The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Wednesday visited Plateau state to commensurate with the government and people of the state over the wanton massacre of over 86 people in some communities on Saturday.

Saraki who had just concluded a , proceeded to Plateau along with some members of the National Assembly leadership.

A visibly sad Saraki who had totally condemned the unwarranted killing in the state, reiterated that words could not express the magnitude of pain the killing had brought, stressing that it was a loss to the entire nation.

Saraki who was accompanied by some members of the National Assembly leadership and was received by Governor Simon Lalong, conveyed the sympathy of the National Assembly to the government and people of Plateau state and to all Nigerians.

Here are five key things Saraki told the people of Plateau as well as all Nigerians:

1. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THIS PAIN THIS IS A LOSS TO THE ENTIRE NATION
   On behalf of the entire National Assembly, let me convey my deepest sympathy for the unfortunate and sad incident that occurred in Plateau State this weekend that claimed many innocent lives. This is not only a loss to Plateau State, but to the entire nation. Although the National Assembly is currently not in session, when we resume next week, this is one of the prime issues that will be up for discussion. However, we thought it necessary to come here personally to meet with the people of Plateau State to commiserate with the families because words cannot really describe this kind of pain.

2. THE ENTIRE NATION STANDS WITH PLATEAU STATE
   Our prayer to Almighty God is to grant the affected families the fortitude to bare these losses. At this time as well, I also pray to God to give His Excellency, the Governor, the courage to be able to manage this challenge and bring solace to a lot of people. This is a very difficult time for Plateau State. However, I want to reassure you that the entire country is with you and the entire National Assembly stands with you.

WE MET WITH THE PRESIDENT WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE EXECUTIVE TO FORESTALL FUTURE OCCURRENCES LIKE THIS
We were late in coming here because both myself and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives sought an appointment with Mr. President on the killings that occurred here to see how we would come together to see what could be done to forestall and prevent future occurrences like this and provide relief and support for all those that have been affected. This is our paramount responsibility. Whatever that needs to be done, must be done.

3. PERPETRATORS MUST BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
   We must also ensure that all those who are responsible for these killings must account for it. It is part of providing succour and ensuring the peace. You cannot bring back the lives, but finding and prosecuting the perpetrators will go a long way in helping to calm people and ease the pain that they are going through.Therefore, yet again, we call on our Security Agents to ensure that they find the perpetrators that have done this and make them accountable.

4. NOBODY WINS THESE KILLINGS SET US BACK AS A NATION
   Let me use this opportunity to appeal to everyone, to the entire people of Plateau State: Nobody wins from this. Nobody. These killings from today sets the clock back many years, therefore, I want to appeal to the entire people of Plateau State, the elderly, the young, the men and the women, to ensure that we work towards peace.

5. WE MUST ALL WORK TOWARDS PEACE
   Working towards peace is not only the responsibility of the Governor or the traditional rulers in the state. It is incumbent on everyone. Working towards peace is not Simon Lalongs problem alone. Let me also commend the State Governor on the measures that he has taken thus far. It has not been easy we all know the history however, I urge you to stay strong and stay committed and be just. When you are fair and just, the Almighty God will guide you right. Let us all continue to do our best to ensure that this does not become a religious or a political issue.

Source: NAN

Plans are in the offing by the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to increase punitive measures to drivers who flout traffic regulations.

The Director of VIO in the FCT, Mr Bodinga Wadata told our correspondent on Wednesday that the measure has become necessary as FCT drivers disobey traffic laws with reckless abandon.

He said the greatest challenge facing the agency was how to tackle the continued disobedience to traffic regulations by motorists.

This ranges from excessive speed, breaking of traffic light, driving without drivers license and driving vehicles with worn-out parts among others.

This attitude and other variables have limited the management of the sector.

Knowing the mental state of the drivers and status of the vehicles matter a lot, he said.

He said many motorists intentionally flouted traffic rules and regulations without recompense to the penalties.

Wadata also said that most of the drivers had violently confronted VIO officers when cautioned, adding that arrangements were on to increase the punitive measures against lawless drivers.

He also warned handlers of tricycles and motorcycles as well as and unpainted taxi operators to desist from plying routes they were not allowed to operate.

Wadata, therefore, urged commuters to stop patronising tricycles, motorcycles and unpainted taxi operators to break the agency set regulations.

He said that that the patronage had encourage operators concerned to ply routes they were not expected to ply.

If the public stop patronising them, we will naturally flush them out of the banned routes, Wadata said.

Source: NAN

The United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP), an NGO, says it will convene a national summit over the recurrent killings across the country.

Mr Olaseni Shalom, UGRFPs Executive Director, in statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the recent killings in Plateau State called for sober reflections.

He said that the plethora of death and resultant crisis in the country questioned the nations commitment to the realisation of its millennial aspirations as stated in its 2020 Goals.

Shalom said that communal crisis must be interpreted beyond fault lines to a much more national scope.

The threat to peace in any one region in Nigeria is a threat to peace in all parts of Nigeria.

There has, perhaps in the history of this nation, never been a greater need to reflect on the issues that lead to such killings and proffer ways to avoid it repetition.

We, at UGRFP, have summarily resolved to stand in the gap and facilitate the platform for constructive discussions and resolutions to finding applicable solutions and palliatives to crisis such as the Jos massacre.

It is this abiding imperative that informs our decision to put together an all-encompassing SUMMIT, Shalom said.

He said that the objectives of the summit are among other things to create a forum for national discourse on the recurrent killings in the country; to bring disputing groups/parties to the table of discourse and to address, without reserve, the persistent issues that premeditate fatal internecine clashes.

Others are to address the issue of jungle justice and its wider implication on nationhood and to find, through exhaustive discourse, the way forward on issues of conflicts in Nigeria and make valid recommendations to stakeholders on how to best arrest the massacres.

Shalom conveyed the groups deepest condolences to the affected families and states in the dastardly killings in Benue, Plateau, Zamafara among others.

Source: NAN

Alhaji Abdullahi Alhassan, acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State, on Wednesday said the institution was giving priority attention to training of its students to create job opportunities for self reliance

Alhassan stated this at a news conference for the Combined 9th Convocation Ceremony of the institution scheduled to hold on June, 30, at Taal Sport Complex in Nasarawa.

He emphasised that the polytechnic was poised toward effective production and convocation of quality students in different fields of academic enterprise, to make its graduates relevant, self sustaining and employers of labour.

According to him, a total of 23,128 graduates will be awarded Higher National Diploma (HND), National Diploma (ND) and Polytechnic Diploma (PD), at the convocation ceremony.

Among these, 270 graduated with distinction; 4,882 with Upper credit; 12,304 with lower credit and 5, 672 with pass, he said.

The rector said that the institution had been producing best polytechnic graduates in the country since its inception in 1983, adding that the product of the institution were contributing immensely to the economic development of the country.

He said the institution would continue to train people to acquire technical and vocation skills needed for the economic and social development of Nigeria in the fields of Agriculture, industry and commerce.

The Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, is today among the top ranking polytechnics in Nigeria.

This is factual because of the availability of astute and intellectual human resources as well as the quality of graduates and under-graduates and research breakthrough recorded by the institution over the years.

Our focus since establishment has been toward achieving the polytechnic objective and also tailored toward our mission of moulding students to become disciplined, skilled and innovative for self actualisation and national development.

Alhassan, therefore, expressed determination of his administration to further develop the institution by sustaining, consolidation on infrastructure and human capital development.

This, according to him, will guarantee the provision of enabling environment for research, teaching and learning and ensure full accreditation of all programmes being run bythe institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their various fields of endeavour will be conferred with the Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, (FFPN).

The awards recipients are: Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, Alhaji Buba Ahmed, former Minister of Sports, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, a philanthropist and Sen. Abubakar Sodangi.

Source: NAN

Argentina great Diego Maradona appeared to need help to walk after watching his national team dramatically beat Nigeria to survive in the World Cup, according to a video clip posted on Twitter.

Argentine media, including newspaper La Nacion, said Maradona was treated for low blood pressure in the stadium and was able to leave normally shortly afterwards.
In the video posted by Fernando Schwartz, a well-known sports journalist in Mexico, a man can be seen helping Maradona to stay on his feet as he was led away from his seat overlooking the pitch and into an adjacent room.

A photograph also posted on Twitter appeared to show two medical staff attending to Maradona.

Earlier, he had been captured by television cameras flicking his middle fingers toward the crowd and celebrating wildly as Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 with the winner coming minutes before the South Americans would have been eliminated from the finals.

The Argentine website of sports broadcaster ESPN said Maradona was taken to hospital. But other Argentine media described the incident as only a scare.
A spokesman for World Cup organizers FIFA said Maradona had left the stadium but could not provide further comment.
A spokesman for Argentina’s football association could not immediately be reached.

Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title, has battled cocaine addiction in the past. In 2015, he underwent a gastric bypass operation.

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe has been granted an administrative bail after five days in DSS custody.

The Special Adviser to Abaribe on Media, Mr Uche Awom, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said Abaribe, who is the Chairman of the South East Senators Forum, was released at about 6.32 p.m.

Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe walked to freedom after five days in the DSS gulag.

Abaribe who was granted administrative bail was released to his lawyers led by Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN).

Speaking at the premises of the DSS facility in Abuja, Ume thanked Nigerians for standing up against the wrongs done to Nigerian democracy with the arrest of Sen. Abaribe, he said.

Awom quoted Ume as saying the collective calls and demand for his release have shown the great spirit of Nigerians for justice.

Senator Abaribe was reportedly arrested and taken into custody by the Department of State Security Service(DSS) on June 22 in Abuja.

However, reasons for his arrest were not made public.

The lawmaker was surety to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu, who is reportedly at large.

Source: NAN

Ethiopia rolled out the red carpet for Eritreas top diplomat on Tuesday as the two nations took the next step in a historic initiative aimed at ending decades of conflict and hostility.

The thaw between the foes who fought a bitter border war 20 years ago comes after an olive branch was dramatically offered by new Ethiopian prime minister, Abiy Ahmed.

As Eritreas top diplomat Osman Saleh and presidential adviser Yemane Gebreab landed at Addis Ababas airport, Abiy was there to greet them, leading the pair along a red carpet past traditional dancers, local celebrities and a brass band.

The welcome included Ethiopian culture and sports personalities, among them legendary long-distance runner Haile Gebrselassie.

The relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea is about more than the border. When we make peace, it will benefit all of east Africa, Ethiopias foreign affairs spokesman Meles Alem said at the airport.

The meeting comes just three days after a blast at a rally attended by Abiy a sign, analysts say, of the risks the 42-year-old prime minister has taken with a programme that embraces the biggest reforms, at home and abroad, in a generation.

Earlier this month, Abiy said he would abide by a 2002 ruling, issued by a United Nations-backed commission, and withdraw from contested territory, including Badme, a town claimed by both sides.

Last week, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki responded, saying he would dispatch a delegation to gauge current developments directly and in depth as well as to chart out a plan for continuous future action.

He stopped short of calling it a peace delegation but an official visit alone marks a dramatic shift in relations long mired in suspicion and bloody hostility.

The last time Ethiopian and Eritrean troops fought head-on was just two years ago, with each side claiming victory in response to what they said was the others aggression.

But just five years later, a new border war erupted between the two countries, killing around 80,000 people before it ended in a stalemate in 2000.

Ethiopia ignored a subsequent ruling that it should withdraw from territory awarded to Eritrea.

Since then, a tense standoff has persisted with both maintaining a war footing, shots occasionally fired and with each side backing the others rebels.

The apparent detente in recent weeks has raised hopes of a normalisation of relations that might boost regional trade and ease tensions.

Their long cold war has stymied economic development, frozen political relations and helped justify domestic repression.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security chiefs in the country to remain vigilant and ensure the protection of lives and property in the country.

The president gave the directive in Jos, Plateau, on Tuesday at an interactive session with stakeholders in the aftermath of the recent killings in some communities in the state.
Buhari urged traditional and community leaders to complement government efforts by persuading their constituencies to tolerate one another for peace and unity in the country.

I will continue to pressurise members of the law enforcement agencies directly under me by the Constitution as the Commander-in Chief. About eight days ago, we had five hours security meeting of the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police.

What happened here in Jos is very bad. The question of leadership, from your household to whatever you are, is justice. The bottom line is justice.

That is why wherever I go, I will always appeal to the leadership of the communities, the law enforcement agencies to always have control of their constituencies, he said.
While condemning the latest clashes in Plateau, which left scores dead, Buhari, who was accompanied to the meeting by Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau and his counterparts from Kebbi and Niger States, condoled with the affected families, the Government and people of the state.

The president, who also wished those injured a speedy recovery, used the interactive session to appeal to Nigerians to avoid inflammatory utterances that endanger peace or promote conflicts.

He said: Whatever is being given to the media, we have to be very responsible about it.

Take for instance the situation in Benue. The Benue subsistence farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesnt carry nothing more than a stick, occasionally sometimes something to cut grass to feed his cattle.

But the present herder, I am told, carries AK47 and people are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them.

There is some injustice in these aspersions.

According to him, many Nigerians still acknowledge that despite the security challenges, the All Progressives Congress-led administration has made notable successes in the security sector.

Lalong had earlier blamed parties in the conflict in the state for reneging on their agreement to maintain peace, leading to the recent upsurge in violence, after nearly three years of calm and normalcy.

We are concerned as a State that the sophisticated weapons used in these attacks, from the evidences on the ground and the narrations of victims, are not those conventional to our environment for self-defence but reflective of a terrorist invasion.

It, therefore, demands a justified response like that which was undertaken to address the Boko Haram insurgency, he said.

The governor also requested that given the number of villages completely ravaged in the violence, the Federal Government should establish an Emergency Special Intervention Fund to help reconstruct the destroyed communities.

Buhari also carefully listened to the presentations and recommendations made by Alhaji Nura Abdullahi, State Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Mrs Florence Jambol, a representative of the Berom community in Plateau, on engendering peace in the communities.

The interactive session was attended by traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, representatives of youths, women and trade union groups, security chiefs and some top government officials.

Source: NAN

Queen Elizabeth Tuesday night presented three Nigerians, Hauwa Ojeifo, Isaac Ezirim and Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph from Nigeria with a Queens Young Leaders Award at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London.

The awards were in honour of the work they are doing to transform lives in their communities.

The Queen was joined at the Award ceremony by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in recognising their success.

The Queens Young Leaders Awards programme, now in its fourth and final year, celebrates the achievements of some of the most exciting young change-makers from across the Commonwealth. This years cohort from 38 Commonwealth countries are finding solutions to global issues such as climate change, food scarcity, gender-based violence, mental health, and access to education.

Guests including David Beckham OBE, Sir Lenny Henry CBE, Nicola Adams OBE, Neelam Gill, Caspar Lee, Tina Daheley, Ore Oduba and Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Sir John Major, joined Award winners at Buckingham Palace to congratulate them on their remarkable achievements.

The Duke of Sussex, who was recently named a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador said: In this rapidly changing world, it is heartening to meet so many inspiring young people gathered here today, who have already stepped up as leaders and improved the lives of so many people across the Commonwealth. You are the hope and optimism the world needs and we will all do whatever we can to support you in it.

David Beckham OBE said: Im so proud to be here with the Queens Young Leaders tonight. Its really inspiring to meet these hardworking young people, who continue to dedicate their time and energy to helping other people live a better life. Hearing their stories and the sacrifices theyve made is a real honour and I feel very privileged to celebrate with them today.

Isaac received his Award for the work he is doing to teach coding to teenagers in low-income areas, founding Teens Can Code which is currently training 200 teenagers how to build web and mobile applications using the same tools that are used by professionals in the tech industry.

Hauwa received her award for the work she is doing to tackle the stigma around mental health, running a womens support group called She Writes Women, which focuses on mental health support and outreach among some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Kennedy received his Award for the work he is doing to promote womens rights in Nigeria, founding the Calabar Youth Council for Womens Rights (CYCWR), which supports the rights of women in the areas of female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic abuse, forced child marriage and access to education for girls

Isaac Ezirim, 28, said: I am extremely honoured and thankful to Her Majesty The Queen for this prestigious Award in recognition of the work I am doing in Nigeria. These are moments of utmost happiness for me and the communities I serve. Its been such an amazing experience being here in the UK and meeting all of the other Award winners. Being part of the Queens Young Leaders family is exciting and I cant wait to take this to the next level.

Hauwa Ojeifo, 26, said: It is a rare privilege to receive an Award from Her Majesty The Queen for the work I am doing in mental health in Nigeria. It has been a completely transformative experience being here in the UK getting mentored by world leaders, trained and engaging in top level meetings with some of the most powerful and influential change makers of our time. Perhaps the most humbling part is being part of a network of fellow young leaders across the Commonwealth whose knowledge and resource base is far reaching. I cant wait to see what we do with these valuable connections in the future.

Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph, 20, said: I am honoured to be a recipient of the final ever Queens Young Leaders Award from Her Majesty The Queen. As a budding global leader, this Award is a huge responsibility for me moving forward to continue to live up to this Award and leverage all the opportunities it presents to develop my society. I have been able to meet other Award winners and learn about the incredible work they are doing across the Commonwealth. I have learned so much from the Residential Programme in the UK and I am sure that it is only just the beginning.

As a Queens Young Leader, Hauwa, Isaac and Kennedy have gained access to bespoke mentoring and training through the University of Cambridges Institute of Continuing Education, designed to develop their leadership skills further and ensure they are best placed to lead the way in the future to tackle some of the worlds most pressing issues.

Sir John Major, Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said:

I extend my warmest congratulations to all the 2018 Queens Young Leaders. Together with our Award Winners from the last three years, they complete a unique, 240-strong cohort of Young Leaders from all across the Commonwealth. This is such an invaluable resource for the Commonwealth that The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust will be launching a legacy fund, to ensure that our support and encouragement to our Young Leaders will continue beyond the lifetime of the Trust.

Each and every one of our 240 Young Leaders is a remarkable and exceptional young person, who I have no doubt will play an important role in shaping our future world. It has been an absolute privilege and delight to get to know them.

The now complete Queens Young Leaders network forms a unique, dedicated and powerful group of young people from 53 Commonwealth countries who will connect, collaborate and change lives together for years to come. To further support them in their future endeavours, a 200,000 Legacy Fund has been created. It will be open to all 240 Queens Young Leaders and 282 highly commended runners-up to apply for grants that will help elevate their work and enable them to work together to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth.

Source: NAN

Barely four days after the deadly attacks that left 86 people dead, Plateau State House of Assembly set up a seven-man special committee to probe the attacks in parts of the state.

He panel is headed by Mr Yusuf Gagdi to investigate the Weekends killings in 11 villages in Barikin Ladi Local Government Area and some villages in Bokkos and Riyom.

The committee is to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the attacks, identify the perpetrators, ascertain the number of communities affected and the extent of destruction and make appropriate recommendations.

The Speaker of the House Mr peter Azi directed the committee to report back its findings in four weeks.

The committee was set up followed a motion moved at plenary by Mr Peter Ibrahim, member representing Jos Barikin Ladi Constituency.

Ibrahim narrated the incident, saying that his constituents have been under siege by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen since last Saturday.

Mr Speaker, it is no longer news that my constituency has been under siege for the past few days, leading to loss of lives and property.

By my count, we have lost more than 200 lives, many severely injured and a lot of houses and farmlands destroyed.

As I speak, sir, a lot of my constituents are reported missing, and thousands displaced since the ugly incident started.

I have on several occasions brought cases of attacks and killings in my constituency before this honourable house, unfortunately, they have never stopped.

So, I wish to urge this honourable house to as a matter of urgency act fast and salvage my people, he said.

The lawmaker called for the investigation of security operatives in the area, urging the government to intensify effort at ending the incessant attacks.

Contributing, Mr Ysufu Gagdi, member representing Kantana Constituency, described the spate of attacks that have led to the loss of many lives as unfortunate

Gagdi, a former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, also expressed displeasure at the role of government and security agents at restoring peace to the state.

No matter the level of physical infrastructure, no matter how beautiful our schools, hospitals, roads and others are, without peace and tranquillity, all is in vain.

So, our government must make it a point of duty to ensure the security of lives and property, for anything short of that, means the government has failed, he said.

In his submission, the Minority Leader of the House, Mr Daniel Dem, called for a review of the security architecture in the state.

According to him, the people have lost confidence in the security agencies deployed in the state, stressing the need for a change in strategy.

He, therefore, urged the state government to set up a Civilian Joint Task Force, to build confidence in the people in the affected areas.

Source:

Source: NAN

Mr. Sunday Akinniyi, former Chief Whip of Ekiti State House of Assembly, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the state governorship election on July 14

Akinniyi defected on Tuesday with the excuse that he joined APC due to high-handedness of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

He accused the outgoing governor of disrespect for top leaders of PDP.

He said that the alleged high-handedness was causing internal crisis and mass defection of influential members of PDP to the opposition.

The lawmaker representing Ikere Constituency II, said at the Kayode Fayemi Campaign secretariat in Ado Ekiti, said he got the blessing of critical stakeholders in my constituency before taking the step.

He explained that he decided to join the governorship campaign of Dr Fayemi because Fayose treated the Olukere of Ikere, Ganiyu Obasoyin, with disdain, and reneged on his promise to give him recognition and staff of office.

He alleged that Fayose neglected his constituents in major projects executed in Ikere Ekiti.

Governor Fayose said I should bring Olukere to him, which I did. He promised that he will ask the Council of Traditional Rulers to go to Olukeres palace and examine the place and make recommendations on how best they can recognise his stool, which they did.

The Obas turned in their report and Governor Fayose never acted on it. Rather than recognising Olukere, they set him up for murder and put him in detention and that was why I decided not to support the governorship candidate, Professor Kolapo Olusola.

All the projects he did in Ikere, including the dualisation, were concentrated in constituency I. I used to raise issues about this and that was why they removed me as the Chief Whip instead of the allegation of docility and sleeping at plenary they levelled against me.

Apart from all these, the PDP had been in constant crises and now irreversibly divided and polarised to the extent that more than half of its members have moved out of the party in recent times to join APC.

As a Democrat, I cannot continue to remain in a party that had been polarised by internal crises because my continued stay will not allow me to effectively represent my people.

He declared that after consultations with leaders and people of his constituency, he had resigned his membership of the PDP due to irreconcilable breaking into factions of the party in Ekiti following the rancorous governorship primary.

I view of this, I use this opportunity to announce my defection to APC from effect from today, June 26, 2018.

Last week, a former Deputy Majority Leader of the Assembly, Ebenezer Alagbada of Ise/Orun had also joined the Fayemi campaign.

A former PDP governorship aspirant and chieftain of PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, also defected to APC.

Source:

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Jos, the Plateau State capital, where he is expected to meet with representatives of communities affected by the latest violence in the State.

This was disclosed on the presidents verified Twitter handle @Mbuhari.

President Buhari, who flew into Jos from Calabar, the Cross River State capital, was received on arrival at the Yakubu Gowon, Airport, Jos, at 3: 20 p.m, by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President’s visit is coming on the heels of the visit by his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was in the state capital on Monday to meet with leaders and representatives of communities affected by the violence.

‘‘We must condemn killings of any kind. It doesn’t matter whether these killings are by herdsmen killing villagers, or whether it is villagers, who in one way or the other have killed others, including herdsmen,’’ Osinbajo said on Monday during his meeting with local representatives, held at the Government House, Jos.

Osinbajo, who heralded the President’s visit, pledged that the Federal government will ensure that perpetrators of the dastardly act are brought to book.

NAN reports that at the Government House in Jos, Buhari is scheduled to hold an interactive session with traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, representatives of youth and women groups and security chiefs, including the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

Britains decision to leave the European Union has now become law after months of debate, the House of Commons speaker announced Tuesday, to cheers from eurosceptic lawmakers.

Speaker John Bercow said the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which repeals the 1972 European Communities Act through which Britain became a member of the bloc, had been given the formal royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II.

The bill transfers decades of European law onto British statute books, and also enshrines Brexit day in British law as March 29, 2019 at 11:00 pm (2300 GMT) midnight Brussels time.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the approval was a historic moment for our country, and a significant step towards delivering on the will of the British people, who had voted in a June 2016 referendum to exit the EU.

The bill has undergone more than 250 hours of acrimonious debate in the Houses of Parliament since it was introduced in July 2017.

Eurosceptics celebrated the passing of the bill through parliament last week as proof that, despite continuing uncertainty in the negotiations with Brussels, Brexit was happening.

Lest anyone is in any doubt, the chances of Britain not leaving the EU are now zero, International Trade Minister Liam Fox said.

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, a staunch Brexit supporter, said: The legal position is now so much stronger for a clean Brexit.

Crucially this makes the prime ministers negotiating hand much stronger.

Another eurosceptic, Conservative MP Dominic Raab, said May would go to an EU summit later this week with the wind in her sails.

The government had a tough time getting the bill through parliament and was forced to concede some power to lawmakers over the final Brexit deal agreed with Brussels.

The Brexit ministry said in a statement the new law would ensure a smooth and orderly exit by giving the government temporary powers to make changes to legislation.

The ministry said additional laws will deliver the more significant policy changes needed as a result of our exit.

Further battles are expected in the House of Commons in the coming weeks, when MPs debate two bills on trade with pro-Europeans seeking to force the government to keep close ties with the bloc.

May has yet to set out her plans for customs arrangements after Brexit, which have become a major stumbling block in talks with Brussels.

She will gather her top ministers after the EU summit, which starts on Thursday, to thrash out their differences with the aim of publishing a Brexit blueprint shortly after.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria was committed to the provision of affordable health care facilities in the drive to have healthy population.

At the commissioning of the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar on Tuesday, Buhari said that Nigerias primary health care system needs to be innovative and quality driven.

Primary health care is the cornerstone aimed at creating the conditions that improve the general health of the people, meet the particular needs of patients, families and communities.

Similarly, our secondary and tertiary healthcare systems must meet the most complicated medical challenges for our people at affordable rates.

He explained that the significance of the commissioning could be better understood by making the connection between medical care and productivity.

Put otherwise, good health and productivity are inextricably related. This underpins this Administrations vision of what medical services should look like in Nigeria.

Good health care, he explained was important to the personnel of the armed forces because of the enormous mental and physical exertion that attends their profession.

Active-duty personnel must be at peak health for military effectiveness at all times.

The President said it was gratifying that the Naval High Command fully appreciated the importance of health and has taken the right steps to progressively expand patients access to both preventive and curative medical care services.

I have no doubt that this hospital and its state-of-the-art equipment, as stated by the Chief of the Naval Staff, would yield enormous health dividends to the naval personnel, their families and to the host community.

The development of the hospital is a great leap forward, but the envisaged benefits would fizzle out without diligent maintenance.

It is pleasing to note that the Original Equipment manufacturers Seimens Healthineers and Sirona Demtal Systems of Germany are here to witness this epoch- making event and intend to partner with the Nigerian Navy to ensure the adequate training and sustainability of the critical equipment.

He charged the stakeholders to ensure the sustenance of the high standard of the hospital and build upon it to justify its existence as an international standard medical centre.

Source: NAN

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in OyoState on Tuesday dragged Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State andfive others before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over the unpaid N42.3billion gratuities and pensions arrears owed primary school teachers andlocal government pensioners.

Joined in the suit were the Oyo State Attorney-General andCommissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Local Government andChieftaincy Matters, Commissioner for Finance as well as the Accountant-General and the states Head of Service.

At Tuesdays sitting before Justice Maruf Adegbola, the unions counsel,Lasun Sanusi (SAN), urged the court to directthe Oyo State Government to pay the arrears of the concerned pensioners.

Sanusi said the primary school teachers and local government pensioners were dying almost on daily basis due to difficulty in getting medications for their various health challenges.

The counsel also told the court that an agreement was reached between the state government and the pensioners that the arrears would be paid in instalments, praying that this be made a consentjudgment.

He said since the state government was not denying that it was its responsibility to pay the said money, his clients were urging the court to give its judgment.

The counsel also said that other respondents in the suit had been served except Ajimobi, urging the court to grant his ex-parte motion seeking its leave to serve the governor by substituted means.

The counsel suggested that the governor be served through the states Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, being the chief law officer of the state.

Adegbola consequently granted the ex-parte motion and ordered that the processes be served on the governor through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

The judge said that the processes and other documents to be filed in the matter be taken to the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

He adjourned the case till July 11 for hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that none of the respondents was in court.

NAN also reports that the pensioners, who had trooped to the court, called on the state government to urgently pay their pension arrears andgratuities.

Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state also attended the court sitting.

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles would defeat their Argentine counterpart to move into the second round of the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday at the Alakia Airport in Ibadan on his arrival for the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic.

By the grace of God, victory will be ours. I hope the boys will give their very best. I am sure and confident that they are well prepared for the important encounter.

This is an important encounter to us and I trust it is going to be a great victory for us, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles would take on Argentina in their last group D match at the mundial and they need at least a draw to qualify for the second round of the tournament.

Source: NAN

Two years after he performed the ground-breaking for the 274-kilometre superhighway of Cross River state, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the states Rice Seedling Factory in Calabar.

Buhari described the factory built by Governor Ben Ayade as another visionary and trail-blazing project.

He said that his first visit to the state two years and eight months ago was historic because it was his first official visit to any state after assuming office as President and secondly, the purpose was to the ground-breaking of the landmark project.

Today, I am here again in the state to commission yet another visionary and trail-blazing project, the Calabar Rice Seedling Factory built by the state government.

I must say that visiting the state for the second time within three years in connection with people-oriented and flagship projects of Governor Ayade is very welcome and very satisfying to me.

He said his administration launched a zero-oil economic roadmap as a way of making Nigeria less dependent on oil, while encouraging investments in other sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture.

President Buhari expressed his happiness Ayade keyed into the policy and has become one of the reference points in the countrys agricultural revolution effort.

Our gathering here today is no doubt a determination woven through to precision and a glowing testament to the fact that the policy is working.

Indeed, this factory speaks loudly about the giant strides we are making in agriculture as a country. This monumental project for which we are gathered here today is a marvel to behold.

The factory, which is said to be the first in Africa, is an automated plant with a capacity to produce high yielding vitaminized and disease resistance rice seedlings.

What we expect is that Seedlings from this factory will improve rice yield from the current national average of 3 to 4 tons per hectare to about 9 to 10 tons per hectare, thus helping to ensure rice sufficiency in the country and doing away with imports and saving foreign exchange for Nigeria.

The factory, he explained was also targeted at creating employment opportunities and would also be a veritable platform for income generation for the people of Cross River State.

He enjoined relevant federal government agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through their Anchor Borrowers Programme, to partner with Cross River in the area of supply of seedlings to farmers.

President Buhari acknowledged Governor Ayades other investments in agriculture such as the ongoing construction of an Ultra-modern Rice Mill in Ogoja, the Cotton Farm in Yala, the Cocoa Processing Plant in Ikom and the Banana Plantation in Odukpani, the feed Mill and Yellow Maize Farm in Obubra as well as the Ultra-modern Poultry Farm for export of frozen chicken.

He concluded therefore that it was clear that Cross River has found a pathway to ease itself from over reliance on federal allocation.

It is evident also that by conceiving projects such as these, Ayade has a keen eye for tomorrow; focusing on projects that are building a new economic base for the state rather than projects with short term benefits for the purpose of making cheap political gains.

He said Nigeria was making steady and assured progress towards self-sufficiency in food production.

It was the expectation that other states that were yet to fully take advantage of the zero-oil economic roadmap of the Federal Government would take a cue from Cross River State.

Source: NAN

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Monday admitted four members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to bail in the sum of N10 million each.

Justice Nyako, admitted Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, David Nwawuisdi and Benjamin Madubugwu to bail.

Chimezie, Onwudiwe, Madubugwu and Nwawuisi, aged between 33 and 45, are facing three-count charge of conspiracy to commit treasonable felony and illegal possession of firearms.

They were all arrested in 2016 and had been in detention since then.

They were charged along with the former leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu who has not been seen since Sept. 22, 2017

Nyako in granting them bail, said she had carefully considered the consolidated application for bail submitted by their counsel and the number of years they had spent in prison custody.

She also made reference to the defendants health status as well as the ruling she had read of a sister judge as well as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,(ACJA)2015.

In considering their bail, Justice Nyako ordered the defendants to deposit monetary sum of N10 million each with the Chief Registrar of the court.

She added that the defendants are not allowed to travel outside the country, that they are to deposit their travelling documents at the court as well.

The judge ordered that they were not to seen in any gathering at any time or granting newsmen interviews or any type of interviews.

No welcome `oyoyo gathering.If you do that, you will be sent back to prison. Go home, be with your family, come to court. The trial has commenced, Nyako said.

At the prayer of the defence counsel, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the judge ordered that the defendants to report to the Commissioner of Police at their locality every two weeks, instead of Abuja.

She ordered the first defendant, Chimezie to report to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers.

Nyako also ordered the second defendant, Onwudiwe and the fourth, Nwawuisdi to both report to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu state.

She said the third, Benjamin Madubugwu should report to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra.

Chimezie also pleaded the court to stop men of the State Security Operatives from invading their residence after being admitted to bail.

Justice Nyako in response, assured them that they were under the custody of the court.

She adjourned the commencement of triai until Nov. 14.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the dissolution of the Governing Board of National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB).

A statement, made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday by Mr Sonny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said the approval was with immediate effect.

Echono said the President had also directed the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to take immediate measures to reposition and refocus NABTEB for greater efficiency and to render its performance more responsive to the expectations of the present administration.

He said the purported suspension of the Registrar, Prof. Ifeoma Abanihe and four other Directors of NABTEB had been nullified as it did not conform to due process, especially in the case of the registrar.

He said the board went beyond its powers and in contravention of Section 5 and Section 6 of NABTEB Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that aspecial investigative panel was constituted to probe activities of the registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), Prof. Ifeoma Isuigo-Abanihe and four others.

The panel allegedly uncovered irregularities in contract awards and abuse of office by the embattled registrar.

The registrar and four directors were suspended by the 9th Governing Board of NABTEB at its first regular board meeting held on 19th June at NABTEB headquarters, Benin City, Edo State, following allegations of N49.7 million fraud.

The four affected staff members are: Mr Nnasia Ndarake Asanga, Director, Finance & Accounts, Dr Obinna Opara, Director, Examination Administration, Alhaji Jimoh Adewola Kasali, Director, Examinations Development, and the Procurement Officer, Engr. Edwin Osamo.

(NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday decried how desperate politicians have increasingly cheapened human life in their quest to establish a reign of instability and chaos in the country for political gains.

President Buhari, who was reacting to recent clashes in Plateau, which left scores dead, said in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, that those behind the killings hoped that it would give them an advantage in the coming elections.

He said: We know that a number of geographical and economic factors are contributing to the longstanding herdsmen/farmers clashes.

But we also know that politicians are taking advantage of the situation. This is incredibly unfortunate.

Nigerians affected by the herdsmen/ farmer clashes must always allow the due process of the law to take its course rather than taking matters into their own hands.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency quoted security information which indicated that about one hundred cattle were rustled by a community in Plateau State, and some herdsmen were killed in the process.

The report also revealed that the state governor, Simon Lalong, had invited the aggrieved groups and pleaded against further action while the law enforcement agents looked into the matter.

Less than 24 hours later, violence broke out.

It further stated that some local thugs then took advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity to extort the public, and to attack people from rival political parties.

There were reports of vehicles being stopped along the roads in the state, with people being dragged out of their cars and attacked if they stated that they supported certain politicians or political party.

On his way back to Jos after attending the All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention in Abuja, the state governor had to dismantle a number of illegal road blocks set up by these thugs. There were also a number of people thugs had killed, with their bodies lying along the road, the report added.

The Police Command in Plateau had on Sunday confirmed the killing of 86 people in attacks on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

The command had earlier said that only 11 persons were killed.

ASP Terna Tyopev, the commands Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed the new figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos.

The Plateau Government had since announced a dusk to dawn curfew in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas to check further breakdown of law and order in the state.

Source: NAN