The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Emergency rule

  • Boko Haram: Emergency rule is working – Presidency

    Despite the recent attacks and killings by the Boko Haram sect in northern part of the country, the Presidency on Tuesday claimed the emergency rule declared in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe is effective and working.

    Speaking on FRCN Network programme on Tuesday, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that normalcy is returning to the areas and the terrorists are being uprooted and dislocated from their enclaves.

    He said: “The first point to note is that before the declaration of state of emergency, the situation in the affected states was really bad, socio-economic activities had practically ceased. There was anxiety in the communities and other affected parts of the country. On a regular basis, there were either cases of detonation of bombs or harassment of people. There was a state of fear.

    “But since the declaration of state of emergency by President Goodluck Jonathan, a lot has been achieved. It was a very good tactical and strategic move, as well as a very good demonstration of leadership, determination and focus by this present administration.”

     

  • Emergency rule: Yobe seeks special intervention fund

    The Yobe Government has appealed to the Federal Government to float an intervention fund to cushion the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency on affected states.

    The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Media and Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, made the appeal in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Sunday.

    Bego said that while the Yobe government was totally in support of the declaration of emergency in the state, it would also like the Federal Government to set up a fund to assist people affected by the insurgency.

    He said that the state government had been cooperating and providing logistics to the Joint Task Force (JTF), tackling the security problems.

    “We have provided more than 200 vehicles to the JTF in addition to paying allowances to the operatives.’’

    He said the state had spent about four billion naira since the insurgency started, describing the insurgency as a big drain on the meagre resources of the state.

    The special adviser also appealed to the Federal Government to provide modern equipment to the security agencies, praising the troops for sticking to rules of engagement.

     

  • Emergency rule alien to Adamawa – Phone dealers

    Emergency rule alien to Adamawa – Phone dealers

    A cell phone dealer at the Jimeta Shopping Complex, Yola, Mr. Boda Kassim, on Saturday said the state of emergency imposed on Adamawa was alien to the people of the state.

    Kassim made the observation in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola.

    He said the emergency and communications shutdown in the state had seriously affected cell phone dealers to the extent that some of them had stopped opening their shops.

    He said that before the emergency rule, the traders used to receive a significant number of customers daily, but with the emergency and the communication shutdown, they found it difficult to sell a single cell phone in a day.

    Mr. Audu Zira of Zira Communications, a dealer of GSM recharge cards on Ahmadu Bello Way, Jimeta, said he had more than 2,000 customers across the state that usually purchased cards from him.

    According to Zira, the communication shutdown has seriously affected their business.

    Commenting on the importance of the emergency rule, he said: “initially I supported the emergency rule thinking that it will not last long as it was introduced based on security challenges.

    “But now the situation has crippled our business and we have nothing to do because we learn that it was imposed on the state by Mr. President,” Zira said.

    He also appealed to the authorities to look into the peoples’ needs and ease the situation.

    However, Mr. Augustine Mako in Numan local government area, said the emergency should continue until the security situation was normal.

    “I used to remember that sometimes back there was crisis and killings of innocent lives in Adamawa, even in churches and markets.

    “And what is happening now in the state in respect of the state of emergency should still go on for the time being.”

    According to him, if the security operatives feel that the challenges are over, they should go ahead and lift it.

     

  • Nigeria winning war against terrorism – Jonathan

    Nigeria winning war against terrorism – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday declared that Nigeria’s climate is conducive for investments as it is already winning the war against terrorism and other security challenges.

    He gave the assurance during the opening ceremony of the 14th meeting of the Honorary International Investor Council (HIIC) at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, the declaration of state of emergency rules in the three troubled states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa on May 14 have significantly improved the national security.

    Stressing that the residents were already disenchanted with the level of insecurity, the President said that the emergency rule was greeted with unprecedented supports by the residents.

    To this end, he said the insurgencies witnessed in the country has nothing to do with religion, but activities of internationally backed terror groups determined to destabilise the nation.

    He promised that his administration will continue to take steps to guarantee safety of lives, property and investments in the country.

     

  • Emergency rule: Senate yet to receive Reps’ amendments – Ita Enang

    Emergency rule: Senate yet to receive Reps’ amendments – Ita Enang

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, on Monday said the resolutions adopted by both chambers of the National Assembly concerning the proclamation of state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States are intact.

    He said the Senate would give priority consideration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alterations) Bill 2013, the 2013 Appropriation Act (amendment) Bill, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2013, among others.

    Enang spoke in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the Senate during the 2nd session of the 7th Senate which began on June 6th, 2012 and ended on June 6th, 2013.

    He stated that until the Senate receives and considers the recent amendments by the House of Representatives, the harmonized version of the proclamation sent to the President remains sacrosanct.

    The House of Representatives had last week reversed its earlier position when it adopted the Senate’s version to allow the President have the power to give directive on the utilization of funds belonging to the states and local governments under emergency rule.

    During the consideration of the details of the emergency rule proclamation, the House of Representatives actually deleted that section, but the Senate retained it.

    At the harmonization stage, the conference committees adopted the position of the Senate on the matter.

    Enang said: “The Senate and the House passed resolutions on the state of emergency and approved the request of Mr. President as contained on the proclamation of state of emergency.

    “There were differences between what the House passed and what the Senate passed.

    “Both Houses set up committees and the conference committee arrived at a harmonized position.”

     

  • Emergency rule: Senator warns FG on use of state funds

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Hassan Barata, on Thursday warned the Federal Government against spending funds belonging to states under emergency rule.

    Barata, who represents Adamawa South in the Upper Chamber, told The Nation in Abuja that he is opposed to the declaration of state of emergency in Adamawa State.

    He said that leaders from Adamawa State were made to believe that the state would be used as a “buffer zone” to trap insurgents and Boko Haram members fleeing from Borno and Yobe States during the emergency rule.

    The lawmaker, however, called on the Federal Government to restore telephone services in the Adamawa to ease business activities.

    Barata said: “The position of the Northern Senators Forum is that the funds from these states should not be touched and when you look at our votes and proceedings of that particular time the Senate President in his own report of our executive session said we have all agreed that the money from the states should not be touched.

    “We were surprised about all the things that happened later. Based on the agreement we had at the executive session that the money should not be touched, we thought that our agreement will reflect in the emergency law.

    “But later we learnt that our Senate version is saying that we have allowed the President to use the states money, which was not so.

    “You know when you are talking about a version in a situation like this you always talk about what you have discussed and it is not necessary for you to read the complete version.”

     

  • Atiku urges FG to dialogue with Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

    Atiku urges FG to dialogue with Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

    ...Blames insecurity on unemployment, poverty

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Friday spoke on the insecurity in the country, saying that there is need for the Federal Government to engage aggrieved parties in dialogue while taking decisive measures to protect innocent people.

    He, however, said the current emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa State does not foreclose the immediate need for dialogue in that zone and other places.

    His words: “That is why the government must do all that is necessary in a democratic society to protect lives and property. Thus, there is the need to engage aggrieved groups in dialogue while taking decisive security measures to protect innocent people. I hope that the current emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States does not obviate the urgent need for such dialogue in that zone and elsewhere.”

    Atiku spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the 4th District Conference 2013 of the Rotary International in Abuja. The theme of the conference was “Creating a Culture of Peace through Service.”

    He attributed the insecurity in the country to unemployment, poverty and growing rate of corrupt practices.

    The ex-Vice President said: “Whatever the immediate causes of these conflicts and insecurity, there is no doubt that the high level of unemployment, poverty and accompanying alienation, especially of our young people, have provided veritable recruiting grounds for these insurgencies and other forms of criminality.

    “And these are taking place within the context of a collapsed educational system, poor investment climate, less than mediocre governance and increasing corruption.”

    Atiku noted that hardly a day goes by without fresh slaughter of fellow citizens in one part of the country or the other due to robbery, kidnapping and violent insurgencies in the north.

    He said that there are struggles between Muslims and Christians, herdsmen and farmers even as security operatives on rescue mission have been accused of atrocities against civilians.

    He noted that wave of insecurity has badly hurt the economies of Borno, Yobe , Plateau, Adamawa and Kaduna States .

     

  • Emergency rule to end soon – Mark

    Emergency rule to end soon – Mark

    President of the Senate, David Mark, on Wednesday said the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States would be over soon.

    Mark stated this at a church service to mark the 2013 Democracy Day at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja.

    He explained that the state of emergency proclamation in some states of the federation was a last resort to tame the lingering menace of insecurity and bring normalcy back to the land.

    He said: “I know it is yielding positive result. Very soon, it would be over as our military formations are living up to the task.”

    He admitted that there are challenges militating against the nation but said they are surmountable.

    “All we need is a collective resolve to confront our challenges and find a lasting solution to them,” he added.

    The Senate President in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja urged Nigerians to be a good Apostle of peace in the country in order to facilitate delivery of the dividends of democracy.

    He stated that the nation is currently passing through some difficulties especially in the areas of security and socio-economy challenges, pointing out that “We can collectively resolve to say enough is enough.

    “All our efforts towards development would come to naught if the crisis continues,” Mark added.

    He thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and cooperation in the propagation and sustenance of democracy, adding that democracy is a process everyone should uphold in order to benefit from its dividends.

     

  • Reps okay emergency rule

    Reps okay emergency rule

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday declared its support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s proclamation of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

    The lawmakers, however, barred the president from utilizing funds of the affected states the way he deemed necessary.

    At the end of lengthy closed-door session where the emergency powers bill sent to the National Assembly was discussed, the House approved the state of emergency declared by the president, but with extensive modification which was designed to focus the president’s mind on security.

     

     

  • Emergency rule: Adamawa reduce working hours

    Emergency rule: Adamawa reduce working hours

    The Adamawa Government on Tuesday reduced official working hours in the state by one hour, to ease the difficulties civil servants face since it imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 6pm to 6am curfew was imposed to reinforce the current State of Emergency in the state.

    A statement issued on Tueday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kobis Aris, said workers would now close at 3pm.

    “Sequel to declaration of state of emergency in the state by President, Commander-In-Chief and the imposition of 6pm to 6am curfew in the state, civil servants find it difficult to reach home before 6pm.

    “Consequently, Governor Murtala Nyako has approved that the state civil service official working hours be adjusted from 8:00am to 3:00pm during the time of the curfew,” it said.

    It also said the governor was holding consultations with various stakeholders in the state to generate support on the current security situation and ensure the restoration of peace and stability in the state.