President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the Government and the people of Kogi State over the death of the former Nigerian Permanent Secretary in the Northern Region’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdul I. Atta.
In a statement by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said that Dr. Atta will always be remembered as an illustrious civil servant who served his region and country very well with his remarkable medical and administrative skills.
The President recalls that Dr. Atta treated his patients with great care and compassion, and also administered the Ministries of Health in Northern Nigeria and the old North Central State with exemplary efficiency.
President Buhari urges all who mourn the late doctor and administrator to be comforted by the knowledge that he lived a long, worthy and fulfilled life of service to his country.
He prays that God Almighty will receive Dr. Atta’s soul and grant him peaceful rest. [myad]
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has promised to engage no fewer than 3,000 youths at the ongoing project site in Ile-Ife.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Moses Olafare, the Ooni said that he has dedicated the new year 2016 to turn around the fortunes of the youth by unfolding a new vista of hope in terms of gainful employment.
The Arole Oodua felicitated with the people of Ile-Ife, Osun state and Nigeria in general for the New Year 2016.
“No fewer than 3,000 youths would be engaged at ongoing project site of Ife Grand Resort, spanning over 1000 hectares of land to provide job opportunities for the people.”
He said that his focus and target are beyond the shores of Ile-Ife as critical arrangements have reached advanced stage to take the unemployed youths off the streets, with a view to check mating the growing crime rate in our society. [myad]
Following the diplomatic row that erupted between Saudi Arabia and Iran over the exdcuting of a prominent Shiite leader, Sheikh Nimr al-Namr on Saturday and the order given by Saudi government to its citizens in Iran to return home, over 80 Saudis, including diplomats and their families have already left Iran and arrived in Dubai today.
Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran late yesterday night, giving diplomats 48 hours to leave the country, after protesters set fire to its embassy in Tehran and a consulate in second city Mashhad.
Tensions began to rise between the two countries when Saudi Arabia and its allies cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in a row over the execution of a Shiite cleric.
The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr erupted into a full-blown diplomatic crisis as Riyadh and then Bahrain and Sudan severed their relations with Tehran, the main Shiite power.
The United States and other Western nations urged calm, amid fears the dispute could derail efforts to resolve conflicts across the Middle East, from Syria to Yemen.
It has also raised concerns of an increase in sectarian violence, including in Iraq where two Sunni mosques were blown up overnight.
Bahrain and Sudan followed suit today by leaving Iran, as Moscow offered to act as an intermediary between Riyadh and Tehran.
The United Arab Emirates also downgraded its ties, recalling its envoy from Tehran and reducing the number of its diplomats in the country.
Sunni Arab nations accused Tehran of repeatedly meddling in their affairs, with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir saying “Iran’s history is full of negative interference and hostility in Arab issues”.
Bahrain accused Iran of “increasing flagrant and dangerous meddling” in Gulf and Arab states, while the UAE said Iranian interference had reached “unprecedented levels”.
Iranian officials denounced the Saudi move as a tactic that would inflame regional tensions.
“Saudi Arabia sees not only its interests but also its existence in pursuing crises and confrontations and (it) attempts to resolve its internal problems by exporting them to the outside,” foreign ministry spokesman, Hossein Jaber Ansari said. [myad]
The outgoing Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yushau Abubakar, has described officers and men of the theatre as heroes. Abubakar said that many of them have put their lives on the line in the defence of the nation. General Abubakar, who is now Chief of Training and Operation of the Nigerian Army at its Headquarters in Abuja, spoke today when he was handing to the new Theatre Commander, Major General Hassan Umaru He said: “I am very delighted today as I am leaving the leadership of the Operation Lafiya Dole a happy man because we have successfully done what is best to the military and the country at large, as we have degraded the capacity of the terrorists and Nigerians should appreciate hard work performed by the military and I am leaving the scene to a person who is already in the theatre of war and is familiar with the terrain in the area of the operation. “I consider all of you as my heroes as all of you have contributed to the feat we achieved in the war against insurgency within the theatre. “My redeployment to the Army Headquarters is an indication of the confidence the Military High Command have in us and I urge you to extend the gesture to my successor.” Also handing over, the General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Borno State, Major General Lamidi Adeosun, advised officers and men of the Division to cooperate with his successor, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, who he described as a fine infantry officer that will continue the good work until the terrorists are completely wiped out. Adeosun is going to the Multinational Joint Task Force, with headquarters in Chad. [myad]
The Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Gazali Mohammed, has confirmed the arrest of some people who embarked on looting as the Yola central market went up in flame in the early hours of today.
Gazali Mohammed, who was inspecting security deployment at the market, today did not however give the number of those arrested, but that adequate security measures have been provided at the scene to check activities of looters. Many shop owners were said to have broken down in tears as a result of the losses suffered in the fire incident. The Chairman of the market traders association, Mallam Ali Kachalla, said that 90 per cent of the market was affected. “This is the worst fire incident i can remember in 50 years,” Kachalla said even as he called on the government come to the aid of the victims. The state Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sa’ad Abubakar, said the fire started around 3am and that no life was lost. Abubakar said that fire fighters from the state fire service, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and the American University of Nigeria intervened to contain the inferno. Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Martins Babale, and the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, have visited the scene to sympathize with the traders.
This was even as Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed sadness at the fire incidence in the Yola Central Market in. In a statement by his media office, the former Vice President said the fire incident is one too many and called on authorities in charge of public places like markets, schools and factories to be extra vigilant at this period of the year. The Turaki Adamawa said fire incidents during this period of harmattan can be quite devastating in its impact because of the prevalence of the dry wind blowing from the North East part of the country and which tends to lend a helping hand to otherwise containable fire outbreak to get out of hand. The APC chieftain recalled that valuable property running into millions and at times human lives have been lost to devastating fires in many parts of the country of recent. He called on the management of the Yola Central Market and other markets and places of business susceptible to fire outbreaks to work out ways and means of reducing fire outbreaks to the barest minimum. Abubakar also challenged the various fire services in the country to improve on their readiness and preparedness to deal with fire outbreaks to reduce losses and the trauma usually caused the victims. [myad]
The Lagos State government had begged workers in the state to be committed to their jobs work more diligently and assiduously with the fear of God in order to achieve set goals and objectives of the present administration this New Year.
The state’s Head of Service (HOS), Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, who spoke today at the 2016 First Working Day Inter-Religious Prayer session organized by the Public Service Office at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos similarly begged public servants in the State to reciprocate the kind gesture of the Ambode led administration by fulfilling its promise of creating a conducive atmosphere for workers.
“Public Servants must report at their duty post punctually, daily and improve their work rate in order to achieve set goals and objectives bearing in mind that it is the totality of individual achievements that would effectively translate into the attainment of ministerial mandates which in turn represents the attainment of Government’s policy objectives.”
She said that the fulfilment of one of such promises is the increase in the amount of fund made available as housing loans to civil servants in the State from N50million to N100million in the year 2016 budget, thus making provision for more public servants in the State to benefit and access the loan.
While urging the workers to be security conscious and always display their identification cards at all times to avoid embarrassment by security agents, Ademola noted that, “In spite of the present economic realities, the State Government has identified programmes and specific projects that will further improve the quality of life of the citizenry as well as consolidate on the achievements of the past year”.
In their individual sermon during the session, the Presiding Chaplain, Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Venerable Femi Taiwo enjoined public servants to possess hearts of commitment and service to God and humanity in the discharge of their duties.
While Imam Rafiu Kazeem of the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa urged them to be dedicated and hard working in all official responsibilities.
Meanwhile, the State Government, through the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has announced its intention to hold an advocacy programme for Stakeholders and all First Responders on prevention, mitigation and rescue of victims during emergency in the State.
The event, which will be held at the Blue Roof LTV8 Agindingbi, Lagos this month with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as the Special Guest of Honour would also involve several presentations by resource persons on how to prevent fire outbreaks, reduce impact of accidents and improve response time to emergency situations.
Speaking to journalists in his Office at the Secretariat, Alausa, the General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele noted that, the Agency is committed to ensuring that fire disasters and other forms of tragedy is reduced to the barest minimum through continuous Public Advocacy/Campaign Programmes to educate Lagosians as well as adequately train and equip first responders to deal with such incidents.
According to the General Manager, “all necessary precautionary measures are being implemented by the state government to minimize fire outbreaks, road accidents and other incidents that could have disastrous consequences on safety of lives and properties in the State.
He explained that the Agency will continue to organize periodic meetings and workshops among all the relevant stakeholders to access their level of preparedness, identify and assign roles and responsibilities to stakeholders and responders in the management of emergency situations in Lagos.
Akindele averred that, the restructuring of the inaugurated Local Emergency Management Committee in all the 57 Local Government/Local Council Development Areas, the training of 750 Local Emergency Responders, the engagement of volunteers and the establishment of LASEMA Zonal Offices in the five division of the State will no doubt improve effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency in the management of emergency/disaster in the State.
While imploring Lagosians to be safety conscious always and support the State Government in reducing accidents in the State, Akindele advised residents to strictly abide by all stipulated safety rules and regulations as advocated by the present administration. [myad]
Three prominent Nigerian philanthropists, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and the founder of American University of Nigeria (AUN), Atiku Abubakar, have offered succour to the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa state. A statement from the office of Communications and Public Relations of the AUN, Mr. Dan Okereke said that items such as medicines, blankets, vegetable oil, spaghetti, seasonings, salt, sugar, and rice procured by the three caring Nigerians were distributed to the IDPs recently. The statement said that the items were distributed at various points in the seven local government areas most hit by the Boko Haram insurgency. The victims of the insurgency, the statement said, offered prayers for the donors, including members of Adamawa Peace Initiative (API). The prayers were offered in both Mosques and Churches. The statement said that Atiku in particularl, has been a leader in supplying continuous financial support for the IDPs since the involvement of the American University of Nigeria with their feeding more than a year ago. It said that at the St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral Church, Jimeta, where 15,500 families were served in three distributions, a Muslim woman, Amina Mamman, joined the Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, in leading prayers for peace in Nigeria and in expressing appreciation to those who made the donations to support IDPs in the state. The statement disclosed that 600 families received food and relief items at the Adamawa State headquarters of Jamatu Nasril Islam, in Jimeta, on December 13, where JNI officials Gambo Jika and Fadimatu Ahmad Marafa offered prayers. “It was a similar story at the New Life Gospel Center, Demsawo, Deeper Life Camp, and at other centers where volunteers from the American University of Nigeria and Adamawa Peace Initiative distributed the food and relief items donated by Dangote Foundation. IDPs and local officials took turns to thank the donors, the peacemakers, Governor Mohammed Jibrilla of Adamawa State, and the volunteers who had worked tirelessly to alleviate their suffering during the year.” The statement said that the AUN-API Team supplied food, medicines and relief materials to over 163,500 households through local religious and community-based organizations in the state in December alone. It said that humanitarian aid was also sent to IDPs who had relocated to their destroyed homes, in the most insurgency-hit areas, through local contacts networking with AUN-API. According to the Coordinator of Relief for AUN-API, Bello Abdullahi, supplies were sent to IDPs in Maiha, Mubi North and South, Hong, Gombi, Michika, and Madagali LGAs through trusted API members working in those areas who ensured effective and accountable distribution of relief materials. Coordinator of the Madagali distribution and President of Kinjir Foundation, Hon Saleh Kinjir, confirmed that over 552,000 households had received supplies from the Adamawa Peacemakers since the crisis peaked in 2014 through local partners of AUN-API including Kinjir Foundation, JIBWIS, Upper Room Cathedral and the Adamawa Muslim Council. “The food and medicines sent to IDPs in the seven most affected Local Governments were procured with a N100 million donation which came from oil and gas tycoon, Mohammed Indimi, and which was passed on to API by the Governor of Adamawa State, Mohammed Jibrilla, as well as funds given by former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. “On October 14, an AUN-API team led by Bishop Mamza, Imam Dauda Bello and AUN’s Head of Security, Dr. Lionel Rawlins, dispatched supplies in a military-backed convoy to most of the worst-hit areas accompanied by foreign and local journalists.” Meanwhile, AUN President, Dr. Margee Ensign, who chairs the API, has said that the organization has initiated numerous programs in the community to benefit both indigenes and IDPs. “We have the all-year-long ‘Peace Through Sports’ program, two major income-generating projects for community women, and a new literacy program christened ‘Technology Enhanced Learning for All’.” Under the literacy program funded by the US Government, 20, 000 vulnerable youth, including out-of-school children, displaced children, and those disadvantaged in schools who are not now learning how to read, will benefit. “It has not been an easy year, or an easy Christmas, in this part of Nigeria,” she concluded. “But there has always been hope, there has always been remarkable generosity, and, as befitting this season, there has always been goodwill.” [myad]
The death has been announced yesterday, January 3, in Edo state, of Mrs. Lucy Egua aged 70. Her death was announced by the family of Late Joseph Egua of Idumu Iyasele in Esan South East Local Government of Edo State. The Late Mrs. Lucy Egua, who is survived by among others, her son, Mr. Horatuis Egua who is the Publisher of Frontiers Newspaper Online, died after a protracted illness, at her husband’s residence, in Idumu Iyasele, Ewatto, Edo State. The Late Mrs. Lucy Egua was a devout Catholic and a devoted mother and was well known for her generosity and kindness in the community. The family venerated her for a life well spent, even as her relations, friends, neighbours and members of her community have confessed that they would greatly missed her. She is survived by many other children, grand children, brothers and sisters. Burial arrangements would be announced in due course. [myad]
Hunters in Borno state have called on the military authorities to recruit them into the current war against Boko Haram insurgents, especially in Sambisa Forest, promising to chase away “the terrorists because we know the terrain very well.”
The head of the hunters from all the local governments in the state, Malam Mai-Gana Mai-Durma, who made the call in Maiduguri today as he spoke to newsmen, said that the hunters are familiar with the terrain at the dreaded forest which is the hideout and operational base of the terrorists.
“We are appealing to the military authorities to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest. We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the terrain very well.”
Mai-Durma said that the military should align them with members of the vigilance group, popularly knwon as the Civilian JTF, for effective result.
“We will over-run Sambisa in partnership with members of the civilian JTF if given the opportunity. This will help to complement the effort of military in the anti terrorism operation.” The head of the hunters said that the members in the 27 local government areas of the state have all along been rendered idle by the Boko Haram terrorism.
“Hunters from all the 27 Borno LGAs are all in Maiduguri with our leaders doing nothing at present because of Boko Haram. Rather than idling away, we will want to assist the military in crushing Boko Haram terrorists.”
Mai-Durma also appealed to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, to assist in forwarding the request to the military authorities for consideration. [myad]
National chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to blame its past sordid performances and stealing spree for the present travail its top officials are going through in the Muhammadu Buhari’’s regime war on corruption.
The party described as “childish and laughable” the PDP’s claim that Buhari’s government is persecuting its officials in order to prepare ground for his second term bid in 2019.
The APC national chairman, in a statement, insisted that PDP is paying for its years of impunity, adding that the APC does not care about whoever the PDP picks as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election, and that relevant laws in the country clearly stipulates the requirements for persons seeking election into all political office.
“The preoccupation of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari is to deliver on all the promises made to Nigerians by the party during the 2015 election.
“Looking back at the last seven months, there are clear indicators showing that the APC and the President Buhari administration is on the right track to delivering on its Change Agenda.
“The PDP speaks of a presidential directive to security agencies and judiciary to “coerce” and “convict” PDP leaders and officials of the immediate-past administration with corruption charges. Clearly such abuse of presidential directives was a concept invented and effectively deployed by the PDP during its defunct 16-year rule. The APC is a law-abiding party and cannot adopt such diabolical concept.
The APC believes strongly in the rule of law, as against the kind of impunity Nigeria witnessed under the PDP for 16 years.
“We assure Nigerians that the PDP conspiracy theories will not distract the President Buhari administration, law enforcement and anti-graft agencies from the successful on-going war against corruption being waged on looters of our common wealth. The ongoing war against corruption is not selective. Anybody guilty of corrupt practices will face the law.
“The PDP has chosen to blame everyone but itself for the sorry state it finds itself. The PDP should have known that it will pay for its years of impunity, recklessness and shocking mismanagement of the country’s commonwealth. PDP members who are genuinely inspired by the APC-led administration are welcome to the APC fold. It is theirl right to abandon a sinking ship and join one that is smooth-sailing.”
Only yesterday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh had said: “the APC is obviously seeking to destroy the PDP so that it can push through Buhari’s second tdnure in 2019 without opposition from the PDP.
“The federal government is persecuting, and not prosecuting, Col. Sambo Dasuki. The APC and its leaders fear that Dasuki, given his vast political and security network, may be harbouring a presidential ambition, more so that the PDP has zoned its presidential ticket to the north.” [myad]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the Government and the people of Kogi State over the death of the former Nigerian Permanent Secretary in the Northern Region’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Abdul I. Atta.
