By Precious Akutamadu

Saturdays Rivers local government councils poll, recorded low voters turnout, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units across the state.

Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt blamed the situation on mass boycott by the electorate, because there were no opposition parties in the state.

Mrs Beatrice Chuku, a resident of Obio/Akpor area said that she needed not to worry herself going to the poll because the ruling party in the state would always win the election at all cost.

Chuku stated that the current political situation in the state had made it possible for candidates of the ruling party to emerge winners without stress.

Mr Princewill Chinedu, another resident, corroborated the claim, saying that the system of voting without other parties made him to lose interest in the exercise.

I have gone to my ward and its only PDP and APGA agents present and these agents I know them as PDP members, so casting my vote looks like am stabbing myself because I know that this is not proper election.

You can see people walking around, see boys playing football on the street, this should tell you that people no longer want to fool themselves in the name of voting.

Government should do the right thing regarding our current system of election, they should start voting through electronic system so that anybody that win election will work for the masses that elected him or her into that position, he said.

But, Mr Sunday Uche, another resident said Nigerians have duties to elect their representatives at all levels.

I have voted and am happy that I voted because it is my constitutional right to vote and elect those who will lead the local councils in the state.

Many people have decided to boycott the election for some reasons, but the same people will start complaining about bad governance after failing to play their roles in ensuring that good candidates were voted to power.

I think theres need for us to change our attitudes of boycotting elections and complaining of bad governance later, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Precious Akutamadu

Saturdays Rivers local government councils poll, recorded low voters turnout, as only a handful voters were seen in polling units across the state.

Some residents who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt blamed the situation on mass boycott by the electorate, because there were no opposition parties in the state.

Mrs Beatrice Chuku, a resident of Obio/Akpor area said that she needed not to worry herself going to the poll because the ruling party in the state would always win the election at all cost.

Chuku stated that the current political situation in the state had made it possible for candidates of the ruling party to emerge winners without stress.

Mr Princewill Chinedu, another resident, corroborated the claim, saying that the system of voting without other parties made him to lose interest in the exercise.

I have gone to my ward and its only PDP and APGA agents present and these agents I know them as PDP members, so casting my vote looks like am stabbing myself because I know that this is not proper election.

You can see people walking around, see boys playing football on the street, this should tell you that people no longer want to fool themselves in the name of voting.

Government should do the right thing regarding our current system of election, they should start voting through electronic system so that anybody that win election will work for the masses that elected him or her into that position, he said.

But, Mr Sunday Uche, another resident said Nigerians have duties to elect their representatives at all levels.

I have voted and am happy that I voted because it is my constitutional right to vote and elect those who will lead the local councils in the state.

Many people have decided to boycott the election for some reasons, but the same people will start complaining about bad governance after failing to play their roles in ensuring that good candidates were voted to power.

I think theres need for us to change our attitudes of boycotting elections and complaining of bad governance later, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Adeyemi Adeleye

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) says a super Nigeria is possible if the countrys youths wake up to leadership challenges with renewed national consciousness.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, made the remark at a forum organised by the Nigerian Youths Home and Diaspora Electoral College Institution on Saturday in Lagos.

Nwosu, who was represented by Peter Ede, ADC National Vice President (North Central), said that an awesome and excellent Nigeria was possible with the reawakening of national consciousness and inclusiveness.

Our mentality needs a to change, our orientation needs to change. We must build the peoples minds. A super Nigeria is very possible because we are unique people.

It is now left for Nigeria to have national consciousness. To make Nigeria super, Nigerian youths now need to look deeply into themselves and take possession the country and create a better tomorrow.

A super Nigeria is possible. ADC is out to run an inclusive government and that is what Nigeria needs now, he said.

Nwosu said that the ADC was a youth compliant organisation, saying that the party was proud to be associated with the youth group.

According to him, the ADC remains a credible third force political party, having won some seats in the 2019 general elections.

He said that party was dominated by great people of integrity, discipline, honour and intellect that would take over the leadership of the country come 2023.

He urged the youths to learn to cut cost of governance and manage diversity, saying that the nations strength was in its diversity and not in secession.

Speaking, Chief Vincent Ubani, Head, Nigerian Youths Home and Diaspora Electoral College Panel Committee and Initiator Nigerian Youths Home and Diaspora Electoral College Institution (NYHDECI), urged youths to resist whatever could destabilise the nation.

Ubani, a 2019 governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in Abia, said: It is time for the youth to take over leadership but to do so, we must come together to get involved in politics.

He said that the group had adopted ADC as credible alternative for youths to run for elections in Nigeria to ensure brighter future for the nation.

Ubani presented to the party the Certificate of Return as the winner of the 2021 Youth Takeover Leadership Electoral College Committee on behalf of the Coalition.

He said that the coalition would also call for a national youth summit and young party candidates national convention before the 2023 general elections.

In his remarks, Maurice Ebam, ADC National Youth Leader, urged Nigerian youths to unite in their strength as ADC remained a credible alternative to create a progressive Nigeria of the Youths dream. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Moses Omorogieva

Police have arrested four teenagers, including three secondary school students, in Lagos for allegedly attempting to attack a rival group in a secondary school.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Lagos, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday.

Adejobi stated that the police operatives, attached to Alakuko Division in Lagos Command, arrested the suspects on Friday.

He said that the suspected cultists came from Ogun for reprisal attacks on other rival cult members at the Junior Secondary School, Akinyele, Alakuko in Lagos.

According to him, the suspects are between the ages of 14 and 18.

He said that two of the suspects were from Odewale Community High School, Ijoko Ogun, one from Tunik International School, Dalemo Alakuko, Lagos and one tailoring apprentice at Dalemo Alakuko.

The police operatives had got winds of the planned reprisal attacks on their rivals in the school and raced to the scene immediately the suspects arrived to cause pandemonium and attack their targets.

Items like cutlasses, weeds suspected to be cannabis and assorted charms were recovered from them, he stated.

In another development, the operatives of the D9 (Anti Robbery) Section of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, on Saturday arrested three 19-year-old suspected armed robbers/cultists.

The police spokesman said that acting upon information from members of the public, police operatives arrested the suspect at Marble Guest House, No 33, Ajibike Street, Ogudu, Ojota, at about 3.25 a.m.

Adejobi stated that one Beretta pistol, weeds suspected to be cannabis and assorted charms were also recovered from them.

He said that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has directed that the suspected cultists be moved to the Commands Special Squad, Ikeja, for proper investigation.

Odumosu also directed that the suspected armed robbers be properly investigated and profiled by the Anti Robbery Section of the State CID. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aderemi Bamgbose

The police in Ondo State has commended Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo for commencing work on the rebuilding of the Okitipupa Police Station, burnt during the nationwide #EndSARS protests.

The commands Spokesman, ASP Tee Leo-Ikoro, made the commendation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Okitipupa.

Leo-Ikoro commended Tofowomo, who represents Ondo South Senatorial District, for his interest in promoting security.

The senator promised to rebuild the station after it was burnt by protesters, this promise got the approval of the Inspector-General of police.

As we can see, bulldozers are already evacuating the debris of the burnt structure in readiness for reconstruction work to begin, he said.

The police spokesman urged well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations to toe the path of the senator by supporting security agencies.

Security is the business of everybody, the society will be better secured if we truly make it our business, he said.

Leo-Ikoro urged members of the public to always support the police with reliable information to enable it to fight crime effectively.

NAN recalls that several structures housing government establishments were attacked during the Oct. 22, nationwide protest against police brutality. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Martins Abochol

A police orderly attached to Mr Shoban Tikari, Chairman of Takum local government council of Taraba, was on Saturday killed by suspected bandits who opened fire on the chairmans vehicle in Dogo-Gawa village in Takum LGA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased policeman was of the 67 Mobile Police Squadron, located in the area.

Tikari, who confirmed the attack, said the militia, in their numbers, launched an attack on his motorcade while on his way to Takum, claiming the life of the deceased in the process.

The chairman, who declined giving the name of the deceased, called on the Federal government to deploy more security personnel to the area.

Takum and Wukari councils, in southern Taraba have in recent times witnessed a surge of bandit attacks leading to death of civilians and security personnel. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has assured that the House would give Dangote Sugar Refinery in the state all the necessary legislative backing and support to succeed.

This, the speaker said, was to enhance the economic and security status of the state considering the benefit of the refinery in the overall development of the state and the country at large.

Abdullahi gave the assurance on Saturday when he led other Principal Officers of the House on an on-the- spot assessment to Dangote Sugar Refinery, Tunga, Awe Local Government Area of the State.

The speaker said that the visit was to see things for themselves and appreciated Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group for establishing the refinery in the state.

We appreciate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for this project in our state as this project is a pride to Tunga, Nasarawa State, Nigeria and indeed Africa as a whole.

The project will tackle unemployment thereby putting our unemployed youths and other people off the street.

As it will also improve on the standard of living of the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

Apart from the economic benefits, the project will also boost the security of the state as before now this place is a thick forest and hidden place where criminals will go out and perpetrate their criminal act, comes back and hide, he said.

Abdullahi commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for ensuring that the project was established in the state when he was the Managing Director of the Sugar refinery of Dangote Group.

I also want to commend the host community, Tunga, Awe Local government for supporting the establishment of the refinery in their communities and I call for their continued support to enable the project succeed.

Responding, Alhaji Bello Dan-Musa, the General Manager, Government and Strategic Relations, Dangote Industries Ltd, who briefed the speaker on the companys journey so far in the state appreciated the speaker and his entourage for the visit.

Danmusa said that the visit would further boost the relationship between the House and Dangote refinery.

The general manager expressed the determination of Dangote to continue to invest in Nigeria in order to tackle unemployment and uplift the standard of living of Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the speaker and his entourage inspected equipment, centre pivot machine, pump station among other facilities at the site. ( NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Federal Government on Saturday assured Lagos residents that section one of the ongoing reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonsoki Expressway project would be completed within three weeks.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, who gave the assurance during a joint inspection with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said section one of the road would be opened afterwards.

Popoola said that the rehabilitation works, which had been divided into four sections, were to ease port congestion and gridlock at the Apapa axis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that section one spans from Liverpool Round through Creek Road to Beachland near Sunrise and is about 10 kms, while section two is 8.4 km and spans from Beachland to Cele Bus Stop.

NAN reports further that the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2018 to resolve Apapa traffic gridlock.

The contract was awarded to AGDangote Construction Company Ltd at the cost of N73bn under the Tax Credit Scheme of the Federal Government.

The NPA Managing Director, Hadiza Usman, led a delegation which joined the Ministry of Works team on an on-the-spot assessment of construction works.

After a brief meeting under the Liver Pool Round Bridge to assess ongoing rehabilitation works on the Bridge Ramp, the inspection continued through Tin-Can Island second gate to Beach Land/Sunrise area.

Conclusions were reached after extensive deliberation between the two teams and Hitech Construction Company, the sub-contractor handling the project on behalf of the Dangote Group.

Briefing newsmen, Popoola said that grey areas as regards accessibility due to trucks infringing on construction zone and disagreements on the pace of construction had been resolved.

He said that the inspection allowed the NPA delegation to see for themselves that the contractor had been working progressively.

And this section that we are is the end of section one which we have completed. We will complete the remaining portion within the next three weeks, especially the asphalt work.

So within that three weeks, the outstanding works will be completed fully and then the section one will be made available to the motorists.

We (FMW) also complained about the trucks that are infiltrating the road while we are working. We have told them (NPA) that we cannot allow trucks to flock onto the section where we are working because they will disturb the contractor.

So the trucks will now be monitored and controlled fully.

Both the NPA security, the Nigerian Police, LASTMA and then the contractors representative will form a synergy to work out how they will be controlling the trucks that enter into the port road henceforth, Popoola said.

The controller added that agreement had also been reached for the contractor to move to site to begin construction works on section two of the project which had just been awarded.

He said that work on section three and four had progressed, adding that it had achieved more than 70 per cent completion cumulatively.

Popoola said that the entire project would be completed and handed over within the next nine to 10 months, including section two which had just been awarded.

The NPA Managing Director said that agreements were reached on timelines for construction works in order not to disrupt port operations.

Usman also said resolutions were reached to ensure that the contractor worked during the weekends and on public holidays to ease congestion.

She said it was resolved that a corridor would be opened for trucks movement in addition to palliative works on some roads and another inspection in three weeks on section one.

She promised that truck movement would be sequenced, adding that, a synergy meeting would hold to map out how the trucks movement in batches would work.

Usman added that discussions were on with the Lagos State Government on how to ensure enforcement against extortion of truck drivers as well as cleaning up shanties and social miscreants.

And I think sanitising the area is what will enable us have that sanity and concluding the construction works.

Removing all those shanties and illegal structures around the port corridors is what will enable us remove the presence of miscreants that harass the truck drivers, she said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Uchenna Eletuo

Mr Ifeoluwa Adefile, Youth President of St. Berths Anglican Church, on Saturday, admonished Nigerian youths to be resourceful and contribute to the nation-building for posterity.

Adefile gave the admonition during the 2021 St. Berths Anglican Church Youth conference in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day conference, which attracted youths from other denominations; focused on youths contributions to a better society.

He said that since the history of human society, youths have been known to always come to the rescue of societies in trying times.

The president, who frequently referenced the Holy Scripture, asked youths to emulate Prophet Nehemiah, who at his time, mobilised his people to rebuild the wall of Jericho after its dilapidation to bring relief to the people.

The state of the nation has gotten to the point where resourceful youths like ours should no longer stand aloof by not allowing things to degenerate to the crisis.

As insightful leaders, we should chart the way forward, get involved in leadership choice processes to institute an egalitarian society where equity.

We should also be obedient to the rule of law and social-economic development.

As a subunit of the church, we should bring our ingenuity to bear on all facets of the Nigerian society to halt the mirage of the human and environmental crisis confronting the nation, NAN quotes Adefile as saying.

He, however, decried youths involvement in vices, organised crimes and other deviant behaviours.

He charged them to rather live exemplary lives that would spur others around them to be good citizens.

It is only when youths conducts conform to acceptable norms that the society will allow them to hold leadership positions in the polity.

Ms Chidinma Ezeudo, who was the facilitator of the conference, said that youths should not stand aloof in nation-building.

She added that youths should tailor their resourcefulness to grow the nations social-political-economy for sustainability.

According to her, the church has a tradition of grooming youths through various programmes to become outstanding in every endeavour.

Ezeudo said that the conference was one of such efforts. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Clara Egbogota

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Delta, Uchechukwu Wihioka, has advised the newly elected state executive officers of Special Marshals to carry out their duties with diligence and professionalism.

Wihioka gave the advice on Saturday at the election of the state executives of the Special Marshals held at the FRSC Sector Command in Asaba.

He urged them to discharge their duties responsibly and work selflessly for the good and development of the state.

As the word connotes, you are special people, highly respected Nigerians with integrity. Special Marshals are volunteers, and are out to save lives, and complement the FRSCs roles.

You should improve on your activities of saving lives on Nigerian roads, especially in Delta State, and as well, look at what can be done to improve on everything relating to your activities in this command.

You should improve on rescue, enforcement and public education of motorists within and around your various unit commands, he said.

Also, Chief Kennedy Idolor, the newly elected State Coordinator of Special Marshals, urged them to reawaken their consciences on the daily activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 31 special marshal executives (units/states) were elected. (NAN)

Source: NAN News