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Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State ?has approved the appointment and reappointment of heads of government agencies and departments in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Abba Anwar, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Kano.

Among those appointed are Sheikh Abdalla Pakistan as Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board  and ?Dr Aliyu Musa Aliyu as Director-General ?Kano State Hisbah Board.?

Anwar said that Dr ?Halima Rabi’u Abdullahi was appointed as the Executive Secretary, Agency for Mass Education and Alhaji ?Gali Sadiq as? the Managing Director, Kano State Radio Corporation.

According to him, the governor also appointed ?Dr Ibrahim Bichi as the Executive Secretary, Kano State Library Board and ?Sagir Sadisu Buhari as the Director-General, Research, Documentation.

Also reappointed were ?Lawan Sabo, ?Managing Director, Triumph Publishing Company, ?Sa’a Ibrahim
Director-General, Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV), Dr Jibrilla Mohammed Managing Director, Kano State Investment and Properties (KSIP)?.

Others include Alhaji ?Ibrahim Galadima, Executive Chairman, Kano Sports Council and Mr Sakina Yusuf as Chairperson Kano State Hajj Affairs Tribunal.

The governor commended those that were reappointed for discharging their duties diligently during the first tenure in office and called on all appointees to remain focused in discharging their responsibilities.

 The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) says it is arresting more than 200 persons engaged in trading at unauthorised locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mr Muktar Ibrahim, the Head of Information of the board, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Ibrahim said that the arrests were made on people operating on pedestrian bridges, walk ways, traffic and undesignated areas within the city.
He said that the monitoring and enforcement department of AEPB in collaboration with some security agencies were able to make the arrests.
According to him, the arrests are in line with the Act that established the AEPB to ensure sanity in FCT and to make the city compete with other first class cities in the world.
“I cannot give you an exact figure out rightly, but I can tell you that on the average over 200 people were being arrested on a daily basis and that is from the record we have all over the city.
“Our operations cover the whole city not just Wuse and Garki, it covers everywhere within the city and our activities are very noticeable.
“So, we have being making arrests on a daily basis and arraigned them at the AEPB mobile courts; at least, there are some measures of sanity within the city centre now.
“This is what we have been doing, it is an ongoing exercise and we are working in collaboration with security agencies such as the Nigeria Security Defence Corp (NSDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, among others,” he said.
According to him, AEPB enforcement department is working round the clock to ensure all pedestrian bridges and walk ways, among others, are kept free from illegal trading activities.
“It has been a big challenge but we are not deterred, our enforcement department has come up with a strategy to tackle this menace.
“The enforcement team now monitors illegal trading and hawking in the morning, afternoon and at night in the FCT.
“So, we are working round the clock to check people that just take open spaces they see and turn them to shops.”
However, he said that some hawkers had bent not to leave some spots or pedestrian bridges in spite of arresting and charging them to the AEPB mobile courts.
“At Area 3 junction, immediately it is 5 p.m, hawkers turn the place to a real market place so it has been a running battle with our men.
“We are also having running battles to clear hawkers and beggars at Area 3 and Area1 pedestrian bridges.
“We are also facing the same problem at Gwarimpa pedestrian bridge and other suburbs in the FCT,’’ he said.
According to him, the 1997 AEPB Act, which is 22 years old now, is outdated and the punishments on the Act against hawkers are ineffective compared to their offences.
“The fine on illegal traders by AEPB mobile court is N1,000 because that is what is in the Act since 1997, so, the law needs to be reviewed with the current reality for us to stop this illegal trading and other activities.
“They derived pleasure in paying peanut whenever they go before our mobile courts, which is why they still go back to the same spots the next day to continue their illegal trading,’’ the spokesman said.
However, he said that the board held a retreat to review its Act and the amendment had been submitted to legal experts for a review, adding that the final draft will be submitted to the National Assembly.
Ibrahim appealed to FCT residents to stop patronising people hawking on the street, pedestrian bridges, in the traffics, as this would discouraged them from operating in such unauthorised palaces. (NAN)
ALEX/FFP/ACO/MST
Edited by Abiodun Oluleye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Assets declaration: Gov. Makinde worth over N60 billion

By David Adeoye

Mr Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Governor, on Monday, made public his assets after he received a copy of the asset declaration form which he had earlier submitted to the Oyo State office of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Ibadan.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that details of the assets show that he is worth over N60,473,300,066 according to the figures in the forms calculated with CBN rates for foreign currencies.

The details are contained in the CCB 1 with the name Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, which was declared at the High Court of Oyo State, on May 28, 2019.

The assets declaration form, marked OYSE/2019/001 contained details of cash at hand, in the bank, landed properties (developed and undeveloped), household items, share and bonds owed by the governor, his wife, Omini Makinde as well as his companies.

According to details of the asset form made public by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to governor, Makinde has cash at hand and in the bank worth N234,742,296.01, while in dollar terms, Makinde has cash valued at $30,056.99 as at May 28, 2019.

”Properties, including the developed and undeveloped as well as household items indicated on the asset forms, showed that the governor is worth N2, 624,800,500 (two billion, six hundred and twenty-four million, eight hundred thousand, five hundred naira as at the date of asset declaration.

In Dollar terms, the governor also declared propert, developed and undeveloped as well as household items valued at $4,400,000 (four million, four hundred thousand dollars only.

”In South African Rands, the governor declared buildings and household items worth four Million, four hundred and fifty-seven thousand, five hundred and fifty-four and four South African Rands.

”The houses declared by the Makinde include nine buildings in Nigeria, two in the U.S. and one in South Africa.

One of the property in the U.S. is described as ‘jointly owned’.

”The details showed the current value of Makinde’s companies stand at N48, 150,736,889 (forty-eight billion, one hundred and fifty million, seven hundred and thirty-six thousand, eight hundred and eighty-nine Naira), with 33, 730,000 units of shares as at May 28, 2019.

”The governor also has existing Bonds (Eurobond) worth $3, 793, 500 as well as shares, debentures and other securities valued at N120,500,000 (One hundred and twenty million, five hundred thousand naira).

”The companies listed by the governor include Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited, Energy Traders and Technical Services Limited, Makon Oil and Gas Limited, Makon Group Limited, Makon Construction Limited and Makon Power System Limited,” the asset declaration form stated.

In addition, the asset declaration form indicated that Makinde’s four companies have additional assets denominated as loan notes ”including Makon Engineering and Technical Services Limited (N1.7 billion).

” Makon Power System Limited (N148.4 million); Makon Oil and Gas Limited (N341 million); Energy Traders and Technical Services Limited (N1.159bn) totalling N3.389 billion.”

Earlier on Monday, Gov Makinde told newsmen at the CCB office in Ibadan, that he came to collect the photocopy of the form signed in fulfillment of his campaign promise to declare his asset publicly and release the document to the public.

He also promised to encourage all the members of his cabinet to do the same thing ”but in as much they stay within the ambit of the law.”

A herd of cattle as NCDC dispels rumours that cows from the north are sick

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Monday dismissed as absolutely false, social media reports on purported outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in cattle from the northern part of the country.

The Director General NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, in a statement issued in Abuja, said Nigerians should disregard the fake report as it was completely false.

Ihekweazu assured Nigerians that there were no recorded cases of bovine tuberculosis in the country nor were there concerns on it at the moment.

He again advised Nigerians to ensure that meat and other food to be consumed were well cooked and safely handled to avoid the spread of foodborne illnesses.

The NCDC boss added that Nigerians should visit the centers website, www.ncdc.gov.ng, or its Twitter and Facebook pages, @NCDCgov, for accurate information on disease outbreaks in the country.

The fake report was being circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp claiming that the Director General of World Health Organisation had alerted on bovine tuberculosis in cattle from the North and advised Nigerians to stop eating beef.

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President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan

By Julius Toba-Jegede

The President of the Senate Dr. Ahmad Lawan on Monday condemned the continuous killings of Nigerians in South Africa, warning that further attacks on Nigerians would no longer be condoned.

Lawan expressed concern that about 118 Nigerians had so far lost their lives in different attacks over the years, out of which 13 were by the South African Police.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammed Isa said Lawan made this known when he hosted the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Moroe.

Moroe and his delegation paid the visit to brief the Senate leadership on his government’s investigations to unravel the causes of the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and steps being taken to stop such.

The meeting, according to Lawan became pertinent considering the incessant attacks on Nigerians residing across cities in South Africa.

He said “We in the parliament must speak and prevent any further killings. These killings must stop.

“This is the era of social media where corpse of a victim may spark violence that may go beyond the control of government.

“The South African government must as a matter of urgency do whatever it takes to protect the lives and property of Nigerians living there, just as Nigerian government remain committed to the safety of South Africans residing here and their investments.

“I believe we have faced enough, we will no longer take it anymore. We want to write the names of Nigerians killed, and the South African parliament must act fast to put a stop to this menace.

“Over the years, 118 Nigerians have been killed, while 13 out of these were killed by South African Police.”

He also recalled the enormous contributions of Nigeria to South Africa during the apartheid rule.

“We must establish events leading into these killings, including the recent one of Mrs.Elizabeth Chukwu, who was killed in her hotel room,” he said.

While commending the High Commissioner for the updates, Lawan noted that, “the update on the cause of late Mrs. Chukwu’s death is heartwarming. It is a sign that something has been done in this regards.”

Earlier, Mr Moroe expressed regret over the killings of Nigerians in his country.

He extended the country’s condolences to the families of the victims.

He said that an inquest had been instituted to investigate all cases of xenophobic attacks in the country.

The inquest, he said would reveal the cause of the menace and find solutions across board.

He reiterated the commitment of South African government and its law enforcement agencies to get to the root of the matter while bringing to book perpetrators of the attacks.

“Our government will continue to be committed to the good relationship with Nigeria.

“Your sentiment has gone deep into our heart, and you will be happy that the same sentiment has been our concern in South Africa.

“On behalf of the government of South Africa, we express our sincere condolences to Nigerian government for this unfortunate incident”, he said. (NAN)

SDGs: Nigerian consul, U.S. senator call for Diaspora engagement

By Harrison Arubu

The Consul General (CG) of Nigeria in New York, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, has called on stakeholders to leverage the economic power of the Diaspora in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Okoyen made the call at a one-day conference organised by the African Trade Centre, with the theme, “Diaspora Engagement in Sustainable Development in Nigeria’’ in New York on Monday

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, hosted by the Nigerian House, came on the sidelines of the UN High Level Political Forum on the SDGs.

The CG said existing huge financing gaps in implementation of the SDGs called for viable alternative sources of funding, which Nigerians in the Diaspora represented.

Noting that sustainable development “is multidimensional and multifaceted in nature’’, Okoyen said diaspora engagement should be prioritised in the process.

In a 2018 report, international audit firm, PriceWaterCoopers (PwC), said Nigerians in the Diaspora remitted 25 billion dollars that year making them the country’s biggest export.

The figure, according to PwC, represents 6.1 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 83 per cent of the Federal Government’s budget in 2018.

Okoyen urged government and other stakeholders to engage the diaspora in remittances; trade and investment; transfer of knowledge, skills and technology, and policy formulation and implementation.

In a goodwill message, a New York State senator, Mr Robert Jackson, emphasised the importance of partnership by stakeholders, which he said was critical to attainment of the SDGs,

Focusing on Goal 13, which borders on climate action, Jackson said climate change was real judging by the rise in the incidence of flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, drought and tornadoes around the world.

“It is up to us as legislators and leaders; Nigeria being one of the leading countries, to make sure that this world is a better place for us all,’’ the lawmaker said.

Also in a goodwill message, the President of Manhattan Borough, Ms Gale Brewer, focused on the issues of gender equality and women empowerment as catalysts for the attainment of the SDGs.

Brewer called on governments at all levels to eliminate all barriers to the full participation of women in the development process.

Mr Obed Monago, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA), said in spite of the huge contributions of Nigerians abroad to national development, they were not recognised until now.

Monago lauded the recent creation of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), which he said would help government to fully engage with Nigerians abroad for national development.

“NIDCOM as intended and if well managed, devoid of the `Nigeria Factor’ will help tremendously in harnessing the talents of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

“NIDCOM’s first step, in my opinion, is to find modalities to bring all the fragmented Nigerian Diaspora organisations under NIDO’s umbrella.

“Then they should seriously synergize with this administration in creating that enabling environment that has been so elusive.

“If this can be achieved, the names of the people involved will forever be written in Gold’’, he said.

In his address of welcome, the Chief Executive Officer of African Trade Centre, Mr Prince Nwaubani, said the event was organised to echo the call for diaspora engagement in sustainable development in Africa.

NAN reports that the event featured presentation of awards to Okoyen, Jackson, Brewer and other leaders in recognition of their achievements in public service.(NAN)

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Samson Murombo

The soldier who is being accused of spying on Zimbabwean First lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa and plotting to topple President Emerson Mnangagwa has been identified.

The soldier identified as Lieutenant Colonel Samson Murombo is Commanding Officer 1 Presidential Guard Infantry Battalion.

The military boss was identified by a Zimbabwean on Twitter and exiled after former Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo posted “a shocking audio” of First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa ranting about the army allegedly spying on her and a coup plan against her husband, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Twimbo posted the Picture of Lieutenant Colonel Murombo who with Mhlanga and Manjoro are accused by the first Lady of planning a coup against Mnangagwa.

Source

A Professor of Health Education, Bidemi Idowu says no time is too long or stale to report rape or sexual abuse, as long as there is actually a case to answer .

Idowu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of delivering the 69th Inaugural Lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU).

The theme of the lecture was; Sexuality: The Savour, the Caution, the Pleasure.

According to her, most girls or women who were just coming out after 10 to 20 years to report a case of abuse might just be doing so because they were then in an era of not reporting such .

“People are now coming out to report rape or sexual assault because they were not enlightened to do so during their era and have a case to prove.

“However, there may not be a case of having to prosecute the perpetrator because there may not be evidence but at least, the culprit has been exposed,” she said.

Idowu noted that most girls or women have been abused at a time or the other in a lifetime but there might not be a penetration.

The professor said rape could be termed `fantasy’ because for some individuals, their minds were already so perverted that they did not derive pleasure except they rape or are raped.

“This however, is not a common phenomenon,” she noted.

According to her, about 35 per cent of women who were raped as minors were also raped as adults, compared to 14 per cent of women without an early rape history.

The don noted that 28 per cent of male rape victims were first raped when they were 10 years old.

Idowu identified the forms of sexual assault that were usually termed as rape include kissing of a sexual nature, touching the other person’s breast, thigh, buttocks, penis, vulva or anus, masturbation of the victim by the perpetrator.

She mentioned also, oral -genital contact, including Cunnilingus, penetration either through the vaginal or anus with a penis, finger or other objects, Exhibitionism and Frottage.

Idowu encouraged rape victims not to relent in exposing the perpetrators even if they ended up not getting justice, as this would expose the culprit and also serve as deterrent to others.

She advised that Counselling unit of universities should be expanded beyond career and academic matters to include issues encompassing family issue and sexuality.

The Professor advised that issue of sexuality should be made priority among staff and students in the university, as it did not concern only rape but was all encompassing.

According to him, this was an exceptional way to develop life skills in students.

Idowu also urged government agents to be bold enough to implement laws passed by past government on child abuse to checkmate the spread of the menace. (NAN)