A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
The Zonal Coordinator, Zone `A' of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller-General Monday Abueh, has urged officers and men of the service to do thorough physical examination of goods to boost the security of the country.
Abueh made the plea during his familiarisation visit to the Customs Training School, Ikeja Lagos. He said officers must carry out physical examination of personal effects coming through the ports, land borders and air ports.
"There is a lot of insecurity in the system because people are carrying guns for many types of crime. "The service is of the view that it does not matter how long officers spend to examine a container for the sake of security.
"It is the officer's duty to write an examination report on a particular container he or she is not satisfied with the examination. "This will enable the terminal operators to know that the container is having issues with clearance, journalists quotes Abueh as saying.
He urged officers to make use of the training school to improve their career as Customs officers, adding that when officers were posted to the training school, they perceived it as a punishment ground. Abueh said that he had never had opportunity to work in any of the Customs high-tech areas.
He said he started his Customs career in the training school, adding that he was able to acquire more expose for himself with the training he had passed through. Abueh said he had trained many officers and also developed himself through engagements as a resource person.
"If you do not have anything to do, you should engage in reading Customs books to broaden your knowledge on the job. "When I was posted to Delta State to manage Julius Berger operation for Customs in the 90s, I enrolled myself in a computer school to enable me collate their data as many as possible in a day.
"Officers were using manual operation to do the collation but it took time and I changed with the exposure I had from the training school,'' newsmen quotes him as saying. Abueh said that diplomatic items were not to be examined, adding that general cargoes should be examined because many importers engaged in false declaration.
custom officers
In his opening remarks, the Commandant of the Customs Training School, Ikeja, Comptroller Adekunle Oyeleke, decried the numerous challenges facing officers in the training school. Oyeleke pleaded with the Management of Customs to increase officers' incentives to boost their morale and change their attitude to work.
"The training school has not been having much activity since we experienced fire out break and many of the classrooms have not been repaired. "We do not have sufficient power supply to run the training school and we also need Management's attention to look for solutions to tackle the gully behind the clinic.
"Big erosion could affect the clinic building,'' he said. An officer on training, who revealed his experience at the Apapa Command before being posted to the training school, said terminal operators sometimes failed to provide fork lift and the necessary equipment for officers to do their work.
The officer said that if the Customs officers on duty had access to such equipment, they would have discovered the 661 rifle discovered in the seized container.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-In a bid to find urgent solution to the dripping economy, the Federal Government has approved a new tax regime.
It also gave its nod for the establishment of a task force on food security.
Both policies were formally approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC on Wednesday.
Briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting at the presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun stated that the main thrust of the tax policy is to establish fundamental principles to guide an orderly development of the Nigerian tax system towards meeting its overall objectives.
Also briefing, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed said that the Task Force is saddled with the responsibility of finding a quick solution to the sky-rocking prices of food items in the country.
By Vincent Ujumadu Awka- TWO persons were burnt to death and two others sustained injuries when a gas plant exploded at Nkwelle-Ezunka in Oyi local government area of Anambra State.
Two houses close to the gas plant, including personal belongings of the tenants, were also burnt to ashes.
The two victims who died in the inferno, were the driver of the tanker that brought the gas and another young man, Ezenwoke Nwigwe, who hailed from Ikeala Ngwa in Abia State, who recently completed his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme in Ibadan, Oyo State and was residing with his sister in the area.
An eye witness said that the fire disaster occurred when a tanker loaded with gas was being discharged at the station.
A security man at the gas station, Mr. Harrison Alphonsus from Adamawa State and the manager of the station, Mr. Tony Nwokonko, said the explosion caught one of the victims (Nwigwe) as he applied the fire extinguisher to quench the fire, only to be consumed by the fire.
According to them, the victims were rushed to the Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu where they were confirmed dead, while the injured ones were still receiving treatment.
The landlord of the burnt houses, Chief Nnamdi Okafor said he would have lost his entire family to the fire, but for God's intervention.
He, however, praised the men from the Okpoko Fire Service in Onitsha, who brought the situation under control, adding, however, that the fire destroyed everything he had before help came.
"The fire incident has crippled me. Everything I have has been lost, but what pains me most is the loss of my two tenants", he said.
A Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Danoye Oguntola-Laguda, has said that Christians and Muslims were the major problems of Yoruba tradition because they create a negative mindsets in individuals.
Oguntola-Laguda of the Department of Religions and Peace Studies, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (LASU), made the assertion at the institution's 57th Inaugural Lecture Series on Wednesday in Lagos.
The lecture is entitled: "Esu, The Individual and The Society''.
He said that Christians and Muslims should not misunderstand the personality of the "Esu'' (devil) deity to the detriment of Yoruba traditional religious belief.
Christian and Muslim
"Christians and Muslims are the major problems of the Yoruba tradition because they create negative mindsets in individuals that Esu is evil,'' the don said.
According to him, the influx of imported religious ideologies such as Christianity and Islam into the Yoruba religious space has affected the traditional conception of the devil.
Oguntola-Laguda said the pristine traditional conception of Esu deity as noted in Yoruba traditional religion had been abandoned for the positions of Christianity and Islam on the deity to become popular.
He said: "Esu is evil, leads men astray, encourages them to do evil, works against the salvation plan of God for mankind and therefore must be avoided at all cost''.
The philosopher said that the ideology of the two religious beliefs is an attempt to locate a scapegoat for their moral weaknesses and absolve their God from evil activities.
"In Yoruba traditional thought, all things, including evil are possible only with the approval of God and evil is caused by God for good purposes.
"Just as the labour pain experienced by women is evil only momentarily, after the delivery of the child, joy and happiness always ensued,'' he said.
Oguntola-Laguda explained that Esu as the name of a deity or divinity among pantheon of gods in Yoruba theology, which includes Orunmila (the wisdom divinity), Ogun (iron and war divinity).
Also, Obatala (creative divinity), while Olodumare (God) is the source of all beings, including the divinities which Esu is one of them.
"Yoruba religion believes that Olodumare created Esu as one of his lieutenants and gave him the primordial duties of inspecting rituals, sacrifices and worship.
"This because Esu has the will-power to approve or disapprove of all worships and rituals directed to Olodumare or any other divinities, his primordial function earned him unfortunate appellations and misconceptions,'' he said.
The professor said God seeks to bring man closer to himself by prescribing sacrifices and the devil makes sure such rituals were done according to prescription.
According to him, those who refuse to offer the prescribed sacrifice(s) are punished by the devil on behalf of God who gave him the role and this punishment are regarded as evil by humans.
"If these punishments are considered evil, then the prime cause of things — Olodumare should be liable for the actions of the Esu deity.
"This is because God allows evil to exist in order to derive greater good from it,'' he said.
Oguntola-Laguda said that to blame Esu for the evil deeds of man was to create a paradox that might be difficult to explain.
"This is because man as created by God is a determined moral agent who has come to the world to act according to the script as designed and sealed by God.
"Therefore, man cannot do otherwise since there are no alternative courses of action laid out for him,'' he said.
The philosopher said that men, unfortunately, desecrate and bring evil to themselves and the society because they do not want to do what is right.
He, however, urged all to believe in destiny, respect one another's religion, do what is right, and according to the culture of the society to enjoy sustainable peace and harmony.
U.N. human rights experts said on Wednesday U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority states contravenes international law and could lead to people denied asylum being sent home to face torture.
Trump's executive order curbing immigration has aroused an international outcry, even among U.S. allies, and sown chaos and bewilderment among travelers.
Legal challenges have spread with three U.S. states suing to overturn the order, saying it flouts constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
In a statement, the U.N. experts urged the Trump administration to protect people fleeing war and persecution and uphold the principle of non-discrimination based on race, nationality and religion. The United States should not force back refugees, a practice known as refoulement, they said.
"Such an order is clearly discriminatory. based on one's nationality. and leads to increased stigmatization of Muslim communities," said the experts.
"Recent U.S. policy on immigration also risks people being returned, without proper individual assessments and asylum procedures, to places in which they risk being subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in direct contravention of international humanitarian and human rights laws which uphold the principle of non-refoulement."
The independent experts included the U.N. special rapporteurs on migrants, François Crépeau; on racism, Mutuma Ruteere; on human rights and counter-terrorism, Ben Emmerson; on torture, Nils Melzer; and on freedom of religion, Ahmed Shaheed.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said on Monday that discriminating against people on the basis of their nationality is illegal.
The U.N. experts voiced concern that people travelling to the United States could be subject to detention for indefinite periods and ultimately deported. They called on Washington to live up to internationally agreed obligations to offer refuge to those fleeing persecution and conflicts.
Melzer also urged Trump not to consider returning to waterboarding and other methods of torture as interrogation techniques used during George W. Bush's administration but banned by his Democratic successor Barack Obama. Trump has said he believes waterboarding works but his top defence and security appointees have said they would oppose any use of it.
"Any tolerance, complacency or acquiescence with such practice, however exceptional and well-argued, will inevitably lead down a slippery slope towards complete arbitrariness and brute force," Melzer said.
The Vatican on Wednesday voiced “concern” over President Donald Trump’s executive orders to build a wall on the US-Mexican border and impose a travel ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.
“Naturally, there is concern,” the Holy See’s number three, Monsignor Angelo Becciu, said on the Catholic TV channel TV2000, in response to a question.
Pope Francis
“We are builders of bridges, far less of walls, and all Christians should emphatically reaffirm this message.”
Becciu noted that Pope Francis had repeatedly stressed the need “to integrate those who arrive, who come into our society, into our culture.”
Trump has run into a storm of criticism since signing orders to build an anti-migrant frontier wall with Mexico and temporarily ban nationals from seven countries — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — for 90 days
Dr Victor Oye, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has said that the party has a strong hold on Anambra to win any election, thus stands unbeatable in Anambra state.
He also said that no APGA member needs to leave it for another party before winning an election in Anambra.
Oye, who spoke to newsmen in Awka on Wednesday, was dispelling the rumour that Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra was decamping from APGA to APC.
Chief Victor Ike-Oye
The APGA chieftain said that Obiano's achievement in terms of socio-economic development would give him the ticket during election for second term.
The governorship election would be held in Anambra, which is the only APGA-ruling state, in November.
"It is a deliberate campaign by the detractors of Gov. Willie Obiano to smear his integrity and pit him against our party and also use it to scatter his supporters and confuse them.
"I wish to state here unequivocally that Gov. Willie Obiano has never expressed any intention to join the APC.
"He doesn't need APC to win election; he has performed and APGA is the reigning party here. I want to state it here that no party can beat APGA in Anambra state, in any election.
Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino was banned from driving for a year and fined £20,000 ($25,000, 24,000 euros) after admitting drink-driving on Wednesday.
The Brazilian international was stopped by police while he was driving his Range Rover in Liverpool city centre in the early hours of Christmas Eve, December 24.
Defending the 25-year-old at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, lawyer Michael Hogan said the incident took place the day after Firmino’s family home was targeted by burglars “prepared to use extreme force”.
However, in a statement issued after the hearing, where Firmino had a Portuguese interpreter with him in court, the Liverpool star accepted responsibility.
“I apologise, without reservation, to the club, the manager, my team-mates and the supporters for putting myself in this situation,” Firmino said.
“What I have done is wrong and sets a bad example.
“I promise to everyone in the LFC (Liverpool Football Club) family that I will learn from this mistake, learn from this experience and not repeat it in the future.”
Liverpool said in a statement that Firmino had been disciplined for a “lapse in judgment” but did not detail the specific action taken by the Premier League giants, adding it would have no impact on his availability for matches.
“The club considers this to be an isolated incident and a rare lapse in judgment and professionalism,” Liverpool said.
“We will however work with the player to further educate him on the dangers associated with drink-driving specifically.”
Earlier, the court was told how Firmino and his family, as well as friends from Brazil who were staying with them, moved out of the house following the burglary on police advice and were staying in a hotel next to the Merseyside force’s headquarters.
Firmino had been out to a restaurant before he was stopped by police.
“He was preoccupied and he accepts he should have kept a closer eye on what he had to drink,” said Hogan.
The hearing was told Firmino, accompanied to court by his wife Larissa Pereira, left the restaurant and took a “wrong turn”. He briefly drove on the wrong side of the road, before being stopped by police.
A breathalyser test showed he had a reading of 46 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath — above the legal limit of 35.
On the bid to making Anambra a serene state awash with an aquatic-peaceful splendor, Gov. Obiano made a signage law for the good people of his state. Apparently, Six hundred and fifty violators of Anambra signage law were prosecuted between July and December 2016, the Anambra Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) said on Wednesday.
The Managing Director of ANSAA, Mr Jude Emecheta, told newsmen in Awka that 400 of the offenders were arraigned in Awka, while 250 were in Onitsha.
Willy Obiano
Emecheta said that 342 other offenders settled out of court with the agency and paid their bills, while 168 were issued bench warrants for non-appearance in court.
He expressed disappointment that big firms in the state, including multinationals were in the habit of evading the payment for signage and advertisement fees.
The managing director said the agency recovered millions of naira from the evaders, adding that efforts were being made to ensure that business concerns in the state pay signage and advertisement fees.
"Before now, big companies had evaded signage and advertisement fees, but with the agency's introduction of prosecution of offenders, the story has changed.
"The agency was able to recover millions of naira from these companies, while some of them who were summoned choose to pay even before going to court.
"But some of them are bent on not performing their statutory duties to the state. We will continue to go after them.
"In Onitsha, people were surprised because that was the first time such a measure was adopted to enforce payment. It brought mixed feelings but yielded a positive result," he said.
Emecheta said the agency will not relent on the new approach to realise more revenue and surpass the success of 2016.
Acting president Yemi Osinbajo today presided over the FEC meeting at the Council Chamber State House in Abuja.
R-L, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo confers with SGF, Eng Babachir David Lawal as Acting President presides over 4th FEC Meeting at the Council Chamber State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 1 2017
R-L, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SGF, Eng Babachir David Lawal, Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari and Head Of Civil Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita as Acting President presides over 4th FEC Meeting at the Council Chamber State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.
Cross Section of Ministers as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo Presides over 4th FEC Meeting at the Council Chamber State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.
R-L, Minister of State Aviation, Sen Hadi Sirika, Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Ameachi, Minister of State Mines and Steel, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari, Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr Kayode Fayemi,Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnya Onu and Minister of State Power Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo Presides over 4th FEC Meeting at the Council Chamber State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE.
An Ikeja Magistrates' Court on Wednesday remanded at the Kirikiri Prisons, a driver who pleaded guilty to beating a police officer. Magistrate A.A Adesanya remanded Bamidele Olowokere, 36, who was charged with conspiracy, breach of peace and assault.
Adesanya adjourned the case till Feb. 25 for review of facts of the case and sentencing of the resident of Agege, Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, the accused and others still at large conspired to assault DSP Saibu Braimoh on Jan.19 on Capitol Road, Agege. "The accused and others beat up the police officer while he was performing his lawful duty," he said. Nwosu said that Braimoh was on surveillance patrol when he was assaulted by the accused and the others.
He said that the officer noticed heavy traffic and boarded a motorcycle to go and clear any obstruction, but was beaten as soon as he alighted from the motorcycle.
"As he alighted from the motorcycle, the accused and others came out from nowhere and started beating him, and injured him all over his body,'' he submitted. He noted that the offences contravened Sections 166, 171 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Reportedly, the accused may be jailed for three years if found guilty.
The nearly men of African football in recent years, Ghana go into a sixth consecutive semi-final at the Cup of Nations when they face Cameroon in Franceville on Thursday.
The Black Stars have not won the trophy since 1982, instead gaining a reputation for coming up just short all too often over the last decade.
Avram Grant’s side lost on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the final two years ago, while their current run of near misses began with a 1-0 last-four defeat to Cameroon at home in Accra in 2008.
But in Gabon they have seemed like a side on a mission to end their long title drought and a 2-1 quarter-final win over DR Congo in Oyem on Sunday, secured thanks to a goal each from the Ayew brothers, took them through to the last four.
“It’s not just by chance but by the hard work the team has put in,” Ghana’s assistant coach Maxwell Konadu told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the Black Stars’ consistency at the tournament.
“The players are always willing to do something for their nation. One thing we all dream to achieve is to win the cup this time around.”
Konadu confirmed that Ghana are hopeful of having skipper Asamoah Gyan — a survivor of the 2008 squad — back fit from the adductor injury suffered in their last group game against Egypt and that kept him out of the DR Congo win.
Meanwhile, Razak Brimah will hope to keep his place in goal despite being fined $2,500 by the Ghanaian FA after upsetting supporters with an outburst on Facebook.
Razak said he was responding to insults directed at his mother but nevertheless issued an official apology.
“I accept that as an ambassador for my country Ghana and a role model for many across the globe, I should not have reacted this way,” said the 29-year-old.
– Exceeding expectations – The sedate town of Franceville, set amidst lush green rolling hills around the Mpassa river, was the venue for Cameroon’s penalty shoot-out win over Senegal in the last round.
So while Ghana had to travel to the south-east of Gabon from Oyem, Cameroon were able to stay at their base in the nearby town of Moanda, one of the biggest manganese producers in the world.
There Hugo Broos’s side have been preparing in the knowledge they have already exceeded expectations in making it this far.
Their build-up has been slightly tarnished over a disagreement relating to bonuses, with Broos saying the country’s federation has shown the team “a lack of respect”.
But the coach insisted that the issue will not be held up as an excuse if their run ends here.
“We have not been happy since the start of the tournament but you have never seen that on the field,” he said.
“If we lose it will not be because the money is not good, it will be because Ghana are better than us.”
Cameroon progressed from their group at the expense of hosts Gabon and then edged out a much-fancied Senegal thanks to a Sadio Mane miss in a penalty shoot-out that followed a goalless draw.
They have put behind them the withdrawals of key players before the competition, including Joel Matip and Eric Choupo-Moting, and are flourishing under their Belgian coach.
“The players who didn’t come have their own personal reasons why they didn’t come and we are not looking back,” said the defender Fai Collins.
Collins remembers well the win against Ghana at the same stage nine years ago when the Indomitable Lions side featured stars like Samuel Eto’o and Rigobert Song.
“I remember I was at home, watching the game with my parents,” he said.
“It was an extraordinary feeling for us beating Ghana knowing they had a very good squad. Now I am here and I hope I can have the same feeling as I did back then.”
A Professor of Philosophy of Religion, Danoye Oguntola-Laguda, has said that Christians and Muslims were the major problems of Yoruba tradition because they create a negative mindsets in individuals.
Oguntola-Laguda of the Department of Religions and Peace Studies, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (LASU), made the assertion at the institution's 57th Inaugural Lecture Series on Wednesday in Lagos.
The lecture is entitled: "Esu, The Individual and The Society''.
He said that Christians and Muslims should not misunderstand the personality of the "Esu'' (devil) deity to the detriment of Yoruba traditional religious belief.
"Christians and Muslims are the major problems of the Yoruba tradition because they create negative mindsets in individuals that Esu is evil,'' the don said.
According to him, the influx of imported religious ideologies such as Christianity and Islam into the Yoruba religious space has affected the traditional conception of the devil.
Oguntola-Laguda said the pristine traditional conception of Esu deity as noted in Yoruba traditional religion had been abandoned for the positions of Christianity and Islam on the deity to become popular.
He said: "Esu is evil, leads men astray, encourages them to do evil, works against the salvation plan of God for mankind and therefore must not be avoided at all cost''.
The philosopher said that the ideology of the two religious beliefs is an attempt to locate a scapegoat for their moral weaknesses and absolve their God from evil activities.
"In Yoruba traditional thought, all things, including evil are possible only with the approval of God and evil is caused by God for good purposes.
"Just as the labour pain experienced by women is evil only momentarily, after the delivery of the child, joy and happiness always ensued,'' he said.
Oguntola-Laguda explained that Esu as the name of a deity or divinity among pantheon of gods in Yoruba theology, which includes Orunmila (the wisdom divinity), Ogun (iron and war divinity).
Also, Obatala (creative divinity), while Olodumare (God) is the source of all beings, including the divinities which Esu is one of them.
"Yoruba religion believes that Olodumare created Esu as one of his lieutenants and gave him the primordial duties of inspecting rituals, sacrifices and worship.
"This because Esu has the will-power to approve or disapprove of all worships and rituals directed to Olodumare or any other divinities, his primordial function earned him unfortunate appellations and misconceptions,'' he said.
The professor said God seeks to bring man closer to himself by prescribing sacrifices and the devil makes sure such rituals were done according to prescription.
According to him, those who refuse to offer the prescribed sacrifice(s) are punished by the devil on behalf of God who gave him the role and this punishment are regarded as evil by humans.
"If these punishments are considered evil, then the prime cause of things — Olodumare should be liable for the actions of the Esu deity.
"This is because God allows evil to exist in order to derive greater good from it,'' he said.
Oguntola-Laguda said that to blame Esu for the evil deeds of man was to create a paradox that might be difficult to explain.
"This is because man as created by God is a determined moral agent who has come to the world to act according to the script as designed and sealed by God.
"Therefore, man cannot do otherwise since there are no alternative courses of action laid out for him,'' he said.
The philosopher said that men, unfortunately, desecrate and bring evil to themselves and the society because they do not want to do what is right.
He, however, urged all to believe in destiny, respect one another's religion, do what is right, and according to the culture of the society to enjoy sustainable peace and harmony.
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has called for adequate budgetary allocation for the Nigeria Police Force to effectively discharge its mandate.
He made the call when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, led by its Chairman, Mr Haliru Jika, paid an oversight visit to the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said that the annual budgetary allocation to the force with regards to capital projects and overhead do not reflect the enormous responsibilities of the force.
The I-G noted that allocation to the force had been grossly inadequate in spite of the increasing security challenges it had to contend with.
He added that only 25 per cent (N4 billion) of the N16 billion appropriated for capital projects in 2016 was released , leaving a whooping N12 billion.
"The amount released and cash-backed in September is being utilised for payment of completed and ongoing projects," he said.
He noted that the non-release of appropriated capital budget had inhibited the force from accomplishing its objective of providing necessary tools and infrastructure.
IGP-Idris
The police boss said the force received N6 billion as overhead allocation out of the N9.2 billion appropriated for 2016, leaving an outstanding of N2.8 billion.
Idris said payment of personnel in the 42 commands and formations was carried out through the GIFMIS platform of the Federal Government.
He said that out of the N285 appropriated, N273 was paid through the platform, leaving a balance of N10 billion.
He added that the requisite operational tools and infrastructure were indispensable in order for the force to carry out its statutory responsibilities.
The tools include vehicles, arms and ammunition, aircraft, intelligence and surveillance equipment, among others.
He said that the capital budget for the force was inadequate to address the security challenges confronting the country, stressing that "it is an onerous task that requires enormous resources to attain and every gain archived must be sustained."
He called for the cooperation and support of Nigerians to provide the necessary resources to enable the force to perform its duties effectively.
In a remark, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Mr Haliru Jika, said the committee was on a fact-finding mission.
He said "we are here to perform the annual ritual of over-sighting your activities.
"We are assuring you of our support for you to achieve your mandate of ensuring internal security."
He said that the constitution empowered the National Assembly to ensure that all agencies of government complied with the appropriation Act.
The good people of Nigeria in union with the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), on Wednesday commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for intercepting a 40-foot container with 661 pump action guns illegally imported.
The National Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr Stanley Ezenga, made the commendation in an interview with pressmen in Lagos.
Photos: Customs intercepted containers of gun
He said that the interception was particularly commendable in view of the country's security challenges. Ezenga told journalist that Nigeria's security challenges would have been more if the rifles got into circulation.
"The discovery of these dangerous weapons by customs is a pointer to the fact that the service will deliver on its mandate if provided with all the things required to do its job.
"However, customs should embark on self-purging because it is embarrassing that some officials at the airport passed the same container that was discovered to carry weapons, during a turnaround check on Mile 2 – Apapa Road," he said.
Ezenga urged the NCS to intensify its anti-corruption fight to prevent entry of contraband into the country.
Katsina State Government on Wednesday said that it would establish a mining company to explore the 36 different solid minerals found in commercial quantities in the state.
Alhaji Mustapha Kanti, Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, told newsmen in Katsina that the solid minerals were found in large quantities across the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.
According to the commissioner, the solid minerals were identified by the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria, in collaboration with the state government.
Bello Masari
He said that the mining company, if established, would work with some foreign investors for the exploration project.
Kanti said that the move would assist the state government in generating more funds to execute more projects and provide employment for youths in the state.
"Katsina is blessed with abundant solid minerals scattered in different parts of the state.
"We are working on the exploration of these mineral deposits to generate revenue and provide employment for our people".
The commissioner said the state government had established a team to stop illegal mining activities across the state.
"Any company or individual caught indulging in illegal mining will be prosecuted,'' he said.
The commissioner said that the ministry recently convened a meeting to sensitize community leaders on the need to report any illegal mining in their areas.
41 Nigerians deported from the United Kingdom for various immigration offences Wednesday arrived at the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos in a chartered Air bus 330 aircraft which touched ground at about 7:40 a.m.
The deportees, made up of 33 males and eight females were said to have been living illegally in the UK as their visas have expired .
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), police men and aviation security personnel were on ground to receive and profile them.
The spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency, South-West Zone, Ibrahim Farinloye had on Tuesday said the agency was expecting 83 Nigerian deportees from the United Kingdom.
Jos – As the world celebrates the World Hijab Day, the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) cautioned Muslim and non-Muslim women to desist from using the veil as "smoke screen'' for evil and nefarious activities.
The Amir (Leader) of the association in Plateau, Hajiya Mairo Muhammad, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.
She said it was worrisome to know that some women use hijab to prevent security personnel from checking them at check points, thus carrying harmful devices that threaten the existence of mankind.
Hijab is a common form of headscarf worn by Muslim women that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear.
The Arabic word hijab, however, refers not just to headscarf but to modest dress and behaviour in general.
The FOMWAN leader said "as Muslim women, we are supposed to be law abiding and practice Islam according to the tenets of the religion, submit ourselves for scrutiny at security check points to forestall circumstances that threaten lives.
"It has been brought to our notice that cheating materials in schools are also being hidden using hijabs, this is not Islamic and should be stopped immediately.
"Evil perpetrators are giving wrong impression about the use of hijab, which may lead to more discrimination of Muslim women wearing the veil in the society.''
She then urged Federal Government to give legal backing to the use of the veil by Muslim and non-Muslim women alike, stressing that the freedom to practice one's religion should be all-encompassing.
Muslim women who genuinely want to wear hijab should be free to do so without harassment or molestation and should be seen and respected as any other woman, she added.
She explained that the World Hijab Day was to show the public that wearing the hijab was a way of life for the Muslims out of their choice and respect for the religion.
It was celebrated to foster religious tolerance among all religions and to correct the wrong impression that wearing the veil was a symbol of oppression and segregation, she said.
The World Hijab Day is an annual event founded in 2013 by Nazma Khan, a Muslim woman who moved from Bangladesh to New York at age 11.
Celebrated on Feb. 1 each year in 140 countries worldwide, Khan, the founder of the day said the headscarf was a symbol of her religious belief in beauty through modesty.
She said that the purpose of the day was to raise awareness about modest Muslim dress and to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab.
Other forms of hijab are the Niqab, Burqa and Chodor.
The Niqab is a head-and-face-covering combination which leaves just a slit for the eyes and goes down as far the woman's mid-back to cover her hair.
The Burqa covers the whole body from the head to the ground, covering the entire face and eyes, with just a mesh to see through, while Chador is a body-length outer garment worn mainly by women in Iran, often accompanied by a small headscarf underneath.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday signed into law the anti-kidnapping bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly, with a pledge to ensure its full implementation to eradicate kidnapping once and for all in the State.
The Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping Law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment on kidnapping for ransom. The law also stipulates that where a victim dies in the course of kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); signing into Law the Kidnapping, Sports Trust Fund and Sports Commission Bills at the Conference Room, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. With him are Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (left); Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (2nd right) and Special Adviser to the Governor, Office of Civic Engagement, Mr. Kehinde Joseph (right).
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Lagos House in Ikeja, Governor Ambode said the spate of kidnapping in the State had gotten to a level that required decisive action from government, hence the need for the enactment of the law to send serious message to perpetrators of such heinous crime.
He said aside the enactment of the law, the State Government was also putting in place appropriate measures particularly in the schools and other vulnerable targets to prevent kidnapping and other security breaches.
The Governor said: "Security is of utmost importance to our administration and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos.
"Why we use this law to address the challenge and punish the criminals, we are also putting in place appropriate measures particularly in our schools and other vulnerable targets to prevent security breaches and it is important that we ensure that everything we do in respect of this anti-kidnapping law is in good faith and good spirit to eradicate the issue of kidnapping once and for all in the State."
Governor Ambode assured that the justice system would be activated to execute the anti-kidnapping law to the letter to ensure that any criminal caught is subjected to the full wrath of the law.
The Governor, at the ceremony, also signed the Sports Trust Fund Bill and the Sports Commission bill into law, explaining that the laws were enacted to address key issues bordering on security and effectively harnessing the potentials in the sports sector.
Giving insight on the laws, Governor Ambode said: "The Sport Commission Law will give legal backing to the formulation and implementation of sport policies in the State while the Sport Trust Fund will enable government to raise money for the development of sporting facilities and activities.
"This fund will provide a platform where the State Government can enter into partnership with the private sector to finance sports infrastructure, tournaments and programmes which will in turn create employment and generate revenue for the State."
He added that as provided for in the law, a Board of Trustees comprising all stakeholders in the sports community would soon be inaugurated for the Trust Fund, saying that with the law, government was restating its commitment to scale up sports development and make the State the hub of sports in Nigeria.
He also appreciated members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their efforts in the enactment of the laws.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the signing of the bills into law by the Governor was a clear testimony of the commitment of the State Government to the security of citizens and sports development.
Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, said it was particularly gratifying to note that the anti-kidnapping law was an all-encompassing one which prescribes punishment for the actual actors, those that collaborate, aid and abet and those who see the act of kidnapping being perpetrated and do nothing about it, as well as confiscation of properties attached to the heinous crime of kidnapping.
He said the passage and signing of the law was a direct response and responsiveness of the government to the spate of kidnapping in the State, adding that the expansive provisions in the law would, in no long distant future, ensure the eradication of the menace in the State.
On the bills on sports, the Speaker said: "We are happy that Lagos State is taking a very bold step at ensuring that sporting activities get a boost from the government and this is a clear demonstration to the people of Lagos State and Nigeria that the State Government is paying adequate attention to sporting activities."
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