal affairs of the appellant (APC),” it said.
According to the statement, another ground of appeal filed by the appellant is that the suit initiated by the PDP had been taken care of by the issue of ‘estoppel’ which indicates that were an issue had been decided by a competent court, the court will not allow it to be re-litigated by different parties.
“The principal issue raised by the 1st respondent (PDP) before the trial court is whether the 3rd and 4th defendants (Oyetola and his deputy) were validly nominated and sponsored for the governorship election held in Osun on the 16th of July, 2022.
“This same issue involving the same parties has been laid to rest in the case of JEGEDE V. INEC (2021) 14 NWLR (1797) 409 and plaintiff suit as presently constituted is a duplication, repetition and remake of what has been settled and decided by the Supreme Court in the said case.
“The provisions of Sections 180 and 183 of the Constitution upon which the decision of the Supreme Court in JEGEDE V. INEC was based is still very extant”, it said.
The appellant, therefore, held that the suit filed by the PDP was an abuse of court process and that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on it.
It also argued that the suit filed by the PDP was statute-barred as the party failed to file the case within the time frame stipulated by the constitution, hence the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon it.
“The law stipulates that every pre-election matter must be filed within 14 days from the date of occurrence of the event, decision and act complained of in the suit. The period within which to file action elapsed on the 31st of March, 2022, and the PDP filed the suit on 7 April.
“Therefore, the court lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the 1st respondent’s suit as the action was statute barred.
“The act complained of came into existence on or before 18th March, 2022 and not 25th March, 2022 as claimed by the 1st respondent”, it said.
Manchester City can take a huge step toward the Champions League knockout stages with victory over Copenhagen.
Maximum points after two games set City up nicely ahead of a double-header against the weakest team in Group G, and could all but secure their last-16 spot with another victory.
Pep Guardiola, though, will be tempted to rotate as his team juggle 11 games across five weeks ahead of the World Cup.
FLASH: Passenger caught red-handed stealing from LagosRide @mylagosride Captain …. As promised, The Lagos Rides ensures protection of both passengers and the captains.
Pls Stay Responsible.. THIS IS LAGOS.
FLASH: Passenger caught red-handed stealing from LagosRide @mylagosride Captain …. As promised, The Lagos Rides ensures protection of both passengers and the captains.
SmartPolician: What NASS members earn is not written anywhere in the constitution. There's a government agency that sets wages for public office holders. The president needs to approach the head to discuss how to slash everyone's earnings, including his.
A Nigeria's president is a very influential person. He can even remove a man which the constitution says he cannot. Obi is a smart and intelligent man. He will do a good job as a president when it comes to reducing the cost of governance.
The minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami says it is a criminal offence to access data in Nigeria without permission.
This he said underscored the need to have principal legislation in place, in order to ensure the safety, privacy and confidentiality of data in Nigeria.
And to address the situation, he said the ministry is working hard with critical stakeholders to bequeath the country’s principal legislation before the end of this year.
The minister made this known on Tuesday during a National Validation Workshop on the draft National Data Protection Bill held in Abuja.
The bill according to him will be transmitted to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation and if approved by Federal Executive Council will be transmitted to the National Assembly by the President to enable them to Kickstart the process of legislation before the commencement of general elections next year.
“There is a need to have principal legislation in place, in order to ensure safety, privacy and confidentiality of data.
“The Bill will be transmitted to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation and if approved by FEC, will be transmitted to the National Assembly by the President to enable them to Kickstart the process of legislation before the end of December 2022.
“The reason for having the legislation is to ensure that there is no vacuum. In order to ensure confidentiality, privacy and security of our citizen’s data, we commenced the process of having principal legislation in Nigeria Data Protection law.
“The ministry is working hard with critical stakeholders to bequeath a befitting principal legislation for Data Protection before the end of the year.”
He said, though, the country has other existing legislation the country requires principal legislation to guarantee the safety and privacy of individual and corporate organizations.
He explained that the workshop was necessary to collate stakeholders’ input for inclusive and rancour-free legislation.
“The Bill is very important and without legislation on it will not make much impact. It is a sector that has unlimited space to be utilized to grow the economy.
“Enacting the National Data Protection law is in the process, this process commenced in January 2019, when we came up with a Nigeria legislation.
He further said that a lot had been achieved in the area of creating awareness, and job creation.
“We realized the need to have a full-fledged law which is principal legislation which will go as an executive bill in order to accommodate all the areas that are not backed by full legislation.
“The process was initially coordinated by NIMC but President Muhammadu Buhari later approved a full-blown agency NDPB.
“The data being generated today is mind-boggling, and because of the huge data being generated, we must have legislation in place to ensure that there is confidentiality and privacy of that data so that the data will not be abused.
“The first industrial revolution was about data generation, citizens submit their data to government or private institutions, some countries commercialize data and that is why we are very proactive in Nigeria in order to ensure that there is no vacuum,
“We came up with the Nigeria Data Protection regulation and relying on our regulatory powers, immediately commenced enforcement because subsidiary legislation is considered a law up to the Supreme Court.
“The reason for having the legislation is to ensure that there is no vacuum. In order to ensure confidentiality, privacy and security of our citizen’s data, we commenced the process of having a principal legislation in Nigeria Data Protection law.
“In the 4th industrial revolution, data is key, the quantity of data generated in Nigeria in the last three years increased by 202 per cent. The whole quantity of data generated globally within three years approximately was 5 exabytes. In 48 hours, the quantity of data generated globally is equated to the quantity of data that was generated within a period of 5000 years.
“By 2025, because of the Internet of Things, it is going to be exponential growth of data.
Today the data being generated in Nigeria is in terabytes and there must be legislation in place to ensure that this data being generated is confidential, secured and private.
“The 1999 Constitution specifically states that citizens’ correspondences and communication must be private and confidential and the Section 37 of the constitution, data protection was clearly mentioned except under the cybercrime 2015 where there is a provision of Lawful Intercept where security agencies establish a prima facie case before intercepting certain communication.”
In his address, the National Commissioner of the National Data Protection Bureau, Dr Vincent Olatunji said, “One of the mandates of the bureau by the President is to enact principal legislation on data protection.
“We are here to give a synopsis of the bill and by midnight the bureau will download the draft bill on its website and that of the ministry.
“The target is to get it passed before December.”
The Director General of the National Identity Management Commission. Engr. Azeez Aliyu said the process started in 2019 with the National Data Protection Regulation as subsidiary legislation enacted based on the provision of the NITDA Act 2007.
“Data generation starts at birth and we have very low birth registration, we have. All these data are important for the development of the nation,” he said and pledged continued support by NIMC to ensure the success of the project.
In his goodwill message, the chairman. Sen. Committee on Communication, Sen. Yakubu Oseni said that the Bill is very important and without legislation on it, the sector would make little impact on the economy.
” It is a sector that has unlimited space to be utilized to grow the economy.
“Enacting the National Data Protection law is in the process, this process commenced in January 2019, where we came up with a Nigeria.”
Earlier in his opening Address, the
Coordinator of NID4D Project, Solomon Odole explained that the process of protecting data in Nigeria started in 2019 with the National Data Protection Regulation as a subsidiary legislation enacted based on the provision of the NITDA Act 2007.
To begin accurate data preservation, he said the collation starts at birth and we have very low birth registration, we have
“All these data are important for the development of the nation.”
successmatters: That's actually a positive factor. It means that by the time he wins the election, he will be free to work for the masses, no NASS members or governors to settle.
This is why we the common masses of Nigeria are supporting Peter Obi.
You need to reform constitution first. What work will he do alone. My people perish because of lack of understanding. Same way Buhari was painted!
Racoon: Giving Obi a chance in 2023 would not be largesse to the bespectacled ascetic what is at stake transcends one man he is just a catalyst for the new Nigeria we desire. It is more about the things his emergence would represent: that the people come first, that democracy must indeed be of the people, by the people and for the people.
That anyone can emerge as president no matter what part of the country they come from or how they worship, as long as they are best suited for the job; that people with the sheer power to vote can sack the stale politicians with their shopworn ideas and toxicity.
Nigeria at this time needs a visionary, not an emperor. We must wrest ourselves from the manacles of those who have held us bound and have become entitled to our commonwealth. We must shun prejudices as we forge ahead to become a prosperous nation. We must make this Obi experiment now and turn the tide against the political elite because fortune only favours the brave. It is in our hands.
Obi does not have the capacity alone. No NASS, Governor. I laugh at people hyping him!
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has rolled out his governance agenda to Nigerians in Diaspora.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Nigeria Diaspora and Capacity Building’, in Michigan, United States, on Monday, Obi stated that if elected president, his administration would drastically reduce the cost of governance.
This was contained in a statement by the Obi-Datti Media office, made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday.
According to Obi, the reduction in cost of governance will help you reduce the nation’s debt and tackle corruption.
“We shall pursue a drastic reduction in cost of governance and corruption; Improve ease of doing business to attract FDI to jumpstart industrialization and when borrowing is unavoidable, it will be strictly for regenerative purposes and production,” Obi said.
Speaking on power, the former Anambra State governor said, “Even though I am aware that power has been moved from exclusive list to the concurrent list, we will go beyond it; we will aggressively support the private sector to invest in the power chain through a multifaceted approach particularly the transmission infrastructure.
“As we all know, two components of the power sector (generation and distribution) have been privatized and liberalised leaving the most critical component (transmission) in the hands of government which is causing inefficiency and darkness.
“We will, therefore, vigorously pursue the liberalization of the transmission infrastructure in addition to a robust power mix- embedded power and renewable energy.”
Obi further appreciated the youths and encouraged them to be more resilient.
He said, “The journey to rescue Nigeria could not have gained momentum without the proactive role of our youth. I salute them.
“The race is far from over; the campaigning has only just started. Yet I am confident that given their resilience, they will stay the course.”
Politics › Resurgence Of Kidnapping Along Gusau-Funtua Highway Puts Travellers On Edge by treesun(op): 8:17am On Oct 09, 2022
