By Suleiman Shehu

The Founder of One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj Ji, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps that will ensure speedy completion of pending corruption cases against some public officers in Nigeria.

Maharaj Ji gave the advice at a news conference marking the 34anniversary of the establishment of Mahara Ji Village, on Saturday in Ibadan.

He urged the president to order the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to ensure that all pending corruption cases against the public officers were vigorously pursued to logical conclusion before digging up new cases.

The religious leader said that it was a big slap on Nigerias moral fabrics to see some corrupt public officers roaming the streets and flaunting their ill-gotten wealth after leaving public offices.

He said that the president, being an anti-corruption ambassador in Africa, should act fast to ensure that corrupt public officers were dealt with to serve as deterrent to others.

Mahaj Ji said that doing so would save the image of the country and help recover looted funds.

He further said that adequate security must be provided in offices where Nigerias sensitive documents were being kept to prevent them being tampered with by enemies of the country.

According to him, some people are not happy with the achievements so far recorded by the Buhari-led administration and may be attempting to cause trouble for the government through destruction of sensitive documents.

Maharaj Ji called on those standing against the progress of the country to give way and allow Nigeria to work.

He also expressed support for the ongoing agitation for the autonomy of the judiciary in the country, saying that it was sacrosanct.

Maharaj Ji said that a situation whereby the judiciary, as an arm of government, was subjected to the whims and caprices of the executive arm was not acceptable.

The 1999 Constitution (as amended) has made provision for power sharing among the three arms of government.

This is to check abuse within the system, such that each of the three arms of government will be financially independent, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Shedrack Frank

The Bayelsa Government has reassured the Nigerian Army and other security agencies of its commitment and support in the fight against crime and criminality in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpogave the assurance on Saturday at a send-forth party, in honour of the outgone Commander, 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Ephraim Essien in Yenagoa.

The deputy governor said the state government would do everything within its reach to assist the military and other security agencies in the state to perform their duties.

He described Essien as a thoroughbred professional whose services contributed to the successful swearing in and take-off of the present administration in the state.

Ewhrudjakpo noted that Essien assumed leadership of the brigade at a time Bayelsa was experiencing remarkable turbulence, following the Supreme Court judgment on its 2019 governorship election.

He said the brigade, working in concert with other security services, helped to calm the turbulence at the time and also prevented the #EndSARS protest from wreaking havoc in the state.

While thanking the celebrator for his meritorious services to the Nigerian army and the state, the deputy governor wished Essien greater success in his new posting.

Even after our swearing in, you and your men were able to contain a few skirmishes that tried to rear up their ugly heads in this state.

So, I want to thank you for your show of professionalism and competence, he said.

The deputy governor also used the opportunity to welcome the incoming commander, Brig.-Gen. Olurotimi Awolo, to the state and urged him to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

In his remarks, the Chief of Staff, 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Yenagoa, Col. Sani Usman, pointed out that Essien assumed office as the fourth commander of the brigade onJan. 8,2020.

Usman said the outgone commander made remarkable impacts in the areas of personnel training, operations and infrastructural development in Camp Tukur Buratai Barracks.

In their goodwill messages, the Paramount Ruler of Elebele Community, Chief Osene David Osene and the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Egbuchulam, extolled the leadership qualities of Essien.

Responding, the outgone commander attributed the achievements recorded during his tenure in Bayelsa to unquantifiable support from the state government and other security services.

Essien, who has been redeployed to the Army Resource Centre, Abuja, also acknowledged the support of men and officers of the brigade, and urged them to extend same to his successor.

Source: NAN News

By Rabiu Sani-Ali

The Kano State Government has announced plans to conduct mass desilt and drain clearance to control flooding and protect the environment.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr Kabiru Getso, said this while inspecting the monthly sanitation exercise on Saturday in Kano.

Getso said the government was collaborating with the development and community based organisations to carry out the exercise in Kano metropolis and other major towns across the state.

He said the exercise was designed to desilt drains and clear waste to facilitate easy flow of water and control perennial flooding in the state.

The commissioner said the state government in partnership with MAMA Initiative, an NGO, cleared waste and desilt drains at Tarauni and Rimi markets in Kano metropolis.

According to him, the desilt exercise will be conducted in all the 44 local government areas of the state before the commencement of the rainy season.

Getso revealed that two filling stations and a perishable market in Fagge and Dala LGAs were sealed for violation of the monthly environmental exercise.

The commissioner, who expressed concern over non-participation in the exercise by some residents of the state, said that the trend posed serious threat to the environment and public health.

Getso blamed the trade union in the market for their inability to keep a clean environment, warning that the government will condone the act.

The management of the filling stations and trade union must ensure that their premises are sanitised and drains desilted to safeguard public health, he said.

According to him, the state government has dedicated last Saturday of every month for Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise in the state.

Getso said the measure was to protect the environment; sanitise markets, motor parks, offices and other business premises, to ensure that financial transactions and business activities were conducted in a sanitary manner without endangering life.

He said the Sanitation Committee set up by the ministry had visited markets, streets and motor parks as part of the exercise.

While commending the members of the committee for their dedication, Getso enjoined residents of the state to keep a clean environment and shun indiscriminate dumping of waste on water ways.

Also, Mr Opeyemi Akinfaderin, the Project Coordinator, MAMA Initiative, said the organisation was partnering with the Kano State Government on environmental sanitation.

Akinfaderin said the government, through the Refuse Evacuation and Management Board (REMASAB), donated protective kits to the organisation to enable it to conduct waste and drain clearance in many communities in the state.

Source: NAN News

By Funmilola Gboteku

Mr Tubosun Abioye, Co-founder of TRU, a new e-ride hailing platform, in Lagos on Sunday urged Federal Government to reduce taxes on business startups to create more enabling environment for SMEs.

Abioye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that government should make more policies that would encourage ease of doing business, especially with startups.

He urged the government to give soft loans/ grants to business owners, especially post COVID, having felt the impact of the pandemic.

They should create stable policies that would encourage companies to stabilise and grow to their full potential, Abioye said.

Speaking on e-ride hailing business, he said taxation was one of the reasons drivers had issues with the platforms they were on.

When companies like ORides and Gokada came into the country, it was massive and it made mobility easier.

Unfortunately, government policies in terms of taxation caught up with them and massively disrupted their business, he said.

Abioye, however, noted that in spite of the issue of taxation, ride-hailing business was a gold mine in Africa, where it is currently growing at about 20 per cent and expected to hit one billion dollars by 2024.

He advised the growing youth population to tap into transportation business, noting that it would ultimately reduce the rate of unemployment in Nigeria.

According to Abioye, TRU platform assists in transporting people from one place to another in comfort, safety, and at an affordable price.

He said that TRU came on board to address the age-long complaints from drivers and riders on other cab-hailing services available in Nigeria.

TRU platform will give room for ease of doing business with drivers who will be trained from time-to-time on proper driving skills, knowledge, customer care and emotional intelligence which is extremely key when driving.

The core value of TRU is to provide seamless transportation for its riders while ensuring the drivers can make more money than usual, Abioye said.

Source: NAN News

By Augusta Uchediunor

The African Union Commission says the continent is making headway in defeating malaria through strong political commitment, increased funding, and innovations devised to improve malaria prevention and control.

According to it, most of the achievements have been realised through the Zero Malaria Starts With Me Campaign implemented by the AU Commission in partnership with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership to End Malaria.

H.E. Amira Mohamed, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission, made the assertion in her message as the world marks the 2021 World Malaria Day on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Malaria Day takes place annually on April 25 to highlight the global efforts to control malaria and celebrate the gains that have been made.

The theme for 2021 World Malaria Day is : Zero Malaria Draw the Line Against Malaria.

Mohamed said: World Malaria Day 2021 comes at a time when healthcare systems in Africa bear the anomalous weight of the coronavirus pandemic.

AU Member States have maintained their focus in the fight against malaria even as the pandemic continues to test the limits of health infrastructure at the country level.

I take the opportunity to recognise and appreciate all AU member states for ensuring that comprehensive approaches like education, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, that have been proven to have tangible results in the fight against malaria, have been sustained during the pandemic.

Today, the African Union Commission joins the world to celebrate the seven million lives saved, and over one billion malaria cases averted through life-saving mosquito nets, among other interventions.

She urged all countries to collectively work with the fullest commitment to end malaria by 2030.

As a continent, we celebrate with great honour and pride the AU Member States that have been certified malaria-free.

I encourage these member states to lead continental knowledge-sharing initiatives so that best elimination practices are exchanged and scaled-up.

To date, 19 AU member states have rolled out the Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaignseven of which launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While more member states are working towards launching the campaign, the commission welcomes the collaborative effort to urge Africa leaders to step up and be a part of the zero-malaria movement, she said.

The AU commissioner said that the Zero Malaria Starts With Me campaign was transforming the continents malaria response and inspiring global action.

This campaigns advancement and impact have demonstrated AU member states dedication to reach the targets set in the Africa Health Strategy and the Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB, and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.

The campaigns focus is to empower the youths involvement in the malaria response.

According to her, the leadership of youth in Africa is crucial as young people account for 75 per cent of the continents population and the youth are the driving force of the continent.

The AU Commissioner commended President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, for launching the Digital Youth Malaria Army initiative.

She emphasised the critical role of multisectoral partnerships in achieving significant strides towards the shared goal of malaria elimination, urging for increased partnerships and resources to innovate and improve surveillance programmes.

As we commemorate World Malaria Day 2021, I call on frontline health workers , partners, and leaders worldwide and in Africa to share experiences and reflections on efforts and opportunities to reach the target of zero malaria.

I reiterate that ending malarias scourge will have a long-term, transformative impact and save millions of lives.

The commission will continue to support the AU member states to draw the line against malaria, she said.

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of three of the students kidnapped at Greenfield University, Kaduna State.

The president, in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday, described the students as bright youngsters who were cut down by evil people in their prime.

He said: My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace.

Buhari extended his condolences and that of the Federal Government to the relatives, associates of the murdered students and the Kaduna State government.

On the recurring incidents of kidnappings and killings in the state, the president said that they were barbaric terror attacks.

He also described as unfortunate, the tenor of some political and religious leaders that seems to further incite and stokethe pains and anguish of mourning families who are forced to confront these tragedies.

Addressing this scourge requires great show of empathy and coming together as a society to squarely confront these elements and the danger it poses to our democracy and peaceful life in the country.

He assured that those who thought that profits could be made, either from the money paid as ransom or in politics, would suffer with equal measure of recompense under the full weight of the law for their wickedness and brutality.

Banditry, kidnapping and the politics of murders will be fought with all the resources available to our country, the president further declared. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abubakar Ahmed

The Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, on Saturday, paid a condolence visit to Zamfara over the renewed spate of banditry in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that armed bandit attacks had resurfaced in some parts of the state, leading to the death of many people.

Bagudu, who was in company with his Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, said that they were in the state to commiserate with Gov. Bello Matawalle and the people of the state over the attacks.

We were with Gov. Matawalle in Abuja three days ago to discuss the issue of insecurity with the presidency when he hurriedly left us after receiving reports of attacks on some communities in the state.

Since 2014 when, as senators, we came to Zamfara over the killing of over 90 innocent persons, we thought we had witnessed the last of such unfortunate happening but sadly, the matter has continued to defy measures.

We are here on behalf of APC governors to condole with government and people of Zamfara, especially the immediate family members of those killed and to assure you that we will always be with you in this fight, Bagudusaid.

While praying that the attacks would be the last of such, he expressed the hope that the efforts of both the federal and state governments in that regard would be fruitful.

Responding, Matawalle thanked the governors for their concern, describing the attacks, which took place in the holy month of Ramadan, as terrible.

I recently discussed extensively the issue of security challenges facing the state with President Muhammadu Buhari and the nations service chiefs, all of whom have commended our efforts and promised their continued support.

We have been doing our best and will continue to do it in order to bring lasting peace to the state. The security agencies in the state are also up and doing.

In the next three to four days, we are going to take a new stand and apply some new tactics in addressing the matter, Matawalle added.

The governor called for more support and cooperation from security agencies, even as he sought for credible information from the public so as to achieve the desired objectives. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested a suspect for allegedly engaging in an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card fraud in some banks in Enugu metropolis.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said this in a statement on Saturday.

Ndukwe said that the command also recovered a tricycle used by the suspect and his cohorts for their operations.

He said that the feat was achieved by operatives attached to the New Haven Police Division within the metropolis on April 16 at about 9a.m.

According to him, police operatives arrested one Chukwudi Chukwu, 25, at an ATM point along Chime Avenue, Enugu.

His arrest led to the recovery of a yellow-coloured Bajaj tricycle with registration number: ENU 677 WW, used by the suspect and his gang for operation and nine ATM cards of different banks.

The suspect, whose arrest was due to a swift response to a distress call and his rescue from an angry mob by police operatives, is alleged to have fraudulently swapped a victims UBA ATM card.

This the suspect did after offering to assist process his victims transaction on another banks ATM, with the intention of defrauding her.

He confessed to the crime as well as being a member of the syndicate that specialised in unsuspectingly swapping ATM cards of their victims at banks ATMs with non-functional cards.

This manipulative move they use to fraudulently obtain funds from their victims accounts, the police spokesman said.

He said that there had been discrete investigation to arrest other members of the syndicate, including the suspects accomplices who escaped on the said date of the arrest.

To this end, the states Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, has applauded the peace-loving residents for their assistance in the fight against criminals and their activities.

He, however, pleads with all and sundry to quickly submit arrested criminals to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, rather than indulge in mob actions that are tantamount to jungle justice. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Martha Agas

The Northern Governors Forum has condemned the recent killing of three students of the Greenfield University, Kaduna.

The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong described the incident as an act of wickedness and barbaric, saying the perpetrators must not go unpunished.

The governor condemned the act, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Saturday in Jos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three students were among those abducted few days ago by gunmen at the university campus.

Lalong said there was no justification for the murder of the innocent students who were simply in school to study and prepare themselves for service to the nation.

He said northern governors would continue to engage the Federal Government and security agencies ,towards finding a lasting solution to kidnapping and other criminal activities especially in schools in the region.

He expressed concern that the heinous act would have great implications for the future of education in the region and the nation at large.

While commiserating with the families of the murdered students, Lalong called for the immediate and unconditional release of the other students and staff of the school still in captivity.

The forum also commiserated with the government and people of Kano State, over the demise of the mother of Emirs of Kano and Bichi, Hajiya Maryam Ado Bayero.

The chairman described her as a loving, humble and exemplary mother , who devoted her life to instilling positive values to the younger generation and also promoting peaceful coexistence among different groups .

He therefore condoled with the royal family and prayed to God to grant her eternal rest. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army says the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), on Friday eliminated 21 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the border town of Geidam in Yobe.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said that troops also recovered a gun truck and other assorted weapons from the encounter.

He said the troops, who are currently conducting Operation Tura Takaibango engaged the terrorist when they attacked the strategic border town on Friday, destroying three communications masts and looting some shops in the process.

According to him, the troops stationed at the town supported by the Air Component of OPLD mounted a hot pursuit and closed up with the terrorists killing 21 of them in the process.

The gallant troops successfully recovered a gun truck with an anti aircraft gun mounted on it, eight AK 47 rifles with ten magazines as well as two Rocket Propelled Grenade Bombs and five chargers.

Other items recovered include over a thousand rounds of different calibres of ammunition, one Commando Mortar Tube, 3 IED blasting devices, tool boxes, communication radios and cell phones among several other items of value, he said.

Yerima said the troops were still combing the area for possible discoveries, adding that most of the terrorists escaped with various degrees of injuries from the resultant encounter.

He disclosed that three soldiers were wounded in the encounter, adding that they were in stable conditions and receiving medical attention in a military facility.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, congratulated the Theatre Commander and troops of OPLD including the Air Component for this great achievement.

The COAS restated the commitment of the Nigerian Army under his leadership to ending terrorism and all violent crimes in the North East and other parts of the country.

He further enjoined the troops to sustain the ongoing offensive under Operation Tura Takaibango until this noble goal is attained, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Mogbede

Contrary to online reports earlier in the week, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was not taken into custody by the EFCC.

His spokesman, Anietie Ekong, said it was actually Akpabio who sought audience with the EFCC to discuss issues surrounding transfer of funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He made the clarification in Abuja on Saturday in a statement in which he said it was also untrue that Akpabio attempted to buy his freedom from custody by bribing EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa with 350,000 dollars.

Ekong described the online article entitled: How EFCC detained Godswill Akpabio for two hours for attempting to bribe the new EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa with 350,000 dollars as defamatory.

He said the article was fabricated and that there was no reason for the minister to bribe the EFCC boss as alleged.

He explained that on Wednesday, April 14, Akpabio sought audience with the EFCC chairman to discuss the transfer of funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This, he said, was in respect of the 3 per cent statutory remittances from Oil and Gas Companies in the custody of the EFCC.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the transfer of monies earlier paid by the International Oil Companies into the CBN and EFCC accounts since December 2020.

TheEFCC chairman granted the request and the two officials met.

They had a robust discussion and the minister received very intelligent and useful input from the EFCC chairman on the on-going NDDC forensic audit.

However, the discussion was inconclusive since the minister needed to attend a security meeting with select South-South and South-East leaders and governors at the office of the National Security Adviser on the same day, he said.

The duo agreed to reconvene later on the same day to conclude their interaction and they did with the meeting wounding up after more than one hour.

Ekong stated that there was no issue of detention, adding that Akpabio could not have carried 350,000 dollarsinto the office of the EFCC chairman as he went there without a bag or a container.

He said the EFCC chairman gave useful and intelligent advice on the methodology of achieving success in the on-going NDDC forensic audit.

He added that the minister also sought the cooperation of the EFCC to actualise recoveries of further 3 per cent levies due to the NDDC but still being owed by some oil and gas companies.

Ekong also debunked the part of the online report that the meeting was arranged by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

For the umpteenth time, Akpabio did not bribe the Attorney-General with five million dollars as alleged to get Mr Effiong Akwa elevated to the position of the Interim Administrator of the NDDC, Ekong said.

He recalled that the appointment ofAkwa was duly made by President Buhari in obedience to an ex-parte order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

He explained that the court had restrained named members of the Interim Management of the NDDC from carrying out their duties until the application for an order of Mandamus was argued and disposed of.

In that suit, the court had ordered that the headship of the NDDC be handed over to the most senior Director pending the conclusion of the suit.

The most senior director at that time happened to beAkwa, who months earlier had replaced the deceased Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Chief Bassey Etang, who passed on in May 2020 after a brief illness, he said.

Ekong added that the originators of the suit did not replace the deceased Etang with Akwa as a party in the suit,hence his emergence as the Interim Administrator.

He expressed dismay at the dragging of MAlamis office and name into the appointment of NDDC interim administrator that was clearly a child of circumstance.

Ekong expressed hope that his explanations would disabuse the minds of the general public against the falsehood peddled by the authors of the false and malicious publication.

He advised the general public to discountenance the said publication, adding that it was propelled by persons whose stock in trade was politics of blackmail. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abiodun Lawal

Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) says it generates over N7 billion revenue monthly from its coverage areas.

The Chief Technical Officer of IBEDC, Mr Akin Abiodun,disclosed this on Saturday during the inauguration of a new 2.5MVA, 33KV/11KV transformer at Owode-Egba community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government area of Ogun.

Abiodun, who said that out of the amount,a total of N2 billion was being generated from the state, however, expressed the regret that Owode-Egba community was owing the company not less than N300 million.

Before now, we used to collect about N6 billion but now, we have movedto N7 billion and of course, the entire Ogun region gives us N2 billion, that is, one-third of our revenue, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inauguration of the transformer came after the community had suffered power outage for more than eight months.

NAN reports that youths in the community had, in January, protested theoutage, lamenting that all their efforts at replacing the old transformer, which got burnt, had not yielded any result.

Speaking at the occasion, the lawmaker, representing Abeokuta North, Odeda and Obafemi Owode constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Olumide Osoba, appealed to people of the community to pay their electricity bills regularly to ensure quality service by IBEDC.

In his remarks, a community leader, Abdul-Fatai Soyoye, said that the installation of the new transformer would boost commercial activities in the community, expressing happiness that the eight-month blackout would finally come to an end.

Today is one of the happiest days in Owode-Egba because since Aug. 9, 2020, there had not been electricity supply, he said, expressing appreciation to everyone who had contributed to achieving the feat, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Douglas Okoro

Chief Elias Mbam, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has said that the commission had begun reviewing the emoluments of political and judiciary office holders.

Mbam disclosed this on Saturday, at Amagu community in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi, at the 7th Ofala festival and 30th anniversary of the coronation of the traditional ruler , Ezeogo Dominic Aloh, Erima-Ogwudu III of Amagu Kingdom.

The RMAFC chairman, who was conferred with a chieftaincy title of Aka Ekpuchi Onwa II by the traditional ruler, told newsmen that a process to review the remuneration of political and judicial office holders was in progress.

He noted that the commission was saddled with the responsibility, hence it would soon conduct a public hearing on the issue, to allow the citizens contribute to the process.

One of the major responsibilities of our commission is to determine remunerations appropriate for political and judicial office holders.

In doing that, the financial situation of the country, at any giving time, is taken into consideration, including inflation and the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among others.

The commission being conscious that a lot has happened since the last review, have commenced the process of another review to reflect the changing realities.

We have progressed and we believe that before the end of 2021 something concrete will happen, Mbam said.

The chairman, who declined to confirm if the salary would be reviewed downward or upwards, said that the process was ongoing and would be influenced by a number of indices.

It is a process and the process at the end determines what it will be; when we go through the process, if it comes out to be increase, we increase, if it is decrease we do it, he added.

Mbam, however, enjoined Nigerians to participate in the review, noting that there would be public hearings and invitations for memoranda from members of the public, including institutions under the three tiers of government.

The RMAFC boss, who also spoke on the diversification of the nations economy, noted that the solid minerals sector had been contributing immensely to the economy. since his assumption of duty as chairman of the commission.

He said that the commission embarked on sensitisation and advocacy campaigns to all tiers of government, as well as across the 36 states of the federation, to encourage revenue diversification, which was yielding results.

Before I came in, solid minerals was not contributing to the federation accounts, but now solid minerals is a major source of revenue, we want to focus more on that.

We also want to make agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, major contributors to our national revenue and we believe that it wont be long and we will be getting more revenue from diversification, he said.

Mbam said that the award, giving to him was a call to more responsibility, adding that the honour would spur him to contribute more to the development of the society.

He said that the Ofala festival was very important because of its significance for cultural revivalism in Igbo society explaining that anybody who lost his culture was equivalent to losing his identity. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Imelda Osayande

The police in Edo on Friday arraigned a 72-year old man and two others before an Ogbeson Chief Magistrates Court, Beninfor allegedly stealing 50 units of tricycles, valued at N25 million.

The threedefendants were Ifeanyi Onukwube, 35, Chima Sunday (AKA Papa), 72, and Bethel Abraham, 27.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Iyawe, said that the accused were arraigned on a four-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Iyawe said that the defendants on Nov. 23, 2020 atAhor Garage in Ahor community, within Oregbeni Magisterial District, did conspire to steal tricycles.

He said the defendants stole 50 units of tricycles, valued N 25million, property of Godec Power Nigeria Ltd.

The prosecutor said thatthe offences contravenedSections 517, 383(1) and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of the defunct Bendel State, 1976, which is now applicable in Edo.

The defendants,however, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them.

The defendants counsel, Mrs Martha Imafu, however, appealed to the Chief Magistrate to grant them bail and assured him that the defendants would not skip bail.

The police prosecutor did not oppose the bail application.

Consequently, Chief Magistrate Mutairu Oare admitted the accused to a bail of N200,000 each, with one surety in like sum.

He said that thesurety must be a responsible person and must depose to an affidavit of means.

Oare also directed that the surety must deposit two recent passport photographs of himself and that of the defendants with the court.

He added that information about the suretys residences should be verified by the court registrar.

The chief magistrate thereafter adjourned the case to May 12 for hearing. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are to meet in Jakarta on Saturday when leaders of member states will discuss the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

Myanmar has been embroiled in political and humanitarian crisis brought on bya February coup.

The discussion is to hold in a summit to be attended by the countrys junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed by soldiers in Myanmar during almost-daily protests since the Feb. 1 putsch.

Indonesian and Malaysian leaders called for a summit of South-East Asian countries, of which Myanmar is a member, after the junta failed to heed calls to end violence and release political detainees including deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

This ASEAN leaders meeting is convened simply for the interest of the Myanmar people, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said late Friday.

We hope that the meeting can resultinan agreement that is best for the people of Myanmar, she said.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha andPhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte will not attend the meeting and will be represented by their foreign ministers.

ASEANs decision to invite Min Aung Hlaing to the summit have been criticised by civil society groups and the National Unity Government (NUG), which comprises parliamentarians that won Myanmars last years elections.

The NUG is the legitimate government that the ASEAN leaders need to be shaking hands with,not the military junta, Khin Ohmar, a Myanmar democracy activist, told an online discussion on Thursday.

Ever since Myanmar was welcomed as a member, ASEAN has always stayed silent about everything thats happened, including the 2017 Rohingya genocide, she said. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Sudan has threatened to sue the Italian company implementing the Nile dam, and the Ethiopian government if the second filling of the dam is conducted without a legal deal.

Sudanese Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Yasir Abbas issued the threat in a tweet.

In case the second filling is conducted without reaching a legal deal, Sudan has legal teams, supported with international law offices, that will file lawsuits against the Italian implementing company and the Ethiopian government, Abbas twitted.

The lawsuit is based on the fact that the environmental and social impacts and risks of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have not been studied, he added.

The minister noted that failure to reach a deal would pave the way for filing a lawsuit to the UN Security Council as the GERD constitutes a real danger to the regional peace and security.

According to Abbas, reaching an agreement does not reduce the sovereignty or rights of Ethiopia, but provides it with full rights and protects Sudans interests.

Sudan proposed a mediation quartet of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and the African Union regarding the GERD issue.

Ethiopia, however, has announced its rejection of the formula.

In February, Ethiopia said it would carry on with the second-phase 13.5-billion-cubic-meter filling of the GERD in June.

The volume of the first-phase filling last year was 4.9 billion cubic meters.

Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia have been in talks for years over the technical and legal issues related to the filling and operation of the GERD.

Ethiopia, which started building the dam in 2011, expects to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity from the dam project, while Egypt and Sudan, downstream Nile Basin countries that rely on the river for its freshwater, are concerned that the dam might affect their share of the water resources. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Shedrack Frank

The Bayelsa Government said on Saturday in Yenagoa that its investment in rice production would begin to yield returns before the end of the year.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said this at a meeting with traditional rulers from Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

The deputy governor said the state had since subscribed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-backed Accelerated Agriculture Development Scheme (AADS) and Anchor Borrowers programmes with a view to revamping the states agriculture sector.

By Gods grace we are going to eat our own rice from the various farms we have cultivated in different parts of the state.

I can assure you (traditional rulers) that we will not buy rice from elsewhere to distribute to you during Christmas.

The Anchor Borrowers and Outgrowers programmes are very key to food security.

So, we are working with the CBN to ensure food sufficiency in our state.

We are working to see how we can get credible partners to mill the rice, he told the traditional rulers.

The deputy governor informed the traditional rulers that the governments intervention in the agriculture sector was not only in crop production but in fisheries and poultry as well.

On security, he said the present administration was taking proactive measures to prevent the breakdown of law and order as experienced in some parts of the country.

The deputy governor urged the traditional rulers to complement governments efforts at tackling insecurity.

He said a new security architecture involving all stakeholders would soon become operational in the state.

He underscored the importance of intelligence gathering and sharing in security management and directed the relevant ministries to install a temporary communication system on the Obioku corridor, with the expectation that other service providers would mount theirs own in the area.

Earlier in his briefing, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr David Alagoa, disclosed that at least 3500 rice farmers across the state were currently participating as beneficiaries of the AADS and Anchor Borrowers programmes.

Alagoa, who decried a situation where the state received almost all of its food supplies from outside, emphasised the commitment of the present administration to change the trend through its two-pronged policy of food security and mechanised farming.

Describing the policy as participatory, he said government was ready to partner communities by providing the necessary inputs for farming and harvesting, play the role of an offtaker but would not buy or acquire any land.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Retired CP Akpoebi Agberebi, attributed the increasing frequency of communal crisis to lack of transparency and failure to follow due process during community elections.

He advised the royal fathers to synergise with government to curb crimes in their communities and announced the following numbers for the public to call for security purposes: 07006464644, 08166202333, and 08039662779

Also speaking, Mr Douglas Sampson, the Minority Whip and member representing Nembe Constituency 3 in the state House of Assembly, advised traditional rulers to do away with sentiments and cooperate with government to get rid of criminal elements in their communities.

The lawmaker also advised government to carry out diligent background checks on traditional rulers before issuing them with the staff of office as some of them were only interested in using their positions to get contracts from oil companies.

The traditional rulers commended the present administration for organising the meeting and appealed for upward review of their monthly allowances to enable them to perform their duties effectively. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Chairman of the electoral committee, Mrs Ekaeret Ekpenyong, announced that the delegates in Kwali endorsed Chiya as the consensus candidate, along with all the serving councillors in the 10 electoral wards.

She said the voting was to fulfill constitutional requirements as the candidates would be flying the partys flag in the Feb. 2022 Area Council Chairmanship elections.

In his reaction, Chiya expressed appreciation to the delegates and promised not to betray the trust reposed on him, but to consolidate on his achievements.

The News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) reports that the atmosphere at the venue was peaceful and orderly with cultural music played to entertain the delegates and party supporters.

Meanwhile, the APC Chairmanship primary elections in Gwagwalada Area Council was inconclusive due to the violence unleashed by some unidentified political thugs who disrupted the process as the voting was not going in their candidates favour.

The thugs, alleged to be supporters of a former council Chairman, who is also an aspirant came to the venue after voting had been concluded in seven electoral wards and disrupted the process.

Some candidates were hurriedly escorted out of the venue by security operatives while electoral officials, journalists, delegates and party supporters ran for safety. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Kwara, Mohammed Bagega, has confirmed the rescue of a 69-year-old farmer, Alhaji Alaga Olayemi, kidnapped on Wednesday by a seven-man gang.

Bagega said the victim, kidnapped in his farm at Oke Onigbin, was rescued on Friday after a painstaking search and rescue operation conducted within Oke Onigbin, Iloffa, Ekiti and Eruku areas of the state.

The operation, he said, involved the police and other members of the security community in the state.

According to him, the intense efforts and the pressure mounted by security agents forced the abductors to abandon their victim at Oyogbo village when it became obvious they couldnt escape arrest.

The victim is presently undergoing medical checkup in a hospital (name withheld).

Effort is being intensified to get the abductors apprehended, said the police commissioner.

He, however, called on the public to cooperate more with the police by offering useful information.

He assured the residents of their safety at all times, while warning criminal elements to vacate the state.

The police command, he said, would not hesitate to employ all lawful means to deal with criminals, irrespective of their status. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

Imo government has confirmed the attack on Gov. Hope Uzodimmas house in Omuma Oru East council area on Saturday by unknown gunmen but failed to give number of casualties recorded in the attack.

The Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Saturday, said few casualties were recorded after security men on guard repelled the attack.

Gallant security operatives this morning repelled an attack on the Omuma country home of the governor of Imo State, Sen Hope Uzodimma.

At about 9am today, Saturday, April 24, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 and driving in a motorcade of three vehicles, accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor and attempted to burn down the house.

However, vigilant security operatives attached to the Governors house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised damage, he said.

The commissioner further disclosed that in the ensued cross fire, few casualties were recorded.

He said preliminary investigation suggests that the foiled attack may have been politically sponsored

He said the governor has directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice.

He said yes, i can confirm the story, the hoodlums attacked the governors house by throwing in Petrol bomb as a result of which two cars were burnt, but the attackers were successfully repelled.

None of the building was set ablaze, however, one unarmed personnel of the NSCDC was killed in the process.

The hoodlums, while escaping, also killed a Police Sergeant and another NSCDC personnel, both in their private vehicles at Mgbidi junction. (NAN)

Source: NAN News