Boko Haram cuts off network in Acting IGP's hometown







Residents of Geidam town in Yobe State, which is the hometown of Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the immediate former governor of the state Ibrahim Geidam, no longer have network on their phones as Boko Haram fighters have razed down masts belonging to Airtel and MTN in the town.
 
Daily Trust reported that the attackers first struck on Friday evening but they took cover following air strikes from the military.
 
Ali Maina, one of the residents told the publication that after the Air Force jet which hovered around the town left, the insurgents returned.
 
Maina said; 
 

Quote: “They wreaked havoc on the town this morning. We can see buildings burning and they forced several shops opened carting away food items.


“We are more frightened this time around, because we don’t know their mission. We are cut off from both MTN and Airtel services obviously they have tampered with the system.


“We are currently at the mercy of God praying for protection, they have more than 15 Hilux vehicles. Security forces need to do more to tackle this attacks.”

IPOB confirms killing of ESN commander, indicts Gov Uzodinma

on
 April 24, 2021



The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has confirmed the killing of Easten Security Network (ESN), commander.
DAILY POST reports that the confirmation came with a threat to Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
On Saturday, a joint operation by security forces killed ESN Commander Ikonso and 6 other operatives. The authorities blame IPOB for successive attacks on security facilities.

IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, in a statement, said the body led by Nnamdi Kanu, was angry about Saturday’s “unprovoked attack”.


He said the ESN operatives were gunned down at Oguta junction at Mgbidi, along Owerri road Onitsha expressway by a joint security force comprising the the army, police and DSS operatives, with the support of Imo State Government.


Powerful noted that the killing of the “heroic innocent Biafrans protecting our communities and towns from Fulani terrorists herdsmen masquerading as cattle herders in cold blood is very painful”.


“The Supreme Court Administrator of Imo State Hope Uzodinma and all those who had a hand in this wickedness will pay dearly. Hope Uzodinma and his cowardly Nigerian security agencies that cannot confront Fulani terrorists but only flex their muscles when they see Biafra agitators. For murdering Ikonso, the ESN unit COMMANDER in in cold blood, Uzodima has stirred the hornet nest! He should get ready for a sting.

“Uzodima decided to kill Ikonso because he refused his offer to head Ebubeagu ghost security outfit formed by South East governors. Uzodima has tried but without success to lure ESN operatives into EBUBEAGU.


“He had made irresistible offers to them which were turned down, hence his resorting to elimination of these patriotic heroes who vowed never to betray Biafra.

“Hope Uzodinma sent a lot of emissaries to beg Ikonso and other ESN officers to join EBUBEAGU security outfit. So, because of their refusal to betray Biafra agitation and our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the hopeless governor mobilized joint security forces to attack them today.

“Contrary to claims by the cowardly security forces who flee from terrorists but kill innocent citizens, they were not able to peneterate into the camp of Eastern Security Network ESN. They only ambushed Ikonso but we promise them hell for this cowardly act!


“Hope Uzodima has murdered sleep, so he should be ready to stay awake! FULANI terrorists pretending as cattle sellers in Enugu destroyed Police van and attacked Government officials on lawful duty with AK-47 but no Army, police or DSS attacked them till now.


“But ESN operatives defending our communities against the terrorists are being hunted like games everyday. The world has kept quiet over this atrocity until we begin our own madness.


“Hope Uzodinma as the body of Ikonso was paraded by Fulani Jihadists in police and Nigerian army, so shall it be your portion one day,” they threatened.

Students’ murder: El-Rufai under fire over “reckless” comments, poor handling of abductions in Kaduna


 
on
 April 25, 2021




The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has come under ‘fire’ for his handling of the many abductions in his state. This is coming in the aftermath of the killing of three of the students of Greenfield University, a private institution located off the now dangerous Kaduna-Abuja Highway in Chikun Local Government Area of the State.

DAILY Post reported that unspecified number of students were abducted after bandits invaded the school and killed a security staff while taking away some of the students. However, Nigerians were shocked when the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan announced on Friday that three of the students, a male and two females had been killed by the insurgents.


According to him, their corpses were found at a location close to the school.
Since the murder of the students, tempers have been rising, with blames heaped on the state Governor, el-Rufai, for his headline stand on the issue of negotiating with bandits holding the students captive.


Governor el-Rufai has remained consistent lately on his position of not negotiating with bandits or pay ransom for the release of their victims, insisting that doing so will only make abduction more lucrative.

To drive home the seriousness of his determination to call the bluff of the bandits, the governor said recently: “I mean it and I will say it again here. Even if my son is kidnapped, I will rather pray for him to make heaven instead, because I won’t pay any ransom.”


The governor stated this while speaking on the abduction of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Kaduna, in March, adding that the government would keep exploring other ways to get them back to their families.

Also at a recent function in the nation’s capital, Abuja, the governor reiterated his stand, saying instead, all the bandits should be killed.

He said: “Our position as governors and we are unanimous in this because we, the northern states’ governors, met with the President on this subject. Our unanimous position is to wipe out the bandits. Nobody living in that forest is innocent, and just kill them all. It is the only way to end this.


“We need the combination of air power, and we need troops on the ground augmented by local expertise and knowledge. We need just one, two, three months’ operation to just try to kill all the bandits.”


Though the governor seem to have a strong conviction for his latest stance, many Nigerians are blaming him for the death of the three Greenfield University students and the continuous holding of 29 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, who are still being held by their captors.


For many, the posture of el-Rufai and his recent utterances might have infuriated the bandits, who decided to show how ruthless they can be and the fact that they mean business.

One of the parents of the abducted students of Greenfield, revealed in an interview on Friday that the bandits actually turned down N15 million offered them, insisting on N800 million, threatening to kill the students if the money is not paid.

“It’s unfortunate that the state is still insisting on not having anything to do with the negotiations even when lives are involved,” the parent who pleaded to remain anonymous said. He also added that the bandits had vowed to kill the remaining students should the parents fail to pay the ransom or attempt to use force to free the students.

Reacting to the murder of the students on Friday, Kaduna based Islamic scholar, Ahmed Gumi, appealed to Governor el-Rufai to change his stand, adding that he cannot do anything to help secure the release of the students without his support.


He said: “The situation is becoming dire and I need the government’s support before I can do anything, and I think there is a great misunderstanding and poor reading of the situation on the ground. So, I’m really helpless; I don’t know what actually I can do as of now.

“Honestly speaking, it is very unfortunate. There is an ethnic war going on, and I have been saying it. It is a war but if we don’t want to accept that it is a war, we will continue to suffer.


“You cannot predict the behaviour of people who are like that; this is the unfortunate thing and it is the common man that suffers. The way forward is for the government to listen to us, because those people (bandits) are ready to listen to us. If the government will cooperate and listen to us, I think there will be peace but we are finding it difficult to get the government’s attention.”

For the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), the utterances of Governor el-Rufai contributed to the murder of the students, asking him to shut up!
Speaking through its spokesman, AbdulAzeez Suleiman, the CNG said the students’ murder confirmed the lack of government’s will to secure citizens’ lives and property.

“Beyond this obvious failure, we also see Governor El-Rufai’s utterances as unhelpful in this situation. It’s not quite healthy for a government to boast where people’s lives are at stake.

“An ideal leader is one who should know when to keep on fighting and when to beat a retreat. For El-Rufai to persist in such bravado is certainly unproductive and is costing the state.”

Scared for the safety of their children, who have spent more than a month in captivity, parents of the remaining 29 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, said they are now living in fear since Friday killing of the Greenfield University students.



They, however, said they are testing their hope in God and also calling on the international community to intervene on their behalf.


“We are looking unto God. What else do you want me to say?”, a frustrated parent said.
“We heard what happened. We are really concerned about the situation at hand.


“We are worried that if care is not taken, what befell those students may happen to our children. We are not praying for that, though.

“It is based on this that we are calling on well-meaning Nigerians, the state and federal governments, as well as the United Nations, to save the situation.

“We, in particular, call on the United Nations to prevail on the Nigerian government to do the needful in order to save our children from these bandits. We are calling on the international community to do something and not just watch what is happening in Kaduna State”, the parent said.


Some of the parents who spoke to DAILY POST earlier, had lamented that the state government under Governor el-Rufai abandoned them to their fate, asking when it became a taboo for a governor, who once claimed he paid bandits money to stop killing people in the state, to negotiate for the release of their children.

One of the parents, Samuel Kambai told DAILY POST: “As far as I’m concerned, before now, Governor Nasir el-Rufia made a statement that he is ready to negotiate with bandits and even pay them money to ensure there is no more kidnapping or killing in the state but unfortunately we are surprised to see that this same governor who made this statement has come out to say that he is not ready to negotiate with bandits. We believe that if they were to be his children, they would be out by now. But since they are not his, that is why he is making such statements.”



Also, while reacting to the murder of the students, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) blamed Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of the group, while reacting in Abuja on Friday, reasoned that the killing of the students is a culmination of lack of political will on the part of the state governor to act appropriately.

He said: “We blame him for this unfortunate incident. The governor compounded the problem of the commoners who are at the receiving end of the activities of these insurrectionists and terrorists, by continuously making all kinds of incendiary statements and reckless media pronouncements about the kidnappers.


“These same kidnappers that the governor has demonstrated a lack of political will to arrest and prosecute for their crimes against humanity, the governor has gone on to advocate that they should all be killed. Who does that in a Constitutional democracy, to kill without following the due process of the law? This is anarchy.


“What kind of a governor is that who will provoke criminals that he has refused to arrest? So, these criminals have now descended on their victims and killed them to test the ‘might’ of the governor who proclaims that ‘Might is right. This is absolutely absurd and condemnable.”


Many Nigerians, whose views DAILY POST sought, aligned with the position of HURIWA, as many of them believe that the governor has been talking too much lately instead of acting on whatever alternatives he has for the freedom of the students and others in captivity.


Others also believe that there must be an exemption to every rule, insisting that the Kaduna State Government must recognise the trauma the parents of these students have been going through and the hardship the victims are facing in the forests, especially the possibility of being wasted by the bandits.



Speaking with DAILY POST, Dele Adesina believes el-Rufai actually stirred the hornet’s nest with his continuous tough talks and threats of killing them all.

“The killing of the students is really unfortunate and could have been avoided if things were done rightly by those in the position to do so. And I am especially referring to Governor Nasir el-Rufai. There is no way he can be absolved from blame in this case. You have students and many others held captive by murderous criminals, who have shown that they do not have regard for human lives, yet you keep making inflammatory statements and issuing threats. The bandits has only shown that they are not moved by those threats.

“There have been several other abductions in states like Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states but none became bloody, leading to deaths and they were not this protracted because the governments of those states know the danger the abductees were and the trauma of their parents. They were sensitive enough to do all that’s possible to secure the release of the students.

“I am sure no Nigerian will want to subscribe to paying ransom to bandits or common kidnappers, but here we are talking about the lives of several people being at stake. Even if el-Rufai is not interested in paying ransom, I don’t think it is a mark of good leadership to keep making statements that keep making things worse. He has blame in the saga and he must take concrete steps to douse the current tension and ensure the remaining Greenfield University students and those of the Forestry students return home safely”, Adesina said.


For Basil Okonta, the time has come for the Kaduna State Governor to pull a retreat on his position for the sake of the lives that are at stake. He also noted that from experience, there is always an exemption to every rule, insisting that the current situation calls for that exemption to the governor’s position.


“Governments all over the world will always tell you that they don’t negotiate with terrorists but the opposite is the case, especially when it comes to life and death situation like what is presently playing out in Kaduna. 

Nobody is saying bandits or kidnappers should be pampered but then, the safety of the victims should come first. I believe the students and all others still in captivity should be safely brought home before we can talk of killing them all. The governor must be more tactical in his approach, if not, things will get worse”, Okonta said.

Despite all the blames being heaped on Governor el-Rufai for the death of the three students and the continued stay in captivity by others, Adewale Johnson believes that the governor is being unduly vilified by those who have brought in emotions to a purely security matter.

According to him, bandits and kidnappers have proven overtime not to be reliable, as whatever agreement you may have with them will eventually be reneged on.


“Nigerians must understand the issues at stake here and not unnecessarily blame the governor. This is a man who once said he paid bandits to stop killing and kidnapping his people. But have killings and kidnappings stopped? No. Even then, he said that, he was roundly condemned by those who felt he was pampering the bandits. Now, he said he will not negotiate or pay ransom and people are still calling for his head. That’s the nature of human beings, we can never be satisfied.


“We have heard of situations where ransom was paid, yet the kidnappers killed their victims. Bandits are not rational human beings, they operate by their own rules determined by them. You pay today, you will still pay tomorrow because they will keep coming. I believe government and the security agencies have to step up operations against the criminals and wipe them out just like el-Rufai has advocated. That’s the only way out”, Johnson submitted.

The Senate/SSS screenings are compulsory checks before a nominated public officer assumes office, but Nigerians have argued that they are a waste of taxpayers’ funds.

Quote:How did a man who was vociferous in his support for terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda and Taliban and who considered Osama bin Laden “a better Muslim than myself” scale the screenings of Nigerian lawmakers and the country’s State Security Service (SSS) to become a public officer?

First as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency and later the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy?

Ali Isa Pantami, 48, has been in the eye of the storm since last week after videos of his preachings about 20 years ago surfaced online.

The trigger was a publication by a local newspaper that Mr Pantami had been placed on the U.S. watch list for terrorism. The article was later retracted but the damage had been done.

First, a recording of him volunteering to command a militia to fight against Christians in a Plateau community went viral online; then reports that he offered public condolences to the notorious Al-Qaeda leader, Abu Musa’b al-Zarqawi; and yet another claim that Mr Pantami was the Chief Imam of a Nigerian university when a fatwa was issued on some Christian students on campus, leading to the eventual killing of one of them. Mr Pantami said his sermons were taken out of context.

However, he said he has amended some of his past views, but calls for his resignation have continued to gain traction.

During Mr Pantami’s screening in the Senate on July 26, 2019, seven senators ‘grilled’ him after his introductory speech: none of them queried his Islamist antecedents.

And, if those concerns were raised by the SSS (who are mandated to vet appointees to top government positions), there was nothing in the screening to show it on the floor of the senate. After nearly an hour of speeches, questionings, and banters, he was asked to “take a bow and go.”

The Senate/SSS screenings are compulsory checks before a nominated public officer assumes office.

For years, Nigerians have argued that they are a waste of taxpayers’ funds. Below are some of the public officers who, though with questionable pasts, successfully scaled the Senate and SSS screenings:

Peter Afunanya, the SSS spokesperson, did not respond to requests for comments.

1) Kemi Adeosun: Mrs Adeosun had served as a commissioner for four years and a federal minister for three years before her cover was blown.

A PREMIUM TIMES’ exclusive report in July 2018 uncovered how she did not participate in the mandatory one-year national service. Instead, she forged an exemption certificate several years after she had graduated.

Like Pantami, former Minister of Finance, Kemi
For nearly two months, Mrs Adeosun ignored calls for her resignation. Without lifting his finger to address the issue, President Buhari embarked on his annual vacation more than three weeks after the lid was blown open on the minister.

In the president’s defence, information minister Lai Mohammed said appropriate agencies were still investigating the matter.

But on September 15, 2018, Mrs Adeosun resigned from office. In her letter of resignation, she said she had no reason to suspect that her certificate was forged.

“Indeed, I presented that certificate at the 2011 Ogun State House of Assembly and in 2015 for Directorate of State Services (DSS) clearance as well as to the National Assembly for screening.”

2) Stella Oduah: Barely three months after Stella Oduah, who was serving as Aviation Minister, was found to have been enmeshed in a N255 million armoured cars scandal, it was found, in January 2014, that she forged the certificates she presented to the Senate during her screening.

Mrs Oduah had claimed, in a seven-page resume that she distributed to the senators, that she was awarded a doctorate degree by the Pacific Christian University, Glendale, in the United States.

PREMIUM TIMES found that the university does not exist.

Mrs Oduah also falsely claimed on the website of the Ministry of Aviation that she bagged a Masters degree from St Paul College, Lawrenceville, Virginia, U.S. It was discovered that the institution never awarded her the degree as it does not run graduate programmes.

On February 12, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan fired Mrs Oduah from his cabinet.

3) Adebayo Shittu: Days after finance minister Kemi Adeosun resigned her position over the NYSC certificate forgery scandal, Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, was found to have skipped the mandatory one year scheme.

Mr Shittu, 68, did not participate in the scheme despite graduating at age 25. He studied Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, graduating in 1978, and qualifying as a lawyer one year later having finished from the Nigerian Law School.

He immediately went into politics, serving as a lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

Asked about his failure to participate in the NYSC scheme, he said he thought his first political post could suffice as national service.

Mr Shittu finished his term as a federal minister in 2019, but his gubernatorial ambition was truncated by his party, the All Progressives Congress because he does not have the NYSC certificate.

4) Bashir Magashi: Before he scaled through the Senate and SSS screening to become the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, a retired army general, stole at least $550,000while in active service.

Mr Magashi, 75, was a former military governor of Sokoto State (1990-1992) and later appointed the commander of the Brigade of Guards in September 1993, two months before Sani Abacha came into power in a bloodless coup.

In 1998, he was appointed the commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Mr Magashi was among the top military officers affected when Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration implemented a daring policy that compulsorily retired all officers who had served in government for six months or more.

Mr Magashi’s pilfering with public funds was discovered by a Swiss lawyer, Enrico Monfrini, tapped by the Obasanjo government to help track and repatriate funds stolen and stashed abroad by Mr Abacha and his associates.

Mr Magashi was found to have stashed in an account, at the Jessey, U.K., branch of Bank PNP Paribus, the sum of $550,000.

The retired military officer, however, admitted wrongdoing and after pleading for a concession, Mr Obasanjo left $150,000 for him, according to a memo by the then National Security Adviser, Abdullahi Mukhtar.

5) Usani Usani: Usani Usani served as the Commissioner for Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development in Cross River State between February 1997 and May 1999, during the military administration of Umar Ahmed, a colonel.

It was during this period that he allegedly defrauded the government by refusing to apply government-approved scales when he paid out some money as fees to Gersh Henshaw & Company, a firm that handled the contract for the valuation of vehicles, workshops and equipment belonging to the Cross River Water Board.

An investigative committee set up by Governor Donald Duke in 1999 found that the state lost N16.3 million due to Mr Usani’s action. His indictment was made official by a government gazette and Governor Duke directed that the money be recovered and he be prosecuted.

Mr Usani never challenged his indictment in court.

After filing complaints against Mr Usani at the Code of Conduct Bureau, the state government, curiously, asked for the discontinuation of the case. No reason was given.

Mr Usani, 59, a pastor, was the chairman of the APC in Cross River State when President Buhari appointed him the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in November 2015.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/457283-analysis-pantamis-case-portrays-screenings-by-sss-senate-as-charade.html

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has opened the dossier of hip hop artiste, Eedris Abdulkareem after he released a song, ‘jagajaga reloaded’ to disparage the minister, Igbere TV reports.

Abdulkareem’s new song, ‘jagajaga reloaded’ disparaged Keyamo, saying “where Festus Keyamo sef? He don dey chop with cabal o.”

Keyamo took to his twitter handle and released different private conversations he had with Abdulkareem, how he allegedly begged for money.

According to Keyamo,

Quote:“Eedris Abdulkareem just released a song, ‘jagajaga reloaded’, where he waxed the following lyrics, “where Festus Keyamo sef? He don dey chop with cabal o”. I laughed out so loud and even danced to the rhythm too. But there’s a small story behind this poor attempt at blackmail.

“In 2018, when I was named the Director of Strategic Communications for Buhari Campaign Organisation Eedris waxed a song in support of Buhari & wanted to join us, albeit for a fee. He then made desperate efforts to see me through text messages from his phone no. 07019691772.

“When I finally met with him, I listened to the songs, but told him I had no budget for such or any for that matter. I explained that my job was voluntary. It was the same thing I told so many other so-called activists-by-day-and-hustlers-at-night who secretly approached me,” he said.

Quote:“He begged me to introduce him to Malami (AGF), Amaechi & the SGF and to paint a good ‘PR’ for him. He pledged that he was with us in the campaign with his whole ‘body and soul’. But at this point, I knew he was a desperate hustler who could embarrass me, so I ghosted him”

Quote:“Shortly after this episode when he could not penetrate the system to get the money he so desperately wanted, he then endorsed Atiku and called Buhari a ‘fraudster’. But we decided to ignore his weak voice of opposition.

“After our victory, he went berserk and joined every protests against the same Buhari whom he wanted to serve with his whole ‘body and soul’, but needed money to do so. He has been mentioning my name specifically at occasions as if I am the cause of all his troubles in life”.

Quote:“His reference to me as ‘chopping’ reminds me of the gaffe of then Minister Sunday Afolabi who infamously said Bola Ige was invited to Govt to ‘come and chop’!

“I wish to assure Eedris and any who think being in Govt is tantamount to ‘chopping’, that for some of us (I can’t speak for others) it is just an honour to serve our country and an attempt to move from armchair criticism to a real participant in order to make a difference,” he said.

“Finally, we can all sit back and enjoy the ‘jagajaga reloaded’. One of the objectives of the song is to call me out since I ghosted him for attempted extortion – he has now succeeded. Another objective is to help promote the song by my reaction – that he has also achieved,” he added.

https://twitter.com/fkeyamo/status/1386072705099866113?s=19

Quote:DMX's funeral procession brought Brooklyn to a standstill on Saturday as bikers escorted the monster truck carrying his casket to a memorial service at the Barclays Center, two weeks after he died of a heart attack.

A huge black monster truck emblazoned with 'Long Live DMX' brought the body of the late rapper and New York native from his home town of Yonkers to the arena in Brooklyn, New York City, Saturday afternoon, where a large crowd of fans had gathered.

The vehicle was flanked by members of the Ruff Ryders rap label as well as hundreds of motorbikes, with DMX's shiny bright red coffin visible in the open air of the truck's trailer.

The American rapper and actor Earl Simmons, known by his stage name DMX or Dark Man X, died on April 9 at the age of 50.

He suffered a heart attack a week earlier at his home in White Plains, New York, after an apparent drug overdose.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9507523/Rapper-DMX-memorial-service-livestreamed-Brooklyns-Barclays-Center.html?ito=social-facebook






An 'X' tribute and the lyrics of his hit song Fame are displayed outside the Barclays Center as a tribute Saturday.




A woman watches the procession of DMX's casket from the McLean Avenue bridge as it makes its way south on the New York State Thruway in Yonkers.

Fans gather outside the Barclays Center Saturday. The memorial service is closed to the public, with only the rapper's family and friends able to attend but is being streamed live on DMX's YouTube account at 4pm ET






A fan gestures an 'X' symbol as he pays tribute to the rap icon outside a Brooklyn memorial to celebrate his life.





A makeshift memorial after news of DMX's death spread.

Mourners paid their respects and placed memorabilia outside the White Plains, New York, hospital where he died.






DMX had a total of 15 children, some of whom are pictured above with the rapper in 2003.


RIP King 



Some live performance:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSRfHcZiVfs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp1oAQmc3Gc&app=m&persist_app=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8U-yd8zrUg

51 New COVID-19 Cases, 44 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 24

Quote:51 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Yobe-19
Lagos-17
Rivers-8
FCT-4
Akwa Ibom-2
Bayelsa-1

Quote:A breakdown of cases by state can be found via

Quote:April 23 https://www.nairaland.com/6521381/covid-19-update-april-23-2021

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES 


SUNDAY 25TH APRIL.



LAYING HOLD OF YOUR INHERITANCE


After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).


The Master taught His disciples to pray, following the pattern in the scripture above. He didn’t say to them, “Pray this prayer”; rather, He told them to pray “after this manner.” This was before the completion of His redemptive work. Now that He’s made salvation available to all—both the Jews and non-Jews—we need not pray to God anymore to give us our daily bread, because He’s already done it!


The essence of the scripture above is that it lets us know there’s a daily allocation of blessings for us from heaven. The Christian is born with, and into, a glorious inheritance in Christ. Sadly, a lot of God’s children have never laid claim to what rightfully belongs to them. And so, there’s an accumulation of blessings waiting to be claimed.


God’s provision for you today isn’t like the “manna” of the Old Testament that the Israelites ate in the wilderness. Though manna came from heaven, the people couldn’t keep any leftovers, because it would decay by the next day. In this dispensation, however, our leftover allocations remain intact, and we can always lay claim to them by our words; calling them forth, in the Name of Jesus.


All creation has the capacity to respond to spoken words. This is key to laying hold on your inheritance in Christ. Everything in creation, whether existing in tangible or intangible form, has memory. And so, they can all respond to spoken words. So, speak the right words always, and your life will be full of blessings. 

Through your words, you can claim all the accumulated blessings already granted you in Christ.



CONFESSION

Blessed be the Lord who daily loads me with benefits, even the God of my salvation! Right now, I draw from my heavenly account with my faith-filled affirmations; my confession of the Word! I walk in the realms of superabundance and I take advantage of the allocation from heaven for me today. I have supernatural supply. Hallelujah!


FURTHER STUDY

1 Corinthians 3:21--22; Psalm 2:8; Acts 20:32

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Luke 21:5-38 &1 Samuel 23-25


2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Mark 5:14-20 & Leviticus 25






#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN 


I affirm that God has made all grace abound towards me, and I am sufficient in His sufficiency, blessed and prosperous, fruitful in every good work. 


I am the symbol, and epitome of God’s grace; His blessings are evident and manifest in my life! I’ve received the Spirit without measure; the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the LORD.


I have quickness of understanding, and I do not judge after the sight of my eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of my ears: but with righteousness, I judge and reprove with equity. 


The Wisdom of God is at work in me to produce excellent results in everything I set my heart to do! Life is not a mystery to me, because as I meditate on the Word, the Holy Spirit unveils spiritual realities to me, enlightening the eyes of my understanding to know and apprehend my inheritance in Christ!


I live in a different street; therefore, none shall be hurt or destroy in my world: for my world is full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.


 I am as mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abides forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about me today and forever. Glory to God!






God bless you

Jealous businessman shoots wife's friend and suspected lover dead, injures wife and sister-in-law







Gamuchirai Mudungwe (Left), Shelton (Top Right) and Peter Dube (Bottom Right)
A horrific scene was recorded at Bensam Flats in Gweru in the early hours of Friday April 23, as a local businessman went beserk and shot four people.
 
Commutalk reported that 35-year-old businessman Peter Dube shot and killed his second wife’s friend Gamuchirai Mudungwe and another male companion, only identified as Shelton. Dube also shot and seriously injured his second wife Nyasha Nharingo (31) and her sister Nyaradzo Nharingo (34).
 
Gweru Shooting Victims From Left: Nyaradzo, Nyasha and Gamuchirai
 
It was gathered that Dube was involved in a heated dispute with Nyasha whom he suspected of infidelity. He is said to have been incensed when he learned that his wife and sister together with Gamuchirai and Shelton had travelled to Masvingo together without informing him, ostensibly to collect Nyaradzo’s passport.
 
An eyewitness said; 
 

Quote:“At around 2000hrs, Dube armed with an unknown type of firearm went to number 11 Bensam Flats Main Street where an argument ensued accusing his second wife of having an affair with Shelton.”

Quote:“Dube then went downstairs and shot Shelton who was seated in the car once on the head and he is reported to have died instantly.
“He went back upstairs where he met Gamuchirai on the door and shot her on the chest and she died before proceeding to shoot Nyasha on the neck, also shooting Nyaradzo on the head and [they] are battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital.”

Gamuchiria Mudungwe

IPOB already ‘sentenced’ South-East govs to death – Ikpeazu

Quote:Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has said the issues of marginalisation and inequality raised by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, are valid.

The governor, however, faulted the strategy being employed by IPOB, advising the secessionist group to explore dialogue and a peaceful ways to seek redress.

Ikpeazu, who stated this during a visit to the Osasu Igbinedion pan-African television studio in Abuja on Thursday night, said IPOB had placed all the governors of the South-East under fatwa (death sentence).

He said, “People are beginning to think now that some of the issues raised by Nnamdi (Kanu) are valid, if they were issues of injustice, marginalisation and inequality, any part of society has a right to begin to feel cheated or unwanted.

“So, some of those things which Nnamdi said are valid. Some of us can see it. We cannot continue to hide behind a finger. But some of us do not subscribe to his style or strategy, because I do not understand where he is going and how he is going and when he plans to pull the break (-up) and what he wants to achieve.

“If I have a way of conveying my views to the leadership of that group, what I will say is that they should find a way to enter into conversation and let people know.

“I am under their fatwa now and some of my brother governors. They say, ‘If you see them, kill them.’”

https://punchng.com/ipob-already-sentenced-seast-govs-to-death-ikpeazu/

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and their counterparts from the Nigerian Army and DSS in a joint operation, in the early hours of today 24th April, 2021 stormed the operational headquarters of Insurgents (IPOB Militias) in Awomama Village Oru East LGA of Imo State.

The Insurgents are responsible for the attack on the Imo State Police Headquarters and the headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Service on 5th April, 2021. They have also carried out series of calculated, violent attacks on security personnel and formations in the south east and south south of the country.

As the security forces approached the base of the insurgents, they came under rapid fire from the group. In a bold and clinical response, the joint security forces fought back gallantly.

The Forces eventually neutralized the overall commander of the insurgents in the Southeast popularly known as Ikonso Commander and six (6) other armed fighters of the insurgent group. Commander Ikonso is known as the Vice President designate as well as the coordinator of all the militia operations of the group.

He was the mastermind and coordinator of the attack on the Imo Police Headquarters and several other attacks on security and military personnel and facilities.

The operation is part of deliberate effort by the Police and other security forces to quel the activities of insurgents in Imo State and other States of the South East and South South region of the country.

After the fierce gun battle, the security team recovered the remains of Ikonso Commander and the six (6) of his fighters. Several sophisticated weapons including six(6) AK47 rifles, hundreds of ammunition of different caliber and lots of charms including bullet Proof charms were recovered from the insurgents.

At the time of filing this report, three policemen and one army officer are receiving treatment having sustained serious bullet injuries during exchange of gunfire with the insurgents.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/breaking-we-have-killed-commander-of-insurgents-police-sources-claim-graphic/

Breaking: Hoodlums burn country home, several cars of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma (+Video)

 -
April 24, 2021



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In what was a premeditated attack, the palatial country home of the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, in Onuma in Oru East Local Government Area, has been burnt by hoodlums.


The hoodlums also burnt several cars in the compound, but latest report said the governor’s Rolls Royce, which he had parked for years in the house, was safe after all.

The attack by the hoodlums took place Saturday morning.

Governor Uzodinma is at the moment in Abuja. It was learnt as of the time of this report that he was heading back to Imo to assess the situation.
There were reports that the hoodlums that attacked and set ablaze the governor’s property donned black and black attire.
Villagers reportedly made efforts, without success, to put out the fire.
A lifeless body was also reportedly lying in front of the burnt governor’s property.
An official of the state government confirmed the incident and pointed the finger of guilt to political opponents in the state as sponsors of the attack.
Watch video here:
Video Player



00:00
This is latest update on the attack on the house of Imo state governor in imo state. Latest report has shown that Rolls Royce belonging to Governor Hope Uzodimma was destroyed

[url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CODBFHkDxn2/?igshid=a81qtjv2y0o6]https://www.instagram.com/p/CODBFHkDxn2/?igshid=a81qtjv2y0o6



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSoHWH3do9Q

Quote:@ndlea_nigeria intercepts drugs concealed in statue of Mary, auto spare parts, seizes 337.702kg of illicit drugs in Ondo, Akwa Ibom raids.

TVC

IPOB, ESN’ll give Fulani terrorists hell in Southeast – Nnamdi Kanu

 
on
 April 24, 2021




Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday said the group is prepared to give Fulani terrorists hell in the Southeast.

Kanu vowed that the Fulani terrorist would not overrun the Southeast while the Eastern Security Network, ESN, and the IPOB are still existing.
He stated this in response to the attacks on security operatives by cattle traders at Artisan market in Enugu.
Speaking through the spokesman of IPOB, Emma Powerful, Kanu wondered why the Enugu State government and security outfits have not taken action over the incident.

A statement by Powerful reads: “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great and indomitable leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu observed with amusement, the recent assault on Nigeria police and Enugu State government officials by Fulani terrorist herdsmen and cattle sellers at Artisan market in Enugu. We are surprised that the vampires suddenly turned their weapons against their friends. What went wrong?

“As we still ponder on what must have gone wrong between the two former allies, many questions agitate our mind all at the same time. Why has the crying Governor in charge of Enugu State refused to mobilize the 82 Division Nigerian Army, and the Police Commissioner to deploy their men against the marauders? Where are the military tants they used in shelling unarmed Biafran agitators and Igbo youths conducting morning exercise at Emene where scores were sent to their untimely grave?


“Where is the DSS that specializes in abducting unarmed Biafran agitators? Where are the military jets searching for ESN personnel and bombing innocent Biafrans at Orlu?

“Now that the serpent they nurtured has become a python, why have they lost courage to tame it? Police vehicle was destroyed and Government bulldozers siezed by identified people who have not changed their location even as we write, yet no arrest made 48 hours after the attack. Were it to the Biafra agitators by now every trader in the market would have been cooling off in police and military cells. What a shame!”


He also berated the Southeast governors and Igbo leaders who opposed ESN operations.
The IPOB leader wondered why the security outfit formed by the governors, Ebubeagu has been docile in the Southeast.

He added: “Shame on South East governors, Ohanaeze, and Igbo Leaders who betrayed IPOB because of selfish political interests. You opposed the formation of ESN and daily hunt down the personnel staking their lives to defend our land, yet you are in bed with the enemy. Now that you are aware that the enemies you helped to groom have the temerity and sophistry to resist security agencies, what are you doing in readiness for their invasion of our communities?


“When our gallant ESN personnel were confronting the terrorists at Nsuka, instead of supporting our men the Governor in his usual cowardice kept mute while the Nigerian Army mobilised against our men fighting to defend our ancestral land against bloodsuckers. The present crop of South East governors are a huge embarrassment to Ndigbo. They lack understanding of the times.

“Where is their Ebubeagu na Ebubeoke na Ngwere? It’s time to mobilise them against the AK-47 wielding Fulani bandits at Artisan market ENUGU. They are busy compiling names of suspected IPOB members and ESN operatives while terrorists are busy amassing weapons and taking over our land.

“But despite the weakness and treachery of our governors and the political elite, we promise hell for Fulani terrorist in Biafra land. Their conquest mission is dead on arrival. No inch of Biafra land will be taken by them as long as IPOB and ESN exist!”

Quote:Operatives of the Eastern Security Network ESN and Nigerian soldiers are currently engaged in fierce fire fight in Awo-Omamma in Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo state, eye eyewitness has informed IgbereTV.

Witnesses report said there were heavy shooting and residents took cover to avoid stray bullets.

The ESN, a security vigilante set up late 2020 by the Indigenous People of Biafra to protect the Eastern part of the country from killer Herdsmen, have been having running battle with Nigeria security forces.

We’ll keep an eye on the development and bring you more details as events unfold.

https://igberetvnews.com/1388348/heavy-gunshots-nigeria-army-engage-esn-fierce-gun-battle-awo-omamma-imo-state/

Quote:Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has announced that 50 suspects have been arrested in connection with the recent attacks in Imo state, IgbereTV reports.

Uzodinma who spoke while addressing newsmen after meeting President Buhari on Friday April 23, Uzodinma alleged that those funding this banditry are politicians. He also asked security agencies to make their names available to the press "because what they want to do is to distract a government that is focused."

He also stressed that claims of "no job creation, people are not feeding, salaries are not paid, infrastructure" have been going down since 2015. According to Gov. Uzodinma, ''these things are there, available — a passmark for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.''

Uzodinma said;

“It’s not only CCTV; some of those arrested by security agencies, some of them are not from Imo state or the south-east. It was a combination of those within the state and those from outside the state. As of the last count, we arrested almost 40 to 50 people, who also made useful statements and confessed to the crime.

“From 2015 till today, I thought what the problem would be is people saying that there’s no job creation, people are not feeding, salaries are not paid, infrastructure are going down, social interventions are not approved by government. These things are there, available — a passmark for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Now, people are no longer talking about that. Rather, what they are doing is to sponsor crisis, to the extent that those funding this banditry are politicians, which I challenge and call on security agencies to make their names available to the press, because what they want to do is to distract a government that is focused.

“If this government is not doing well, I’ll be one of those that will declare the government as not doing well. But a situation where you’ll leave the formal way, ethical way of doing politics, and you are now sponsoring banditry to bring down a government, for Christ’s sake, we should rise up and condemn it, all of us.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1388363/uzodinma-50-suspects-arrested-imo-attacks/

The report listed some of the reasons the fighters deserted the terror group.

Quote:By Nasir Ayitogo


Over 4,000 Boko Haram fighters have deserted the extremist group, signalling a huge shrink in the rank of the terrorists, a report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has said.

According to the report, the deserters from the four Lake Chad Basin countries (Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) are leaving for various reasons which include safety concerns.

Boko Haram and other terror groups have terrorised the Lake Chad Basin countries for over 10 years.

The unending terror war has displaced thousands of nationals of the four countries.

The crisis has also crippled economic activities in the once booming fish market in the region.

Thousands of people have been kidnapped by the terrorists and many killed.

Why fighters are deserting

According to the 28-page report, while some of the insurgents joined willingly, others were conscripted or abducted and held captive in Boko Haram strongholds.

The report said although accurate figures were difficult to find, their data suggests at least 2,400 desertions in Chad, 1,000 in Nigeria, 584 in Cameroon and 243 in Niger.

“Motives for leaving Boko Haram include individual circumstances, safety concerns and the groups’ internal dynamics, among others.

“On the individual level, some people disengage because their expectations – based on religious ideals or economic opportunities – have not been met.

“For others, poor living conditions in the camps are a factor. The exposure to intensifying military offensives such as air strikes by Lake Chad Basin countries and the effective deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force make the situation untenable,” the report partly read.

It also said the terrorists also impose harsh restrictions on members, along with permanent surveillance and corporal punishment for those suspected or convicted of deviating from the groups’ rules.

“These rules include ‘immorality’, stealing, drug abuse, etc. Within the group, the uneven application of rules fosters a sense of injustice. In some cases, the death penalty is applied. Inter-faction rivalries and violence have also caused people to leave.”

It further revealed that the uncertainty surrounding the fate of people who leave Boko Haram discourages others from making the same decision.

“The third problem is that communities aren’t centrally involved in reintegration processes even though they facilitate disengagement and are the first point of contact for ex-Boko Haram associates,” the report stated

Part of what the report recommended was that desertions need to be effectively managed.

“The way in which ex-Boko Haram associates are received and screened must be predictable and based on standard reception-screening-profiling mechanisms,” it said.

“Regional standards and protocols along with enabling legislation should guide demobilisation in the four Lake Chad Basin countries.”

“Specific policies on the role of women and children in violent extremism are also needed. To build societal resilience to groups like Boko Haram, community participation should be prioritised throughout the rehabilitation process, including design, implementation and evaluation.”

“Through cooperation and sharing lessons, countries in the Lake Chad Basin region can develop national and regional strategies that work.”

ISS Speaks

The ISS describes itself as a research-focussed African organisation committed to human security on the continent.

Teniola Tayo, a researcher at the Lake Chad Basin Institute for Security Studies, while commenting on the report via sms, said the various countries concerned have welcomed the report.

“Yes we had a closed dissemination webinar with stakeholders engaged in DDR in the four countries. They all welcomed the findings,” she said.

She said her organisation will be exploring ways to follow up with the countries individually.

When asked about the accuracy of their figures, another official of the organisation, Malik Samuel, stated that they (figures) were official.

“The figures of deserters quoted in the report were obtained from government authorities in the region. For instance, the figures from Nigeria were obtained from Operation Safe Corridors,” he said.

He said the major problem identified during the research was the difficulty of accurate figures of deserters because there were some who tried to leave the group and re-join the society without government intervention.

“In these cases, you see that it is difficult to get the actual numbers of deserters,” he said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/457234-over-4000-fighters-desert-boko-haram-report.html

Quote:No fewer than 20 women mostly married were kidnapped by armed bandits while attending a naming ceremony at Gidan Bido village of Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State on Friday afternoon, Katsina Post learnt.

According to our remote reporter in the area, the incident occurred on Friday, 23rd of April, 2021 around 1pm.

In a similar case, another group of bandits attacked and also kidnapped five (5) men at Unguwar Bawa village of Dandume LGA Katsina State in the early morning hours of Saturday, 24th of April, 2021 around 2:00am.

The member representing Dandume LGA in the Katsina State House of Assembly came from Unguwar Bawa village.

Police authorities in the state are yet to comment on the issue as at the time of filing this report.

Katsina Post

Watch video here


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o4y-lZIIVs

According to Twitter streets, she tried to sneak in to check if her man was cheating and got stuck by her yansh. They had to call nearby welder. Thank God there was light to power the welding machine. See her yansh. �: via @gossipboyz1

Source:
https://www.instagram.com/p/COBVcfDJ--4/?igshid=4r4icaauplsg

Shocking video of three suspected "Yahoo boys" caught bathing at a cemetery 







A shocking video has emerged online of three young men suspected to be "Yahoo boys" bathing at a cemetery while tying red clothing around their waists. 
 
The footage was captured by a stunned individual who appeared to be filming the whole episode from an uncompleted building. 
 
In the viral video, one of the men is seen at one point chanting incantations into a grave, as the two others continue to have their bath. Once done, the trio were seen dropping their soap on a grave before they all ran out of the cemetery by jumping a fence. 
 
It's unclear where the video was captured but many online believe the young men are internet fraudsters who want to defraud their clients through fetish means. 
 
Watch the video below. 
 

Quote:See video below.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZYZmykW03M

Ex-Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin to be sentenced on June 16 for killing George Floyd








Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16 after his conviction for the murder of George Floyd, a Minnesota court said on Friday, April 23.

The sentencing will take place at 1:30 p.m. CT, according to the court schedule.
 
The calendar update came three days after a jury found Chauvin, 45, guilty on charges of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
 


Chauvin’s attorneys will have 60 days to appeal the outcome.
 
Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died after Chauvin kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest on May 25, 2020.  Video of the incident sparked a nationwide protest movement against police brutality and racism.

Chauvin faces a minimum sentence of 12.5 years and a maximum of 40 years if he serves terms for each charge concurrently. If served consecutively, he faces between 29 and 75 years. 

Killing of Greenfield students: Admit you’ve failed Nigerians, step aside – Bamgbose to Buhari

 
on
 April 24, 2021


Olusegun Bamgbose, a chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to admit that he has failed Nigerians.
Bamgbose was reacting to the news of the killing of three of the abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna by bandits.


The Kaduna State Government confirmed on Friday that three of the abducted Greenfield University students were shot dead by bandits.

The government said the remains of the students were found on Friday, in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university.


Bamgbose described the news as so unfortunate and disheartening, adding that the action of the bandits had shown that they are inhuman, callous and unscrupulous.


“My heartfelt condolences to the parents and relations of the victims. It’s time for Buhari to admit that he has failed Nigerians,” he said in a brief statement to DAILY POST.


“He has actually not shown to Nigerians that he is capable of curtailing the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.

“His occupation of the State House has not really done the citizens much good. Who knows the fate of the rest still in captivity.


“That is not to say our security agents are not up and doing but much still needs to be done. It’s time for Buhari to step up or step down.


“This is not the time to warn the bandits, he should go ahead and crush them. We are fed up with words, it’s time for action,” he added.

33-year-old Nigerian man faces deportation after one month in Malaysia immigration detention centre over drink driving offence







A 33-year-old Nigerian national detained at an immigration centre in Malaysia for the last one month, has been served a deportation order despite having paid his fine for a drink-driving offence, his lawyer said on Thursday, April 15. 
 
Aimon Adavize Momoh, who has been married to a Malaysian auditor, Low Kar Hui, for the past eight years and has a valid visa, was arrested at a roadblock in Cheras, Shah Alam, the capital of Selangor in the early hours of March 15, 2021 on suspicion of drink-driving.
 

 
He pleaded guilty in court the same day, paid the RM12,000 fine, and his wife was told he would be released at 5pm.
 
However, he was taken to the Kajang prison and later transferred to the Semenyih immigration detention centre where he has been since then.
 
Authorities previously denied access for Vemal and Low to meet Momoh, citing Covid-19 restriction. 
 
Momoh's lawyer, V Vemal Arasan said the deportation order was emailed to his wife, Low Kar Hui, on Wednesday evening, asking her to prepare arrangements for her husband's flight back to Nigeria.
 
He said that according to the deportation order, Momoh is deemed a prohibited immigrant pursuant to Section 8(3)(d)(i)(ii) of the Immigration Act.
 
Vemal also told High Court judge Ab Karim Ab Rahman during a habeas corpus hearing to seek the release of Momoh that he had been unable to meet with his client at the detention centre on Wednesday.
 
The lawyer said immigration officers told him there had been a power outage.
 
He said he needed to see Momoh to enable them to prepare a proper submission, adding that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had agreed for him to liaise with his client.
 
The High Court judge set next Wednesday,  for a full hearing of his habeas corpus application.
 
Vemal told reporters later there was no provision in the law to compel Momoh’s wife to purchase a flight ticket for him to leave the country, adding that they may be writing an appeal to the government.

Boko Haram attacks new IGP’s hometown in Yobe







Boko Haram terrorists launched an attack in Geidam local government area of Yobe State on Friday evening, April 23.
 
The insurgents shot sporadically, causing some residents to flee into the bush while others hid in their houses.
 
Geidam is the hometown of the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba.
 
According to sources, a military jet has been deployed to the town to dislodge the insurgents.
 
Geidam is about 200km from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital and one of the border towns between Nigeria and Niger Republic. It also shares a boundary with Borno State from the north.
 
The town previously came under attack on February 9, shortly after the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru visited troops.
 
According to previous reports, Geidam has been attacked four times this year by Boko Haram insurgents.
 
Today's attack is coming few hours after the state security council meeting with traditional rulers, local government chairmen, among other stakeholders.
 
Information on the number of casualties involved in Friday’s attack is yet unknown.

British Government pulls down notice announcing asylum policy for pro-Biafra groups







The British Government has pulled down a notice it published regarding its asylum policy for pro-Biafra groups like Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization of Biafra (MASSOB).
 
In an email sent to Radio Now and signed by Hannah Dawson, senior communications officer-Newsdesk at the Home office, the British government said the policy is being reviewed and will be uploaded once it is ready.
 
"Out note on Biafra separatists has been taken down for review, an update is expected shortly" the statement reads.
 
The UK government did not give a time frame as to when the updated policy will be uploaded to their website.
 
 

 

Quote:Says we can’t continue to live in denial
…. Why I disagree with IPOB’s strategy
…..Urges 60 % intelligence gathering to end insecurity

Fifty-one years after the war ended, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has demanded an apology over the wanton destruction of lives and properties of Ndigbo during the civil war.

Dr. Ikpeazu, who spoke during a studio visit to TOS TV Network, a digital Pan-African news network in Abuja, however threw his weight behind the agitation by the indigenous peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
The governor who faulted the strategy being deployed by IPOB noted however that that the Ndigbo has not been fairly treated in the country.
He insisted that the destructive strategy of IPOB was a recipe for the breakdown of law and order in the South East geopolitical zone.

He said, “Who is going to tell us what happened during the civil way, who did what and why? Why can’t some people come and tell us we are very sorry for what we did? You can’t sweep certain things under the carpet.
“The tension is palpable and this is the time for us to open up as those who love the country. I speak this way because I spent 7 years in the University of Maiduguri. I have gone through all part of northern Nigeria and I understand this country.

“I feel sad that the strings that hold us together are gradually giving way. The NYSC has collapsed. You are bottling up people and if you have too many people and if you have too many atoms in an enclosure and you apply pressure you are creating a bomb.
“That is exactly what js happening. We have become very agitated as a people. We have to call a spade a spade no matter whose ox is formed.

“Some of the issues raised by Nnamdi were issues of injustice, marginalisation, inequality whether it is gender, generational whatever. Any particular arm of the society excluded in any way has a right to feel cheated or unwanted.
“So some of those things Nnamdi says are valid. Some of us can see it. We cannot continue to run away from the facts. But some of us do not agree with his style because I do not understand where he is going, when he intends to pull the brakes and when it is going to stop.

‘If I have a way of conveying my view to the leadership of the group what I will say is they should find the way to enter into conversation and let people know.

“I don’t understand their strategy and purpose; I don’t understand why they are attacking institutions of civil rule. A lot of people who are apologetic to some of these strategies don’t even know they are riding the tiger’s tail.

“If the police and military withdraw and then brigands become enforcers of the law and order, if you have a quarrel with your brother, how do you resolve it?
“Our national orientation should be willing to say sorry. No person can be right 100 percent all the days of his life.
“ Even in dealing with our children if we do things that are not right we should have the courage to stoop low and say sorry but to create an utopian aura that all is well is either nothing is wrong or I have done it , what can you do?”

On the nation’s insecurity, the governor noted that, “I would like us to address the insecurity issue in Nigeria holistically. I don’t want to look at the insecurity in South East as opposed to the one in the North West or North East.
“The problem of insecurity in this country is as a result of the fact that the security admixes of our country which we inherited from the late sixties or early seventies focus more on spending on boots on ground, arms and ammunition.

“That may be good classically speaking but if you are fighting an asymmetric war which is a war that is faceless, what you do is to change the arrangement and the ratio should be 60 percent intelligence gathering, research and development and only 35 per cent for boots on ground because if you have not given intelligence to the boots on ground who are they going to battle?

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/civil-war-ikpeazu-demands-apology-over-crimes-against-ndigbo/

Nigerian ex-presidential candidate, and former vice president of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has on his Twitter page shown and expressed his condolences concerning the killing of the 3 abducted students.

Atiku on his Twitter page was remorseful as he talked about the killing of the 3 abducted students of greenfield university in Kaduna State, praying that may their souls rest in peace. AMEN.
......

Quote:Heartbreaking to learn of the killing of 3 of the abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna. How long shall we continue to lose precious souls? May their families and friends be comforted. It is time states are granted constitutional roles in the management of security.

https://twitter.com/atiku/status/1385642006223933441?s=19

45 New COVID-19 Cases, 65 Discharged And 0 Deaths On April 23

Quote:45 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria;
Lagos-26
Rivers-10
Delta-3
Kano-2
Akwa Ibom-1
FCT-1
Kaduna-1
Nasarawa-1

Quote:Today's report includes 25 community recoveries in Akwa Ibom and 18 in Kaduna State managed in line with guidelines.

A breakdown of cases by state can be found via

Quote:April 22 https://www.nairaland.com/6519733/covid-19-update-april-22-2021

Quote:President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, Garba Shehu, said certificate forgery involving Kemi Adeosun, former Finance Minister, is worse than Isa Ali Pantami’s views on terror groups.

Shehu made the remark on Friday when he appeared on Channels TV.

Adeosun was forced to resign in 2018 after over her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate said to have been forged.

Pantami, the Communications Minister, expressed views in support of Al-Qaeda and Taliban during his lectures in the 2000s.

The Islamic preacher explained his views had changed but a there are calls for his resignation. The presidency, however, dismissed the demand.

Shehu said in the case of Pantami, “you are probing the thoughts, what is called ‘McCarthyism’; you search the inner recesses of the minds of individuals, bring out things they have said or they are about to say or you think they would say and use that against them.”

“If Pantami had forged certificate before coming into office, the attitude would have been different”, he added.

https://dailypost.ng/2021/04/23/adeosuns-certificate-forgery-worse-than-pantamis-comments-on-terrorists-garba-shehu/?amp&__twitter_impression=true

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES 


SATURDAY 24TH APRIL.



DON’T BE AT EASE IN ZION


Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came (Amos 6:1).


There’re those of us who have learned the truth; we’ve received the Word. And through the Word, we’re triumphant every day, living a wonderful and fulfilling life. However, we must still give attention to helping those who haven’t known the truth yet, those who haven’t understood the Word of God yet.


We’ve got to care about our brothers and sisters all over the world, especially those in prison or experiencing all kinds of hardships. Until and unless we’ve brought them in, it’s not over. It’s not over as long as Satan is deceiving others and seeking to destroy lives; we can’t be “at ease in Zion.”


Read the Lord’s touching words in Amos 6:6, “You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph” (NIV). When you hear about churches being burnt or priests and pastors and ministers being incarcerated unjustly because of their commitment to the Gospel, don’t act like it doesn’t concern you. Get on your knees and pray!


Don’t think only of yourself. Until the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated in every country, it’s not over. Be it those in the presidency, or in the Prime Minister’s office, or among Monarchs, etc., we have to realize that God has given us an assignment to pray for them and reach them with the Gospel.



We have to bring others into the peace, love, and joy that God has given us; otherwise, our job isn’t done. So, keep preaching and teaching others God’s Word. Keep interceding for men and women all around the world to come into God’s light and righteousness. And at the end, you can boldly affirm, “I fought a good fight.”


PRAYER

Blessed Lord, by your Spirit, you’re refining the mind of your children around the world, bringing them into deeper knowledge and understanding of your Word. As we, your children all over the world, teach and preach your truth today, there’s a mighty harvest, and many are translated from darkness into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.


FURTHER STUDY

Philippians 3:13-14; Ephesians 6:18 CEV


1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 20:20-21:1-4 & 1 Samuel 20-22


2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 5:1-13 & Leviticus 24








#AFFIRMATIONTRAIN 


I affirm that the kingdom is in my heart! I’ve been translated from the kingdom of this world into the kingdom of God’s love Son, Jesus. I’m in the Kingdom now, and no devil can have its way in my life, because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.


 I exercise control, and authority over anything that is inconsistent with the provisions of the Gospel in my life. I am imbued with the requisite and adequate ability to carry out to completion, and with excellence, all tasks and projects to God’s glory.

I can do all things through the anointing that is at work and fully operational in me. I have extraordinary amplitude of comprehension, and every information for a glorious life is accessible to me because God has given me wisdom and knowledge, and joy. 


I am a success and a wonder to my world! My abilities are limitless; I am positioned by the Spirit for success, greatness, and glory. Hallelujah!


God’s Word is my life! I have the divine life because I am born of God’s indestructible and incorruptible Word. I am immune and impregnable to the darkness, troubles, and corrupting influences in this world. 


Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I live in glory and eternal victory forever. Blessed be God. Hallelujah!





God bless you

Married teacher, 55, is banned from the classroom after taking students to a strip club and exposing himself to his female colleague








A teacher has been banned from the classroom for taking students to a strip club during a central America tour.
 
Richard Glenn, 55, a computer science teacher had been teaching at £9,800-a-term Longridge Towers independent school near Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, for 12 years. 
 
He was in charge of a group of 16 to 18-year-olds when he got drunk with his students and brought them to a strip club, The Sun reported. 
 
The married father-of-two also exposed himself to the female trip leader in their shared hotel room. 
 
During one drinking session he reportedly told a student 'I'm going to kick your f****ing head in', and added to another 'I'm going to f****ing kill you'.
 
He was too drunk to remember the threats the next morning, a professional misconduct hearing was told.
 
Expedition company organisers had to send him home from the trip two weeks early in July 2019.
 
During the misconduct hearing, he admitted unacceptable professional behaviour and conduct that may bring teaching into disrepute. He was banned from the classroom indefinitely and cannot apply to teach again for three years.  
 
Caroline Tilley, who chaired the panel, said: 'Mr. Glenn was, at various times during the trip, under the influence of alcohol, and therefore not in a position to adequately take decisions or act in loco parentis.'
 
 

15-year-old boy electrocuted in Benue







A 15-year-old boy, Emmanuel Ameh, has been electrocuted in Achusah area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital. 
 
It was gathered that the deceased, a student of Benue State University Technical College, died due to the alleged negligence of the staff of Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JED, in Makurdi. 

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, April 22, uncle to the deceased, Samuel Olokpo, said officials of JED came to the house when everyone had gone to work and disconnected electric lines belonging to four households.
 
"On Monday morning, April 19, when everybody had gone to work and school, JED staff went to do their round of disconnection of customers who were indebted to the company. In the afternoon, some of our neighbours’ kids were playing around the pole and one of them made contact with the wire, his name is Emeka, a little boy of about five years, and was shocked. He ran to Emmanuel who just came back from school to complain, being the most senior at home," Mr Olokpo narrated. 
 
"He ran to Emmanuel who just came back from school to complain, being the most senior at home. “Emmanuel went to roll up the wires from the ground because when they did the disconnection they left all the wires on the ground. He made contact with the wires and he was electrocuted.
 
“A neighbour, Jonathan Agi saw what was happening and rushed to the scene, used a dry stick to pushed him away. The other persons came too and they were able to intervene. They cut off the wire that had power. He was rushed to the nearby Ushaka Clinic and Bishop Murray Hospital, all in Makurdi, where he was pronounced dead. The Police come and helped us conveyed his body to Benue State University Teaching Hospital mortuary where it as-deposited,” he said.
 
Mr Olokpo also disclosed that top engineers from the JED office in Makurdi visited on Wednesday to condole with the family over the incident.
 
 

METRO
Unidentified gunmen abduct farmer in Kwara


 
on
 April 23, 2021



Kwara State police command, on Friday confirmed the abduction of a farmer and businessman, Alhaji Alaga Olayemi by seven unidentified gunmen.


DAILY POST reports that Olayemi was kidnapped from his farm around 7p.m on Thursday, at Oke-Onigbin in Isin Local Government Area of the State.
According to the spokesman of the command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, police operatives have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers and to rescue the victim.

” One Alhaji Alaga Olayemi was reportedly kidnapped in his farm by seven unknown gunmen.


“Intensive efforts to rescue him has been activated by the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Lawal Bagega,” the spokesman stated in a text message on the development to DAILY POST on Friday.

Olayemi and two others were ambushed and attacked by the yet-to-be identified gunmen on their way home from a maize farm.


After the confrontation with the armed men, the two boys luckily escaped being abducted but not without injuries sustained from machete cuts inflicted by the attackers.

Their master, Olayemi, was, however, kidnapped and ferried to an unknown destination by the gunmen.

BREAKING: Kaduna govt confirms killing of three abducted Greenfield uni students by bandits

 
on
 April 23, 2021



Kaduna State Government has confirmed that three of the abducted Greenfield University students were shot dead by bandits
This was contained in a statement on Thursday.


The statement signed by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs said the remains of the students were found on Friday, in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university

“In an act of mindless evil and sheer wickedness, the armed bandits who kidnapped students of Greenfield University, have shot dead three of the abducted students.”

“The armed bandits on Tuesday night kidnapped an unspecified number of students at the institution located at Kasarami village off Kaduna-Abuja Road in Chikun LGA.


“The remains of three students were found today (Friday), in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university and have been evacuated to a mortuary by the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, and Force Commander, Operation Thunder Strike, Lt.Col. MH Abdullahi.


“Governor Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the killing of three students as sheer wickedness, inhumanity and an outright desecration of human lives by vile entities. He went on to say that the armed bandits represent the worst of humankind and must be fought at all cost for the violent wickedness they represent.

“Evil, the Governor further said, would not triumph over God-given humanity. He appealed to citizens to come together against the forces of darkness challenging national security and the very existence of the Nigerian State.


“The Governor, on behalf of the Government and people of Kaduna State sent deep condolences and empathy to the student’s families and the university community, as he prayed for the repose of their souls.”

"I told them not to tell their parents because it has health benefits" - 30-year-old primary school teacher arrested for sodomizing male pupils in Ibadan







The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old school teacher, Ebenezer Olawuyi, for sodomizing two of his male pupils.
 
Olawuyi, a private school teacher, was paraded by the State Police Commissioner, Ngozi Onadeko, alongside other crime suspects at the police headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, on Thursday, April 22.
 
The suspect, who holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) confessed to his crime but said he had slept with only two male pupils. 
 
Speaking with journalists, Olawuyi said the first incident happened when he invited the pupil to his house, ostensibly to help him mark examination scripts.
 
“It was just two times I did it. They are my students. I had sex through the anus with one of two of my students on different occasions. I don’t have a wife. I am a private primary school teacher. I called the last victim to my house to help me collate scripts while I slept with the second one in the classroom before school hours," he said.
 
When asked how he convinced them not to tell their parents, Olawuyi, who claimed to have had girlfriends while in school, said;
 
“I told them that I want to have sex with them and they didn’t argue. Both of them are between the ages of 11 and 14. I told them not to tell their parents because it has health benefits for them."
 
He further said the situation was giving him concern before his arrest because he didn’t know what led him to it.
 
"I think it is the devil. I don’t know what led me to this. I just lost my dad last week. I want the government to help me out of this,” he said. 
 

Never be ashamed of your family background - MC Oluomo's son tells followers to be proud of whatever job their parents do







MC Oluomo's son has advised his followers to never be ashamed of their parents, no matter what they do to earn money.
 
The young man who refers to himself as MC Oluomo Jr. said that as long as you're "breathing and eating" from your parent's hardworking, you should never be ashamed of their jobs.
 

 
The poster is the son of the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo.

Quote:Tension enveloped Enugu on Thursday evening as Hausa cattle traders at the New Artisan Market attacked government officials and destroyed a police vehicle.

The PUNCH gathered that trouble started when officials of the state government went to demolish the New Artisan Market following an order of the State High Court, which was said to have declared the market a security threat because of its proximity to the Government House.

However, an attempt to effect the execution was fiercely resisted by the Hausa traders, who reportedly went inside the market, brought several AK-47 rifles and chased away the officials and police detachment.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Sampson Okorie, told our correspondent that the gun wielding Hausa traders also seized two bulldozers the state government deployed to the market and destroyed police Hilux vehicle

The vehicle, according to him, was abandoned by the police, who ran for their life when they could not escape with it.

He said, “I was opposite the market when four police vehicles with about 10 policemen arrived at the place with people suspected to be government officials. Earlier in the day, two bulldozers were deployed to the area.

“Shortly after the police arrived, there were gunshots in the air. I came out from the shop where I was and saw people scampering for safety. The policemen were also running.

“The next thing I saw was gun wielding traders, who came out and blocked the NNPC end of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and stopping vehicular movement, just as they set up bonfires along the expressway. When the atmosphere became tense, I moved out of the area,” Okorie said.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed the incident when contacted on telephone.

Aliyu described the action of the traders as unfortunate, saying the traders had a meeting with the State Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday night, when they agreed to move out of the market on Thursday.

https://punchng.com/cattle-traders-chase-police-enugu-officials-with-ak-47/

Man and his car stuck in flood following heavy rain in Lagos.

Watch video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyNAHQd3SS8

A driver was stranded in his car after it got stuck in the flood as it rained in Lagos on Thursday, April 22.

He couldn't leave his car for fear he would drown and the water level kept rising around his car.

Media personality, Benjamin Okoh shared a video from the scene and called on the state government to hurry to the man's aid.

In the video, passersby are seen standing at a safe distance to watch the driver struggle at Eniola Davies Street, Fagba, Oko-Oba.

Fortunately, residents succeeded in pulling the man to safety. They later retrieved his car before it could fall off the edge of the road.

Source:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-9cwhjgPL/?igshid=a5l1me0f42cy
2

Prophet Joshua Arogun who predicted the release of former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, and victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general election has again insisted that Buhari’s successor is a former governor from the South who was held in prison and from all indications, he is referring to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, ABN TV learnt.

Arogun, who is the General Overseer of Light of the World International Church, Lagos, stated this on Sunday during the church’s ministration service.

He said most people’s hearts has become so hardened that they question prophecies. He also said his obligation is to release God’s revelations to him with no personal feelings attached to it.

“Whenever I pray and get revelations on the polity of Nigeria, I find it difficult to tell my members because of it’s sensitivity. But because I am not accountable to humans but God, I have a duty to do as directed in spirit. Some months ago, I got a revelation that a former governor from the south who was in prison will be the next president of this country. I remember feeling very reluctant delivering that message but I had to do the will of the Father. While we were praying this morning, the same message came again. There is this connection I keep seeing: former governor- prison-president and he is from the South.

“May God’s will be done and May His will be favourable to mankind.” He prayed

Recall that on March 1, Prophet Joshua had made controversial revelations during his church service when he said, “I am a prophet of God and by the grace of God, anything the Lord tells us comes to pass because we hear from Him; we don’t hear from men. We don’t rely on public opinion for prophesies. We are not afraid of what people will say when such prophesies are given to us to tell the people. When we hear from the Lord, we tell people no matter how it is interpreted. It is left for people to take it.

“Before the 2015 election, God told me that Buhari would win; And God told me a lot of things about Buhari. It is He that anointed him to be the president and there is no questions about that. No one can change it. The people can hate him: the people can reject him but God has ordained him, and there is something about God. When He says that you would be this, no man can change it. He does what pleases Him

“I got a revelation about Nigeria’s political dynamics in the next general election. I saw a man in Prison and this man has been a former Governor from the South East taking over from President Buhari. There is absolutely nothing one can do about someone’s destiny especially when sanctioned by God. Everything that happens in life is for a reason. I saw renewed alliances among the political class and across the political parties and I saw this country reuniting more than it has ever done before. God loves Nigeria so much. Nigeria is a big country, and is blessed with human and natural resources.” He said.

Source: https://abntv.com.ng/2021/04/prophet-who-predicted-kalus-release-insists-he-is-the-next-president/

Boyfriend who 'dated 35 women' at the same time and told each one he had a different birthday to receive gifts' is arrested for fraud 








A serial Japanese dater has been arrested for allegedlly dating 35 different women at the same time.
 
Takashi Miyagawa, a part-time worker from the Japanese region of Kansai, had told each of the women he had been dating that his birthday was on a different date in order to receive gifts and cards from them. 
 

 
The 39-year-old was arrested for defrauding the 35 women after pretending to be serious about relationships with them.
 
Miyagwa's real birthday is November 13 but he told a 47-year-old lover that his birthday was on February 22, while another victim, 40, said he told her it was in July. A third woman, who is 35, said she believed it was in April.
 

 
According to SoraNews24, the total number of victims stands at 35 with the possibility of more coming forwards.
 
In total, the women have accused Miyagawa of swindling them out of £665 worth of birthday presents, clothes, and cash.
 
 
The suspect reportedly met his victims while working for a marketing company selling hydrogen water showerheads and other products.
 
Preliminary investigation revealed Mr.Miyagawa targeted single women and began each relationship with the suggestion he would get married to them.
 
However, the women ended up forming a victims' association and reported Miyagawa to the police in February.
 

 
The investigation continues.
 

Amputee hawker who went viral for selling water despite disability transforms into a 'beauty queen' for 27th birthday (photos)







Mary Daniels, the hawker whose story touched hearts and encouraged philanthropists to part with money, was transformed into a rare beauty for her 27th birthday photoshoot.
 
In March, a photo of the hawker standing on one leg with her crutches supporting her on the other side, touched hearts.
 

 
In days, 14 million Naira was raised for the hardworking woman who wouldn't let her condition hold her back.
 
Then, just last week, the Lagos State Government said it has taken over the welfare of the hawker who is also a single mother.
 
It was also revealed that the state government has provided temporary shelter for her.
 
Now, for her 27th birthday, kind Nigerians gave her a photoshoot,  complete with professional makeup and styling.
 
The result is breathtaking and has people asking if it's still the same woman.
 
See her transformation photos below.
 

Buhari has a hidden agenda for rejecting calls for restructuring, he is encouraging secession - Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo







Acting national leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo has alleged that President Buhari has a hidden agenda for rejecting calls for restructuring. 
 
Reacting to presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu's dismissal of calls for disintegration and insistence that Buhari won’t be bullied into “settling” secessionists in an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday April 21, Adebanjo wondered why the presidential spokesperson will say the president is not interested in restructuring when the people have said it is what they want. 
 
He said; 
 

Quote:“It’s that sovereign national conference, which was attempted in 2014, that Buhari has refused to do — that is the cause of the problem. If he doesn’t do it, he wants to impose this military constitution on us. And that what’s causing people, who feel cheated, to say they want to get out of Nigeria.


“We’re saying this is what will keep us together, but you’re not attending to it and you’re not giving us alternatives.


“How can Garba Shehu say the president is not interested in anything when the people have said this what they want? He is not a democrat? Did he not claim to be a born-again democrat? All the things that we see and have been accusing APC and Buhari, in particular, that they have a hidden agenda.”

Quote:“It’s Buhari that encourages secession. Those of us calling for restructuring are the people who want Nigeria to stay.


They mention Igboho, they mention Nnamdi Kanu. These people represent the youths here, because the suffering is much; the suffering is bad. And if they don’t restructure Nigeria, we’ll have more Igboho, we’ll have more Nnamdi Kanu. I don’t support secession and don’t oppose it. 


“Don’t buy campaign of the people telling you that to restructure is to separate Nigeria. Buhari is not the man to come and tell me about a united Nigeria. I’ve been preaching a united Nigeria since Buhari was in primary school.”

Two suspected Shila boys escape lynching for stealing goats in Adamawa







Policemen have rescued two suspected Shila boys from being burnt alive by an angry mob in Adamawa State.
 
It was gathered that the two suspects, Abdulrahaman Musa, 26 and Saidu Ibrahim, 27, from Nassarawo ward in Jimeta/Yola, were caught after they allegedly stole two goats in Girei Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, April 22.
 

 
According to an eyewitness, the dreaded Shila boys stormed Girei town on a tricycle and stole the animals.
 
Residents sighted them and raised alarm. The suspects were trailed and apprehended by the mob near Girei bridge along Yola -Mubi road.
 
The thieves were beaten and were about to be set ablaze before policemen arrived to salvage the situation. The mob were left with no alternative than to burn the tricycle of the suspects.
 
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, who confirmed the incident said that the suspects are in custody and investigation ongoing. 

Nigeria overtakes Congo as worst in global access to electricity







Nigeria has overtaken the Democratic Republic of Congo with the highest number of citizens that lack access to electricity. 
 
World Bank Group officials who made the announcement during a virtual engagement with power reporters in Abuja on the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP), said Nigeria has 25 percent of people without access to electricity.
 
The international financial agency's officials revealed that while electrification in the country has been growing at 1.1% yearly since 2010, it has not kept pace with the population growth of 3% yearly. This has increased the deficit by 3 million people to 85m which is 57% of the population.
 
The group said; 
 

Quote:“Nigeria now has the largest number of unelectrified people globally and the trend is worsening; of the electrified, the supply is very unreliable with widespread blackouts.


“Nigeria now has 25% more unelectrified people than the 2nd most unelectrified country (DRC – in absolute terms).”

Quote:“The power sector is operationally inefficient with unreliable supply exacerbated by high losses and lack of payment discipline.


“Businesses in Nigeria lose about $29 billion annually because of unreliable electricity while Nigerian utilities get paid for only a half of electricity they receive.”

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Insecurity: Confusion persists over who is behind South-East attacks


 
on
 April 23, 2021




The identity of the perpetrators of the rising attacks on police facilities and its personnel in the South-East geopolitical zone has continued to give Nigerians a cause for concern.

DAILY POST reports that there seems to be confusion among the government and the security agencies.
Since the gunmen began their operation, they have remained unknown, with accusing fingers continuing to point in different directions, with claims and counter-claims.


There is no doubt that the situation in the South-East is becoming troubling, following what seems to be coordinated and patterned attacks on security agencies, especially the police. From Anambra to Imo, Enugu to Ebonyi and Abia, the police seem to have become an endangered species, with the government and the security agencies at a loss, not just in curtailing them, but in identifying who the perpetrators are.


A major sore point in the entire scenario, is the hasty conclusions by people who are saddled with the responsibility of securing the people and charged with investigation of crimes, especially the victim of the attacks, the police.


Adamu’s Hasty Conclusion
Nigeria’s immediate past Inspector General of police, Mohammed Adamu, in what may go down as an unprofessional statement, accused the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security outfit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of complicity in the attacks on the headquarters of the Imo State Police Command and the Owerri Correctional Centre on Easter Monday.


The former police chief, in what later became his last official assignment and last day in police force, was in Owerri, just a day after the attack, making sweeping categorical statements, without even a preliminary investigation.

“Investigation revealed that the attackers are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN)”, Adamu said in a statement released by force spokesman, Frank Mba, moments after Adamu’s visit.

Though the then police boss, according to Mba’s statement said IPOB/ESN were identified as the culprits during ‘investigation’, an appeal by the former IGP in the same statement, appeared contradictory.

“The IGP calls on citizens to avail the Police and other security agencies with useful information that can assist in identifying and arresting the criminals. He vowed that the perpetrators will be brought to book, noting that the Force is doing all within its powers to curb the activities of unscrupulous elements hell-bent on threatening the unity, safety, security and socio-economic wellbeing of Nigerians.”

For those who can read between the lines, what Adamu may have done just amounted to putting the cart before the horse. Making a sweeping statement on a crime as huge as the twin attacks in Owerri without much of an investigative effort, and turning around in the same breath to appeal to citizens to help with information that will help identify the perpetrators of the same crime you have accused someone of.


Uzodinma’s Biased Comment
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma is believed by many Nigerians, especially in the South-East to have an axe to grind with IPOB. There is no doubt too that IPOB sees in the governor, an antagonist of some sort, especially since Uzodinma invited the military to chase ESN operatives out of the forests of Orlu area of the state.

So, it was understandable when the governor bought the hasty judgement of Mohammed Adamu by accusing IPOB/ESN of the attacks in Imo and indeed the entire South-East.

Speaking during the visit of Adamu to the attacked Imo Police Command headquarters, Uzodinma called on officers and men of the force to defend themselves against secessionist groups, with their service rifles.
The governor said, “If you can’t attack them, you can at least use your rifles to defend yourselves. Any attack on police formation is an insult to us as a government. It is also an attack on the integrity of the government. We must take charge, take control and ensure discipline.”



Uzodinma Speedy Recant
Just a day after asking operatives of the police to defend themselves against IPOB/ESN members, Governor Uzodinma recanted, saying IPOB had no hand in the attacks. He blamed the attack on ‘aggrieved politicians’

Speaking while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, the Imo Governor said “a group of aggrieved politicians” sponsored the attacks “to destabilise the government of APC”.


He said: “Their (tactics is that they try to identify grievances of people in a particular area. If it is in Imo State and probably there are some IPOB people who are not happy, they hire hoodlums from outside Imo State, they bring them in pretending to be IPOB and they commit these crimes and they go away.


“So, it is not about IPOB. Yes, we agree, we have aggrieved IPOB members but I can tell you those who are doing this destruction, most of them were brought in from outside Imo State.


“What is important for Nigerians to know is the plot by a group of aggrieved politicians to destabilise the government of APC.


“I have done some thorough investigation and I have some credible leads as to those who are sponsoring these activities of these hoodlums.

“I don’t want to pre-empt the investigations of other security agencies but I can tell you we are working hard to ensure the sponsors of these dastardly acts must be brought to book.”


From the above statement of Governor Uzodinma, the perpetrators of the attacks are politicians and their motive is to ‘destabilise the APC government’.

 The governor also said he has carried out ‘thorough investigation’ and has ‘credible lead’. What then is the governor and the security agencies waiting for? What stops them from using the leads to arrest these ‘aggrieved politicians’ and their foot soldiers so as to stop the ongoing carnage? The only reason is that Uzodinma’s statement may just be another hasty conclusion or a political statement that has no real substance in it.


Umahi’s Bandits Theory
David Umahi, the Ebonyi State Governor, is the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, thus he should be very concerned with what is currently playing out in the region. And of course, he has been speaking.

In one of his numerous efforts as providing an answer to the raging debates on who the perpetrators of the attacks in the South-East are, Umahi introduced another theory, banditry!
The Governor, while speaking on a Channels Television programme on Wednesday, said that bandits are responsible for the attacks and not ESN or IPOB.

He said: “Of late, we have bandits that are doing a lot of evil and say that they are Eastern Security Network. They commit a lot of crimes and say that they are IPOB and later IPOB will say they have no hand in it. This is what is going on. We will not allow illegality to thrive in our land. Conflict will not resolve conflict.


“A lot of people want to get to the top by all means and they hire bandits who go to burn police stations, kill people and they come out to say that they are IPOB, they are not IPOB, they are just criminals being hired by people.

“The truth remains that the country is going into extreme politics, it is easier to make money in politics, blackmail people and so, we have departed from the culture of hard work.”


Bandits? That’s the immediate question any Nigerian is bound to ask: have bandits extended their activities to the South-East? What kind of bandits? Igbo or Fulani? What is their grouse or motive behind banditry in the South-East? Questions keep popping up as Umahi keeps Nigerians hanging, without making the necessary clarifications. The confusion continues.


Senator Ogba’s 2023 Theory
Joining the fray to give an insight into the motive for the rising attacks on security agencies in the South-East, the Senator representing Ebonyi Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Obinna Ogba said it is linked with the clamour for the zone to produce the next Nigerian President come 2023.

According to him, it was the turn of the South-East to produce the next Nigerian President, warning that nobody should hide under insecurity to deny the zone of what rightfully belongs to it.


“It is the turn of the southeast to produce the next president, nobody is contesting that. No ethnic nationality should hide under the guise of insecurity to deny the region its right.

“Now all of a sudden because the idea of presidency coming to Igbo land has come from probability to possibility, people want to turn Igbo land into a terrorists’ ground.


“The Igbo are builders, not nation breakers. We are not violent people. So, we must find out the cause of the violent spree, kidnappings, and all other acts of criminality in the region.”

The Senator, who stated this at a press briefing shortly after he raised a motion at plenary on Thursday, seems to be convinced about the motive for the attacks but he also failed to clear the doubts of Nigerians as to the identity of the perpetrators. Who are the people trying to scuttle the chances of Igbo people in becoming president? How were they able to infiltrate the zone to carry out such coordinated and patterned attacks without detection? The confusion continues.


Senator Ogba’s theory of the 2023 presidency comes a day after the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor said enemies of the South-East are behind the attacks in the zone. Who the enemies are, he also failed to disclose.

IPOB’s Confession
The much vilified secessionist group, IPOB, in a recent statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful admitted that its ESN is an armed group, when he said the weapons they use are manufactured locally.

The group’s statement was a reaction to an allegation by the Department of State Services (DSS) that it was planning attacks on banks in the South-East to enable it purchase arms.


IPOB, in an effort to deny the allegation, said it does not need money to buy arms as their arms are manufactured locally.


Powerful said in the statement: “Our intelligence unit has uncovered a fabricated propaganda by the Department of State Services DSS, that Eastern Security Network, ESN is planning to attack banks in Biafraland to acquire money to purchase arms.

“DSS is propelling this wicked propaganda all in a bid to blackmail ESN and IPOB, and dent our global reputation.


“We, therefore, wish to debunk this falsehood and blatant lie from the pit of hell. IPOB and ESN are not criminals and we have no plans or agenda to touch any institution particularly banks.

“We are not looking for money to buy arms because we produce our arms locally and cannot attack or kidnap anybody for ransom.


“We don’t inflict pains on the people we are fighting for their freedom. DSS must stop this rubbish and engage their time on something more meaningful. This poor script cannot fly.”
The group, in the statement, also accused security agencies in the country of staging the various attacks in the region and blamed it just to give it a bad name and dent its reputation.


The admittance by IPOB that its operatives are armed, though with locally made weapons, comes after years of proclaiming itself as peaceful unarmed agitators. How the group wants to convince Nigerians that their operatives, who are now armed are not behind the spate of attacks on security agents it has always had running battles with, is left to the group to fashion out.


It will also be recalled that the attacks started and gained prominence shortly after the military, on the invitation of Governor Uzodinma of Imo State, bombarded ESN locations in the Orlu area of the state, chasing them out. How convinced are Nigerians that IPOB/ESN are not merely responding to the military onslaught on them? That’s another question begging for an answer.

Whatever the case maybe or whoever is behind the attacks, be it IPOB/ESN, ‘aggrieved politicians’, bandits, ‘enemies of the South-East’ or those who wants to scuttle the chances of an Igbo man to become President in 2023, government and the nation’s security agencies have a duty to identify them and bring them to book before it is too late.



This is because the current trend in the South-East bears a semblance with the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency, when security agents and their formations became subjects of attacks by the Islamist group before a crush on their activities drove them into hiding, resulting in an insurgency that has spanned more than a decade, killing several thousands and displacing millions.


The time to end the confusion, Nigerians reckon, is now, just before we have in our hands another monster, another insurgency and another killing group roaming the vast forests of the South-East.










Daily post

Banditry: Matawalle orders closure of strategic markets in Zamfara


 
on
 April 23, 2021




Following acts of terrorism against innocent people carrying out their legitimate businesses in Zamfara, the State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle has ordered for immediate closure of some markets in the State.

The markets include Magami Market in Gusau Local Government Area, Dansadau Market in Maru Local Government Area, Wake weekly market in Gusau, and Dauran Market in Zurmi Local Government Area.


In a press statement signed by the state commissioner for information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, the government disturbed by the senseless killings, maiming and general destruction of lives and property of the mostly farming communities had already condoled with the families of the victims of the dastardly act.


“The government, therefore, ordered the immediate stock-taking of the damages inflicted on the affected communities to provide the needed support and assistance for the families of the victims.


“Meanwhile, the State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was directed to as a matter of urgency, mobilise to the affected communities and provide immediate assistance to the families of the victims.

“The government also deemed it necessary to order for the immediate closure of the following markets beginning from today Thursday, April 22, 2021, until further notice.

“Security agencies are hereby directed to ensure strict compliance. They are also ordered to deal, ruthlessly, with anyone found violating law and order within and around the affected markets,” he stated.

I’m making more money as solo artiste- singer Peter Okoye







Peter Okoye of the now-defunct singing duo, PSquare, says he makes more money now as a solo artist than before. 
 
Peter who is now known as Mr. P, said this during a recent interview with HipTV. According to him, he no longer has to split his earnings three ways. He said he enjoys his freedom now.

Quote:“Hundred percent, I am. I don’t have to share three ways. Call it greed or selfishness. It’s your own cup of tea. I share with nobody. Yes, my management and my team. Fine. But I’m doing my own thing. I’m freer.


I’m making more money. Freedom is key. I can get a call that there’s a show next week and it’s my daughter’s birthday. I can say, ‘cancel it’. As a group, I couldn’t do that. Moneywise, if I used to share three ways, I share alone.


What am I doing music for? It’s about doing it how I feel it. It’s not even about the money. But when it comes to that, I make more than I was while in the group''he said

See The Havoc Caused By Rainstorm In Calabar Today (photos)

The rain came with heavy wind breezing like hurricane and everyone was very afraid. The rain must've affected every household in Calabar or at least majority of the compounds. I see carpenters making mad cash tomorrow. Some houses became swimming pool as water flooded people's apartment and mine was not spared.

Quote:There was a drama at the cargo area at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when one of the 250 cows flown into the country through the airport broke loose from its crate, leaving airport workers at the tarmac running for cover.

According to information gathered, the cows which were flown in from New Jersey, United States, by the Ekiti State government in crates on a chartered cargo special flight, were being offloaded at the Gate 3 between the Skypower Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) sheds when the incident occurred.

The bubble burst when one of the crates carrying the cows got damaged and the ground staff could not secure the cows after offloading which forced one of them to break loose and started chasing airport workers present on the tarmac.

The drama did not last for too long as those on ground were able to bring the cow under control.

The cows have successfully been loaded into waiting vehicles for their transportation to Ekiti State.

The cows were said to have been imported into the country by Ekiti State government in partnership with a private organisation for their Dairy Farm in Ikun.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/drama-as-cow-imported-from-us-breaks-loose-at-lagos-airport/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEDADTrpcic

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Quote:Nigerian Defense Minister Bashir Salihi Magashi said on Wednesday that the country will beef up security along its border with Chad, which is in the grip of a political crisis following the sudden death of its leader, Idriss Deby.

The border reinforcements are expected to deal with any potential influx of refugees from Chad, according to Magashi, with only Nigerians from the other side being allowed entry.

“There will be a lot of trouble for all neighboring countries if there is no security in Chad.” But, thankfully, we have a lot of ongoing military cooperation, which we expect to continue,” he said.

“We continue to be vigilant about our borders and developments in Chad,” he added.

Nigeria already has problems in the northeast, where it shares a border with Chad, where it is fighting an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more.

Magashi’s remarks come a day after his counterpart in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Geoffrey Onyeama, expressed Nigeria’s concern over the developments in Chad.

Deby died on the frontlines of a battle against rebels who had invaded from the north on Monday, and his son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, took over as president and commander of the armed forces. On Wednesday, Mahamat dissolved the government and parliament as rebel forces threatened to march on N’Djamena, the capital.

Chad has the best-trained and most battle-hardened troops in the Lake Chad Basin region, and any instability in the country would undermine efforts to combat the region’s Islamist militant group Boko Haram, as well as other Al-Qaeda-linked groups and the Islamic State.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-beefs-up-border-avoid-chadian-influx-defence-minister-2021-04-22/

Quote:State Set To Double Food Security, Reduce Inequality Gap Via Market-Centric Plan

… Governor Urges S’West States To Collaborate With Lagos

An audacious agricultural growth plan that will enhance food sufficiency in Lagos State has been unveiled by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The five-year food security road map will see a  sustained public and private sectors’ investment in agricultural value chains to give Lagos comparative advantages in the sector and enhance the State’s self-sufficiency in food production from the current 18 per cent up to 40 per cent over the next 60 months.

Sanwo-Olu on Thursday at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Intercontinental Hotels, Victoria Island, rolled out the agric road map which will be achieved through a three-pronged approach.

The adverse impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on food security in Lagos, the Governor said, necessitated an immediate action towards ensuring food security for residents of the State.

Lagos, the smallest State in Nigeria in terms of land size, relies on massive food importation and mutual collaboration on production with other States to ensure food sustenance for its 22 million population.

Sanwo-Olu said the State could no longer rely exclusively on production alliances with other States, stressing that it was time for Lagos to unlock its agricultural potential by implementing the five-year road map.

The plan, he said, will set players in agricultural sector on the path of wealth generation and value creation, thereby improving food security and industrialisation of agricultural sector, while also entrenching inclusive socio-economic growth.

He said: “At the inception of this administration, we identified food security as a major policy thrust and a key component of our T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. The five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Road Map has been designed in line with our agenda to reform, transform and maximise the potential of Lagos’ agricultural sector.

“The focus of the road map is the development of agricultural value chains where Lagos has competitive and comparative advantages to enhance self-sufficiency in food production from 18 per cent to 40 per cent over the next five years, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“To successfully implement the road map, we will take a cue from other economies that have achieved self-sufficiency in food production. We will also aim to put the private sector at the heart of our vision for food security in Lagos State, with government as enabler and catalyst.”
The strategies to achieve the plan, Sanwo-Olu said, will focus on leveraging technology to grow agric’s upstream sector through interventions capable of lowering the cost of production in identified value chains, including fisheries, poultry, piggery, rice, vegetables and coconut.
The Governor said there would be deliberate actions to grow the mid-stream and downstream sectors to enhance value chain in processing, handling, storage, cold chain, packaging, utilisation and commercialisation.

He said the State Government would link willing private sector players to business-friendly credit facilities and give incentives to improve private participation, while also formulating enabling policies to encourage return on investment.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The projection is that the total investment in the agricultural sector from the Government, private sector, donor agencies and development partners will run into over $10 billion in the next five years. While we expect most of the investment to be private sector-driven, government will continue to provide the needed infrastructure while the private sector will be encouraged to lead the key projects.

“We are revamping the Agricultural Land Holding Authority (ALHA) to drive investment into agriculture. We will strengthen the coconut belt with increased private sector involvement. The next five years will be productive, competitive and transformational as Lagos implements this road map, which will make the State to become the nation’s agricultural powerhouse. I invite you to join us to make history.”

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that Lagos had entered into a partnership agreement with two key States in the North Central for land availability, urging States in the Southwest to key into the objectives due to their proximity.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the development of the road map started with stakeholder’s engagements and workshops around addressing the needs of the agric ecosystem in the State, pointing out that the blueprint provided a market-centric context pertaining to each value chain in Lagos food ecosystem.

She said: “There is a great wealth to be mined from the oldest profession on earth (agriculture) if data-driven principles are applied and the right information is made available to the investors.

“I dream of a Lagos where wholesome food is available, where healthy people thrive, where re-organised food system reduces freight congestion, post-harvest losses and increases profits for value chain actors. A Lagos where agriculture will empower millions of people and drive up productivity.”

Chairman of Chapel Hill Denham Group, Mr. Wale Edun, who analysed the agricultural road map, described the initiative as “laudable”, saying the State Government deserved to be supported on the vision.

He said the rollout of the initiative was timely, given the festering insecurity in the some part of the country, which, he said, posed great risk to Lagos food market because of the attendant disruption in the supply chain.

Edun, a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos, however, urged the Government to limit the scope of its investment to infrastructure and environment. Private sector, he said, must be allowed to play a frontline role in implementation of the road map.

Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, said the programme would increase the contribution of agriculture to Lagos GDP from two to five per cent, adding the roadmap would close the gap of wealth inequality.

https://oyotoday.com/sanwo-olu-unveils-five-year-food-sufficiency-road-map-for-lagos/

Quote:Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has donated a two-bedroom bungalow and N2 million to the 2020 overall best graduating student of Lagos State University (LASU) Oladimeji Shotunde, an indigene of the state.
The governor made the announcement during a celebration of Ogun academic laureates 2021, held at the Obas Complex, Abeokuta, on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also gifted Mr Ademola Adeeko, of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, winner of 2020 African Union Continental Teacher’s Award, a two-bedroom bungalow.

The governor announced that the state government would also set up an education endowment fund for Miss Faith Odunsi of the Ambassadors College, Ota, in Ogun, winner of Global Open Mathematics Tournament.

He noted that the event was another symbolic confirmation of the status of the state, not only as the education capital of Nigeria, but as the intellectual melting-pot in Nigeria.

Abiodun said that education remained one of the biggest industries in the state and one of the proudest legacies bequeathed to it by her founding fathers, promising that the government would sustain the legacy.

“This is why immediately on assumption of office on May 29, 2019, we declared a state of emergency on education. It was a methodical and calculated approach to rescue the education sector from the dwindling fortunes inflicted on it by the indifference of the past.

“What could have happened to the education of the state that produced the likes of Prof. Wole Soyinka, the first Nigerian and African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature; Prof. Thomas Lambo, the first professor of Psychiatric Medicine in Nigeria?

He listed others produced by the state as Prof. Biyi Afonja, Professor of Statistics; Prof. Olikoye Ransome Kuti, the renowned Paediatrician; Emeritus Prof. Theophilus Ogunlesi, the first Professor of Medicine in Nigeria; Prof. Oyinade Olurin, the first female Professor of Medicine, Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, foremost Historian.

Abiodun said that the present administration focused on infrastructure development, human capital development, provision of conducive environment, among many others, to redeem the sector and restore the lost glory.

He assured the people that the state government would continue to put measures in place toward providing quality education necessary for the development of the state.

The governor charged teachers, as important stakeholders, to continue to discharge their professional duties creditably beyond the new demands of COVID-19.

He appealed to teachers to ensure that the children were adequately catered for physically, mentally and socially in preparation for future challenges.

NAN reports that Soyinka; Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB); and Prof. Anthony Asiwaju, Professor of History, joined the event virtually.

They commended the governor for recognising success, urging him to continue to take the state to greater heights.

NAN reports that the governor also honoured 25 others for academic excellence

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/abiodun-gives-best-2020-lasu-graduating-student-bungalow-n2m/j7pv8fs

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

Quote:NEC faults Obaseki, says N60bn not printed to shore up March allocation
Minister fixes May date, CBN explains technical challenges in further shift

Quote:

State governors on Thursday at the monthly meeting of the National Economic Council appealed to the Federal Government to postpone the repayment of the $2.1bn budget support facility to states which was scheduled to resume in May.


But the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, kicked against the appeal and enumerated the technical challenges involved should there be a further postponement of the deductions.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed these in a statement issued at the end of the council’s meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Akande said the Vice President thereafter directed that a meeting be held where the issue would be properly considered and a decision reached.

For long, Nigerian states have been depending on federal allocations as a result of low Internally Generated Revenues.
The situation had been made worse with crash in revenues realised from the nation’s major export – crude oil.
As a result, most states had resorted to borrowing with a recent report by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission indicating that the subnational governments had overstepped their limits.

The report said, “It can be deduced that all the 36 states and the FCT exceeded the Debt Management Office threshold of 50 per cent.
“Lagos State accounted for the highest Debt-to-Total Net Revenue as at the end of 2019, with 712.94 per cent. Osun State came second with 650.94 per cent Debt-to-Total Net Revenue. While Cross River and Ogun States were third and fourth with 597.36 per cent and 402.30 per cent respectively.”

The statement read, “On the budget support facility, finance minister observed that the deductions for repayment by states are meant to resume in May.
“The governors however requested for an extension considering the economic challenges in the states.

“The central bank governor explained the technical challenges involved should there be a further postponement of the deductions.
“The Vice President then directed that a meeting be held soon after today’s NEC where the issue would be properly considered and a decision reached.

“The VP will chair the meeting and the governors will be represented by Governor Kayode Fayemi, while the finance minister and the central bank governor both of whom attended the meeting today will also participate.”

Akande said the council also received a presentation on the current status of water, sanitation, and hygiene services level across the country as revealed by the 2019 WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping survey jointly carried out by the Ministry of Water Resources and National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with UNICEF.
He said the survey revealed among others that 28 out of 36 States plus FCT have urban water utilities out of which only 16 are functional and producing water for the people.

“The functional 16 state water agencies have a total number of 1,171 water works of which 41 per cent is operational,” he said.
He said the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, also made a presentation on National Aviation Infrastructure Development Plan.

The minister was qouted as listing his ministry’s key performance indicators to include concession of four international airports – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano; implement a plan for effective maintenance and optimal use of all airport facilities across the country; and ensure and facilitate the establishment of a national carrier among others.
Akande said the council resolved that the minister should make available copies of the presentations to states so that the council would have a fuller understanding.
He said the council also received presentation on progress report on rail development from the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

He qouted the minister as listing the key challenges to include inadequate funding, operational challenges, security and legal issues.
Akande added that the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zaynab Ahmed, gave the update to council on the different accounts as of April 22 as Excess Crude Account – $72.41m; Stabilisation Account – N23. 3bn; and Natural Resources Development Account -N77.74bn.

NEC faults Obaseki, says no N60bn was printed
The council also said there was no truth in the allegation that the CBN printed N60bn to augment March’s federal allocation.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, had made the allegation which had since been denied by the CBN; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and the Progresives Governors Forum among others.
Rising from its monthly meeting on Thursday, NEC which has all state governors and relevant ministers as members, claimed that the allegation was false.

The council’s resolution was made public in a statement by the Senior Special Assitant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, titled ‘OVP Flash: No money was printed to shore up March allocation, NEC affirms’.

The statement read, “Having received presentations from the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank Governor, and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the National Economic Council has affirmed that there was no printing of N60bn or any other amount whatsoever to shore up allocation for the month of March as wrongly insinuated recently in the press.

“The governors, having critically reviewed the matter, took the position today (Thursday) at the meeting of NEC chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“Today’s meeting attended by many of the state governors, FCT minister and the Central Bank Governor also had in attendance the finance, transport, information, aviation and water resources ministers.

“The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning also attended.
“The council expressed satisfaction with clarifications made by the NGF represented by its chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, finance minister, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, and the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, on the alleged printing of N60bn by the Federal Government.”

Akande added that both the
minister and the CBN governor stated to the council that the allegation of printing of money to augment allocation was outright false.
According to him, the NGF also supported the conclusion and NEC affirmed same as the highest constitutional body tasked with economic affairs in the country.

The presidential aide on the resolution of security concerns in parts of the country, said the council unanimously affirmed the unity of Nigeria and adding that it would adopt the report of the national town hall meeting on national unity and security held recently in Kaduna.
He said, “The council, while welcoming the outcome of the town hall meeting, urged all states to hold wider consultations across the country and report back to NEC the outcome of the meetings.”

After this, a national consensus would be reached on the recommendations which included the adoption of state police among other matters, he added.