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  • I won’t disappoint Bayelsa, says Lyon

    The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief David Lyon, at the weekend  vowed not to disappoint the people of the state if he emerged victorious in the November 16 election.

    Lyon, who was received by a crowd of APC supporters in Yenagoa, the state capital, said he would sweep all the evils in the land that had kept the state underdeveloped, promising  to eradicate poverty.

    Thousands of APC members and residents trooped to the streets of Yenagoa to welcome their candidate and the state leader of APC and Petroleum Minister Chief Timipre Sylva, who arrived the state capital from Abuja.

    The crowd, in a carnival mood, dressed in different colours of Lyon’s campaign vests,  locked down Yenagoa and held traffic to standstill for hours.

    Lyon, who addressed members of the party at the APC secretariat, mocked persons asking him to present a certificate of return from his party to prove he is the authentic candidate of the APC in the state.

    He said it was childish and strange that his opponent at the poll was parading a certificate of return he got from his party, saying such thing never happened before in the state.

    Describing himself as the authentic flag bearer, Lyon said he was working to collect the certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after his victory at the poll instead of dissipating his energy carrying party’s certificate of return.

    Read Also: How I will govern Bayelsa, by Lyon

    The candidate, who insisted that he and his running mate, Senator Degi-Eremienyo Biobarakumo, were validly elected and nominated, said they were on a mission to bring the required change in Bayelsa.

    He said: “If you want to know a genuine flag bearer, it is not by flashing certificate of return from your political party and we don’t see it anymore. I will not flash the Certificate of Return from the party as flag bearer. We are waiting to take the INEC’s Certificate of Return.

    “We want you to take the message to the local governments and grassroots because we are coming to make a change in governance of our people. We are saying to Bayelsans that our suffering will soon end.

    “I assure you that when I am elected, prosperity will come. Let me tell you a story. Some people that have not seen anything, when you entrust the public fund in their care, they turn it into a family fund. That is what is happening in Bayelsa. We have started the journey and by the grace of God we will win the election.”

    Also speaking after inaugurating the David Lyon-Senator Degi Campaign Office in Yenagoa, the Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, expressed optimism that the APC would bring positive next level to the state.

    Sylva said the pair of Lyon and  Degi-Eremienyo were up to the task of bringing prosperity.

    He said: “Today is just a tip of the iceberg. I will not say much about the elections because I know that APC has won already. When some people say, are you sure? And to everyone that thinks we are joking, they are the ones joking. Our prayers have been answered.

    “I want to tell you a new chapter has been opened in the history of Bayelsa State. I want to tell you prosperity is coming and I want you to know that the dark days and locust years under the PDP administration are over; prosperity is coming”.

  • Sokoto shuts three private schools

    Sokoto State Government at the weekend shut three private schools for failing to provide a conducive learning environment as well as not complying with the guidelines for establishing private schools.

    Similarly, 10 non-existent private schools with full addresses were identified across locations.

    The schools, which closure by the Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education is with immediate effect, include: Coral Foundation Spring Montessori, Sokoto; Brighter Children School, Koko Road, Sokoto and Godiya Nursery and Primary School, Tambuwal.

    A statement made available to reporters in Sokoto by the spokesman for the ministry, Nura Bello Maikwanci, said the schools were found to be in poor learning environment and did not meet the requirement for establishing a private school.

    The statement said the essence was to ensure standard, quality and compliance with basic requirements for operating private schools with a view to developing the sector for academic excellence.

    Read Also: Assembly tasks Sokoto State Govt. on IPSAS for 2020 budget

    It added: “Ten other private schools were discovered not in existence by the committee set up by the ministry to assess and evaluate the operation of private schools.

    “They include Precious Nursery and Primary School, Shuni Road, Sokoto; Grace International School, Nakasari, Sokoto; Spring -Field International School, Unguwar Rogo, Sokoto and Alkhairi International School, Bodinga.

    “Others are: TAC Academy Kwannawa, Sokoto; Rhema International School, Kwannawa; Kids Ambassadors Nakasari Area, Sokoto; The Sokoto Academy, Mana, Sokoto; De-Trend Day Care School, Old Airport, Sokoto and

    International Academy for Excellence, Badon Barade, Sokoto.

    The statement urged schools with the approvals from Arabic and Islamic Education Board or Local Government Education Authority with full integration to speedily regularise their operations with the ministry.

    Commenting on the sidelines, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Muhammad Bello Abubakar Guiwa, said the measures being taken by the ministry were not aimed at victimising or denying operations of private schools, adding that they were rather to reposition education such that standard, quality and compliance were encouraged in line with the mandate to resuscitate the sector following the declaration of emergency.

    He, however, said that only private schools that complied with the guidelines would be allowed to operate, adding that education was key in shaping the cause for societal development.

    “The world is now knowledge driven and we must key in by encouraging standards, quality and most importantly compliance with basic requirements for operations for the benefit of the people,” Guiwa said.

  • FCE clears promotion backlog

    The Federal College of Education (FCE), Okene in Kogi State has cleared backlog of workers’ promotion dating back to 2015/2016 academic session, Provost Dr. Umar Hassan has said.

    Hassan, who spoke at the weekend while conducting reporters round the projects inaugurated by his administration in the last two years, said they included Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) intervention projects that had addressed the needs of a vastly growing academic community.

    He said the institution boasts of low fees among its contemporaries.

    The provost appealed for additional federal funding to address the problem of inadequacies.

    “As it is often said, the government is a continuum. Therefore, we’ve set in motion necessary machinery to address the lingering challenges we met on ground, which are majorly financial and of course, academic related. We inherited huge liabilities of promotion arrears for 2015 and 2016, which were as a result of shortfalls in personnel cost.

    “Despite the lean resources at the disposal of the college, critical policy decisions have been taken to stabilise the system with quick interventions in academic programmes.

    Read Also: BUK expels 63 students, rusticates 13 others

    “We created additional academic directorates and restructured the existing ones for greater efficiency and service delivery.

    “Our efforts to move the college to the next level of growth and development in research and academic development have continued to yield fruits, with growing opportunities.

    “This administration met some ongoing TETFUND projects and knowing fully well that new projects cannot be accessed without the completion of the ongoing ones; it became expedient for us to mobilise the contractors to site to ensure immediate completion of the projects. They include the Information Communication Technology (ICT) complex at 60 per cent completion then, but now completed, School of Vocational Education lecturer’s building at 70 per cent completion then, also now completed and the gymnasium at 60 per cent completion then, now completed.

    “Others include the construction of one-storey building complex for Early Childhood Care, Primary, Adult and Non-Formal Education, with external work ongoing.

    “The construction of twin-200 seater auditorium with external work. These initiatives have made considerable impact on the well-being of our students on campus and of course our workers. Interestingly too, discussions are at an advanced stage to benefit from Dangote Foundation for hostel construction and rehabilitation.

    “We inherited huge promotion arrears for 2015/2016. I am delighted to inform you that so far we have cleared 19 months of 2015 and nine months from 2016 arrears. Remarkably too, 2018 promotion was effected and financially implemented. Similarly, as at December 2017, all salary arrears were cleared. It is also worthy of note that the contentious issues surrounding the payment of arrears of Peculiar Academic and Non-teaching allowances have been put to rest, as we have begun implementation.”

  • 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.

  • 19 expectant women freed at baby factory

    Barely a week after a-week-old baby was recovered from an illegal trade syndicate in Isheri-Osun, a Lagos suburb, the police have rescued 19 pregnant women at another baby factory.

    The victims between ages 15 and 28 were said to have been kept at four different locations in Isheri-Osun and Ikotun where their babies were taken away from them and sold for N300,000 or N500,000 depending on the sex.

    Four kids were also rescued in the operation led by Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Chike Ibe, a Chief Superintendent (CSP).

    The Nation reports that policemen and officials of the Ministry of Youths and Social Development last year stormed another baby factory at Igando and rescued malnourished children, pregnant women at the facility that also ran an alleged illegal creche.

    While some of the expectant mothers knew their babies would be sold, others were brought to Lagos with promises of jobs only to be turned to baby-making factories.

    It was gathered that some of the victims were abducted from their home states and brought to the locations where men allegedly took advantage of them.

    Those who said they accepted to sell their children to the syndicate claimed they were not offered the money promised, it was gathered.

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    He said the victims were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo states.

    According to police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), detectives on a tip-off at about 4pm on September 19, stormed 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale in Ikotun, 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun, 29, Olugbeyohun Street,  Olakunle Bus Stop Abaranje and 4/6 Anomo Street, Abaranje.

    He said the places were suspected to  have been used for child trafficking, adding that two suspects Happiness Ukwuoma, 40, and Sherifat Ipeya, 54, were arrested in connection with the case.

    “The suspects did not receive formal medical training but operate as nurses. The suspects are from Imo and Lagos states. The command has launched a manhunt of the principal suspect Madam Oluchi from Mbano in Imo State.

    •Oluchi, a principal suspect ‘on the run’

    “She is a mother of five. The young women were mostly abducted by the suspects for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies to potential buyers. The girls were tricked with employment as domestic staff in Lagos. The suspects sold boys N500,000 and girls N300,000.

    “The Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Zubairu Muazu, has visited the scene and ordered the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) to take over the case.

    “The command is working with other agencies and stakeholders in rehabilitating and resettling the pregnant girls and the babies. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court,” he 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.

  • Two Nigerien nabbed with pistols

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted two Nigerien with pistols, computers and phones at the Kongolam border in Katsina State.

    NIS Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday James said in a statement in Abuja at the weekend that the men were nabbed following the swift operation of NIS border operatives.

    “This action by the operatives was after the visit by the Comptroller-General, NIS Muhammad Babandede and his Customs counterpart, Col. Hammeed Ali (rtd), to assess the level of cooperation, synergy and successes so far recorded.”

    Read Also: Council seals 332 medicine stores in Jigawa

    James further said the two Nigerien had attempted to open fire in defiance and to evade arrest.

    “The gallant operatives overpowered them leaving one dead and the other who survived is helping with useful information about their activities.

    “After due interrogation and profiling, the surviving criminal has been handed over to the police for further necessary action.”

    He advised the border communities to desist from conniving and sabotaging government efforts at ensuring safer borders.

  • 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.