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  • Group recommends Service Chiefs, Nigerian troops for national honours over efforts on the war against insurgency

    In recognition of their unwavering sacrifices in flushing away Boko Haram terrorists, the Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has recommended special national honours for the Nigerian military, especially the Service Chiefs.
    The group made this recommendation as part of its message to mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence on Tuesday in Abuja.
    In a statement signed by Executive Secretary, Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar, the group hailed the Service Chiefs for turning the tide since taking over the helms of affairs in 2015.
    The SHAC reckoned that the serenity and relative peace being enjoyed on another Independence Day may have been different if not for the bravery, sacrifices and efforts of the Nigerian troops and its leadership.
    According to the Centre, no territory is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists, made possible by the dedication and commitment of the Armed Forces.
    Therefore, Save Humanity Advocacy Centre believes mere compliments are not enough – hence a national honour should be reserved for the military top shots as well as the gallant troops in the frontline.
    Read full remark below.
    Nigeria had witnessed unprecedented security challenges since 2009 when the Boko Haram group took up arms against the Nigerian state with a violent campaign that initially targeted security agencies and security installations in North-East Nigeria.
    The Nigerian Authorities treated the menace with kid gloves until it turned into a monster that has haunted us in the past ten years with so much aggression. Lives have been lost, properties destroyed, legacies destroyed, and in some instances, generations of families erased.
    Yes, as stark as the details are, it is the harsh reality that befell us as a people and as a country that we must live with for generations to come — the years of the locust that almost brought Nigeria to its knees.
    The Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria is one episode that would make a best-seller anytime because of the quantum of destructions and setbacks that it has brought. It somewhat reminds us of the civil war era that some of us have refused to let go because of the emotional and psychological impact it had on our collective psyche as a people.
    If the truth must be told, the Boko Haram insurgency has had psychological, economic as well as physical impact on the people of North-East Nigeria. The activity of Boko Haram insurgency also had various implications on women and girls.
    For instance, the year 2013 marked the time Boko Haram began to use women and children as pawns in their nefarious activities by abducting them. The terrorist group on May 15, 2014, stormed Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state and kidnapped without resistance over 200 college girls. In a related account, the terror group on May 2013 carried out a mass assault on a police barrack in Bama, Borno state in which they captured 12 Christian women and children.  Most of these women and girls abducted by Boko Haram experienced sexual violence, including rape, torture, and also murder.
    Also, children’s exposure to armed hostilities affected their mental health. Wives whose husbands voluntarily or forcefully joined the ranks of Boko Haram were not only left disheartened but also abandoned to fend for themselves with their children and were also vulnerable to isolation and “traitor” label by community members.
    Boko-Haram terrorist activities indeed crippled the economy of North-East Nigeria to a large extent. Its horrendous activities made the area so vulnerable to criminals and political thugs to dehumanize the political environment, thus making the area almost ungovernable.
    We must admit that like many terrorist groups, Boko Haram evolved from operating based around opportunity and availability to that of a drive based around politics and circumstance.
    Boko Haram activities in the North East has led to the mass displacement of persons especially in Borno State as the state accounts for the highest number of internally displaced persons since Boko Haram took up a more violent approach to their agitation.
    Successive governments made efforts towards arresting the situation with little success recorded and the Nigerian Military has been up and doing in ensuring that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is preserved with various strategies towards curbing the activities of Boko Haram.
    We all know that the Nigerian Military has made enormous sacrifices towards containing the activities of Boko Haram terrorists since 2009. They have toiled day and night for peace to reign supreme in Nigeria. They have also been victims of the nefarious activities of Boko Haram terrorists.
    We must admit that their sacrifices have been worth the while in the sense that they have lived up to expectations and deserves our commendation because they have stayed true to the ideals of the unity of Nigeria.
    That our democracy and independence has been preserved is a function of the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as such we must admit that they deserve every form of commendation there is in the country. They have displayed an unalloyed commitment to the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, and they have stayed true to these values despite the difficulties they have experienced in the course of the discharge of their duties.
    We must admit that but for the sacrifices and the efforts of our soldiers committed to the fight against terrorism in Nigeria, we would have been talking about a different situation. Special praises must go to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for providing that sterling leadership that the Armed Forces indeed requires.
    The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre on this auspicious occasion of the 59th Independence Anniversary of the country states that the Nigeria of our dreams is still possible with the commitment exhibited by the political authorities in the country.
    The Service Chiefs so appointed since 2015 have also risen to the occasion in ways too numerous to mention. They have led by example, and they have also displayed that true Nigerian spirit that has translated into the various successes recorded in the fight against terrorism in the country.
    This much we admit and this much we appreciate, and as such it behoves on the relevant authorities in the country to carry on initiatives that would see to the psychological upliftment of the morale of our soldiers that have been fighting day and night towards preserving the territorial integrity of the country.
    This is cognizant of the fact that today as we all celebrate the 59th-anniversary celebrations of Nigeria; it is on record that no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists. Let us make no mistakes about this fact which has been made possible by the dedication and commitment of our Armed Forces.
    The question on the lips of everyone is how can we repay these individuals that have dedicated and rededicated themselves to service to fatherland? How can we show our appreciation?
    We must all agree that words are indeed not sufficient to express our gratitude because in the past ten years, the foundation of Nigeria was threatened and our Armed Forces have been up and doing especially since 2015, the year that saw to the beginning of a new phase in the war against insurgency in Nigeria.
    It is, therefore, the considered opinion of the Save Humanity Advocacy Centre  that as a token of our appreciation to the ever-loyal and dedicated troops battling terrorism in North-East Nigeria, all the soldiers that have been involved in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria be given a step promotion.
    We believe that such gestures, though not commensurate with their day and night sacrifices, it would be nonetheless worth the while.
    We must not also forget the Service Chiefs, who have continuously provided that leadership that translated to the various successes recorded in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. That no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist is indeed a testament of the commitment of the Service Chiefs to protecting our nascent democracy and ultimately the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
    They have indeed done well. So they deserve our commendation on this auspicious occasion of our independence day celebrations. The Save Humanity Advicacy Centre  also advocates that the various Service Chiefs are awarded National Honours in appreciation of their invaluable contributions to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and the enormous work done so far in northeast Nigeria.
    Again, words might not be sufficient to appreciate the Service Chiefs because Nigerians and as well as the international community are appreciative of their efforts thus far and that we are once again celebrating our independence anniversary is a testament.
    We can’t but thank the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for providing that political will needed to confront the Boko Haram terrorists. Nigerians are indeed grateful to the Commander-in-Chief for leading the war against terrorism in Nigeria and ensuring that no Nigerian terrorist is under the control of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist in line with the promise he made upon assumption of office in 2015.
    It has been indeed an eventful journey in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. And that our Armed Forces are in full control of North-East Nigeria is and would remain a welcome development that all well-meaning Nigerians should be proud of.
    Thank you all, and God bless Nigeria!

  • We’ve enjoyed huge patronage from Buhari administration – Innoson

    Innoson Group of Companies Nigeria limited on Sunday said it has enjoyed huge patronage and support from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

    Chairman of the group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma disclosed this in Nnewi, Anambra State in a press briefing.

    He also listed Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Anambra, Gombe, and Bauchi states as well as Nigeria Military as those patronizing vehicles from the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) of company.

    He however said the company could transform Nigeria into vehicle manufacturing hub in Africa in no distant time if given more patronage.

    He also said his vehicle factory has the capacity to manufacture all brands of vehicle, adding, he hope to expand soonest.

    He said, “I can say that Innoson vehicle manufacturing is doing well especially with the level of patronage and support the company is enjoying under the present federal government.

    “I must equally say that some state governments like; Ekiti, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kogi, Gombe, Anambra and Bauchi are giving us a great boost.

    “As at today, Innoson vehicles are being used in some West African countries like Mali, Sierra Leone and Ghana and some Nigerians residing abroad return home to purchase our vehicles.”

    According to Chukwuma, Innoson Group of Companies produces motorcycle tyres, plastic containers, ceramic and vehicles presently employing between 7,300 and 7,500 workers.

    “With more support and patronage from Nigeria, we hope to expand our vehicle manufacturing firm to help provide more employment to our youths,” he posited.

    READ ALSO: No cause for alarm over issues with Innonson Motors, says GTB

    Reacting on the performance of the youths from Niger Delta trained by his firm under the amnesty programme, Chukwuma said most of them had continued to bring their talents to bear towards the growth and development of the company.

    “Some of the youths of the Niger Delta who we trained are very talented and after their training, we retained some of them and they are part of the success story of Innoson vehicle manufacturing today”, he said.

    On the recent report alleging that Anambra State lawmakers rejected Toyota Prado Jeep and demanded for Innoson products, Chukwuma denied knowledge of the report.

    He said anybody, including the lawmakers were free to buy any brand of vehicle of his choice.

    He said he currently enjoyed very warm relationship with the state governor, Willie Obiano and his government, expressing his willingness to leverage on the relationship to impact positively on the state.

    ” As we speak, Anambra State Government ordered for 40 vehicles which they fully paid for and we hope to deliver them to the state by next week,” he hinted.

  • I will protect Igbo investments in Bayelsa- Diri

    The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 16 Governorship election in Bayelsa, Senator Douye Diri, at the weekend promised to protect Igbos investments in the state.

    He gave the assurance during the celebration of the 2019 World Igbo Day at the Yenagoa Boat Club and Oxbow Lake Grand Pavilion.

    The PDP flag bearer, who described Igbos as very enterprising, industrious and a pride to Nigeria, promised to maintain the existing relationship between them and the Restoration Government of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    He further promised to give them higher positions in his government if elected the governor of the state.

    He said: “When we are elected, we will work closely with you. We will ensure that your businesses and investments are more secured and safe.

    “I decided to come here today to identify with you on this big occasion of your annual Igbo Day celebration. I am excited and I also want to express my appreciation to you.

    “You are part of the success story of our state. That is why when we form the next government you will have a bigger role.

    Read Also: Diri: I will preside over government of continuity

    “I know that the present administration earlier appointed one of you as Senior Special Assistant and later Special Adviser.

    “My government will do more. If it can happen in some states it can happen here. You people are a pride to Nigeria and so you deserve a better deal”.

    Diri stated that his administration would consolidate on the achievements of Governor Dickson and bring about prosperity for a better Bayelsa.

    He enjoined Igbos in Bayelsa to always feel at home, stressing that they were stakeholders in the state and vowing to protect their rights and privileges.

    He said as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives and at the Senate, he championed their cause.

    He added: “I am one of those who don’t see you people as non-indigenes but like I will always say that you are our brothers and sisters from other states. You cannot be a Nigerian and be referred to as non-indigenes it is wrong.

    “So today, I wish to remind you that I am your friend and brother. There is no Igbo speaking state that I have not been to.

    “Even in the National Assembly, most of my friends are Igbo people and we interact freely. That is how it should be.

    “Also take advantage of the social side of our relationship and allow our boys and girls to inter marry. That is how it should be,” he said.

  • Fear grips ex, serving officials as EFCC, NASS uncover more details

    SEVERAL former and serving government officials now live in fear over possible indictment in the $9.6 billion debt judgement obtained by the Irish firm, Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited  against Nigeria.

    The federal government has gone to court in the United Kingdom to reverse the judgement, while the House of Representatives and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are probing where it all went wrong.

    Investigators are said to have uncovered more information on the deal.

    “Investigators are daily uncovering a web of conspiracies  and connivance in violation of known best practices as well as local and international laws, that could be used to nail a number of former public office holders who broke the laws and aided the foreign firm to hoodwink past administrations as far as P&ID claims are concerned,” a well-placed source said on Saturday.

    It was also gathered that the EFCC has established strong cases against a number of former federal government appointees.

    The affected persons may be   invited soon for questioning in relations to the ongoing probe.

    A former presidential aide told The Nation that allegations made by the anti-graft agency against some people on the controversial deal could be just a tip of the iceberg.

    He said: “We are all waiting to see how all these will farm out. The P&ID issue may just be the opportunity some people have been waiting for to nail some of us. It is not yet time to talk but I can tell you we are all worried with the turn of events.”

    Read Also: Buhari condoles with EFCC’s Secretary’s family

    Another source, a former technical assistant to a minister said: “the ongoing saga over the P&ID is scandalous enough to put anybody with the remotest link to it in trouble. Names are being mentioned and everybody is critical.

    “Nobody is considering the fact that many of us acted in official capacity and in fact, as instructed back then. So if you are asking me if I am worried, I say yes, I am worried and for good reasons too.”

    He added that some of the discoveries are already giving Nigerians the impression that all those who served in the concerned administrations are culpable in the alleged shady deals.

    He said a number of former officials in the Umar Musa Yar’ Adua administration have been questioned by investigators.

    He added: “one bad official can tarnish the whole team.”

    While expressing his readiness to be questioned, the Kogi-born Engineer urged that the ongoing investigations should be devoid of politics.

    The EFCC, it was learnt, made more discoveries in its quest to unravel how some government officials allegedly aided the foreign firm to swindle the country. Reliable sources said that more persons would be invited for questioning soon. One of the sources said: “Statements by some of the people we have spoken to as well as findings by our legal team have uncovered some more people who played one role or the other in the scam.

    “We are poised to listen to all of them and subsequently determine how culpable they are. One thing that I can tell you is that what led to this situation was a conspiracy that was planned right from the very moment the botched project was conceived.

    “Those who participated in the conspiracy as well as the subsequent cover-ups know themselves and I am sure they are also expecting to be summoned.

    “We have even received correspondences from some of them we have not invited. They claimed some reports mentioned them directly or indirectly. It is good we are making these discoveries.”

    The House of Representatives commenced the investigation of the controversial issue a fortnight ago.

    This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance on the need to look into act of negligence of the P&ID’s transaction by the Ministries of Justice and Petroleum Resources.

    The motion was sponsored by Prof Julius Ihonvbere.

    Consequently, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, constituted an ad-hoc committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the award of the contract.

    The Nation learnt the committee has been questioning some people as part of its assignment.

    Speaking on the matter, Ihonvbere said: “the House is alarmed that the agreement was somewhat shrouded in secrecy and as such apparently dubiously procured, as those who ought to know about its existence did not and more importantly, the relevant laws in Nigeria for the transaction to be consummated was not applied especially, Part IV of the Bureau of Public Procurement Act 2007 which deals with the Fundamental Principles of Procurement.

    “The House is worried that the lack of diligent prosecution of cases in which Nigeria is involved by those whose duty it is to do so, is due to our tendency to either politicise everything or focus more on personal interests, or failure on the part all parties involved.”

    The ad hoc Committee chaired by Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) is to recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary without fear or favour or preference for status in line with Order 14 of the Standing Orders of the House, against those involved in the contract that led to judgment debt.

    The House further resolved to initiate a process of reviewing all Agreements and Treaties signed by Nigeria through the appropriate committees to create opportunities to discover anomalies and avoid a repeat in the future.

     

     

  • Photos: Gas shop guts fire in Lagos

    Fire outbreak from a gas shop at Ogbewi street, Agodo Egbe-Idimu, Local Government Development Area.

     

  • Gunmen abduct school proprietor in Delta

    A school proprietor, Mr. Patrick Kogbodi, has been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen on Sunday morning in Ughelli, Delta state.

    According to sources, Kogbodi was abducted about 8am on his way to church.

    The Nation gathered that the kidnappers intercepted his vehicle and whisked him to an unknown location.

    The victim is the founder of a private school, Kogbodi International School along Taiga Street off the Ughelli/Warri Expressway.

    Delta Commissioner of police, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke, confirmed the report.

    He said: “We are aware,” of the case.

  • It’s premature for presidency to intervene in Sowore’s case- Adesina

    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 live political programme Politics Today aired on Channel 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 has 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 that 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.

  • Nobody must disgrace Osinbajo out of office – Bakare

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo must not be “disgraced out of office” except he has committed serious constitutional infractions, Founder of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has stated.
    Bakare however declared he does not believe the Vice President has done anything to violate his oath of office.

    He spoke with reporters on Sunday during which he referred to his recent encounter with a UK-based pastor.

    The pastor, according to him, sent him a message bemoaning the nation’s economic woes.

    Read Also: We did not exonerate Osinbajo of N90bn allegation – CAN

    He said: “The pastor expressed the disillusion of a Nigerian whose major concern was not the politics of Abuja but the economics of his/her bank account, especially following the proposed implementation of the federal government’s cashless policy”.

    Bakare said he reportedly told the pastor: “Every man will care about what bothers him most or bites him hardest.

    “My concern presently is that come rain, come shine, the VP, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo must not be disgraced and humiliated out of office except he has truly and flagrantly violated his oath of office which I find difficult to believe.

    “I fear for those who rejoice at the “fall” of others. Those who sow such seed are unmindful of the consequential definite law of harvest. I truly grieve for my brother and pray for God’s goodness, mercy and grace to surround him at this moment.

    “May the present overwhelming challenges, trials, afflictions and or guilt by association be resolved in such a manner that God’s name will be praised and glorified in him at the end whether or not he remains as VP till the end of this term.”

  • Elozonam, Ike evicted from #BBNaija

    Big Brother Naija housemate, Elozonam and Steve Ikechukwu Onyema, popularly known as Ike, have been evicted from the BBNaija House respectively.

    The duo got evicted from the reality show being the 91st day of the ongoing reality show.

    Read Also: BBNaija: Getting disqualified was never my intention – Tacha

    Ike and Elozonam became the 19th and 20th housemates to be evicted from the show.

    They got evicted from the Pepper Dem edition of Big Brother on Sunday during Live the eviction show.

    Their eviction is coming after Cindy was evicted on Friday while Tacha was disqualified.

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

    Kaduna State Government on Sunday commenced reuniting the over 300 rescued inmates of the embattled Rigasa ‘Islamic Centre’ with their families.

    But the legal team of the centre said its intention in running the centre was pure.

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

    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.

    According to her: “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.

    “77 of them are children, the youngest being the age of six. There are some that are 7, 8, 9 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 said.

    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.

    But 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 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 its intentions were pure.