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  • Yobe State Govt. entices workers with land, farm inputs to embrace agriculture

    The Yobe State Government says it has procured 1,000 hectares of land and loaned it out along with other farm inputs to civil servants to enable them engage in farming activities.

    The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Gajerima, made the disclosure in Damaturu on Tuesday in interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said government provided land and other farm inputs as incentives to make farming attractive to workers to enhance agricultural production.

    The commissioner said tractors had been dedicated to the programme to harrow farmlands allocated to the beneficiaries.

    ‘‘We have provided improved variety of seedlings which are sold at subsidised rates to the beneficiaries to assist them get the good variety for optimum yields.

    ‘‘Government will also accord priority in fertiliser distribution to those civil servants engaged in agricultural programme,’’ he said.

    He said Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have returned to their communities would receive government’s attention to encourage them to embrace farming.

    ‘‘This is to support them recover their economy through agricultural production being the major preoccupation of the communities.

    ‘‘Government would consider providing farmers in the state with a ready market to buy excesses of the harvests under the strategic grain reserve programme,’’ he said.

    He appealed to youths to take advantage of the reclaimed peace and security to engage in agriculture to promote food security and economic recovery in the state. (NAN)

  • Police arrest 3 for armed robbery in Niger state

    Police arrest 3 for armed robbery in Niger state

    The Police Command in Niger state has arrested three suspected armed robbers who have been terrorising the people of Wushishi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    The command’s Public Relations’ Officer, DSP Mohammadu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Minna.

    “We received information that one Alhaji Samaila Usman of Zaragi Maito Fulani camp, had been attacked by hoodlums armed with cutlasses and a dane gun.

    “They stormed his house and inflicted injury on his mouth leading to the removal of his two teeth.
    “The suspects also robbed him of N87, 000, two sets of wrapper and one Tecno handset,” Abubakar said.

    He said the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad swung into action, arrested the three suspects and recovered one single barrel gun and two cutlasses from them.
    Abubakar said upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and would be charged to court at the end of investigation.( NAN)

  • Court remands 3 brothers over alleged conspiracy, trespass in Sokoto

    Court remands 3 brothers over alleged conspiracy, trespass in Sokoto

    A Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded three brothers, Murtala Bello, 28, Dauda Bello, 27 and Maccido Bello, 20 in prison for conspiring and trespassing into the house of one Salihu Abubakar.

    The accused persons who reside in Rijiyar Dorowa area of Sokoto, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy and house trespass.

    The Chief Magistrate, Abubakar Adamu, ordered that they be remanded in prison and adjourned the case till July 30, for further hearing.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Monday Kennedy told the court that the matter was reported at the Dadin Kowa police station by the complainant, Malam Salihu Abubakar of Tsalibawa area of Sokoto on July 3.

    Abubakar said the accused persons stormed his house with cutlasses and threatened to kill him.

    Kennedy said the offence contravened sections 97, 349, and 397 of the Penal Code.(NAN)

  • 2019: INEC, EU agencies to evolve instrument to tackle vote buying during elections

    2019: INEC, EU agencies to evolve instrument to tackle vote buying during elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday opened a two-day training for its legal officers on emerging electoral offences ahead of the 2019 general polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised for INEC staff in the legal department from 10 states in the Northern region.

    It aims to evolve legal instruments to tackle the new challenges of vote buying that allegedly occurred during the just concluded Ekiti governorship election.
    The program is supported by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) and European Center for Electoral Support (ECES).

    Speaking at the event in Kaduna, INEC’s National Commissioner, Abubakar Nahuche, said that the collaboration with EU-SDGN and ECES was to equip legal officers with knowledge to tackle emerging electoral challenges.

    “The training should equip staff with how to address emerging electoral offences such as vote buying which came up during Ekiti governorship election.

    “It will also prepare the officers for legal issues expected to come up before, during and after the 2019 general elections,“ he said.

    According to him the legal staff needed to be abreast with best global best practices and legal mechanisms to curb this trend in future elections.

    He said the legal profession was dynamic globally and the commission could not afford to be left out.

    “We are committed to ensuring that our staff is updated and abreast of global trends.

    “Going through the topics selected for the seminar, I am hopeful that this will give them the required skills to tackle the emerging challenges.

    “It is expected that they will be better informed on various issues such as advocacy, drafting and frontloading evidence,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the Project Coordinator of ECES Nigeria, Mr Rudolf Elbling, said the training was the third in the series as similar training was conducted for INEC Legal Services Department in Benin, Edo State and Keffi, Nasarawa state.

    The Project Coordinator, represented by Mrs Maria Teresa Mauro, ECES Senior Expert Legal, said that conducting election was a very complex exercise in all democracies across the world.

    He said there were several stakeholders who had specific roles to play as well as rights and responsibilities before, during and after elections.

    “The training seeks to boost the confidence of the legal officers and positively reposition them in handling of election petitions and frontloading of evidence.

    “There is therefore the need for a clear regulatory framework to guide every stage of the electoral process and set the rule of the game.

    “In essence, the electoral legal framework must stipulate clear direction and guide on what to be done, when, how and by whom.

    According to him, the legal officers have the primary responsibility of ensuring that elections and indeed other activities of the Commission are conducted in a way consistent with existing laws through proper interpretation and application of the rules.

    “It is my hope that presentations and deliberations at this training will keep participants abreast of best global best practices in electoral law and place them in a vantage position to professionally render valuable legal services to the Commission.

    “The topics to be addressed at the training are purposefully relevant to strengthening the institutional capacity of INEC to address legal issues.

    “The presentations are Election Dispute Resolution and Best Practices, Strength and Weaknesses of the 2015 Elections from Legal perspective.

    “Potential impacts of the 2018 Electoral Act, modern drafting techniques, opinion writing and brief writing and election petitions: practice, procedure and advocacy.

    “Participants at similar training demonstrated adequate professional knowledge of legal issues relating to elections and commitments to ensure that the legal interests of the Commission ahead of the 2019 elections are duly protected.“

    The ECES coordinator said “the center is proud to be part of initiative of supporting the legal services department of INEC and will in the next few days replicate this training in other parts of the country.

    “We also plan to support training of INEC Legal Officers and Police officers in the prosecution of election offences.

    “We shall organize workshop for political parties on legal framework, compilation of judicial decisions and roundtable with Judges of Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal and Federal High Courts and Judges of Election Petitions Tribunal.

    “ It is our expectation that all these supports will deepen knowledge and sharpen skills on how to use law and its instruments as veritable tool for the conduct of free, fair and credible elections come 2019.“ (NAN)

  • NIWA completes Baro port, others

    Mr Danladi Ibrahim, the Acting Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), said the Baro port had been completed and was ready to start operations.

    Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Monday, Ibrahim said the Baro and Lokoja ports would be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari before the end of this year.

    He said NIWA had supplied the cargo-handling equipment which was being installed at Baro port.

    “President Buhari will commission Baro and Lokoja ports before the end of 2018.

    “There is provision in the 2018 budget for the construction of roads that will link Baro port to Lokoja and Abuja Express Way.

    “We have engaged another contractor to fast-tack the construction of Lokoja port and also working toward completion of Oguta port in Imo,” Ibrahim said.

    He also said the concession of Onitsha Port had been completed and the concessionaires would soon start operation.

    “Finally the concessioning of Onitsha port has been completed; we opened the financial bids on July 3, 2018 and we will pick the most competent concessionaire.

    “Any moment from now, the concessionaire will take over Onitsha port,” said Ibrahim.

    He said there was need for NIWA to continue to engage in continuous maintenance of all the channels under its jurisdiction.

    According to him, the authority has been calling on international organisations to partner with it.

    Ibrahim said NIWA’s Bill which had been before the National Assembly for the past 10 years had passed second reading.

    “This would help the organisation to be independent like other sister government agencies.

    “The bill would increase the capacity of the authority and also create room for Public Private Partnership (PPP) and provide numerous jobs for unemployed Nigerians,” he said.

    Ibrahim said NIWA had included the dredging of River Benue to complement the River Niger in its 2019 masterplan.

    He said the authority would start the dredging of Baro river soon.

    According to him, the dredging of Ajaokuta – Onitsha waterways is ongoing, and that NIWA will purchase barges for transshipment of bulk cargoes from Lagos ports to Onitsha and Baro ports.

    Ibrahim said NIWA was employing PPP approach for its channel management with some foreign partners. (NAN)

  • Presidential aspirant, Moghalu announces campaign team

    Presidential aspirant, Moghalu announces campaign team

    Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, the Presidential aspirant for the Young Progressive Party (YPP), has appointed Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, a political consultant, as the Chief Operating Officer of his 2019 Presidential campaign.

    Prof. Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, also announced Ebere Samuel as the National Coordinator for the Kingsley Moghalu Support Organisation (KIMSO).

    The announcement is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos by Mr Jide Akintunde, spokesperson for Moghalu and his ‘To Build A Nation (TBAN) movement’.

    Moghalu also announced the appointment of Zonal Coordinators of KIMSO to provide direction for the campaign activities across the six geo-political zones of the country.

    The zonal leaders are Suleiman Yusuf (North East); Muhammad Kabir (North West); Jennifer Igoh (North Central); Chief Uduma Nnate (South East); Adewole Akinpelu (South West) and Josef Anndotan (South South).

    According to him, Abubakar will coordinate the operations of the campaign, including logistics, personnel, fundraising and political operations across the 36 States of Nigeria.

    He said that Abubakar’s duty would involve overseeing the work of the nationwide KIMSO and the Kingsley Moghalu Volunteer Force.

    “I am pleased to welcome Abubakar, Ebere and the zonal coordinators of KIMSO to our ‘To Build a Nation’ (TBAN) movement and our campaign for the Office of the President on the platform of the YPP.

    “We must release Nigerians from the bondage of poverty and unemployment in which our failed and recycled politicians have kept us, and take our country into a new future of prosperity”

    “We need solid structures in place to win the elections and bring this vision into reality.

    “The appointment of Abubakar, Ebere and zonal leaders of KIMSO brings on board energetic men and women who are passionate about the vision and know how to get things done”, he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Moghalu, is a political economist and founder of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation. (NAN)

  • Salary arrears: Disengaged staff members paralyse C/River Water Board activities

    By George Odok
    The 281 disengaged contract staff of the Cross River Water Board Ltd. on Monday paralysed activities at the office headquarters in Calabar over unpaid salary arrears.

    The protesting staff members occupied the main entrance of the water board to demand for payment of their 12 months’ salary arrears, thereby preventing movement in and out of the agency.

    They carried different placards some read: “Every labourer deserves his wages”, “We heard that secret payments are being made to our colleagues”, “Gov. Ben Ayade has approved our payment amongst others.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters caused gridlock along the Marian highway in Calabar.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesting staff, Mr Ogar Kelly, said that they were disengaged in Oct. 31, 2017 without a duly notified letter.

    He said the agency had not paid them for the past 12 months, and that life has not been easy with them.

    “We have not been paid from October 2016 to October 2017 before were disengaged.

    “About 281 of us were not given disengagement letter; we only saw our names on the notice board that we have been sacked from work.

    “Actually, we were engaged during the administration of the former Managing Director, Dr Godwin Igile.

    “After the former MD left, the new Acting MD, Dr Stephen Odey, came in and helped us to meet with the governor.

    “At that meeting, the governor promised to release N253 million to clear the debt of the disengaged and contract staff in the agency.

    “We were very surprised that after the governor released the money, the present Acting MD said he was not going to attend to the disengaged staff since he was not the one that engaged them.

    “This is not what the governor said initially because the money was released to pay both contract and engaged staff that were disengaged by the board in 2016,’’ he said.

    Kelly appealed to the management of the agency to be sincere by paying them all their entitlements.

    Responding, Odey told NAN in a telephone interview that the protesting staff members were engaged illegally by the former MD.

    “The 500 staff that I received when I came on board have been regularised and paid all their outstanding salaries.

    “There were mass irregularities when the disengaged contract staff came into the board.

    “Those with Diploma were paid N100,000 while those with Higher Diploma were paid N40,000. We have to look into all these irregularities carefully.

    “In the next two weeks, I will look at all their certificates and screen them before taking the next line of action,’’ Odey said. (NAN)

  • Gunman dead after shooting 14, killing one, in Toronto: Canadian police

    MONTREAL: 

    Fourteen people, including a young girl, were shot near downtown Toronto, police in Canada’s biggest city said on Sunday, with one person killed and the gunman also dead.The young girl was in a critical condition, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said.

    “We are looking at all possible motives… and not closing any doors,” Saunders told reporters at the site of the shooting.

    22-year-old robber shot dead by citizen in Karachi’s Clifton area

    Paramedics, firefighters and police converged on the shooting in Toronto’s east end, which has many popular restaurants, cafes and shops.

    Police said the gunman had used a handgun. Earlier reports said nine people had been shot.

    Reports of gunfire in the city’s Greektown neighborhood began at 10 ppm local time , CityNews.com said.

    Family, relatives mourn death of Pakistani student in Texas shooting

    Witnesses said they heard 25 gunshots, the news website reported.

    Toronto is grappling with a sharp rise in gun violence this year. Deaths from gun violence in the city jumped 53 per cent to 26 so far in 2018 from the same period last year, police data last week showed, with the number of shootings rising 13 per cent.

    Toronto Police officers walk the scene at Danforth St. at the scene of a shooting in Toronto. PHOTO:AFP

    Toronto Police officers walk the scene at Danforth St. at the scene of a shooting in Toronto.
    PHOTO:AFP

    Toronto deployed about 200 police officers from July 20 in response to the recent spate in shootings, which city officials have blamed on gang violence.

    A Toronto Police Officer stands watch at Danforth St. at the scene of a shooting in Toronto. PHOTO:AFP

    A Toronto Police Officer stands watch at Danforth St. at the scene of a shooting in Toronto.
    PHOTO:AFP

    Pakistani exchange student among ten killed in Texas school shooting

    Toronto Mayor John Tory told reporters that the city has a gun problem and guns were too readily available to too many people. Read more: Canada , Latest , Shooting

    culled from The Tribune Express, Pak

  • Oshiomhole to ministers: Swear in board members or be expelled from party

    By Ismaila Chafe

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, says Ministers who fail to inaugurate members of board of parastatals under their supervision risk expulsion from the party.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some ministers including Ministers of State Aviation and that of Labour and Employment, Hadi Sirika and Chris Ngige respectively, had refused to inaugurate members of boards recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ngige, had in a letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, explained that his inability to inaugurate the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Funds (NSITF), was due to alleged uncovered fraud by the previous board to the tune of N40billion.

    Sirika on the other hand said he could not swear in board members because of the appointment of non-professionals which according to him, is against the Act governing the aviation industry.

    “If the minister refuses we will suspend him from the party. You know we must return to internal discipline.

    “For me it is the height of mischief for any minister, you cannot purport to be honourable minister and you act dishonourably and nobody is greater than the party.

    “And if the President condones disrespect for his office, I will not condone disrespect for the party.

    “And we will expel the minister.

    “We will prevail on the president that he can’t keep in his cabinet, people who have neither respect for his own decisions nor have respect for the party without which they would not have been ministers.

    “There are no independent candidate in our system, nobody, I emphasis no minister is above the party.’’

    Cue out audio

    Oshiohmole said members of board of government agencies and institutions appointed by the president must be inaugurated, noting that some ministers had taken undue advantage of the president’s fatherly disposition.

    He said: “Now, it is the same green pen that made them ministers that appointed these board members that they are refusing to swear in.

    “And it is absolutely illegal for a minister in a democracy to prey the powers of the board because the laws establishing those institutions are clear, that the boards have procedures to follow.

    “So, when a minister sits in his office to appropriate the powers of the board in a democracy, not in a dictatorship and award contract that didn’t go through boards, those are clearly abuse of office for which they are liable.

    “I am convinced that what they are doing is not with the endorsement of Mr President.

    “Over the period, they have tried to drop the president’s name but I tell them it is the same authority that appoints these people.

    “So, we are informing them that it is either they comply with the president’s instructions or they comply with the party’s position or they go and administer outside the government,’’ he added.

    The APC leader also dismissed the insinuation that he had been destabilised over threat of mass defection from the party.

    “No, I am not losing sleep. I am sleeping very well. I still hold the view that you can’t vomit in the morning and convert it to lunch in the afternoon if you have honour. And that position still remains the same.

    “I have made this point clear that we can distinguish the mercenaries from those who genuinely have complains.

    “Our business as party leaders is to try and manage, listen and find solutions to those who have verifiable complains.

    “But those who are permanent mercenaries and are in this business for personal issues, there is not much we can do about that and we are not going to change the core values of the party in order to retain them,’’ he said.