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
By Emeka Aginam The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Mobile Software Solutions Limited, Chris Uwaje has canvassed for the adoption of Internet Protocol version 6, Ipv6, for African Governments for the challenges ahead and sustainable development.Uwaje
Uwaje who spoke during a panel on IPv6 forum at the ongoing global Internet of Thing , IoT, summit holding in Geneva, Switzerland, told the international community that Africa may not be globally competitive if the governments fail to adopt Ipv6 on time.
Noting that IPv6 will one day become the absolute default Prefixes for the Internet, the Oracle of the Nigerian Information Technology industry noted that the continent must recognize and embrace IPv6 for sustainable development. "Globally , the next battlefield for sustainable development and wealth creation resides in IPv6 and IoT strategic knowledge configuration.
"Africa stands at the dawn of technology opportunity and will benefit immensely, if government and industry lead the advocacy to passionately promote innovation -through IPv6 adoption and IoT transmission as combined accelerator to create something and change everything.", he told the gathering of international community", he said.
As part of the readiness of Nigerian government, he told the gathering that the government of Nigeria had created a special committee to increase IPv6 awareness and study policy framework.
Citing Rwanda as example, Uwaje said that it proposed that government sets the example to the operational deployment and use of IPv6 through the designation of an IPv6 transition task force with a time line action plan.
Going forward, and recognizing the fact that knowledge development strategies and content in Africa faces a monumental challenge by the emerging knowledge Olympiad, the continent, he said needed strategic collaboration in Research, Innovation, IoTs, Embedded Systems, IPv6, Cloud, Big Data, Nano of Things, among others.
He urged participants at the international capacity building to declare the current status of Africa wide IPv6 development agenda as a “Critical State of Emergency”
He called on the Africa Union, AU, to lead the advocacy for the establishment of Africa IPv6/IoT marshal plan. The former President of Information Technology Association of Nigeria, ITAN, at the conference advocated the need to establish the Africa IPv6/IoT development framework, AIIDF, as a platform for clustering and sharing critical digital knowledge systems for accelerated Information Society competitiveness at all levels.
He further recommended that the need to encourage Africa policy makers and leadership in each country to establish IPv6/IoT task forces to develop country IPv6/IoT Strategic Plans and by extension, to ensure that adequate funding is provided in their National Budget for the adoption , diffusion and advancement IPv6/IoT in Africa.
Promote the establishment of Africa-wide IoT Innovation Hackathon on Africa Development of Things (AdoT), partner with African professionals on strategies to retool the Africa knowledge workforce and infrastructure, as strategic imperatives for the emergence of the Africa’s new creative and innovative class, ANCIC, were also part of his recommendations.
Reports say a young girl and some fleeing residents have been hit by a stray bullet following an alleged ongoing Boko Haram terrorists' raid of Maiduguri.
A young girl allegedly hit by a stray bullet as Boko Haram terrorists raid Maiduguri
A report from a SaharaReporter's correspondent currently at the scene claim gun shots erupted in the lately peaceful Borno state capital around 7 pm on Wednesday after the terrorists allegedly attacked the Giwa military barracks located on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
A young girl allegedly hit by a stray bullet as Boko Haram terrorists raid Maiduguri
It said residents in the Jidari and Polo areas of Maiduguri began to flee the city after hearing gunfire, a situation which caused confusion and a mass exodus of residents throughout the city. The reports also claimed the situation was still unstable as at the time of this report.
By Emma Amaize ASABA – THE Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, umbrella body of the Niger Delta people, Wednesday, declared that the recent ultimatum by Arewa youth groups on Igbos to evacuate the North by October, this year, was more treasonable than the offence allegedly committed by Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, for which he was detained for about a year.
PANDEF in a statement by a member of the Central Working Committee, CWC, Dr. Alfred Mulade, "We insists that this call by Arewa youths must be nipped in the bud, and the Federal Government should, as in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, arrest, detain and prosecute them for treasonable felony, with immediate effect. In this matter of threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria, there must be no sacred cows."
It asserted: "PANDEF considers this statement by the Arewa Youths as tragic as and more treasonable than the offence allegedly committed by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, for which he was held in detention for about a year."
"Not only is this statement a potent threat to the corporate unity of the country, but in our view, appears the most dangerous statement ever made by any group to the unity and existence of Nigeria since the end of the civil war.
"We must not forget how we came into the civil war that lasted for 30 months, and the avoidable calamities it wrought on our country. 50 years thereafter now, things have changed a great deal. Loyalties and commitments should be total of all Nigerians to a Nigeria where all Nigerians are free to stay in any part of the country, free from any form of molestation and discrimination, a Nigeria where we are all each other’s brother’s keeper, in a Nigeria where no one is superior to the other, and where no one threatens to drive any other group of Nigerians away from any part of the country," the group added.
Its words: "This statement by the Arewa Youths which strikes at the very roots of the Nigeria we believe in, is, indeed, an attempt to divide and breakup the country, whose unity is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
In condemning this statement in its entirety, PANDEF called on all northern state governments, elders, particularly the Arewa Consultative Assembly in whose House the press conference was held, not only to condemn it, but to take concrete steps to reassure the Ibos and indeed, all Nigerians that they were free to stay in the North without any form of molestations.
The group stated: " Whilst we do not support Nnamdi Kanu, and the various secessionist organizations in the South-East, for reviving the call for Biafra; and whilst we have to restate that the South- South is not part of the said Biafra, we take the view that this regrettably dangerous statement by the northern youths, is unwittingly lending profound support to the demands of the Biafran agitators, which is totally unacceptable to any patriotic Nigerian, and a flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."
" We recall the Statement we made as PANDEF a few days ago, concerning the Biafra sit-at-home call, and widely reported in the media to the effect that the success recorded by the Biafra sit-at-home call, as reported by various news media, is a clear indication that all is not well in our Country… Biafra is born out of a deep-seated and agonizing feeling of marginalization and discrimination.
"So, as has been advised, let us listen to the Ibos and the Biafra agitators. We listen to them knowing that there is no harm in discussing the unity of Nigeria; we listen to them with the clear understanding that Nigeria is better off united and that disintegration is not in anyone’s interest,” PANDEF added.
It declared: "We stand by this patriotic statement. We will be moving into a state of anarchy and disintegration, if the unfortunate and misguided statement by the Arewa Youths is not withdrawn, and Federal Government does not take action by apprehending and prosecuting these youth and their sponsors."
A 19-year-old girl Pratiksha Natekar, has miraculously survives a train 'knock-down' in Mumbai India, after she was run over by a moving train while chatting on her mobile phone.
Natekar survived the impact and was pulled uninjured from the tracks.
She can be seen in CCTV trying to get on to the busy platform as the large train starts pulling in but was unaware of the noise of the locomotive as she is chatting to a friend on her mobile phone with her earphones in.
Natekar suddenly becomes aware of the danger and tries to veer towards the platform, but realising she doesn't have enough time to climb on to it before the train arrives, she changes direction.
The teen she runs out of time to cross to the other side, panics and simply turns away from the train as it hits her from behind.
She is knocked flat on her face and the train passes over her.
The waiting commuters do not have enough time to save her and can only watch in horror as she disappears under the middle of the locomotive.
But despite their fears she had been killed, the woman was pulled almost uninjured from beneath the train.
Her only wound was a cut near her left eye.
Railway police inspector Ashok Bhorade said: "As she was busy over the phone, she didn't hear a goods train thundering down the tracks.
"When she suddenly looked up the train had already reached her. She panicked and ran first towards the platform and then straight into the train."
Natekar was taken to Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai but she is not thought to have been seriously injured.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted localised thunderstorms over the central states of the country on Thursday morning, with cloudy conditions anticipated in the afternoon.
NiMet's Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO), on Wednesday also predicted day and night temperature of 27 to 34 and 18 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy morning with isolated thunderstorms over the high ground of most parts during the afternoon and evening hours.
It also predicted day and night temperatures of 30 to 33 and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively over the southern cities.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience localised morning thunderstorms over Sokoto, Kano, Gusau, and Katsina, with isolated thunderstorms over Maiduguri and its environ later in the day.
It added that "the region will also have day and night temperatures of 31 to 38 and 22 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.
"The weather systems over Maiduguri-Yola and Jalingo axis are expected to propagate and enhance localised thunderstorms over the central states and northwest axis in the next 24 hours."
A police dog has been sacked from his job – but it's for the best reason possible. One-year-old Gavel is just too friendly to be in the force.
Dog-sacked
The pup loves rolling over and having his belly rubbed rather than standing to attention and looking menacing.
The police dog-in-training failed to make the final cut for Queensland Police Service in Australia because of his overly-sociable temperament.
But luckily for the cheeky canine, he was offered a new role welcoming visitors to Brisbane's Government House as Governor Paul de Jersey's official Vice-Regal Dog.
And German Shepherd Gavel, who has struck up quite the bond with Governor de Jersey and the many Australians he greets every day, is now a social media star.
A spokesman for Queensland Government House said: "Gavel arrived at Government House in April last year as a six-week-old puppy.
"It was intended that he would undergo a training and socialisation programme preparing to become a Queensland Police Service Dog.
"But like many aspiring QPS Dogs, Gavel did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line.
"Not all dogs display this, and Gavel proved himself to be quite sociable."
He added: "He is better suited to life as a ceremonial dog and will instead now spend his working days at Fernberg, where he has become a much-loved part of Government House life."
Gavel was brought to the prestigious 40-acre Fernberg residence in Paddington, Brisbane as part of the 16-month dog sqaud training and socialisation programme.
He was one of 40 budding police hounds sent to foster homes across Queensland but was the only one to not be fostered by a QPS officer.
Instead, Gavel was officially presented to His Excellency the Governor of Queensland, the Honourable Paul de Jersey and wife Kaye de Jersey.
But despite having a prestigious family bloodline which saw him related to five current working QPS dogs, playful Gavel didn't make the cut and was let go by the force.
A Bill for an Act to Amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007, scaled through second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill is intended to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of the bank, according to its sponsor, Sen. Rose Oko (PDP-Cross River).
Leading debate on the bill, Oko said that there had been no mechanism in place to monitor and track the deployment and use of CBN intervention funds over the years.
She said that the apex bank was contravening relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act through extra-budgetary intervention to select bodies, institutions and agencies in the guise of intervention funds.
Oko stressed that lack of proper tracking of CBN intervention funds had made it difficult for lawmakers to properly oversee the bank.
"Many countries across the globe like Ghana, Liberia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, United States of America, have windows for such interventions in their economy like that of CBN programme.
"They, however, carry them out in line with relevant laws regulating them and through legislative approval,'' she said.
She indentified N620 billion bailout to five defunct banks – Afribank, Intercontinental Bank, Union Bank, Oceanic Bank and Finbank – and donations to tertiary institution running into several billions as some of the interventions
She said that others were N300 billion as bailout from 2.1 billion dollars NLNG taxes and dividends given to states to pay salaries, and N2.2 trillion earmarked to fund the economy through schemes in various sectors.
Oko also listed Power and Aviation intervention fund (PAIF) of N300 billion, Micro, Small, Medium Development Fund (MSMEDF), N200 billion and Real sector support facility (RSSF), N300 billion.
"This bill aims at stemming the tide of financial recklessness and imprudence in spending of money by CBN under the guise of intervention funds,'' she stated.
The bill was passed by members through a voice vote.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, referred it to its Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to handle and report back in six weeks.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Wednesday, said it had consulted stakeholders and relevant government agencies before agreeing at each component of the 2017 hajj fare.
The Executive Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, made this known while inaugurating the Aviation Monitoring Committee for the 2017 hajj operation in Abuja.
He said NAHCON did not just fix figure as cost of air ticket, accommodation, feeding and other services for the pilgrims.
He explained that the cost of each component that made up the fare was arrived after reviewing the entire negotiation and discussions between service providers and NAHCON team.
Mohammed said the U.S. dollars constituted about 98 per cent component of the fare, adding that the commission used the dollar to pay for all services that would be rendered to pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
"So in actual terms, the component that determine the hajj fare is the dollar; the official exchange rate last year was N197 to a dollar but this year, it is N305 and when you multiply it by 4,805, which is the total fare per pilgrim, it will give you about N1.5 million.
"The bottom line is the exchange rate, which NAHCON has no control over. Government considers the sensitivity and the importance of hajj and allows us even to enjoy the official exchange rate.
"If we are to use the prevailing bank rate of N368 to the dollar, the cost will be between N1.8 million and N1.9 million.
"We tried to explain these several times, using all available means and we granted series of press interviews and issued several press releases on the 2017 hajj fare.
"We also published breakdown of the fare on the official website of the commission and released to the public, explaining that we arrived at each component through consensus with stakeholders like the state pilgrims welfare boards and commissions and with relevant government agencies involved in regulating hajj components.
"The cost of air ticket was reached after negotiations between airlines and the commission's technical team, which comprised representatives from aviation agencies and state pilgrims welfare boards and agencies."
He added that NAHCON formally communicated to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and requested for advice on the appropriate fare the commission should agree for ticket.
On Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), he said every pilgrim would receive a flat rate of 800 dollars instead of the 750 dollars given last year.
Fired FBI director James Comey confirmed Wednesday that US President Donald Trump urged him to drop a probe into his former national security advisor Michael Flynn — a bombshell revelation ahead of his hotly-anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill.
In an explosive statement on the eve of his testimony to Congress, Comey said Trump raised the sensitive FBI probe into Russian meddling in the US election in multiple discussions, leaving him deeply uneasy over whether the president was attempting to interfere.
“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy,” Comey quoted Trump as telling him on February 14 as they sat alone together in the Oval Office.
“I had understood the president to be requesting that we drop any investigation of Flynn in connection with his false statements about his conversations with the Russian ambassador in December,” added Comey, who was fired by the US president early last month.
James Comey
Comey also said Trump demanded he pledge his loyalty in a White House meeting on January 27, just days after he took office under the cloud of allegations that Russia’s interference helped him win election.
In that meeting, Trump asked him if he wanted to stay in his job.
Comey said he told Trump he was not “‘reliable’ in the way politicians use that word, but he could always count on me to tell him the truth.”
“The president said, ‘I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.’ I didn’t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed,” Comey said.
Comey’s comments, largely confirming press reports published in the past two months, were made in a statement ahead of his appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday.
In it Comey made clear he was uncomfortable discussing an ongoing investigation with the president, even as he assured Trump that he himself was not a target of the probe.
– ‘Very concerning’ – Comey did not say whether he thought the president’s actions amounted to obstructing the investigation, a charge made by some Democrats, and which is expected to feature highly in lawmakers’ questions Thursday.
“I did not understand the president to be talking about the broader investigation into Russia or possible links to his campaign,” Comey recalled. “I could be wrong, but I took him to be focusing on what had just happened with Flynn’s departure and the controversy around his account of his phone calls.”
“Regardless, it was very concerning, given the FBI’s role as an independent investigative agency,” said the former director.
In another discussion, a phone call on March 30, Comey said Trump described the overall Russia probe as “a cloud” that made it difficult for him to lead the country.
“He asked what we could do to ‘lift the cloud,'” Comey wrote.
Comey said he told the president that the investigation was going as quickly as a possible. Trump understood, Comey said, “but then re-emphasized the problems this was causing him.”
Comey’s statement came hours after two top US spy agency chiefs skirted questions from the Senate panel about whether the president also “asked” them to intervene in the Flynn probe, while saying they never felt pressured to do so.
By AbdulSalam Muhammad KANO – Unknown persons Wednesday reportedly looted a broken down truck load of rice, and assorted food items in Kano metropolis.
Eyewitness told Vanguard that the incident occurred at Gwammaja in Dala Local Government area of the metropolis when a truck loaded with rice, spaghetti and macaroni was broke down along the busy road during the evening rush hour.
Vanguard learned that the truck was from the popular Singer Commodity market on its way to an unknown destination to deliver the goods but got broken along the way.
The account added that as the occupants of the truck were trying to fix it, the bags and cantons on the back of the vehicle caught the attention of youths who swiftly pounced on and looted it.
The eyewitness said “as I arrived at the scene, I saw youths including some middle aged men were busy tearing off the cantons and shared the spaghetti and the macaronis. Others who stole bags of rice were seen running away to some places in order to share it,".
Speaking further, “when I came to the place, the vehicle had already zoomed off but people were busy sharing the commodity. But my friend told me that they swooped on the truck as soon as it got faulty. I also saw some security agents at the scene but i did not see Policemen until I left the scene.
The eyewitness who was shocked over the unfortunate incident further said that one person was reportedly arrested by the occupants of the vehicle when he returned searching for his motorcycle’s key in the truck.
“This showed the extent of poverty and mindlessness in this country because there were some gentle persons involved in the act. It is very sad and unfortunate,” He added.
Although an official complaint was lodged at Dala police station, but when contacted, the spokesman of the Kano State Police Command, DSP Magaji Musa Majia said he was not aware of the incident.
He pleaded for time to enable him investigate on the matter.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Wednesday said the empowerment of women and youths was the surest way of rooting out poverty and guaranteeing progress and prosperity of Ghana and Africa.
He said this at the opening of the 2017 European Development Days Conference in Belgium, a leading forum on international cooperation and development.
Akufo-Addo said the so-called "youth bulge" provided immense opportunities for rapid economic development.
According to him, Ghana's economy, like most others in Africa, remained structurally rigid since the colonial era, depending largely on exports of primary commodities.
He said Ghana largely depended on exportation of gold, cocoa, bauxite and timber.
The president added that his government's priority was to build the most business-friendly and people-friendly economy in Africa which would create jobs and prosperity for citizens.
"This will be done through the introduction of measures that will empower the private sector,'' he stressed.
The Nigeria Police Force says it has placed 500 police officers on standby to ensure a hitch-free AFCON 2019 qualifying match between Nigeria and South Africa in Uyo on Saturday.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Force's Akwa Ibom Command, DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, on Wednesday in Uyo said the officers were ready for action.
Ikechukwu, who spoke on behalf of the state's Commissioner of Police, CP Donald Awunah, said Awunah was determined to guarantee that football-loving Nigerians enjoyed the match under a peaceful atmosphere.
"The CP has directed the deployment of over 500 specially selected officers, knowledgeable in crowd control and policing events, to provide top notch security before, during and after the football match.
"In addition, due to the influx of football fans into the state, adequate crime-reduction strategies have been put in place to check crime and criminalities throughout the state.
"This is in addition to existing anti-crime measures in the state,'' he said.
Ikechukwu said the Commissioner of Police has therefore urged all foiotball fans visiting the state to conduct themselves in a most orderly and hospitable manner.
He said the Command, in collaboration with sister security agencies and other stakeholders in sports administration, was working tirelessly to facilitate adequate security in accordance with international standard.
Ikechukwu, however, warned that the Command would not hesitate to deal decisively with miscreants and sports hooligans who might take undue advantage of the peace and security existing in Akwa Ibom.
Newsmen report that the AFCON 2019 qualifying match is scheduled to hold at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that those responsible for the robbery in Iwo, Osun on Tuesday will not escape justice.
Aregbesola stated this in reaction to the dastardly robbery attack on some banks that took place in Iwo on Tuesday, which left four casualties in its wake.
The four people killed were men of the Nigeria Police Force who braved up to stop the activities of the men of the underworld.
The Governor, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, described the incident as unfortunate. The governor said he has been assured that security men are on the trail of those who invaded the banks.
He said government and the security forces will not abandon their responsibilities as the protector of the people just because of some criminal few, saying "This is unfortunate. However, we remain unbowed by the audacity of these criminals."
Rauf Aregbesola
While assuring the general public of their safety and security, Aregbesola noted that it was not for nothing that the state is rated one of the most crime-free in the country, vowing to maintain this record no matter the odds.
He promised that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with all those who committed the heinous act as no criminal violates the peace of the state and walks away freely.
The Governor also commiserated with the Commissioner of Police, Osun State command, for the loss of his gallant officers in the service to fatherland.
He sent messages also to those who were caught wounded in the cross fire while the pandemonium lasted.
The statement read, "On Tuesday, June 6, 2017, some misguided elements violated the peace in Iwo, one of our major cities in the State of Osun, attacking banks located near the Bowen University.
"These armed robbers ended the lives of four promising men of the Nigerian Police Force who attempted to stand up to them. They left sorrow and tears in their trail.
"We commiserate with the Commissioner of Police, the entire Osun Command of the Nigerian Police Force and the families of the fallen heroes, who fought gallantly but sacrificed their lives in the course of performing their duties.
"We equally commiserate with those who were caught and wounded in the cross fires.
"We assure the generality of our people that these criminals will not escape justice. Recent history of our state confirms that no criminal violates our peace and goes away with it.
"We are confident that security men are on the trail of these misguided elements and in due course, will be brought to justice.
"We use this opportunity to assure the people of Osun of their safety. We invested in security of lives and property as part of our overall objectives of maintaining a peaceful state to be a source of attraction for investments.
"This is why our state has been rated many times as one of the states with the lowest cases of crime throughout Nigeria.
"We are determined to do everything to sustain this rating. Our citizens are therefore urged to be vigilant; report any suspicious movement and activities to the law enforcement agencies."
ABUJA – The federal government has formally reacted to the quit notice issued to the Igbo by some northern youth groups asking them to vacate the northern region within three months.
Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja urged the Igbo and other Nigerians to go about their businesses without fear of molestation.
In the statement signed by his Press Secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, the minister “lamented the spate of such spurious and unwarranted calls for separation. He therefore called on all well meaning Nigerians to go about their normal activities as Government would bring to bear the full weight of the Law on any individual or group violating the rights of citizens of the Country. He added that citizens were free to go about their normal businesses and would not be harassed or deterred by any group or persons”.
He further advised “the various ethnic groups to desist from flaming the embers of hate, animosity, discord and disharmony and adhere strictly to the teachings of our good values of religions and cultures that encourage good neighbourliness,national unity and Integration, and love for one another.
“He also advised youth to avoid being instrument of violence, animosity and disharmony among our citizens. And that they should rather focus their attention and energies on actions, that would engender national unity, integration and cohesion”.
Some northern groups had on Tuesday issued a quit notice to all Igbo living in the northern region, threatening to evict them and take over their businesses if by October 1 they refused to leave.
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali, retired has assured stakeholders of adequate scanners at the ports as part of Federal Government's effort to ensure conducive business environment.
Ali gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lagos at a stakeholders' forum organised by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on the implementation of the Executive Orders issued by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
"We realised that fast-tracking the Executive Orders required functional scanners which would subject all containers to examination.
"Inadequate scanners will not facilitate trade but in a couple of months, adequate scanners will be available in various ports in the country," Ali said.
According to him, the service will engage in shift-duties for officers to work 24-hours to achieve the executive order and to also facilitate trade.
Also speaking, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Pius Imue expressed commitment of the police toward providing adequate security for both cargoes and human beings within and outside the ports.
"Both the Port Police and the Maritime Police Commands in the West and Eastern ports will synergise and ensure maximum security is provided for cargoes.
"All the arms of Police have been informed about the Executive Orders and that is why there is the need for the Police to secure the movements of people and cargoes,'' Imue said.
The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN), reports that the directive on implementation of the Executive Orders was issued on May 18 by the acting president.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, said that the Nigeria Police Force had been given a clear directive not to allow any unauthorised person to enter the port.
Speaking on the six Executive Orders, Usman said "there shall be no touting, official or unofficial persons at any ports in Nigeria and staff should be properly identified with uniform and official cards.
"Any officer caught soliciting or receiving bribes from port users shall be subjected to immediate removal and disciplinary and criminal proceedings, in line with the extant laws and regulations.
"All agencies presently in Nigerian ports shall within 60 days harmonise their operations into one Single Window Joint Task Force at all times.
"The new single interface station at each port shall capture, track and record information on all goods arriving and departing Nigeria and remit the captured information to the head of Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as the head of the National Bureau of Statistics on weekly basis.
"Each port in Nigeria shall assign an existing export terminal to be dedicated to the exportation of agricultural produce within 30 days of issuance of this order,'' Usman said.
According to her, the order has directed that the Apapa port resumes 24-hour operations within 30-days of the issuance of the order.
She stated that each stakeholder had commenced implementation of the Executive Orders, and urged them to put the nation's interest above their own to enable the orders work.
Usman said that there was also the need for all government agencies assigned to operate at the ports to harmonise in order to ensure the successful implementation of the Executive Orders.
The sense of loss in Newcastle at the death of Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote has been reflected by over 1,000 Newcastle United fans signing a petition to have his shirt number of 24 retired the BBC reported Wednesday.
Tiote – who was a member of the Ivory Coast squad that ended a 23 year drought winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations — died on Monday after ‘suddenly fainting’ during a training session with his second tier Chinese club Beijing Enterprises.
Tiote — who received many glowing tributes with former Newcastle manager Steve McClaren saying when he smiled one knew everything was good with the world — had only joined them in February after a seven year stay with Newcastle.
The petition started on Tuesday by NUFC4Life on change.org quickly attracted over 1,000 signatures.
“In the light of the legends death,” read the petition.
“The shirt number should be retired in honour of his life. A Newcastle legend taken too soon.
“Get your friends and family to sign. Share on social media. Let’s show Tiote how much we loved him.”
Tiote, one of 10 children who didn’t possess a pair of football boots till he was 15, scored just one goal during his time at Newcastle.
However, the spectacular volley from outside the penalty area is an iconic goal according to former Magpies manager Alan Pardew as it sealed a remarkable comeback from 4-0 down to force a 4-4 draw with Arsenal in a Premier League clash in February 2011.
Britain's Andy Murray reached his fourth consecutive French Open semi-final with a four-set win over Kei Nishikori on Wednesday in Paris.
Newsmen report that the world number one came through 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-0) 6-1 against the Japanese eighth seed at Roland Garros.
The 30-year-old Scot now goes on to face Swiss third seed Stan Wawrinka, who beat Marin Cilic 6-3 6-3 6-1.
It is a repeat of last year's semi-final, which Murray won in four sets before going on to lose in the final match to Novak Djokovic.
"Stan has played fantastic games this tournament so far," said the Scot.
"Last year when we met he was playing very well and I had to play one of my best matches on clay to beat him.
"It's not always been easy for me here but the last few years have been great."
Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal will take on Dominic Thiem in the second semi-final pairing, after the Austrian knocked out defending champion Djokovic.
On his part, Swiss third seed Wawrinka had set up another Paris semi-final with Murray after breezing past seventh seed Cilic in the last eight.
Newsmen report that the three-time Grand Slam champion cruised to a 6-3 6-3 6-1 win against the Croatian in an hour and 40 minutes.
The 32-year-old Wawrinka, who won the Roland Garros title in 2015, has still not dropped a set in Paris this year.
He is the oldest man to make the last four since Jimmy Connors in 1985.
"It was perfect today, I'm very satisfied," Wawrinka said after his 12th win in 14 meetings with Cilic.
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has dissolved all oil-related committees in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olusegun Ajiboye, said in a statement in Akure on Wednesday that the dissolution would take immediate effect.
It advised all oil companies in the council areas to take note of the directive and to desist from dealing with members of such committees.
The statement further urged members of the various committees to comply with the directive and refrain from acts that might lead to a breach of the peace in the council areas.
It further called on security agencies to take note of the development.
"Governor Akeredolu remains committed to developing every part of the state and to use all the God-given resources for the progress and development of the state and its people," the statement said.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – Former Vice President and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar has described the ultimatum issued by a Northern youth coalition to the Igbos to quit the region and the counter response by a South-east group “is not only provocative, reckless and thoughtless, but also a grave threat to national security and peaceful coexistence”.
Reacting to the ultimatum and the counter salvos through a statement issued by his Media Office Wednesday in Abuja, the Wazirin Adamawa said he was alarmed by the latest dangerous outbursts, warning that it does not augur well for the North and the country at large.
“For a country facing threats of disunity, such ultimatum and counter rhetoric at this time is most irresponsible and callous, because it is capable of setting off a chain of ugly events nobody could control”, he said.
The APC chieftain warned politicians of all hues to distance themselves from such divisive rhetoric because, according to him, the consequences of such association could ultimately consume them.
According to him, all grievances must be peacefully discussed and resolved through negotiations, and not through threats to fellow citizens.
“Atiku Abubakar calls for restraint on all sides by the Youth groups to pave the way for meaningful dialogue on how to restructure our country for the good of all. Our country is too precious; our problems are too pressing to pander to divisive rhetoric”, the statement added.m
The former Vice President however appealed to the authorities to address the challenges of youth restiveness, as well as social and economic exclusion, which are the drivers of tensions.
He stressed that the country should not be afraid to confront the recurring clamour for restructuring, adding that burying problems under the carpet would not make those problems go away.
“On the contrary, he says, an ostrich attitude towards these challenges could produce future complications beyond our capacity to manage.”
Nigeria's Super Eagles are in high spirit after Wednesday's training session at the Godswill Akpabio's International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital even as they promised to win the AFCON 2019 qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Saturday.
Super Eagles
The Eagles defender, Trust Ekong said this in Uyo after the training, while commenting on the status of his colleagues.
He praised the level of cooperation, quality and competition amongst his team mates saying that, "It is going to be a good game as everyone is fit and ready.
According ti him, ''It will be a healthy competition and, everybody is working hard to justify his slot''.
Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, also expressed optimism that, Bafana Banfana must fall for the Eagles on Saturday as he said, they were ready for the game.
'I and my mate, Daniel Akpeyi and Dele Alampasu are ready and we are in top form. We are happy with one another, added Ezenwa.
Midfielder, Oghenekaro Etebo was confident, they would win squarely noting that, Coach Gernot Rohr has a good record already.
In his assessment a sports analyst, Colins Udoh, said that he was impressed with the Super Eagles' training session, describing the tempo as high.
Footbal Analyst and Sports Editor of Kwese Magazine, Colins Udoh said, he was impressed by the performance of the Eagles during the training saying that, the blend of young and experienced players in the team would surely give the Super Eagles much vigour.
"I enjoy the enthusiasm, they are very sharp. It means that we can be quick and slow if we so choose. We have players, who can match the opponents side by side. We will have a great match.” Said, Udoh.
However, sports fans in Uyo have expressed fears over lack of information on sales of tickets for the match on Saturday, as some of them who spoke on live sports programmes in the local radio stations in Uyo regretted the delay could result in tickets hike by vendors.
NFF, according to sources would make public plans for sale of tickets on Thursday at a press conference.
No comments:
Post a Comment