Text: Romans 14 v 14 – 19; Isa. 32 v 17

Introduction: - The Kingdom of God in the life of every believer should be fully rooted and established on these 3 pillars; Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost, for if in these things we serve Christ the Lord, v18 says; we’ll be acceptable of God and approved of Men. May God accept us as we grow in Him and study tonight in Jesus Christ Mighty Name; Amen.

Righteousness And Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost

• Righteousness: - Isa. 61 v 10. Rev. 3 v 18. To enjoy fellowship with God, we must not only know that we have been forgiven of every sin but we must also know that we are clothed with a righteousness that is acceptable to God. Rom. 1 v 17; Jer. 23 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Isa. 54 v 14; How does God make us Righteous? He does this by placing us in His Son. 1 Cor. 1 v 30; 2 Cor. 5 v 21. We ourselves are not righteous, but God has put us IN CHRIST. When God looks at us, He does not see us as we are; He sees only Christ. Because we are IN CHRIST, we have a perfect righteousness before God. Christ is our righteousness. What happens when God looks at us and sees us as we are?

• Peace: - Eph. 2 v 14; Isa. 9 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Phil. 4 v 7; Rom. 3 v 17; Heb. 12 v 14; Beloved, Jehovah Shalom, our God is Peace; Judges 6 v 24; and the peace of God is incomprehensible but capable of keeping our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. The Lord in His sovereignty gives peace to His people. To have effectual fellowship with God, we must be at peace and also follow peace with all men. Ex. 14 v 14. When you fight and quarrel with others, you have taken upon the battle yourself, and you cannot hold onto your peace anymore. If God is indeed your peace, can anything pluck you out of God’s hands? No. John 10 v 28-30. To enjoy God’s divine peace, we must shun Unfaithfulness, envy, evil-plots, lies, flatteries, bitterness, iniquities, etc. Psalm 37: 12; Psalm 52:3; Psalm 64:3; Proverbs 14:6; Isaiah 1:4 for there is no peace for the wicked.

• Joy in the Holy Ghost: - Rom. 5 v 1 – 5; Math. 2 v 10; Psalm 16 v 11; Neh. 8 v 10; Heb. 12 v 1-2; When we have peace like a river, we enter in the Joy of the Lord by the Wonderful Holy Ghost. “When the enemy comes rushing like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall raise a standard” - Isa. 59 v 19. When we have His Spirit, we’re sure going to live according to his standard without even knowing it. The Holy Ghost ensures our that our Joy in God through Christ Jesus our Lord is preserved and maintained. The Holy Ghost opens the channel of God’s Love abundantly into your heart, so nothing should make you fear. Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled. Joy expresses God’s kingdom and we have joy because of God’s grace. The Spirit’s production of joy can manifest (i) The joy of deliverance (1Samuel 2:1; Acts 12:14). (ii) The joy of salvation (Luke 15:7; Acts 8:8; 15:3) (iii) The joy of spiritual maturity (2Corinthians 1:24; 1Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. The work of Righteousness is Peace (Isa. 32 v 17), the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9 v 6) makes us one with the Father in whose presence there’s Joy everlasting, and this Joy is shed into our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Shalom!!!

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

Sen. Babajide Omoworare has been appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matter (Senate).

Omoworare is to replace Sen. Ita Enang who held the position for the last four years.

In a statement made available to our correspondent and personally signed by Omoworare, the Senator said that the news of his appointment had been communicated to him.

Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has just announced my appointment as an Aide to Mr. President for the National Assembly (Senate).

I am grateful to God Almighty and to His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve his government as his primary liaison with the Senate.

I gladly accept this rare and coveted privilege to advance the administrations legislative agenda, promote its policy priorities in the Senate and foster Mr. Presidents constitutional responsibilities in the National Assembly.

As I resume the helms of President Buharis Legislative Office team, I am aware of the importance of ensuring a more productive working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.

I have spent the past two decades working passionately as a parliamentarian, policy strategist, legislative strengthening advocate and lobbyist.

Therefore, it is my sincere but humble hope that that my knowledge, expertise and network of contacts in the National Assembly will be positive and outstanding resources to my new Office, this adminstration and the Nigerian nation.

In pursuit of building further blocks in the Executive/Legislature relationship, I shall lead a team that will rely on the robust experience of the National Assembly leadership as well as the cooperation and cohesion of all the Distinguished Senators and our Honourable Representatives.

I also look forward to a mutually satisfying relationship between the National Assembly on one part and Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the other part, as we toil towards accomplishing unparalleled achievements for the Federal Government, as well as guaranteeing good governance for the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Omoworare wrote.

Source: NAN

Equatorial orbit shorter to space

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Tuesday said that Nigeria should harness the benefit of launching satellites from the Equatorial orbit which is shorter to space and saves cost.

Dr Spencer Onuh, the Director, Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), one of NASRDAs activity centres, said this during the centres week and 9th Annual Space Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the two days conference focuses on the theme Exploration of Equatorial Orbit for Space Optimisation.

Onuh said that Nigeria located in Africa as a continent is advantaged being close to the equatorial orbit, adding that the positioning gives African countries an edge over other countries who could be located across the polar orbit.

NAN reports that Nigeria in 2003, 2007 and 2011 launched its satellites from China, Italy and Russia respectively which are outside the equatorial orbit.

Onuh explained that equatorial orbit is an orbit roughly in line with the equator of the being planet orbited while polar orbit is one in which a satellite passes above or nearly above poles of the body being orbited on each revolution.

There is a natural endowment of advantages the equatorial region bestows on us.

For a country like Nigeria, we do a lot of revisiting of satellites for information gathering in disaster management, security, agricultural issues.

We need to make use of equatorial orbit to reap the benefits of space science and technology, he said.

According to Onuh, Nigeria is lacking in the area of infrastructure for developing space science technology but has human capacity to advance the sector.

He said that private-public partnership, space entrepreneurs can be encouraged to build the infrastructure needed to develop space science technology and harness its benefits.

Private partnership can be Nigeria having international collaborations that should be done in our interest, on our terms.

We have the capacity to challenge European space industry, our challenge is the infrastructure, we need to fix our ground station, our Assembly, Integration and Testing lab.

Private-public-partnership can be encouraged to develop space science technology because satellite business is not just about government, Onuh said.

The director said, though, the government had taken the responsibility of developing the space industry because Nigeria is a third world country but it is not sustainable.

Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, Director, Centre for Atmospheric Research, said that satellites from equatorial orbit deviate from the equitorial plane of a planet by less than 45 degrees.

According to Rabiu, equatorial region is characterised with the highest values of the peak electron density with the most pronounced amplitude.

He said that Near Equitorial Orbit (NEqO) satellite of countries have the potential to provide immediate disaster relief information and repetitive monitoring from multi-mission satellites.

NEqO satellites have possible programming and selection of areas to be observed with acceptable cloud cover before and during satellite data acquisition, he said.

He noted that NEqO country satellites have less market potential for data coverage because it is limited to targeted zone in equitorial zone.

I observed that most of the nations in the equatorial belt are actually underdeveloped and considered as nations with poor management of resources, he said

The director recommended that there should be continuous deployment of ground-based equipment for monitoring space environment in the equatorial region.

He called for urgent review of the space agencys present budget and procurement laws to favour space science and technology among other recommendations.

Dr Matthew Adepoju, President, Geo-information Society of Nigeria (GSN) said African countries lagged behind in the first, second and third industrial revolution.

Adepoju noted that the continent must not continue to take the back stage in the fourth industrial revolution.

The most advanced countries have taken advantage of the polar orbit, we are located in the equatorial orbit which we need to take advantage of.

Most African countries are leveraging on this and Nigeria need to also key in and take our leadership in the continent to space. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved replacements for heads of Federal Government agencies that were recently appointed as ministers.

A statement by the presidents spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, said Sen. Basheer Garba Mohammed was appointed Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.

Mohammed replaces Sadiya Umar Farouk, a minister-designate from Zamfara.

According to the statement, Dr Chioma Ejikeme has been appointed Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, replacing Sharon O. Ikeazor, while Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is now Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency.

For Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), President Buhari has forwarded Adeleke Moronfolu Adewolus name to the Senate for confirmation as replacement for Sunday Akin Dare.

The appointments take immediate effect, the statement added.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Isaac Ukpoju

Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday attacked the convoy of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, killing three policemen and a civilian.

Akabe was on his way to Abuja on an official engagement when the convoy ran into the robbers who were operating few kilometres away from Akwanga at about 6pm.

ASP Usman Samaila, Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

Samaila however did not give details, saying the commissioner of Police, Bola Longe had led a team of officers to the scene to assess the situation.

As I speak with you now, the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner Operations and other high ranking officers of the command have gone to the scene of the incident, Samaila said.

Meanwhile, one of those in the convoy, said the armed robbers opened fire on the convoy before fleeing.

According to him, three policemen and a driver were shot and killed by the armed robbers and their corpses have been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia.

The deputy governor who was unhurt but looking shaky, was at the hospital but did not speak to journalists on the incident.

Source: NAN

By Abdullahi Ishaq

Flooding which ravaged some local government areas in Jigawa, has also rendered residents of three wards in Dutse metropolis homeless and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

The wards are Danmasara, Kachi and Zai, where affected persons are currently taking refuge in primary schools within the metropolis.

Malam Umar Namadi, Deputy Governor of Jigawa, who visited the areas on Wednesday to assess the situation, described the disaster as an act of God.

Namadi pledged that the state government would assist the victims.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though no life was lost following the disaster, however, houses, food items and farm lands were destroyed.

Ward Head of Kachi, Alh. Haruna Nababa, who spoke on behalf of the victims, appealed to the state and Federal Government to come to their aid.

Nababa told NAN in an exclusive interview that it would take residents of Kachi a while to recover from their losses.

We really thank the Deputy Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, who visited us in our camps to see our situation with a view to assisting us.

We are therefore appealing to the state and federal governments, through the relevant agencies and NGOs, to come to our aid, Nababa said.

NAN recalls that Flood recently ravaged four local government areas of Jigawa namely; Miga, Auyo, Guri and Kirikasamma, where many lives and properties worth millions of naira, were lost.

Source: NAN

By Obinna Unaeze

Police in Niger, on Wednesday confirmed the death of a couple in Maitunbi area of Minna from generator fumes.

DSP Mohammed Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred on Monday night.

The incident occurred on Monday night, but was reported to the police on Tuesday by neighbours at 8: 00 a.m., Abubakar said.

He explained that the deceased couple, Malam Adamu Mohammed, 30 and Sumaiya Adamu, 20, got married in December 2018.

He said that Malam Dahiru Mohammed, a brother to the late Adamu, visited the couple on Tuesday.

The PPRO said that when Dahiru knocked on their door and there was no response, he left without seeing them.

When nobody attended to Dahiru he left the house of the deceased couple, he said.

He explained that neighbours who did not see them coming out from their apartment raised concerns and had to break in.

When the neighbors discovered what had happened they reported the issue to the police, he said.

Abubakar explained that on the fateful night, the deceased couple had put on the generator, which they recently purchased, in one of their rooms that had no ventilation and slept in the next room.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the couple died as a result of the generator fumes.

They died due to lack of ventilation from the generator fumes, the police spokesman said.

NAN gathered from family sources that the couple has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The United Kingdom chapter of the All progressives Congress (APC) has advised the ministers to put the country and the people first in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Ade Omole, leader of the chapter, gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that probity and accountability remained the sure way through which the ministers could help the APC-led administration to achieve the promises of the Next Level.

Omole congratulated the ministers and expressed satisfaction over the composition of the cabinet, saying that they were round pegs in round holes.

President Muhammadu buhari has assembled men and women of integrity who are all capable of delivering the promises of the Next Level, he said.

He thanked Nigerians for renewing the mandate of the APC in the last presidential election by re-electing Buhari, saying that their trust in the party was not misplaced.

According to him, the APC-led government will surprise Nigerians as they journey ahead by implementing people-oriented policies and delivering good democracy dividends.

He stressed that the APC-led government was aware that what Nigerians needed at this point in time was good governance, probity, accountability and selfless leaders.

Omole, therefore, advised the ministers to see their appointments as a call to service over other endeavours, adding that they should ensure accountability and openness in their dealings.

He expressed the optimism that going by the calibre of people who were sworn in by the president, it was certain that Nigeria had stepped on the pedestal of growth.

In my view, the new ministers have the capacity to look at the cards ahead and deal with situations as they arise in the interest of the country and the people.

He urged the new ministers to consolidate on the achievements recorded in various sectors of the economy in the first term of the Buhari-led administration.

Similarly, Mr Jacob Ogunseye, spokesperson of the chapter, called on opposition political parties to join hands with the APC and the Buhari-led Federal Government in building the country.

NAN reports that out of the 43 newly inaugurated ministers, 13 former ministers in Buharis first term in office made the list while 18 former ministers were not re-appointed.

Source: NAN

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The newly inaugurated Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr Timipre Silva, has pledged his readiness to work with all to ensure a viable oil and gas sector.

Silva made this known when he was received by the Permanent Secretary, Directors and heads of all the Parastatal agencies under the ministry, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Thank you for the warm welcome, I will definitely put in my best and work hard to help in repositioning of the ministry.

I know that the president will give me some mandate and with the competent managers of all the offices, we will work together to achieve greater heights, he said.

Earlier, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, the permanent Secretary assured the minister that they would work as a team noting that the ministry had no choice than to work hard.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Silva from Bayelsa State was born July 7, 1964.

He holds a Bachelors degree in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Port Harcourt in 1986.

He began his working career with National Minority Business Council as Executive Secretary before his foray into politics and subsequent election into Rivers State House of Assembly in 1991.

He was elected Governor of Bayelsa in 2007.

Before his nomination as Minister he was Chairman, Governing Board of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates (COPA) has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, to initiate a reform process in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure its men work according to the rules of engagement.

The call followed reactions and condemnation of policemen seen in a viral video, shooting arrested suspects allegedly belonging to a notorious armed robbery gang terrorising Iba community in Lagos.

A statement issued on Wednesday by Ifeoluwa Adeyeye, of Human Rights Desk, COPA, stated that time had come for the IGP to reform the Nigeria Police to help instill sanity in the society.

Why we all show our collective discontent for continued brutality, we also call on the Police Force to conduct a thorough and unadulterated investigation so that these merchants of death in legal uniforms can be brought to book.

This will in the long run serve as a strong template of deterrent to other aberrant officers in our entire security architecture.

It is totally worrisome and mind-boggling considering what circumstance may warrant security operatives to shoot at mere suspects and even when they dont pose danger and after they have already succumbed.

Our patience and calm for such notorious brutality and culture of torture on the part of those whose duties are primarily and fundamentally to protect lives and property of all Nigerians, have worn out, Adeyeye said.

He said the constitution prohibits acts savagery, while the country is also a signatory to international conventions and treaties that outlaw torture and ill-treatment.

Adeyeye explained that there is no doubt that SARS has over the years earned a notorious reputation of a brutal agency, following alleged cases of extrajudicial killings, torture or ill-treatment of detainees as well as extortion of suspects.

Meanwhile, the police command in Lagos has arrested the four policemen involved in the extrajudicial killing of the two robbery suspected in their custody.

The command said the policemen, identified as Insp. Fabiyi Omomayara, Sergeant Olaniyi Solomon, Sergeant Solomon Sunday and Corporal Aliyu Mukaila, would be charged with murder.

The command said this is because the affected policemen breached the code of professional conduct and use of fire arms.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policemen had responded to a distress call around 3p.m. on Aug. 19, from one Valentine Anugu.

Anugu had alleged that he was robbed of his mobile phone worth N450,000 by four armed robbers on two motorcycles.

While two of the robbery suspects fled, the other two were held, disarmed of the two locally-made pistols, six life and five expended cartridges they had before shooting them inside the commercial bus they (police) used for the operation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Zubairu Muazu has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.

Spokesman of Lagos Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed the development.

According to the Spokesman, the policemen are currently facing internal disciplinary proceedings, known as Orderly Room Trial.

If found culpable, they will be dismissed from the Force and handed over to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Yaba for prosecution in the conventional court, Elkana said.

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