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  • Buhari to Nigerians: I’ll fight for the poor, underprivileged

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he will use his second term in office to improve the lives of Nigerians by paying closer attention to the poor and the underprivileged in the society.

    A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in Abuja on Tuesday said Buhari made his feelings known when he addressed leaders of various communities from five Local Government Areas of Daura Emirate.

    The affected leaders were at the private residence of the president in Daura, Katsina state, as part of Eid El-Kabir celebration.

    The President said he was convinced that majority of Nigerians understand who he was and his mission, on account of which they returned him for a second term in office with larger margin of votes than  in 2015.

    “You know how much I laboured to get here. I ran three times in the past. The fourth time, God used technology to do it for me.

    ”The fifth time I ran (Feb. 23, 2019), I went to all the states of the federation. The turnout of crowds was overwhelming.

    Read Also: Buhari ‘ll take decisive actions on killing of three policemen, says Presidency

    “Truly, the people know and understand my mission. This is what the votes showed.

    “The administration will dwell on our campaign issues — security, economy and corruption. We will fight for the poor,” he said.

    He emphasised the important place of agriculture under his administration, promising to appoint a minister ”who is knowledgeable and will know how to promote interest and investment in the sector.”

    The president said: “I will appoint a minister who knows agriculture and its role in providing jobs and growing our economy. You have seen how we broke the fertiliser jinx in the country.

    ”We will do more to better the lots of our farmers. Agriculture is our strength.”

    President Buhari expressed delight with the changing attitude of young people to agriculture, with many earning respectable incomes, urging all of those without regular incomes to return to the farm.

    In his remarks, Malam Yusuf Mai’ Aduwa, one the leaders of the delegation, thanked Nigerians for giving the President a second mandate to lead the country, stressing that he would not let the country down.

    Mohammed Saleh, another community leader, said the communities under the Daura Emirate were grateful to the President for signing a bill to establish a Federal Polytechnic in Daura.

    He noted that this came after they had complained that the area needed a tertiary institution to encourage the youth to pursue higher education.

    In her remarks, Hajiya Talatu Nasir, a Permanent Secretary with the Katsina State Ministry of Information, said President Buhari’s government had empowered many women, with many already owning businesses like poultry and livestock farms.

    While offering special prayers for the President, the Daura community urged him to pursue the vision for a better Nigeria with the fear of God, courage to stand by the truth always, and mindful of the needs of the poor and underprivileged.

    (NAN)

  • PDP tasks Army, Police, DSS on abduction of party chair

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the hierarchy of the Army, Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to speak out on the abduction of its Okene Local Government Chairman, Musa Adelabu, by gunmen reportedly dressed in military fatigue.

    The party expressed grave concerned over the whereabouts of Adelabu who was abducted in his home on Saturday, with his abductors allegedly telling his family members that they were acting on “orders from above”.

    In a statement Tuesday in Abuja by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it’s unacceptable that the security agencies have kept mum over the abduction, even as his party and family have continued to demand for his release.

    Read Also: Taraba killings: Leaked memo deepens rift between Army, Police

    The statement said, “This situation has heightened apprehensions of high-level partisan conspiracy to use some compromised security operatives against the opposition in Kogi state, in a desperate bid to foist the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the failed Governor Yahaya Bello on the people of Kogi state.

    “Already, there is an ominous tension in Kogi state following intelligence reports filtering into the public domain that our LG Chairman is being tortured by his captors in a secret facility where his life is now in great danger.

    “Such provocative situation is capable of sparking off serious crisis in Kogi state, which location as gateway and convergence state, means a lot of dire consequences for our nation, in the event of any disturbances in the area.

    “It is therefore completely unacceptable that the security high command is not forthcoming with concrete statement or decisive action to secure his release despite calls by our party and the people of Kogi state.

    “The PDP therefore calls on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces to address his parade and ensure the release of our Kogi PDP leader”.

  • Edo modular refinery to commence operation soon

    The Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited, a project partly sponsored by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State and being developed by AIPCC Energy Limited at Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, will commence operation before the end of the year.

    The fabrication of 6,000 barrels per day (bpd) modular refinery has been completed and will be inspected by officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) before it will be shipped to Nigeria.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said the project is part of the state government’s efforts to transform Edo from a civil service state to an investment and industrial enclave.

    He said the modular refinery project joins the growing list of ongoing legacy projects, which also includes the CCTEC Ossiomo Power Plant; the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park and the Benin River Port.

    According to the governor’s aide, “We are making progress on a number of projects aimed at transforming the state into an industrial hub. At the moment, work has reached advanced stage on the modular refinery project, which benefits from the governor’s smart investment acumen, through which he mobilised seed fund for the project.”

    Read Also: Fire razes 90 shops at popular Edo spare parts market

    Technical Director on the project, Mr. Tim Tian, said the refinery will get its feedstock (crude) from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company’s (NPDC) facility – oil mining lease (OML) 111, near Benin City.

    He added that when operational, the refinery will produce from its feedstock 50 per cent of diesel (500,000 liters), 25 per cent of naphta (300,000 liters) and 20 per cent of fuel oil (200,000) liters.

    Recall that the Edo State EXCO had approved the release of N700 million as redeemable preference shares (investment) in the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited.

    He added that the venture “will create legitimate employment opportunities thereby reducing poverty, provide job opportunities for teeming youths in the communities, facilitate the establishment of a fabrication yard as proposed by the promoters, and create basis for expertise, professionalism and further training in the oil and gas industry.”

    The take-off of the Edo Refinery and Petrochemicals Company followed series of groundwork by the Obaseki-led administration that led to the setting up of Edo Investment Scheme Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to hold N2 billion investment funds in which the Ministry of Finance Incorporation  (MOFI) and the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) which are to hold shares of 20 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.

    It would facilitate the state’s investment in various initiatives across the oil and gas sector; petroleum exploration, drilling and filling station, sales and supply of gas, agro-allied products, petroleum and petrochemical products and other related businesses.

  • A’Ibom communities lament lack of access roads, erosion

    Ekpri Nsukara, Ikot Ntuen and Ikot Anyang villages, all in Uyo local government area of Akwa Ibom state, have lamented the lack of access roads to their communities despite their closeness to the state capital.

    To worsen their plight, the communities are also plagued by incidents of flood, which ravages farmlands and destroy lives and properties each time it rains.

    The youth leader of one of the villages, Obong Emem Asikpo in a chat with the Nation in Uyo, said there are no roads linking Ekpri Nsukara to neighbouring communities within Uyo.

    Asikpo, who disclosed that they have already sent a ‘Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the state government called on government to construct the Ekpri Nsukara/Ikot Ntuen Offot road, a major access road to Ekpri Nsukara and its neighbouring communities including, Ikot Ntuen, Ikot Anyang, which terminates at a river linking Uruan.

    He said that residents normally find it extremely difficult to move in and out of the area whenever it rains because of the volume of water that empties into people’s houses and business premises.

    He said school children cannot access the only school in the community during the rainy season.

    He called on Governor Udom Emmanuel to come to their aid by directing that the road be fixed to enable easy movement in and out of the community.

    “Ekpiri Nsukara road is in bad shape and we are using this medium to appeal to His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to help us fix this road.

    “As you can see, the people living in this area cannot access their houses when it rains. We are really suffering here.

    READ ALSO: A’Ibom coastal communities protest militant attacks

    “This road is a major challenge to us, and we are hopeful that our dear Governor will wipe away our tears,” Asikpo said.

    Another resident, Mr. Diamond Akpanika, said the non-availability of a major linking road between Ekpiri-Nsukara and the rest of the communities has made life unbearable for residents.

    Akpanika who is the Secretary, Association of Landlords of Ikot Ntuen Offot, recalled how attempts by the previous government to fix the road was later abandoned half way without explanation to residents on may have been the cause.

    “A contractor, CCECC was given the job to construct the road. That was in 2008/2009, but the contractor stopped work somewhere.

    ”The level of rain water that sweeps across this area can sweep children away.

    “Heavy trucks pass through this road to Ikot Ntuen and Ikot Anyan where white sand and red sand are excavated for construction work”.

    Akpanika disclosed that Ikot Ntuen Village Council and Landlords and had written two separate ‘Save Our Soul” letters to the Governor through the Ministry of Works in April 2018 where the attention of government was drawn to their plight, saying they were hopeful that something would be done about the road by the government

  • Buhari ‘ll take decisive actions on killing of three policemen, says Presidency

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will soon take a decisive action on last week’s killing of three policemen in Wukari, Taraba State by soldiers allegedly mistaken for kidnappers, the Presidency said last night.

    The three officers and a civilian killed by soldiers were said to be on legitimate criminal investigation activities to Taraba State, to arrest one Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume, allegedly indicted in a series of high-profile kidnap incidents in the state.

    To get to the root of the matter, President Buhari constituted an investigative panel during the National Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa last Thursday.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari was waiting for the outcome of the investigation  by the Defence Headquarters.

    The presidential spokesman on his Twitter handle, @GarShehu, wrote: “In response to press questions, I will confirm that a committee was set up during the National Security Council meeting to investigate the killing of three policemen and a civilian by soldiers in Taraba State.”

    Read Also: Buhari, Conde pray in Daura President’s hometown

    In another tweet Shehu wrote: “Contrary to those mischievous insinuations, President Buhari had ordered the Chief of Defence Staff to set up an investigation committee with representatives from all the security organisations in the country, including the police force.”

    Disagreing that Buhari was indifferent, he stated: “The President is not indifferent to the unfortunate incident, and would take decisive action as soon as the report of the panel is submitted to him.”

    Shehu said: “He is following due process and procedure. Putting the cart before the horse is not President Buhari’s way of doing things.

    “Nigerians should show patience while the President awaits the report of the panel from the Chief of Defence Staff.”

    Attacking the Presidency, one of the verified tweets, the Twitter user, @PeterIjakpa, wrote: “The President is incompetent in all ramifications.”

    Another tweet by @KentChidera, noted: “So, there is no time duration for the investigation? This kind inquiry may last till 2023.”

  • ASOPADEC commissioner loses wife, children in accident

    A COMMISSIONER in the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), Adiele Ekeke, has lost his wife and two children in an accident.

    Though information about the incident is sketchy, reports said it happened on the Enugu-Okigwe Expressway.

    A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, said the government was shocked to hear the news.

    The statement reads: “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is shocked at the death of Adiele Ekeke’s wife and children. He is saddened by this tragedy, and prays God to console Ekeke and grant him the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “The governor also prays that God intervenes and save third surviving child who is in intensive care.”

  • Ugwuanyi orders demolition of caves

    ENUGU State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has ordered the demolition of Agbogugu and Isu-Awaa-Agbudu caves in Ihe-Agbogugu-Ogbaku-Amurri and Isu-Awaa-Agbudu forests to enhance security.

    The governor gave the order yesterday when he visited the area as well as the Umuogbua Ihe tunnel on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway, by Awgu Local Government Area, which serves as a hide-out and escape route for kidnappers.

    Ugwuanyi also inspected the ongoing construction of a military base on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway by Umuogbua Ihe, Awgu council, and directed that the bushes around the tunnel/kidnappers’ den be cleared immediately.

    Read Also: Ugwuanyi sends anti-kidnapping bill to Assembly

    The governor was conducted round the locations by the Chairman of Awgu council, Stanley Okeke, as well as lawmakers representing Awgu North and South in the House of Assembly – Mrs. Jane Eneh and Johnson Chukwuobasi.

    He said a joint security patrol team will begin extensive surveillance of the affected areas to ensure maximum security and strict compliance with the directives.

  • Daughter dies assisting dad in Anambra

    A 21-YEAR-OLD nursing mother has reportedly died while attempting to save her father from a tree fall in Umungada, Umuomaku, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The deceased, Chinwendu Ike, was crushed by the weight of her father, Mr. Samuel Ike, while falling from a pear tree.

    Her mother, Franca, said the deceased was inside the house when the father climbed the tree. She was attracted by the father’s cry for help as he clung desperately to the tree’s branch.

    Franca, who said she had severally warned her husband against climbing trees on Sundays, regretted that such warnings were not heeded.

    She said: “That Sunday, Samuel defied my warning. He was on the tree plucking pears when the branch he was standing broke. He fell on another branch and as he clung unto that branch helplessly, he started calling for help.

    “Chinwendu, who heard the call, ran to the backyard and saw her falling father who had already slipped from the second branch. As she stretched her hands to catch him, his head hit her on the chest.”

    Read Also: One dies, 18 injured in Anambra auto crash

    The deceased was confirmed dead in the hospital few days later.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was later buried in the compound, while the pear tree was cut by relatives.

    One person died and 18 others were injured in an accident on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

    The accident involved two commercial buses which had a head-on collision. One of the buses lost one of its tyres.

    Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Pascal Anigbo, who confirmed the incident, said: “A head-on collision by two buses this morning at the Umunya-Nteje axis of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway claimed a life and injured 18 persons.

    “The accident happened when a driver lost control after his bus lost a tyre, causing it to collide with another bus.”

    Anigbo said the injured persons have been taken to a nearby hospital while the body was deposited at the morgue.

  • 11 Kano district heads defy Ganduje’s directives on Hawan Daushe

    11 district heads whose territories fall under the new emirates created by Kano Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday evening participated in the Kano Hawan Daushe.

    Their participation was in defiance of an order by the governor to the effect that they should observe the festival in their newly created emirates.

    Ganduje’s directive was issued in response to an order by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II inviting District Heads from all 44 local governments in Kano to attend the Hawan Daushe in Kano city.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary Abba Anwar  directed the district heads not to obey Emir Sanusi’s invitation.

    The statement further ordered only district heads under the jurisdiction of the Kano Emirate should attend the Hawan Daushe at Kano while district heads in the four new emirates created by the Ganduje administration should attend the Durbar at their respective emirate capitals.

    But the district heads were in Kano on Monday for the festival.

    Those who attended include Madakin Kano Yusuf Nabahani of Dawakin Tofa, Dan Amar Aliyu Harizimi Umar of Doguwa, Dokaji Muhammadu Aliyu of Garko, Makama Sarki Ibrahim of Wudil, Sarkin Fulanin Ja’idinawa Buhari Muhammad of Garun Malam, and Barde Idris Bayero of Bichi.

    Others were Sarkin Bai Mukhtar Adnan of Danbatta, Yarima Lamido Abubakar of Takai, Dan Isa Kabiru Hashim of Warawa, Dan Madami Ibrahim Hamza Bayero of Kiru, and Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta Bello Abubakar of Gabasawa.

    The district heads’ defiance is in continuation of the running battle between Ganduje and Emir Sanusi II.

    Read Also: Ganduje, Emir Sanusi preach peace, unity at Sallah

    The Ganduje administration is accusing the Emir of supporting its political opponents, an allegation the monarch has always denied.

    Ganduje had attempted deposing the Emir but some influential citizens had intervened to stop the move.

    In May 2019, Ganduje split the Kano Emirate into five kingdoms and appointed four first -class emirs for the the new emirates.

    34 local government areas were excised from the Kano Emirate, leaving only Kano Municipal, Dala, Tarauni, Nassarawa, Fagge, Dala, Kumbotso, Ungoggo, Dawakin Kudu and Minjibir under the jurisdiction of Emir Sanusi II.

    Emir of Rano, Tafida Abubakar also heads 10 local governments – Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya, Takai, Sumaila, Kura, Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Kiru, and Bebeji.

    Bichi Emirate headed by Emir Aminu Ado Bayero has nine local governments – Bichi, Bagwai, Shanono, Tsanyawa, Kunchi, Makoda, Danbatta, Dawakin Tofa, and Tofa.

    Gaya Emirate under Emir Ibrahim Abdulkadir comprises of eight local governments – Gaya, Ajingi, Albasu, Wudil, Garko, Warawa, Gezawa, and Gabasawa.

    Karaye Emirate led by Emir Ibrahim Abubakar II has seven local governments – Karaye, Rogo, Gwarzo, Kabo, Rimin Gado, Madobi, and On Saturday, the Emir of Gaya, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, suspended Sarki Ibrahim (District head of Wudil), Bello Abubakar (District Head of Gabasawa), Kabiru Hashim (District Head of Warawa), Yusuf Bayero (District Head of Dawakinkudu) and Muhammad Aliyu (District Head of Garko) for allegedly disobeying a series of directives by the emirate council. Malam.

    Last Saturday, the Emir of Gaya, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, suspended Sarki Ibrahim (District head of Wudil), Bello Abubakar (District Head of Gabasawa), Kabiru Hashim (District Head of Warawa), Yusuf Bayero (District Head of Dawakin Kudu) and Muhammad Aliyu (District Head of Garko) for allegedly disobeying a series of directives by the emirate council.

     

  • Huawei unveils Harmony operating system

    GLOBAL technology giant, Huawei Technologies, at the weekend, unveiled a new operating system (OS), HarmonyOS ostensible to counter the pulling of its Android licence by Google. It said it is microkernel-based, distributed OS designed to deliver a cohesive user experience across all devices and scenarios.

    CEO, Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, Richard Yu, who spoke at Huawei Developer Conference, said the world is entering an age when where people expect intelligent experience across all devices.

    He said: “We’re entering a day and age where people expect a holistic intelligent experience across all devices and scenarios. To support this, we felt it was important to have an operating system with improved cross-platform capabilities. We needed an OS that supports all scenarios, that can be used across a broad range of devices and platforms, and that can meet consumer demand for low latency and strong security.

    “These were our goals with HarmonyOS. It is completely different from Android and iOS. It is a microkernel-based, distributed OS that delivers a smooth experience across all scenarios. It has trustworthy and secure architecture, and it supports seamless collaboration across devices. You can develop your apps once, then flexibly deploy them across a range of different devices.”

    Read Also: Huawei mulls OS to rival Android

    According to the firm, traditionally, new OSs are released alongside new types of devices.

    “As early as 10 years ago, Huawei envisioned a future where intelligence would seamlessly integrate with all aspects of our lives, and it began exploring how it might deliver this experience – one that would transcend the boundaries of physical space and span different hardware and platforms,” it said.

    HarmonyOS is a lightweight, compact OS with powerful functionality, and it will first be used for smart devices such as smart watches, smart screens, in-vehicle systems, and smart speakers.

    Through this implementation, Huawei aims to establish an integrated and shared ecosystem across devices, create a secure and reliable runtime environment, and deliver a holistic intelligent experience across every interaction with every device.