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."
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
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG in- charge of Zone 2 Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, Kayode Aderanti, yesterday , rated cultism and kidnapping as the most common high profile crimes in Lagos state, calling on officers and men to step up on their games with a view to checkmating the trend.
Aderanti who gave the assertion while addressing men and officers at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja, during his maiden operational visit to the Command, said " It is pertinent to note that there is an increase in cult related activities in the State. We cannot fold our arms and watch cultists destroy our communities. We must stand up to them, take up our responsibility and make sure their effrontery and bravado is reduced to the barest minimum.
It is no longer news that perhaps the commonest high profile crime today is kidnapping. We are happy that the IGP's Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) have not let us down in tracking down these kidnappers. We also must redouble our efforts in intelligence gathering and crime prevention. It is a joint war that must be won.
Calling on the need for the command to double its effort in intelligence gathering and crime prevention be ensuring that the fight against cultism and kidnapping was won, Aderanti however noted that members of the public played a vital role in intelligence gathering.
He therefore warned policemen to desist from molesting and harassing them( members of the public) as well as shun all manner of extorting money from them.
He said : " We are not being paid to torment members of the public. We are paid to actually help them because Nigeria Police is about service.
The current Inspector- General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, has zero tolerance for corruption and official misconduct.
" Whosoever requests money for bail or to register people’s complaints is on his own . I warn again, don’t demand gratification from members of the public.
Again, cases of policemen on illegal duty has reached an alarming proportion and this is highly unprofessional. It needs to be nipped in the bud.
Some of them operate in unmarked vehicles and harassing people by searching through their phones. All these undue harassment must stop as violators will be severely dealt with. We need to focus more, apart from our crime fighting prowess, on service delivery to the public.
I believe this is where we have issues. Lets render service to the law abiding members of the public because we need them to fight crime , we need them to help us in the area of kidnapping , cultism and all forms f criminality and without them we can not do anything".
He further admonished policemen to take their health serious by going on routine check up. He added that policemen should imbibe the culture of observing their annual and casual leave
He said " its been observed that most of you don’ t go on annual medical check- up. I urge you to endeavor to see your medical doctors once in six months. Issue of people slumping and dying in the offices, is enough. The Inspector-General of Police frowns at this idea of not going on leave or taking at least five days casual leave to rest He has directed that henceforth , all officers health condition must count".
On the welfare of policemen, he informed that names were being compiled for the next batch of promotion, even as he disclosed that arrears of those promoted last year would be paid before the end of the first quarter of 2017.
A trending video clip shows Afro-beat singer, Dede Mabiaku walk out on the Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina during radio programme. Both Adesina and Dede were guests at Lagos Talk 91.3 FM programme.
In the clip, Mr. Dede is seen fuming with anger and walking out on Adesina while on air after he claimed Buhari’s spokesman commanded him to “shut up” during the programme. Whats your take on this? Type your opinion below.
Jumoke Akindele, the suspended Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday said she did not misappropriate N15 million as alleged by some of her colleagues.
Akindele, who was reportedly suspended on Friday by 14 lawmakers, said in a statement in Akure that although she was a signatory to the House schedule, she was not a signatory to the cheques.
"I wish to place it on record that though I am the signatory to the schedule, I am not a signatory to the cheques of the House.
"I did sign the schedule in line with the budget passed by the House so that I do not hold up the business of the House in the likely event that I do not return from my journey early enough.
"Most certainly, I did not speak with the Director of Finance and Administration on the issue of cheques or any other matter at all, and I also did not speak with the Clerk.
"I did not ask the Pay Master, Mr Makanjuola Adeshina, who was unfortunately brutalised by some of my colleagues to bring any funds to my House," she said.
She said she was in Lagos on Friday and received a call that some 13 members allegedly removed the leadership of the House "on the puerile and baseless claim of fraud or financial impropriety.''
Akindele explained further that the Pay Master was the lawful custodian of all unspent funds of the House and he was only acting in his official capacity as such.
Rt. Hon. Jumoke-Akindele,
The suspended speaker further said the money in question was meant for some projects in the House as passed in the budget and approved by the proper authority.
She alleged that some PDP caucus members seemed more interested in proving their loyalty to the incoming administration in the state.
"They are actively working hand in hand with their APC counterparts to destabilise what would have been one of the most peaceful transitions ever.
"They are desirous of becoming speaker and deputy speaker at all cost and are therefore playing to the gallery to show they are "disenchanted" with the outgoing governor," she stated.
Akindele further stated that she was not desperate and was actually set to resign since the emergence of the governor from the North District and the Deputy Governor from the South District.
"We are a people with an age long tradition that demands that the Speaker must, of necessity, emerge from the Central District of Ondo State.
"I sustained this position because I owe it to Nigerians worried of the dangerous precedent that may be created if fraud, forgery and forceful takeover of this nature is allowed to prevail.
"It is disheartening that some of my honourable colleagues forged the signatures of five members to make up their list.
"The members whose signatures were forged have strenuously asserted that their signatures were forged and have stood with the leadership of the House since the beginning," she said.
Akindele said change was inevitable and may even be desirable, adding that the house leaders could not be removed by no fewer than 18 members in accordance with the law
She expressed her sympathy with the workers, promising that all justifiable grievances would be addressed while taking the blame for the crisis and pleading for forgiveness.
"I remain loyal to my party, the PDP, and I consider it a solemn duty to work with any government, outgoing or incoming, regardless of the political party that births it as long as it works for the interest of the people.
"To my colleagues, let me state that the most difficult job is to lead one's peers who are as entitled to one's position as oneself
"I, therefore, call that we come together and ensure that we do the desirable as guided by the dictates of our oath of office," she said.
The Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader were suspended for allegedly withdrawing N15 million from the House account without parliamentary approval.
Out of 26 members, 14, including the Speaker, Deputy speaker, and Majority Leader, attended a press briefing where the suspension was made public.
The suspension process was carried out on Friday by 14 lawmakers, made up of five All Progressive Congress (APC) and nine PDP members.
Bode Adeyelu, the Clerk of the House, and the mace were present at the process.
Mr Malachi Coker, representing Ilaje 2 Constituency, was sworn in by the clerk as the Acting Speaker while Mr Ayodele Arowele, representing Owo 1 Constituency emerged Acting Deputy Speaker,
Mr Olamide George, the member representing Akure North was sworn in as Acting Majority Leader.
Moroccans welcomed their country’s “victorious return” to the African Union as their king on Tuesday took a seat at the bloc’s Ethiopian headquarters for the first time in decades.
“Morocco should have rejoined the African Union a long time ago,” pensioner Mohamed Alaoui told AFP in the capital Rabat late Monday.
“The country will now revert to its role as a political and economic leader and correct its previous errors.”
Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.
Morocco says the former Spanish colony under its control is an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front, which campaigns for the territory’s independence, demands a referendum on self-determination.
“Morocco never renounced its African origins. It always called for the union of African and Arab countries,” said Abdellatif Tighazouane, 25.
“Today we were able to realise this spirit of unity,” the student added.
The King of Morocco Mohammed VI delivers a speech in the main plenary of the African Union in Addis Ababa on January, 31, 2017. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI took a seat at the African Union headquarters Tuesday for the first time in 33 years after being re-admitted by the bloc. Morocco’s return to the fold comes a day after 39 of the AU’s 54 member states agreed to allow Morocco back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of Western Sahara. AFP PHOTO
Mustapha Akhaziz, a language professor, said it would be an opportunity for Morocco to “defend its interests on the issue of the Western Sahara”.
Morocco’s press on Tuesday hailed the kingdom rejoining the 54-member bloc after 33 years of absence.
“Historic decision”, “Victorious return”, “Thank you your Majesty…” read several headlines.
The official news agency MAP published a string of interviews with African ministers welcoming Morocco back into its “African family”.
Television channels broadcast footage of the Moroccan delegation in Addis Ababa, led by Foreign Minister Salahedinne Mezouar, singing the national anthem by the grand piano of a hotel lobby.
On Monday, 39 countries voted to allow Morocco back into the fold despite resistance from countries such as Algeria and South Africa, which have traditionally backed the Polisario Front.
Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, said the SADR accepted the decision.
He said on Monday that having Morocco in the same room would allow the SADR to pressure them into allowing a referendum on self-determination in accordance with a 1975 decision by the International Court of Justice.
Morocco has been angling to return to the African Union for several years, and King Mohammed VI formally announced his intention to do so in July last year.
Morocco is increasingly looking southwards to expand its economy, and has realised it cannot drive an agenda on the continent without being a member of the union, observers say.
A Maiduguri High Court has adjourned till Feb.9, hearing in the case of Shettima Maina, Chairman of Mafa Local Government Area in Borno, along with two others, charged for allegedly diverting food items meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Maina could not be produced in court on Tuesday as he had been arrested by the military over another alleged offence of links with Boko Haram insurgents.
When the case of alleged diversion came up for hearing, Mr Alquasim Ja'afar, EFCC Prosecuting Counsel, sought for adjournment of the case to enable him amend the charges.
In his ruling, Justice Fadamu Umar granted the request and adjourned the case to Feb-9 for further Hearing.
Maina, along with Bulama Ali Zangebe and Modu Bulama, had allegedly connived and misappropriated about 300 bags of rice worth N2 million, meant for IDPs in Mafa LGA.
According to the prosecution, the offence committed is punishable under Section 96 and 97 of the Panel Code Law Cap 345 laws of the Northern States of Nigeria.
The Federal Government says it has henceforth banned the admission of students who do not have farming interests into its Universities of Agriculture.
Farmers
Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this at a stakeholders meeting with registrars and pro-Chancellors of the universities in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the decision was to reposition the institutions with a view to involving youths in agriculture, training them to proffer solutions to the multi-faceted problems in the sector.
The minister, who expressed regrets that non-agriculture-based courses like engineering was being thought in the schools, directed that only agriculture-related disciplines be thought.
Audu Ogbeh
Ogbeh said the Federal Government's decision to relocate its three Universities of Agriculture from the Federal Ministry of Education to Agriculture, was to refocus the schools as globally acclaimed citadels to move the agriculture sector forward.
He assured the universities that the government would actively support them by providing funds and grants to assist in research to move the agriculture sector forward.
"The domiciliation of the universities in this ministry is a commendable effort by the Federal Government based on sound reasoning and logic.
"Your return will effectively help us to reposition the three universities of agriculture as centres of excellence for the rapid development of the agriculture sector.
"There is no place where the competence and capacity to drive agriculture resides outside the Universities of Agriculture. We need to achieve a hunger-free Nigeria.
"Henceforth, students who are not interested in becoming farmers should be made to seek admission elsewhere.
"We are determined to offer you the necessary support for your transformation, for research for a healthier realm of discovery and self-actualisation,'' the minister said.
Mr Mohammed Munguno, the Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, advocated a bill to establish the National Universities Agricultural Commission to regulate operations of the Universities of Agriculture.
He said that the National Assembly would amend their rules to make sure that the universities were adequately domiciled in the ministry for effective monitoring by the assembly.
"There is need either through an executive bill or bill to be sponsored by the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture for the establishment of the National Universities of Agricultural Commission.
"The commission will be charged with the responsibility of regulating the universities of agriculture to effectively perform their statutory roles in tandem with the laws establishing them,'' Munguno said.
Prof. Anya O. Anya, the Pro-Chancellor of the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia, applauded the Federal Government for the relocation.
Anya, who raised concern over disconnect with the science and practice of agriculture in the country, expressed hope that the domiciliation of the universities in the ministry would reposition the sector.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday said the Government House was not a bank where people went to collect money but a place to render service.
Obaseki made this known while receiving executive members of Women's wing of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state in Benin.
He assured the women of 35 per cent appointment in his administration but insisted that ''government house is not where you come to make money, but where you come to serve.
According to him, I don't have money to give anybody; the money I have is to work for the people.
"I can create money going by my experience as an investment banker; I can organise things and people must be ready to work,'' the governor said.
He told the women that the days had gone when politics was about money sharing.
''The question is what do you do with the political power. It is our level of commitment that gets us where we want to be.
''People should be ready to work. We should prioritise and cut waste because our biggest problem is waste.
''God chose me for a purpose to change things at this time and politics of money and sharing is not possible,'' Obaseki said.
He commended the party women for supporting him during the 2016 governorship poll in the state and urged them to be the vanguard of the new politics.
He called on the women to partner the government in the development of the state, especially in the area of ensuring quality basic and technical education for their children.
In her remarks, the APC women leader in the state, Dr Aisosa Amadasun, commended the governor on his victory at the polls and pledged their support to the success of his administration.
Amadasun said that the visit was to solicit the fulfilment of the United Nation's mandate of 35 per cent appointment position for women in his administration.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources , Mr Ibe Kachikwu, said that Nigeria is capable of producing three million barrels of crude oil per day from the Niger Delta region.
Kachikwu stated this at a stakeholders' meeting organised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on Tuesday in Abuja.
Apart from the Niger Delta Ministry, the convener, the meeting was also attended by officials from the, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCD&MB), among others.
The minister said the insecurity in the region had been undermining the nation's capacity to realise its potential in oil production.
"It is important we continue to sustain the institutional engagement and negotiations which are key to the development of the region.
"Our target is zero militancy by the middle of 2017, and an incident reduction in the region by 90 per cent by 2018.
"We must resolve current militancy problems and bring back oil production to 2.2 million barrels per day," he said.
He lamented that over $40billion had been spent in 12 years and there were no infrastructures on ground to justify the huge expenditure profile.
Kachikwu said that a lot would have been achieved if there were zeal to collaborate in such a manner.
Kachikwu urged the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and other partners to commence immediate action in this regard.
Kachikwu said there was need to create stability incentive schemes, jobs and investment opportunities, so that the government would look at cross border investments to strengthen the region.
The minister said the government was introducing a joint account with oil companies to foster transparency in cash calls and ensure that inflows were clearly understood by all.
"We are targeting 30 per cent cost savings, which we can link to transparency.
"What is most important is not the amount of the fund; it's the conceptualization of that funding.
"Governors will have to come together as a regional block to look at cross-state investments in roads, railways, town facilities or specialist hospitals.
"We are going to pool in energy and ensure we look at cross border investments to strengthen the region" he said.
Kachikwu said government was also looking at the amnesty programme to absorb some of the trained ex-agitators in the areas of coastal patrol and Niger Delta paramilitary type organisations.
The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), (retired) Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, in his remarks reaffirmed the readiness and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to find a permanent solution to the problems of the region.
Boroh, who doubles as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, said that the current administration deserved cooperation and support for appreciating the environmental challenges of the region.
He disclosed that the ex-militants in the region were trained on fish farming, snail farming etc by the National Biotechnology Resources Centre, as parts of the Federal Government's efforts to gainfully engage them in responsible living.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, has called for collaboration with the nine oil producing states, oil companies and development partners to solve challenges facing the region.
Usani made the call at a stakeholders' meeting organised by the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Petroleum, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCD&MB), among other stakeholders.
Usani explained that many organisations and development Partners were working in the region without fully involving the state governors.
He said that his dream was to get every relevant agency involved in the affairs of the region.
The minister said the collaboration had become imperative because of the recent activities of militant groups and other criminal elements in the region.
According to him, such activities have greatly threatened the relative peace, which had hitherto prevailed in the region.
Usani said the ministry had been saddled with the responsibility of involving policies that would ensure the development and security of the region.
"In doing this, the ministry has the mission to formulate and execute plans, programmes and other initiatives as well as coordinate the activities of other stakeholders involved in the development of the region,'' he said
According to the minister, the region had been bedevilled by security challenges arising from gaps in job creation, poverty, hunger, environmental degradation, neglect and perceived discrimination.
"We are gathered here today to deliberate and chart a new course that will ensure relative peace.
"Government is desirous of dialogue with stakeholders on a way forward as the expectation are that the nagging security issues will be thrown up and comprehensively addressed," the Minister said.
He disclosed that the Ministry is restructuring key departments such as Community Development and Education, Housing and Urban Development, Infrastructure Development as well as that of Economic Empowerment.
Usam, however, noted that the ministry had recorded milestones in the past in human capital development.
He said this was done in various sectors such as oil and gas, agriculture, maritime, information technology (ICT) and entertainment in addition to other infrastructural development.
"Youths, who were trained in the International Skills Acquisition Centre in Israel, have been empowered by the Bank of Agriculture in collaboration with the ministry.
"Over 260 youths from the region benefited from mobile phone assemblage in Calabar.
"Other 30 youths were trained as seafarers to bridge the skill gap in the maritime sector and were awarded with certificates of international standard.
"It might also interest you to know that the ministry has embarked on construction of Skills Acquisition Centres in the nine oil producing states.
"The major problem militating against the completion is paucity of funds," he said
Usani said it was on that note the ministry sought collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCD&MB) with the view to developing institution of excellence in the Oil and Gas sector.
The minister disclosed that the ministry has acquired 270 hectares of land in each of the nine states to develop industrial parks.
"Many investors are interested: Industry-driven skill acquisition centres are being developed," he said
Usani acknowledged all the state governors and their representatives for demonstrating commitment for partnership toward the development of the region.
THE Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) yesterday in Abuja said it has concluded arrangements for the signing of a sponsorship deal worth a staggering sum of $12 million dollars. The deal is to run for five years.
This is as the president of the federation; Tijjani Umar revealed that the main intention of his board is to truly develop the game of basketball to the extent that young Nigerians will begin to show the same level of interest they have in football for the sport.
Umar who spoke at the Annual General Meeting of the federation said contrary to the thinking in some quarters that his board was putting all these efforts so as to earn another term in office, their primary aim was to build a federation which every basketball stakeholder will be proud to associate with.
"Honestly speaking, I have said it severally that I am not interested in election, my board is not doing anything because of election.
Umar, NBBF President
When the election comes if we win fine, if we don't whoever wins will continue from where we stopped and I personally will continue to support the federation in any way I can.
"I am happy that we have taken basket ball to a higher height and any true lover of the sport will attest to that fact. What matters for us is not whether we will return or not; we are happy that today Nigerian youths are embracing basketball more than they did in years past. For instance, the $12 million dollar sponsorship deal is largely for our league. Now there will be a lot of bonuses and incentives that will encourage these players to redouble their efforts and in the long run, the country will be the better for it."
Earlier, the marketing consultant of the NBBF, Kunle Raji said the $12 million dollar deal with an organization he refused to disclose will lead to the 'game changer league' which has never been experienced before in the history of basketball in the country. While extolling the efforts of the NBBF to develop the game, Raji recalled that under the present administration, the nation's senior men's team, D'Tigers have appeared in the last two Olympic Games in London in 2012 and Brazil in 2016.
He however charged both the NBBF and the players to be ready to redouble their efforts when the new season begins so as to ensure that the sponsors get the value for the money they are investing both in cash and kind.
In his remarks, the president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel tasked the NBBF to ensure that they harmonized their Constitution insisting such was the only way they can qualify to be affiliated to both the NOC and other international sporting bodies.
European transfer briefs on Tuesday, the final day of the January window:
Anwar El Ghazi (Lille)
Dutch international forward Anwar El Ghazi penned a four-and-half-year deal with Lille after joining the French side from Ajax. The 21-year-old scored 23 goals in 101 matches for the Amsterdam club and has been capped twice for the Netherlands.
Lucas Ocampos (AC Milan)
Italian giants AC Milan snapped up Argentine winger Lucas Ocampos on loan from Genoa until the end of the season. The 22-year-old was shipped to Genoa by parent club Marseille in June, with Ocampos scoring three goals in 17 appearances for the Serie A side. He arrives at the San Siro to offset the departure of French striker M’Baye Niang to Watford.
Taye Taiwo (Lausanne Sport)
Former Nigeria international Taye Taiwo could make his debut for Lausanne Sport on Sunday after signing a six-month deal with the Swiss outfit following his exit from HJK Helsinki. The ex-Marseille left-back, who won the French league title in 2010, has earned 54 caps for Nigeria and played for his country at the 2010 World Cup.
Trent Sainsbury (Inter Milan)
Australia centre-back Trent Sainsbury joined Inter Milan from sister club Jiangsu Suning, also owned by Chinese electronics retailer Suning, on loan for the remainder of the Serie A season. Sainsbury, 25, spent two years at Zwolle in the Dutch top flight before moving to China last January. He has played 21 matches for the Socceroos and was part of the side that won the 2015 Asian Cup.
Lagos – Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), said on Tuesday that the stability in the Naira exchange rate would eventually lead to its appreciation.
Gwadabe made the assertion in an interview in Lagos.
He said that some International Money Transfer Organisations (IMTOs) were on the verge of concluding plans with stakeholders in the forex industry to boost liquidity in the market.
The financial expert said that the stability been witnessed by the Naira at the open market was an expression of the ground work done by the CBN, the BDCs and other critical stakeholders in the forex market.
The ABCON chief explained that the increase in the nation's external reserves would also serve as a buffer in ensuring stability in the Naira exchange rate.
"We are happy that the Naira had remained stable for about two weeks running.
"This is attributable to many factors, including efforts by the CBN, the BDCs and the IMTOs to boost liquidity in the market.
"Many of these IMTOs have indicated interest in bringing their inflows into the economy, thus leading to the appreciation of the Naira,'' Gwadabe said.
The Naira had remained stable for close to two weeks, exchanging at N498 to a dollar at the parallel market.
In spite of the Jan. 23 and 24 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the CBN, the Naira remained stable. =
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Tuesday, met with leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) in continuation of consultations between the executive and legislative arms of government over the 2017 Budget.
The meeting, held behind closed doors in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, had the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and some cabinet ministers in attendance.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Senate President said they discussed issues relating to the nation's economy, including the 2017 budget proposal before the NASS.
Saraki, who described the meeting as fruitful, revealed that they were updated on the proposed government's economic recovery plans, the road show for the sales of bonds and the 2017 budget.
According to him, the National Assembly has so far not encountered any problems with the 2017 budget.
"We are meeting on the economy and the budget; myself, the Vice-President and the Speaker, minister of budget and minister of finance.”
"We are aware that the economic team will soon be going on a road show and just to brief us and let us know the issues and just carry us along.”
"We have just started the defense so there are no issues; these are just consultations,'' he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Dec. 14, 2016, presented a budget of N7.30 trillion for 2017 before a joint session of the National Assembly.
The president explained that N2.24 trillion, representing 30.7 per cent of the budget, would be committed to capital expenditure aimed at pulling the economy out of recession as quickly as possible.
The capital expenditure was increased from N1.8 trillion in 2016 to N2.24 trillion in 2017 while N2.98 trillion was announced as recurrent expenditure for the 2017 fiscal year.
Lagos – A lawyer and rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, on Tuesday filed a suit seeking a restraining order on the appointment of a new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) other than Justice Walter Onnoghen.Malami, SAN and Onnoghen
Onnoghen, 67, Supreme Court Judge since 2015, from Cross River, a 1977 law graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon,and Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1978, was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Muhammadu Buahri.
Joined as co-defendants in the suit are the Senate, the National Judicial Council, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Adegboruwa asked the court to direct that the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen be forwarded forthwith to the Senate for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
He asked the court for an order of injunction restraining the appointment of another candidate for presentation to the Senate for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, apart from Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The lawyer argued that Onnoghen was the most senior justice of the Supreme Court who had been selected and recommended by the National Judicial Council.
Adegboruwa also asked the court to stop the Senate from accepting, deliberating upon or considering the nomination of any other candidate that may be forwarded to it, apart from Onnoghen.
The human rights activist also sought an order of injunction to restrain the National Judicial Council from entertaining any request to consider another candidate for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Adegboruwa also prayed the court to direct Justice Walter Onnoghen to assume and take over the functions of the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,''until he is confirmed or attains the mandatory age of 70 years.''
He further argued that it had never been the style of the executive to leave a vacuum in the highest judicial office of the land.
Adegboruwa stated that by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the President had no discretion in the choice of candidates to occupy the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, other than the person recommended by the National Judicial Council.
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung on the death of his wife, Mrs Briskila Dalung.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Nneka Anibeze, the Special Assistant, Media to the minister, said Buhari commiserated with Dalung through the telephone from London.
The President prayed God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.
Buhari, who expressed shock at the death of Mrs Dalung which came at an unripe age, prayed that God would forgive her sins.
He also prayed to God to give the family she left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.
The President promised to support the Dalung family in their moment of grief.
Mrs Dalung is survived by her husband and five children.
She died after a brief illness on Jan. 29, in Jos.
Kaduna – Ahead of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week starting on Feb. 1, a Muslim woman has donated chairs to Church and a pastor decorated a Mosque both in Kaduna to boost inter-religious tolerance and harmony.
Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, a peace Ambassador, told newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday that the donation was also to promote mutual respect and better understanding between Muslims and Christians in the state and the country in general.
She said the World Interfaith Harmony Week was to promote peaceful religious co-existance and dialogue on peace, share love, unity and encourage togetherness, irrespective of faith.
The week, beginning from Feb. 1 to Feb. 7 every year extends the Two Commandments by adding "Love of the Good" and "Love of the Neighbour", she said.
She added that "the formula includes all people of goodwill. It includes those of other faith, and those with no faith."
According to her, the week is part of efforts to strengthen inter- and intra-religious relationship toward preventing and countering violent extremism and promoting peace building, reconciliation and conflict transformation, which is part of events of the ceremony worldwide.
She said that the week was also to celebrate the principles of tolerance and respect for one another which was deeply rooted in the world's major religions.
Tijjani said that the impact of ethno-religious and political crisis in Kaduna State some years ago claimed hundreds of lives and properties and damaged the hitherto peaceful co-existance enjoyed by the people.
She then called for the creation of institutes of comparative studies in the country, saying the institutes would promote better understanding, religious tolerance, forgiveness, reduce blasphemy tendencies and continuously preach peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians.
She noted that there were more than 6,000 religions in the world, most of which were different from the literate Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) that many people think of when they hear the word "religion."
"In order to make statements or generalisations about religion, the concept of religion, rather than a specific religion or group of religions, we need to engage in comparative study of religions so as to reduce ethno-religious attacks and blasphemy," she added.
As part of the week celebration, she decided to also include a package of gift items to the best Church/Mosque cleaners to encourage them in the service of cleaning the environment of holy places.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, the General Overseer of the Christ Intercessory Fellowship Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, who received the chairs, expressed happiness with the donation and appealed to Christians and Muslims to learn how to tolerate, accommodate and live in peace with one another to make the country great and peaceful.
Buru said that "the place of worship belongs to God; we must do everything possible to protect Mosques and Churches against destruction."
He added that "as the interfaith and harmony week commences, we are going to organise an endurance trek for Muslim and Christian clerics to create awareness on peaceful co-existance.
"We will also organise reading and writing competition among Muslims and Christians in schools and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to enhance understanding among youths."
He said the Church would also donate prayer mats and plastic kettles to some Mosques to reciprocate the gesture and to foster peaceful co-existence.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan and unanimously adopted by the UN on Oct. 20, 2010 and henceforth the first week of February was observed as World Interfaith Harmony Week.
The Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative which started in 2007 and urged Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments; Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour, without nevertheless compromising any of their own religious tenets.
The Two commandments are at the heart of the three Monotheistic religions and therefore provide the most solid theological ground possible.
The Week provides platform for interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill to show the world what powerful movement they are as events are organised to buttress it.
Jose Mourinho has confirmed Wayne Rooney will remain at Manchester United for the rest of the season despite reports linking him with a move to the Chinese Super League.
The Chinese transfer window does not close until the end of February and the England forward's name has been linked repeatedly with astonishing offers from a country where professional football is enjoying an explosion in financial investment.
But Mourinho insisted Tuesday that Rooney, 31, will stay in his squad until at least the end of the season, despite having long since lost his status as an automatic first-choice at the club where he has been such a key player for the last 13 years.
"Yes,” said Mourinho when asked if Rooney, who recently became United’s all-time leading goal-scorer, will see out the season at Old Trafford.
“We don’t have players in, we don’t have players out, we lost two players from the squad,” the United manager added.
“You can say Memphis Depay (who joined Lyon in the January transfer window) and Morgan Schneiderlin (signed by Everton) did not play a lot, but the reality is they played some matches, and when they did, others didn’t, and when they played, others were rested.
Mourinho
“When Schneiderlin played, it meant (Paul) Pogba, (Michael) Carrick or (Ander) Herrera didn't. You lose players sometimes it does not look important because they were not first-choice players, but in the end they’re important if a club is going to have a difficult season.”
United are still active in four competitions — the Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League — and Portuguese boss Mourinho has spoken repeatedly about his concerns at the lack of numbers in his squad.
Even though Rooney has seen his name linked with a move that could be worth up to £1 million a week in China, Mourinho has fought to keep him at the club, at least for the remaining four months of the campaign.
However, it seems increasingly likely the veteran England forward could still be heading for the Far East in the summer.
– ‘Know what I want’ –
The only player Mourinho feared he would lose before the English transfer window closed at the end of January was winger Ashley Young, who was also linked with China as well as Premier League clubs Watford, West Brom, Swansea and West Ham.
“He’s staying, he’s selected for tomorrow,” said Mourinho, speaking on the eve of Wednesday’s league fixture with Hull. “He stays with me until the end of the season. It’s finished.”
Mourinho, like most of the other managers near the top of the Premier League, has had a quiet January transfer window with the sales of Schneiderlin and Depay his only major business.
However, the United manager believes that January transfers are becoming increasingly difficult for the Premier League's leading clubs and the summer is now the more important period for team strengthening.
"I cannot speak for the other teams, their decisions, what they think," he said. "In our case, we are more focused on the summer period. I like my players, so nothing for me.
“The market closes today, so there is no point in me speaking about the next transfer window when we have so many matches to play, so much to fight for, so many good players to work with."
Abuja – The Federal Government on Tuesday said the decimated Boko Haram sect had refocused its resources to media war and propaganda against the nation.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, urged Nigerians, the media in particular, to unite against terrorism by denying Boko Haram platforms to propagate its ideology.
Mohammed said the decimated group had "shifted its strategy toward dominating the media space, propagating a perverted version of Shariah law and giving the impression that it is still holding territory''.
He said the propaganda strategy was discovered from materials left behind by the terrorists after they were routed from their last stronghold in Sambisa.
"The materials include documents, phones and computers that contained detailed information on the Boko Haram media and propaganda strategy.
"An analysis of the materials reveals Boko Haram's training in videography as well as how they sought and received training from other terrorists groups on video recording and manipulation.
"The documents, written in Arabic, also outlined the media strategy that Boko Haram Commanders should employ and how the surviving members should ensure the propagation of the Boko Haram doctrine using the Social Media,'' he said.
The Minister said the recovered materials confirmed the announcement of a new media wing called "Wadi Baya" (Clear Speech) by Boko Haram in an audio released by the group on Jan. 17, following its routing from Sambisa.
He said following the recovery of the treasure trove of materials from the terrorist group, the government, was therefore, calling on the media and the general public to be vigilant.
Mohammed said they should ensure that they did not unwittingly provide the terrorists with the oxygen of publicity that they desperately needed.
Coach Abubakar Bala, the Technical Adviser of Niger Tornadoes FC, Minna, has appealed to the Niger government to provide more funds to enable the club acquire quality players currently on loan from other clubs.
"We need to acquire these players and make them our property; it is the best way to make them put in their best," Bala stated in Minna, on Tuesday.
He said that the measure would ensure optimum output by all, in the ongoing 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
"So far, the state government has done well. But one area it must look at is the need for us to clear our players in order to own them.
"If the players are cleared, they will not be moving from club to club on trials in search of greener pastures.
"They will be our property and concentrate on one club and give value for the resources spent on them,'' he said.
He regretted that 90 per cent of the club's players were on loan, and declared that the situation was not good for stability and growth.
"Immediately after our Sunday match against Enugu Rangers, for instance, one of our best players traveled for trials abroad.
"If he was our permanent player, he will not depart so casually," he said.,''
The coach also called on the government to redouble efforts toward completing work on the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna, to enhance performances.
"Playing our home games away from our home stadium is affecting our performances and chances of winning some of our games; we cannot rule out home advantage.
"Too much money is spent on hosting our matches in Lokoja, our temporary home. Aside the expenditure, this is very stressful,'' he said.
He said that the team had a target to surpass its 11th position in the 2015/2016 campaign.
"In the 2016/2017 NPFL season, we want to be among the first 10 on the table by the time league is concluded,'' he said.
He said that the management and technical crew had done a lot to put the players together.
"We have put in much and expect lots of positive results,'' he said.
Bala explained that 70 per cent of the players were new and needed time to play together in order to blend.
"When they understand themselves, the results will be there for all to see," he said.
Malam Mamman Musa, the Commissioner for Youth Affairs and Sports Development, recently advised the coach to resign, if the team continued to lose matches.
The club had since gone on to beat Wikki Tourists FC 2-0, and secured a 1-1 away draw against defending champions, Rangers International FC in Enugu.
Musa has, however, assured the technical crew that the ongoing rehabilitation work at the stadium would be completed before the commencement of the second stanza of the league.
Owerri – A leading communication company in Nigeria, MTN Communications has been accused of defrauding some indigenes of Umukaram Amato-Amaraku in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, Imo State.
Speaking on the issue on Tuesday, the spokesman of the family, Mr Chibuike Unugo said that MTN Nigeria misled them and fraudulently acquired their land.
"The land in dispute rightfully belongs to Unugo's family. The struggle started in 2006 when an MTN land negotiator, Mr Chinagorom Iwunze approached the family to enable the communication company mount its mast on the disputed land.
"Iwunze came back to lure another family member, Mr Isaac Unugo to sign some documents and presented N 300,000 to him.
"Iwunze promised that a lease agreement and entitlement will be concluded after installation of the mast.
"He never fulfilled his promise after the installation and construction work was concluded,'' he said.
He lamented that when they intensified agitation to recover their right, the company brought out a fake document of an outright sale as opposed to the initial lease arrangement.
According to him, the company has resorted in using all manner of intimidation to deny them of their customary right.
Unugo called on the relevant authorities, especially the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the security agencies to come to their aid.
When contacted the MTN Regional Legal Adviser, Mr Francis Okwunna, he said he was not permitted to speak on the issue, but acknowledged the land dispute between MTN communication and the family.
