By Victor Okoye

The President of the Senate, Alhaji Ahmed Lawan, has called on Nigerians to give community policing adequate support.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lawan made the call at the finals of a Community Policing Awareness Polo Tournament.

Lawan expressed the hope that with community policing the security situation in the country would be further enhanced.

The senate president urged communities to cooperate and partner with the police, adding, the police is your friend.

He said that if a policeman contravened a law it was not enough for the entire Police Force to be condemned.

We are supposed to build and support our institutions. We are supposed to promote and protect them, he said.

Lawan said he was particularly happy that the police were going through a reformation, adding that the force was faced with a lot of challenges.

The Ninth National Assembly passed the Police 2020 Amendment Act and the president did not waste any time as he signed it into law, he said.

The senate president assured Nigerians that the police meant well for the citizenry but noted that the former worked under very difficult conditions and were under-staffed.

He thanked the organisers of the tournament, adding that it was an initiative worth supporting.

Today, the police team are the winners and will remain winners today, tomorrow, next tomorrow and forever, he said.

NAN reports that the senate president was presented with two horses, one by the Nigerian Army Polo Association (NAPA) and the other by the Guards Polo Club.

In the finals played on Sunday, Sen. Halliru Jika-led Team Police defeated Mustapha Junaidu-led Team Community to lift the Community Policing Cup.

In the other match played earlier, AA

FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned that Kenya could face an imminent second wave of locust invasion, an official source said.

The UN agency said that control operations are underway against small hopper bands that were forming from local breeding in Samburu County, northern Kenya.

In a statement issued in Nairobi on Sunday, the FAO said some of the swarm-lets that arrived in Kenya might have already laid eggs in southern Somalia before their arrival.

However, there remains a risk of further egg-laying in sandy areas of Northeastern Kenya where recent rains have fallen.

Breeding continues in central Somalia and eastern Ethiopia where hopper bands are present, the agency said, adding that a new generation of immature swarms will start forming by the end of this month.

Swarm formation will continue throughout December because of widespread hatching and band formation that occurred this past week, part of the statement read.

Further, the organisation added that hatching and hopper band formation could be expected in early December, and called on the government to take measures to control the locusts.

The insects are harmful to crops and may interfere with food security.

Saturday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said the government had plans in place to control the locusts once the swarms attacked the country.

In early March, Kenya and a number of countries in the horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia and Uganda, experienced the worst locust attack in seven years.

The invasion affected 28 counties. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

APC Governors visit to Jonathan

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is rattled by the recent visit of some of its governors to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to PDPs criticism of the development.

He, however, advised the PDP to focus on picking itself up instead of dwelling on frivolities.

The PDP is obviously rattled and disoriented by the recent courtesy visit by some governors of the APC to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Gov. of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni led the APC delegation.

At a time when the PDP and its leadership are grappling with a crisis of confidence, one would expect the failed opposition party to focus on picking itself up, Nabena said.

He added that as a party for all progressives, the APC on its part will continue to consolidate on its national appeal and acceptance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP had, in an earlier statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, criticised the APC governors for visiting the former president.

According to the PDP, the visit to Jonathan by the APC governors is a direct acceptance of the successes recorded by it in building a strong nation with a virile economy.

The PDP said the visit is also a subtle step by APC governors into an agreement that the PDP has the solution to the countrys challenges. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

An nGO Victims Support Fund (VSF) task force on COVID-19, has donated foodstuff and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth N119 million to the Plateau State Government for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the vulnerable in the state.

Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, the Chairperson of the task force, handed over the palliatives to Plateau Government on Sunday in Jos.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said that the gesture was the third phase of the interventions by VSF task force on COVID-19 to IDPs and the vulnerable in the society.

She said the task force on COVID-19 was an emergency response team inaugurated by the Chairman of the Victims Support Fund, retired Gen. TY Danjuma.

She also said that the body was meant to provide palliatives to IDPs and vulnerable as well as to support government agencies in their efforts to fight COVID-19.

The Task force had successfully carried out the first and second phases of the COVID-19 intervention in April and June 2020 in the North-East, South-South, South- East and South-West.

On Nov. 19, 2020, we commenced the third phase of distribution of food items and the PPE in seven other states in the North-West, North-Central and the FCT at the cost of N1 billion, the chairperson said.

The items donated, according to her, include: bags of rice, beans, maize, vegetable oil, salt, and PPE meant for 40,886 households and approximately 204,330 direct beneficiaries across seven states.

The states, she said, were: Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Benue and FCT.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said that the State Governments would receive 50 per cent of the food items, while local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) would distribute 50 per cent of the items directly to IDPs and vulnerable people.

She said the task force was also working closely with Federal and State Government Agencies involved in the fight against the COVID- 19 pandemic.

We are doing that through collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to target IDPs and refugees with hygiene kits, childrens blankets and food items.

We are also working with the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) to target vulnerable women, she said.

In his remarks, Gov. Simon Lalong who was accompanied by Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, commended the chairman of VSF, Gen. Danjuma for the gesture.

Lalong said that the intervention came at the right time after what was donated by the Federal Government was carted away by hoodlums during the EndSARS protest in the state.

He promised that the distribution exercise would be transparent to ensure that the items got to the people that actually needed them.

Tallen in her remarks, lauded Danjuma for coming to the aid of the vulnerable and the needy at the appropriate time. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Aircraft for NCAT

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has received the first batch of three training aircraft for the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

Sirika , who disclosed this on his Twitter handle (@handisirika) on Sunday, added that there was no better aviation safety than having well trained, proficient aviators.

According to him, training will now be more efficient, faster and cheaper.

Our roadmap is yielding good result. We appreciate your support, he added.

NAN recalls that NCATwas designed to be a training centre for Nigerian and African pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and navigation aid technicians.

It subsequently created a flying school, air traffic services and communications school and aeronautical electronics and telecommunications school to meet its objectives.

In the late 1970s, it began giving specialised training courses in instrument landing systems, jet simulation, airline transport and VHF omnidirectional range. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says that the annual Abuja International Trade Fair (#AITF), targeting 500 local and foreign exhibitors, will run from Nov. 24 to Dec. 4, 2020.

The trade fair was earlier postponed as a result of the mayhem that trailed the ENDSARS protests.

A statement by Latifat Opoola, Media Officer of the ACCI, on Sunday in Abuja, noted that this years Fair, with the theme: Trade and Commerce Beyond Borders, is aimed at using trade to boost Nigerias and Africas trade within and beyond borders of the continent.

According to Opoola, in compliance with the COVID-19 protocol put in place by the Presidential Task Force, the event will only showcase indoor and virtual exhibitions.

According to her, this is to make room for a controlled environment that will ensure compliance with COVID-19 measures.

Over the years, Abuja International Trade Fair has been an amazing trade platform for international and domestic industries, leading brands and MSMEs to come together to transact, share market insights, cutting edge technology and expertise in an interactive environment.

The ACCI has over the years provided a platform for sharing of trade, investment and market opportunities as well as information, and this years event will commence the introduction of a better platform for business networking.

The Fair will also help buyers, investors and traders to foster business relationships that have been strained due to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 500 exhibitors from within and outside Nigeria and from all sectors of the economy are expected to be participating in the Fair, she said.

According to her, he exhibitors are expected from Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining, Electricity, Oil and Gas, Tourism, Textile, Transport, Telecommunications, Financial and the Service sectors.

Thousands of visitors from Nigeria, various African countries and from across the world are expected to participate both physically and virtually.

Participants from the UK, U.S.A, India, Malasyia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Africa, and China will also be at the Fair.

With a team of trade professionals, we are committed to providing a conducive trading environment for our exhibitors, which will lead to the strategies and tactics needed to innovate, grow and promote businesses, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NiMet predicts sunny, hazy weather conditions from Friday to Sunday

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted Sunny and hazy conditions from Monday till Wednesday.

NiMets weather outlook released on Sunday predicted sunny and hazy conditions over the northern part of the country during the morning , afternoon, evening hours of Sunday.

According to NiMet, North central region is expected to be in sunny and hazy conditions throughout the forecast period.

The inland and coastal cities of the South are expected to experience cloudiness with intervals of sunshine during the morning hours, with chances of isolated thunderstorms over Bayelsa, Delta and Edo.

There are also prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Delta, Rivers, Edo, Imo and Cross River state during the afternoon and evening hours, it said.

According to the release, sunny and hazy condition is expected over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Tuesday.

The agency forcast North central region to be in sunny and hazy conditions in the morning and afternoon hours.

The inland and coastal cities of the South are expected to have patches of clouds with intervals of sunshine.

Later in the day, there are prospects of few thunderstorms over parts of Delta, Edo, Lagos and Cross River state, it said.

The agency envisaged sunny and hazy condition over the northern part of the country during the morning and afternoon hours of Wednesday.

According to the statement, the North central region is expected to be in hazy condition with patches of cloud.

The inland and coastal cities of the South are expected to be in cloudy condition with sunshine intervals during the morning hours.

There are prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers state during the afternoon and evening hours, it said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Policemen on duty

By George Odok

The Cross River Police Command has rescued a kidnapped victim, Emmanuel Akpan-Udo, while three suspects connected with his kidnap were arrested.

A statement signed by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulkadir Jimoh on Sunday in Calabar, said the suspects were arrested on Nov. 21 in Calabar.

Jimoh said that the victims vehicle was also recovered during the operation that was carried out by officers of A Division in Calabar.

Through painstaking investigation, officers of the A Division on Nov. 21 arrested three suspected kidnappers, rescued the victim, Emmanuel Akpan-Udo and also recovered his car.

The suspects include Blessed Etim-Sunday, 33, Samuel Udo-Udo, 27, and Ime John-Effiong, 23, a.k.a last born.

They have also made useful statements and further effort is still been made to arrest other gang members, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

PDP National Publicity Secretary Mr Kola Ologbondiyan

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed publications suggesting that some of its key leaders in Ebonyi, including former Governor of the state, Sen. Sam Egwu and 23 other were suspended from the party.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Sunday described the purported reports as misleading.

Ologbondiyan said that no PDP leader in Ebonyi had been suspended adding that the document purporting the suspension was fictitious and did not emanate from the Ebonyi state chapter of the party as suggested.

For the avoidance of doubt the PDP does not have a state working committee in Ebonyi state as presented by the said fictitious document.

As such, any such body said to have met to arrive at any decision or any action claimed to have been taken by such non-existent body is at best imaginary.

Ologbondiyan said that the public was already aware that the body vested with the task of piloting the affairs of PDP in Ebonyi was the State Caretaker Committee.

He said that the committee had since assumed its mandate to the approval and delight of the leaders and members of PDP in Ebonyi since the dissolution of the partys state executive in the state.

Moreover, a check on the records of our party in Ebonyi affirms that no such meeting as purported in the said document was held to take any such decision at any time.

However, we have been made aware that the fabricated document emanated from a former leader of our party in Ebonyi who left on a personal voyage to another party.

He said that the defected leader sought to cause confusion in the state, having failed to pull PDP leaders and members in his expedition.

It is indeed pitiable that such individual will descend to the level of resorting to fabrications and calendar-doctoring in desperation for political redemption.

Ologbondiyan advised anyone behind such a publication to steer clear of PDP and face the challenges already confronting him in his new political family as well as the queries coming from the people of Ebonyi who have been betrayed by his action.

The spokesman of the party urged Nigerians to disregard the purported suspension of 24 of PDP leaders in Ebonyi, saying there was no substance in the claim.

In the same vein, the party assures that our structure in Ebonyi state is intact and that our party has become stronger, more united and enjoying the support of the people of Ebonyi more than ever before.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP on Wednesday constituted a state caretaker committee.

It is to pilot the affairs of the party in Ebonyi, following the dissolution of the partys state executive on Tuesday.

The Governor of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, had on Tuesday defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of Mr Philip Shekwo, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Nasarawa State, and challenged the nations security system to do more to end violence in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late APC Chairman was abducted by gunmen, who stormed his residence in Lafia on Saturday night. The gunmen later killed him.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, quoted Buhari as saying that Police investigation would determine if it was an assassination or kidnap-related murder.

It quoted Buhari as commending the Inspector General of Police, Mr Muhammed Adamu, for sending reinforcement of men and materials to the state.

It further quoted the president as commiserating with the family of the deceased while describing Shekwo askind and jovial.

His contribution towards strengthening the party in Nasarawa State will not be forgotten. May his soul Rest in Peace, the statement quoted Buhari as saying. (NAN)

Source: NAN News