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Tag: Nigerian news

  • Taraba REC Yusuf dies

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Taraba State, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf, is dead.

    Announcing the death in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony said the late REC died on Saturday night at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri, Borno State.

    She said Yusuf, who had served as REC in Benue and Adamawa states, was buried in Maiduguri in accordance with Islamic rites.

    Oriaran-Anthony described the late REC as one of the most experienced hands in the commission, having been appointed a state commissioner in 2010.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regrets to announce the death of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Taraba State, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf. He died last night at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno State, where he was on admission for sometime.

    “He will be buried today (September 29) at 4pm in Maiduguri. The commission will be represented at the funeral by a delegation of the National and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

    “Alhaji Yusuf was one of the most experienced RECs in the commission, having been appointed in 2010. He had served as REC in Benue and Adamawa states. His experience has been invaluable to the commission over the years,” the statement said.

  • Army arrests suspected insurgents’ logistics supplier

    The Nigerian Army on Sunday arrested a suspected Boko Haram insurgents’ logistic supplier and seized a car stacked with motorcycle used tyres in Borno State.

    The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. A.K. Ibrahim, made the disclosure while parading the suspect at the Gubio Super Camp in Maiduguri.

    He said the suspect, Samuel Chukwudon, was arrested on September 27 by a joint team of troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) and personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), while travelling along Baga-Monguno Road.

    Ibrahim said the troops seized items which included a car, 136 used motorcycle tyres, 200 new tubes and a number of rubber gum.

    Read Also: Army partners NPS to protect national parks, reserved areas

    “The arrest is based on the subsisting ban on motorcycle in the theatre of operation due to the security challenges.

    “We know that the insurgents use motorcycles in their operations; nobody is allowed to ride motorcycle, the suspect is arrested with the banned items heading toward Lake Chad basin.

    “Boko Haram insurgents are around the area and we felt that something was fishy. He made attempts to bribe our men at the time of the arrest and during interrogation,” he said.

    The officer said that the seized car and items would be destroyed and warned people against trading in motorcycles and motorcycle spare parts.

    The suspect told reporters that he sells used motorcycle tyres to cart pushers such as water vendors and firewood sellers in Monguno.

    “I’ve lived in Monguno since 1990. I have a shop and everybody in the town knows me. I engaged in the used tyres trade because they told us not to sell new tyres,” he said.

  • Dangote extends promo by four weeks

    Management of Dangote Cement at the weekend extended its sales promo by additional four weeks.

    The company said its customers have more than 20 cars and other fabulous prizes to win and that they must win all the gifts before the promo is concluded.

    Dangote Cement’s Group Managing Director (GMD) Joseph Makoju, who spoke while presenting another car in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, said: “We are excited to inform you that we have decided to extend the ongoing National Consumer Promotion, tagged: Dangote Bag of Goodies.”

    The GMD said while the promotion will now end on October 15, customers still have till October 31 to redeem their prizes.

    “Based on the above dates, packaging of cement in the special promo bags with scratch card insertion will continue till October 15 while lucky consumers will be able to continue redeeming their prizes up until October 31.”

    Read Also: President Buhari hails Bill Gates, Dangote for service to humanity

    Also, hundreds of pedestrians, motorists and motorcycle operators took turn to catch a glimpse of the presentation of prizes in Lokoja.

    The car winner, Mr. Abubakar Musa, 33, a block moulder, said he was in shock, even after getting the keys to his new car.

    Narrating how he won the car, Musa said “…When I removed the winning card from the bag of cement, I ran to my wife who told me that the promo had since ended. But when I brought it to the Dangote office here (in Lokoja), they confirmed that it was ongoing and that I had won a car.”

    He added: “I still cannot come to terms that I have won a car. I believe it is God’s doing. Dangote is godsend to my family.”

    Makoju said the company was making a point by rewarding its loyal customers.

    The GMD described the promo as a success, urging Nigerians to key into it as the winning cards were in over 72 million promotional bags of Dangote cement.

    He said Dangote was not only leading in the cement sector but was also leading in quality.

    Makoju said it is the only cement company in Nigeria that uses automatic robotic engineering to deliver quality to end-users.

    Describing Kogi State as the heart of Dangote Cement, the GMD noted that Obajana Cement plant in Kogi is one of the largest cement plants in the world.

    The company’s National Sales Director Adeyemi Fajobi said over 21 million winners of various items were expected at the end of the promotion.

    According to him, millions of naira will be won during the promo.

    Dangote Cement Marketing Director, Mrs. Funmi Sanni, urged the people to continue to buy the company’s cement because “there are various prizes for a whopping 21 million Dangote Cement buyers”.

    The figure, she said, was about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

    Mrs Sanni added that lucky Dangote Cement consumers across the country would win 43 cars, 24 tricycles, 24 motorcycles, 550 refrigerators, 400 television sets, 300,000 Dangote foods goodies packs and recharge cards for all networks worth N200,000,000.00.

  • Council chair extols teaching

    Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) Adejare Omiyale has extolled teaching, describing it as the most impactful.

    He, however, lamented that the profession was without the corresponding rewards.

    Omiyale spoke during the distribution of free customised exercise books and scientific mathematical sets to pupils in 30 public primary schools in the council.

    Read Also: Council chair to cultists: stop or go to jail

    He lamented that many children withdrew from school because they could not afford writing materials. He, therefore, urged the pupils to reciprocate the gesture by being more studious.

    The chairman also thanked the people for the appointment of Wahab Olawiye-King as SUBEB chairman, as well as Bayo Adefuye and Isreal as board members.

    He said: “Illiteracy is a disease, only education can cure it. We have made the military school more attractive and inviting within a short time. Let me apologise to teachers and pupils in schools that are still dilapidated, such as St. Agnes primary school’ reconstruction work will start before the end of the year. Olimo primary school will be completed soon, it has 18 classrooms, two floors, several toilets with teachers’ offices.”

  • Sylva to Niger Delta: allow peace for investment

    Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva has urged Niger Delta communities to allow peace for investment to thrive.

    Sylva and the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mele Kyari spoke  when they visited host communities and facilities of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 25 at Kula in Asari-Toru Local Government of Rivers State.

    A statement by NNPC’s Acting Group General Manager of Group Public Affairs Samson Makoji said the visit followed the peace brokered by both men on the disputed mining lease between Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Belema Oil.

    Sylva noted that for investments to thrive in Niger Delta, the people should live in peace with firms operating in their land.

    Read Also: FG committed to bringing prosperity to Nigerians -Sylva

    He said: “We need unity in our land today. We have fought to this point and the Federal Government has started looking our way. It is time for us to change strategy and ensure that we bring the benefits of investments to our communities. If we don’t make our communities peaceful, investments cannot come. The investors are ready to come here, unfortunately in some cases there is no peace.”

    Kyari said the NNPC had the mandate to work with stakeholders towards peace in oil-producing communities.

    “Our immediate priority is the restoration of peace to the host communities, not just to restore production. This is because once peace comes, oil production (which is about 35,000 barrels per day here) will ultimately return.

    “What we have done today is to ensure that normal life returns to this community so that after two years of dispute, we would have found a lasting solution which would enable people return to their work, jobs will be created and the social services that ought to come with these activities will be restored,” Kyari stated.

    King Kroma Eleki, who spoke for traditional rulers in Kula, hailed the peace deal and said they would work with the government to bring development to the people.

    President-General of Kula Youth Ekine Japus lauded the Federal Government’s peace overtures through the minister and NNPC.

    Highlights of the occasion include opening of the NNPC/Belema JV Potable Water, and groundbreaking of the 85km Kula-Degema-Port Harcourt Expressway.

  • New automotive bill underway Says Adebayo

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo has said a new automotive policy bill is underway.

    He spoke at the fifth edition of the Presidential Policy Dialogue organised by the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

    According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to the previous bill because it was not well received hence the need for a new bill.

    Read Also: Senate to pass Petroleum Industry Bill in 2020

    He said: “We are already working towards having a new bill. We have decided to start afresh and get it right this time. The last one was not done right; we will engage all stakeholders in the formulation process of the bill.

    “In the next couple of weeks, I will be visiting all the assembly plants and hold a meeting with the owners. They are the people that will implement whatever policy we come up with. The government is desirous to see to that cars can be gotten by citizens at affordable price; that is where we are at the moment.

    “Our role as a government is to set policy direction and ensure it is clear and consistent, as well as provide enabling environment for the private sector which is the engine room for growth of the economy.  Relevant government agencies are in continuous process of implementing initiatives and policies that address key areas of concern.”

  • Five ships for Navy southwest exercise

    The Western Command of the Nigerian Navy (NN) on Sunday flagged off its second biannual sea exercise to sustain anti-crime patrols of the maritime environment.

    Six capital ships and 11 boats would take part in the three-day exercise codenamed ‘Ategun Alafiia’, a Yoruba phrase for calm wind, aimed at eliminating all bottlenecks to economic prosperity within the command’s area of responsibility (AOR).

    Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, said the exercise prepares the command for the Chief of Naval Staff’s (CNS) sea inspection coming up towards the end of the year.

    Daji said some of the participating vessels were deployed to sea on Sunday when the exercise was activated.

    He said the sea exercise would help the command assess its capabilities, operational readiness and the level of its officers’ training at shore and sea.

    Flagging off the exercise onboard board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) UNITY, Daji said, “During this exercise we will be giving very robust support from the sea to Operation Swift Response so that the operation will have an added bite from the sea through the vessels that will be participating.

    Read Also: Enugu gets 82 new Special Marshals

    “Recall that Operation Swift Response has been ordered to continue for another 30 days. We have dedicated patrol vessels towards that exercise but in this Ategun Alafia we will be able to give added bite to ensure that the criminals do not take advantage of any loopholes through the maritime area to sabotage the economy.

    “We want to see them (personnel) to be highly professional. We want to know if they are able to practicalise at sea the trainings they have imbibed at shore and see where there are gaps so we can communicate same to the training establishment to make sure that such gaps are blocked.”

    The Nation reports that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) among others will partake in the exercise.

    Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) Commodore Elkanah Jaiyeola said the intent of the general exercise was to conduct various deterrence and protective measures against current and impending security challenges in the maritime domain, adding that scheme of maneuvers will be conducted in three phases- preparatory, education and termination.

  • Govt reunites victims of Kaduna Rigasa ‘Islamic Centre’ with families

    As Kaduna State Government on Sunday commenced reuniting the over 300 rescued inmates of the embattled Rigasa ‘Islamic Centre’ with their families, the legal team of the centre has defended its activities.

    The state government had on Saturday taken custody of the over 300 rescued inmates of the centre from the Kaduna State Police Command.

    As at Suday, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajia Hafsat Baba, said 140 of the over 300 victims have already been re-united with their families.

    She said the victims, including 77 children and 113 adults were taken to a secured facility for proper profiling before uniting them with their families.

    Read Also: Kaduna Islamic School has no operational license – Police

    Baba said: “Initially, after they were rescued, they were brought to Ranchers Bees Stadium where they stayed overnight and given food by the state government.

    “On Friday, they were relocated to the Hajj Camp. And that was when we did the head count to find out and separate the children from the adults. We were able to get 190 on ground.

    “Seventy-seven of them are children, the youngest being the age of six. There are some that are seven, eight, nine and 10. We also have adults as old as 30 and even up to 50. We have 113 adults as at Friday.

    “On that same Friday, there were about 15 children that were really sick. We had to take them to the hospital. About three of the adults were on admission where they are being taken care of.”

    She, however, commended officials of the Nigeria Police, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and media practitioners for the various roles they played in the exercise.

    The Legal Adviser, of the supposed Rehabilitation Centre, Sani Katu said, the Kaduna State government and the police have not done well by raiding the centre.

    The lawyer said the development was a big loss to Kaduna State government, Nigeria and neighboring African nations.

    According to him, the centre which started in year 2000 and duly registered with the state, has been a molder of society and should be commended instead.

    He said they will cooperate with security personnel on investigation, but the legal team will also give the centre every cover to prove that it intentions are pure.

  • Onitsha set for Ofala festival

    The Onitsha Kingdom in Southeast Nigeria is agog with excitement as the commercial town awaits the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, to flag off the activities of 2019 edition of the annual Ofala festival.

    Globacom is the major corporate sponsor of the event, and has been doing so for the past eight years, a phenomenon that has helped to upscale the festival to a world class tourism event.

    The  main  Ofala features a  display  of royal dances, tributes, parades and music running  over two days commencing on  October 11 till 12. However, the activities of the festival has now been increased to include other events, to make it 10 days of unstoppable fun and entertainment for both visitors and residents.

    A joint statement by the Ofala Steering Committee and Globacom, explained that the 2019 Ofala events will now include the Onitsha City Marathon, organised by the Onitsha Business School. The 21-kilometre road race has been  approved by both the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

    Read Also: Ooni of Ife goes into seclusion as Olojo festival commences

    This takes place on Saturday, October 5 and  renowned international marathoners, particularly from countries with road racing records like Kenya, Ethiopia, Ugandan and  Diaspora Nigerian elite athletes, have registered for the event.

    The marathon will be followed by the Oreze Arts  VII, a group art exhibition promoted by His Majesty’s Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation and supported by the National Gallery of Art. The works of  250 artists  from various parts of the world are planned to be on display  at the show, which will run from October 9 to  October 13.  Frank Ugiomoh, Professor of Art History and Theory, Department of Fine Art and Design, University of Port Harcourt, will be the special guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the art exhibition.  A panel discussion  on the ‘Role of Art in Community Enlightenment, Cohesion and Development’ will form part of the exhibition.

    Panel lists include Tayo Adenaike, Obiora Anidi, and Nneka Odoh. Others are art collector Hakeem Adedeji, and art curator Iheanyi Onwuegbucha.

    About 2000 persons are expected to participate in the Ofala Youth Carnival, which is scheduled for Thursday, October10. Now in its seventh year, the carnival holds under the auspices of the Onitsha Ado Youth Council and showcases the rich cultural heritage of Onitsha.

    The activities will be rounded off with a Royal Banquet, organised by Globacom in honour of the Obi of Onitsha. The banquet will be held at the Dolly Hills Hotel, Onitsha, on Monday, October 14.

  • ‘It’s premature for Presidency to intervene in Sowore’s case’

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, has said that it is too early for the presidency to weigh in on the prosecution of detained publisher of Sahara Reporter, Omoyele Sowore, by the Department of State Services.

    He spoke during a political programme tagged: Politics Today, aired on Channels television.

    The presidential spokesman said that Sowore’s prosecution was still unravelling within the realms of the security and judiciary.

    He said: “It is an issue that is unraveling and I think it is still in the realm of security and judiciary. The DSS have a spokesman in Peter Afunanya. If you ask him this question, I m sure he will be able to respond.

    Read Also: Sowore: Public affairs analyst cautions judiciary against trivializing national interest

    Adesina said he had not been briefed by president Muhammadu Buhari on the stand of the presidency.

    He said: “As we are now, I think it is premature for the Presidency to weigh into this matter; but when the Presidency speaks, it should be the final position on this.

    “The president had been away. He came into the country yesterday. I have not been briefed. If he says this is our position on this matter then I can speak on it.

    “Because I have not been briefed I won’t be able to say much but I am sure as a media house if you try to speak with the spokesman of the DSS he may oblige.”

    The presidential spokesman added that only the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, was in the best person to respond to some of the questions posed to him by the anchor.