The 1.8million candidates sitting for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from Thursday 11 April are prohibited from bringing 18 items to centres where the tests would take place.

The prohibited items listed by an official of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) are Wrist Watches, Pen/Biros, Mobile phones or similar electronic devices, Spy reading glasses,calculators or similar electronic devices, USB, CD, hard disks and or similar storage devices and books or any reading/writing material.

Other banned items are Cameras, Recorders, Microphones, Ear pieces, Ink/pen readers, Smart lenses, Smart rings/ jewellery, Smart buttons, Bluetooth devices, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Erasers

The examination will end next week.

Fabian Benjamin, JAMB spokesman told Premium Times, the online newspaper that the items were prohibited to secure the sanctity and integrity of the boards examination.

He said examination officials are allowed to scrutinise eye glasses or similar devices and when convinced that such items may compromise the sanctity of the examination, the examination official should confiscate them.

We urge candidates to abide by the rules and regulations of the board. Candidates should not come with any of the prohibited items, he said.

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Source: NAN

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has disowned campaign posters titled The Pukka that festooned some of the major streets of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.

Atiku disowned the posters in a statement issued by his media adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, on Wednesday.

Pukka, an Hindi word, meansauthentic, genuine, sure, solid and excellent.

The posters boldly carry Abubakars portrait and the message, HE Atiku Abubakar GCON, The Real and The Right, with a web address www.deservation.org, which the News Agency of Nigeria found belongs to a group of the same name based in Magaji/Sanda ward in Yola.

NAN correspondent in Yola confirmed that the posters have also appeared on some streets in the capital of Adamawa, Atikus home state.

Dr.Sani Adamu, the director-general of the Atiku Deservation Group, an Atiku Abubakar campaign group, claimed the group was not waging a political campaign or breaching the campaign rules of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Our attention has been drawn to posters of Abubakar, Presidential candidate of PDP in the 2019 election being circulated in Abuja, said Paul Ibe in a statement.

We dissociate the former Vice President of Nigeria from the said posters in circulation. The campaign season is over. The tainted electoral victory by the incumbent is being challenged in court.

We refuse to be distracted, which is exactly the objective of our opponents, but to remain focused on diligently pursuing our election petition with a view to retrieving the stolen mandate.

Ibe earlier in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the postershad nothing to do with the just concluded elections and the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization had no connection with it.

I have not seen the posters. I am just hearing it from you. We are not aware of it. Whatever it is it not connected to the PDP campaign organisation.

The campaign season has long been over but following the electoral hype by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar, as a democrat has submitted himself to the electoral tribunal to decide on matters arising from the concluded election.

A search on the web address () shows Atiku Deservation Movement (Project 774 for Atiku 2019) with RC 1167591 with the contact Magaji/Sanda Ward Yola South Adamawa State as well as phone number and a mail address.

The boldness of the campaign and the meaning it connotes have triggered questions whether the group behind it has not breached the electoral law. The campaign for presidential election began on 19 November 2018 and officially ended 24 hours to the election initially scheduled for 16 February, 2019.

Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, 1999 as amended states that every political party shall commence campaigns 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman ofthe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in an interview with NAN, said that the posters could not be considered as campaign materials.

Oyekanmi, who said he had not seen any of the posters said if a poster has no party logo or name, the commission does not consider it to be campaign materials.

Is there anything like party name or logo on it? If a poster does not contain any of these or vote for a person the commission does not see it as campaign.The election is over and I wonder if anybody will be campaigning for an election that had been concluded, Oyekanmi said.

Dr. Sani Adamu, the Executive Director of the Deservation group in a telephone interview with NAN, justified the posters PUKKA theme. He claimed that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the PDP in the just concluded presidential election is Nigerias authentic president.

Reminded that Abubakar already has a case before the presidential election petition tribunal, Adamu expressed confidence that Abubakar would get justice at the tribunal.

He insisted that the posters in circulation were not for campaign, adding that they did not carry the logo of any political party.

He also explained that the posters did not carry vote Abubakar, insisting that it was not for campaign.

He said that the group was established to galvanise support for credible candidates that can make Nigeria great.

We support only candidates and not political parties, he said.

Abubakar was also recently reported to have hired two American lawyers, close to President Donald Trump, to lobby Trumps inner circle and the Congress, so that the United States can delay recognising President Muhammadu Buhari as the elected President of Nigeria. He also wanted to be recognised as the authentic President of Nigeria, going by the claims he has made at the tribunal.

Source: NAN

Nigeria announced on Wednesday a target to double its manufacturing output to 20 percent of GDP within six years and will set up production hubs across the country in partnership with regional aid banks.

Nigeria is Africas biggest economy but it lacks a strong manufacturing base, which contributes less than 10 percent to its total gross domestic product (GDP). The country has maintained a strong currency to ensure it can keep imports pouring in, with a growing proportion coming from China.

Project MINEs (Made in Nigeria for Export) strategic objectives are to increase (the) manufacturing sectors contribution to GDP to 20 percent and generate over $30 billion annually by 2025, the ministry of industry, trade and investment said in a statement.

The government has set up Nigeria SEZ Investment Company, which will finance industrial parks in special economic zones in the commercial capital of Lagos, southeastern state of Abia and northern state of Katsina.

The government is currently raising capital of $250 million for Nigeria SEZ Investment Company. It plans to double its equity to $500 million over four years, the ministry said.

Lenders such as African Development Bank, Afreximbank, African Finance Corporation and Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority have shown interest in co-investing with the Nigerian government, which would own a 25 percent stake. Two Chinese groups have also shown interest, the ministry said.

The West African countrys manufacturing and agricultural sectors have been neglected since the 1970s oil boom, when Nigeria began making easy money from crude oil sales.

Nigeria, where the vast majority of the population lives on less than $2 a day, recently emerged from a recession but growth is fragile and the government is trying to diversify its revenue away from its reliance on oil.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is due to start a second four-year term next month, has pledged to revive the economy and is focused on building roads and expanding the railway network to lower production costs.

The ministry said that the new investment company would facilitate investment into the special economic zones. However, some lawmakers have questioned governments investment in the company, which is meant to be private-sector led.

Critics point to lacklustre interest in some other free trade zones around Nigeria, such as the $300 million Tinapa resort in the southeastern state of Cross Rivers, which was set up in 2007 and envisaged as a tourist resort and duty-free shopping area.

In 2010, Lagos state, touted plans to set up a free trade zone with Chinese investors to develop local manufacturing but little production has been set up there.

Reuters

Source: NAN

By Deji Abdulwahab

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) in the Federal Ministry of Environment, has allocated 20.65 million dollars to address the nations environmental challenges.

Alhaji Auwal Maidabino, GEFs operational Focal point,said this on Wednesday at the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)National Dialogue Meeting in Abuja.

Nigeria could benefit from the various impact programmes of GEF as well as other projects based on the country needs, covered by the Star allocation of 20.65 million dollars allocated to Nigeria, he said.

According to him,GEF National Dialogue Meeting is organised to facilitate the conceptualisation of projects for implementation in the GEF-7 cycle for GEF CEOs endorsement.

Maidabino who is alsothe Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry,said that the meeting also marked the beginning of Nigerias implementation of the GEF-7 cycle which star allocation stood at 20.65 million dollars.

This will afford us the opportunity to articulate our environmental challenges for remediation within the ambit of three focal areas approved for Nigeria.

The three focal areas are climate change, land degradation and biodiversity, Maidabino said.

Mrs Ibukun Odusote, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the ministry would do its best to provide effective and efficient environmental framework to sustain the nations focus on sustainable development in the environmental sector.

Odusote said that the ministry would soon release its documents on the state of environmental report and the reviewed National Policy on Environment.

Over the years, the issue of environmental statistics has not been placed on the National Bureau of Statistics data base which has become a fundamental issue that must be critically addressed.

Hence, discussions have been held to mainstream environmental statistics into National Planning for Developmental purposes, Odusote said.

Source: NAN

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he had been holed up since August 2012 and the British police have arrested him.

The arrest followed Ecuadors President Lenin Morenos announcement that the country has withdrawn asylum from Assange, following repeated aggressive and discourteous behaviour.

A statement by the British police said they were invited into the Ecuadorean embassy by the ambassador to effect the arrest. He had been holed up in the embassy since 2012.

Julian Assange, 47, has today, Thursday 11 April, been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) at the Embassy of Ecuador, police said.

The plan for the eviction was initially denied by authorities in Quito, Ecuadors capital.

But today, President Lenin Moreno issued a video statement explaining why the country withdrew the asylum.

Ecuador decided sovereignly to withdraw the diplomatic asylum to Julian Assange by repeatedly violating international conventions and protocol of coexistence, Moreno tweeted.

Ecuador decidió soberanamente retirar el asilo diplomático a Julian Assange por violar reiteradamente convenciones internacionales y protocolo de convivencia. #EcuadorSoberano pic.twitter.com/V02pvvtPY0

— Lenín Moreno (@Lenin) April 11, 2019

Assanges relationship with Ecuadorian officials appeared increasingly strained since the Moreno came to power in the Latin American country in 2017. His internet connection was cut off in March of last year, with officials saying the move was to stop Assange from interfering in the affairs of other sovereign states.

The whistleblower garnered massive international attention in 2010 when WikiLeaks released classified US military footage, entitled Collateral Murder, of a US Apache helicopter gunship opening fire on a number of people, killing 12 including two Reuters staff, and injuring two children.

The footage, as well as US war logs from Iraq and Afghanistan and more than 200,000 diplomatic cables, were leaked to the site by US Army soldier Chelsea Manning. She was tried by a US tribunal and sentenced to 35 years in jail for disclosing the materials.

Manning was pardoned by President Barack Obama in 2017 after spending seven years in US custody. She is currently being held again in a US jail for refusing to testify before a secret grand jury in a case apparently related to WikiLeaks.

Assanges seven-year stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy was motivated by his concern that he may face similarly harsh and arguably unfair prosecution by the US for his role in publishing troves of classified US documents over the years.

His legal troubles stem from an accusation by two women in Sweden, with both claiming they had a sexual encounter with Assange that was not fully consensual. The whistleblower said the allegations were false. Nevertheless, they yielded to the Swedish authorities who sought his extradition from the UK on suspicion of rape, three cases of sexual abuse and unlawful compulsion.

In December 2010, he was arrested in the UK under a European Arrest Warrant and spent time in Wandsworth Prison before being released on bail and put under house arrest.

During that time, Assange hosted a show on RT known as World Tomorrow or The Julian Assange Show, in which he interviewed several world influencers in controversial and thought-provoking episodes.

Source: NAN

By Shedrack Frank

Nigerias Former President and Chairman of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), Dr Goodluck Jonathan, says peace and development can only be achieved in Africa when democracy is given a humanitarian face.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jonathan, stated this in Yenagoa, on Thursday, when Dr Stephen Olali, the Chief Historian to the Bayelsa State Government, visited him at the Foundations headquarters to present his new book.

The book is entitled 16 34=50: The Life and Works of Stephen Temegha Olali (An Autobiographical Anthology).

The historian also officially unveiled his Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO): Youth Life and Productivity Outreach A Christian Charity.

Jonathan applauded the efforts of the author by compiling his life experiences on earth and his commitment to mentoring the youth of the Niger Delta in the areas of productivity and non- violence.

The former President, pointed out that a violent electoral process could not produce good governance.

He said: If Nigeria will grow as a nation then there is the need to change the nature of politics.

Until people are allowed to vote or elect their leaders without intimidation and interference we cannot have good governance.

As a leader, if you think you can shoot yourself to power then the people are irrelevant to you.

But if you know that you can only get power by the will of the people then you have no option than to work for the interest of the people, protect the people and love them irrespective of where they come from.

Nobody needs violence to win any elections. violence undermines the credibility of election.

Whoever is supported by majority of the people will win elections, but the minority should be allowed to have their say. That is the whole essence of politics.

According to the former President as a nation, until we sincerely commit ourselves to peace building there wont be any meaningful development.

Society cannot be stable until there is peace and peace most times is as a result of justice in the society. There is a limit to which a society can develop in the absence of peace and democratic justice.

It is good that you have birthed this idea of mentoring the youth toward productivity and peace building in the Niger Delta.

And as a Foundation, we are committed to partnering such stakeholders with a view to building sustainable peace in Nigeria, he said.

In his remarks, Olali explained that the NGO was established to mentor the Niger Delta youth toward entrepreneurship adding that self-sufficiency would greatly reduce restiveness in the region.

The essence of the NGO is to reach out to the youth concerning productivity anywhere they can be found specifically from Nembe to the other parts of the Niger Delta.

Your Excellency, we pray that the Foundation looks into the direction of smaller NGOs like ours to enable us to reach out to a greater percentage of the population, Olali said.

In Olalis delegation to see the former President were: Prof. C.M. Sorgwe, Prof. S.N Agoro, Chief Seiyefa Koroye, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo and other elders and academics from the Niger Delta region.

Source: NAN

By Nwapi Edith

An FCT High Court in Maitama, on Thursday fixed May 23 for the commencement of trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and three others, over alleged N544 fraud.

The former SGF was arraigned on Feb. 12 alongside Hamidu Lawal, a director in his company, Sulaiman Abubakar, staff in the company and Apeh Monday, managing director Josmon Technologies Limited

Also joined are two companies, Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

The case before Justice Jude Okeke, was fixed for May 23 ,at the instance of the court with the consensus of all the counsel in the matter.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that Lawal, was not in court but other defendants in the matter were,

The defendants were dragged to court by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)on a 10-count charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful award of contract to companies Lawal has interest at the sum of N544 million.

Lawal was accused of benefiting illegally from the approval of N544,119,925.36 for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.

The EFCC alleged that Babachir Lawal being the SGF and Hamidu Lawal, director of Rholavision Engineering Limited and Abubakar, staff about March 7, 2016 at Abuja conspired to commit the offences.

EFCC said the defendants fraudulently acquired a property, contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

It also alleged that Babachir Lawal knowingly held indirectly a private interest in the consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Limited for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N7 million and N6.4 million.

EFCC claimed that it was done through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).

It further alleged that on March 4, and Aug. 22, 2016 contract for removing evasive grass worth N272.5 million and N258.1 million respectively were awarded to Josmon technologies but executed by Rholavision.

The offences are contrary to Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

They all pleaded not guilty to the allegations against them.

Source: NAN

By Moji Eniola

Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court has ordered alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans and three other defendants to ensure they have legal representation by June 14.

Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba over the alleged kidnap of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Mr Donatius Dunu.

NAN reports that the six were arraigned on Aug. 30, 2017 on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping.According to the prosecution, they allegedly kidnapped Dunu and collected 223,000 Euros (N100m) as ransom. Evans and his co-defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

At resumption of the trial on Thursday, proceeding was stalled due to the absence of defence counsel for Evans, Amadi, Uchechukwu and Ifeanyi. Recall that the .

Following the development, Justice Oshodi mandated Evans and the three other defendants to ensure they have legal representation by June 14, the next adjourned date.

The judge also directed that counsel from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) be in court on the next adjourned date to represent the defendants in case they failed to get counsel to represent them in court.

If on the next day, the defence counsel are not around, the courts will order the defendants to either represent themselves or the court invokes Section 233(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

The prosecution shall also notify the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to be in court on the next adjourned date.
This case is adjourned to June 14 for the continuation of the evidence of PW4, Justice Oshodi said.

Earlier during proceedings, Mr Emmanuel Ochai, the defence counsel representing Aduba (sixth defendant), told the court that other kidnap trials involving Evans have been stalled in other courts for the same reason.

We were before your learned brother yesterday at the High Court in Igbosere and we had the same issue.

Due to the absence of the counsel to the first (Evans) and fourth (Ifeanyi) defendants here, the matter was stalled.

I really do not know why there is no legal representation but we as counsel to the sixth defendant (Aduba) are ready to proceed, Ochai said.

Mr A. A Uzokwu, the counsel to the fifth defendant (Nwachukwu), also told the court that they were ready to proceed but was handicapped because of the absence of the other defence counsel.

What is happening now is like they are like a stationary vehicle, some of us are behind and that stationary vehicle and because it is not moving, we cannot move, he said.

When asked why he had no legal representation Evans told the court I did not communicate with him.

Amadi, Uchechukwu and Ifeanyi also told the court that they had not communicated with their defence counsel.

Reacting to the absence of the defence counsels for the first to fourth defendants, Mr Y.G Oshoala a Director in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asked the court to appoint counsel for the defendants.

My Lord, yesterday we were before your learned brother Justice Akintoye at the Igbosere High Court.

The case was adjourned and that was the third adjournment granted by that court at the instance of the first defendant (Evans).

It is a game they are playing and I pray the court assist the state and invoke Section 233(3) of the ACJL which allows the court to appoint counsel for the defendants in these circumstances.

We brought our witness from out of jurisdiction or if the defendants so wish, they can defend themselves, it is their constitutional right, Oshoala said.

A policeman and the fourth prosecuting witness, Insp Idowu Haruna, was in court to testify in the proceedings that was eventually stalled.

Source: NAN

By Bolaji Buhari and Yemi Adeleye

Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday congratulated Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for emerging winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

Similarly, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, has also congratulated Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat, on their electoral victory.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Sunday declared Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, while announcing the results, said the APC candidate polled 739,445 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Jimi Agbaje of the PDP, who polled 206,141votes.

The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Taofik Gani, in a statement in Lagos on Monday, said the congratulatory message was to exhibit sportmanship and show respect for the laws of the land.

The spokesman, however, said the if PDP had any reason to challenge the results, it shall not hesitate to do so.

Gani called on the governor-elect to accommodate everyone in victory and shun politics of seclusion and retaliation.

He advised the governor-elect not to go against anyone because of political or ideological differences.

Lagosians will not accept any excuse for any failure in governance for any reason.

We advise Mr Sanwo-Olu to hit the ground running, get competent hands, irrespective of party affiliation.

This is necesssary so that all hands can be on deck to move Lagos State forward as it should be, he said.

Speaking, Obasa, who also won the fifth mandate to represent Agege Constituency I at the Lagos Assembly, also felicitated with returning and new members-elect of the House.

He described the victory of APC as hard-earned but well deseved for the party at the polls.

It was tough for us all but at the end of the day, a well deserved victory for all members of the party.

It was a confirmation of the love Lagosians have for our great party and the giant strides we have been achieving in the state, obasa said.

The speaker also expressed appreciation to Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents, for reposing and renewing their confidence in the APC, not only in the state, but also at the federal level.

He assured that Nigerians wont regret the renewed mandate given to the APC.

We have absolute confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; the Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, to deliver good governance.

Therefore, I want to assure Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, that the APC administration at all levels will continue to put in place programmes and projects that will enhance your welfare and improve your standard of living, he added.

Obasa said that Sanwo-Olu would take the state to greater heights.

Source: NAN

Scores of motorists forced to park along Kaduna-Abuja highway on Wednesday following blockade of the road by kidnappers, were saved when the convoy of Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai arrived the scene.

The arrival of the governor to the scene at about 3:45 pm, made the kidnappers to evacuate after wounding some of their victims.

It is not clear whether any of the motorists were abducted, but according to Samuel Aruwan, the governors spokesman, El-Rufai ordered the evacuation of those injured to hospital for medical attention.

Aruwan said the governor was on his way to Abuja, but on getting to Akilubu village around 3:40pm, he sighted dozens of vehicles parked by citizens, who said kidnappers had blocked the road ahead.

Security operatives in the governors convoy advanced and cleared the road of the criminals who fled into the forest.

After clearing the road, Governor El-Rufai directed that travelers who had been wounded by the criminals be rushed to the nearest hospital.

The Governor also directed security agencies to intensify patrols and permanently clear the road of the bandits, he added.

Security agencies appeared to have heeded the governors advice as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reiterated its commitment to support the Police and other security agencies with imagery intelligence to tackle security challenges in Nigeria, especially on Kaduna-Abuja highway.

NAF Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the move is part of inter-agency cooperation to address security challenges in the country, especially, the issue of kidnapping and banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari axis.

Daramola said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this when the Acting Inspector General of Police, (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, and the Director General DSS (DG DSS), Yusuf Bichi,visited him at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

He said the I-G and the DG DSS on arrival went into a closed door meeting with the CAS before undertaking a guided tour of facilities at the newly established, state-of- the-art Geospatial Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) and Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC).

He said that the GIDC, equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, was established to enhance the acquisition, analysis, interpretation and exploitation of imagery and geospatial information to provide actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

He said the equally well-equipped SAOC is expected to greatly enhance the coordination of air operations in support of internal security operations across the country.

Adamu while inspecting the facilities, expressed delight and satisfaction with the cutting edge technologies and sophisticated computer software at the Centres.

He said the essence of the visit to the CAS was to explore possibilities of using NAF air assets and the products of the GIDC to improve the effectiveness of operations to deal with issue of kidnapping and armed banditry.

Especially along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway and other parts of the country including Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kogi States.

According to him, the criminals had moved towards the Abuja axis to carry out their nefarious activities, as a result of the onslaught by security agencies against the bandits in Zamfara.

I felt that as a security agency, we need to synergise with other security outfits.
We dont have the air capability but the NAF has them, with this, we can have a joint operation to deal with this security issue.

*Updated with reports on security efforts to curb kidnapping on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

Source: NAN