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Abdulsh
Crime
~109.2 mins read
Open ISMAIL ADEBAYO, ILORIN Offa robbery: Absence of witnesses stalls trial Court rejects fresh post-mortem on Offa robbery principal suspect’s corpse Leaders must take correction – Sultan Sultan, others to FG: Accord highest national priority to security 4 killed, 5,200 homes destroyed in Kano flooding after rainfall across 20 LGAs Buhari pledges support for flood victims AHMED JODAa) Under the Constitution of Nigeria, Primary and Secondary Education including Teachers education is the responsibility of the Regional/State Governments NOT that of the Federal Government. It is also not a responsibility that is shared between the two tiers. The class of students in consideration are candidates who have completed their secondary education b) Only those who apply in response to invitation to apply for Federal Government scholarships and who qualify can be considered. In some of the Northern states only very few applications were received. The official explanation was that newspapers did not circulate in the North generally and that, in any case most northern students either did not have access to newspapers or did not have the reading culture of newspapers 
The team of medical professionals at FMC Yola that seperated the twins
Beautiful girls Mercy and Grace being held by their parents after recovering from the successful surgery ROMOKE W. AHMAD, MINNA BASSEY WILLIE, YENAGOA ABUBAKAR AUWAL, SOKOTOTroops raid bandits’ camps, kill one, apprehend 4 in Benue, Nasarawa – DHQ Bandits kill 3, abduct 7 in Kaduna villages MAINSTAY AGRO ALLIED SERVICES LTD CHRIS AGABI CHRIS AGABI ZARA IDRIS & EUGENE AGHA (LAGOS)
CRIME
How 9 Police Officers, 11 Civilians Were Killed In Offa Robbery -DPO
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 8:28:59 AM
Former District Police Officer (DPO) of Offa police station, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State Adamu Danjuma yesterday narrated in graphic details how armed robbers on April 5th, 2018 allegedly killed 9 police officers and 11 civilians when they attacked five banks in the town.
Danjuma, who was the station’s DPO then said he luckily escaped the robbers’ bullets.
All the accused – Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran were present in court on Monday.
While giving evidence in a Kwara State High Court, Ilorin at the resumed hearing of the case, Danjuma who is the fifth prosecution witness said the armed robbers allegedly destroyed the police armoury and carted away 21 AK47 rifles and also used explosive to attack banks and the police post.
He gave the names of the police officers and men that were gunned down by the suspected robbers as Julius Pelemo (ASP), Yusuf Danjuma (Inspector), Grace Makinde (Inspector), and Oke Kayode (Inspector).
Others are Sergeants Mustapha Kolawole, Bilikisu Babawale, Abimbola Adedokun, Yootum Nakoma, and Monday Isa.
He said “On the said date at about 4:45 pm, I heard a gunshot from the direction of Captain Cook Eatery Junction in the town; two minutes interval, I heard sporadic shootings from that direction heading towards my police station. Immediately, I came out of my office to the charge room (counter). The shootings were approaching the station.
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“In response, I also fired gunshots into the air from my pistol. As a result, there was a temporary stoppage of shootings from outside. Suddenly, the shootings started coming in from different directions towards the station. A lady who was manning the pedestrian gate was shot in one of her arms making her abandon the place and ran for her dear life. The shootings continued.
“Thereafter, the robbers released explosive into the security tower of the station. Another explosive was released and it hit the main road and bored a deep hole on the role. This melee disorganized the whole station. Then the ammunition in my pistol had got exhausted. This made me run for cover at the back of the station’s mosque.
“At the back of the mosque, I sighted three of the armed robbers chasing ASP Julius Pelemo to the back of the station’s fence. Then I heard the shout of the late Julius after a gunshot. Then I heard one of the robbers calling those ones that ran after the late ASP to come over to the charge room (counter). One of them entered the Surveillance Office and shot dead a policewoman. From then, two of them ran to the charge room (counter).
He said he was instrumental to the conveyance of the 17 corpses to the General Hospital in Ilorin for autopsy and got their death certificates.
From left: The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi; Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar III, during the Northern Traditional Rulers Council Executive Meeting in Kaduna yesterday
NEWS
Killings: This Madness Must Stop – Sultan
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 8:20:20 AM
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar III, has called for an end to the crises in the North that have resulted in killings and other vices, saying the madness must stop.
Speaking at the executive council meeting convened in Kaduna to discuss ways towards ending the escalating spate of insecurity in the northern region, he said, “It is time to put a stop to this madness. It is total madness for people to kill one another for no just reason, but due to political affiliation, ethnicity, religion and who you are, where you come from.â€
The sultan observed that Nigerians are worried about the crises, which have lingered for several years, and noted that no sensible government would condone such continuous murder of people.
He said despite being aware of the protocols of the meeting, the council decided to enlarge its scope by inviting senior traditional rulers from Southern Kaduna to primarily discuss the continuous escalation of the violence and insecurity in that part of the state.
The sultan further expressed confidence that the recent meeting of different individuals and groups at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House to discuss the lingering crises with Kaduna State governor marked the beginning of the end of the problem.
He noted that the Northern traditional council rulers’ meeting will also, apart from the security concerns, discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is affecting the people, saying, “We will come up with a position paper that will be sent to the Kaduna State government on one of the best ways of finding a lasting solution to peace and stability not only in Kaduna but in other parts of northern states.â€
He urged the participants to deliberate with sincerity saying, “We must have the fear of God in our discussions and we must have the fear of God in our dealings with one another.
“Almighty God is seeing us and will judge us. As leaders, we will account to him each on what we did on earth. All of us profess to be very good in our religion but no religion has instructed us to do what is being done in some parts of the country. That is we are talking of Kaduna State and I want to categorically and bluntly say that that madness must stop and we call on the leadership at the highest level in this country and that of Kaduna State to put hands together and bring an end to this mayhem.â€
He said it is sad that the lives of innocent citizens are mostly sacrificed in the crises, saying “The children of the elite were never killed, but the children of the common man who does not know what a government is all about. It is very important for us to realise who are the victims of all these crises in all parts of the world, the children of the common man, and I think governments at all levels must rise up to the occasion.â€
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He informed that the council, which has 20 members does not usually invite the governor of Kaduna as well as other political and traditional leaders to its executive committee meeting, but because of the situation in Kaduna, the invitation was necessary.
Governor Nairu El-Rufai in his remarks said his government is doing everything possible to bring the crisis to an end.
“These communal clashes in Kaduna have been going on since 1980. We have done everything we can by establishing military bases, establishing mobile police, we even have air force and special forces present all over southern Kaduna to increase the number of security presence in the state. This has helped to a large extent.
“Your royal excellences would recall that if a crisis happened in any part of Kaduna, it tends to spread to the entire state, but by the grace of God since we came into office, we were able to contain every crisis to one locality and we dealt with it without even spreading.â€
He disclosed that the state government has procured equipment, technology from drones GSM trackers, and other technologies to enhance security agencies to better track criminals adding.
The meeting had in attendance the Shehu of Borno, Sarkin Kano, emirs of Gwandu, Mubi, Zazzau, Illorin, Gombe, and Fika as well as the Tor Tiv, Gbongwon Jos, Ola of Abaji, and Estu Nupe among others.
The federal government on Monday commenced a consultation workshop on the post-2020 vision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Kano.
The two-day national workshop organised by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, Budget & National Planning, along with the ECOWAS Commission is the second in the series, with the first held in Abuja in August.
Speaking at the opening session, the Head of ECOWAS National Unit, Joseph Oyi, said the objective of the workshop was to collectively assess the ECOWAS vision 2020 and to ensure that the post-2020 vision reflects Nigeria’s national interest as well as the regional aspiration.
“The transformation of the ECOWAS from ‘ECOWAS of States to ECOWAS of the People’ is non-negotiable. Consequently, the emphasis is directed towards regional projects that will have direct impacts on the people of the community,†he said.
On his part, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said that his administration under the ‘Next Level Agenda’ has fully committed itself to the socio-economic development of the citizens through various policies and programmes.
Seventeen out of the 27 local government councils in Jigawa State have been affected by ravaging flood, which has so far consumed no fewer than 24 lives in the state.
Confirming the figure, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Yusuf Sani Babura told newsmen that some of the victims were taking temporary shelter in primary schools, while some others are squatting with their relatives.
Babura said so far, 50 houses have been washed away by the flood, saying that as a temporary measure, SEMA had commenced the distribution of some relief items, which include food, drugs, and other materials.
However, a victim in Maruta town in Gwaram Local Government Council told journalists that about 3,000 houses have been washed away in the town.
Also, some parts of the town have been relocated, and an IDP camp created to take care of the peoples’ urgent needs, while a woman was reported to have delivered a baby in the camp.
Apart from Gwaram, other local governments that experienced heavy flooding include Birnin Kudu, Babura, Malam Madori, Jahun, Ringim, and Kirikasanma.
In Birnin Kudu Local Government, three persons lost their lives in Babaldu and one person died in Sememia. Three persons reportedly died in Ringim, as well as Malam Madori.
However, in Jahun and Kirikisanma, no life was lost, but some villages were completely cut off by the flood.
Babura said the state government through SEMA had procured 40 canoes to be distributed to affected communities, saying so far, 10 of the canoes have been given out, while the remaining 30 would be shared subsequently to needy communities.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu
OPINION
Re: An Open Letter To The Federal Minister Of Education
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 5:18:55 AM
I read on one of the social media platforms an open letter to Malam Adamu Adamu, the Honorable Minister of Education by our Ambassador in Mexico, to which I think I should make a contribution that may interest the minister in addressing the issues at stake.
In February 1971, almost 50 years ago, I became the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education. When I entered the office, I found two files on the table. One was the handing over note by the departed Permanent Secretary, the other was a very thick file that contained four sets of documents: the first was a report from the Federal Scholarship Board describing the processes that led to the selection and recommendation of awards of the Federal Scholarships and Bursaries for the 19171/72 Academic Year. The second was the full list of the names of the successful candidates and third, the Council Memorandum by the Federal Minister of Education recommending the Federal Executive Council to approve the list and the fourth, the Council Conclusion giving its approval.
All that was required of me was to sign for the public announcement of the awards for that academic year. Even if I was of the mind to go through the three thousand names on the list, I could not have changed anything because all the necessary processes had been complied with and the highest authority in the land had approved.
The awards were duly published and all hell was let loose. In 1971, the Federation of Nigeria had 12 states; the six northern states and six southern states. There were 3000 awards. These were shared about 2,750 to the six southern states and 250 to the six northern states.
When further analyzed, more than 500 went to the two North Central states of Kwara and Benue Plateau. No one analyzed what the figures for the two main religions were.
There was an angry outburst at the “lopsidedness of the Award†for the North. The anger was targeted at me personally, because I was the Permanent Secretary who signed the “Release Document†and because as a northerner just having “crossed the Carter Bridge and drank the lagoon waterâ€, I had forgotten my roots. The governors, the Kaduna press and radio were unanimous in calling for my immediate removal.
While I was trying to understand the situation I had found myself in, I received a midnight call from the Head of State who asked me whether I had been reading the northern press and listening to their radio. And whether I had any satisfactory explanation to give.
At that point I realized that although the attacks were directed at me personally, any response must be the government’s response and must be based on all the available facts. I requested 48 hours to prepare the response.
Within those hours, the facts were gathered and subjected to detailed analysis. The conclusions were inescapable. The defunct government of Northern Nigeria and the successor governments of the six Northern states bear the full responsibility for what they were now complaining about. Not the Federal Government of Nigeria. Why is this so? Because of the following:
These points were obviously not taken into account by the board. In subsequent years, action was taken to remedy the situation, but it did not lead to increased numbers of applications from the northern states. The reason given was that the northern governments’ scholarships were more attractive than the federal ones.
The federal offer to northern students who receive federal awards, for them to accept the federal awards, accept the federal allowance and receive the difference from their states, was rejected.
This incident led the Federal Ministry of Education to undertake a critical examination of the educational imbalance in the country. It was recognised that it was a time bomb, which must be quickly defused.
While the political and social implications of the education crisis could be foreseen, it was difficult for most to appreciate that it is not an issue that has a political solution. It is an issue that is determined by the natural development of the human being. That it is the physical and mental development of the human child that we are dealing with.
The child must be born. He must attain the school going age of six years. He must spend six years in primary school, six years in secondary school and at least four years in the University etc. This time period cannot be compressed.
At this time in 1971, Lagos State was enrolling nearly 100% in primary schools, the Mid West was recording about 90%, the West well over 60% while the North West, North East and Kano were enrolling less than 5%. It would take at least two decades to draw parallel and draw level for the whole country. But account must also be taken of the fact that the more educationally advanced states would not be standing still. They would be galloping forward.
Taking all these factors into account the Federal Ministry of Education made far reaching recommendations to prepare for a giant leap forward in the development of education for the whole country.
First, it was decided that immediate steps be taken to expand the teacher training effort. A crash programme for teacher training was initiated using expanded facilities in Teacher Training Colleges around the country.
Three Advanced Teacher Training Colleges were to be immediately set-up. Three polytechnics were also established. Grants in Aid were approved and disbursed to all secondary schools, which ran Sixth Form Classes and the Colleges of Preliminary Studies run by the Ahmadu Bello University campuses in Zaria and Kano.
The federal government also approved special grants to expand all existing State Secondary Schools in the six Northern States.
On top of all of the above, the federal government with the assistance and collaboration of UNESCO and the involvement of all the five existing universities in Nigeria, embarked on the ambitious project of introducing Universal Primary Education beginning 1st January 1976 that would ensure education of every Nigerian child born after the official end of the Nigerian Civil War in January 1970.
I have gone over the history of the education crisis from 1971 when I became involved to today in order for us to understand where we are coming from.
The figures in the Open Letter to Adamu Adamu have similarities to the situation I found in 1971. I do not know what level of studies these awards were. But the distribution is somewhat similar, suggesting that the situation now remains somewhat the same to that of 1971.
We need to relate these figures to what we know to be the education crisis in Nigeria today. In about 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan lamented that there were 10 million out of school children in Nigeria. Obviously meaning that these out of school children are in Northern Nigeria. He set out to build Almajiri Schools in the belief that that would address the situation.
His successor, President Muhammadu Buhari has been quoted as saying that the figure of out of school children in the country is now 12 million, meaning the figure has grown and is likely to continue to grow.
I know that from 1973, funds for the preparation for the UPE were being paid to every state in the country not only for building the schools that would be needed but the expansion of teacher training facilities and the provision of teaching materials.
After the elections that brought President Obasanjo, the Universal Basic Education was introduced and money was being transferred to every state of the federation. It is now 20 years since the introduction of the UBE Programme and that much money has been expanded.
We must ask the question, where are those millions of out of school children to be found? Obviously in Northern Nigeria! We have been spending money in the belief that we are providing education for every one of the children we bear for 50 years without making progress.
Who is to account for what has been happening and is continuing to happen?
Surely the fault lies with us. And by us I mean us in Northern Nigeria. Both the leaders and the led.
Ahmed Joda, an elder statesman and former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, writes from Yola, Adamawa State
Grace and Mercy before the surgery. Their parents were subjected to insults for having them, the mother says
How Bayelsa conjoined twins, considered monsters in their village, were separated in Yola
Since they were born, conjoined twins Mercy and Grace were considered monsters in their native Nembe in Bayelsa State. The family travelled to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, where a team of about 50 medical professionals have given the twins a new lease of life.
Professor Awwal Abubakar, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola, looked at the 49 men and women before him, perhaps, in the same manner, a general would look at his troops before they charge into battle.
But this 49 were not going to kill anyone, they were preparing for a complex surgery to separate a set of conjoined twins, Mercy and Grace.
As the lead surgeon, Prof. Abubakar addressed members of his team comprising surgeons, consultant anaesthetists, nurses, laboratory consultant and scientists, radiologist, cleaners, and staff from the hospital’s information unit, among others.
The team of medical professionals at FMC Yola that seperated the twinsIn his usual unassuming posture, the professor emphasised teamwork, professionalism and accuracy, reminding them that every member of the team is as important as the others.
“In surgery, a cleaner is as important as the lead surgeon,†the Medical Director would later tell Daily Trust.
He is not new to this. Four times before he had performed similar surgeries on conjoined twins, twice at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in Borno.
At the FMC Yola, Prof. Abubakar has undertaken two such surgeries before. Once in 2013 as a visiting consultant and again in 2018 after he was appointed the Medical Director when he led the surgery on a set of female twins born to internally displaced parents from Borno State.
The team recorded some improvement compared to previous times as the surgery was faster, taking only three hours.
Speaking after the surgery, Professor Abubakar said this time, the team had to contend with the challenges of COVID-19. There was a debate about whether each member of the team should be quarantined before the surgery. In the end, they decided to work strictly per the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines.
Three days after the operation, the separated sisters started playing and with no complication recorded, were discharged from the intensive care unit on the fifth day.
The operation gave hope to twins, Mercy and Grace, from far away Nembe, in Bayelsa State, freeing their parents from stigmatisation in their community where they were seen as monsters.
The sight of the twins, at first was such a shock that even their mother, Mrs Ayebaekipreye Ebinyefa, after she was delivered of them through Caesarean Section, took one look at them and fainted.
“Mhmm! As a mum, I was scared. I felt bad because I was the first person to give birth to conjoined twins in my community in Bayelsa State,†she said. “The insults I have been receiving from people made me even ashamed of myself. But now I am happy the operation has been successful and today, we are going home.â€
She thanked the management of FMC Yola for their generosity, without which the operation wouldn’t have been possible.
Beautiful girls Mercy and Grace being held by their parents after recovering from the successful surgeryProfessor Abubakar told journalists during a press conference that the hospital’s management sponsored the surgery free of charge and paid for all the treatment and living expenses of the family throughout their stay since January.
He, however, called on the Federal and Bayelsa State government to assist the parents
“Both parents are secondary school leavers and unemployed. We want the federal and Bayelsa State governments to assist them,†he said.
He said after the management of the Federal Medical Center, Yenogoa in Bayelsa State contacted the Yola hospital for possible separation, transporting the babies to Yola became a problem until the Nigerian Air Force offered to fly them in one of their aircrafts. He, therefore, extended his appreciation to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
He said the NAF intervention was critical because taking a commercial plane was not a good option for conjoined twins due to the attention they could attract and the psychological effect on the parents.
“At this junction, we want to appreciate the NAF especially the Chief of Air Staff for airlifting them,†he said.
“For this hospital, this is the third of such separations. The separation of conjoined twins in this country dates back to 1936 when a colonial officer separated a set in Sokoto and since then, there have been a number in many centres in Zaria, Enugu, Ife and recently in Gwagwalada and in Keffi,†he said.
He noted that Nigeria has the manpower and potentials to drive the health sector but health care financing remains a major drawback.
Calling for collaboration between public and private sectors in improving health care in the country, the medical director disclosed that some of the equipment used in the separation was part of the recent donation from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company (NLNG).
“One of the machines donated by the NLNG made division of liver easier, faster and with less blood loss,†he said in an address during a ceremony held at the hospital on Saturday to celebrate the successful surgery.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, congratulated the board and management of the hospital, Professor Awwal Abubakar and his team of experts for making Nigerians proud, saying their effort showed the great potential of the Nigerian health sector.
He assured the FMC Yola management of federal government’s support in the drive to transform the hospital into a world-class facility for better service delivery.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Maxwell Gidado reiterated the state government’s commitment in improving the health sector, saying the administration had employed more than one thousand workers and improved welfare for greater service delivery in the state.
For Grace and Mercy, this surgery will make all the difference in their lives and give them the chance to live normal lives. For now, that is all they could ask for.
NEWS
Tanker Explosion Destroys Houses, Cars In Niger
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 5:11:57 AM
Scores of houses, cars and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in Lambatta, Niger State following an explosion of a petrol tanker.
The tanker, which was loaded with petroleum products (PMS) exploded on Sunday night after colliding with a trailer vehicle.
As at Monday morning, details of the extent of losses and damages were yet to be ascertained.
It was gathered that the tanker and the trailer collided, which led to the tanker instantly catching fire.
The incident occurred at about 11 pm Sunday night, with many houses, shops, and cars burnt before the fire service was called from Suleja to put the fire under control.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) attributed the probable cause of the crash to loss of control by the vehicles involved.
Victims affected by the incident were still counting their losses as the FRSC tried to control traffic while the fire service made efforts to contain the fire.
NEWS
Fire Destroys Goods, Vehicles Worth N400m In Bayelsa Mechanic Village
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 5:08:19 AM
Goods worth N400 million, vehicles and several shops have been destroyed by a midnight fire incident at the mechanic village in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
According to artisans and technicians working in the mechanic village, the fire outbreak occurred on Sunday night at about 3 am when the traders were at their various homes.
Though the cause of the inferno could not be immediately established, those doing business in the area have suspected electrical fault as the primary cause that ignited the incident.
A spare part dealer in the village, Stanley Ejike, whose shop and goods worth over N10 million were burnt by the inferno, however, expressed gratitude that no life was lost.
He said about 13 vehicles parked at the arena for repairs were burnt down to ashes, adding that the incident has caused hardship to several people doing business in the mechanic village.
The leader of the Non-Indigenes Association in the state, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, who conducted newsmen round the property destroyed by the inferno pleaded with the state government to assist those affected to enable them to return back to normal business.
Suspected bandits
NEWS
Negotiation: Sokoto Bandits Denounce Violence, Release 8 Captives
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 5:05:38 AM
Bandits operating in the eastern part of Sokoto State have denounced violence as part of the ongoing negotiation with the state government.
Daily Trust reliably gathered that some of their leaders have even discharged their boys who were said to have resorted to farming and animal husbandry.
It was gathered that the bandits also released eight people who have been under their custody, as well as handed over several rustled livestock to the government.
According to the state Commissioner for Career and Security Matters, Colonel Garba Moyi (rtd), about 500 livestock were recovered from them.
Moyi explained that part of the deal reached with the bandits was that henceforth, they would not kidnap anybody, while the security agencies would not arrest any of their members unless if caught with weapons or any incriminating items.
With regards to the repentant bandits who now engage in farming and animal husbandry, he said the state government has been providing them, with assorted animal feeds and farming inputs.
He revealed that the state government has awarded a contract for the construction of a dam at Kamarawa in view of the cessation of attacks following the deal reached with the bandits
“The construction would have commenced since, but because of the renewed attacks and flooding in the area.
“We are even planning to build grazing reserves and schools for their children,†he said.
The Commissioner however insisted that those condemning the ongoing peace deal were doing so because none of them was a victim of kidnapping or banditry.
From right: Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja; Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and other APC leaders during the inauguration of Gov. Akeredolu’s re-election campaign in Akure
Saturday, 5th September will remain a date in history with the All Progressives Congress in Ondo state as the reconciliation between factions, the support by the various governorship aspirants and the unity in the party was genuinely brought to bear at the launch of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s reelection campaign.
A few months ago, it was troubled water for the party as various aspirants indicated interests to vie for the governorship of the state, this was compounded by factionalisation and loyalty of the various factions to various leaderships. But thanks to the party’s Caretaker Committee, which constituted the reconciliation committee to reconcile the aggrieved groups.
Interestingly, the Chairman caretaker/extraordinary national convention committee and Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni’s assurance that the party will be fair and just to all was genuinely welcomed, trusted, and accepted by the party faithful in Ondo state.
The constitution of Ondo State reconciliation committee by the Buni Caretaker regime headed by Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello was charged to make other useful recommendations based on their findings, which they may consider appropriate towards achieving lasting peace and electoral victory in the forthcoming governorship election in the state and beyond.
The meeting between the Sani Bello led committee and the various factions was said to have achieved so much and projected unity among stakeholders just as the primary election got closer.
At the onset, there were about 20 aspirants looking forward to contesting the APC governorship ticket. However, the wisdom by the Buni committee in constituting the reconciliation committee brought down the aspirants to 12, then the trouble regarding the mode of conducting the election came on board with 11 opposing the indirect mode of the primary election except for Governor Akeredolu.
However, the Buni led APC Caretaker administration successfully tamed the 11 opposing aspirants and convinced them to conduct the primary election via the indirect mode and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu finally emerged as the party’s candidate in the election conducted by the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello led committee.
It is evidently clear to state that, the Caretaker Committee has in just a little over two months genuinely reconciled aggrieved members of the party and repositioned the All Progressives Congress with a new vigour of maintaining its position as Nigeria’s leading political party.
Mamman Mohammed is the Director General Press Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni
LETTERS
Job Creation Through Agriculture, Selective Approval For Maize Import
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 4:57:42 AM
I humbly write to draw the President’s urgent attention to the rather unfortunate news that the government has granted approval for some selected companies to import maize into the country due to the following reason:
It is even more disheartening, demoralising, disturbing and demeaning considering that as an individual and young farmer I have made concerted efforts to mobilise fellow young Nigerians under the auspices of the Nigeria Young Farmers Network to ramp up local production in response to the anticipated shortfall.
As a maize farmer and a young Nigerian committed to playing my part through the organised private sector and non-governmental organisation (Nigeria Young Farmers Network and Guard Nigeria Image and Values Initiative) to ensure rapid economic recovery and job creation by mobilising young people (mostly unemployed) to participate in our already developed nationwide program tagged; “Raise a million farmersâ€, I find this development very worrisome.
As the National Coordinator of Nigeria Young Farmers Network with over a million members nationwide and CEO of Mainstay Agro Allied Services Ltd., I was jubilant about the ban on maize importation and your announcement that we can no longer import food considering our economic realities.
I expressed the excitement of myself and other young farmers through the media and greatly celebrated your visionary leadership in that direction.
Sadly, just a few days later, our joy was cut short by a media report on the approval of maize importation by selected companies.
This greatly damped my deliberate efforts targeted to create compelling awareness and attraction of our teeming unemployed youth nationwide to ramp up local production of maize and other critical crops, which will lead to rapid economic recovery, job and wealth creation.
For a government that had been on the forefront of import substitution and backward integration, one finds it hard to reconcile with this selective importation approval for maize. It appears to be a typical case of “do I say but not as I doâ€.
The sheer cost of providing forex for the five (5) selected companies to import maize will be sufficient to mobilise 10 million young farmers to produce maize nationwide. Let’s even do quick math; the average yield of maize is about 4ton per hectare. Multiply 4ton per hectare by 10 million farmers (assuming each farmer is to a hectare). That instantly gives you an idea of why we are crying foul.
Beyond the massive production, the potential is the huge number of direct and indirect jobs that can be created, capital flight mitigation, enhanced socioeconomic livelihood and ultimate reduction in crime (insecurity).
The worst thing to do is to dampen our efforts in mobilising young people to engage in the agricultural sector especially in view of the rapidly dwindling economy and several issues like the increase in fuel prices, rent tax, increase in electricity tariffs, increase in the cost of food commodities etc.
Youth apathy towards agriculture is a major challenge I am personally working hard to reverse and anything short of full support to achieve that will be counter-productive for us as a nation.
Promise Amahah
CEO Mainstay Agro Allied Services Ltd, [email protected] I
humbly write to draw the President’s urgent attention to the rather unfortunate news that the government has granted approval for some selected companies to import maize into the country due to the following reason:
humbly write to draw the President’s urgent attention to the rather unfortunate news that the government has granted approval for some selected companies to import maize into the country due to the following reason:
It is even more disheartening, demoralising, disturbing and demeaning considering that as an individual and young farmer I have made concerted efforts to mobilise fellow young Nigerians under the auspices of the Nigeria Young Farmers Network to ramp up local production in response to the anticipated shortfall.
As a maize farmer and a young Nigerian committed to playing my part through the organised private sector and non-governmental organisation (Nigeria Young Farmers Network and Guard Nigeria Image and Values Initiative) to ensure rapid economic recovery and job creation by mobilising young people (mostly unemployed) to participate in our already developed nationwide program tagged; “Raise a million farmersâ€, I find this development very worrisome.
As the National Coordinator of Nigeria Young Farmers Network with over a million members nationwide and CEO of Mainstay Agro Allied Services Ltd., I was jubilant about the ban on maize importation and your announcement that we can no longer import food considering our economic realities.
I expressed the excitement of myself and other young farmers through the media and greatly celebrated your visionary leadership in that direction.
Sadly, just a few days later, our joy was cut short by a media report on the approval of maize importation by selected companies.
This greatly damped my deliberate efforts targeted to create compelling awareness and attraction of our teeming unemployed youth nationwide to ramp up local production of maize and other critical crops, which will lead to rapid economic recovery, job and wealth creation.
For a government that had been on the forefront of import substitution and backward integration, one finds it hard to reconcile with this selective importation approval for maize. It appears to be a typical case of “do I say but not as I doâ€.
The sheer cost of providing forex for the five (5) selected companies to import maize will be sufficient to mobilise 10 million young farmers to produce maize nationwide. Let’s even do quick math; the average yield of maize is about 4ton per hectare. Multiply 4ton per hectare by 10 million farmers (assuming each farmer is to a hectare). That instantly gives you an idea of why we are crying foul.
Beyond the massive production, the potential is the huge number of direct and indirect jobs that can be created, capital flight mitigation, enhanced socioeconomic livelihood and ultimate reduction in crime (insecurity).
The worst thing to do is to dampen our efforts in mobilising young people to engage in the agricultural sector especially in view of the rapidly dwindling economy and several issues like the increase in fuel prices, rent tax, increase in electricity tariffs, increase in the cost of food commodities etc.
Youth apathy towards agriculture is a major challenge I am personally working hard to reverse and anything short of full support to achieve that will be counter-productive for us as a nation.
Promise Amahah
CEO Mainstay Agro Allied Services Ltd, [email protected]
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.
BUSINESS
Revenue: 122 Agencies Fail To Remit N1.2tn Surpluses
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 4:53:12 AM
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has said 122 Federal Government agencies have failed to remit N1.2 trillion operating surpluses to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
The Acting Chairman of the commission, Barr. Victor
Muruako, disclosed this at a management retreat, saying the unremitted revenue are often mismanaged.
Muruako, disclosed this at a management retreat, saying the unremitted revenue are often mismanaged.
“Today, our records still show that most of the 122 agencies of Government are in default of more than N1.2 trillion which can fund a substantial portion of the FGN budget deficit if remitted in line with Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007.
“These sums are calculated from the already submitted end of year audited accounts of the defaulting agencies, which means the monies can be traced and recovered,†he said.
Muruako said FRC has caused these Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) to remit over N1.7tn to the CRF, but noted that the Commission was starving of funds as it only has N380 million in the 2020 budget to operate with.
On curbing these unremitted surpluses, he said: “The Commission has insisted that only if the government can implement the FRC’s recommendations of reining in more GOEs in the Schedule of the FRA, 2007, there might be no need for the government to go borrowing to fund the budget.â€
The FRC boss also said from the initial 31 corporations captured by the Act, 92 other firms have been added by the Ministry of Finance based on FRC’s recommendations, which caused GOEs to remit the N1.7tn to the CRF.
nnamdi azikiwe airport abuja
BUSINESS
Air Passengers Groan As Portal Slows COVID-19 Test Payment
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 4:48:19 AM
International passengers are frustrated over the slow portal process for paying to get tested for COVID-19, making them spend longer hours, with some missing their flights.
Part of the international flight protocol since Saturday according to the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, is that passengers must pay N42,500 online for the test and airlines must present the evidence.
The maiden Ethiopian Airline flight after about five months of suspension of international flight arrived in Abuja with 120 passengers and 13 crew members on Monday at 1:34pm and was treated to a ceremonial water-cannon by FAAN Fire Service department.
But lamenting, Mr. Richard Matela, a passenger from Kinshasa, Congo said: “The paper and administrative works are hectic. I spent six hours at the airport just struggling to fill the forms online. I completed the form but the system isn’t working properly. I had to call my people here in Nigeria to do whatever they could do to help me fill the online forms and get the proof of payment.â€
He suggested that passengers should pay on arrival rather than pay at the point of departure; but he commended FAAN over the COVID-19 protocols at the airport.
“The COVID-19 protocols at the airport are good. The officials are strict. I have passed through Ghana and Ethiopian but what I saw in Abuja was the best.â€
Another passenger, Joe Ogwu who came in from London, said: “It’s a horrible experience with the portal. It took several hours before they could let us go. We paid N42,500 for the COVID-19 test. In the UK it was a free test,†he said.
The MD of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN), Capt. Rabiu Yadudu who was at the airport to monitor the flight arrival said: “The resumption of international flight is a life saver for the Aviation industry.â€
Yadudu however said so far there were no challenges with the protocols, and that passengers have been working with the protocols. He was also happy with the cooperation.
BUSINESS
Importers Get 30 Days To Clear 164 Abandoned Containers
SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 AT 4:44:45 AM
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday gave importers a 30-day notice to clear over time goods in 164 containers abandoned at the ports or forfeit them to the Federal Government
In a notice published by the Service, it said the containers-load of goods were domiciled at the Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML) in Lagos.
“Accordingly, importers and agents of the overtime goods are given a 30 days grace period from the date of publication to process and clear their goods or forfeit the same to the Federal Government of Nigeria,†NCS said.
Customs said it gave the notice on July 10, 2020 and had published it on Monday “for the information of the public.†It has also gazetted the information on the overtime containers.
The Service said it was acting in line with Section 97 (8) of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA).
Reacting, President of Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, asked Customs to enquire why some containers are not cleared, especially as some importers abandon their cargoes when frustrated by the clearing process.
“Some of these containers may have issues with other agencies and as a result of which they are abandoned. At times it might be as a result of multiple charges. Government agencies who also have overlapping functions with Customs might decide to hold on to these containers.
“Some of the owners may be staying abroad and may not know about this development. At times it might not be because of money,†he said.
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Abdulsh
Searching Of Insurgents
~2.8 mins read
Soldiers on Tuesday arrested Benue State most wanted militia kingpin, Terwase Akwasa, popularly known as “Gana†near Yandev roundabout in Gboko Local Government Area of the state.
However, the military authorities announced that he was subsequently killed in a fire fight with soldiers.
Daily Trust reports that Gana, alongside some of his gang members were intercepted while being conveyed by the council of Sankera traditional rulers from Katsina-Ala town to Makurdi to be granted amnesty. Governor Samuel Ortom told newsmen at a press conference about 8:30 pm that over 172 of the outlaws embraced the amnesty and were being brought for formal presentation to the state security council before the soldiers took away Gana and many others.
“We heard that some soldiers intercepted them after they took off from Katsina-Ala, at a roadblock near Yandev roundabout.
“Gana, who was among them was apprehended alongside several others and taken away in their vehicle.
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