The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kwara

  • 396 pre-election cases may stymie Vote 2019

    ABOUT 42 days to the general election, there are still a lot of pre-election matters before the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court with glaring implications for  the umpire (INEC), the parties and candidates. Many candidates in  Adamawa,  Zamfara, Rivers, Ogun,  Kwara, Imo and others do not know their fate. According to records obtained from INEC, there are 396 court actions arising from the primaries conducted by political parties. The figure is higher than 200 matters in court before the 2015 poll. A source in INEC said: “All the things we have criticized about general elections manifested during the primaries.”

    The big question is: Will the court be able to resolve all pre-election matters on or before February 16? Will candidates still win elective offices through the backdoor this time around?  Nigerians look forward to the Judiciary to save the electoral process and restore sanity.

  • NSCDC arrests 115 in Kwara

    The Kwara Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) on Friday said it had arrested 115 suspects for different offences since January.

    The State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Adeyinka Fasiu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in his office in Ilorin.

    Fasiu said the command arrested 115 suspects for 10 different crimes committed, with most of them settled out of court while some were undergoing court processes.

    “We were able to settle some cases out of court; a total number of 78 arrests were settled through the Alternative Dispute Unit,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Rivers 2019: Wike declares war against Tonye Cole’s firm

    The Commandant further said that the rate of crime in the state was worrisome, especially among the youths with most of those arrested below 30 years of age.

    “Most of these boys are products of broken homes in which the parents are divorced and there is no proper arrangements for the children’s upkeep, so they end up dropping out of school and joining bad gangs.

    “Some parents and guardians also have nonchallant attitude toward their children and so they do not counsel them and guide them right.

    “ This is resulting in most youths misbehaving and getting involved in criminal activities,” he said.

  • ‘Women farmers produce 90% of Kwara’s foods

    Women smallholder farmers dominate the Kwara state agriculture sector and are responsible for the cultivation of 90 per cent of farm produce, group has said.

    Despite this, the women farmers said that their access to available agricultural resources in the state is less than 20 per cent annually.

    The figure was contained in a community participatory assessment of government expenditure on agriculture/community score cards on smallholder women farmers’ access to extension services.

    Presenting the assessment at a workshop organized by the Actionaid in collaboration with the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE) in Ilorin, the programme coordinator, Mr. Abdulrahman Ayuba said that the farmers have difficulties accessing agricultural extension services.

    He also said that the assessment had showed that women farmers make up 60 per cent of agricultural food processing activities, 50 per cent in animal husbandry related activities and 70 per cent in agricultural labour.

    The report, therefore, recommended establishment of a special extension outreach programme for women and youth and other marginalized groups.

    It also said that it is imperative to urgently recruit qualified extension agents, especially at the critical agent/farmer interface with special focus on female extension agents.

    “Extension staff service conditions require review to make the service attractive especially now that youths are being encouraged to go into agriculture. The dichotomy between the livestock salary scale and others in the agricultural sector must be addressed.

    “The enactment of an agricultural extension policy to guide and regulate the practice of agricultural extension and advisory services in Nigeria, for assured and sustainable funding mechanism and quality control”, the report stated.

     

  • ‘Kwara does not need APC, PDP’

    Kwara State Alliance National Party (ANP) House of Representatives candidate Kehinde Abdullateef Obanimomo spoke with ADEKUNLE JIMOH on how he will restore peace to the troubled Ifelodun/Offa/Oyan Constituency, if elected in next year’s poll.

    Why did not venture into the murky waters of politics?

    The Not too Young to Rule policy of the current President Muhmmadu Buhari spurred me into politics. I am still young in politics. This is my first time of taking a shot at any elective post.

    What are your chances of winning?

    I am 100 percent of emerging victorious in the 2019 National Assembly Elections for Alliance National Party to represent Ifedolun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency of Kwara state. I have the backing of my constituents.

    Why using ANP as a vehicle for your aspiration?

    I have resolved to use the platform of the ANP for my aspiration as it is a new party that is not studded with long time politicians, godfather and moneybags.

    We have been able to convince our people not to collect money from politicians before casting their votes; because by so doing they are mortgaging their future. 80 percent of the electorates are now conscious of that.

    The collection of money from politicians during election times had beggared the lot of my constituents. You see that the three local government areas are lacking in developmental activities. Those that have been representing us have not represented us well.

    From Oyun, Offa and Ifelodun local government areas are yearning for infrastructural facilities. Most of the roads in these areas have all collapsed. Educational and health wise the areas are behind in the state and by extension the country.

    How do you hope to represent the people well, if you emerge the winner of the election?

    My watchword will be honest and transparency if voted into power. Our representatives over the years in the constituency have not utilised funds for the oversight functions well and equitably. The purposes for their elections have been neglected. My own representation shall be a clear departure from their style as I don’t have any godfather. I will make sure that all carried along development wise irrespective of the ethnic, religious and political leanings.

    How will you solve ‘the deep-seated antagonism’ between Offa and Erin-Ile in Oyun local government area?

    We have consulting with members of the two communities to see that they all one. We have also been unifying other places in Ifelodun local government area. Everybody, most especially are totally supportive of my aspiration as I am one of them; they believe I am capable of doing it. Definitely, there is the youth backing I am confident there will be unity. Once the unity is there, there will be no qualms.

    Already, there is a conflict resolution forum in the vanguard of smoothen relations between Offa and other neighbouring towns and villages. Though I am not part of the forum, but as a youth I have won the heart of Youths from Oyun local government to end the frequent clashes between villages and towns in Ibolo land.

    What is your relationship with the National Chairman of your party, Mosood Shittu, who incidentally is from Offa like you?

    I did not know him before now. He is not an Offa based person. He is based in Lagos and Abuja.

    Do you think godfatherism is bad in politics?

    It is 90 percent bad and 10 percent good. This is because as a neophyte in politics you need somebody to guide you. The issue of godfatherism in Nigeria always serves as cog in the wheel of the godsons. The influence of godfathers weighs heavily on the performance of the godsons.

     

  • 2019 elections: Be combat ready, police boss charges personnel

    As electioneering campaigns in Nigeria kick off, the police high command has tasked officers and men to be alive to their responsibilities.

    The command also charged its personnel to be combat ready in their duty post.

    Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 8 Adekunle Oladunjoye said this Tuesday in Ilorin while on a familiarisation tour of the Kwara state command.

    Zone 8 comprises Kogi, Kwara and Ekiti states.

    Read Also:Edgal alleges politicians are importing thugs for 2019 elections

    Mr. Oladunjoye added that; “once you are on duty as a policeman be combat ready as if you are in war front. Don’t take things for granted.

    “Crime is generally on the increase. We are trying to tame it. Though, the police is overstretched but we are on top of the game.”

    He called for optimal utilization of manpower, material and resources among officers and men in the police command, saying that the short fall of personnel affected all state commands.

    The AIG also charged police personnel to uphold rule of law in their dealings, be tactful, and be helpful to members of the public, saying that no police personnel can achieve anything without cooperation of members of the public.

    Earlier, the state Commissioner of police, Bolaji Fafowora lamented short fall of officers and men in the command, saying that only 46 out of 116 traffic wardens are left to cover the whole command.

    The CP said that the shortage of manpower had made it increasingly difficult to meet human resource needs of the command in terms of deployment, patrol and other critical assignments.

    The police boss, who said that 48 out of the 116 traffic wardens had already gone on retirement between January and June 2018, added that 22 of them had also gone on retirement between September and now.

    He said that the development was not unconnected to movement of officers and men out of the command in form of transfer without any corresponding replacement, especially to special units like the border patrol, police mobile force, CTU, and the SPU.

    “In the same manner, the command is equally facing serious depletion of its personnel in the 15 pmf squadron attached to the command through movement of about five units out of the eight units in the squadron, on special assignments outside the state.

    However, the police boss said that despite the challenge, the state was relatively calm, adding that officers and men were driven to remain on their toes in prevention of crime and criminality.

    Fafowora, who said that the command had succeeded in bringing down activities of cultists, added that the command was hopeful that more feats could still be achieved if required basic policing tools like serviceable patrol vehicles, anti-riot equipment, armored personnel carriers (APC) and more men were provided.

  • 19 dead in Kwara boat mishap

    No fewer than 19 persons, mostly children were on Saturday feared dead in a boat mishap in Lafiagi, Edu local government area of Kwara state.
    But the state police command said it is yet to ascertain the number of the deaths.
    The boat was said to be conveying the victims across River Niger.
    The victims were said the to be going for a traditional wedding in a community in Niger.
    About 22 persons were said to be on board the unfortunate boat.
    A source said that while two of the passengers were rescued, the 19 others drowned and died.
    The source said that all efforts to rescue other passengers were unsuccessful.
    “As at yesterday evening, four corpses have been recovered from the river.”
    Said the source: “Efforts to recover the bodies of the death would resume yesterday morning again to ensure that others also are found.
    “Both men of the Nigeria Police and the state Fire Service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.
    “Unfortunately only two of them survived,” the source told journalists on Sunday.
    Secretary to the Lafiagi Traditional Council, Alhaji Sulyman Aliyu also confirmed the incident.
    Aliyu said that the number of the victims could not be ascertained yet,  noting that there was a conflict in the number.
    “Definitely they are up to 12. The figure is between 12 and 19 that you said ” he said.
    The secretary also confirmed that four corpses were recovered on Saturday  and that efforts to remove others would continue on Sunday.
    The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, also confirmed the incident.
    Spokesman of the Kwara state police command Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident but could not ascertain the number of casualties.
    He said the capsized boat was ferrying passengers from Lafiagi, Edu local government area of the state to Niger state.
    “The command had since yesterday deployed detachment of officers and men to the scene of the accident,” he added.

  • FAAC: Kwara gets N3.9b for November

    The Kwara State Government will receive N3.9 billion from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the month of November, 2018.

     

    The State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, said this in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday.

     

    Banu said that the state’s allocation was made up of statutory allocation of N2.889 billion, Value Added Tax of N1.006 billion and exchange rate gain of N4.425 million.

     

    He said that the 16 local governments in the state would receive N2.807 billion allocation for November.

     

    Giving a breakdown of the allocation, he said the local councils would get statutory allocation of N2.233 billion, Value Added Tax of N571 million and exchange gain of N2.9 million.

  • Ecobank reopens in Omu-Aran, five years after closure

    Ecobank branch in Omu-Aran, Kwara, closed since May, 2013, following a robbery attack has begun skeletal services, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent reports that, although the bank had yet to throw its gate open to customers, the bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) had been activated and functioning.

    Scores of customers were seen queuing up to make transactions on the ATM’s when News Agency of Nigeria visited the bank’s premises along Aperan Way in the metropolis on Tuesday morning.

    The bank was among two other banks attacked by armed bandits many years ago, resulting in the killing of three persons and an undisclosed amount of cash carted away in the process.

    Prior to the re-opening of the bank’s main branch in the town, the bank only maintained a cash centre inside the premises of Landmark University, specifically for the students.

    First Bank began skeletal operations in 2017 three years after the robbery attack, following intense pressure from the people of the community.

    The community in its bid to woo the banks back to business, few months after the incident, bought two Hilux security vehicles for the police in order to enhance its patrol and surveillance operations.

    The management of Ecobank had commenced renovation of the bank’s building in a bid to join First bank around April but was forced to abandon the plan following another robbery attack in Offa.

    Read Also: Ecobank supports orphanages in Lagos, Ibadan others

    The residents, especially banks’ customers in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria, described the re-opening as “heartwarming, unprecedented and a welcome development’’.

    “We are gradually going back to the good old days as far as banking is concerned in Omu-Aran. This re-opening of another bank is a big relief to us and we are happy,’’ Azeez Abiodun, a civil servant, said.

    Mrs Esther Omobolanle, a trader, said she had been anxiously looking forward to the re-opening of the bank’s branch in order to continue her transactions with the bank.

    “I was forced to open another account with First Bank when the bank refused to open after the robbery attack but I am the happiest person today as the bank has showed its commitment to fully start operation, ‘’ she said.

    Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, the Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, praised the bank’s management for acceding to the yearnings and aspirations of its teeming customers in the area.

    He pledged its administration’s unrelenting support toward ensuring adequate protection that would enhance safe banking operations for bank customers and generality of the people.

    Chief Bisi Adeyemi, President, Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), on his part, expressed the community’s appreciation to the management of the bank for its magnanimity in re-opening the bank’s branch.

    An official of the bank, who preferred anonymity, told News Agency of Nigeria that the bank was already in the process of mobilising its staff in order to commence full banking transactions in the branch.

    NAN

  • MTN, Dangote, others drag Kogi, Kwara, Benue govts before tax tribunal

    The governments of Kogi, Kwara and Benue states are to appear before the Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to settle their disputes on tax payment.

    The three states were dragged to the tax court by MTN, Dangote, Fidelity Bank and Mrs. Goodness Echekam.

    While Kwara State Government was dragged before the tax court by Dangote Flour Mills Limited, Benue State Government was sued by MTN. Fidelity Bank plc and Obajana Agrosacks Limited also instituted separate cases against the Kogi State Government.

    Similarly, Mrs. Goodness Echekam has also filed a case against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    Read also: Kogi, Kwara, Benue drag MTN, Dangote, others to tax tribunal

    The Chairman of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Hon. Richard Bala, who disclosed this at the inaugural sitting of the court yesterday in Jos, said,:“Our mission at the tribunal is to resolve tax disputes on a basis that is fair and impartial, flexible and speedy, convenient and affordable, with a view to promoting public confidence and voluntary compliance with tax laws.

    “We shall be fair and transparent but firm in our decisions.

    “While I and other commissioners will only be here during sittings, the secretariat Staff under the leadership of the Secretary will always be here to attend to your needs and enquiries.”

  • Lady runs off with Falz’s Jacket at MTN Pulse Invasion, Kwara

    An excited young lady grinned in satisfaction as she grabbed onto Falz’s jacket during the Surprise Celebrity Visit of the MTN Pulse Campus Invasion. Popular Nigerian artiste, Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, had just handed her his jacket, to the screaming delight of the hundreds of people who had thronged UNILORIN to watch what would happen at the Pulse Invasion.

    This was the second time the artiste had appeared on the Invasion train as he had thrilled the students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) and the Federal University of Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in October.

    The Invasion berthed at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and was later taken to Kwara State Polytechnic, on Monday, November 12 with the Sales Village experience. Students gathered around the Village for three days to play and have fun as they interacted with various MTN products and services.

    On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of students and passersby gathered around the Pulse Invasion Surprise Celebrity Venue to watch curiously, for what would happen. Their curiosity was sated when Falz walked into the school to meet a screaming audience waiting for him. He performed chart toppers and the screams of excitement continued throughout the show. The love for the star was apparent when he handed over his jacket to a fan in the audience who wore it like a badge of honour.