Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (left) in a handshake with the Ambassador of Thailand to Nigeria, Mr. Wattana Kunwongse, during a courtesy visit by Ambassador to his office in Abuja today, Friday January 12. [myad]
CBN-Office-AbujaThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its first Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) for the year, has intervened in the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market with the total sum of $262,500,000.
Data received from the CBN today, Friday revealed that the sum was in favour of the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors.
The Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications at the Bank, Isaac Okorafor confirmed the figures, saying that the releases were targeted at boosting production and trade in addition to sustaining liquidity in the market.
According to him, the CBN would not relent in its resolve to make the inter-bank forex market liquid, stressing that the Bank is committed to driving economic growth and guaranteeing stability in the market.
Okorafor reiterated that the Bank’s intervention had effectively checked the activities of speculators, assuring that the Bank would continue to monitor, thoroughly, the activities of authorised dealers in order to checkmate possible sharp practices.
Meanwhile, the Naira exchanged at N359 to a United States dollar today, Friday, maintaining its stability in the market.
A Fulani socio-cultural organisation, the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has come out to own up the current attacks Fulani people have launched in some parts of the country, saying that they are fighting because they had long been pushed to the wall.
The group admitted that the conflicts between farmers and herders in Benue State and other states is the Fulani way of fighting back over prolonged neglect and injustice.
The group lamented that the country had never allowed Fulani herdsmen to exercise any right in the country like other citizens.
National Secretary General of GAFDAN, Alhaji Saleh Bayeri, who spoke to news men in Jos, the Plateau State capital, yesterday said: “there has been so much hatred against the Fulani by other Nigerians over the years and successive governments never cared to see to the challenges facing the Fulanis in this country. We have been pushed to the wall and the only option we have is to fight back, especially as states are beginning to enact laws to further strangulate the only means of livelihood of the Fulani herdsmen in the country.
“The reason for the problem is obvious. The Fulani in this country are facing the toughest challenge of their lives, a kind of challenge that makes you to choose between life and death; they are facing serious economic depression.
“Historically, the herdsmen and their business have been neglected o by the people and government of Nigeria. It is therefore natural that for people that feel oppressed to want to fight back or resist oppression. As far back as I can remember, from 1970 till date, there has been no single government policy geared towards assisting herdsmen in any way.
“Naturally, the government should know that the Fulani that keep multiplying in human population and their animal, should know that they need a space to occupy and carry out their legitimate business. The Fulani are not being allowed any space in Nigeria and government does not seem to care, so they have to fight back.
“There was the issue of grazing reserve, about 413 grazing reserves in gazette. Out of that number, you can’t count up to 20 that are functional. But farmers enjoy and keep enjoying all sorts of assistance from the federal government through the same ministry for agriculture. Government does not really care when it comes to the issue of herders.”
On the killings in Benue state, he said: “We expected the federal government to move in and stop the enforcement on this anti-open grazing law in Benue State, but since government does not care on any issue affecting the Fulani man, the governor was allowed to enforce the law and we can now see the consequences
“From the last check, it was reported that over 70 people have been killed in Benue State in attempt to enforce an unjust law of anti-open grazing. People should ask the governor, is the enforcement of any law worth the lives of over 70 of his people. Has that law succeeded?”
He said that the solution to the problem is for the the Benue State governor to withdrew the anti-open grazing law he enacted last year.
“Let him look at Benue State as home for all irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation. The governor should be reminded that he swore to protect and defend the lives of all citizens of Benue State not minding their tribe, religion or political background.”[myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari Son, Yusuf BuhariYusuf, son of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was admitted into Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, on December 26, last year, following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, is well now.
The Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Felix Ogedegbe, who disclosed this in a statement released to news men by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also denied the rumour that the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari was ever admitted in the hospital for shock.
Describing the social media report of that Aisha Buhari was admitted in the hospital when she fainted as the news of his son’s accident as misleading, the Medical Director said the response of Yusuf Buhati to treatment so far “is clear testimony to answered prayers.
Dr. Ogedengbe said that as a result of the initial stabilization, Yusuf was taken into intensive care, adding that he underwent successful emergency surgical operations which were carried out by a team of neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons.
“Over the following week, his condition improved remarkably and he was transferred from intensive care to the ward. He has remained stable ever since and has continued to make remarkable progress. He is now ready to be discharged.
“His extremely speedy response to treatment so far is testimony to the world-class early care he has received here in Cedarcrest, Abuja.”
The Medical Director expressed appreciation to President Buhari and his wife, Aisha Buhari for the confidence they had in the hospital and its medical team, “and for allowing us to look after Yusuf. This show of confidence goes a long way to strengthen our collective belief in our resolve to offer world-class health care locally.”
He also expressed gratitude to the hospital team for their dedication and hard work during this period even as he also thanked the Ministers of Health as well as the Minister of State for Health and the eminent advisory team of specialists assembled by the Minister of Health who gave their support in the course of looking after Yusuf.
“We are grateful to all Nigerians who prayed for Yusuf, his family and his carers.”
Dr. Ogedegbe, who clarified that Yusuf’s friend was not involved in the accident and did not sustain any injuries whatsoever even as he said that Aisha Buhari was not at any time treated for shock and she was not admitted into Cedarcrest at any time.
“In addition, Cedarcrest Hospitals has remained open to other in-patients and out-patients and at no time were any patients denied access to the hospital.”
Yusuf Buhari was admitted into Cedarcrest Hospitals Abuja in the late hours of the 26th of December 2017, following injuries sustained as a rider of a motorcycle.[myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has offered prayer for Otunba Gani Adams, Leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), on his investiture, tomorrow, January 13, as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.
A statement today, Friday, by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the President as having prayed that the almighty God will grant the Aare Ona Kakanfo a favourable reign.
Buhari asked Otunba Gani Adams to use the new position to pursue worthy goals of security, peace and national unity.
He also advised the new Kakanfo to bring quintessential courage, wisdom and astuteness to bear on his new office, for a more secured life for the weak, vulnerable and voiceless in the country.
The President commended the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, on the appointment of a new Aare Ona Kakanfo, who will assist him in the arduous task of leading the illustrious Yoruba people. [myad]
The Chinese government has demolished another church, the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, Shanxi province, the second in less than a month.
According to witness and the head pastor, police had cordoned off the area around the church before construction workers detonated explosives inside the church and that after the initial explosion; crews broke apart the remaining pieces with diggers and jackhammers.
The Golden Lampstand Church was built a decade ago and cost a total of 17m yuan (about £1.9 million) at the time, according to the head pastor Yang Rongli.
Yang previously spent seven years in jail on charges of “assembling a crowd to disturb traffic order”, and has been under police surveillance since her release in October 2016, according to China Aid, a Christian NGO based in the United States.
“I think this might be a new pattern against any independent house churches with an existing building or intention to build one,” said Bob Fu, founder of China Aid. “It also could be a prelude to enforcing the new regulation on religious affairs that will take effect in February.”
A Catholic church in the neighbouring province of Shaanxi was also reportedly demolished last month, 20 years after it originally opened.
China guarantees freedom of religion on paper, but in practice authorities heavily regulate many aspects of religious life. Churches must be officially sanctioned and pastors must adhere to a host of rules imposed by the government.
The restrictive policies have given rise to “house” churches, independent places of worship that exist outside official channels. Authorities periodically arrest pastors or demolish buildings used by unsanctioned congregations.
But authorities have taken a harder line since 2013 against towering crosses and large cathedrals. Officials launched a sweeping crackdown on churches in Zhejiang province that accelerated in 2015, and more than 1,200 crosses have been removed, according to activists.
In an annual report on freedom of religion, the United States State Department found that “the government physically abused, detained, arrested, tortured, sentenced to prison, or harassed adherents of both registered and unregistered religious groups for activities related to their religious beliefs and practices”.
A pastor at a nearby church arrived after the blast at the Golden Lampstand Church and watched construction crews break apart the remains of the building. The pastor asked his name not be published for fear of retaliation by the authorities.
There were “more police than I could count” preventing a crowd on onlookers and worshipers from approaching the site, the pastor said.
“My heart was sad to see this demolition and now I worry about more churches being demolished, even my own,” he said. “This church was built in 2008. There’s no reason for them to destroy it now.”
The government revised laws regulating religious groups last year for the first time since 2005, increasing control over a places of worship from limiting the construction of statutes outside churches to imposing fines of up to 300,000 yuan (£34,000) for holding “unauthorised religious activities”.
Another church was demolished in a small village in Shaanxi in late December, according to AsiaNews, a China-focused Catholic news website. The building was built in 1999 and local authorities did not give a reason for the demolition.
Officials at the Linfen bureau of religious affairs did not respond to requests for comment.
Source: The Guardian UK. [myad]
Maimuna Aliyu
Court in Abuja, the Nigeria’s Federal Capital, has granted the former Executive Director of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, Maimuna Aliyu, bail in the sum of N10 Million over an alleged fraud amounting to over N57 Million.
This followed today, after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), charged her to for the offence.
The Commission in a 3-count charge before Justice M. A. Nasir of the FCT High Court No 16 at Jabi, Abuja alleged that Maimuna used her position as the Executive Director of Aso Savings and Loans Plc, to confer corrupt advantage upon herself by receiving the sum of N57, 000,000 being the proceeds of the sale of three plots of land in Jahi District, Abuja and failing to remit the said amount to Aso Savings.
The ICPC also alleged that Maimuna Aliyu made false statement to officers of the Commission thereby contravening the provisions of Sections 19 and 25 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same Sections.
Maimuna Aliyu is also facing a charge of criminal breach of trust for allegedly diverting the sum of N57,000,000 to personal use, an offence that is contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code.
She pleaded not guilty to all the charges even as her counsel, Mr. Joe Gadzama (SAN) in his bail application, requested the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition and also on the basis that she is a first offender. Hon. Justice M. A. Nasir, in her ruling granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. She said that such sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case was adjourned to March 12 for commencement of hearing.
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has described anti grazing law being enforced by some state governors as anti people.
Governor Lalong made it clear that there are levels of implementation which will require government intervention, provision of ranchers and so on.
“I can’t implement anti-grazing law. I cannot wake up like some people said last year that I should go and do anti-grazing Law. And I asked anti-grazing law for what?
“We are talking about ranching, we are talking about development of livestock business and I cannot use the word anti to start driving people who are interested. It is for those who are interested to come and get involve in it.”
The Plateau governor, who fielded questions from news men today, Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, his state was one of those that embraced ranching.
“I had a lot of opposition initially when I said Plateau was keying into ranching. Some states said they don’t have land but I said whether I have land or not we have to provide land for ranching because that I see as solution to the (farmers/herdsmen) conflicts.
“In Plateau we have gone far. We have donated land voluntarily, many people donated land for ranching.
“Last year, I sent a 12 team to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. They spent almost a week there to study and the team was headed by former Vice Chancellor of University of Jos, Professor Onazi. We went round all the communities in Plateau, it took three months and Plateau people including the Fulanis accepted that we must embrace ranching.
Ranching as a concept is a policy and there are states realizing the importance of the policy.”
“When you are talking of ranching, it is a component of agriculture business; you will also require subsidy. Subsidy must come from federal and state governments and by the time we develop it and put every structure on ground, then we can bring laws to regulate the implementation. So I don’t want to jump one step before the other.”
Governor Lalong narrated how he told the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom not to do the law on anti grazing.
“I said (to him), look, why don’t you tread softly; just be careful, take other steps before you start implementation.
“But you see, states are different. His own concepts are different and for us on the Plateau is different. I said I will not do the law before implementation. I have not developed the ranching areas so I cannot go and say I put a law, to stop who? If I stop the people what is the alternative.
“So I said do consultations, allow the people to understand and buy into the concepts.”
On the difference between ranching and colony, Lalong said that after enquiries and study, he discovered that one is bigger than the other.
“For me, anytime I hear anything about agriculture I don’t jump into conclusions. I go and study it. Yesterday (Wednesday), I was at the federal ministry of agriculture with my agricultural team: commissioner and others. We spent almost five hours because I said they must convince me and explain to me what colony is. So that when I go back just like I did with ranching, I will go and tell my people that this is the concept. When I had the briefing with them I was convinced about colony.
“They said the difference between colony and ranches is that one is bigger than the other. You get a very big field, you get investors, demacate the area. Somebody will ranch bees, somebody will ranch goats, somebody will ranch cattle but government will develop the place, put grasses, water and anybody who is coming in must pay. And you cannot go and force any land, it is voluntary land that government has.
“For me, in Plateau, we have two large areas already. That is the concept.
The governor said that ranching is not for only Fulani herdsmen, adding that it is everybody’s business.
According to him, many youths, thousands of graduates have registered, ready to go into that business.
“It is everybody’s business. We must help the federal government to find ways of addressing issues because agriculture is not just agriculture now. It is now a means of diversification. And if you have to diversify, it is serious business for everyone. It is not for a tribe.
“So I said if we have to encourage people to go into ranching I will not use the word anti.”[myad]
File photo: Lifeless bodies Don Waney and his some of his memebersAfter hours of shootouts between the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team attached to the Joint Police Special Investigation Team, six members of the Don Waney dangerous kidnapping and armed robbery gang were killed.
Information coming from the Police Headquarters in Abuja said that other members of the gang were able to escape from the battlefield with bullet wounds.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood confirmed in a statement today, Thursday, the prolonged cross firing between the officers and the gang members took place in their hideouts in Awara Forest boundary between Imo and Rivers State.
He also confirmed that those with bullet wound injury escaped to other locations in Rivers, Delta, Imo and Bayelsa States even as he assured that the Police Teams are currently on their trail.
The police spokes person said that the IGP Intelligence Response Team, working on an actionable intelligence, further identified Desmond Okotubo who escaped on January 3 to Abuja after a shoot out with the Police Team in a location in Imo State, adding that the suspect was trailed to Mpape in Abuja where he was arrested after serious resistance on January 9.
He said that the 32 year old Desmond Okotubo, who is the principal Suspect, is a Native of Egbenma from Unelga local government area of Rivers State.
According to Jimoh Moshood, the suspect confessed to be one of the masterminds of the gang and actively participated in the killings of innocent people in Omoku Rivers state on the New Year day.
“He further gave details of how they planned the Operation in Awara Town Imo State before they carried out the act.
“The suspect, Desmond Okotubo also revealed to the Police how their Gang leader Don Wanny gathered them and briefed them on the night of 31st January, 2017 on the mission to attack and kill the residents of Omoku town. Thirty (30) of them Armed with over Twenty (20) AK47 Rifles crossed the river from Awara to Omoku forest and proceeded to Omoku town and opened fire on innocent Citizens celebrating the new year.”
The police spokes person said that investigation is being intensified to arrest other members of the gang still at large to get to the root of the matter.
He said that the suspect will be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
[myad]
Plateau State Governor, Simon LalongPlateau state governor, Simon Lalong has a reason to thank God for the decision he took on assumption of office to fully involve everyone, including the Fulani herdsmen in finding solution to lingering clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
He said: “when I came I inherited a protracted crisis in the state and so my first priority was how to handle these crises and ensure we have peace in Plateau State.
“Within three months, we were able to achieve peace in Plateau State. Most of the lingering crises were between farmers and herdsmen but today in most parts of the state, you will see beautiful relationship between herdsmen and farmers.”
Governor Lalong, who answered reporters’ questions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday, Thursday, made it clear that the best way to achieve peace is for the leadership to embrace everybody as his own.
“I have said it a number of time that it is a matter of accommodating (various) interests; you take everybody as your own. In Plateau state, I did that.
He said that he just returned from a vacation and was in Aso Rock to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the happenings in his state in the last one year.
He said that with the support from the President, the state has been enjoying relative Peace.
Governor Lalong said that the President was very happy with the peace in his state, adding: “of course, the president is always happy when he hears that number, one your state is peaceful and two, that you are paying salaries up to date.
“For me, salary is no longer an issue. Last December, I started paying gratuity. So I came to tell him that through his efforts; the bailout funds, I have cleared the salaries.
“Indeed, I inherited 11 months arrears and eight months of pensions, and today, I have cleared them. I am now into payment of arrears of gratuity and development projects.
“Let me not forget, part of the visit was to ask a shift of date in the president’s visit to the state from January to February and he has agreed and said he will come anytime I want him to come.”[myad]
