The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Bidding Oshiomhole farewell

    The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting last Tuesday stood still for out-going governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The governor was attending his last NEC meeting as his eight years tenure will expire on November 12 when he will officially hand over the reins of power to the governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki.

    The NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commended Oshiomhole for his successful two terms and positive impact on his state, his great contributions in the Council and his high performances in other national assignments given to him during his tenure.

    The Council was also impressed with the role he played in the campaign period leading to the election of Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Members were particularly delighted that Oshiomhole was able to ensure that the ruling party, APC did not lose its only state in the Southsouth geo-political zone to the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He successfully kept the opposition’s power brokers in the state at bay and prevented the claws of the PDP from grabbing the number one seat in Edo thrice.

    Against all odds, he flushed out the PDP from power in 2008, defeated the party when he contested for second term in 2012 and played a major role in the emergence of Obaseki in 2016.

    The Council ended up giving Oshiomhole, who attended his last NEC meeting with Obaseki, a standing ovation.

    It also ensured that Oshiomhole was part of the three governors that briefed State House correspondents at the end of NEC meeting last Tuesday.

    Shedding light on what transpired during the NEC’s closed-door meeting, Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow said: “As you are aware we just concluded the NEC meeting and one of the issues we discussed is on the exit of our brother, whom I regard as my uncle, Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    “It is going to be the last time he is going to attend the NEC. We all know his reputation, especially when it comes to integrity, honesty and commitment to his people in Edo State.

    “We are going to miss him. And we hope Almighty Allah will  protect him, give him good health and long life because we all know what Governor Adams Oshiomhole has done in this country even during his labour time up to his time as executive governor of Edo State.

    “And by the grace of God, He will also lift him to come and do another national assignment. All of us prayed for him and his family and we gave him three kudos and a standing ovation.

    “We all clapped for him for almost twenty minutes because, like I said earlier, Adams Oshiomhole is a man of his words and we are going to miss him greatly.” He stated

    But the exit of Oshiomhole from the NEC last week may not be for too long as some Nigerians already believed that he may be compensated with a ministerial job.

    If their wishes come through and Oshiomhole happened to get a portfolio of one of the ministries that are members of NEC, then he will just return to be a regular face in NEC.

    But if Oshiomhole does not become a cabinet member soon, other Nigerians believed that he will emerge the National Chairman of the APC in no distant time.

    No matter where the pendulum swings to, it seemed that Oshiomhole will not really be idle in the coming months.

     

    Oil to the rescue

     

    With the dwindling revenue from oil as a result its falling prices in the international market, the Nigerian economy have been battered since the beginning of this administration.

    The economy crumbled because Nigeria’s economy was over 90 percent dependent on oil revenues.

    There is hardly any household in the country especially among the low and medium income earners that has no ugly story to tell about the current economic challenges.

    The teeming unemployed youths, without any means of income, are definitely going through the worst times of their lives.

    But President Mohammadu Buhari believed that the same oil industry could still be exploited to quickly reflate the economy.

    Buhari, while launching the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Roadmap tagged ‘The 7 Big Wins’ at the old Banquet Hall of the State House last Thursday said: “The Petroleum industry remains critical to the Nigerian economy of today and the future, despite our current challenges.

    “The golden era of high oil prices may not be here now, but Oil and Gas resources still remain the most immediate and practical keys out of our present economic crisis.

    “Oil and Gas still remain a critical enabler for the successful implementation of our budget as well as the source of funds for laying a strong foundation for a new and more diversified economy.

    “As important as it is to ensure that Agriculture, Solid minerals and other critical sectors of the economy are supported to grow and contribute more to the nation’s economy, we still need a virile and efficient oil & gas industry to take care of our foreign exchange requirements.

    “This is a national imperative and a core thrust of our economic policy. Therefore, the task before the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is to maximise the potentials and opportunities across the whole range of the Oil and Gas industry to stimulate our economy in spite of the current challenges.

    “To do this certainly requires creativity, innovation, technology and robust partnership amongst various stakeholders.

    “If we are able to plug the leakages, and tighten loose systems that characterized this industry in the days of high oil prices, we are convinced that we can do even more with the little that we are getting at the moment than we did even in the time of plenty.” He stated

    The seven big wins, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, planned to deploy to change the oil industry and by extension boosting the Nigerian economy include Policy and Regulation, Business Environment and Investment Drive.

    Others are Gas Revolution, Refineries and Local Production capacity, Niger Delta and Security, Transparency and Efficiency and Stakeholder Management  & International Co-ordination.

    It is hoped that the 7 big wins will really be big and quick enough to salvage the economy at this hard times.

    The nation urgently needed this as other measures to reflate the economy like diversification into agriculture and solid minerals development will still take more time for Nigerians to start seeing their tangible results.

  • Abuja hosts book presentation

    The Federal Capital Territory will host the presentation of a book on the life and times of one of Nigeria’s foremost oil engineers, Dan Madu Nzelu as part of activities to commemorate his 10th anniversary.

    Many prominent Nigerians are expected to grace the event which has been scheduled to hold at the prestigious Shehu Musa Yar’Adua centre in the nation’s capital on November 3, 2016 to honour one of Nigeria’s finest oil engineers.

    In a press statement issued on behalf of the family by Mr. Emeka Nzelu , stressed that the book presentation authored by a seasoned writer, Mr. Jimmy Imo is one of the activities line-up to mark the 10th anniversary of late Nzelu.

    Other activities to commemorate the event include hosting of indigent widows by Nzelu’s Foundation on November 5, 2016, at Aboji village in Oba Idemilli south Local Government Area of Anambra State and thanksgiving service on November 6, 2016, at St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Oba, Idemilli South Local Government Area of the state.

    The statement further stated that the book presentation is a biography of Nzelu who during his tenure as the Managing Director of Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) which was the arm of NNPC turned around the oil sector.

    “Engr. Dan Madu Nzelu was one of the most successful managers of NNPC’s big project in his time. He took over the project leadership of NNPC’s Escravos-Lagos pipeline (ELP) project (which feeds Egbin Power Station with Natural Gas) and gave the project a new impetus. The task was daunting as the route of the pipeline traversed difficult terrains such as swamps, big rivers and the ever busy Benin-Lagos Expressway.

    “Some sections of the forest which ELP passed through looked like no human activity had ever being there. On one occasions, he had to sleep inside his SUV in the forest when the swampy terrain held the vehicle unit help came the next day.

     

  • 71 inmates get WAEC certificates

    There was wild jubilation at the Kuje Medium Prison as no fewer than 71 inmates of the prison inmates were presented with their November/December West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificates.

    Meanwhile, the prison population now stands at 781 with awaiting trial inmates hitting a total number of 570 while the number of convicted inmates stands at 211.

    Speaker after speaker, some of the inmates candidates that sat for the examination at the Kuje Prison Centre explained how their misfortune has turned into fortune, admitting that they would not have had the opportunity with the distractions outside the prison.

    According to the statistics, out of a total number of 74 candidates registered in the November/December 2015 WAEC Examination, 71 candidates sat for the examination while three candidates were discharged before the commencement of the exam.

    “Out of the 71 candidates that sat for the examination, 65 results were released while six results were held by the exam board. Out of the 65 released result, the Kuje Prison center recorded a total number of 38 distinctions, 166 Credits, 211 passes and 111 failures,” the Education Desk Officer, Adikwu A Owoicho, noted.

    Enumerating the challenges facing the inmates from exploiting education opportunities, the authority said: “We appreciate the efforts of all the churches, NGOs like NUGA BEST, and individuals that made the programme a reality since its inception from 2010 through their countless support and prayers.

    “We still want to point out the following challenges affecting the overall performance of the candidates.

    Lack of teachers in the various subject areas like mathematics, English, Chemistry, CRK/IRS, Geography, History, Accounting, Government etc. Txt books in the above mentioned subjects, teaching materials while board, markers, birds, pencils, A4 papers etc, plastic chairs and tables,” he noted.

  • The fear of evil spirits

    Ever since the write-up of the former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, and another confirming analysis by former spokesman on Public Affairs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Femi Fani-Kayode, hit the social media early last week on how evil spirits operate in the Presidential Villa, the two accounts appeared to be scaring the hell out of some staff at the seat of power.

    The stories seem to be having effects on their psyche and fast changing their habits. Some of them who normally work late into the nights have suddenly stopped. And others who have no choice than to work late have devised various methods to survive.

    Digressing a bit, the staff and visitors car parks in the State House, like have been mentioned on this page before, have been named by some staff according to the car parks’ remoteness or nearness to the administration gate, which is by the main entrance to the President’s and Vice President’s offices.

    They were named after the areas and bus stops from the seat of power in the three arms zone in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through to the road linking the neighboring Mararaba community in Nasarawa State. The various car parks within the pilot gate were named ‘Maitama,’ ‘Asokoro,’ ‘AYA,’ ‘Nyanya,’ and ‘Mararaba.’

    The one called ‘Maitama’ is the closest and within the administrative gate and it is supposed to provide car park spaces for staff on level 14 and above. The other car parks are farther away from the administrative gate. Bordering all these car parks, on one side, is a stretch of thick forest, where various animals inhabit.

    Staff and visitors would have preferred to park close to the administration gate but for lack of space as the car parks closer to the gate get filled up from 9 a.m.

    One of the new methods some of the staff closing late at night have adopted is that those that parked their cars at the remote places like ‘Nyanya’ and ‘Mararaba’ now move in twos and more numbers to their cars. Those that get to their cars first continue to warm the car engine and delayed a bit in their cars for their colleagues to get into theirs.

    Like in a convoy, they drove out of the Presidential Villa one car closely behind the other or to say it as commonly said by Nigerians ‘bumper to bumper.’

    It was not easy to link the new trend last week Monday and Tuesday to the write-ups by Abati and Fani-Kayode until last Wednesday.

    Two ladies closing late on Wednesday night and going to the car park together happened to be discussing the Abati and Fani-Kayode’s write-ups.

    One of them said she believed the stories were true considering the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s travail, who was sick and went through one surgical operation to the other and miraculously became well after her husband lost the 2015 Presidential election.

    She also said she was convinced that Fani-Kayode’s analysis of leaders who died or lost a spouse after three years in the Villa was not ordinary.

    The other lady then brought another dimension to the discussion and said that the evil spirits could even be living in the monkeys, peacocks, bats, tortoise and other animals they see around the seat of power.

    Scaringly, they gazed towards the thick forest as they rushed to their cars parked at ‘Mararaba’ car park. They moved out of the Villa together.

     

    Buhari, wife and political appointments

     

    Is the role of the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, purely to manage the home of the President or to additional support her husband towards ensuring smooth sail of the ship of state to its desired destination.

    That is one of the questions on the lips of many Nigerians in the past few days.

    It is no longer news that the questions were thrown up by the recent interview Aisha granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Buhari’s reaction to the interview.

    Aisha had declared in the interview that Buhari’s government had been hijacked by a “few people”, who did not play any role in his emergence as the democratic President of Nigeria.

    She also maintained that the President didn’t know most of the officials he had appointed.

    The wife of the President also feared that the reactions of millions of Nigerian youths that brought the government to power would not be pleasant if the government derails from its promises to Nigerians.

    If things continue the way they are, Aisha in the interview, also warned that she will not back Buhari in the next election if he decides to contest for second term in 2019.

    But Mr. President, who was on a three-day visit to Germany was said to have responded ‘jokingly’ to the interview.

    He had responded with: “I don’t know which party my wife belongs to, but my wife belongs to my kitchen and my living room and the other room.”

    The interviews generated hot discussions among Nigerians not only on the social media, but at homes, motor parks, markets, newspapers’ stands and commuter vehicles.

    While some believed that the place of a wife is solely to manage the home and respect her husband in line with cultural and traditional demands, others saw the need for the wife to do more to ensure the husband is on course and succeeds in any chosen field.

    Some of them pointed out that the husband is the head of a home, while the wife is the neck to the head providing support and right direction.

    To douse the tension, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who was on the trip with the President to Germany, addressed a press conference in Abuja last week Sunday to say that the President’s remark was misunderstood and that it was just a joke.

    Less than twelve hours after Okorocha’s explanation, another interview granted by the President to Deutsche Welle in Germany was aired repeating more or less what he said in the earlier interview.

    The second interview made some Nigerians believed that the President was not joking with his response.

    But whether the President was joking or not, some changes were made barely one week after Aisha’s interview.

    Names of forty-six ambassadorial nominees, possibly capturing those who worked for Mr. President’s election, were forwarded to the Senate last Thursday for screening and approval.

    While so many praises have been coming the way of Aisha, she was particularly selected last week by a group, the Association of Good Leadership Advocate Peace Development Lagos, as the Woman of the Year 2016 for her boldness to tell her husband the truth about the feelings of Nigerians.

    Only time will tell if the ambassadorial appointments will help to calm the dust raised or whether the cabinet will be reshuffled soon to give room for more qualified Nigerians that worked for the emergence of the administration.

  • Minister to police: remove roadblocks

    To reduce traffic bottlenecks in Abuja metropolis, the police have been urged to remove the remaining road barricades around some of its formations in the Federal Capital City since the security situation has tremendously improved.

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, gave this charge in his office when the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, AIG Salisu Abdullahi Mohammed Fagge paid him a courtesy call as part of his familiarization tour of FCT Police Command.

    The Minister said that other members of the security community in the FCT have since taken measures to remove or to reduce their road barricades and therefore the police should do the needful to further improve vehicular movement.

    Bello urged the police and other security agencies in the Territory to take the knotty issue of traffic indiscipline more seriously; stressing that Abuja must remain the pacesetter in the country since it is the only city that is a product of law in Nigeria.

    He also urged the police high command to direct the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to as a matter of priority stop the activities of commercial motorcyclists and scavengers in their areas of jurisdictions; in addition to restricting the movement of Keke Napep to the estates.

    The Minister said that this responsibility should not be left to the Task Force alone, as it is equally the primary responsibility of the Police to fight crime in whatever form.

    “One of my greatest concerns in running the city and the Territory is traffic indiscipline by motorists, the use of motorcycles (okada) within the city and the use of the tricycle popularly called Keke Napep in unapproved areas,” the Minister emphasised.

    He said, “My appeal to you is to direct all your DPOs, since every area is under somebody. Direct them that motorcycles and keke Napep are not allowed within so and so areas of Abuja. We also have these scavengers. They are not allowed by our laws.”

    Bello also directed the security agents to closely monitor activities in uncompleted buildings to ensure that only the security guard employed by the owner is staying in such places.

    While asking the police to encourage community policing in the Territory, the Minister noted that monitoring of uncompleted buildings would go a long way to assist in always nipping in the bud any criminal activity at its embryo stage.

    Malam Bello thus, called for deployment of more Police personnel into the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that Abuja, which is the window in which the world sees Nigeria, is better policed.

    His words: “More people move into the Federal Capital Territory on a daily basis and some hardly go back, therefore we need more police personnel to man the city”.

    He promised to continue to support all the security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory to perform their statutory duties as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “I want to use this medium to thank the Police Force most sincerely for the support that we have always enjoyed. There is no doubt that policing in the FCT is something that is very important by virtue of Abuja being the seat of government of the federation and where we host the President and the diplomatic community”, he added.

    Speaking earlier, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, AIG Salisu Abdullahi Mohammed Fagge said that he was deployed to the zone last month and from the briefs he has been receiving the FCT Police Command has been doing very well.

    He assured that the Police would be proactive in their approach to the policing of the citizenry and appreciated the support the FCT police command has been receiving from the FCT Administration.

    The Nigeria Police Force zone 7 comprises the Federal Capital Territory, Niger and Kaduna states.

  • FCTA to clean up abattoirs

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has announced plans to begin an intensive clean-up of all abattoirs in the Territory.

    This followed an approval by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, for the clean-up exercise, aimed at guaranteeing public health safety, particularly meat consumers.

    Accordingly, the ARDS plans to embark on more sensitisation campaign, to create adequate public awareness on the objectives of the clean-up.

    The Acting Secretary of the Agric Secretariat, Dr. Musa Aliyu has visited Karu and Kubwa abattoirs where he sued for cooperation of butchers in the FCT.

    He stressed that the clean-up exercise was in the best interest of butchers, as it will help to eliminate encumbrances in their operations.

    Over time, various abattoirs had been associated with unwholesome practices in meat-handling and poor sanitary conditions within the environment as well as non-standardization of their operations.

    Also, in many of the facilities, some operators erected illegal structures that became a base for prohibited activities and hideout for criminals, drug peddlers and commercial sex workers.

  • Council chair decries Utako Market rot

    The Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon Abdullahi Adamu Candido has bemoaned the deplorable state of Utako ultra-modern Market.

    He said the market is generally in a poor state, and “this is not the intention of the initiator of this concept, so we must come back to the real intention of the market.”

    To this end, the AMAC chairman urged the management of the market, the unified managers in the market and associations of the traders to do all it could to fix the market within the next three months.

    Speaking while leading top AMAC officials on an unscheduled inspection of the market, Candido lamented that the market had become very dirty and unorganised, which the council  can’t tolerate any longer.

    He said, “From the findings by the management committee we set up for the market, our assessment has not changed, as the market is still in its deplorable state.

    “Therefore, we have decided that we cannot continue to allow this market initiated with good intention to go the other way round, so we have to ensure that there is proper measures will be put in place, in order to bring back the lost glory of the market.

    “Also, you are hereby urged to ensure that all the identified makeshift shops put in place in the market through fraudulent acts, should be done away with. Get us the payment tellers, and let’s see whose account got money from the concerned traders; and their money must be refunded back to them.

    “Because it was a fraud, and whoever was behind the erection of makeshift shops will be prosecuted, irrespective of status or position, in as much as we have discovered that it was fraud, as it was never designed and approved by the council. We will never allow our traders to be shortchanged.”

    He continued, saying, “I will hand over the market to the standing committee on market of the Legislative arm, because they make the laws, which we abide by. The elected councilors will be working in synergy with the Council Market Management Committee, to tidy up and standardise the market.”

  • Film Village boss makes case for filmmakers

    The Managing Director, Abuja Film Village International (AFVI) Ltd, Mr. Segun Oyekunly has called for more support for indigenous filmmakers so as to pave the way for qualitative documentation of socially relevant issues in the country.

    In particular, the AVFI boss said that stakeholders in the film industry are in dire need of financial backing, to enable them churn out good films on contemporary trends, for entertainment and enlightenment of both local and international audiences.

    Oyekunly made the call while declaring open an American Film showcase at the 2016 Abuja International Film Festival held last week.

    The Film Showcase was reportedly presented by the Embassy of the United States of America, in collaboration with AFVI Ltd, where audiences were engaged on contemporary issues aptly captured in American independent documentaries and narrative films.

  • From the Villa- Enter Jonathan’s Queens

    History was made on October 8, 2016 when the first set of female regular course combatant cadets passed out from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

    A total number of 19 female cadets were part of the newly commissioned officers at the Professor Yakubu Mahmud Multi-purpose Hall on the NDA premises.

    They excelled both in the classroom and in the field drills and trainings alongside their male counterparts.

    Such feat had never been achieved in the 52 years of the Academy.

    Through former President Goodluck Jonathan’s belief that whatever a man can do, a woman can do better and should be given the opportunity to excel, the female cadets for the first time were admitted for regular course at the NDA under his tenure five years ago.

    As new entrants to the Academy, Jonathan was always very proud of the female regular combatant cadets as he never failed to showcase them anytime he had a major function in the country, showing how his administration had promoted gender equality in the country.

    In the book titled ‘Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: Champion for Women’ released by his cabinet at the tail end of his administration, the female combatant cadets were referred to as Jonathan’s Queens.

    The book on page 41 reads: “It took the historic vision of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to change that (admission for only men), with the directive that the NDA should admit its first female Regular Combatant cadets in 2011.

    “Therefore, as part of his far-sighted and principled decisions regarding women, the 63rd Regular Combatant Course (63 RC) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) saw 20 female officer cadets take their places on the course alongside 155 male counterparts.”

    The book also revealed that Itunu Hotonu became the first female Rear Admiral in the Nigerian Navy and in Africa in December, 2010 under Jonathan.

    It also disclosed that a 28-year-old Blessing Liman became the first female military pilot in the Nigerian Air Force in December, 2011, also under Jonathan.

    No administration before Jonathan that preached gender equality ever intervened to promote admission of female regular course cadets in NDA.

    At the parade ground on October 8 where the cadets stood still, did silent drills, slow and quick march for over six hours under the scorching sun, none of the graduating female cadets showed any sign of weakness.

    They were tough, if not tougher than their male counterparts that graduated in the class of 63rd regular course cadets.

    As a result of their toughness, they equaled the number of male cadets that excelled and won awards during their five years training in the school.

    President Muhammadu Buhari at the passing out parade presented the awards to three male and three female cadets that performed excellently well.

    A male cadet, A.D Mohammed won three awards including the Sword of Honour award, the Commandant’s award and the Army Gold award.

    A female cadet, C. Lord-Mallam won the Navy Gold award while another male cadet, M. U Aminu won the Air Force Gold award.

    The Army Silver award went to a female cadet, K. O Dayo-Karim while P. E Miyaptong, a male cadet, won the Navy Silver award. The Air Force Silver award was won by a female cadet, O. S Ijelu.

    All the graduating 63rd regular course cadets, comprising 59 personnel for the Nigerian Army, 40 for the Nigerian Navy and 29 for the Nigerian Air Force, were conferred with presidential commission, ministered oath of allegiance and also received the flag of allegiance.

    President Buhari was very elated by the smartness, silent drills, march past and parade by the graduating cadets.

    He said: “The excellent parade we have just witnessed is a testimony to the high standard of training and discipline the Academy has set. I, therefore, commend the Commandant, instructors and gentlemen officer cadets for this outstanding parade.

    “Today’s Passing Out Parade has an added significance because, for the first time in 52 years, this Academy is graduating female cadets who will be commissioned as regular officers into the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    “While congratulating these soon-to-be pioneer female Regular Combatant officers for their courage and resilience in the past 5 years, I advise the Services to put in place adequate institutional mechanisms to evaluate the deployment or otherwise of our female officers in active combat roles.  But we must be careful to carry public opinion with us and respect cultural sensitivities.

    “To the passing out cadets, I want to observe that you are graduating into the Armed Forces at a very auspicious time when the gains of several years of sacrifice by our troops are being consolidated.  You are indeed moving into a path of honour, sacrifice and responsibility.

    “You are also moving to the next level having been found worthy in learning and character to move from being Cadets to officers. Therefore, as you step out of this noble institution, your character will determine how far you can go.

    “Endeavour to be patriotic and exhibit the highest level of discipline and loyalty to one Nigeria.  Above all you must strive to keep to the tenets of the profession by remaining apolitical.  You are also required to exhibit the highest sense of integrity, patriotism and exemplary service to the nation and its people.

    “Gentlemen and Lady officer cadets, today you have entered a new chapter in your life.  I can assure you that it is going to be adventurous, turbulent but interesting. Your survival as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be dependent on the extent to which you are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during your academic and military training in this Academy.

    “You are expected to serve this country selflessly with loyalty and integrity and set new records of gallantry in the defence of our dear nation as former cadets from this Academy have done and are still doing in various military campaigns within and outside our dear country.

    “Our nation puts its trust in you and looks up to you with a lot of expectations which you must never betray.  You no longer belong to your parents or your family alone. You no longer belong to your village, town or state.  You now belong to the Nigerian nation and you will serve it selflessly and be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if the need arises.” He added

    Since the initial admission of female cadets for regular course in NDA five years ago, more ladies have been admitted for regular combatant course at the Academy.

    Only the sky can now be the limit for female military officers in Nigeria.

    With the progress they are making, Nigeria will start having female Chief of Defence Staff and also occupy other Service Chiefs’ positions not too long to come.

     

  • 16 herdsmen convicted, 36 cows impounded

    16 herdsmen convicted, 36 cows impounded

    Herdsmen who graze their cattle in the Abuja metropolis are being tried and convicted, report GBENGA OMOKHUNU and GRACE OBIKE

    The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Task Team on Environmental Sanitation have started arresting and prosecuting herdsmen grazing cattle in Abuja.

    In the seven days exercise so far, 36 cows and 38 sheep have been impounded, while 16 herdsmen have been arraigned and convicted before the Sanitation Mobile Court.

    The AEPB and the Task Team  tendered the impounded cows and sheep as exhibits to secure the conviction of the arrested herdsmen.

    According to a statement issued by the  Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the exercise is sequel to the directive of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the FCT Task Team on Environment to stop forthwith the grazing of cattle within Abuja metropolis.

    Those arrested have been made to face the consequences of their actions as they have paid various fines to serve as a deterrent to others with strong warning to desist from doing same.

    The exercise that commenced about a week ago by the AEPB and the Task Team on the instruction of the Minister is a continuous one.

    Meanwhile, peeved by the continued movement of cattle in Abuja metropolis in despite several warnings to their owners by the Federal Capital Territory Authorities, the Senate, through its Committee on FCT has asked residents of the area to, henceforth, slaughter cows found in the city centre.

    The directive was handed down to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, by Chairman of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye, (APC, Kogi West), when he appeared before the committee.

    Melaye, who gave the order in a speech read at the session, said it was very disappointing, annoying and embarrassing that despite the ban placed on cattle grazing in FCT by FCTA authority, some stubborn herdsmen were still moving cows along and across highways within the metropolis. He ordered the FCT Minister to go beyond the ban by facilitating the slaughtering order issued by the senate committee. Melaye told the minister, “the Senate is not happy at how herdsmen continue to move their cows across the city centre, which we are aware you had given directive against some time ago. “From now on, get knives and ask your men to slaughter cows found in the capital city or prosecute herdsmen seen with cows in the city centre with a fine of N50,000 per cow. This order must be carried out.”

    Melaye further revealed that the Senate was in receipt of complaints that some residents of the territory were converting their apartments into hotels and brothels, a situation he said was distorting the original master plan of the city. He noted that some people were already undermining FCT authority under his watch, which he said was unacceptable.