Category: Uncategorized

By Osagie Otabor, Akure

The Ondo State Security Network also known as the Amotekun Corps on Thursday confirmed that some herdsmen have started leaving the state’s forest reserves for other neighbouring states.

It said those that agreed to leave could not cope with the terms and conditions of the state government.

The Amotekun Corps said its officials are deployed to escort the herders with their cows to the state borders.

Commander of the Ondo Amotekun Corps, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who stated this, said 37 herders and 5, 000 cows were arrested in the past two weeks for violating the orders of the state government of vacating the forest reserves in the state.

Chief Adeleye said his men were still in the forest to ensure other erring herders leave.

Adeleye stated that some of the herdsmen said they could not cope with the terms and conditions of the state government and opted to move out of the state peacefully.

READ ALSO: OPC drums up support for Amotekun

According to him, “Some of them have opted to leave the state because they couldn’t meet with our terms and conditions. They came through, the Chairman of Miyatti Allah in the state. Some opted to go to Osun, Edo and Kogi States. So our men escorted them to the boundaries of those states. We have to monitor their movements out of the state so that they would not destroy farms on their way out.

“About 37 herders have been arrested with about 5, 000 cows. Majority of the herders have been coming to us through their chairman and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Hausa Matters. We will hand over the culprits to the chairman to lead them out and anybody caught again after this would be arrested and prosecuted.”

On what happened to farmers whose crops were recently destroyed by herders, Chief Adeleye urged farmers to promptly report to his office.

“It is always difficult for us to trace the herders after they had destroyed the farms but if we are called upon during the act, we will make arrest and ensure that the herders pay for what they destroyed.”

Our Reporter

Impressed by the extension of the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, the Chairman of Executive Group and Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr Ayo Ogunsan, has hailed the police boss, describing his achievements as unrivaled, while thanking President Mohammadu Buhari for the gestures.

Recall that, yesterday, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammad Dingyadi, who briefed State House correspondents, yesterday, at the presidential villa, had disclosed that “Mr President has decided that Adamu will continue to serve as the IGP for the next three months, to allow for a robust and efficient process of appointing a new one. This is not unconnected to the desire of Mr. President to, not only have a smooth handover, but to also ensure the right officer is appointed into that position. Mr. President is extending by three months to allow him get into the process of allowing a new one.”

In a recent statement, Ogunsan, showering encomium on Adamu, said: “Upon assuming office, the indefatigable IGP had demonstrated courage in leadership by blaming the rot in the force on weak leadership — a view which largely shows his commitment to leave the system better than how he met it.

“This tenure extension is a well deserved one, going by the unrivaled achievements of IGP Adamu which has shown in all areas, including a boost of the morale of the officers and men of the force, via programmed geared towards capacity building.

“For a stronger and better democracy, officers and men have been well trained for election operations as well as other civil matters of national importance.

“Although banditry remains a key challenge in present day Nigeria, he has continued to do his best in ensuring that the vandals and cannibals are totally wiped out of the land.

“The police boss, to a large extent, has always advocated for a well reformed policing system that will rub off on the Police Council, Police Service Commission and the Ministry of Police Affairs in all ramifications.

“In a bid to reform the police, some of his achievements which make the tenure extension a well deserved one include but not limited to enhancement of operational capacity with the procurement of patrol vehicles including 46 police smart surveillance (CCTV Camera-on-the Move) vehicles, tactical operations vehicles fitted with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment, armoured personnel carriers; troop carriers and seven nnti-riot water cannon trucks.

“Under the visionary and focused IGP Adamu, the country has recorded the establishment of the Nigeria Police National Command and Control Centre (NPF-C4i), first phase of the Nigerian Police Crime and Incident Data Centre (NPC & IDB).

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The recent renovation and commissioning of dilapidated police barracks and newly constructed blocks of residence for the officers is also a remarkable one worth the mention.

“It has been two years of having a visionary cop redefining policing and it seems plausible to conclude that his sterling performance is closely tied to his policing experience, no doubt.

Lauding the president over the decision he described as “thoughtful”, Ogunsan added that, “such thoughtful decision by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, is worth a round of applause. For a police boss whose hallmark for leadership is excellence, the present administration couldn’t have thought less than extending the tenure of a resilient, diligent and hardworking personality.”

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Our Reporter

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur has urged humanitarian partners to support the state government by investing more in psychosocial support for children and teachers.

He said that would lead to a better learning outcome for the children.

Kadafur said this on Thursday in Maiduguri during the handing over the event of 48 newly reconstructed classrooms, furniture and 24 toilets by the United Nations Children’s Fund to the state government.

“We have a well-known history of conflict and its impact on the education sector. Development partners came in at the right time and they have been supporting us. We are imploring them to do more with psychosocial support for children and our teachers,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the event, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Borno, Phuong Nguyen, said the new classrooms and toilet facilities would directly benefit 6,000 children and 58 teachers, reduce overpopulation and protect learners from the COVID-19 pandemic.

She noted that the project was part of a three-year European Union-funded intervention that would provide 50,000 children in the state with access to learning in a safe environment. Nguyen who commended the European Union added that learning facilities in the benefiting schools were in various states of disrepair prior to the commencement of the project.

“Our partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement and the State Universal Basic Education Board has today resulted in the reconstruction of 48 classrooms and 24 latrines in 24 schools in Borno State. With continuous support from the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, the initial target of 56 classrooms and 36 latrines in 30 schools will be met at the end of this month.

READ ALSO:UNICEF drums support for conflict-affected children in Borno

“I am excited for the 6,000 children and 58 teachers who will benefit from this intervention in these schools. We want to have a generation of children who have the skills and the knowledge they need to thrive. Children in the state have faced unique challenges, from conflict, displacement, food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic. But we know that schools are safety nets for children and an opportunity to reimagine a better future.,’’ she said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner, Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Alhaji Mustapha Gubio said the project would help in reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state. He further called on the State Universal Basic Education Board to ensure that the facilities are well-maintained to advance the cause of education.

Our Reporter

Sony Pictures Television’s (“SPT”) international production division has today announced an exclusive first-look deal with EbonyLife Media, Nigeria’s premium media conglomerate.

The deal sees SPT get the exclusive first look on all new EbonyLife-controlled scripted television projects created, originated, or developed by or for EbonyLife and intended for global audiences.

EbonyLife Media, which includes EbonyLife TV, EbonyLifeFilms, and EbonyLife Studios, believes in creating original and inspiring content that showcases a pioneering and progressive Africa. The content is strongly rooted in Africa and connected to a global audience, through a shared identity and common values. EbonyLife Media’s vision is to be the most influential storyteller of a new Africa.

Mo Abudu, Chief Executive Officer, EbonyLife Media, says, “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Sony Pictures Television over the last few years, and we are so pleased to be deepening our partnership with them. Taking African storytelling to global audiences is something we are very passionate about, and this new opportunity with Sony gives us a chance to reach massive audiences worldwide with our scripted TV series. So get ready – we are coming to entertain and thrill you!”

“We are delighted to be broadening our relationship with Mo and the team at EbonyLife, who have created some of the most compelling and successful content in all of Africa. We’re excited to have the opportunity to help bring their soulful African storytelling to platforms serving a global audience,” said Nina Lederman, EVP Global Scripted Development for Sony Pictures Television.

This is the second deal that SPT has done with EbonyLife, following the announcement of a three-project co-development/production deal in 2018. The first project announced as part of that development deal is a series inspired by the story of the Dahomey Warriors.

The two year exclusive first-look deal commenced in January 2021.

Our Reporter

In furtherance of its efforts towards providing a more efficient power solution, the Lagos State has initiated moves to drive the use of cleaner energy to power the booming ICT sector.

This was made known at the Ministry of Energy & Mineral resources, the first stakeholders’ virtual roundtable with the ICT industry on Thursday.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Engr. Olalere Odusote, emphasised the importance of the ICT sector in achieving the State’s ambitions of becoming a Smart City and a 21st-century economy as evidenced by the ongoing deployment of 6000km of fiber optic cables across the State.

Olalere said, “Lagos has the highest density of ICT infrastructure in Nigeria, and the sector accounts for about 410,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum in the State.

“Collaborate with the State on its journey towards a low carbon economy by embracing cleaner energy sources such as Solar, Wind, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The current administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is focused on providing the leadership and the enabling environment and is crafting the appropriate policies to support this transition.

In her contribution, the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr, Adedolapo Fasewa, noted that Lagos State “is committed to supporting Nigeria to achieve the objective of net-zero emission target by 2050 under the C40 Cities Alliance alongside 9 other African cities.”

READ ALSO: Court upholds Okada, Keke Marwa restriction in Lagos

She stated that to attain and surpass these lofty goals in Lagos, the state requires full commitment and collaboration of all stakeholders.

According to the Group CEO of Viathan Engineering, Mr. Habeeb Alebiosu, “The roundtable provided a great opportunity for Viathan to highlight the appropriate clean energy solutions suitable for the ICT industry and for the general public.”

Alebiosu highlighted that Viathan operates a number of power plants in Lagos adding that its environs deploying only natural gas and other renewable forms of energy would reduce CO2 emissions which adversely affects the environment.

He stressed that other ICT and Telecoms organisations should take advantage and be connected to Viathan’s network for round the clock power availability with no consequences to their technology and equipment.