The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ACP

  • $11b lifeline for ACP slum dwellers

    Slum dwellers in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries may soon begin to breathe the air of a new dawn.

    This is predicated on the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP), for which $11 million has been secured.

    The PSUP is an initiative of the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States, funded by the European Commission and implemented by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

    UN-Habitat estimates that an alarming one billion people live in slums worldwide, and if no action is taken, the number of people living in this inadequate housing is estimated to grow to over three billion by 2030.

    This announcement was made at the 26th session of the UN-Habitat Governing Council, where opportunities for the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda, a 20-year plan of action on housing and sustainable urban development was discussed.

    “I am delighted to celebrate and announce the third round of funding for the global Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme,” said Ambassador Léonard-Emile Ognimba, the Assistant Secretary General of the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States.

    He further indicated that “10 million Euros will be used for 50 percent of the ACP countries. Going forward, we would like to see the strengthening of community-led processes, and empowerment of local and national governments to build their financial and technical capacity to tackle the slum challenge”.

    The funding covers 2017-2021 during which UN-Habitat is expected to leverage the $11 million and bring about the necessary change and transformation to end urban poverty in ACP countries in a sustainable way. The funds are also meant to catalyse public resources through slum upgrading.

    At the international level, the European Commission is exploring the European Union blending a modality where national level banks and private sector are approached to finance slum upgrading initiatives.

    “I can ensure you that UN-Habitat and the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme are fit for purpose to implement in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda. UNHabitat will do its level best to leverage the catalytic funds and bring about the necessary change and transformation to end urban poverty in ACP countries in a sustainable way with a long-term vision,” said Mr. Raf Tuts, the Director of Programme Division, UN-Habitat National and local authorities are also expected to co-finance the process.

    “The City of Dakar and my Ministry have signed contribution agreements totalling $300,000,” stated Diène Farba Sarr, Senegal’s Minister of Urban Renewal, Habitat and Living Environment, while showing his government’s engagement.

    Cameroon’s contribution to slum upgrading was also highlighted. “My government provided co-financing of $260,000 for the implementation of tangible initiatives at neighbourhood level,” said Jean Claude Mbwentchou.

    The interventions include provision of sanitation facilities and upgrading of public spaces that include the construction of public bridges in order to enhance access. An additional $200,000 was contributed by partners, added the Minister.

    Slums and informal settlements are the physical manifestations of inequalities, according to the UN-Habitat, adding that they stand for exclusion, stigmatisation, gentrification and urban poverty. While the percentage of slum dwellers decreased from 39 percent to 30 percent of the urban population in developing countries between 2000 and 2014 – absolute numbers of slum dwellers continue to grow.

  • Five suspected killers of ACP gunned down in Delta in duel with police

    FIVE suspected armed robbers were on Wednesday shot dead by a special police squad in Ughelli, the headquarters of Ughelli North council area of Delta state. The felled suspects, it was gathered, were part of a notorious armed criminals who are responsible for most of the robberies and kidnapping around the Ughelli axis of the state. The same gang was said to be behind the killing of ACP Usman Ndanbabo, the deceased Area Commander of the Ughelli police area command in the state, who was shot dead last Sunday.

    Police sources told the Nation that the suspects were killed in a gun battle with the special squad, which was specifically dispatched under the command of the state’s Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, to bring sanity back to the Ughelli area, which had assumed an usual notoriety in recent times. According to a source, “The hoodlums were just armed robbers trying to snatch the ACP Ndanbobo’s car. They shot him because he was trying to escape with the key of his car.

    They were after the car so they decided to shoot him to access the key”. Delta State Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, confirmed yesterday that five of the suspecteted killers had been shot dead. “The suspects have complicity in most robbery attacks and kidnappings within Ughelli and environs including the attack that led to the death of the Area Commander, Ughelli, ACP Usman Ndanbabo and yet to be seen DSP German Emmanuel who was declared missing since September 2016”, Ibrahim explained yesterday.

    The Police Boss said the suspects had confessed that they shot the officer (Ndanbobo) because he took flight with the keys of his Toyota Camry car with registration number EKP 05 AAX, which they had targeted to snatch. One of the escapee robbers, Ratty, later abandoned the car, which has since been recovered by the police. “Serious operations are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang”, Ibrahim disclosed.

  • Police quiz ACP over N2.7m bribe cash

    Police quiz ACP over N2.7m bribe cash

    There will be no cover-up in the case of the Assistant Commissioner of Police arrested with N2.7 million bribe cash, the Police said yesterday.

    The Head, Compliant Response Unit (CRU), Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)

    Abayomi Shogunle, said the police had taken all necessary actions provided in the Police Act and Regulations on the case.

    He said: “I don’t see anybody covering up this particular case because the necessary actions needed to be taken, the normal disciplinary procedure as provided under the Police Act and Regulations are being followed.”

    Shogunle said the indicted officer had been issued a query and a criminal investigation had been conducted by the X-squad.

    The officer, he added, had responded to the query and had faced the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), which had made its recommendations to Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

    He explained that the  I-G had been forwarded his recommendation to the Police Service Commission ( PSC) for ratification.

    “The processes needed have been done and all we are just waiting for is the recommendations of the PSC,” he said.

    He said it was when the Commission informed the I-G on the matter that the CRU would in turn inform the public on the matter.

    Shogunle said that I-G had directed the unit to ensure that it discharged its responsibilities without impunity in line with its motto.

    “One of the things the I-G has tasked the CRU, which is no to impunity, is that the unit should ensure that it upholds that motto,” he added.

    The report on the bribery scandal is in the third quarter report of the CRU The report said the recovery of the bribe cash followed a complaint made to the CRU through a telephone call.

    On alleged preferential treatment for senior officers, Shogunle said the unit had taken up all cases against all police officers irrespective of their ranks.

    “Probably, we get more complaints against the junior ranks because they interact more with members of the public.

    “They are the ones that are always out on the streets. So it is possible you will get more complaints against them than the senior officers.”

    Shogunle assured that all complaints irrespective of the ranks of the persons would be treated based on merit, adding that the rule of law would always prevail.

    The CRU head said that the inclusion of the X-squad unit of the police was yielding result.

    “One of the breakthroughs we have had as contained in the CRU third quarter report was actually done by the x-squad.

    “This is the kind of things the public should expect with the inclusion of the squad by the I-G in the fight against corruption,” he said.

    He said there was cordial working relationship between the Nigeria Police Force through the CRU and human rights groups in the country.

    “As a matter of fact, we have a committee made up of these organisations to review policing operations nationwide.

    “We hear from them issues of policing and also give them feedback on their cases that were handled by the CRU,” he said.

  • Police: no foul play in ACP’s death

    There is nothing suspicious in the death of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Osung Ekpo in a hotel swimming pool last Sunday – Valentine’s Day -, the Lagos State Command said yesterday.

    The police denied that the hotel had been sealed off and some persons arrested over the incident.

    The command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said there were plans to give the late officer a befitting burial.

    She said: “We don’t have any reason to seal off the hotel nor arrest its staff because we did not suspect any foul play. The officer visits the pool often because he lives close to the place so everyone in that place knows him very well.

    “The burial of the officer is not a Lagos police command burial alone, he is a very senior officer, an ACP.

    “The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters is involved in the plans. Already, a condolence register has been opened in his honour at the Area K Command Headquarters.”

    Ekpo was the Area Commander, Area K Police Command, Morogbo, Badagry.

  • Police ready for elections, says ACP

    Police ready for elections, says ACP

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Olumide Kayode, has said that the Police are ready for the coming March 28 and April 11 elections.

    He urged Nigerians to perform their civic responsibility of voting, assuring that the elections will be free fair and violence free.

    Kayode, who represented the Inspector General of Police, spoke at a workshop in Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja. It was organised by the Police Asistance Committee (PAC) and Association of Tradesmen/women and Artisans (ATA) of Nigeria.

    He urged Lagosians to cooperate with the police in ensuring that the state is secured.

    “You can call the police, send message or text them when you have information that will be of use to them. The issue of security in Nigeria is a joint effort of all and security will be possible if we all collaborate and be the eyes of the police,” he said.

    The Secretary to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Falade Lawson, called on the government and security agents to deploy more financial and human capital resources to the management of security.

    He said failure of good governance, issue of neglect, poverty and high rate of unemployment are some of the factors responsible for insecurity in our country.

    He said government can also curtail militancy by engaging the service of security experts, especially retired military, police and para-military officers, who live in the communities.

    “These ex officers who have various security expertise and experience arising from their previous trainings and exposures while in service are in better positions to educate and re orientate members of their communities on negative impact of terrorism and insurgency,” he said.

    NDLEA Comander, Apapa, Mrs Titus-Awogbuyi Joyce who represented the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA,  spoke on how taking hard drugs increases crime in Nigeria.

    She said, if a drug is taken out of the country, we will have taken care of about 80percent of crime in Nigeria and the police will have fewer jobs to do.

    “If drug is taken out of Nigeria, we will have fewer problems in our society because taking drugs increases the chances of the drug addict to cause harm.

    She urged people to report such cases to the police. He urged drug addicts to deviate from such addiction, saying it is dangerous to the health among other dangers attached to it.

    Dr John Martins, Director-General, PAC and ATA, said the seminar was organised to share knowledge on how to assist security agencies in the task of ensuring that the coming elections are conducted under free and fair atmosphere with utmost credibility.

    He admonished politicians to play the games by the rules during and after elections. He also urged them to cooperate with INEC and the security agencies to ensure that elections are conducted peacefully.

    Martins appealed to the electorate to exercise their civil rights by casting their vote for candidates of their choices with peace and less acrimony and also behave themselves within the ambit of the law during the exercise.

    He also appealed to security agencies to be above board by not allowing themselves to be unduly used to compromise their integrity as law enforcement agencies.

    He advised the electoral commission not compromise its integrity and position by ensuring that free and credible elections are conducted while also ensuring independent election monitors are allowed under a free and conducive atmosphere to monitor the elections.

  • Woman caught trying to abduct girl, 10

    Woman caught trying to abduct girl, 10

    A woman who allegedly attempted to abduct a 10-year old yesterday stripped herself naked at the Ajegunle Police Station in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area in Lagos.

    It was gathered that the woman stripped as a ploy to evade arrest for the alleged offence.

    The woman, who identified herself as Comfort, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), abducted a primary school pupil at Barra School. The little girl cried for help, but the woman claimed she was her child, whom she was taking to her “office” at Area ‘B’ Command, Apapa

    Eyewitnesses said some passers-by made fruitless effort to rescue the girl from Comfort’s grip. But the woman was said to have threatened to attack whoever tried it.

    An eyewitness said: “Out of curiosity, we decided to find out what the problem was and the girl said she did not know the woman. When asked, the woman said she was taking “her child” to Area B Command. A man asked the girl to give us her mother’s telephone number which she did. We put a call across to her mother and she rushed to the scene.”

    When the girl’s mother arrived and identified her daughter, a mob attempted to lynch Comfort, but a patrol team from Ajegunle Police Station rescued her and drove her away.

    At the station, the woman was said to be incoherent during interrogation. Suddenly, she stripped herself naked, threatening to deal with whoever tried to detain her.

    Sources said the woman, who is suspected to have mental challenges, had earlier hit another woman with a bucket because the latter demanded the N350 she owed her for the kerosene she bought from her.

    A resident of Olubukola Street, where the suspect allegedly resides, was said to have told the police that Comfort was mentally deranged, adding that she had stabbed an expectant mother during a fight in the neighborhood.

    Comfort was said to have been taken to the Psychiatrist Hospital, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, where she is currently receiving treatment.

     

  • How police unmasked suspected killers of Boko Haram’s founder, others

    A Federal High Court in Abuja heard yesterday how investigators unmasked those allegedly behind the killing of the founder of the Boko Haram sect, Mohammed Yusuf and some of his followers

    Yusuf and others were allegedly killed by some police officers, to who they were handed by military men, who arrested them.

    An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) attached to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mohammed Yakubu told the court that a video recording of the incident, aired on a foreign television channel – Aljazeera – aided the investigating team, on which he served.

    “The first thing we did was to transfer the file of the case from Borno to our office at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

    “We later received from Aljazeera Television, a video that contained the allegation. We sent the video to the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in Jos, for them to authenticate, whether it is genuine or not, which they did and later returned to us.

    “After that, we received the post mortem and autopsy report of the allegedly murdered Yusuf and his followers. We thereafter invited all the officers on ground at the Borno Police Command,” Yakubu said.

    Attempt by the prosecution lawyer, Ralph Ojabo, to tender a Digital Video Disk (DVD) containing the recording of how Yusuf and his followers were killed and copies of correspondences between the police investigative team and the management of Aljazeera was objected to by the defence lawyers.

    Okonache Ogar and Edwin Inegedu (who represented the accused persons) argued that the prosecution was yet to comply with the conditions prescribed under sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act to warrant the admission of the items.

    Ojabo countered, arguing that what he intended to tender were a combination of original and certified true copies of letters and DVD generated by the police’s investigation team.

    He urged the court to disregard the defence’s objection and admit the exhibits.

    Justice Evoh Chukwu adjourned to March 5 for ruling on whether or not to admit the items in evidence.

    Five policemen – J.B. Abang (ACP), A. Akeera (ACP), Mohammed Ahmadu (CSP), Mada Buba (ASP) and Adamu Gado (Sgt) – are being tried on a two-count charge of conspiracy and muder, over the killing of Yusuf and his followers.

     

  • Police demolish 500 ‘illegal’ structures

    Police demolish 500 ‘illegal’ structures

    Residents of Badagry wailed uncontrollably yesterday as over 200 policemen from the Lagos State Police Command demolished over 500 buildings erected on a land meant for police estate.

    The armed policemen stormed the 950-plot land (65 hectares) around 10am with about seven bulldozers and began demolition immediately.

    Residents watched helplessly as structures worth billions of naira were destroyed.

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had ordered the command to take possession of the land which the police acquired about seven years ago with the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Lagos State Government in 2008.

    Men, women and children wept openly as their properties went down in seconds with bulldozers at work. Some of them were allowed to park their belongings before the exercise.

    The operation was led by the Area Commander, Area ‘K,’ Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Osu Ekpo. Officers of the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS), Taskforce and policemen from Area ‘K’ took part in the operation on the land located at Atinporome, Mowo Phase II, Badagry.

    A police source said an eviction notice was issued to the occupants to vacate in 2011, while another one was issued three weeks ago.

    Taskforce Chairman Bayo Sulaiman said the residents encroached on the land as the police has a genuine title document of the land including a C of O signed by Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2008.

    According to him, land grabbers, popularly known as Omo Onile sold the land illegally to unsuspecting public, adding that the action was taken because the police wanted to claim the land to build an estate for its officers

    A victim, Waidi Yakubu, who said he built his house nine years ago, claimed he bought his land from a genuine source, but without a C of O. He appealed to the state government for help.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ngozi Braide could not be reached for comments .

  • ‘Pharmacists are under-utilised’

    Governments at all levels have been urged to provide an enabling environment for pharmaceutical practice. This will ensure quality distribution of drugs and reduce quackery in the practice.

    The Managing Director, Alpha Pharmacy, Ike Oyechi, stated this at this year’s Business Summit of the Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria (ACPN), Eti-Osa Zone, Lagos.  It has as themed: Improving community pharmacy practice in a resource limited economy.

    He said pharmacists will enjoy an enabling environment when favourable policies are made with functioning regulatory bodies.

    Onyechi described pharmacists as under-utilised healthcare professional with poor reward. “A pharmacist is a seasoned healthcare professional: grossly under-utilised and hence poorly rewarded and sometimes not motivated due to lack of recognition and poor financial rewards,” he said.

    “Nigeria is not a resource limited country. The country is blessed with natural and best human resources in the world. The only challenges faced by the country are that the resources are under-utilised while some are untapped.”

    He enjoined pharmacist to be strategic in their planning and also re-invent better ways in providing service to their clients.

    The Chairperson of the occasion, Clare Omatseye noted that drug distributions as a major challenge faced by pharmacists, adding that the yet-to-be launched National Drug Distribution Policy (NDDP) by the Federal Government will open a new vista for pharmaceutical practice.

    This policy, she said, would ensure that only qualified pharmacists will be responsible for the distribution, control of drug products, responsible for drug-use policies and routine inspection of all drug stocks.

    The Chairman, ACPN, Eti-Osa Zone, Ndukwe Uma Ndukwe, said it is impoprtant to train pharmacists to annex various resources in the society.

    “This year’s summit is set to confront some aspect of the challenges that had limited a great majority of us, such as being docile, reactionary to government policies, fear of stepping up the business and also putting to us the formidable insights we have about our business, practice, environment and bonding and networking that is growing amongst members and communities,” He added.

  • Four parties form APC

    Four parties form APC

    Four giants have given birth to a big baby.

    Four major political parties announced their merger into one party — the All Progressives Congress (APC) — yesterday in Abuja.

    The parties are Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    The merger was announced by a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.

    Ikimi, Chairman of the ACN’s Merger Committee, read a one-page statement, stating the new party’s mission to restore hope to Nigeria .

    The statement was signed by the chairmen of the merger committees of the four political parties.

    The signatories are Ikimi (ACN), ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Chairman, Merger Committee, ANPP), Senator Annie Okonkwo (representative of APGA) and ex-Deputy Governor Garba Mohammed Gadi (Chairman, Merger Committee of CPC).

    Ikimi said: “At no time in our national life has radical change become more urgent. And to meet the challenge of that change, we, the following progressive political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC, have resolved to merge forthwith and become the ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for prosperity.

    “We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among our people.

    “The resolution of these issues, the restoration of hope, the enthronement of true democratic values for peace, democracy and justice, are those concerns which propel us.

    “We believe that by these measures only shall we restore our dignity and position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. This is our pledge.”

    During the question and answer session, Ikimi said the merger would take effect immediately and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be informed.

    He said more parties might join the merger very soon.

    His words: “The decision we have taken today, we are going to immediately communicate to the appropriate authority (INEC) so that the process of registration will commence.

    “As you can see, our position is very clear, that this is a meeting of all the progressive parties. And there are other parties that have indicated their willingness to participate, like the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ). They have written to us that they want to join. But I believe that these four parties have made the take-off now. And I believe that many parties, including Labour Party if they so desire, will join us.”

    On how they arrived at the name, Ikimi said: “We have agreed on a name through consensus. All the parties that are part of this process have agreed on this name- All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “With regard to flag, logo, etc, these are matters of details which will be released to you as we proceed. I want to underscore the fact that we have agreed to merge and we have chosen a name. Full stop.

    Regarding the fate of elected members of the four merging parties in the National Assembly, Ikimi said they cannot lose their seats because the law allows a merger.

    He added: “The National Assembly members are already meeting. In this room here, we have Senator Bukar Ibrahim from the National Assembly. Senator Ngige is here. Senator Kabiru Gaya is here. Senator Yerima is here. Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa is here. Senator George Akume is here. So, all our senators and members of the House of Reps are with us. Then, if you know the constitution and INEC rules, once there is a merger, they will still retain their position, nothing happens to them. They have not defected from their parties.”

    On the absence of Edo State GovernorAdams Oshiomhole, at the session held in Lagos by the four parties on Tuesday, Ikimi said: “First of all, let me clarify that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is fully in support of the processes that are on going now. He was to travel to Lagos yesterday (Tuesday), the plane’s situation; the plane could not land or take off from Benin-City.

    “ In fact, I had to come here on Tuesday by road and it took me seven hours from Benin-City to arrive here for the meeting we held on Tuesday.

    “And when it became clear that Governor Adams Oshiomhole could not attend due to flight difficulty, his colleagues said he was in support of all they were doing. Then it could be taken for granted that he was in support. So, there is no problem with that.”

    Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima said: “A good number of members of the National Assembly and some governors elected on the platform of the PDP have indicated interest in the merger. We expect them to join us as we march ahead.”

    Senator Okonkwo said there was no crack in APGA on the merger.

    He said: “The leadership of the party has taken it fully and endorsed the merger and I came here on behalf of the party to represent APGA.”

    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa asked Nigerians to have faith in the merger.

    She said it would accommodate and protect the rights of Nigerian women.

    Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said: “And as for the gender, there are members of this committee that are female. And I have one of them that I can identify. There are others sitting there. Virtually every committee has a representation of women.

    “We will ensure that women have better representation. This party understands the cause of women. This is the party that will change Nigeria to ensure that Nigerian women get the best they deserve.”

    Those present at the ceremony were ex-Governor Segun Osoba; Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim; ex-Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima, ex-Governor Achike Udenwa; ex-Governor Niyi Adebayo; Senator George Akume; Senator Chris Ngige; ex-National Chairman of ACN Audu Ogbeh; National Secretary of ACN, Senator Lawal Shuaibu; the National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; a former Commissioner in Oyo State, Abdur-Raheem A. Shittu; a former National Secretary of ANPP, Chief George Moghalu; the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu;

    Others are Senator Hadi Sirika; Mr. B. B. Lawal; Alhaji Sabo Nanono; Group Captain Bernard Banfa; James Ocholi(SAN); Dr. Oseme Ehamire; Dr. Haruna Yerima; Mrs. Lucy Ajayi; Mr. Ife Oyedele; and Mr. Okoi Obla, among others.