President Muhammadu Buhari leaves for London, the United Kingdom, tomorro, March 30, for a routine medical checkup.
Photo Credit | BusinessDayThe Federal Capital Territory Police Command has announced the arrest of five suspects at Kuje and Daki-biu over the recent kidnappings of four persons in Kiyi Village.
A statement today, March 29 in Abuja by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yusuf Mariam, said: “The suspects were arrested during coordinated intelligent operations between Friday, March 26 and 28, by Police operatives from Dawaki Division and the Command’s Anti-kidnapping Squad.
Names of the suspects were given as Abdullahi Haruna; Haruna Musa; Iliyasu Adamu; Micheal Paul; and Salisu Abdullahi; all male.
The suspects were said to have confessed to supplying logistics to the kidnap syndicate operating along Kiyi Village.
”Exhibits recovered them are two AK 47 rifles, one Bajaj motorcycle and 30 rounds of live 7.62mm ammunitions.
”Effort is underway to arrest other members of the syndicate. All the suspects will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation.
“The Command urges residents to remain calm while reaffirming its unflinching commitment to rid the FCT of every form of criminality and protect the lives and property of residents.
“The Command implores residents to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883 and to report the conduct of Police Officers, call the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) number :09022222352.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Nigerians to continue to count their blessings one after the other.
He said: “we must count our blessings in Nigeria and see in them the crucial factors of peace and unity.”
The President who participated virtually today, March 29, in the event to mark the 69th birthday of the former two-term Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said that despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions in the nation’s history, Nigerians have all agreed on one point that, notwithstanding the diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, they are better together; even stronger together.
The President, at the 12th Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Kano, commended the celebrant for always being an advocate of unity and cohesion in Nigeria.
“This has been a constant factor in his outstanding political career, from the time he served in the short-lived senate of the Third Republic to his involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to his much-acclaimed period of service as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
“The ranks of Asiwaju’s political collaborators, whether as party members, comrades in the struggle, members of his cabinet, or his advisers, assistants and political associates, have always reflected a pan-Nigeria attitude. I believe all of us here can also confirm that the same outlook of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other like-minded Nigerians eventually made possible the coalition of four political parties into what we now see as our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”
President Buhari said that the objectives of the colloquium, which seeks to provide answers to national issues, further reflect the personal principles of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in promoting the unity and welfare of the country.
“I think this Colloquium is a fitting reflection of the service that Asiwaju has given, not only to Lagos State, but to Nigeria and Africa; as well as his continuing commitment and influence, as one of the great pillars of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Equally I salute all those who have kept this Colloquium culture alive and thriving, making it a rich source of wisdom in our common quest for a better world and, of course, a greater Nigeria.
“Today’s event promises an even more relevant and impactful discussion than ever before. The theme for this 12th edition, “Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: The Imperative of National Cohesion for Growth and Prosperity,” speaks to a very contemporary but potentially ruinous trend, which, in my view, we must all join hands to check at once.
“I think the lessons of this Colloquium are clear. Our very best course of conduct, whether as leaders and citizens, is to now ensure that justice and harmony reign in Nigeria; to devote the resources of our country solely to its development and for the benefit of all our citizens; and in the process, to ensure that every Nigerian feels comfortable in every part of Nigeria.
“We all have a stake in the Nigeria project and, while playing our respective parts in its unity, peace and progress, we must constantly keep faith with the promise of a greater Nigeria.’’
He said that his experience of working in all parts of the country showed possibilities of a strong, united nation.
“I can also relate personally to the ideals of one Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country. I have seen over and over again that their goodness or failings did not depend on ethnicity or religion.
“In the course of my career, I have also been opportune to serve in all parts of Nigeria, seeing first-hand the enticing possibilities of a strong, united nation.
“More importantly, I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970, and I saw first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just on fellow soldiers on both sides, but on the civilians: innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind. As we all know, the peace-building, recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic animosity.
Nigeria is set to fully join Gas revolution to utilize the enormous gas resources in the country to uplift the economy and drive industrialization.
Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has called out members on what it called a “total and indefinite strike” on April 1, accusing the Federal Government of reneging on the earlier agreements they both reached.
A communiqué issued after the meeting the NARD National Executive Council (NEC) today, March 28, said that its earlier ultimatum given to the Federal Government during its January NEC meeting in Owerri, Imo State, will expire by March 31, with no significant achievement.
The NEC was held to review its earlier ultimatum and deliberate on issues affecting Residency Training, Healthcore Delivery and the welfare of its members across the country.
In the communiqué, signed by the NARD President, Dr. Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi; the Secretary, Dr. Jerry Isogun and the Publicity Secretary, Dr. Dotun Osikoya, the NEC reiterated the full support of NARD for the central placement of house officers.
“Nevertheless, we decry the agony our members have been made to pass through for three months now without salaries despite uninterrupted service delivery to the nation. This is due to the inefficiency of the Registrar of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in handling the processes of central placement of House Officers as approved by the Federal Executive Council since 2017.
“The NEC unanimously agreed that NARD should proceed on a total and indefinite strike on the 1st of April 2021, by 8:00 a.m. if the following demands are not met.”
Some of the demands include immediate payment of all salaries owed to all house officers including March salaries, regardless of quota system, before the end of business on 31st of March 2021:
“Immediate payment of all salaries arrears including March salaries for our members in all Federal (GOFMIS platform) and state tertiary health institutions across the country especially ASUTH, IMSITH and UNIMEDTH.
“Upward review of the current hazard allowance to 50 per cent of consolidated basic salaries of all health workers and payment of the outstanding COVID-19 inducement allowance especially in state-owned tertiary institutions.”
Sen. Bola TinubuPresident Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his 69th birthday, which comes up tomorrow, March 29.
In a congratulatory message today, March 28, by a presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari acknowledged that Asiwaju Tinubu has inspired many leaders and continues to nurture talents for the benefit of the country.
He acknowledged Tinubu’s role in the stability of the APC, and advocating good governance, saying that Tinubu’s acumen and influence had continued to resonate round the country and beyond.
Described the APC leader ass a patriot and statesman whose 12th colloquium has turned to be an intellectual gathering to commemorate his birthday, that had over the years, turned into a veritable opportunity for discussing topical national issues, and harnessing ideas that will move the nation forward.
“Looking at the theme of the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium, “Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: Imperative of National Cohesion for Growth and Prosperity’’, President Buhari believes the choice of further highlighting loyalty to the country and the shared vision that will bring harmony and well-being to everyone is most timely, clearly reflecting Sen. Tinubu’s patriotism and benevolence.
The prayed that God will grant Tinubu, who he said is an astute politician, longer life, good health and more wisdom.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a pastor, Cletus Nwachukwu Egole, a.k.a Alewa, of the Holy Blessed Trinity Sabbath Church, Orlu, Imo State, a prophet with the Association of Jewish Faith, Michael Uba and 14 others over the killing and series of violent as well as unprovoked attacks on security operatives and facilities in the Southeastern part of Nigeria.
The arrest, according to a statement today, March 28, by the spokesman of the Force Headquarter, Abuja, Frank Mba, is an outcome of painstaking, deliberate and tireless efforts by operatives of the Nigeria Police working in collaboration with their counterparts from the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Airforce.
“Police investigations clearly established and linked the suspects to several incidents of attacks and murder of security personnel as well as stealing, unlawful possession of firearms, arson and malicious damage to operational assets of military and law enforcement agents.
“Specifically, investigations revealed that the duo of Ugochukwu Samuel a.k.a Biggy and Raphael Idang were among the criminal elements that attacked policemen on duty at a checkpoint on 24th December, 2020 along Orlu-Ihiala Road in Imo state where two police officers were killed and a Police Hilux patrol van set ablaze.
“In addition, both were part of a larger group that attacked a police reconnaissance team on 13th January, 2021 killing one police officer. Ugochukwu Samuel a.k.a Biggy, who sustained a bullet wound during an attack by his gang on a military convoy in which some soldiers were killed and weapons carted away, was subsequently arrested while receiving treatment in a hospital. Both suspects confessed to being active members of IPOB and ESN.”
The statement said that the pastor and the prophet among the gang were the masterminds of the various attacks on security personnel, in addition to providing spiritual cover for the gang.
“Cletus Nwachukwu Egole aka Alewa’s house was used by the gang members to plan their nefarious operations. He also donated his late brother’s farmland for use as a hideout and training camp for the gang.”
The police gave the names of those that were arrested as Ugochukwu Samuel a.k.a Biggy, 28-year-old native of Arochukwu LGA in Abia State; Raphael Idang, 31-year-old native of Odukpani LGA of Cross River state; Cletus Nwachukwu Egole aka ‘Alewa’, 60-years-old native of Orlu in Imo State.
Others are Michael Uba, 33yrs from Imo State; and twelve (12) others in the course of investigation, were implicated in multiple felonies committed across several states in the South-Eastern part of the Federation. The suspects were arrested in various parts of the country following sustained, and intelligence-driven sting operations.
The statement said that a total of nine (9) AK47 rifles, five other sophisticated firearms, seventeen AK47 Magazines, 549 AK47 live ammunition, 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), camouflage bullet proof vests, walkie talkies and other incriminating items were recovered from the suspects.
The police Force assured that all the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.
This was even as the Inspector General of Police, Mohammmed .A Adamu, reiterated that the Force will not tolerate any further attack on its personnel or any citizen by any individual or group under any guise whatsoever.
He assured that Law Enforcement Agents have gathered sufficient intelligence on the attackers and are closing up on scores of suspects already implicated in the attacks either directly or indirectly for financing, aiding and abetting the criminals.
He stressed that no murderer will go unpunished, even as he advised parents or guardians as well as traditional, opinion leaders to weigh in and prevail on their children and wards to desist from towing the destructive paths of crime.
Godswill AkpabioThe Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio,has said that Professor Peter Ogban of the University of Calabar, who was jailed for rigging the 2019 elections, said that it could not have been in his favour as claimed by the court and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reacting to the judgment and jailing of Professor Ogban, Akpabio said that there was no way the same Professor who manipulated election to edge him out and which he challenged up to appeal court level, could have rig the election for him.
Akpabio, who is former governor of Akwa Ibom State, denied claims that Ogban manipulated the election in favour of him and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, twisted the judgment by claiming that Ogban rigged the poll in his favour.
The Minister, in a statement by his spokesman, Aniete Ekong, said: “For the avoidance of doubt Prof. Ogban never announced Senator Akpabio as the winner of any election.”
The statement reads: “In their desperation in a continuing campaign of calumny against Senator Akpabio, the INEC in Akwa Ibom State twisted the context of the judgment and maliciously claimed that the election was rigged in favour of Senator Akpabio.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The facts of the case put a lie to this assertion.
“Contrarily, Senator Akpabio was a victim of the fraudulent manipulation of the election of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District held on February 23 2019.
“Professor Ogban was the Returning Officer who in a bizarre twist to manipulate the election and rig Senator Akpabio out, hijacked the electoral results of Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District from Ikot Ekpene, the Senatorial District headquarters to Uyo where it was announced after cancellations of lawfully collated votes and against the dictates of the Electoral Act.
“The question is: who was the beneficiary of the electoral fraud and manipulation in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District?
“Certainly, not Senator Akpabio, which was why he challenged the outcome of the election up to the Court of Appeal which upheld his appeal and ordered a rerun election with very strong condemnation of the activities of the Returning Officer and INEC. How then could the same man whose actions Senator Akpabio was dissatisfied with and challenged in Court be said to have rigged the election for Senator Akpabio?”
The Minister stressed that Ogban “cancelled lawful votes” and announced his opponent as the “winner of the manipulated election.”
A High Court in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, had on Thursday, sentenced Prof Ogban to three years jail for announcing false election results in favour of Akpabio during the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election in 2019.
Ogban was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for the 2019 Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election.
Lake ChadPresident Muhammadu Buhari has put heads together with his Chadian counterpart, President Marshal Idris Deby Itno on how to restore hope to 30 million people that have been adversely affected by a shrunken Lake Chad, which is now just about ten per cent of its original size.
Speaking when the Chadian strong man paid him a ond-day visit today, March 27 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President said: “it is imperative that there be water transfer to the Lake Chad from the Congo Basin, so that the people can resume their normal lives.”
He said that with inter-basin water transfer, farming, fishing, animal husbandry would resume, and curtail irregular migration of youths, who now dare the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to get into Europe, seeking greener pastures.
“I’ve been engaging with the relevant stakeholders in Africa and beyond, on why we need to recharge Lake Chad. Nigeria will benefit more, but it is also advantageous to everyone,’’ President Buhari added.
He appreciated Chad for its role in curbing insurgency in the region, particularly the Boko Haram challenge.
“We appreciate what you are doing on security. When I first came to office in 2015, I came to see you, as well as leaders of other neighbouring countries, because it makes sense to be in the good books of our neighbours.”
President Buhari wished Marshal Itno well in the general elections coming up in his country in April.
The Chadian leader thanked President Buhari for receiving him, saying: “we are neighbours facing similar challenges.”
He advised President Buhari to consider convening an international summit to adequately address the issue of the recharge of Lake Chad.
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie EhanireThe Federal Ministry of Health has alerted all tertiary health institutions in Nigeria of the circulation of fake coronavirus vaccine in Africa and the need to be on the look out.
The ministry also dispelled any possibility of coronavirus vaccines being available for sale or being administered by any unauthorized institution in the country.
This was contained in a circular issued by the ministry’s Director, Department of Hospital Services, Dr. Adebimpe Adeblyi, on behalf of the minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
The circular dated March 26, 2021, was addressed to Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors of federal tertiary health institutions.
Titled: “Report of fake COVID-19 vaccine destined for Africa arrested in China,” the circular has C.1693/P&P/T/22 as its reference number.
The ministry said that to forestall importation of fake vaccine into Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service has designated the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja as the only point of entry for imported COVID-19 vaccines.
The circular read: “The Ministry is in receipt of a letter from the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 regarding the arrest of about 3,000 doses of fake COVID-19 vaccines which were Africa-bound from China.
“The report further indicates that the fake COVID-19 vaccines are already in circulation in Africa.
“To prevent the importation of fake vaccines, kindly note that the Nigeria Customs Service has designated Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport as the only Point of Entry for imported COVID-19 vaccines.
“I am therefore to bring this to your notice and dispel any possibility of COVID-19 vaccines being available for sale or being administered by any unauthorized institution.
