Burial Of Nnamdi Kanu’s Father: We Are Ready To Battle IPOB – Police

February 8, 2020

Nigeria Police have warned members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) not come closer to the venue of the burial ceremony of father of Nnamdi Kanu in Umuahia, Abia State if the ceremony is to be conducted peacefully.

The burial of the parents of IPOB leader, Nnmadi Kanu is coming up next week, and members of IPOB have indicated that they would participate actively.
Reacting to the IPOB’s plan to attend the burial ceremony, the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon said: “I have already reached out to the traditional prime minister of Afaraukwu (Nnamdi Kanu’s community) and told him that if they want the burial to go smoothly and for police to give them security, they should tell IPOB not to near the area not to talk of participating in the burial.
“If they fail to adhere to what we’ve told them, that means they do not want the burial to go on smoothly because we are going to scatter the place.
“IPOB is proscribed by the Federal Government. I, as the Commissioner of Police in Abia cannot sit here and allow any proscribed group to operate anywhere in this state.
“I am saying this again for emphasis that there is no way police will allow a proscribed group to participate in the burial of the King and Queen of Afaraukwu simply because they are the parents of their acclaimed leader: we will not allow that and we cannot take anything for granted in the face of abundant intelligence on threat by IPOB.
“If the burial committee writes to police to provide security during the burial, we will oblige them on the condition that they will guarantee us that IPOB will never, ever be part of the burial, IPOB will never get near there. In fact, that IPOB will never, ever enter Umuahia. That police will not see any Biafra flag, IPOB insignia or IPOB member disguising as Jewish or Zionist Church members.”
The Police Commissioner who spoke with The SUN’s reporter, OKEY SAMPSON in Umuahia, said that since the police would not be able to identify IPOB members, they would be excused to come as ordinary people, not as a group and without Biafra flag or insignia.
“We won’t know them. But if they come as a group, with their Biafra flags and insignia and we identify them that is where the problem will come because as a group, the Federal Government has described them as a terrorist group and proscribed them. And it is within our mandate to maintain law and order and we have to make sure that law and order is maintained.
“By saying they were coming for the burial, they are sending signal to us telling us to be ready for them and we will be ready for them. We’ve told the organizers of the burial, if IPOB members are allowed to participate, we will do everything within our powers to disperse and if in the process the burial is disrupted, police will not be blamed.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Congratulates Hope Uzodinma For Becoming Imo Gov

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

The Imo State chapter of the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo nation worldwide, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has congratulated Senator Hope Uzodinma on his victory at the Supreme Court, leading to his becoming the State governornd.
At a press conference in Owerri today, February 7 the President, Ambassador Ezechi Chukwu, said that Ohaneze is a non-partisan organization that supports all governments in power and makes critical input, so far as the government in question is a product of the democratic institution in synchronization with the authority of the laws of the land.
He said that Senator Hope Uzodinma duly contested the election in accordance with the electoral act, adding that Uzodinma’s post-election recourse to the judiciary for redress is constitutional and in consonance with the extant laws of the land.
“In view of the aforesaid, Imo State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo consequently upholds strongly at 360 degrees the election of Senator Hope Uzodinma as pronounced by the highest court of the land on the 14th of January, 2020. Our support for Governor Uzodinma is both morally and formally justifiable because the judiciary which upheld his mandate is the heartbeat of our democratic institution and the temporal last hope of the common man.”
Chukwu said that since Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Imo State is not in possession of any indisputable fact to counter Senator Uzodinma’s evidence as upheld by the Supreme Court, they have no option than to say congratulations to Governor Uzodinma for his resounding victory.
He called for prayers and support for Governor Uzodinma.
“We enjoin our people to give Senator Hope Uzodinma all the necessary support he needs to succeed because we know above all, that he possesses the experience and capacity. We equally encourage constructive criticism of his government when the need arises because critique is an essential ingredient of democracy.”
Chukwu condemned in strong terms, any form of ill-conceived protest premised on aggression, violence or extra-judicial metrics and mechanisms and warned that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Imo State will not remain impassive in the face of such aberration by any group of people.

Insecurity: What Buhari Has Done, And Is Doing, By Femi Adesina

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

Each time he itemizes the three focal areas of government, President Muhammadu Buhari follows the same order: we shall secure the country, because you have to first secure a country or institution before you can efficiently manage it. We will revive the economy, and create jobs, particularly for our teeming youths, and then, we will fight corruption.

The order above shows the priority that the President gives to security, as well as law and order in the country. But each time there’s a glitch or snafu (situation normal all fouled up) in the country, some naysayers scream and wail as if nothing is being done. But the hard truth is that a lot has been done in terms of security, and is still being done by the Buhari Administration.
When he came in May 2015, what did he meet? A country that was almost in disarray, with bombs going off like firecrackers daily. The insurgency by Boko Haram was festering in the North-east, North-West, North-Central, with Abuja, the Federal capital having been serially bombed. There was Nyanya 1, Nyanya 2, United Nations Building, Police Force Headquarters, series of shopping malls, churches, mosques, and many others, all bombed, with many lives lost.
The insurgents were already in Kogi State, almost overrunning it. And from there, where would they have headed? South-west, from where they would bivouac in South-south, and the country would be gone. Dead. Forgotten.
But at Eagle Square, where he took the oath of office on that memorable day, the brand new President gave a directive. The command centre of the Boko Haram war should move to Maiduguri, in Borno State, which was the epicenter of the insurgency. Pronto, the Service Chiefs moved, and the country was saved.
Boko Haram got flushed out of Abuja, North-central, North-west, Yobe, Adamawa, and got circumscribed in Sambisa Forest. Soon, their last stand, Camp Zero fell, and since then, they have been scattered like sheep without shepherd. They mingled with the civilian population, from where they launch cowardly atavistic attacks. They became degraded, but just like a scorched snake, not beheaded yet, they still retain capacity for evil. But can you compare what is, with what used to be? Not at all.
But some people have short memories. They say not much is being done to tackle insecurity by the Buhari government. Really?
Admittedly, many more frontiers of insecurity have been opened: banditry, kidnapping for ransom, communal clashes, farmers/herders clashes, and many others. But the baby that says the mother will not sleep, he too will not snooze at all.
The Nigerian military was in tatters before Buhari came. They were ill equipped, ill trained, ill motivated, and were turning their backs to the enemies in the frontline. First thing to do was to restore morale through reequipping, retraining and improvements of salaries and welfare. It affected both the police and the military.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar gave an idea of what was, and what is, in Abuja two days ago, when President Buhari inaugurated two Agusta 109 Power and one MI-171 E helicopters.
Said the Air Chief: “Just five years ago, the Nigerian Air Force was facing serious challenges with an abysmal 35 percent aircraft serviceability status for all operable aircraft. At the same time, terrorism, insurgency and other heinous crimes were ravaging the nation with Improvised Explosive Devices exploding not only in the North-east but, indeed, in several urban centers, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“On assumption of office, the President approved the procurement of military equipment including fighter aircraft and helicopter gunships. This visionary step has profoundly impacted positively on Nigerian Air Force operations…Government has so far procured and inducted 22 aircraft, the Service is expecting 17 additional platforms including 12 Super Tucanos from the United States… The Service has undoubtedly come a long way from where it was in 2015.”
Just like its motto, the Nigerian Air Force is now willing, able and ready. President Buhari did it.
The army, navy, police, and all other security agencies are not left out in the new wind of reequipping and retraining blowing across the sector. And the result is the bloody nose being given criminals in different parts of the country. And it continues, till the whole land is secured.
If there was efficiency, why is there proliferation of regional security outfits; Amotekun in the South-West, Shege-Ka-Fasa in the North, and with other parts of the country warming up to set up their own? Good question. Security is collective responsibility. It is a collaboration between the government and the people, and those who heap all the blame on government, for political capital, are missing the point. The people must be involved in securing their communities and country, but within the bounds of the law.
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), established by Nigeria and her neighbors to combat insurgency, got a fillip as soon as President Buhari got to office. With headquarters in N’djamena, Chad, it became a potent fighting force, under the inspiration of Buhari. The contribution to routing of the insurgents is unquantifiable.
What of the many military operations launched in different parts of the country, without which the land may have been impossible to live in?
Operation Lafiya Dole has recorded remarkable successes against Boko Haram. Over 12,000 hostages held by Boko Haram have been released, roads abandoned for many years have been reopened, same for schools closed for over two sessions, while emirs who fled their palaces have returned.
Operation Safe Corridor was established in 2015 to de-radicalize repentant insurgents. Thousands of them have reformed.
Operation Sharan Daji is a collaboration between the armed forces and other security agencies set up to combat banditry and cattle rustling in the North-West. Last week, the President said government was going to be harder on bandits, and two days ago, special forces of the police raided the Ansaru terror group in Kaduna, killing about 250 terrorists.
What of Operation Safe Haven/ Whirl Stroke? This was set up, composed of the military and other security agencies, to combat cases of farmers/ herdsmen clashes in states like Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and others. It is recording relative successes.
There’s Operation Delta Safe, which has restored sanity in the Niger Delta, Operation Awatse, which flushed out all manners of criminals in the riverine areas of Ogun and Lagos states, Operation Puff Adder by the police, and many others. Does anybody then still wonder what the Buhari Administration is doing on tackling insecurity? Even the blind can see it, and the deaf can hear it. Well, except those who choose to be willfully blind and willfully deaf. There’s not much anybody can do to help them.
There was a time the Abuja-Kaduna road was crawling with abductors and kidnappers. Not anymore. Relative sanity has been restored. Kidnappers are being arrested, and made to face the law. And it is work in progress.
Consider this checklist of breakthroughs against criminals in recent times:
• Arrest in April 2016 of Usman Mohammed, aka Khalid Al-Barnawi, leader of the Ansaru Terrorist group and one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, with a US$6m United States bounty on his head. He’s currently being prosecuted alongside his accomplices.
• Arrest in March 2017 of Amodu Omale Salifu, leader of an ISIS affiliate group active in North Central Nigeria, plotting to bomb foreign embassies.
• Arrest of two suspected Ansaru leaders, Ahmed Momoh and Al-amin Mohammed Jamin, in April 2017 at Igarra in Edo State. The two were confirmed associates of Abu Uwais, a prominent Ansaru kingpin terrorising residents in Kogi and Edo states.
• In December 2017, the following notorious kidnappers were killed in Kogi State: Ahmadu Sulaiman (aka Oga), Shumo Haruna (aka Halilu Aliyu) and Abdullahi Abdulkadir aka Maijaki. They were responsible for high-profile killings and kidnappings in/around Ajaokuta.
• Militant, Don Waney, responsible for several murders in Rivers State, killed by the military in January 2018
• Badoo Ritualists’ gang, dismantled in Lagos State
• In January 2018, four suspects notorious for robbing and/or kidnapping commuters in Kogi State and its environs, were arrested by the DSS in Otokiti, Adavi LGA of Kogi State: Mohammed Kabir (aka Master and Nicko), Muhammed Musa (aka World Best), Audu Emmanuel (aka Sneider) and Jallo Yunusa.
• On 17th February, 2018, at Irrua, Edo State, DSS operatives arrested a gang of high profile kidnappers who dominated the Kogi and Edo corridors: Umar Abubakar (aka Small), Abubakar Ahmadu (aka Sarkin Yaki), Aliyu Abubakar (aka Koroko), Aliyu Mohammed (aka Chogo) and Abubakar Umaru (aka Bokolori).
• Cattle Rustling kingpin, Tsoho Buhari, aka Buharin Daji, killed in Zamfara State in March 2018. Several members of his gang have also been killed or arrested by security forces. (On 14th December, 2017, Umar Abubakar (aka Yellow), one of his top associates, was shot and killed by DSS in a gun battle in Adavi LGA, Kogi State.
• Arrest in May 2018 of 56 suspected criminals / kidnappers / gunrunners in and around Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State, by the Nigeria Police Force
• Major masterminds of the Offa Robbery, in Kwara State, arrested by the Nigeria Police Force in May 2018.
Mobile police squadrons and military formations are being established in different flash points in the country. Humongous financial resources, which could have been used on infrastructure and other areas of development, are being deployed to security, just so that Nigerians can live in peace. And it continues. Just like Air Marshal Abubakar said at the induction of new helicopters for the Air Force on Thursday, “In the race to add value to our society and secure our communities, there is no finishing line.”
Yes, securing Nigeria is a task that must be done, and is being done. The work continues.
.Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

Nigerian-British Born Heavyweight Boxing Champ, Anthony Joshua, Defends Title In June

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

Nigerian-Britain born heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua is close to agreeing a deal to face Bulgarian Pulev in his first outing since he clinched the title to defend it. Pulev is the IBF mandatory challenger.

News filtering in indicated that Joshua has requested a London venue for the defence of his three titles: WBA, IBF and WBO.
Joshua was quoted as saying:“I want to come home. I want to box in London next. I’ve been to Madison Square Garden, I’ve been to Saudi Arabia, bring me home. Forget the other offers, bring me home.”
It was learnt that the champion insisted that he would like to fight in London in June.
“We’re on the verge of making that happen now. Spurs is the front runner and that’s what he’s asked me to do. We’ll be delivering that for him.”

Federal Govt Makes National ID Card Compulsory For SIM Card Acquisition

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

The Federal Government has made national identity card as one of the conditions for the issuance of SIM cards.

The new dispensation came through the revised policy on SIM card registration and usage as approved by the minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami,.

A statement by the Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the Minister, Dr Femi Adeluyi said that the new policy is in line with the Powers of the Minister as stated in Section 25(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

The statement quoted the section as saying: “the Minister shall, in writing, from time to time notify the Commission or and express his views on the general policy direction of the Federal Government in respect of the communications sector.”

It said that the revision of the Policy is based on the feedback received from the security agencies following the successful revalidation of improperly registered SIM cards in September 2019 and the blocking of those that failed to revalidate their SIMs.

The statement said that the updated Policy is expected to include the following provisions, amongst others:

(i) Ensure that the National Identity Number (NIN) becomes a prerequisite for Nigerians registering new SIM cards (while for foreigners, their passports and visas should be used), while already registered SIM cards are to be updated with National Identity Number (NIN) before 1st December, 2020;

(ii) Ensure that only fully accredited agents support the SIM card registration process without pre-registering SIM cards themselves, while the eventual registration should be done by the operators;

(iii) There should be a maximum number of SIM cards that can be tied to a single individual, possibly a maximum of 3;

(iv) Ensure that no unregistered SIMs are ever allowed on mobile networks;

(v) Ensure that subscribers can easily check the number of SIM cards registered to their name, along with the associated phone numbers and networks;

(vi) Ensure that mobile network operators fortify their networks against cyberattacks and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR); and

(vii) Ensure that SIM cards that have been used to perpetrate crimes are permanently deactivated.

The NCC is to provide the Honourable Minister with progress reports on the implementation of the revised Policy.

Northern Leaders Have Failed, Sultan Of Sokoto Opens Up

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has said that Northern leaders have collectively failed even as he quarreled with the proposed Northern security imitative, known as Operation ‘Shege Ka Fasa’ by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in Kaduna.

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar, who spoke today, February 7 during the inauguration of the Northern Security Monitoring Committee in Kaduna State, stressed that the proposed Shege Ka Fasa security network by the youths is a clear manifestation of the failure of the leaders in the Northern region.
“It clearly shows that our leaders and political elites in the region have failed to provide good leadership to the people.”
The senior traditional ruler insisted that Northern Leaders are responsible for the establishment of the security outfit which he describes as illegal.
“How can you allow these youths to be in the forefront? It is your responsibility to provide the right leadership to the youths. When I watched the unveiling on the television, I shook my head. This is clearly unacceptable, the upsurge of youth restiveness in the region.”
The Sultan stressed the urgent need for northern leaders and elders to rise up to their responsibilities and provide the right leadership for their people.
The Sultan also expressed concern over the increase in the number of orphans in the North.
According to him, they “would turn out to be worse than Boko Haram,” if the situation is not tackled.
The Sultan claimed that the number of orphans in the region stands at over 50,000 and called on state governors to do more with regards to insecurity.

How Multinationals Evade Tax Running Into $10 Billion – Inland Revenue Boss

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Muhammad Nami, has revealed how Nigeria has been made to go through an annual tax revenue loss of about $10 billion through illicit profit shifting by multinational corporations operating in the country.

The chairman said that such humongous sum could change the fortunes of the country if captured and channelled to address the frightening infrastructure deficit.
Speaking today, February 7 in Abuja at the start of the service’s 2020 Management Retreat held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Nami who quoted the African Union Illicit Financial Flow Report, said: “Africa is losing $50 billion through profit shifting by Multinational Corporations and about $10 billion of this amount is from Nigeria alone.”
He stressed the urgent need to halt serial loss by smashing all identified tax avoidance schemes by individuals and corporate organizations.
Nami, according to a statement by the Director, Communications, FIRS, Abdullahi Ismaila, said that his management has launched a comprehensive, tax collection reform process “anchored on four cardinal pillars of rebuilding FIRS’ institutional framework; robust collaboration with stakeholders; building a customer or taxpayer-centric Institution; and a making the FIRS data-centric institution.”
He said that the board and management team have also set a target of improving the Service’s performance over the next four years by a “minimum target of $5 million staff-to-revenue- ration and a 10% tax-to-GDP ratio.”
He said that the FIRS is gradually weaning Nigeria off its dependence on oil revenue, stressing that non-oil taxes “accounted for 60% contribution to the total collection” of taxes in 2019.
Projecting into this year, Nami said: “For the year 2020, we have a target of N8.5 trillion. This is broken down into oil tax of N3.7 trillion and non-oil taxes target of N4.8 trillion.”
The FIRS boss assured that the Service would play its “strategic role in the nation’s political economy, including supporting the actualisation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s commitment of moving the country up on the Ease of Doing Business Ranking and taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years and rebuilding Nigeria’s critical infrastructure.”

Face-Off Between Emir Of Kano And Gov Ganduje: My Hands Are Tied – Buhari

Editorial staff

February 7, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated that there is little he can do to intervene in the face-off between the governor of Kano State, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje and the emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The President, who today, February 7, received in audience at the presidential villa, Governor Ganduje and newly elected legislators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from Kano State, said: “I know my role as the President of Nigeria.

“By the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor of Kano State has his own roles. Once a matter is in the hands of the House of Assembly (like in Kano), the President has no constitutional right to interfere.

“I am here by the constitution (provisions): I swore by it, and I am going to stand by it.

“But let me tell you the bottom-line of my understanding of the constitutional role is that peace and security of all Nigerians must be guaranteed. Where the people are threatened, then I will use constitutional powers.”

Buhari emphasized that despite the separation of powers between the Federal Government and the states, he has enough grounds in the constitution to ensure that the security of Nigerians is not compromised.

The President turned to the elected party members and advised them to live up to the promises they made to their constituents to justify the confidence reposed in them.

“I hope you are mindful of your promises to your constituencies. You went round and you promised your constituencies. I hope the promises you made are within the resources of your State. If you made promises outside your resources, it will be your problem because you are going to stand again in four years’ time. This is very important and it is important for our party.”

Kano’ll Not Key Into ‘Shege-Ka-Fasa’ Proposed Security System In North – Ganduje

Greenbarge Reporters

February 7, 2020

Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje has said that the state will not be part of the proposed Northern regional security arrangement, known as Shege-Ka-Fasa as a way of countering the recently proposed Southwest regional security system known as Amotekun.

Answering reporters’ questions today, February 7 in Abuja after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari along with some prominent Kano personalities, Governor Ganduje said that the state already has effective security arrangement that made it the safest state in the country.

“Kano State as of today, is the most peaceful state in the country. No armed robbery, no banditry, no tribal conflicts, no religious conflicts, even the few cases of kidnapping, the kingpins are being arrested in Kano. You will recall that those who attacked the deputy governor of Nasarawa state were arrested in Kano. Even the Magaji Darin Daura who was kidnapped for almost two months, the man behind it was arrested in Kano.
“We have introduced ICT into security administration in the state that is why we are succeeding. We have full cooperation among the security agencies and Kano is providing an heavenly environment for the security agencies, especially in terms of community policing.

“Also, we have succeeded in establishing a very powerful command and control center where all security agencies and their representatives do communicate with each other. And from that center, security agencies are able to communicate with all the DPOs in all the 44 local government areas in the state.”

Ganduje agreed that each state has got its own style of administering security, said that very soon “we are going to have community security summit: that is, the communities are going to assist security agencies.

“We are going to come out with a blueprint. Instead of recruiting people into the police force, we are going to build a strong synergy between the communities and the security agencies. The synergy will be from the ward level to local government level to state level to zonal level.

“It will work because it’s been working. So, there is no intention to recruit into security agencies in the state.

“And like I said earlier, we have built a command and control center where we can community with all the DPOs in the state. We can see them, speak with them through the cameras. CCTV has been installed in all black spots throughout the state. We have been monitoring and it is working.

“We have also installed most powerful vehicle tracker in the country, which operates even beyond Kano State. That is why Kano State is a trapped where kidnappers can be arrested.”

Ganduje Declares Free, Compulsory Education In Kano

Greenbarge Reporters

February 7, 2020

Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has formally declared free primary and secondary education in the state.
The governor, who spoke to newsmen shortly after leading some leaders to visit President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa today, February 7, said that he would be needing the assistance of the federal government to fully implement the free education.
He said that under the new arrangement, every school going age in the state would be made to compulsorily enrol in school.
Governor Ganduje said that the over 400,000 out-of-school children would be reintegrated in the free education policy.
According to him, new classrooms will be built in addition to providing all other necessary items, including free uniforms and feeding, required for qualitative education.
He said that efforts would be made to also fashion Almajiri system into the new dispensation.
The governor stressed that with the free and compulsory education, the issue of teenage marriage amongst the girls would be eliminated, explaining that every teenage girl will be made to compulsorily go through at least, secondary education before marriage.

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