Embarrassed Police Boss Moves To Establish Anti-Terrorism Unit In Kaduna

April 30, 2019

Embarrassed by the dare devil operation of kidnappers after declaring Kaduna-Abuja road safe for motorists, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has moved fast to establish Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) Based in Kaduna State, aimed at confronting the kidnappers and other criminals.

An enraged police boss, who spoke at a meeting with the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai in the Government House today, Tuesday, said that the establishment of a new Counter Terrorism Unit in Kaduna State will provide additional manpower and firepower in the reinvigorated fight against criminal elements, especially along the Abuja-Kaduna Express way.

This was even as Governor Nasir El-Rufai commended the IGP on the achievements of Operation Puff Adder even as he promised to support the Police in the establishment of the CTU Base and assist in the acquisition of the needed modern crime fighting technology to fight crimes in the State.

The police boss, who also addressed Northern traditional rulers that gathered in Kaduna today, Tuesday to look into the rising cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities, stressed the need for the adoption of a potent crime management strategy modelled on the concept of community policing in which policing functions are citizens-centered and community driven.

He said that although the Police have achieved major successes in addressing security and safety threats in recent times, especially since the launch of ‘Operation Puff Adder’, a citizens-centered and community policing approach will lead to more sustainable successes in the management of internal safety and security threats.

The IGP stressed the importance of Community Policing Model, which he said should involve the establishment and utilization of the Special Constables, as provided for in Sec. 50 (1) of the Police Act Cap P19 LFN 2004).

The IGP explained that the Special Constables Model, mirrored after the Police Community Support Officers standard in the United Kingdom policing architecture, “will be tailored to align with the existing traditional security structure in Northern Nigeria.

“The Special Constables will be drawn from members of the community to serve as voluntary community police officers under the coordination of the Nigeria Police Force. This new drive is in line with the expressed desire and directives of the President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”

The IGP identified that our Traditional Rulers are strategic actors within the community policing architecture, and the traditional institutional structure present a unique framework which if properly engaged could enhance the attainment of community policing practices and address communal threats in the most cost-effective and inclusive manner.

The meeting was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar as the Chairman and other top traditional rulers from the Northern part of the Country.

Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, H.E Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Minister of Defence, retired Brigadier General Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali and other top Government Functionaries.

Aisha Buhari Praises Qatar Charity For Caring For Visually Impaired Students

Editorial staff

April 30, 2019

Mrs. Aisha, Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Qatar Charity, an international humanitarian organization, for the love and care it had shown to visually impaired students, with the donation of Digital Braille Quran to them.

The President’s wife, who spoke today, Tuesday at the presentation of the item at the International Conference Center, Abuja, said that the Digital Braille Quran is an important innovation for visually impaired people.

She asked other charity and philanthropic organizations to do more in the area of promoting the use of digitized knowledge resources, so that there will be no limit to the knowledge accessible to the students as a result of their disability.

Mrs. Buhari said that the braille Quran is a great addition to the school library and another aid towards the teaching of Islam in particular and the provision of qualitative education in general.

She expressed her commitment to work with Qatar Charity to promote education in Nigeria through the Aisha Buhari Foundation.

The Executive Secretary of Qatar Charity, Dr. Hamdi Muhammad said that the charity had over the years, built mosques and boreholes, as well as cash to orphans across different faiths.

He said that the Digital Quran is meant to provide some inclusion for those with visual impairment and enable them to also learn to memorize the Quran at their own pace.

Senate Passes 2019 Budget With N10 Billion Added

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2019

The Senate has passed the 2019 Appropriation Bill, adding N10 billion to the Service Wide Vote‎.

The national budget was consequently raised from N8.906 trillion to N8.916‎ trillion.

Details later.

BREAKING NEWS: Zainab Aliyu Released From Saudi Detention

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2019

Zainab Habibu Aliyu who was arrested in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking has been released.

According to a tweet from the special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on social media, Bashir Ahmed, her release was secured by the federal government of Nigeria.

He indicated that details of her release would be made soon by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

PDP Again, Accuses INEC Of Altering Original Servers Where Atiku Won Presidency

Editorial staff

April 29, 2019

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of replacing all the servers at its headquarters in Abuja and all its offices in the 36 states of the federation in a bid to obliterate the authentic result of the elections that showed its candidate, Atiku Abubakar as winner of the Presidential election.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbodiyan, who made the accusation in a statement today, Monday, said “the PDP has been well briefed on how the INEC leadership and officials of the Buhari Presidency became jittery and resorted to the desperate measures, after they realised that the servers have information of Atiku Abubakar’s victory at the election.

“Our party also has details of how the INEC leadership and the Presidency agents procured and detailed computer experts to the commission’s offices to switch the servers, mutilate vital information in the system and attempt to erase all trails of transmitted results to the main server.
“Moreover, our party has been informed about how the INEC leadership, several weeks after the election, used some compromised officials of the commission to manipulate voter registers in some states by ticking names of individuals who did not participate in the presidential election as having voted.
“This is with the view to using such to cover the fictitious results it wrote for the APC. What INEC and the Buhari Presidency do not understand is that computer software and applications leave traces, signatures as well as footmark. Forensic investigation of the system will reveal the real votes transmitted from the polling centers, which show Atiku Abubakar as the winner of the election.
“The PDP therefore, insists on forensic examination of all relevant documents and equipment used for the presidential election.”

Zainab Aliyu: Hajj Commission Hires Lawyers For Her Release From Saudi Detention

Editorial staff

April 29, 2019

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the hiring of lawyers in Saudi Arabia to compliment efforts of the Nigerian mission in the Kingdom towards securing the timely release of Zainab Habibu Aliyu from detention in Saudi Arabia for alleged drug related offence and her eventual return to Nigeria.

This is even as President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to intervene in the case.
In a statement today, Monday, Head of Public Affairs of NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara, said that the discovery by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of drug trafficking circle of criminals notorious who used to plant drugs in innocent travelers’ luggage thereby implicating Zainab Aliyu, has given hope for her redemption from incarceration.

The NAHCON spokesperson assured that the agency will continue to work with NDLEA to ensure a drug-incident-free Umrah season and Hajj 2019 period.

“In collaboration with sister agencies, the commission will deploy the necessary staff and technology at Hajj departure centers nationwide to ensure security of pilgrims and their luggage against abuse and drug peddling in any guise.”

This was even as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri Erewa, said in a statement today, Monday: “President Muhammadu Buhari gave the directive immediately the matter was brought to his attention about two weeks ago.
“My office has been working with the AGF as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in that regard,” she said.
The Presidential aide assured that progress is being made in Zainab’s case along with two others held in similar circumstances in Saudi Arabia.
“Zainab, although detained, had not been put on trial by the Saudi Arabia government.
“And with the hard evidence that those who implicated her have been arrested, a strong legal case is being made to the Saudi authorities.”

Zainab Aliyu, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, who travelled for Lesser Hajj in December 2018, was detained by the Saudi Arabia authorities for allegedly being in possession of illicit drugs, which could earn her death sentence according to the law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Habib Aliyu, the father of the alleged drug courier, Zainab, had appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in her daughter’s case and save the ‘innocent’ lady from being executed wrongly.
Aliyu also called on the Saudi authorities and the international community as well as well-meaning individuals to intervene.
Zainab’s father had expressed displeasure over his daughter’s arrest and detention in a Saudi Prison in spite of the recent discovery that she was framed by some drug cartel.
He had explained that the allegations of Zainab entering the country with Tramadol was absolute falsehood as recent events and arrests had confirmed the girl’s innocence.
Zainab, had travelled from Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in company of her mother, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu, and sister Hajara Aliyu.
She was later arrested over allegations that a luggage, bearing her name tag, contained the unlawful substance.
Zainab who was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with an illegal dose of Tramadol was later discovered to be a victim of a cartel that specialized in keeping hard drugs in travellers’ bags.
According to the statement some members of the drug cartel are already in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Borrowing Cannot Solve Government Problems, Chairman Of Governors’ Forum Warns

Editorial staff

April 29, 2019

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has warned the governors-elect, taking over governance of their states from May 29, that borrowing to run government has been considered to be a big burden against the backdrop of various infrastructural development challenges.

Governor Yari, who will complete his second and last tenure in May, said that the outgoing governors have agreed that borrowing is never a reliable alternative to solving economic problems even as he advised the incoming ones and other tiers of government to multiply revenue generation bases so as to change the course of doing government business for the betterment of the people.

The NGF Chairman, who spoke today, Monday, at the opening ceremony of the induction programme for newly-elected and returning governors put together by NGF Secretariat, at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, asked incoming governors to be prepared for the possibility of another cycle of recession by the mid-2020 to third quarter of 2021.

“On our part, we made a lot of achievements in infrastructural development and provision of social services because we enjoyed a relatively high oil price of about $100 to $114 per barrel between 2001 and the middle of 2014. However, by the mid-2014, the price of crude oil, which is sadly the main driving force of government’s expenditure, dropped to $75 per barrel. It, therefore, became very difficult for many states to even pay salaries of their workers.

“This scenario is a wake-up call for all of you to come amply prepared to face these kinds of challenges especially since we are expecting the possibility of another cycle of recession by mid-2020 and which may last up to third quarter of 2021.

“Your good spirit of stewardship will make you contain the situation should there be one. Also, as members of the National Economic Council, you must work hand in hand to boost the economy in tandem with the global best practices. Experience, they say, is the best teacher. Ours has been a challenging experience of managing state economies that are totally dependency on accruals from the federation account rather than exploring viable alternatives to run the economy. For most of the states, internally generated revenues are nothing to write home about. You must, therefore, look inward by boosting your revenue generation base and also utilise them effectively for execution of projects that would touch the lives of your people. You must not forget the high expectations of our people on us; now that the democracy is maturing day in day out the challenges of governance and service delivery are more demanding.”

Governor Yari stressed the importance of seeking reliable alternative funding away from the federation account, adding that the NGF and the National Economic Council led by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, have agreed that “borrowing is never a reliable alternative to solving our economic problems. We must work hard among all the tiers of government to multiply our revenue generation bases so that together we change the course of doing government business for the betterment of our people. In so doing, key revenue agencies like the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian Custom Service and other sister agencies must be made to work more effectively now that Mr. President has signed the much awaited National Minimum Wage law, pegging the minimum workers salaries at N30,000 per month.”

Don’t Try Our Patience In Abuja, Soldiers Warn Shiites

Editorial staff

April 29, 2019

Soldiers under the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army have warned members of the Islamic Movement in Nigerian (IMN), popularly known as Shiites, to stop the incessant protests demanding the release from detention, of their leader, Sheik Ibrahim El zazaky.

Guards Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Umar Tama Musa, who spoke today, Monday in an interview with news men in Abuja, shortly after the end of the brigade’s inter-unit drill competition, said that the brigade is aware of the Shiites activities and watching their movement.

General Umar Musa said that the brigade cannot confront the group for now because of the peaceful manner they have been conducting their activities, adding however, that the brigade would not hesitate to respond with force if the group decides to go violent with its protest.

“In view of the agitation of the Elzazaky group, popularly called the Shiites, so long as they are carrying out a peaceful protest or demonstrations, the Nigerian Army does not have any problem with that.

“But some problem will arise if they decide to become violent. But I want to assure residents of the FCT that we are monitoring their activities keenly and all is well.

“Whenever there is a problem, we can assure the residents that we are capable of handling the situation.”

He said that the brigade is collaborating with the police to curb the activities of kidnappers terrorizing Nigerians, especially, those residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The issue of kidnapping is a serious security problem in Nigeria as a whole; it has been on the low some months back but it is resurfacing again and I want to assure you that the police are handling the situation.

“Whenever it goes beyond what the police can handle or whenever the police require our services we will assist them.

“But by and large, the security situation in Abuja is okay for now.”

My Government Is Not Corrupt, Kogi Governor Fires Back At Critics

Editorial staff

April 29, 2019

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has fired back at critics who accused his government of misappropriating the state’s financial resources as the civil servants are not paid their legitimate salaries and allowances for months.

Answering reporters’ questions today, Monday at the venue of an induction programme organized for returning and newly elected Governors of the 36 States, at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Yahaya Bello insisted that his government has been transparent and cannot be adjudged to be corrupt.

“When you talk about misappropriation of funds, from all our finances, starting from bailout funds to Paris Club refunds, we so much published all our transactions, to the extent that bank statements were published in the dailies and I want to believe that you also have the facts.

“The little resources that we are generating as well, we have been able to achieve a lot of infrastructure development for our state; security infrastructure and several others.

“This is what was not done for the state in the past 20 years of Kogi state’s existence before I came on board but under three years, we were able to achieve all these successes.

“Probably some might think we were using stones or sand to do all these but this is the prudent management of resources and the good hands that we were able to recruit in my cabinet and in governance of Kogi State.

“So, those that are making such comments, it’s a strategy; it is either that they want me to perform more or they are simply living in oblivion. They don’t know anything that is happening in Kogi state and they cannot participate in Kogi State politics as it stands today because we are doing politics of inclusiveness and not exclusiveness, the way it was done in the past.

The governor said that the Forum for the governors would make the governors to be proactive in delivering on the promises they made to the people.

“So, the outgoing and the incoming Governors need to be inducted so that we know the challenges ahead and it’s a very wonderful programme. We appreciate the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Federal Government of Nigeria for this wonderful induction course.

Speaking on the crisis in the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Yahaya Bello stressed that there is no such crisis, adding that real elders and real stakeholders, the youths, the women and people of integrity know that Kogi State chapter of the APC is intact “and that was why we were able to deliver Kogi State for the President. We were able to deliver two out of the three senatorial seats to our party; we were able to deliver seven out nine House of Representatives to our party and for the first time ever in the history of politics in Kogi State, we were able to deliver 100 percent, which is 25 House of Assembly members in Kogi State. If there is crisis there is no how we could have achieved this.”

“So I want to assure you that the APC in Kogi is intact and I remain a bonafide member of APC and as a matter of fact, I rebuilt the part in Kogi state from the scratch to what it is today and we are able to achieve this feat. So those that are making certain passes of me leaving the party I think that is their wish and by the grace of God their wish will never be granted.”

On remarks by the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Dr. Ado Ibrahim alleging that he, the governor no longer have the support of Ebira people for his second term bid, Governor Yahaya Bello said that he does not believe the royal father said so.

“First of all, the traditional ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is my father. I am his son, and in our tradition, there is certain age that when you attain, the right thing is what is expected of you. So I don’t believe that the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland will make such utterances or statements because he knows that upon my assumption of office, I restored the real value for the traditional institution.

“You know what security situation used to be in Kogi state and Ebiraland and today we are having a different story. We know that in the past, appointments and employment used to be lopsided in Kogi state if I decide to balance it, that is not a crime and the citizens of Kogi state rewarded us in the last general elections and I know surely that the good people of Kogi State, including the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is my greatest supporter and he will continue to support me greatly.

“I don’t think he should be misquoted by the Press or anybody. The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is a revered person. We hold him in very high esteem. He will continue to be my father, my great supporter and by the grace of God, he is urging me to re-contest and also to do more than what I have done in this first term and I promise the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland that he will never be disappointed in my performance by the grace of God.”

Osinbajo Lists Measures Taken By Buhari’s Govt To Tame Boko Haram

Greenbarge Reporters

April 29, 2019

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has listed some measures taken by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his promise during his inaugural speech in 2015, to put an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

“In fulfilling the promise, as Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, he prioritized the restoration of professionalism in the military, to enable them effectively discharge their responsibilities.
“Substantial investments have been made in acquiring new platforms and other support equipment for the military and other security agencies, as well as in reactivating and upgrading existing platforms.

“In the last four years, the Air Force has acquired and reactivated several aircraft, which are now helping make a difference in the various theatres of engagement across the country.
“In addition, the procurement process for military hardware has been reviewed, to remove inefficiency. In 2018, through a transparent, first-of-its-kind Government-to-Government deal with the United States of America, we concluded the procurement process for the delivery, in 2020, of a dozen Super Tucano aircrafts, which will no doubt be game-changing for Nigeria’s air capabilities.”
Vice President Osinbajo, who spoke today, Monday, at the Nigerian Air Force Day Celebration, highlighted the renewed focus on research, innovation and self-reliance by the Chief of Air Staff, which he said, is farsighted and an important component of the development of a Military Industrial Complex for Nigeria and the Armed Forces in general.

“I am pleased to note that we are seeing an Air Force that is increasingly confident about its ability and capacity to innovate and to deploy locally developed technology.
“This is manifesting in various ways, from the locally-developed operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, TSAIGUMI, which the President formally inducted into service in February 2018, to the collaborative work being done at the Air Force Research and Development Centre in Kaduna to produce the first-ever made-in-Nigeria aircraft.
“Of course, this must be situated within the general context of a greater emphasis on local capacity-building by the Nigerian Armed Forces, with developments like the establishment of a Nigerian Army University and the revitalization of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) serving as testaments to this renewed emphasis.”
He commended the Armed Forces, along with other security forces, to its invaluable contributions to fully contain the security challenges in some parts of the nation, especially, the contributions of the Nigerian Air Force in addressing the security challenges of armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping in the North West and North Central.

“Your efforts in conjunction with other security agents have started to yield positive results. As we provide new platforms for you to carry out your constitutional roles, Nigerians expect nothing short of exceptional service delivery from you.”
The Vice President charged the Air Force to continue to work to earn the confidence of the nation and the respect of the international community, in terms of protecting lives and property, and degrading and neutralizing all existing and emerging national security threats.
“I would like to urge greater cooperation and mutual trust between the various arms of the Armed Forces, even while maintaining the healthy spirit of competition that underpins innovation and increased efficiency.
“The Nigerian Air Force should also strive to expand its collaborations outside of the military – by this, I mean collaborations with academia, think tanks, civilian technology hubs, and independent innovators and creators. I am aware, with discussions with the Chief of Air Staff that collaborations with our universities and research institutes are already underway.
“There is a great amount of potential waiting to be unleashed from these partnerships. Earlier this year, young interns working at the Federal-Government-supported North East Humanitarian Innovation Hub in Yola, hit an important milestone in their work. They developed, through 3-D printing, a fitting prosthetic arm for a former Policeman who lost his arm while in service. This was an exceptional innovation because all of the material used and all of those involved in it are from Adamawa State.
“Across the country, hubs like these – several of them supported by the Federal Government are doing exciting things and exciting ground is being broken, and there is no reason why the Armed Forces should not be a part of the story.”

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