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By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national caucus members on Wednesday night began a crucial meeting in Abuja ahead of the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for Thursday.

Although the details of the caucus meeting holding at the Akwa Ibom Governors Lodge, Asokoro were undisclosed, one of the issues being speculated to be on the agenda was the defection of Ebonyi Gov. Dave Umahi from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress.

Present at the meeting were Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Duoye Diri of Bayelsa, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, and Adamu Fintiri of Adamawa.

Also at the meeting were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kaduna state, Mohammed Makarfi, and immediate past Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Other in the meeting included the partys National Working Committee members with the National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the defection of Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging Nigerians to pay less emphasis on identity politics to enhance democratic culture.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, quoted Buhari as describing Umahis defection as a bold move driven purely by principle rather than opportunistic motives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umahi, along with members of his cabinet, on Tuesday defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC, citing injustice to the South-East by his former political party.

While reacting to the defection on Wednesday in Abuja, the president said: I am proud of Governor David Umahi for taking this bold decision in accordance with his conscience and principles, rather than any external influence or coercion.

Good governance is very important to us in the APC, and Im glad that the governor has cited this as a major factor in his decision to join us.

I urge our citizens to pay less emphasis on identity politics if we want our democracy to make a positive impact on our country.

With men like Umahi, I foresee a brighter future for our democracy because the voters will be more motivated by performance records of parties and their candidates.

The president also commended the governors boldness for taking what he described as a courageous decision, urging him to ignore negative comments such decision might attract from some quarters.

Let me once again commend the boldness of Governor Umahi for taking this courageous decision in a country where principles are in short supply among many.

I know people might call him names, but that is the price men of principles have to pay for acting according to their conscience and convictions Buhari was quoted as saying. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. David Umahi

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, says he actually joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Nov.10, when speculations were rife that he was leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Umahi made the revelation on Thursday morning in Abakaliki during a reception for the Progressives Governors Forum signaling his official admission into the fold.

My defection to APC was in obedience to Gods will, respect for President Muhammadu Buhari and an honour to dignitaries present as well as obedience to the wish of Ebonyi people.

Money means everything to many people but I choose wisdom from God.

People asked why I was leaving PDP, but I told them that if APC would treat me nicely when I dont have any relationship with it, what will happen when I am in its fold.

I told them that even as large as APC is, one man does not control the party but in PDP, one man controls the party, he said.

Umahi advised that Nigerian politicians should try and get close to President Muhammadu Buhari to understand him, saying that the president never asked him to quit PDP.

As the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum, I applied for N10billion for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, the president obliged without conditions.

The president never treated any governor with disdain and presently that I am in APC, there is no guarantee that I will be treated better than those already in the party as well as the PDP governors.

We can boast of infrastructure and economic supports from the APC-led federal government, but we cannot do such for the PDP led administration since 1999, he said.

Alhaji Mai Buni, APC National Caretaker Chairman, congratulated Umahi and his supporters for joining the party, saying that he was entitled to all rights and privileges due to progressives governors.

You are automatically the leader of the party in the state and a waiver has been granted to you and your supporters across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

You should try to be fair to all members of the party, you must realise that there were people already there before you, he said.

He said that the APC caretaker committee has approved the dissolution of the state executive committee of the party.

We will be inaugurating the state caretaker committee of the party which will ensure the formation of all structures at wards and LGA levels, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that governors at the event included those of Kebbi, Jigawa and Niger state.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

NCDC Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) update

By Abujah Racheal

Two hundred and thirty-six Nigeria residents have contracted coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, according to official statistics.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the body charged with monitoring and coordinating the treatment of the disease in the country, confirmed the new infections in its verified website on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while 236 people were newly infected, there has not been any COVID-19- related death in the past one week, as fatalities from the disease still stand at 1,163.

According to the NCDC, 142 of the newly infected people resided in Lagos; 19 in Ogun; 15 in Kaduna, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Imo and Rivers had 14 residents each.

Six residents were infected in Plateau; Katsina had three, while Ekiti, Jigawa and Oyo had two each.

Cross River, Kano and Taraba reported one infected person each.

With the newly reported infections in 13 states and the FCT the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Nigeria now stands at 65,693.

The NCDC stated on the website that so far 721,561 Nigeria residents had been tested for the disease since the first confirmed case was reported on Feb. 27 this year.

It stated that in the past 24 hours 120 patients have been discharged from isolation centres across the country and with the latest discharge a total 61,457 COVID-19 patients have been successfully treated in Nigeria.

The NCDC, however, said thatit had activated a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre at Level III to coordinate the national response to the disease. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Yinusa Ishola

Rumours that the Nigeria Police Force have withdrawn from Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, or anywhere in the state are false, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr Tunde Mobayo, has said.

Mr Mobayo said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday that officers and men of the police force are fully on ground in all parts of the Ekiti State.

The Ekiti State Command of the police has no reason, whatsoever, to withdraw policemen and women posted to any part of the state including Ikere-Ekiti, he said.

Rumours had it that the Command withdrew all officers and men posted to Ikere-Ekiti because of the mayhem unleashed on police formations and other properties in October when hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protest.

Mobayo assured the people of Ekiti State of the Commands commitment to the protection of lives and properties of the citizens.

The commissioner also commended the Assessment Committee of the Inspector-General of Police on the EndSARS protest, which visited the state on Nov. 15, for its dedication and professionalism.

He also commended the committee members for their sacrifices, empathy, and acceptance to embark on the assignment as well as the show of maturity and professionalism throughout the exercise.

The Ekiti State police command, on Nov. 15, received the Assessment Committee of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, which came to properly document the losses suffered by the Force during the #EndSARS protest.

The assessment visit is for the purpose of strategic planning, re-construction and re-equipment as well as for future reference.

The Committee, headed by CP Abutu Yaro, started its assignment from Ikere Area Command where police facilities were looted and vandalised, and proceeded to Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters which was looted and set ablaze by hoodlums during the protest.

The team also visited Afao-Ikere Divisional Police Headquarters that was also looted and set ablaze by the hoodlums masquerading as #EndSARS protesters, Mobayo stated.

The statement was signed by Mr Sunday Abutu, the Commands Public Relations Officer. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibironke Ariyo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 12.05kg of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr Jonah Achema, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Achema said that the agency made the seizure after it intercepted a 38-year-old suspected drug trafficker who attempted to smuggle the drug into the country.

According to him, operatives of the agency at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Special Area Command intercepted the suspect.

Achema explained that the suspect was intercepted during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight 911 from Sao Paulo, Brazil en-route Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He further explained that the drug was carefully packed in drink sachets of pineapple and lemon flavour and concealed in a suit case.

The suspect had already claimed his luggage upon arrival and proceeded to NDLEA screening point where it was detected that one of his bags was stuffed with prohibited drugs suspected to be cocaine.

He claimed that the consignment was given to him to deliver in Nigeria by one Uche whom he met in a Church in Brazil about three months ago through a friend.

The suspect said Uche overheard him talking to his friend about his impending trip to Nigeria and claimed he actually did not have knowledge of what was in the bag.

He claimed that Uche brought the suit case to him at the airport just an hour before the flight took-off and said that the short interval did not give him the opportunity to scrutinise the bag, Achema said.

He said that the suspect had been a resident of Sao Paulo since 2015 where he worked as a technician in a brass installation centre.

I had to leave my bicycle spare-parts business in Nigeria for greener pasture in the U.S but opted to travel through Brazil, Mexico to America.

My journey was aborted in Mexico from where I was returned to Brazil where I was granted asylum, Achema quoted the suspect as sayingduring interrogation.

The Commander NDLEANAIA command, Mr Kabir Taskuwa, said that the 12.05kg of cocaine was one of the highest quantity seized in recent times.

We promised that all travelers who got involved in drug trafficking will not escape our drag net and we will continue to sustain our vigilance, Tsakuwa said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Flood

The UN humanitarian agency said an estimated 1.03 million people have been affected by flooding across South Sudan since July.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed this on Thursday in Juba.

The UN said Jonglei region has been the worst affected with 404,000 people, followed by the Greater Pibor Administrative Area which has more than 125,000 people and Lakes area with 147,000 people.

At least 1,034,000 people have been affected by flooding, according to OCHAs latest humanitarian report released.

OCHA said unusually heavy rainfall from July to date has led to overflows of the rivers including Nile, Pibor, Sobat, Lol and other rivers as well as inland flooding, mainly in the eastern and central parts of South Sudan.

It also said flood response activities are considerably constrained by persistent heavy rains, flooded airstrips, insecurity and limited resources.

There is an urgent need for additional logistic support with air assets and riverine transport to move cargo to priority locations, said the UN relief agency.

It said the flood-affected peoples urgent needs include food and livelihood support, emergency shelter and non-food items, and health and protection services. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The military knocked out many Boko Haram/Islamic States for West African Province terrorists hideouts in the northeast in the last one week, the Defence Headquarters said in Abuja on Thursday.

Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, told newsmen that between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18, troops adopted sustained vigilance and offensive postures through comprehensive ground and air operations leading to the killing of some terrorists.

He said that an Improvised Explosive Devices maker was arrested, and a cache of arms and ammunition and other fighting equipment were recovered during the period.

According to him, troops of Operation Fireball, a wing of Operation Lafiya Dole, cleared the terrorists hideouts and neutralised two at Ladantar in Borno.

He added that troops also foiled terrorists attacks on Gwoza town in Borno where one terrorist was killed and arms and ammunition recovered on Nov. 12.

Enenche said the Air Component continued to execute successive bomb and rocket runs, on targeted terrorists enclaves at Njimia, Goba and Dure village areas in the Sambisa forest in Borno during the period.

He said multiple air strikes were executed on the locations and the devastating hits from the air strikes led to the killing of scores of terrorists.

Several of the terrorists logistics facilities were destroyed by the devastating hits from the air strikes, while many of their fighters fled in disarray.

The Military High Command commends the gallant troops for their resilience, doggedness and commitment during the encounters.

The general public is hereby assured of the determination of the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to rout the criminal elements from the North East, Enenche said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

World Bank

The World Bank Board of Directors has approved an education programme, supported by a 61.5-million dollar grant from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), for the Sudan Basic Education Support Project (BESP).

This constitutes the largest education financing project in Sudan, the Bank said in a news dispatch on Wednesday.

The project will enable Sudan to sustain and improve basic education for children, with significant support to teachers.

It will strengthen schools, community and government capacities to formulate policies and monitor progress at system level.

The project will also contribute to Sudans progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

This programme comes in an opportune time because we are in the middle of a very difficult economic situation, said Mohamed Alamin Altoum, Minister of Education of Sudan.

The Project will certainly take us a good way towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Education (SDG4). he added

The SDG4 looks at good quality education, and free and equitable education.

The funding will support efforts to improve student enrollment, retention, and reading proficiency in the early grades of primary education, covering all public schools.

It will give the support while prioritising investment in disadvantaged areas.

The World Bank said public school grants will be provided to disadvantaged schools to reduce education costs borne by parents, lowering the risk of dropping out, especially for girls.

The funding will also support volunteer teachers who are normally paid from community contributions, which are likely to decrease due to the economic crisis compounded by the impact of coronavirus.

The World Bank is well positioned to support this project with focus on results-based financing given its considerable understanding and experience in engaging in education sector in Sudan, said Milena Petrova Stefanova, World Bank Country Manager for Sudan.

To improve childrens learning environments, the funding will help purchase basic learning materials and equipment.

An estimated six million students will be provided textbooks, reading materials and reading support programmes.

Approximately 30,000 girls will benefit from improvements to the learning environment, including rehabilitation and construction of sanitation facilities, the Bank said. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Plateau Commissioner for information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang.

By Martha Agas

Plateau Government has urged youths in the state to exhibit proper conduct during the forthcoming National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) to be hosted by the State from Nov. 22 to Nov. 28.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Dan Manjang, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.

Manjang said the youths, being the Ambassadors of the state, should showcase the hospitality and good image the state was known for.

Youths should conduct themselves in a manner that will give us the image we are known for as the Home of Peace and Tourism,he said.

He also called on them to use the opportunity of the NAFEST platform to showcase their talents and skills to the world.

The youths should try to involve themselves in commercial activities; art works can be sold which would benefit them and the state,he said.

He said preparations for the hosting of the event had reached advanced state, adding the sub-committees on Health, Security , Entertainment and Accommodation, among others, were all committed to ensuring the success of the event.

We assure Nigerians of a hitch-free event.There is a sub-committee on security because to bring people from all over the country and security is not taken care of would be a disaster.

We have taken security issue with all seriousness in the state,even without NAFEST, It is on the front burner agenda in the state, he said.

The commissioner said security was a partnership between individuals and government, saying the state was engaging communities, traditional leaders and security agencies to ensure safety of the guests.

We want to assure the world , they should be free to come to Plateau, as everything humanly possible has been put in place; we have Operation Rainbow and we are involving the community for vigilante and community policing, he said.

He said the cultural heritage of the states 53 ethnic groups would be showcased through their cuisines, fabrics and dances, during the event, saying this would boost economic activities in the state.

He said the hospitality sector, food and transportation sectors would generate more revenue for the development of the state, adding that all these would have multiplier effects on households.

Manjang also said that COVID-19 safety protocols would be observed at the festival to prevent the spread of the disease, adding that the sub-committee on health would handle emergencies on COVID-19 and other ailments.

NAN reports that NAFEST 2020 which is the 33rd edition will feature events that include traditional board game, archery, indigenous fabrics competition, childrens essay competition and cultural quiz competition.

Other events are: choral music competition, traditional cuisine, childrens indigenous instrumental competition, childrens craft and command performance.

The theme of the festival is: Cultural Dynamism and Post COVID-19.

Plateau had hosted the event in 1996.(NAN)

Source: NAN News