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  • Nigeria truly on path to free, fair elections in 2019, says Presidency

    Nigeria truly on path to free, fair elections in 2019, says Presidency

    *2019 elections will be free, fair, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday noted that the United Nation’s prediction that 2019 elections in Nigeria will be credible and violent free is another indication of the world’s confidence in Nigeria’s current administration.

    Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, a day after a United Nations representative made the prediction in a Channels TV interview, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, expressed pleasure at the world body’s accurate observation of the trends in President Buhari’s government, which could only lead down the path of free and fair elections come 2019.

    He said “The Buhari government doesn’t believe in cheap propaganda. It’s not about responding to the attacks, false allegations and insinuations of the PDP or of the still very active media machinery of the previous government.

    “We believe in taking active steps to ensure that the future of Nigeria is better than it is today and we are glad to see that the United Nations has acknowledged this.” he added

    During the Channels TV interview, Head of UN Office for West Africa, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers, had pointed out the credible and peaceful local elections that have so far taken place in different states across Nigeria, and used this as one of the indices to judge what to expect for the presidential elections in 2019.

    “Under the government of President Buhari, a number of credible elections have been conducted in states and local governments across Nigeria and, so far, there has been no cause for fear or worry,” the SSA Media said.

    He added that the 2015 elections which saw the historic election of President Buhari – the first time in Nigeria and one of the rare occasions in Africa when an incumbent was soundly defeated in an election – were credible simply because of the presence and diligence of Professor Attahiru Jega.

    “At one of its meetings, the Council of States last year put on record the appreciation of the nation for the conduct of the 2015 elections and commended the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman of the Commission for bringing that about.

    “In addition to the steadfastness of the INEC, the ECOWAS, AU, EU, UN and other international bodies also had to be on guard to ensure that there was no opportunity for the kind of foolishness we saw at the INEC collation center from people in the circle of power to flourish,” Malam Garba said.

    “But, in 2019, the international community will have nothing to fear, and I am happy that the UN can already sense that several months in advance.”  he said

  • ASUP to begin indefinite strike November 13

    ASUP to begin indefinite strike November 13

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP ) is set to embark on an indefinite strike action with effect from Monday, November 13, 2017 to press for the implementation of its agreement with government, accusing government of treating polytechnic education with disdain and levity.

    Rising from the emergency meeting of its National Executive Council, ASUP said it has no choice than to embark on an indefinite strike after the expiration of its earlier 21 days ultimatum, adding that the conciliatory meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Labour failed to produce positive result because the Ministry of Education was not interested in resolving the dispute.

    National President of ASUP, Comrade Usman Y. Dutse also accused the government of using endless verification exercises to delay the payment of entitlements of members of the union, adding that while the union is not against government carrying out verification exercises, it should not endless and the exercise should not be used to denied workers their rights.

    He said that despite the 21 days notice given to the government, they did not consider it necessary to address their demands for an improved funding of polytechnic education in the country.

    Read also: ASUP urges Abia to pay poly staff

    Dutse said “Our union is therefore constrained to lament again that our sector is on the verge of collapse and needs all the emergency attention it urgently deserves. Until now, it should be noted that the issues raised here today have been there since 2014 and none of these issues has since 2014 been concretely resolved to improve the sector.

    “It is against this background that we wish to remind governments at all levels and indeed all Nigerians that we cannot continue to be complacent in the face of imminent and seemly strategic annihilation of a sector that feeds and caters for millions of youths and families. A sector that if well harnessed will boost Nigeria’s technological know–how, improve ICT, create millions of employment opportunities and raise the level of both theoretical and practical technological literacy.”

    Some of the issues include the non implementation of the NEEDS assessment report recommended the injection of N6.5 billion int the polytechnic education in 2014, adding that this has risen to about N8 billion, adding that without Imo,emerging the report, the essence of using tax payers money to embark on the  exercise is wasted.

    He said the issues also include the Non – passage of the Amendment Bill of the Polytechnics Act, adding that “the delay and indifference to the passage of this bill is viewed as a ploy to fester chaos and continued crises in the sector. Recall that this bill passed through public hearing since December 2016. One wonders why an all important bill such as this still remains unattended to even when assurances have been extracted from the Senate Committee on this bill, our regulatory agencies and ministry of education. 

    Passing this bill will go a long way to resolving majority of the contending issues in the sector, reduce conflicts, improve on the efficiency levels of the administrative organs and ultimately bring the sector in tune with global best practices. Same bill died with the 6th and 7th assemblies and the current effort is now being threatened to go same way as it is stuck in the Senate since the public hearing in December, 2016.

    “Shortfalls in Personnel Releases and Withdrawal of Allowances and  emoluments due to cuts in personnel releases. This phenomenon has persisted till date. As if this was not enough, government added salt to injury by withdrawing allowances which hitherto were part of salaries.

    “Equally, unpaid arrears of promotions have continued to mount. While verifications of staff have been conducted over and over, only five institutions have received repayment of their 2016 shortfalls. This situation is compounded by the continued penchant of Governing Councils to siphon the meagre internal resources of institutions in order to assuage their unbridled appetite for luxury.”

    He also said that the Non Release of CONTISS 15 Migration arrears has lingered since 2011 when the approval to migrate to the CONTISS 15 salary scale was secured from the government effective 2009, adding that “Since then, only the upper cader has been fully taken care of. Staffs in the lower cader are being short changed since then as they are yet to gat the full benefit of this policy. In response, government continues to set up committees without terminal dates and any meaningful response to the union’s protests.

    “It is worthy to note that a lot of these issues constitute violations of the agreement signed between our union and the government in 2010. This is in tandem with the now well documented penchant of government to renege on agreements. Recently efforts to address these issues led to the convening, on the 24th of October 2017, of a conciliatory meeting by the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja. 

    “Curiously, the ministry in eye of the storm (The Federal Ministry of Education) was so poorly represented that no memorandum of action was agreed upon. This clearly showed the level of disdain and disrespect with which issues of the polytechnic sector are being handled by relevant agencies of government.

    “In view of the above, our union rising from this emergency meeting hereby resolved to commence an indefinite and comprehensive strike action effective 13th November, 2017. This action shall be sustained until our demands are met or an implementable memorandum of action is agreed upon by our union and relevant agencies of government.

    “We therefore call on well meaning Nigerians and indeed the public to prevail on the government to do the needful and avoid this imminent shutdown of the sector on an indefinite basis.”

  • SGF to Saraki: I’ve come to extend hand of friendship to Senate

    SGF to Saraki: I’ve come to extend hand of friendship to Senate

    The newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF ) Boss Mustapha, on sunday assured Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, of the full cooperation of the Presidency with the National Assembly.

    Mustapha who paid a courtesy visit to Saraki in his office at the National Assembly, told the Senate President that he was in his office to extend hand of friendship and to solicit the support and cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure the smooth running of government.

    The SGF noted that the Presidency is not in competition with the National Assembly especially when it was realized that the duties of the two arms of government are specified by the constitution.

    He said that the two arms are joint partners in governmental enterprise and should work to complement each other.

    Mustapha said, “Let me start by thanking the President of the Senate and the Principal Officers of the Senate for graciously receiving me and the team of Permanent Secretaries that have accompanied me on this trip this very afternoon.

    He assured that he would work to ensure that “the National Assembly receives that cooperation because jointly if we work together, whatever has been lost in the past we can quickly redeem and recover and make progress so that by the time the first four-year mandate that we received comes to an end we can show on our scorecard that these were the promises we made.”

    Read:  Saraki, Dogara angered by Aso Rock security checks

    “We are here sir, on a courtesy call to truly thank you personally for taking out time to attend my swearing-in ceremony as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and to also convey the gratitude of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the entirety of the government on the able leadership that you have given the National Assembly as a whole.

    “Let me put it on record that your leadership has helped tremendously in stabilizing the polity and also given the purposeful direction that we require at the Presidency to ensure that we deliver on the promises that we made to the Nigeria people when we sought for their mandate in 2015.

    “You ran for the Senate in your constituency in Kwara State, but I remember vividly serving as the Director, Contact and Mobilization of the Campaign, that you were all over the place campaigning to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari won the election and we did win decisively.

    “So, sir, thank you so much for what you have done to ensure the APC’s victory. After your emergence as the Chairman of the National Assembly and also the President of the Senate, you have provided the kind of leadership that is required, as I said, to stabilize the polity.

    “Nigeria as a nation has been going through some storms that we inherited but because of your able leadership and your colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives, we have stabilized this process to a large extent.

    “Going forward sir, I bring, like I said, the greetings of the Presidency because as the Secretary to the Government, my responsibility is to coordinate the implementation of government policies and to ensure that these policies are synergized in such a manner that we would be able to deliver to the people of Nigeria the good things of life which they rightly deserve.

    “In doing that, I will not be able to succeed in that task if I do not get the cooperation of the National Assembly and that is why I am here today to extend the hand of friendship and to solicit for the cooperation of the National Assembly because our constitution is very explicit when it comes to the principle of Separation of Powers.

    “The role of the National Assembly is quite distinct. You (National Assembly) legislate for the good governance of the Federation; you provide oversight and you also ensure that funds that are appropriated are used judiciously for the purposes they are meant and for the benefit of the people of Nigeria.

    “So your responsibility is so enormous in this enterprise. I will say this and I will say it quite frankly sir, we are not in competition with the National Assembly. We are not rivals with the National Assembly. We are joint partners in this enterprise.

    “If the National Assembly does not cooperate with the Presidency, I am not very sure we will be able to achieve the desired result that we want to see given the mandate that we have freely received from the people of Nigeria.

    “So, this is basically to come and assure you that in every area that you are soliciting for the cooperation of the Presidency, being the Secretary to the Government, I would ensure that the National Assembly receives that cooperation because jointly if we work together, whatever has been lost in the past we can quickly redeem and recover and make progress so that by the time the first four-year mandate that we received comes to an end we can show on our scorecard that these were the promises we made.

    “Mr. President is passionate about the three-pronged approach that he has brought to government. One, to fight for the security of the country and defeat insurgency in every part of this country. Two, to diversify the economy and thirdly, to fight corruption and ensure, in his very common parlance, if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

    “ So, it is on these three-pronged approach that he has said that I can tell you that none of these three-pronged approach can be achieved if we do not receive the support of the National Assembly particularly now the Senate.

    “We can’t diversify the economy because that would mean that Bills will have to come to the National Assembly which will be debated and eventually returned to him for assent.

    Read:Meet new SGF Boss Mustapha

    “We can’t fight corruption if we do not have an institutional framework which is strengthened in every ramification to ensure that corruption is dealt with because it is a big menace that has constituted a source of embarrassment to the people of this country and we can’t fight insurgency unless we put apparatuses on ground that in all ramification requires the support of the National Assembly and for that reason sir, we will continue to solicit for your support.

    “We will continue to knock on your door and I believe that with your able leadership, you will be able to convince your colleagues that at every given time, whenever we require to see your hand intervening in certain areas that will assist the government move forward we will receive that. Thank you so much sir, in spite of your very tight schedule, you have received me and the Committee of my Permanent Secretaries that have come. I wish you a successful tenure, like you have always wished me and I believe at the end of the day, we will have every cause to rejoice because Nigerians would have received, like I always say, the good things of life which they rightly deserve.”

    Saraki described the visit of the SGF as a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature.

    He said, “Let me on behalf of my colleagues welcome you to the Senate and let me thank you for your visit..

    ‘I think your visit is very symbolic. It is truly a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature and a good omen for our democracy and for our government.

    ‘I got the notice rather short but it was important that we meet. Your visit truly shows your intention of ensuring that you use your period as SGF to ensure that we truly work together to make Nigeria great.

    ‘You are very right and I think people like us are not surprised because we know your antecedents. You know that in the presidential system that we are running in this democracy, it is not possible for us to be able to achieve all our goals if the Executive and Legislature do not have – not just an okay relationship – a fantastic and very close relationship.

    “And what you have done this afternoon has really brought that closer and I am sure that all my colleagues are going to appreciate that on the floor tomorrow when I communicate this to them.

    “Truly, you have started on a very good note and I congratulate you. Thank you for all your kind words when you talked about some of the work we have done in the past together in bringing the government together and we will continue to work together to ensure that we deliver on our promises.

    “As you said, the constitution is very clear on what our responsibilities are. You did not write it and I did not write it, neither did any of us in the National Assembly today but we have all sworn to it and we must continue to ensure that we work with it and we work for the interest of Nigeria..

    “Let me assure you that being the first SGF that we have received here, you will definitely get our cooperation and this will definitely be a new page and we will do all our best to ensure that whatever the issues are before you, we will act to see how best we can to resolve them and work together. I thank you for coming.”

    Read Also: EFCC raises panel to grill ex-SGF Lawal, seven others

  • Court sentences man five years for biting off ear of rival

    Court sentences man five years for biting off ear of rival

    A man, Mr. Isiah Olaniyan, was yesterday sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour by an Osun State High Court, sitting  Ile-Ife  for biting off ear of his rival.
    The convict was arraigned before the court on 10th October, 2016 on a (3) three count charge of attempt murder, grievous harm and unlawful wounding contrary to sections 320(1), 335, and 338(1) respectively, of the criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol 2 Law of osun State of Nigeria 2002.

    The prosecution counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Bamidele Salawu, told the court that on 27th of July, 2015, at  No1 Bolaji Olufunmi Street, Ipetumodu, Osun State, the convict forced his way into a rented room of the victim, Mr. Alonge Emmanuel, assaulted him with an iron rod, “on suspicion of probably, having illicit affair with his wife, Esther Egunyemi, who packed out of the convict room since 23rd July, 2015.”

    According to him: “The convict pursued Mr. Alonge Emmanuel (the victim) to another room in another house, where he bite off his ear.
    “He (victim) lodge a report at Divisional Police headquarters Ipetumodu where he was informed to go for medical treatment first because of the severity of the injuries he sustained.

    In his judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Raheem Siyanbola, ruled that the prosecution counsel had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

    The judge ruled: “I hereby sentenced you Isiah Olaniyan, accordingly. You are discharged on count (1) one. On count three (3) you are convicted.
    The judge sentenced Olaniyan to five (5) years imprisonment.
  • Amnesty: 400 militants to surrender arms in Ondo

    Amnesty: 400 militants to surrender arms in Ondo

    More than 400 members of a militant group in Ondo State, United Sea Wolf Avengers, have announced plan to surrender arms and their inclusion in the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme.

    The group made the announcement in a statement issued and signed by its leader, Gen. Deji Ehinmowo and the General Secretary, Gen. Akinfemi Raymond, in Lagos on Monday.

    The Ondo State Government, had on Oct. 23, announced that the Federal Government would on Nov. 9 incorporate ex-militants in the riverine area of the state who are willing to surrender their arms for the Amnesty programme.

    The group said its 400 members from five different camps would use the opportunity created by the Second Phase of Amnesty programme of Federal Government to surrender their arms.

    “We humbly want to appeal to Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agents not to compromise standard in the coming Amnesty programme scheduled for Nov. 9, 2017 in Ondo State.

    “During the first phase of the Amnesty in 2009, Gen. Deji Ehinmowo, leader of United Sea Wolf Avengers, was served a letter dated July 16, 2009 with reference number NOA/OD/AW/02 by the Federal Government on the need for his camp to embrace Amnesty.
    “He then insisted that using Amnesty proclamation as avenue to purchase arms for the political thugs will not be accepted.
    “We are ready and prepared to cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure that the programme achieves its desire results.
    “400 militants from five camps under us have dissociated themselves from the planned vandalism of pipeline in Niger Delta.
    “We are ready to dialogue with Federal Government now,” it said.

    According to the group, we want to ensure that there is peace in the riverine communities in Ondo state.

    It assured the oil companies and investors in the riverine community of the state of their safety at all time
  • Police sanction 16 personnel for professional misconduct

    Police sanction 16 personnel for professional misconduct

    The Nigeria Police Force said it had sanctioned 16 of its personnel for professional misconduct across the country, from July to September, 2017.

    ACP Abayomi Shogunle, Head, Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit ( PCRRU ), disclosed this in a report on Monday in Abuja.

    Shogunle said that the Police Service Commission ( PSC ) had also approved the suspension of an Assistant Superintendent of Police ( ASP ), Bayo Obadiah, from service for corrupt practices.

    He said that within the period under review, the unit had also recovered and returned N834, 000 extorted money to members of the public.

    He said that N100, 000 which was part of the money recovered extorted from a woman in Kano State was returned to her after she contacted the unit.

    Shogunle said that following the unit’s targeted campaigns across country, two suspected terrorists were arrested by the police in Akoko area of Ondo State.

    The head of PCRRU said 764 complaints were received by the unit within the period under review.

    He said the police Commands in Lagos, Rivers and FCT topped the states ranking with 180 ( 23.56 per cent), 102 ( 13.35 per cent) and 87 ( 11.39 per cent).

    He said that the police commands in Sokoto and Plateau recorded no complaints within the period under review.

    “In all, phone calls were the most preferred channel by members of the public for lodging complaints.

    “Phone calls received were: 447 ( 58.5 per cent), WhatsApp, 203 ( 26.57 per cent), Twitter 19 ( 2.49 per cent), Facebook,6 (0.71 per cent ), SMS,3 ( 0.39 per cent) , BBM, 1 ( 0.13 per cent),”he said.

    He said that other medium used by members of the public was 29, ( 3.80 per cent).

    Shogunle said that the unit carried out massive sensitisation campaigns in Kano, Kaduna, Borno and Ondo states.

    He said that efforts were ongoing to upgrade the PCRRU Call Centre to improve its efficiency.

    The PCRRU was established by the Nigeria Police Force in November 2015, with a mandate to receive and resolve cases of professional misconduct brought against its officers.

    NAN

  • Gov Ishaku lauds FG on 3,050mw Mambilla Hydro-Power

    Gov Ishaku lauds FG on 3,050mw Mambilla Hydro-Power

    Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring the commencement of work on the 3,050 megawatts Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Plant at Gembu in Taraba.

    The governor made the commendation on Monday after a closed door meeting with Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) had on Aug, 30 approved 5.792 billion dollars (about N1.140 trillion) for the construction of the plant 45 years after its conception.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents, said the idea for the project was conceived since 1972.

    “Several efforts had been made to bring it to reality but I’m happy to announce that this government approved the contract today to joint ventures of Chinese Civil and Engineering company for the engineering and turn-key contract, including civil and electro-mechanical works for 5.792 billion dollar.’’

    The governor thanked the President for approving the immediate commencement of work on the plant.

    “I thank him very much indeed about the award of Mambilla hydro-power project which is one of the biggest hydro-project in Nigeria.

    “It has stayed over 30 years on the drawing board until his regime.

    “So, that is a very big feat and I thought I should come and thank him and seek his audience. When next I will come with Taraba people to thank him.

    “This is a very good project for the country as a whole, 3,050 megawatts, for those of us who know what a megawatt is, it can do a lot in developing Nigeria,’’ he added.

    On the proposed Taraba Anti-Grazing Law, the governor revealed that the law would come into effect by January 2018.

    He, however, disclosed that the state government had set up two committees to sensitize farmers and herdsmen on the benefits of the anti-grazing bill.

    Ishaku described the bill as advantageous to both the farmers and herdsmen; socially and economically.

    “Our own anti-grazing law will come into effect next year January.

    “Two panels were set up to sensitize the farmers and the herdsmen so that they both understand the benefits of the anti- grazing bill.

    “I still believe for the herdsmen, socially and economically, that is the best thing that will ever happen to them if we can consolidate on that.

    “The awareness is improving each day and people are beginning to know that these laws are done in good faith and are done to secure lives and property of the people,’’ he said.

    The governor expressed the hope that the bill would be implemented without hindrance.

    Ishaku called on the Federal Government to review its decision on the withdrawal of military officers from Taraba so as to enhance security situation in the state.

    NAN

  • NSCDC arrests eight pick pockets in Sokoto

    NSCDC arrests eight pick pockets in Sokoto

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp ( NSCDC ) on Monday paraded eight persons suspected to be specialists in picking pockets and breaking into shops in Sokoto Central market.

    Mr Hamza Adamu-Illela, Public Relations Officer of its Sokoto Command, who paraded the suspects, said that they were arrested by surveillance teams stationed at various points in the markets.

    “We received various complaints on hoodlums’ activities during and after markets hours; when the reports became more rampant, we set up surveillance teams to check the trend.

    “We worked with the market authorities and agreed on where to deploy the teams. The result is the arrest of these hoodlums,” he said.

    He said that those arrested for alleged shop breaking were apprehended with a 45-inches Plasma Television.

    The official said that the suspects would soon be taken to court.

    Alhaji Abdullahi Bafarawa, the Director-General of Sokoto Central Market, who spoke on the arrests, commended the NSCDC for the efforts, saying that insecurity had been a major challenge to the traders.

    Bafarawa said that the timing schedules in the market had been rearranged while alarm bells had been stationed at strategic spots to protect the market from hoodlums.

    “We have also deployed security agents to guard undeveloped premises to ensure that they were not turned into hoodlums’ hideouts,” he said.

    In his remark, Alhaji Abubakar Atline, Chairman, Sokoto Central Market Traders’ Union, said that receipts were being careful numbered to ensure proper identification for each item being taken out of the market.

    Altine restated his union’s readiness to cooperate with security agents, market authorities and government to safeguard the facility against hoodlums and miscreants.

    NAN

  • NiMet, IFAD sign MoU on climate change to boost food production

    NiMet, IFAD sign MoU on climate change to boost food production

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Fund for Agricultural Development  ( IFAD ) on Climate Change Adaptation and Agri-Business Support Programme, IFAD-CASP.

    A statement by Mr Muntari Ibrahim, General Manager, Public Relations Unit, on Monday in Abuja, said the MoU had a renewable life span of four years.

    The statement noted that Prof. Sani Mashi, Director-General, NiMet, said the MoU was aimed at improving yields, mitigating the vagaries associated with climate change, and reducing the risk of crop failure.

    “The key components of the MoU include prediction of rainfall establishment, rainfall variability, dry spells and length of raining season for sustainable agriculture

    “Another component, is the installation of NiMet applications to CASP smart phones for real-time climate and weather information in the designated programme areas,’’ the statement said.

    Mashi added that the MoU would also cover the development of crop calendars in line with the value chain crops adopted by the selected communities.

    “It also included training of Extension Workers, Climate Change Officers and Community development associations in the analysis and interpretation of the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) in selected CASP states.

    “The programmes of IFAD are in tandem with NiMet’s core mandate, which are geared toward poverty reduction, increase in food security and accelerated economic growth on a sustainable basis,” Mashi said.

    Mashi said that the collaboration was designed to improve crop yields and farming systems through adaptation to climate change in core northern savannah states adjudged to be most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

    He listed the states as Katsina, Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa.

    “These states are to benefit from the IFAD/NiMet symbiotic relationship, which will reduce the losses incurred by farmers in the states over the years as a result of climate change and weather uncertainties.”

    The National Programme Coordinator, CASP, Muhammad Idah, said the synergy between the two organisations across the aforementioned Northern states would be downscaled to cover 104 local government areas and 727 villages.

    Idah said the synergy would enable the agencies to provide climate change adaptation and resilience information to the farmers to manage and coordinate their farming practice.

    The programme, according to him, was aimed at promoting climate smart agricultural production.

    He commended NiMet for the recent training of CASP field climate change officers and extension agents.

    According to him, the officers can confidently predict rainfall through the help of the rain gauges presented to them by NiMet.

    “An action plan is to be developed to periodically assess the level of impact of the collaboration on farmers of the targeted seven Northern states,” he said.

    NAN

  • Ondo police command loses officer

    Ondo police command loses officer

    The Ondo State Police Command has lost one of its police officers,identified as Mustapha Aminu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

    He was the Acting Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Yaba Division, Ondo town.

    While the State Command said the late officer died in an auto-crash some officers who spoke in confidence said he died in a controversial circumstances while on his sleep.

    The late Mustapha  was transferred from Irele division within the state to Yaba-Ondo last week.

    He was however said to be facing some administrative hurdles in his new station.

    An officer with the station who preffered anonymity said a fetish object known as “ebo” in yoruba was last week placed in front of the DPO’s office.

    The source said this necessitated an emergency prayer meeting at the vicinity of the station against any misfortune among the rank and file officers.

    Mustapha who was hale and healthy before going to bed on saturday later died in his sleep at Irele where he stays with his family.

    But the state police spokesman, Femi Joseph dismissed reports that DSP Aminu died in his sleep.

    Joseph said the late officer whom he described as very hardworking died in a car crash at Omifon axis on the way to Irele after the closing hour.

    He also described as mischievous reports that fetish object was placed in front of his office last week.

    Joseph commiserated with the family of the late officer, saying his death was a big blow and loss to the command.

    A visit to the station yesterday morning, revealed a depressive mood of men and officers of the command, wearing mournful look and discussing the sudden death of their colleague.