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Tag: curb

  • ‘How to curb Executive, Legislature rifts’  .

    Onofiok Luke is the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker and arguably Nigeria’s youngest. In this interview with Legal Editor, JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, Onofiok, a lawyer, speaks on the challenges of law making, executive -legislative face-off and sundry ssues.

    What have been your experiences as a Speaker?

    There has been mistrust and general lack of trust on the part of the followership to the leadership because of the lessons of the past. So, there is this profiling and stereotyping that if  you are in public office, you are there for self-aggrandisement; you are there  probably for power mongering. So, no matter what you are trying to do, no matter the good leadership qualities and traits that you posses, and no matter the values you are trying to showcase, you still have people looking at it from the other angle because of perception. And so if you have a position where there is a general apathy and cynicism, it makes discharging your duties very burdensome. For you to  succeed  as a leader, you need to get the buy-in of the followership. Right now it is difficult to get that buy-in no, matter what you do. So, you have to work extra hard  to try to do it.

    How have you fared?

    We have fared very well. There are 26 of us in the House of Assembly. We have been able to surmount those challenges and I believe that we will be able to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of Akwa Ibom people, who gave us their mandate.

    What are the challenges of law making?

    First, the challenges of law making globally is mostly getting to have the requisite synergy between the legislature and other arms of government. Globally, the executive feels that the legislature wants to gag  it with too much of regulation through legislations. The legislature, its powers, hindering the executive from trying to get certain things done by executive orders – things that would have ordinarily  been done by legislation and things that would have gone through the legislature. So you have that altercation.

    Can you give specific examples?

    For example, you see Donald Trump coming up with executive  orders to do certain things. You see the  legislature, the Congress saying no, there is need for the legislature to have acted on them first. If they can have that in a developed democracy, you can wonder what is happening in developing countries and developing climes that  are trying to practice democracy. That has been the challenge – the challenge  of getting all arms of government to see themselves as parts  of the same government.

    What are the other challenges?

    The other challenge is the issue of the changing world, the disruptive nature of technology. It has introduced certain things that legislation is running to catch up with. So, it becomes very difficult to legislate, to be able to regulate that environment where everyday there is one technological development or the other that is bringing up one issue or the other.

    Can you give  examples?

    An example is telecommunications regulation. We have the Nigerian Communications  Act of 2003. Between  2003 and today, there have been emerging issues within the telecommunication industry that need regulation, which the legislature should be able to rise up and face the challenges. Before now, there were distinct platforms for  different content, with different regulatory framework. Now with the blurring of the lines between these distinct platforms, there is the need for converged regulatory framework for these things. So, this is what I will be urging the legislature to rise up to. I am using this as a case study though other climes have been able to address it. South Africa has been able to address it through the Independent Communication Act of South Africa (ICASA). They have been able to regulate convergence. It illustrates the speed at which  technology  has grown and then the need for the legislature to catch up with that speed of technological development.

    Youths look up to you for inspiration, mentoring and political direction. What is your massage for them?

    It is challenging to be a Nigerian in the first place, because you wake up everyday and it looks like too many things-social, economic, political-that everything is militating against you. You  have no leverage. It is equally very challenging to be a youth. There are no concrete deliberate actions towards thinking about the younger generation. For example, I have travelled far and wide. I have been exposed and I have seen in other climes the way they treat their children. When they cross the roads, you see every car coming to a standstill. I had the opportunity to interact with someone in Frankfurt and I asked: ‘Why do you treat the young people like this?’ The man said: ‘Because they are the future.’ I was in Manchester. I saw an elderly woman standing up to give a  younger one her  seat. I asked why and she said: ‘I have expended my time. This is the future of this country, so we need to groom them because we need to have that future.’ So, we need to rise above our challenges to find a way to make Nigeria great.

    How were you able to get this far in the face of these challenges?

    Well, it is really the grace of God Almighty that has taken me this far. I am an advocate of mentorship and not godfatherism. It is very difficult for you to rise up there, to the top without one assistance, one connection or the other. I give glory to God Almighty for being identified by my political mentor,  Senator Godswill Akpabio in 2002 when he was a commissioner.

    I was in the Students Union government. He saw the capacity that I had.  For every youth, for you to be recognised, you must display certain potential. I am urging the youth to take their studies seriously, then find an opportunity to serve, whether as a class representative or as a Student Union leader.  I am trying to talk to students union leaders  on how we will  revive the National  Association  of Nigerian Students (NANS) so that it will remain that vibrant and potent force that will cater for the interest of Nigerian students. You must be educated, take your education seriously and make the best use of every opportunity. And when you are given opportunity to serve, forget about personal aggrandisement. Think of service; think of what you can do to add value to the system and tomorrow will take care of itself.

    How did you achieve this?

    When I was made the Personal Assistant to the Governor, I served diligently. By the grace of God I got to Abuja. About nine of us gathered in Abuja at the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly in 2008 when the Nigerian Youth Parliament was set up by the Federal Ministry of Youths and the House of Representatives under the late Umar Musa Ya’Ardua presidency. They saw my capacity and then they elected me the pioneer Speaker of the Youth Parliament. Most of the people that came to that Parliament were Students Union leaders, who knew me that I could not be compromised. So, on the basis of leadership quality that I exhibited, that of sincerity of purpose, that of honesty, that of not mortgaging the future of Nigerian youths, they said okay we can trust him.

    And in my two years of service there, by the grace of God Almighty, my colleagues have good testimony of me. Because I knew that I had a calling in public service, so I imbibed the qualities and virtues of service delivery, honesty, sincerity, humility. Above all, respect for all was my watchword. So, I urge Nigerian Youths to be honest and sincere in service whenever they have the opportunity to serve.

    How can the face-off between the executive and the legislature be resolved?

    This is a very big challenge. Though I am a member of the Peoples Demoratic Party (PDP), it is the nation first before political party affiliation. I did not support President Muhammadu Buhari because I had my party candidate then, President Goodluck Jonathan. But when Buhari emerged, because of my love for my country, I had certain expectations which included his integrity and reputation, Nigeria should be set aright on the path of rebirth, but unfortunately, certain people entered and seized power. I don’t want to blame the President totally, but I blame him as the head. And when they took power, they did not put the interest of the country at heart. I was on high hopes when President Buhari took over the reins of power but right now, I am saying if he cannot set the country on the right track, who is the right man to do it?

    What do you mean by this?

    Buhari came in with high level of goodwill and integrity and if he cannot perform, it looks as if the problem of Nigeria is beyond human capacity. I’m saying all this to lay a background. I feel that certain persons in the executive arm of government have not given the legislature their due respect. First, we started with politics. Why didn’t the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB)  try Bukola Saraki before he became Senate President? They humiliated him though I am not holding brief for him,  but his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is seen  more as victimisation and a political fight. Now we have found out that every Senator, who raises his voice to say that this is bad or this is not good is being victimised with trumped up charges. This is not good for our democracy and with this, the legislature needs to fight back to protect themselves and protect the institution.

    The sanctity of the legislature was defied by a group of people, who went in there to seize the Mace. I am not holding  brief for anybody. Whether a senator should be suspended or not, there should be discipline. If somebody is suspended for not behaving according to the rules, the dictates and the spirit of the office according to the tradition of the legislature, the person should be disciplined and appropriate procedure followed. With this fighting, the cabals from the executive are trying to control the legislature. Take for example,  the fight against corruption.

    This same legislature pointed out that the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)  was allegedly corrupt. He was protected though he was relieved of his job much later. Up till today, he has not been prosecuted.

    Are you saying the fight is selective?

    Okay, let me tell you something. If  Babachir declares  for another political party today, you’ll see what will happen to him. That is not the best way to go. If we want to fight corruption or do anything, we must look at the country, look at the rule of law. But as the power mongers are doing what they are doing today, I wonder the type of country they want to leave behind. I have refused to make certain comments on national issues so that people will not feel that I’m being partisan, but the truth is that we need a bi-partisan approach to solve the problem of Nigeria and the only way is mutual respect for others.

    For example, when the Senate invited the Inspector-General of Police ( IGP),  if the IGP could not appear, he would have written to the Senate to say I cannot appear on the given date due to one reason or the other, give me another date to appear. On the other hand, if he had appeared before the Senators, they would not have swallowed him,  but for him to blatantly refuse to appear before the Senators is a bad precedent. Tomorrow he will not become IGP  again and his son might become a Senator, so what will happen? We must always consider the result we want to leave for posterity. I recognise what he is doing to tackle insecurity and corruption within the police force and the country, but I think he should do that within the ambit of the rule of law and respect for every government institution. The Senate too should be able to respect other arms of government, which they have done by passing the budget. So, there should be mutual respect for each other.

  • Firm to curb aflatoxin in maize, groundnut

    A firm, Harvestfield Industries Limited, has moved to curb aflatoxin in maize that forced regulators to confiscate grain and prevent its entrance into the market.

    Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing molds that can lead to stunting in children and severe health problems in adults.

    They are found in improperly stored commodities, such as maize, cassava, millet, rice, sorghum, and wheat.

    According to experts, aflatoxin, a toxin caused by fungi, Aspergillusflavus, and Parasiticus Fungus, is produced as a by-product of the metabolism of the fungi that thrives in farm produce because of high moisture content.

    Maize and groundnut are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin accumulation, but crops such as oilseeds, cassava, yam, rice and others can be affected as well.

    It has been a major challenge to the  cereals production value chain and affects the fortunes of farmers.

    A statement from Harvestfield Industries Limited said it has embarked on a nationwide farmers sensitisation on how to apply aflasafe® product for effective control of aflatoxin in maize and groundnut .

    To create national impact, the company has  constituted  seven technical teams which comprise scientists from the  International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), National Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS),  and Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA)  as well as  agricultural extension officers from states and local government areas in the six geo-political regions.

  • Bond FM to curb fraudulent acts

    •Station marks 30th anniversary

    The General Manager, Bond FM, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Princess Adenike Adegoke, has said management will soon introduce agricultural programmes, to curb fraudulent acts among youths.

    Adegoke, who spoke at the weekend at the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the radio station, said Bond FM also intended to introduce children’s and youths’ programmes, to promote Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages among them.

    She said: “We want to discourage youths from involving in crimes. This is why we will soon introduce agricultural programmes, which will enable our youths to become self-employed, thus discouraging them from vices.

    “Our aim is also to promote unity, our languages and cultures, as well as prevent them from going into extinction. We want our children and youths to speak Nigerian languages fluently. We want to encourage them to have mastery of indigenous languages and discourage them from crimes.”

    The Director Lagos Operation (D.L.O.), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Prince Adeyinka Amosu, hailed Bond FM for promoting unity and cultural values.

    Amosu, represented by the Deputy Director, News & Current Affairs, Alhaja Sherifat Ahmed, said since Bond FM was established on September 20, 1987, it had promoted unity and encouraged indigenous languages.

    The Registrar of National Broadcast Academy, FRCN, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, said Bond FM had come of age, adding that that was one of the reasons it won the ‘2017 Radio Station of the Year’ award.

    He said: “The station has a bright future, as it promotes cultural values, languages and unites Nigerians.”

  • Lagos trains workers on new strategies to curb terminal diseases

    Lagos State government has begun training for commissioners, special advisers and civil servants on new strategies to prevent diseases, especially terminal ones.

    It expressed concerns that a large percent of workers do not know their health status and a healthy workforce is a productive one.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Health Matters, Dr. Shola Pitan, in a chat with newsmen at the health engagement campaign, disclosed that Governor  Ambode believed that the best solution to have a healthy workforce was to ensure that workers are aware of their health status.

    He said: “The Body of Permanent Secretaries was the first group and the following week, we continued with state Executive Council. After that, we moved to the civil servants of different grade levels. The activity will also be extended to the security officials.”

    The Special Assistant stressed that beyond training on diabetes, cancer and other terminal diseases, workers would be trained on how best to provide first aid treatment to colleagues, who suffer injuries or heart attack at work before rescue health workers arrive the scene.

    “For one to have people working in a place, we know that accident happens, and beyond that, we know that people can have one challenge or the other, which they aren’t aware off. And if that health challenge comes up, someone should be enlightened enough to assist before they call on the doctor or ambulance.

    “Research has shown that if someone has heart attack, before the doctor arrives, it takes some time. There will be need for people within that location to intervene by giving that person cardio-pulmonary resuscitation by using the machine called defibrillator, which sends electronic signals to the heart. If that is done within first two minutes, that person will have at least 60 per cent chance of survival,” he added.

    He continued:“In order to achieve this, considering the huge workforce,  government has decided to appoint health captains, who will provide first aid treatment whenever the unforeseen health issue occurs.

    “Beyond that, if one sustains injury at work, how can someone within that location assist immediately? The workforce is a community and there is need to cater for them.

    “We will have health captains in each office, such person must have undergone first aid training. And the reason is that if anything happens, such person can assist immediately.”

  • We’re winning battle to curb oil glut, says OPEC

    We’re winning battle to curb oil glut, says OPEC

    Output cuts by Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producers are clearing a supply glut that has weighed on crude prices for three years, ministers said at a meeting on Friday to review the pact that expires next March.

    The OPEC, Russia and several other producers have cut production by about 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) since January.

    The group is considering extending the deal beyond its March expiry, although two sources said Friday’s gathering was unlikely to make a specific recommendation on an extension.

    Ministers on a panel monitoring the pact, comprising Kuwait, Venezuela and Algeria, plus Russia and Oman, were meeting in Vienna after oil prices gained more than 15 percent in the past three months to trade above $56 a barrel. Since our last meeting in July, the oil market has markedly improved,” Kuwaiti Oil Minister Essam al-Marzouq said in an opening speech at the meeting he is chairing. “The market is now evidently well on its way towards rebalancing.”

    Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said OPEC and other producers now needed to work on strategy beyond March.

    “We need not only to keep up the pace but continue our coordinated joint actions in full, but also work out a strategy for the future, to which we will stick starting from April 2018,” he said, adding oil demand was rising at a “high pace”.

    Officials said before Friday’s meeting that the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee would consider extending the supply cut pact. But two OPEC sources said the ministers were not likely to make a specific recommendation for an extension.

    The committee can make policy recommendations for the wider group of OPEC and non-OPEC producers, which meets in November.

    Global oil inventories have shown signs of falling, although OPEC-led efforts to cut stockpiles to their five-year average has taken longer than expected. Oil prices remain at only half their level of mid-2014.

    Kuwait’s minister said there were a “number of positives” in the market, including stock levels in industrialised OECD states in August that were 170 million barrels above the five-year average, down from 340 million barrels in January.

    He also said oil in floating storage was falling and cited a shift of benchmark Brent prices into backwardation, a market condition in which it is more attractive to sell oil immediately rather than storing it for later sale, indicating tighter supplies.

    The Russian minister said ministers would also discuss monitoring exports, although he said the main focus was still on production.

    OPEC officials have said exports have a more direct impact on the international supply than production.

  • LCCI: Review rice tariff to curb smuggling

    LCCI: Review rice tariff to curb smuggling

    The Federal Government should consider a downward review of the tariff on rice to curb its smuggling, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said.

    Its Director-General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said rice smuggling has continued to thrive, in spite of the ban on the commodity, due to high import tariff.

    “Rice is not contraband, you can import rice. What has created the smuggling problem with rice is the tariff and that is what is driving the smuggling. If you take it through the port irrespective of where you source your forex from, you have to pay 70 per cent levy.

    “If you have a product coming through the official channel at 70 per cent, there cannot be better incentive to smuggling than that. So, that is why rice is coming from all over the place,” Yusuf said, in Lagos, during the week.

    He dismissed the claim by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, that the country would be self sufficient in rice production and would no longer import rice by 2018 as mere academic and not in tune with reality.

    His words: “The Minister said we will be self sufficient in rice production in 2018, but that is just academic. There is nothing on ground empirically. It is desirable, but in terms of empirical evidence, I don’t think it is something achievable.

    “If you do a proper and empirical assessment of the rice market today, the market share of smuggled rice is bigger than the share of rice that is produced locally. So, this is part of the trade policy challenges that we have.

    “It is a popular thing to say that we have to grow rice; the import duty should be high so that we can grow local rice. It is a very patriotic statement to make, but the reality is completely different and policy should align with reality so that we don’t just make policies in vain.”

    The LCCI boss said it was important that the government policy makers got their facts right. “I have heard some government officials say the bulk of the rice in the country is Nigerian rice but that is not correct. The moment we start thinking that way, then we will not do what we need to do,” he said.

    According to him, what is required is to deploy policies to improve productivity in rice production.

  • FACAN seeks measures to boost exports, curb rejections

    The Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN) National President, Dr. Victor Iyama, has urged the government to monitor farmers’compliance with international standards to reduce rejections of agric exports.

    Presenting a  paper, titled: The problems of exporting finished agricultural products at a small and medium enterprises (SMEs) forum in Lagos, Iyama said   Nigeria  has the potential to become a major  agric  commodity trading hub,  taking  advantage of rising demand for  agric commodities globally.

    He added that consumption of agric commodities from Nigeria has increased.

    At present, he said the United States, European Union (EU) and Asia were the largest importers of the nation’s agric produce.

    Despite this, he noted that there was a growing awareness about microbial and chemical food safety among consumers  and this has led to rejections of produce due to non-compliance with EU requirements.

    From reports, the EU has created the communication portal Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) by which its food control bodies notify each other when unsafe products have been detected and for which measures have been taken to protect consumers. These alerts are often based on the outcome of risk based inspections and monitoring plans by control bodies.

    Due to rejections, he said huge amounts of produce were discarded which represent high economic losses and food waste.

    To respond to this, Iyama explained that issuance of Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates to genuine exporters are importance, if the government is to reduce rejections.

    He reiterated the readiness of the association to work with the government to ensure compliance with internationally approved SPS standards that would help boost international trade, particularly for the  agribusiness sector.

    Iyama has called for incentives such as credit at affordable rates to boost Nigeria’s agric exports.

    He said: “We   need incentives such as   easy access to loans, better infrastructure, tax concessions etc. Most of all good governance, consistency of fairly formulated policies, level playing fields and quick dispute resolution mechanism. We should encourage our private sector to help Nigeria in becoming a trade corridor for the African countries.”

    He said, however, that the agric commodities sector has had to grapple with a challenging operating environment in recent years, and one of them is poor power supply.

    According to him, adequate power supply was critical, adding that the nation needs  constant power supply  to keep the momentum of  exports  growth high, be it large-scale or small-scale food and  agricultural  operations  targeting the exports market.

    He explained that a shift from primary production to modern integrated agribusiness will provide lucrative opportunities to many smallholder farmers.

    This, he added, however, can only be achieved if power supply is adequate. He urged the government to speed up building “all projects that will ensure a modern infrastructure backbone for agric exports growth.

    Meanwhile, the  United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) in Nigeria has initiated a programme to help Nigeria end a decades-long dependence on oil and to diversify its economy.The programme, to be implemented with government institutions and private sector counterparts, encompasses a number of promotional activities to support the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) clusters and the establishment of industrial parks, including in the agro-processing sector.

  • How leaders can curb corruption, by primate

    Only pious and spirit filled leaders can stem corruption which is destroying the country, Primate of The African Church Cathedral Salem, Lagos Mainland Diocese, Dr. Emmanuel Udofiah has said.

    Delivering the sermon at the dedication of the cathedral’s N300million auditorium on Freeman Street, Ebute-Meta, he said the church was ordained with the authority to fulfil the redemptive task of proffering solutions to individual, family and societal restiveness.

    He said the peace and blessings of God would reign in the country if the church would exercise its power to seek the enduring mercy of the Almighty.

    Udofia encouraged Christians not to give up on intercessions and supplications for the country’s advancement, noting that leaders must align their actions with uprightness for the prayers to be answered.

    “When the church is led by the spirit of God, the love of God will manifest and there will be peace in our environment, the church and the society. Corruption will be a thing of the past when the church teaches what Christ has taught the church and our generation will be blessed. By the grace of God, human beings are God’s temple set aside for God’s honour and glory. So our live should be such that anyone that gets in contact with Him should be able to learn one thing or the other that will assist him or her to live a Godly life,” he said.

    Chairman of the Building Committee, Otunba Olutola Senbore, said the largest building in the African church was largely financed by parishioners’ donations and fundraisers.

    The foundation of the 20-year project, he said, was laid in July 1998, following the demolition of the former edifice. The new building is composed of a 300-guest basement hall, a 100-seater auditorium and two chapels donated by the Youth Christian Fellowship and Chief Mrs Olufunke Obasanjo.

    He said: “We have to thank God that it was possible for us to have this project completed. It was very tasking and challenging to get members going particularly as it is a project that belongs to the entire congregation.  It would not have been possible to complete it but for the various successful fundraisers by different committees.”

  • Army to curb insecurity in Abia

    •‘Aba ‘ll be safe for business, economic activities’

    The Brigade Commander of 14 Brigade at Ohafia in Abia State, Brig.-Gen. Audu Ibrahim, has promised residents of Aba and other parts of the state of the command’s willingness to curb kidnapping, robbery and other crimes.

    Ibrahim spoke during a tour of 144 Battalion at Ukwa in West Local Government Area.

    The Brigade Commander, who took over from Brig.-Gen. Lawrence Fejokwu, also said the command recently smashed a kidnapping syndicate that had been terrorising the state.

    He said the brigade was trailing fleeing members of the gang.

    Ibrahim hoped the war on insecurity would be won or reduce crimes through collaboration with other security agencies.

    According to him, the Army was aware of the major role Aba plays in the state’s economy and the nation’s.

    Ibrahim said the military would ensure that residents and visitors sleep with their eyes closed and do their businesses without fear.

    He called for prayers for soldiers fighting insurgency in the Northeast, saying: “In the face of your duties, you must be very professional in the manner you perform your duties. Aba is a place where there is high level of commercial activities. It is not your duties to go and settle cases between civilians; that is a civil affair. Your Commanding Officer will never do that. I, as a General, will never do that.

    “Therefore, we don’t expect you as soldiers to do that. Do not go out on illegal duty. If you are not sent on a lawful duty by your Commanding Officer, Company Commander, Platoon Commander, as the case may be, don’t follow others to do duties that you have not been sent to do. That will be a criminal breach of trust and you know that the Army frowns at criminal misconduct.

    “Always remember soldiers in the Northeast in your prayers. Support them spiritually. Their families are here. If you have any way you can assist the families they leave behind, please do that because they are our brothers and colleagues.”

     

  • Ikpeazu to police: curb street cults

    Ikpeazu to police: curb street cults

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged the police and other security agencies to check street cults.

    Speaking at Government House, Umuahia when he received the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in-charge of Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DIG Valentine Ntomchukwu, Ikpeazu said there is need to check the menace of street cults it before it gets out of hand.

    Ikpeazu said many youths are taking to the latest crime set-up, stressing that everything must be done to save the future of the country which is in the hands of youths.

    He said, “This is the time to nip street cultism in the bud before it gets out of hand, the police should look into it and not treat it with kid’s gloves, as the future of the country depends on their current upbringing”.

    The governor lamented that the new crime, which is ravaging some states in the country, introduces young adults to hard drugs which make them commit all sorts of crimes without knowing what they are doing.

    Ikpeazu expressed satisfaction with the effort of the police in fighting crime in the state and restated his commitment to complementing the police efforts.

    He said, “I know that if we sustain our efforts and put all hands on deck, we will be able to record a near zero crime situation in the days ahead, because without adequate security you can hardly talk about development.”

    The governor also assured of his administration’s commitment to completing the permanent site of the zone 9 headquarters soon, saying, “Work will begin on that project before the end of this month and I can assure you that once we start work we will not stop until we complete that job.”

    Ikpeazu presented five patrol vehicles and motorcycles to the state police command.

    In his speech, DIG Ntomchukwu said he is in the state as part of his familiarisation and operational review tour of the Southeast which is aimed at acquainting him with what the police is doing in the area of crime control and management in order to review the strategy towards greater success.

    Ntomchukwu said that Abia was important in the policing organogram being the commercial hub of the country and commended the Governor for his continuous support to the Abia police command and urged him to assist the police in the state build an eminent citizens’ forum.

    In his reaction the state commissioner of Police, CP Leye Oyebade disclosed that the Abia police command has enjoyed tremendous support from the Governor and vowed to ensure that crime was reduced to the barest minimum in the state.

    At the police headquarters, Ntomchukwu charged the officers and men of the command to always uphold the rights of those they are arresting or in their custody at all times, adding that they should not arrest outside the stipulated laws of the land.

    Ntomchukwu said, “When arresting a suspect you are expected to inform him or her of the reason for the arrest and the right of the suspect must be respected at all times irrespective of the offense allegedly committed”.

    The CP, Oyebade said that they have enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the officers and men in the command including the state government and the press.