By Kingsley Okoye

Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the Easter to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

Omo-Agege, (APC-Delta) made the call in his Easter message on Friday in Abuja.

He also called on Nigerians to renew their commitment towards promoting peace, unity and brotherhood among all groups in the country.

The Delta Central senator said the celebration of the resurrection of Christ should be a constant reminder for people to extend the virtues of selflessness, love and forbearance.

Omo-Agege, therefore, urged Christian faithful to use the season as a period to reflect on their individual and collective roles towards promoting and sustaining the foundation of love, peace and harmony in the nation.

As we remember the death of Jesus and celebrate His resurrection, let us make sacrifices for those around us and renew our commitment towards building a better society.

Let us not be dismayed because with His resurrection, Jesus Christ calls us to proclaim and live the gospel of true love and selflessness.

No nation can make any meaningful progress in an atmosphere riddled with pockets of violence and killings.

We must therefore see this period as a time that presents us the viable opportunity to think about how we can help to steer our nation back on the road to peace, stability and prosperity by working in the spirit of togetherness, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has charged the 206 athletes from the state going for the National Sports Festival in Edo to work hard, show spirit of sportsmanship and win Gold medals.

The governor said this in a statement issued to newsmen in Kano on Thursday by the Chief Press Secretary to the states Deputy Governor, Hassan Musa-Fagge,

Ganduje bade farewell to the states contingents who would be departing on Friday for the Sports fiesta.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, Ganduje said that his administration since coming on board in 2015, had given adequate priority to sports to engage the youths to be employed.

The governor congratulated the athletes for being selected to represent Kano State at the Festival.

I am assuring you of the support of our government and the people of Kano State. All we want from you is to make us proud by winning Gold medals.

We are fulfilling our promises for any medal you win at the Sports Festival. Therefore, we are going to be with you in spirit. Ganduje said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, said the state with a contingent comprising 206 persons is participating in 24 games.

During the last sports festival which took place in Abuja in 2018, Kano came 8th on the overall medals table but this time the team is determined.

Therefore, I am assuring you, we will do much better, he said.

He further said that all arrangements for the camping of the athletes had been completed, fulfilling all COVID-19 protocols and in fact had also undertaken insurance cover for the contingent.

Galadima also highlighted that at the festival, Kano is also representing the North West Zone in five sporting events including Basketball (male and female categories), Handball, Volleyball, Rugby and Field events.

Responding on behalf of the contingent, Coach of the Handball team, Solomon Yola, said they were ready for the largest sports gathering in the country.

He further expressed appreciation to the Kano State Government for the support.

He gave an assurance that, all we have to do is to go out there and make Kano proud. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Yiaga Africa and other stakeholders have urged amendment of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 to remove some restrictions on NGOs, faith based organisations and institutions.

A roundtable organised by Yiaga brought together stakeholders from Corporate Affairs Commission, Academia and Civil Society Organisations to identify gaps and chart the way forward in the CAMA Act 2020.

Yiaga Africas Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, said that the organisation began its advocacy against obnoxious legislations in Nigeria starting with stakeholders roundtable to review CAMA 2020 for further legislative engagement.

Mbamalu said that Yiaga Africa presented its analysis of act where it identified certain provisions capable of derogating from citizens constitutionally guaranteed rights, including how the Act affected non-state actors, especially NGOs, religious and traditional institutions.

She said that the analysis revealed that CAMA 2020 had been hailed as a huge improvement on the 1990 version as it promotes the ease of doing business and seeks to promote accountability in certain sectors hitherto left at the whims and caprices of certain individuals.

She said that the new CAMA repelled the previous one that we had in 1990 under military regime, the passage of the law was an important thing, because it provided better regulations for ease of doing business.

Together with other associations in Nigeria, we actually observed that there are certain provisions in the existing CAMA which has potential to limit and restrict the operations of CSOs in Nigeria.

These include faith based organisations and media institutions that are registered.

For us, what is important is that yes the law has been passed but it is an opportunity to engage, and our goal is to work with other stakeholders to reveal those specific sections that are problematic and make proposal for further amendments.

This is especially the sections under part F of CAMA, there is already a bill presented at the House of Representatives, proposing amendment to sections 839, of the law, we are hoping there will be another introduction in the senate.

There is no perfect law, so any law that would potentially affect the exercise of fundamental freedom and human rights in Nigeria, we need to ensure that those laws are reasonably justifiable in democratic society.

Mbamalu said that the Act affected non-state actors, especially NGOs, religious and traditional institutions and these were not in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

She however, said, the fact that a law is passed doesnt mean it cannot be amended and we believe there is always opportunity to review our law in tandem with democratic principles.

To ensure that the laws protect and guarantee citizens rights and they truly ensure effective planning for the future of our democracy.

Dr Godwin Malasowe, an academic don from the University of Abuja, who presented Yiaga Africas analysis, recommended the unbundling of corporate laws into smaller and perhaps more effective independent components.

Malasowe also urged the National Assembly to consider the unbundling of the CAMA 2020 into smaller legislations for effective corporate management and better corporate practice in Nigeria.

In his reaction, Assistant Director at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Tolulope Shonike said CAMA 2020 was the largest piece of legislation in Nigeria, so it was not out of place to find complaints about is.

Shonike urged Nigerians to read through CAMA thoroughly and not depend on hearsay as that way they would understand that the law had sufficient safe guards to alienate their fears.

He said that all the CAMA Act was trying to do was to introduce structure in the organisations and not to interfere or restrict them.

We have noted a lot of these complaints about CAMA, let me state here that before the bill became law, there was extensive engagement with stakeholders, this effort started since 2004, it took between that time and 2020 to become law.

He said that registration of organisations and associations was not compulsory since the constitution allowed for freedom of association but however, any registered organisation would be bound by the law.

Source: NAN News

By Grace Alegba

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Ikeja branch has unveiled its mentorship programme to address skill gaps and unemployment in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mentorship scheme was unveiled by the past and present chairmen alongside members of the society on Thursday night at its combined virtual/physical monthly meeting in Lagos.

NAN also reports that the scheme was for 35 mentees and 15 mentors.

The ceremony was tagged: NSE Ikeja Branch Adigun Arewa Mentorship Scheme (NIBAAMS) 2021 cohort.

Chairman of the branch, Mr Olutosin Ogunmola during his presentation, listed challenges caused by dearth of skills, which made the countrys youths rated as unemployable at some point.

He said that mentorship was the best way to transfer practical knowledge, bridge skill deficit and create mass employment opportunities.

According to him, the mentorship programme will assist engineers who have veered into other fields, but still have interest to reconnect to practical knowledge, and be able to create jobs.

Speaking on the advantages of mentorship, Ogunmola said that those mentored were usually ahead and performed above their peers.

It is a case of not having to reinvent the wheels, by way of taking advantage of those who have gone ahead of you, telling you where not to step, how to go about things, he said.

Ogunmola added that the scheme kick-started by his predecessor about two years ago was aimed at equipping the next generation of engineers with current trends, to make global impact with leading innovations.

He said the scheme was named after the late Adigun Arewa, a past chairman, passionate about mentorship and ran with the vision to impact young engineers while alive.

The next generation of engineers are those that are well prepared, he said.

According to him, the practical skills will be impacted on the mentees to bridge the gap between the classroom theory and actual practice in the field of engineering, to remain useful and relevant in the global space.

The NSE boss added that specific areas were taken into consideration during the selection process and mentees marched with mentors, in their areas of specialisation.

He urged the mentees to make proper use of the scheme to enhance growth and developement.

The mentors which included a past chairman of the branch, Mr Akin Akintola, took turns to share their thoughts on the importance, advantages and benefits of the mentorship programme. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yahaya Isah
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says intelligent report gathered by its surveillance aircraft, Special Forces, and ground troops indicates that its missing aircraft might have crashed.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated that the cause of the crash and the whereabouts of the two pilots remained unknown.

According to Gabkwet, the pilots are Flt.-Lt. John Abolarinwa and Flt.- Lt. Ebiakpo Chapele.

Meanwhile, extensive search and rescue efforts were still ongoing by NAF surveillance aircraft as well as NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops on ground.

He added that even at the point they were, NAF was not ruling out anything regarding the incident.

He, however, remained hopeful that the crew would soon be found and rescued.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAF Alpha-Jet aircraft (NAF-475) went off the radar with two crew members on board on March 31. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chimezie Anaso

The Anambra Police Command says it has arrested four new suspects in connection with the reported attack on Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The commands Spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the fresh arrest in a statement issued in Awka on Thursday.

Ikenga gave the names of the four suspects as Mbah Victor (30), John Olisakwe (21), Chigozie Omeh (20) and Emmanuel Nnobi (28).

The suspects confessed to have actively taken part in the attack and subsequent abduction of the Commissioner for Water and Public Utility, Mr Emeka Ezenwanne, the statement states.

It further states that the command had intensified efforts to rescue the commissioner.

Soludo was attacked by gunmen at a political gathering in his Isuofia home town in Aguata Local Government Area on Wednesday.

It was gathered that three police orderlies attached to him were killed by the gunmen.

The police had earlier confirmed the arrest of one suspect in the wake of the attack.

According to him, Efforts are still ongoing to apprehend other fleeing accomplices, unravel the circumstances surrounding the incidence and bring the suspects to book, he stated.

The command reaffirmed its commitment toward ensuring the safety of residents of the state.

It further called on the people to assist the command with useful information that would help to tackle crime and criminality in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested four suspects for various criminal offences ranging from armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearm, stealing and cultism in the state within one week.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Friday in Enugu that police operatives recovered three firearms with nine live cartridges and some stolen items from the suspects.

Ndukwe said that on March 29 at about 2:30 p.m. police operatives on routine patrol duty in Nsude-Udi area of Old Enugu-Awka Road intercepted and arrested one Chinobi Nwalam, 25, in a Toyota Hiace Commuter bus.

According to him, police operatives recovered one locally-made double-barrel pistol with two live cartridges from the suspect.

The suspect, who was handed over to 9th Mile Police Division for further investigation, confessed to being a member of an armed robbery gang and led police operatives attached to the Division to their criminal hideout in Udi Town.

The criminal suspects on sighting police operatives engaged them in a gun duel, which resulted in one of the suspects sustaining gunshots injuries and later confirmed dead in the hospital, while the others escaped.

One locally-made cut-to-size gun with seven live cartridges and three different makes of mobile phones were further recovered at the criminal hideout, he said.

The police spokesman said that police operatives on March 25 also arrested one Nwachukwu Emeka, 32, for allegedly being a member of Vikings Confraternity cult group and a deadly criminal gang operating within Nsukka and its environs.

Preliminary investigation shows that the suspect confessed to being a member of the said cult group and criminal gang, while one locally-made cut-to-size gun was recovered from him, he said.

In a related development, Ndukwe said that police operatives attached to Isi-Uzo Police Division on March 23 at about 3p.m., arrested one Kingsley Odo, 18 and Dabere Ezeoba, 19, both of Neke-Uno in Isi-Uzo council area.

The duo was alleged to have burgled some traders shops at Neke on March 22 and stole N8,000 and different household items and electrical cables. They both confessed to the crime, he said.

The police spokesman said that all the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of their respective investigation.

The CP, while commending the efforts of the operatives, has charged them to sustain the tempo; even as he also reaffirms the Commands commitment to rid the state of unrepentant criminal elements, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Christian Ogbonna

Police in Ebonyi have rescued four victims of alleged kidnap in Oshiagu Amia-Ngbo, Ngbo Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

One of the victims is the village head.

DSP Loveth Odah, Commands Public Relation Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Friday that the victims were rescued in collaboration with members of the local vigilance team.

Unknown persons kidnapped the victims on Thursday in the community, but they have been rescued by the men of the Nigerian Police.

I use this opportunity to advise members of the public to imbibe the spirit of giving information on crimes to the police as soon as they happen.

Imagine, a village head was kidnapped with three others since 2 p.m. on Thursday and nobody came to report it to the Police.

Well, the good news is that they have been rescued; the victims are now with the Divisional Police Officer in that area and I believe they will tell the police what actually happened.

The victims were rescued in the same community from their abductors, who fled on sighting the police.

Surveillance is already on them and the perpetrators will be fished out, Odau said.

She urged the general public to be security conscious and to support the efforts of the police in the fight against criminality.

Police cannot do it alone; we must join together to fight insecurity; it is a collective responsibility because we cannot do this without the support of the public.

The public should be playing their part to achieve adequately secured society for the citizens, she advised. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Oladapo Udom

The police command in Lagos State, has ordered its men to intensify patrol and other anti-crime strategies in order to protect lives and property during the Easter celebration.

Mr Hakeem Odumosu, the state Commissioner of Police said this in a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Friday in Lagos.

Odumosu charged the officers to implement the operation order prepared for the celebration by ensuring adequate deployment of men to strategic places.

These places include worship centers, parks for picnics and recreational arenas as many funseekers will be out to celebrate the Easter, the commissioner said.

He, however, appealed to residents, especially funseekers to be moderate in their celebration and respect the laws of the land with no exception to the COVID-19 protocols.

Odumosu also warned them to desist from reckless driving and gross violation of traffic rules and regulations, particularly driving against the traffic (one way) and plying the BRT corridors.

The police and other security operatives have been deployed across the state to enforce law and order, he said.

Odumosu said that police detectives attached to Maroko Division on Thursday with officials from the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) had broken a One-Chance syndicate operating around Lekki axis.

He said that one Nurah Muazu, 31, of Aboki Estate, Marwa Lekki alongside his gang members, Roland Onoge, 38, and Daniel Abah, 28 were arrested by LASTMA officials.

The gang members were intercepted by officials of LASTMA along Marwa Bus Stop Lekki, having robbed one Amarachi Isaac, f, in their unregistered red Toyota Camry car.

I have ordered an investigation to apprehend other members of the One-Chance robbery syndicate and other similar syndicates, who have been placed under surveillance for a while by the police, he said.

The commissioner commended the efforts of the LASTMA officials for intercepting the suspects and the police detectives for the follow-up.

I admonish other security and safety agencies to emulate their acts of professiinalism and commitment to duty as every individual is expected to play a vital role in securing Lagos State.

I have ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for discreet Investigation, Odumosu said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Martha Agas

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has commended the Chaplain of Government House Chapel, Mosignor David Ajang, for his contributions in the restoration of peace in the state.

He also commended the Cleric forhis leadership skills.

The commendation was contained in a congratulatory message to the cleric over his new appointment as the second Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, issued by the governors Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, in Jos.

He said the new Bishop-elect of Lafia , appointed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, would be remembered for his critical role in the restoration of peace and prosperity in Plateau.

Lalong expressed confidence of the suitability of the new appointee to carry out the assignment of taking the Catholic Diocese of Lafia to greater heights, through leading them in the path of righteousness, truth and love.

He said apart from working closely with Ajang as Chaplain of Government House, he had followed closely his exploits as a member of the College of Consultors of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos, Pastor of the Immaculate Conception and Dean of Zarmaganda in Jos.

He thanked Ajang for his prayers, counsel and spiritual guidance over the years, while assuring him of his prayers and support in his new assignment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajang was ordained a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos in December 1994.

Source: NAN News