Tag: Nigerian news

Northern Governors under the auspices of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) have started an emergency meeting in Kaduna, with a view to addressing the current security challenges bedevilling the region.

The meeting being presided over by the Forum’s Chairman, Governor Simon Lalong, is also aimed at resolving the misinformation on the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) project and proffer lasting solutions to the incessant Farmer-Harder clashes, cattle rustling and associated criminalities such as banditry, kidnapping among others.

In his opening remarks, Lalong said, “the forum has consequently set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of His Excellency, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, to inter-alia develop a comprehensive regional plan of action that could bring lasting solutions to the lingering crises.

“At this meeting, we shall receive briefing from this committee and also deliberate on their findings and recommendations.

“Another major issue we shall also deliberate on is the issue of livestock management in the country and in particular our region, which has continued to generate discourse, controversy, mis-information and even politicization.

“At this meeting, we shall deliberate on the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), which was commissioned by the National Economic Council chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and seeks to support and strengthen the development of market-driven ranches in the livestock ecosystem for improved productivity through breed improvement, pasture production, efficient land and water utilization.

“As a region that holds the comparative advantage in livestock management as an economic and socio-cultural vocation, we need to come up with a common front on how to synergize and draw from the funds available for the programme and ensure that we derive maximum benefits for our people.
Hopefully, we shall develop strategies on how best to deal with the misinformation about the NLTF, which is sometimes confused with the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) project.

“This is important because of the urgent need to cultivate the buy-in of all stakeholders and provide a conducive environment for nomadic herders and those who rear livestock using the private/public partnership model to key into the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government.

Read Also: Boko Haram: 22,000 Nigerians missing in insurgency

“In the course of our engagements here in Kaduna, we shall commission the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) Shopping Mall which was awarded in 2014 with the aim of consolidating the investment portfolio of the Company and promoting its mission of advancing the commercial and industrial development of our region.

“We also have to continue our discourse on how to solve the Almajiri phenomenon which continues to be a social and security challenge that we cannot, but find solutions to.

“I therefore urge us all to engage in robust, open and frank discussions that will assist us come up with practical and effective resolutions that will move our region to the next level.” He said.

The meeting has however gone into a closed door session, while resolutions are expected at close of the meeting.

A least 22,000 people are missing as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) made this known in a statement on Thursday.

It said that nearly 22,000 Nigerians constituted the highest number of missing persons registered with the organisation in any country.

“Every parent’s worst nightmare is not knowing where their child is. This is the tragic reality for thousands of Nigerian parents, leaving them with the anguish of a constant search,” ICRC President Peter Maurer said at the end of a five-day visit to Nigeria.

“People have the right to know the fate of their loved ones, and more needs to be done to prevent families from being separated in the first place,” he said.

During the visit, Maurer met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, senior government officials, civil society and business leaders.

Read Also: Troops raid Boko Haram terrorists in Gworege village, recover weapons

The Red Cross said that some families were often separated while fleeing attacks, while others have had loved ones abducted or detained and do not know their whereabouts.

“The ICRC works with the Nigeria Red Cross and other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in the region to trace missing people by showing photographs, calling out names and going door-to-door in camps and communities,” the statement said.

“So far, 367 cases have been solved since ICRC received its first cases in 2013, underscoring the immense challenges that come with finding missing people and reconnecting them with their families in Nigeria,” it said.

Nigerian army chief Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai on Tuesday said that the military had done a lot in the war against the insurgents, but admitted that humanitarian efforts were being hampered.

“Large swathes of the northeast of the country remain completely inaccessible to humanitarian organisations. People have also been displaced by fighting many times, making them harder to find,” he added.

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai receives ‘FELLOW WILDLIFE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA HONOUR AWARD’. The award was received on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Anthony Bamidele Omozoje at the Wildlife Society of Nigeria Annual Conference 2019.

The conference which was organised by the Wildlife Society of Nigeria took place at the Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

According to a press release signed by Colonel Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed, deputy director, Army Public Relations, 2 Div, the conference afforded intellectuals the opportunity to brainstorm on Wildlife Conservation best practice.

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The theme of the conference was ” WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY”.

At the conference, the need to balance between wildlife resources utilisation and conservation for human sustainance was identified. The urgent need for increased funding and implementation of stronger forestry policy was also noted.

The General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army Maj Gen Anthony Bamidele Omozoje thanked the organisers of the conference for honouring the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai with the well deserved ‘ Fellow Wildlife Society of Nigeria Award’ for his contribution to wildlife conservation in Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to publish names of candidates and their particulars for Bayelsa and Kogi governorship polls on Friday 13th September 2019, it was learnt.

52 parties submitted list of nominated candidates for Bayelsa State while 49 parties submitted for Kogi.

INEC monitored Sixty-four political party primaries in Bayelsa and 59 in Kogi.

The publication of the list and particulars according to Mr.Festus Okoye, National Commissioner & Chairman,
Information and Voter Education Committee is in accordance “with the Electoral Act and in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Bayelsa State and Kogi State Governorship elections”.

Okoye also stated in a statement that the personal particulars of the nominees ” will be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja.”

He also urged the parties to comply with the guideline and schedule activities.

Read Also; No evidence INEC electronically transmitted results to server, Court rules

“As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2019, the Commission once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities and requests strict compliance with them. We look forward to working with the parties and all stakeholders to make the forthcoming elections in the two States free, fair and credible,” he stated.

The National Commissioner also explained that as required by law, the Commission monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of aspirants who emerged has since been published

“From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa State and 49 for Kogi state respectively submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6pm on Monday 9th September 2019. While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the Commission. Out of the 101 nominees for the two States, 91 are male, representing 90%, while 10 are female, representing 10% of all the nominees. Of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa State, 6 are female, while 46 are male. The corresponding figures for Kogi State are 4 female and 45 male nominees.

“The publication of the personal particulars of nominees is for members of the public to make any claims and objections regarding these candidates, as required by law. Similarly, the Commission has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the Governorship and Deputy-Governorship candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the Constitution for these positions. The Commission will notify the concerned parties soon and subsequently consider further action,” he said.

INEC to publish names of candidates and their particulars for Bayelsa and Kogi governorship polls on Friday 13th September 2019.

52 parties submitted names of candidates for Bayelsa State while 49 parties submitted in Kogi.

INEC monitored Sixty-four political party primaries in Bayelsa and 59 in Kogi .

Details shortly…