Abuja Issues Guidelines For Eid Prayer As COVID-19 3rd Wave Threatens

July 17, 2021

The government of the Federal Capital Territory has issued guidelines for the observance of Eid prayer on Tuesday, July 21.

A statement today, July 17 by the spokesperson to the minister, said that a meeting of stakeholders expressed worry that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT has been on the increase, and may result into a third wave.

The statement said that guided by the advice of the health professionals, the following guidelines are hereby issued for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in the FCT;

All Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground. This is based on medical advice that it is safer to hold large gatherings in open air spaces than in enclosed structures;

All open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities;

The holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50% to ensure physical/social distancing;

Imams should ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour;

All parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period, and

Worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.

The stakeholders meeting, headed by the minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the FCT Authority, Olusade Adesola; the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu; the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr. Furera Zakari; the Acting Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu; Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun; Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and others.

Abuja Residents Cry Out As Govt Demolishes Their Houses

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

Residents of Abuja and its environs are crying for help as the Department of Development Control in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) embarked on massive demolition of houses amidst the current insecurity and hardship experienced across the country.

It would be recalled that several houses in the city have recently been pulled down by the FCTA over alleged illegal buildings.

Those who are affected are already complaining that the demolition without compensation is worsening the hardships as many them are now being displaced, while others are residing at displaced person’s camps, including students and children.

They said that in less than two weeks, over 800 structures have been destroyed, leaving the occupants to wander in search of where to put up.

The affected residents recalled that just last month, in June, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah led a team to Lugbe-Across, Lugbe-Berger, Car wash and Lugbe Zone 5 along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road where over 400 structures were destroyed on the ground of illegality.

The exercise, they said, lasted for eight hours with heavy security personnel.

The team comprised mainly men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Air Force, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, as well as officials of the FCT Department of Development Control.

When the residents the chairman if there was any compensation for the affected residents, he told them: “They have been warned before and when you commit illegality, we even ought to take them to court but we are leaving them. The Chiefs have denied that they gave them land.”

Similarly, over 137 hostels, hotels and other buildings at Iddo Sarki community in Aviation Village, adjacent to the main campus of the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, Abuja, were all pulled down between last week and this week on the grounds of illegal acquisition of the plots.

Attah, Chairman of the task force, while addressing newsmen at the scene stated that the operation was in accordance with the FCT ministerial directive to remove all contraventions and illegal buildings within the FCT.

But the owners have lamented that even if they acquired the land without a titled document, it cannot be termed illegality and that the FCTA should have approached them right from the foundation and not when they had invested their life savings.

‘’Yes, the truth is that some of us bought our plots from the local chiefs. In every community, there are customary lands. That was what we thought. But they said the local chiefs have denied us. Good and fine, but the government is supposed to protect our interests because that’s why it is voted to power. How do you now protect the people by destroying their property and there is no compensation? “How do you now protect a land more than the property on it? Who owns the land? Is the government not formed by the people? Where was the government when we started the foundation? It’s so sad.

‘’Our government needs to be more sensitive to what directly affects the people. Now, how much is a plot of land in Abuja, and how much is a bedroom flat to rent? The government knows that only a few of them in government can afford these things. The same government that is crying over insecurity is pulling people’s houses and property down. And they are claiming they are addressing insecurity. This doesn’t add up to me. You are rather going to increase the crime rate in the FCT by way of displacing people,’’ affected landlords lamented.

More Landlords and students affected in the demolition said that they were left stranded in the rain, lamenting that it will be difficult to put their pieces together to start life all over again.

A student said: ‘’I rented an apartment here to study and unfortunately, I was not on ground when the government team came for the exercise. I have lost everything in the room. Where do I start from?’’ John Gabriel, a student of the University of Abuja said.

It was observed that after the team left the demolition scene, scavengers took advantage of the opportunity to loot property buried in the debris.

Nnamdi Kanu Is Desperate To Be Transferred To Kuje Prison To Escape – Security Sources

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

Top security personnel working on the self-acclaimed leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, have discovered the plot being put together by men of his Eastern Security Network (ESN) to have him transfered to Kuje prison from where they will launch attack to let him escape.

Nnamdi Kanu is currently being detained in the Department of State Service (DSS) detention facilities, even as he and his counsel are fighting tooth and nail to be transferred to Kuje prison, about 45 kilometers away from the main Abuja city.

The IPOB leader, in asking the court to transfer him to the prison, alleged ‘cruel’ treatment in the hands of DSS personnel at their detention facility in the agency’s Head Office in Abuja.

However, a top-ranking officer of one of the security agencies hinted: “We have uncovered the grand plan of a looming attack on Kuje Correctional Facility. This is sequel to Nnamdi Kanu’s plea to the Court to have him moved to the Kuje Prison from the detention facility of the DSS.”

According to the security operative, the plans of the IPOB fighters is to ensure they get Kanu out at whatever cost.

“We are aware of the motives of some of his supporters to intimidate and harass judicial and security officers to do their biddings through petitions, propaganda and blackmail so that he could be transferred to the prison which they could easily attack as they have done to many Police Stations and Correctional Facilities in the Southeast, in the last six months.”

The officer said that prominent individuals who are arrested and detained at the DSS facility are normally given superior treatment, compared to what they stand to get at Police cells.

The officer cited series of attacks on security personnel and their facilities in the South-East by IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) where many lives of innocent citizens and properties were lost.

“For instance, in April this year, the police confirmed that IPOB/ESN militias were behind the attack on Imo Prison with sophisticated weapons such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) after razing the state Police Headquarters with vehicles parked in the premises.

“Nnamdi Kanu even had the gut to celebrate the destruction when he emphasised via his verified Twitter account that no soul deserves to be locked up in Nigeria’s prison. Imagine him now saying he prefered the same prison facility

“His lousy, callous and inciting threats were some of the pieces of evidence that our foreign partners considered in justifying the need for his repatriation to face his trial in Nigeria after jumping bail…”

Justice Binta Nyako, who first granted him bail which he jumped, had revoked the bail and ordered his arrest anywhere in the world “which prompted the action we took for his return to Nigeria.

“Has any country come out to support him or condemn the action we have taken?” the officer asked.

Source: By PRNigeria.

Federal, States, Local Governments Share N733 Billion Revenue For June

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N733.095 billion as June 2021 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal, States and Local Governments Councils.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the virtual meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for July 2021.

The N733.095 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N585.752 billion; distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N143.652 billion and Exchange Gain of N3.691 billion.

In June 2021, the sum of N87.469 billion was the total deductions for cost of collection, statutory transfers and refunds. The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $60.853 million.

The communiqué confirmed that from the total distributable revenue of N733.095 billion; the Federal Government received N304.952 billion, the State Governments received N215.572 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N161.100 billion. The sum of N51.470 billion was shared to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.

The distributable statutory revenue of N585.752 billion was available for the month. From this, the Federal Government received N281.624 billion, the State Governments received N142.843 billion and the Local Government Councils received N110.126 billion. The sum of N51.159 billion was given to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.

In the month of June 2021, the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N154.465 billion. This was lower than the N181.078 billion available in the month of May by N26.613 billion. The sum of N4.634 billion allocation to NEDC and N6.179 billion cost of revenue collection was deducted from the gross Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N 154.465 billion, resulting in the distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N143.652 billion. From the N143.652 billion, the Federal Government received N21.548 billion, the State Governments received N71.826 billion and the Local Government Councils received N50. 278 billion.

From the Exchange Gain revenue of N3.691 billion, the Federal Government received N1.781 billion, the State Governments receive N0.903 billion, the Local Government Councils received N0.696 billion and N0.311 billion was given to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.

According to the Communiqué, in the month of June 2021, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Oil and Gas Royalties, Import and Excise Duty recorded substantial increases while Value Added Tax (VAT) decreased significantly.

Chief Animashaun-Led Group Mobilses Yoruba Against Igboho’s Secessionist Move

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

The Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF), being led by a prominent Southwest leader, Chief Adesina Animashaun has embarked on counter-campaigns against Sunday Igboho, a runaway herbalist who emerged recently to lead a secessionist movement for a Yoruba nation.

The group, which is believed to have held various rallies across South West states to preach against agitation for a Yoruba nation, had scheduled a mega rally today, July 16, to kick-off from the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos, culminating in a walk through Ojota to Maryland and Ikeja, but was postponed based on security advice.

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosun, in a statement after meeting with Animashaun at the command’s headquarters today, confirmed that he advised against any rally or mass gathering in any part of the state which can expose the participants and innocent residents to traffic problems, health hazards and avoidable security infractions.

And, speaking to newsmen in Lagos today, Animashaun, who is the YAF national coordinator said that the postponement of the mega rally was because of the reasons the police boss gave.

“The CP asked me to sign an undertaking to call off the rally, work to forestall gridlock, new wave of COVID-19, among others, which I did.

”As a law-abiding citizen, I realised that the reasons given by the CP are ideal.

“However, our sensitisation about the need for one Nigeria is not something we push under the carpet. The rally will eventually hold at a later date that we will decide.”

Chief Animashaun stressed that YAF members had never been in support of agitation for a Yoruba nation but had been clamouring for an indivisible Nigeria.

He said that YAF would continue to preach against divisions and agitations for an independent Yoruba nation.

Animashaun asked Yoruba youths to exercise caution and be vigilant to avoid being used to destabilise the country by unpatriotic groups and individuals claiming to be fighting for an independent Yoruba nation.

He said that unpatriotic acts would have consequences for the perpetrators and the country.

According to him, YAF had planned to use a motorcade to sensitise Lagos residents to the need to maintain peace at all times and avoid being used by unpatriotic groups and individuals to breach the peace.

“We arranged a crowd of `okada’ riders and people that will carry placards with various inscriptions advising Yoruba to maintain peace and eschew violence.

“We have handbills and leaflets that we intended to distribute from Ojota Park to urge people of the South West not to be deceived by those claiming to be fighting a Yoruba cause,” he said.

Animashaun reiterated the need for youths in the South West and the entire Nigeria to eschew violence, live in peace and report suspected troublemakers to the nearest security agency.

He appealed to governments, security agencies and other major stakeholders in Yoruba land to ensure that no individual or group would instigate violence in South West.

The YAF coordinator commended the Federal Government for the way it is handling the agitations.

He urged governors of the six South-West states to tighten security and forestall violence.

Antics Of Social Media Warriors Exposed: International Group Denies Speaking On Arrest Of Kanu

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has exposed the antics of social media warriors, having denied making comments on the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The commission said that its name was used to say that the authorities in Kenya — the country where Kanu was reportedly rearrested — did not violate the rights of Kanu.

In a statement today, July 16, the IHRC for West Africa, Sani, said that the commission does not “take sides” but prefers to use mediation to resolve issues.

“As a diplomatic inter-governmental organisation, our policy on crisis management is purely a mediation role to bring about peace and not to take sides with any party and aggravate crises.

“The issue of IPOB agitation and the subsequent violence that has ensued has claimed several lives in south-eastern Nigeria and as a diplomatic specialised organisation with full knowledge of public security and public safety we do not issue such myopic and premature statements which are capable of escalating the crises on ground in Nigeria.

“For the record, we are about the only non-governmental organisation in the world who do not believe in protest or demonstration as a way of making demands from government or bodies owing to our diplomatic principles.

“Let me also put it on record that the IHRC establishment across the world is to bridge the gap of bureaucratic bottlenecks created by various state protocols which has hindered the acceleration of the Universal Declaration on human rights by the United Nations in 1948.

“The public should therefore disregard the purported publications and maintain their confidence in our capacity to ensure compliance with the universal declaration on human rights.”

Security Personnel, Hoodlums Clashed In Our Company, No Staff Involved – Dangote Sugar

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

The management of Dangote Sugar Refinery has narrated how security personnel clashed with some hoodlums in the premises of the company at Numan in Adamawa State, even as it denied that its staff members were involved, to the extent that seven of such staff died of gunshots.

A statement from the management signed by the Managing Director, Ravindra Singhvi said that members of the Gyawana Youth Association, who had once shut down the operations of the company and threatened the staff on duty to stop work, had also, on July 15, about planned to forcefully enter and destroy the assets of the company and attack any person found within the company premises.

“With this threat to life, family and company assets, management requested the assistance of law enforcement agencies in Numan to help protect life and assets of the company. The request was granted, and some officers were drafted in to secure the gates against the protesters.

“In a bid to prevent the protesting youths from forcefully shutting down the company’s operations, the law enforcement officers mounted a barricade at the entrance of the Company during which three people sustained minor injuries and were promptly taken to the hospital for treatment and discharged accordingly.

“We repeat that no single casualty was recorded during the protest as erroneously reported in the online publication. As a responsible corporate organisation, we believe in due process and rule of law and sanctity of human lives and that was why we went to court and also reported the disturbance to the security agencies.”

The management further explained that the activities “of these hoodlums have been reported to security operatives following which the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police and State Director of Security Services invited the executives of the Association and asked them to desist from interfering and threatening the DSR Numan’s staff and operations.

“To protect our staff from external violence and ensure continuity, DSR Numan also obtained a Restraining Order from the Magistrate Court in Numan against the Gwayana Youth Association; an order they disobeyed, resulting in an arrest warrant issued by court against the Executives of the same Association.”

The management position came on the heels of the response by the Nigerian army, to the news about the killing of seven staffers of the Dangote Sugar Refinery.

A statement by the Assistant Director of the Army Public Relations, 23 Brigade Yola, Major Haruna Mohammed Sani, described the Saharan Reporters story that soldiers opened fire on protesting staff of Dangote Sugar company at Gyawana district under Lafiya Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State as “mischievous and libelous”

The statement said that on 15 July 2021 at about 2: 00 pm, the Gyawana community staged a protest against the management of Dangote Sugar Company, threatening to shut down the establishment and abduct foreign expatriates for sacking some staff of the company who are members of the host community.

It said that efforts to calm the situation by the Nigerian Police and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence corps proved abortive as the irate youths, wielding cutlasses,machettes and other dangerous weapons, overpowered them.

“When a distress call was made to an Internal Security outfit in Adamawa state Nicknamed Operation Farauta, comprising soldiers and other Para-military Agencies, they swiftly mobilized and moved to reinforce the Police and Civil Defence deployment at the location. In the process, tear gas as well as warning shots were fired as some of the non- violent means of crowd dispersal and to further prevent own troops from being lynched by the mob.

“Consequently, the situation was brought under control. unfortunately, some soldiers sustained minor injuries from the stones thrown by the mob but no single protester was killed.

“The Sahara Reporters’ story was therefore written in a haste without observing the basic tenets of objectivity and balance in news story writing. It is also a calculated attempt to dent the image of the Nigerian Army which is doing so much to ensure that the good people of Adamawa state live in peace without threat to their lives and property.”

The statement said that the Nigerian Army is a professional and disciplined institution that operates within the purview of the constitution and in line with Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct which serve as guides to troops in all military engagements.

The army asked members of the general public to remain calm and “disregard the mischievous report while rendering support to the Nigerian Army in her resolve to discharge its constitutional mandate of aiding the civil authority when called upon to safeguard lives and property of law abiding citizens.”

APGA Flagbearer, Prof Soludo May Not Contest Anambra Governorship

Editorial staff

July 16, 2021

The candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Pofessor Charles Soludo may not contest the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship polls as his name is missing in the list of the electoral body, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The new list for the election scheduled for November 6 was released today, July 16.

Also missing on the INEC’s list is the names of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ozigbo.

Reasons for the omission of the names of the candidates of the two political parties are yet to be known.

Details later. …

Federal Govt Appoints Prof Attahiru Jega Chairman, Governing Council, Jos University

Editorial staff

July 15, 2021

Former INEC Boss, Attahiru Muhammadu Jega

The Federal Government has appointed Professor Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Chairmen of the Governing Councils of the University of Jos, Plateau State.

Also appointedas Chairman of the Governing of Bayero University, Kano, is the former Nigeria Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Victor Udo Ndoma-Egba.

Others who have similarly been appointed and were inaugurated today, July 15 by Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu are: University of Benin (Dr Sonny Kuku – Chairman); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Malam Adamu Fika – Chairman); University of Ilorin ( Malam Abidu Yazid – Chairman); Bayero University, Kano (Sen Udoma Udo Udoma – Chairman); University of Uyo (Barr Njideka Bernedette Nwachukwu – Chairman); University of Calabar (Gen Martin Luther Agwai rtd- Chairman); Modibo Adamawa University (Alhj Bashir Dalhatu – Chairman); University of Abuja (Prof Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo – Chairman); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Chief Ikechi Emenike – Chairman); University of Maiduguri (Ballama Manu – Chairman); Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Efurun, Delta state (Prof Anthony Gozie Anwuka); University of Jos (Prof Attahiru Jega – Chairman) and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (Sen Jack Tilley Gyado – Chairman).

Others are Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (Ibrahim Ida – Chairman); National Open University of Nigeria (Peter Okebukola – Chairman); Federal University of Technology, Akure ( Amb Dr. Godknows Igali – Chairman)Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (Prof Sulyman Alege Kuranga – Chairman) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (Bukar Goni Aji Chairman).

The inauguration exercise was performed at the National Universities Commission (NUC) in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Court Orders Arrest Of NUJ National President, Others For Alleged Contempt

Editorial staff

July 15, 2021

The National Industrial Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State Capital, has ordered the arrest of the national President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo and three other national officers for contempt of court.

The Court presided over by Justice I.J, Essien also ordered for arrest of the NUJ National Secretary, Leman Shuaib and the Vice President Zone D, Mr Wilson Bako, even as it nullified election of the Benue State Council of the Union.

Orduen Dura of the State Information chapel had dragged the union before the Court seeking interpretation on whether the National Secretariat of the NUJ had the right to violate its constitution by qualifying candidates that had been disqualified by its Credentials Committee.

Dura had informed the court that while undergoing screening for the council polls, Bemdoo Ugber of Radio Benue, Terna Umah of the NTA chapels did not meet the 50 percent attendance requirement and were disqualified by the committee but their disqualifications were upturned by the national body of the union.

The petitioner, therefore, approached the court asking for an injunction to put the election that had been slated for July 3 on hold pending the determination of the matter before it.

The injunction was granted on July 2 and service effected on the Acting chairman of the NUJ Benue council, Martin’s Kajo at the venue of the election.

Notwithstanding the court order stopping the conduct of the polls, the credentials committee, headed by Chris Apuu went ahead to conduct the elections.

When the case came up today, July 15, Counsel for Dura, R.I. Wombo prayed the court to commit to prison all the respondents including Vice President Zone D and all those that emerged as leaders at that election.

The Counsel told the court that all the respondents except the then Acting Chairman of the council, Kajo, be exempted from committal to prison for obeying the court order and staying away from the election.

Justice Essien therefore, ordered Mr. Bemdoo Ugber, the winner of the chairmanship position and other winners in the election to handover any property of the union in their possession to the Interim Caretaker Committee led by Steven Ijoh.

The judge also ordered them to stop parading themselves as executives of the union.

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