Blog

Democracy

By Mohammed Mamman

Damaturu, Sept.8, 2018 (NAN) The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe has described the state branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a leading model in party supremacy and discipline in Nigeria’s democracy.

Alhaji Umar Kukuri, IPAC state Chairman stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Damaturu.

Kukuri is also the state Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP).

He said the unanimous outcome of the party enlarged stakeholders meeting, mandating Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam to nominate a candidate for the party, “exhibits, unity, loyalty and discipline in the party. “

“The united position taken by stakeholders to determine the party’s governorship candidate was a demonstration of unity, discipline and loyalty.

“As the umbrella body of political parties in the state, we have been following developments in the party and the peaceful stakeholders meeting that took a unanimous position on the emergence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

“As democrats, we salute the party supporters for the peaceful meeting and the acceptance of the Governor’s endorsement of Alhaji Maimala Buni as the party’s candidate for the 2019 governorship election,” he said.

According to the chairman, APC supporters in the state invest their trust in Gaidam to select a successor to continue with the massive developmental strides of the outgoing administration.

“The party members mandated him to select a successor for them, because his tenure was fruitful with many achievements recorded in health care, road network, agriculture, education.”

He commended Gaidam for justifying the trust of the stakeholders by endorsing a credible and acceptable person to succeed him.

According to him, the celebrations that greet the announcement of Buni as the governor’s choice indicate his acceptance among party members.

Kukuri described Buni as a grassroots politician who rose to occupy the position of National Secretary of the ruling APC.

“This is a challenge to other political parties to ensure that they field credible and competent candidates for all public offices in the state.

“IPAC will continue to encourage political parties to enhance productivity, loyalty, discipline, internal democracy, free and fair elections for the development of Nigeria’s democracy” Kukuri said. (NAN)

MM/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Insurgents

By Doris Esa

Abuja,Sept.8, 2018(NAN) The Nigerian Air Force says the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has successfully destroyed some Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) facilities and equipment at Alafa Yagayaga in Sambisa forest.

According to the Air force,  ATF has also destroyed a suspected BHT ammunition depot in Kusuma on the fringes of Lake Chad, Borno.

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that the air strikes was in continuation of OPERATION THUNDER STRIKE 2 which commenced on Sept.3.

“The air strikes against BHTs at Alafa Yagayaga were targeted at structures within the settlement identified via previous Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions to be rendezvous (RV) points for the insurgents.

“Consequently, a combination of NAF fighter aircraft and helicopter gunships were detailed to carry out air interdiction on the locations while the NAF ISR aircraft conducted Battle Damage Assessment (BDA).

“The attack platforms acquired the targets and took turns to attack the location, destroying the structures and killing most of the BHTs in the process.

“The few surviving BHTs, seen fleeing the area, were strafed and neutralised by the helicopter gunships,” he said.

Daramola said that the attack at Kusuma was initiated, following credible intelligence indicating the presence of a BHT logistics/ammunition depot within the settlement.

“Accordingly, the ATF detailed a fighter aircraft to attack the insurgents’ position while the NAF ISR aircraft conducted BDA.”

He explained that at end of the attacks, the BDA revealed a direct hit on the ammunition depot which was engulfed in fire.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information added some other adjoining BHT structures were also destroyed and the occupying terrorists neutralised. (NAN)

ORD/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Buhari

 By Douglas Okoro

Abakaliki, Sept. 8, 2018 (NAN) A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, Chief Egwu Chima said that President Muhammadu Buhari had done well in the delivery of his electoral promises to deserve a second term.

Chima, a former Commissioner of Information in Ebonyi, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abakaliki.

He said that the outstanding performance of the President in his first term had brought a lot of attraction to the office of the presidency of the country as attested by the number of presidential aspirants jostling to take over from him.

Chima said that Buhari had restored and repositioned the country’s battered international image, making Nigeria a hub for genuine international investors.

The party chieftain said that though there were still some challenges in the country, Buhari had performed remarkably and had acquitted himself well as president of the country.

Chima, who is also a member of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), said those who said Buhari had not done well were either playing politics or refused to check the facts.

According to him, the president has achieved a lot in the areas on which he anchored his campaign promises, despite the herculean problems he met on ground.

“President Buhari has done well based on the facts available and not sentiments.

“He has done well in the delivery of his campaign promises despite the big problems he met on ground, especially in the fight against financial corruption, insurgency, and creating job among others.

“He has made the office of the presidency more attractive than any other president before him.

“The multiplicity of presidential aspirants, especially from the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), jostling to take over from Buhari is a testimony of one fact; thatt Buhari has made the office more attractive.

“Others who had ruled this country before dwelt on fear, trepidation, not identifying real issues and had played to the gallery.

“But he came and tackled what others feared to tackle and confronted those issues posing national disgrace and embarrassment head long without fear or favour.

“It is the excellent work that he is doing that he is now stepping on toes of those stealing from the country because so many of his policies are touching on the reach.

“He has steered the country back to economic growth after the global economic recession while some other countries are still wriggling under recession caused by crash in commodity prices.

“The country is out and is even doing well in the area of economic diversification,” Chima said.

He said that the credibility problem of the other aspirants from the opposition parties had made Buhari almost a ‘sole’ candidate in the 2019 presidential election.

“Buhari’s popularity has continued to soar with support base from every nook and cranny of the country.

 “With the ‘integrity’ problem of most of the major aspirants from the opposition parties, Buhari will run almost as a sole candidate in the presidential election.

“Nigerians will massively vote to re-elect him for the second term in office in 2019.”

 Chima, one of the founding fathers of Ebonyi, said the opposition were only seeing Buhari’s performance based on their perspectives which did not reflect the facts on ground. (NAN)

ODO/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Endorsement
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) Yobe Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, on Friday endorsed Alhaji Maimala Buni, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governorship candidate for 2019 election in the state.

The Secretary of APC in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Bakabe, confirmed the governor’s endorsement to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Damaturu, saying that the governor has officially submitted the name of Buni as the consensus candidate of the party.

NAN reports that stakeholders of the party on Thursday mandated the governor to use his discretion to pick a competent successor as the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming election.

APC supporters in Damaturu, have pledged their support for  Buni as the most suitable candidate to contest the governorship election on APC’s platform in 2019.

An APC stalwart, Alhaji Usman Bukar told NAN that Gov. Gaidam had done the right thing for party by selecting a competent person to succeed him in 2019.

Another stalwart, Alhaji Modu Kawu, said:“We are satisfied with the selection of Maimala as the party’s preferred candidate because of his statesmanship and commitment to the progress of the people of the state.” (NAN)
MM/OSA
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Edited by Shittu Obassa

Road

By Kazeem Akande

Lagos, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Friday pledged its support to the leadership of Alhaji Musa Isiwele, as the the National President of the association.

Alhaji Musa Muhammed, the State Chairman of the association, told newsmen in Lagos that this was part of the association’s resolutions on the leadership crisis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports a faction of the association had on Wednesday announced the removal of the national president over alleged infractions, including violation of the union’s constitution

Muhammed said, “The National Executive Council (NEC) of our association under the leadership of Alhaji Musa Isiwele remains intact, having been elected for five years term starting from April 2018.”

According to him, Lagos State chapter of the association has resolved to stay clear of the illegal actions being taken by the former National Secretary-General, Mr Eriyo Osapamwan.

“The entire RTEAN Lagos State chapter passes vote of confidence in the leadership of the current national executive under the leadership of Alhaji Musa Isiwele.

“All members of the association in Lagos State have resolved that no caretaker committee will be honoured or allowed to destabilise the association in the state.

“The association promises its unflinching support to the Lagos State Government and all security agents to maintain utmost peace in the state,” Muhammed said.

He said that the association condemned the said leadership change through acts of banditry and militancy, and “we totally reject such action”.

The chairman said that the purported expulsion, dissolution and pronouncements through the said action was ” illegal, null and avoid and of no effects”.

Muhammed said that the process of expulsion in the association was a constitutional process and must be followed before any member could be declared expelled.

The chairman said that the allegation of fraud and corruption levelled against the national president has not been established by any committee of investigation.

“The purported acting president has been dismissed from the association from since 2017 and he has no constitutional right to call or organise any meeting.

“The national president and other national executive members were attending official meeting with the Bank of Industry in Lagos the day the purported illegal expulsion took place.

“So, the illegal act should be disregarded by members of the general public and security agents,” he said. (NAN)

AKA/GOK

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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

2019: Lagos AD picks Salis as governorship candidate

Primaries

Lagos, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) Chief Owolabi Salis has emerged the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) for the 2019 elections in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Salis emerged by
consensus through a voice vote at the party’s primaries in Lagos on Friday .

Salis, a Chartered Accountant, had in 2003 and 2007 aspired for governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

NAN reports that candidates for seats of the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate also emerged through consensus at the party’s primaries.

The process of selecting the candidates by the party’s delegates was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by Mr Ugwuegbu Titus.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Mr Kola Ajayi, commended members for their orderly conduct.

He said that the peaceful primaries showed AD was a true democratic party.

Ajayi praised the sportsmanship displayed by all members, especially those who sacrificed their ambitions for consensus candidates to emerge.

He urged members to continue to show loyalty and dedication to the party, as that was needed to realise its goals in the state.

“I commend you all for the way you have conducted yourselves so far, and I commend the sacrifice made by some of our candidates who had to give way for others to emerge.

“This is an important step for our party to provide an alternative to the present government in the state.

“To provide the kind of leadership that would take care of the needs of the people and take the state to the next level.

“I want you all to do your best to ensure that the AD wins in the election so that we can provide the impactful governance that will uplift the generality of the masses,” he said.

Ajayi said the AD had formed an alliance — Star Alliance — with some parties in the state.

He said the alliance was putting everything in place to present a credible consensus candidate to defeat the All Progressives Congress in the state.

The chairman described Salis as a distinguished indigene of Lagos who had the credentials to move the state forward.

Speaking, Salis thanked delegates for electing him as the party’s governorship candidate.

He said the election reflected the confidence they had in him.

The candidate said he had taken the challenge to contest in order to provide better leadership in the state.

He urged residents to believe and trust in his aspiration to make the state better.(NAN)
BHB/SOA

==≠====≠=

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Council lacks power to suspend union activities in institution– ASUP

Suspension
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union Polytechnics (ASUP) says the governing council of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki in Oyo State lacks the power to suspend activities of the union in the institution.

This is contained in a statement signed by its Zonal Coordinator, Mr Olawale Omobaorun, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Friday.

Recall that the governing council of the institution had in a communique issued on Thursday in Ibadan, suspended the activities of ASUP in the institution.

The council also directed the striking academic staff of the institution to resume work on Monday, Sept. 10 or risk losing their jobs.

The ASUP, however, said the council lacks the right or permission to cancel the registration of the union as issued in their communique on Thursday.

“Our attention has been drawn to the purported suspension of activities of our great union at The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, by the governing Council of the Institution on the ground of their legitimate agitation.

“Our agitation is for better conditions of service for our members, especially the demand for regular payment of 100% salary and payment of backlog of arrears of 11 months.

“With the greatest of respect to the Council, may we state categorically and unequivocally that the council lacks the right or power to cancel the registration of our great union by suspension at the Institution,” it said.

The Union stated that the fundamental reason was that ASUP was duly registered pursuant to the trade unions Act.

It said that existence of the union is not at the behest, command, order, permission or benevolence of any council or management.

The union said it relied solely on the statute and Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria under which it is duly registered.

“We hold that the decision of the Council to suspend the activities of the union in the Institution is unconstitutional and illegal.

“The right of association under section 40 of the constitution, including the right of unionism, can only be taken away only in the ways recognised by the same constitution.

“We therefore reject the purported suspension of the activities of Academic Staff Union (ASUP) in The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki.

“We hope for good understanding and cooperation of the Governing Council and Management of the institution in the interest of better industrial harmony,” ASUP said.

Recall that activities of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics ( SSANIP ) and Non- Academic Staff Union ( NASU ) both of Ibarapa Polytechnic in Eruwa in the state had also been suspended by their governing council.

The two unions had in a letter written through their lawyer, Mr Femi Aborisade, to the governing council, also declared the suspension as illegal and unconstitutional.(NAN)

TAA/SOA
=========

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Appointment

By Usman Aliyu

Ilorin, Sept 7, 2018 (NAN) Kwara Government on Friday approved the appointment of Mr Abdulraheem Adeoti as the new Olomu of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

Dr Habeebat Katibi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development announced the appointment in a statement signed in Ilorin.

He congratulated the people of Omu-Aran and Irepodun Local Government Area and prayed that the reign of the Oba would usher in peace, progress and development in the land.

“His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State has approved the appointment of a new Olomu of Omu-Aran in person of Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti,“ he said.

He said the appointment of Adeoti followed due process.

The Permanent Secretary said Alhaji Saidu Habeeb, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development had presented letter of appointment to the new monarch on Friday in Ilorin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeoti, until his appointment, was the Executive Secretary of Kwara State Town Planning and Development Authority.

NAN also reports that the late Oba Charles Ibitoye joined his ancestors on Dec. 2, 2017 at 65, following a brief illness. (NAN)

AUO/JTJ/DUA

Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Dada Ahmed

By Ella Anokam
Housing
Abuja, Sept. 7, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) said it would invest N9 billion in the ongoing construction of its Abuja Mass Housing Project of 550 units of houses, located in Zuba, Abuja.

Prof. Mohammed Al-Amin, Managing Director of FHA, made this known on Friday while fielding questions from journalists after an inspection of the Zuba pilot scheme construction site, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inspection on the 50 per cent completed estate was conducted by the FHA Board of Directors, led by the Chairman, Sen. Lawal Shuaibu.

Al-Amin said that for government to encourage affordable houses and off-taking at its completion, none of the houses would be sold above N5 million.

He also said that if interested off-takers would go through government mortgaging system, especially the FHA mortgaging, they would not pay for the housing equity.

“Initially, if you are paying for a house through mortgage system in the country, you will pay 30 per cent equity but government has wiped away the equity to zero equity for houses below N5 million.

“The project started three and half months ago, it is a mixture of one, two and three bedroom flats and a total of 550 units are to be produced and every side is at different stage of construction.

“We are expecting to invest N9 billion in the project.

“We have the money in our account, government has approved and given out the money and we are releasing it according to the details of public procurement act.

“This is not the only place in Abuja that we are doing this, we have opened Kwali, in the next two weeks, and we are opening phase two of Lugbe housing estate for low income earners in Abuja.

He said that another aspect of the project was that the FHA had to know the level of income of off-takers, with a view to ascertain the kind of flat their income could enable them to obtain.

He further said that the authority decided to use affordable building materials to give the houses value and utility deserved.

According to him, locally produced materials are also being used in the housing construction.

Al-Amin noted that the sustainability of the mass housing scheme was very important, adding that in order for off-takers to access the houses, the authority had gone far to mobilise the off-takers.

“For Zuba social housing scheme, we are targeting communities around that area and spare parts dealers and other Nigerians who cannot stay in the heart of Abuja but stay in Zuba.

“Those are the people we have profiled.

“We have FHA mortgage bank which is willing to create mortgages for them, the demand for that estate is high.

Speaking on the poor state of the access road, he said that the estate had a direct road from Lokoja express way.

He added that FHA had awarded the contract for road infrastructure but asked the contractor to stop because of the raining season.

Al-Amin further explained that the Zuba project was meant to be a pilot project of “President Muhammadu Buhari Bricks“ which essentially entailed having houses for all categories of Nigerians.

NAN reports that the board members also inspected the FHA first phase of commercial housing estate which include luxury houses and duplexes in Apo, Guzape District, and Abuja.

According to him, the commercial housing estate which is 90 per cent completed is meant for higher income earners in Abuja.

Al-Amin noted that the authority had two types of housing productions: commercial and social housing in Abuja while in the remaining parts of the country it had commercial houses in each state capital.

He added that in other locations in states, the authority had social housing which could be let out as site and services.

“We want to ensure that every sector of the country is covered and every Nigerian, irrespective of status, has option to take.

This is  based on the United Nations New Urban Agenda which emphasises housing inclusiveness. (NAN)
ELLA/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed

Flooding

By Lizzy Okoji

Abuja, Sept.7, 2018 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hydrological Services Agencies (NHISA) have warned that 12 states across the country would soon experience flooding due to torrential rain falls.

The two agencies gave the warning on Friday during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held with relevant stakeholders in Abuja.

Mr Clem Nze, Director, Engineering Hydrology, NHISA, listed the states to include: Kogi, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Edo, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, from the River Niger axis.

He also listed Taraba, Benue and Adamawa as states to be affected from the River Benue axis.

The expert also warned that the flood might be eminent, noting that all the indices that played out before the 2012 flooding had already manifested.

He said that the decision to raise the alarm was to ensure preparedness among stakeholders and residents of flood-prone communities.

Nze revealed that as at Friday, the height of River Niger in Lokoja was at 10.1 meters as against the 9.74 meters in 2012, adding that the continued to rise on hourly basis.

The director said that that the water levels were increasing due to the opening of the Shiroro, Kanji and Jebba Dams.

“As at today, our hydro-logical measuring station downstream the confluence in Lokoja recorded a stage height of 10.1m and a discharge value of 21, 326 cubic metre per second.

“As against lower values of 9. 74m and 19,762 cubic meters per second recorded on the corresponding date of 2012 when the flood occurred.

“From the foregoing, it could be said that all the indices that caused the 2012 river flooding have manifested, except spillage of water from the Lagdo Dam,“ he said.

“It would be noted that it was on Sept. 29, 2012 that the maximum flood level of 12 .840m and the corresponding discharge of 31,692 cubic meters per second were recorded at our station in Lokoja, downstream the confluence.

“By the 2018 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction released earlier in the year, Sept. 28 is the earliest cessation date of rainfall in Sokoto and Katsina while December is the earliest cessation date for the southern coastal cities.

“The implication of this is that, the northern part of the country should be expecting more rains in the next three weeks.’’

Earlier, Mr Mustapha Maihaja, Director-General, NEMA said that the emergency meeting was called following the update on the flood situation received from NHISA and described the development as alarming and urgent.

He said that the meeting would also review the situation with a view to classifying the possible dangers, assess preparedness at individual and collective levels.

Maihaja said that this was to ensure that every relevant agency was ready for any eventuality, if the water level keeps increasing.

“This is a serious meeting; we must put heads together to first classify the situation, whether it is still yellow or red.

“If it is red, surely we should act and part of the acting is the suggestion to set up a committee of five groups of three personnel from various sector to visit the front line states.

“It is for them to meet with the officials, go down to the villages that are really critically under threat and use all avenues to enlighten them.

“To invigorate our enlightenment campaign electronically and physically to ensure that everybody is well informed as required by the law.

“ Secondly, we access our preparedness, informing our stakeholders so that wherever there is any equipment that is required, it is ready for deployment, should anything happens,’’ Maihaja said.

He called on state governments to provide alternative accommodation for those in the flood affected areas so that they do not camp in schools, especially as the schools are now in session.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Ministries of Environment, Water Resources, Education, Health and Agriculture attended the meeting.

Other stakeholders present include representatives from the Defence Headquarters, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), relevant UN agencies and other international organisations.

The stakeholders affirmed their preparedness to swing into action in the case of any flood disaster in any part of the country. (NAN)

LIZ/JTJ/DUA

Edited by Julius Toba Jegede/Dada Ahmed