FRSC officials trying to retrieve the remains of the okada rider
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was a black Wednesday as trailer rammed into a motorcycle on the Kara Bridge killing at least one and leaving several others injured.
The trailer is reported to have hit the motorcycle conveying a woman and her baby, killing the baby and injuring the mother in the process.The trailer thereafter plunged into the river with the head hanging on the covets.
Eyewitnesses said the accident was caused by loss of control by the driver of the trailer.The driver, his conductor and a passenger is believed to have plunged into the river alongside the head of the trailer.
Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) official confirmed that the dead and injured have been taken away from the scene of the accident.They are also working to ensure the free flow of traffic in the area of the accident.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] 12 months outdated sexually abused home assist, fleeing residence along with his grasp’s two sons and intercepted in Mile 2 space of Lagos by officers of the Speedy Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, has disclosed that her grasp, 36, raped her 5 instances in lower than seven months she stayed in his home.
The lady, whose identity was given as Benita, a major faculty leaver from Imo State was intercepted at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday at Mile 2, after alighting from a business bus from Olodi Apapa attempting to board one other bus to Maza Maza.
The Speedy Response Squad officers on sighting her with two youngsters, age between 6 and four years invited her for questioning. The lady disclosed to the officers that she was heading to Maza Maza to board an evening bus to Imo State. Puzzled, the officers dug deeper.
It was at this level she disclosed to the officers that her Uncle who introduced her to Lagos to proceed her schooling, whereas she assists his spouse domestically had carnal information of her 5 instances.
The suspect, Chigozie Osuocha, of 83, Muibi Avenue, Olodi – Apapa, was lured to RRS Headquarter in Alausa, Ikeja by means of his phone quantity supplied by his 6 – 12 months outdated boy.
Benita acknowledged that any time her Uncle, Chidozie, wish to lay along with her, he would come residence early, lock his three youngsters out of his one-room self-contained condominium and sleep along with her.
She added that though she was not comfy with residing in his home, stressing that each one the issues his Uncle promised her dad and mom earlier than residing the village and people who he promised her earlier than sleeping along with her are but to be fulfilled.
She additional revealed that she needed to inform his Uncle’s 6 12 months outdated son who requested her what his father did to her every time he locked his three youngsters out of the condominium.
‘I confessed to the boy what was taking place. The boy instructed his mom. His spouse confronted me and I confirmed all that her husband had achieved to me. She threatened to pack out. However, they resolved it after he promised it won’t occurred once more.
I’ve been staying along with his three youngsters at residence whereas they go about their companies. He has refused to enroll me in class since July 2017’, she defined.
She added, ‘I equally reported all that Uncle did to me to his brother in Lagos. His brother had knowledgeable their father within the village about it’.
‘I took his two sons with me whereas I left the final baby at the residence. They noticed me packing my issues out of the home, the kids requested me the place I used to be going and I instructed them I used to be returning to the village.
They began crying they had been going to observe me. I took them together with me after stealing the N60,00zero he mentioned I ought to give his spouse’, she mentioned.
‘We obtained down to Mile 2. I didn’t know these law enforcement officials had been monitoring me. Considered one of them crossed the categorical and requested me some questions in regards to the youngsters with me.
To some extent, I instructed him I used to be operating away to the village as a result of my Uncle was sleeping with me’, she acknowledged.
When confronted with the allegation given by Benita, the suspect confessed that he was lured by the satan including that he had slept along with her solely 5 instances.
He defined that he sought the lady’s dad or mum permission within the village to deliver her to Lagos to proceed her schooling whereas additionally aiding his spouse with home chores.
He acknowledged additional that ‘I introduced her to Lagos in July 2017. I began sleeping along with her in December 2017, I slept along with her thrice in December.
My spouse obtained to know of my sleeping along with her and he or she threatened to maneuver out of the home with my three youngsters. I begged her and we resolved the problem.
I got here residence yesterday and I gave her N60,00zero to assist me to give my spouse. It was this cash she carried and he or she wished to journey with to the village with together with my two boys’, he acknowledged.
Commenting on the event, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti confirmed the incident stressing that the lady had been transferred instantly to the Household Assist Unit of the Command.
Dr Alex Ekwueme former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National President of Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network(GNPN) Dr Dan Awana, expressed shock about Ekwueme’s death lamenting that it was a sad loss for the nation. Dr Awana noted that the deceased was a great gentleman and statesman who should be emulated by politicians in the country. In his tribute, human rights activist,Dr Dan Awana, described Ekwueme’s death as an “Iroko” tree that has fallen”,, adding that the deceased was one of the few remaining titans of democracy and good governance. “It’s an irreparable loss, not just to Ndigbo and Nigeria but to the entire democratic world. May his great soul rest in perfect peace, Amen!”
Another member of Grassroots Newspaper Publishers Network, Chief D.O.D Okirka, stated “ his voice on political issues in this country was always a voice of wisdom. The political space has undoubtedly lost a valuable player.” A renown Publisher, said: “Ekwueme was so sparkling in political respects that no politician worth his salt or onion yearning for political ascendency failed to crave his immeasurable guidance and direction, as a consummate political engineer and bridge builder, which he willingly and graciously gave in no small measure. “He also clearly show-cased these attributes by serving as an arrow-head in the creation of the present six-zone political structure in Nigeria, for purposes of achieving much needed national peace.
He described the demise of the former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme as a huge loss to Ndi Anambra, Ndi Igbo and Nigeria in General Reacting to the news of the death of Dr Alex Ekwueme, Chief D.o.D Okirka said that he was yet to come to terms with the reality of Dr Ekwueme’s death as it was hard to contemplate the void that his passage has created for Ndi Igbo at this point in time. “A great iroko has fallen. Ndi Igbo and Nigeria has lost a great statesman. We have lost a great son, a father and a bridge builder. “I and the Grassroots Publishers wish to express our deepest condolences to the Ekwueme family and the people of Oko and to Ndi Anambra in general. I pray that God Almighty will give us the fortitude to bear this grave loss. May His Soul Rest in the bosom of the Lord, Amen.” Also reacting, the The Financial Secretary of GNPN,Maduike Ifeoma, she described Ekwueme’s death as a devastating blow not only to Ndi Anambra but also Ndi Igbo and Nigeria in general. She recalled that as a Vice-President, Ekwueme played exemplary and very challenging politics, which according to her, distinguished him from pedestrian politicians, adding that on the religious angle, the intellectual, moral and economic qualities with which he used to serve God and humanity was so inexplicable that it would be very difficult to get another Alex Ekwueme in Nigerian social and political life.
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] political group; “YOUTHS-4-ESEWEZIE 2019’’ has appealed to leaders and stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to support the candidacy of Hon. Innocent Esewezie in the 2019 Delta State House of Assembly elections. The group made the appeal during a press conference by its Coordinator, Comrade Sab Emeka Okonkwo on monday in Asaba .
“YOUTHS-4-ESEWEZIE 2019’’, is a political movement and platform built by Oshimili North Youths to mobilise support for the candidacy of Hon. Innocent Esewezie as our legislator to represent Oshimili North come 2019. Its main objective is to drum up support for Hon. Innocent Esewezie, to be chosen as the standard bearer of the PDP, and for his subsequent victory at the polls in the general elections.
Okonkwo also urged PDP leaders and good people of Oshimili North to ensure that Hon. Esewezie emerged as the PDP flag bearer in the 2019 Delta State House of Assembly election.“We wish to appeal to PDP leaders, present and past party leaders, stakeholders and members of the party, and indeed all well-meaning Oshimili North people, to support the candidacy of Hon. Esewezie.
“They should ensure that he emerges as the Standard Bearer of the PDP for the 2019 Delta State House of Assembly election,’’ Okonkwo said.He also called on the,both at home and in the diaspora, to put away sentiments, support and vote for Hon. Esewezie and the PDP in 2019.
Okonkwo said that Hon. Esewezie has served as a Councilor, Transition Chairman of Oshimili North L.G.A and has equally served in different capacities as Senior Adviser (SA), Personal Assistance (PA) and currently he is holding three appointments in the Gov. Okowa’s administration, presently he is the Delta North representative in Directorate of Orientation since 2015 till date, Coordinator of Oshimili North Laison Officers (2017), Director-General, State Community Youths Association (2017 till date). Hon. Esewezie had the requisite experience to represent us at the Delta State House of Assembly come 2019.
“We have looked at the profiles of those presently aspiring to contest for 2019 Delta State House of Assembly election on the platform of PDP in Oshimili North.“We have identified Hon. Esewezie as the only one with the character and content, political will and capacity required to bring the needed transformation that Oshimili North are yearning for.’’
He described Hon. Esewezie as a grassroots leader and a uniting figure, a good bridge builder who bridges the gap between young and old. Hon. Innocent Esewezie is a quintessential leader and gentleman.
According to him, Hon. Esewezie relates equitably with Oshimili North in business and in politics without greed or sentiment.“He is an astute politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who is perhaps the most visible through his promotion of Youths empowerment in Delta State.’’ On the recent killings of innocent Nigerians in Benue and other parts of the country, Okonkwo condemned the act.
Okonkwo also expressed concern about epileptic power supply amid high tariffs, the increasing rates of kidnappings, violent crimes and cultism in Oshimili North.“The undue and unwarranted sufferings that Nigerians are presently subjected to due to scarcity of petroleum products, to mention a few, all of these are becoming unbearable for the average Nigerian.
[dropcap] T[/dropcap]he marginlisation of the people Ndokwa and Ukwuani nation for years by the federal and Delta state governments will soon be a thing of the past,because the Ndokwa People will soon begin to feel the unprecedented presence of the federal government of Nigeria in their territory. But their lamentation will soon become a thing of the past and forgotten forever. This is coming on the heels of a bill sponsored by our distinguished senator representing Delta north in the national assembly, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.
Senator Nwaoboshi has deemed it fit to sponsor a bill to establish a federal government polytechnic in Kwale, the administrative headquarters of Ndokwa west local government area of Delta state. The bill which was presented on the floor of the Nigerian senate, reports revealed, has passed through first reading on the floor of the house. It was presented on Thursday, January 25, 2018 by senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta north in the National Assembly.
When bill is passed into law, it will be a major breakthrough for the people of Kwale considering the fact that the region lacks the presence of any federal government tertiary institution and had continued to be one of their biggest heart cry over the years. we all know that Senator Nwaoboshi is a goal getter and one of the few shakers in the senate. He is all determined to get the best for the people of Delta north.
Delta North are deeply optimistic that this bill will come into fruition considering the fact that distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, an avowed lover of his people and region will do everything within his powers to bring this massive development home. “On this note, distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi is assuring the people of Delta North of his resolve to continue bringing the dividends of democracy to them. That is his vow and he holds it dearly to his heart.”
He commended the presentation of the bill, noting that it was another manifestation of Senator Nwaoboshi’s quality representation of the people of Delta North in the senate, adding that the bill when finally passed into law, would go a long way in uplifting the standard of education in Delta North.
This is one of the numerous achievements of the senator since he began his representation of the people in the national assembly in June 2015.
Nwaoboshi, who became a senator in 2015 has spent two and a half years in the national assembly. For the period under review, Nwaoboshi has made impact both on the floor of the house and in the lives of his constituents.
In the hallowed chambers, Nwaoboshi has championed bills and moved motions. Among some of the bills sponsored and motions moved include a bill for an act to amend the public officers protection act which has passed second reading in the house.
There are many other bills he has sponsored in the house, which are for the good and protection of the of the Nigerian people. He has also empowered his consituents running through the entire nine council areas in the Delta north.
On September 26, 2017 Nwaoboshi added smile to the faces of people living with disability when he empowered 40 of them with cash. The beneficiaries drawn from the nine local government areas of Delta North were fed and given N25,000 each to help enhance their living conditions. The occasion was held at the senator’s residence in Asaba.
On November 1, 2017, Senator Nwaoboshi empowered 784 persons aimed at boosting micro-credit business and cutting down the effect of recession in Delta North senatorial district. The 784 beneficiaries, who each received N50, 000 totaling N39.2 million, were selected from the nine Local Government Areas that make up the district. Eight beneficiaries were randomly selected per ward from the 98 wards to make up 784 beneficiaries.
He has influenced some NDDC road projects to his constituency. Some of the areas where the roads are constructed include Kwale, Ogwashi Uku, Ibusa, Okpanam, Ebu and Asaba, the capital city of Delta state.
Senator Nwaoboshi donated two ambulances to two general hospitals in the zone. The general hospitals in Agbor and Ibusa. In his 2016 December mega empowerment, the senator gave out 98 motorcycles to rural dwellers, 98 sewing machines, 98 disabled wheel chairs, 98 grinding machines, 9 oil milling machines, 9 tricycles, cash for traders and market women.
He influenced the siting of three skills acquisition centres in Ibusa, Agbor and Kwale. Nwaoboshi fought and got the people of Ndokwa nation into the amnesty programme which over 300 beneficiaries are being trained at Ubulu-uku, Aniocha south local government area of Delta state.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he World Customs Organization (WCO) has conferred a prestigious Award to Tincan Island Port Command in this year’s International Customs Day (ICD) with the theme “ TO SECURE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT”. Making the presentation on behalf of the WCO Secretary General KUNIO MIKURIYA, the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), had informed the audience that the International Customs Day celebrated by Customs Administrations all over the world, provided an opportunity to X-ray, review and evaluate the role of Customs in Nation building as a Revenue Generating Agency, stating further that the theme for the year was apt considering the state of insecurity and challenges in Nigeria and the world at large.
CGC, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) presenting the prestigious award to the Controller, Tincan Island Customs Command Compt. Bashar Yusuf
The CGC while reminiscing on the giant strides of the Service in 2017, declared that the Service generated 1.3 trillion into the Nations Coffers – did remarkably well in anti-smuggling operations through the spectacular seizures among others. He stated that the International event was also an auspicious moment to recognize private and public organizations as well as officers and units that have demonstrated outstanding performance during the period under reference for awards by the WCO.
While receiving the award on behalf of the Command, the Comptroller Bashar Yusuf recalled with nostalgia the exploits of the command in the past two years. The obviously elated Comptroller Bashar stated thus; “I assumed leadership of the command at a time its rating was at lowest ebb in terms of functionality in areas of Revenue and Seizures which forms the core mandate of the Command. “I thank God Almighty for giving me the wherewithal to justify the confidence reposed in me by the CGC and his Management which is evidenced in this International Award. I therefore dedicate it to the Entire Tincan Team, comprising the officers/men, the CIU, Valuation, PCA, the Customs Brokers, critical Stakeholders and the Media for their tremendous support” it will be recalled that Comptroller Bashar in the last two years generated over five hundred and forty four billion, forty-nine million, six hundred and twenty- one thousand, five hundred and fifteen naira (N544,049,621,515) in Revenue through various far reaching reforms which he instituted. Part of the reform agenda was the building of a ICT Training Centre as well as a fully equipped clinic which was officially commissioned by the CGC on the 11th of November 2017. The training facility has been used to train over one thousand two hundred (1,200) people, including officers and other stakeholders. On the area of seizures, the command in the past two years recorded very unique seizures which included but not limited to;
a) Cocaine with a street value of over two (2) billion naira concealed in a container.
b) 900 Cartridges/Military Hardware
c) Recovery of suspected stolen two (2) Range Rover and repatriation of same through Interpol to United State of America
d) Seizure of substandard/Regulated Tramadol Containers
e) Large quantity of Biafran Arms band
f) 31 containers of rice falsely declared as yeast/bread enhancer
g) 20 x 20 containers of Vegetable Oil falsely declared as Disodium Phosphate
On assumption, the CAC drew the attention of officers/men to the change ideology and mantra of the CGC which is anchored on tripod of – Restructure, Reform and Revenue Generation. These provided an operational template and road map which guides the operation and which eventually guaranteed historical results being celebrated at the instance of WCO. The name of the Command which Comptroller Bashar epitomizes would have been written in gold, especially when he considers the trajectory of the command in the past viz-a-viz these achievement.
All these landmark seizures gave the command the sobriquet of a “Benchmark Command” which provided the needed impetus for the subsequent trail blazing records. These records culminated into commendation letters by the Comptroller General of Customs in the following areas.
1) Commendation for exercising due diligence in the interception of “Pro-Biafran” materials.
2) Commendation for the interception of 1 x 40ft container laden with sophisticated Military Hardware.
3) Commendation for the interception of eight (8) bags of twenty-five (25) parcels falsely declared as Virgin Cellulose, which eventually was confirmed by NDLEA to be cocaine worth over two (2) billion naira in the market.
The Certificate of Merit
Answering question from the Media after the Award, he stated that part of his strategy was the concept of “Team Spirit” which saw to his open door policy of inclusiveness, believing that team spirit is key to development with it’s attendant checks and balances. I also have a profiling team comprising all the egg heads, APM, the CIU, the Valuation Unit, PCA, Enforcement and indeed the entire officers/men, whose invaluable contribution cannot be quantified.
“We are very passionate about collaboration and synergy with Critical Agencies and we have imbibed the virtues of transparent-integrity and due diligence in our day to day dealing in line with Global Best Practices.
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]acked civil servants employed by former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration and sacked by governor Ifeanyi Okowa have vowed to vote out Okowa with their Permanent Voters Cards, (PVCs) come 2019 general elections.
Addressing a press conference at the premises of the old secretariat, along Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan Way, Asaba, chairman of the sacked civil servants, Obukowho Ighesiri Regha, the time has come to take their destinies into their own hands with their PVCs adding that they were not dissuaded nor frightened by the continued pay of deaf ears to their plights by the governor.
“It is pertinent to let the government know that those of us who were employed into the civil service by the previous government led by Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, that were disengaged by Okowa’s administration has created a network across the three senatorial districts to fight back with the only weapon we have, which is our Permanent Voters Card and probably seek redress in the law court.
“We have called this press briefing to let His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Senator Dr, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and his cronies to know that we are neither deterred nor intimidated by his deaf ears to our cries, sufferings and political speeches by some his political loyalists that we will soon be called back for the last three years without an atom of action”.
According to the sacked workers, they are aware that justice is expensive, “hence we are holding on to our voters cards to vote out a government that turned deaf ears to her citizens outcry”, he stressed, pointing out that the affected civil servants have written to appeal to the government through the various institutions in the state, regretting that the institutions seemed to have no say, describing the head of the government (Okowa) as a ‘tyrant’.
“We have written to the House of Assembly that is supposed to be the mouth piece for the oppressed and also to check the excesses of the executive arm of government, but to our greatest surprise, nobody dare see anything wrong with the executive, if you dare, you will be suspended, our petition to the House was never read”, he alleged.
The sacked civil servants lamented that an employment issue which affects citizens cutting across the state, as a normal and well thinking House of Assembly with sense of representing the people, ought to deliberate and come up with lasting solution but rather swept such issue under the carpet, “As a matter of facts, we don’t have House of Assembly in Delta State”, he noted.
The civil servants noted that they were employed on merit, saying that their sack has brought them untold hardship.
Speaking with Journalists shortly after the press conference, an affected civil servant, who gave her name as, Mrs. Josephine Edumor, with five children and a five months baby said it has not been easy.
“For the past nine years I have being seeking and searching for this job and as God will have it about two years ago I was given a job, only for the sitting governor to suspend our job with the hope of him recalling us back. For quite some time now we have being going up and down without a job with this faithful economy, it has not been easy. We are pleading that he should recall us back”.
Mrs. Edumor, who studied Education Economist and was posted to the Ministry of Education worked for one month without pay before her hope was dashed, lamented that she has not being able to support her family as several persons including her mother, niece, an orphan who just secured admission into the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
“I have lots of nieces, nephews out there depending and believing that one’s aunty is there to support them but today, the job is not forth coming and even when we got one, it was suspended. I got the job on merit and did not pay a dime to secure the job. The advert came up, we all applied and after that we were called for the aptitude test which we did went for and employment came. So, why should I pay any money to get a job? It is uncalled for”, she said.
Another respondent who studied Mass Communication and was posted to the Ministry of Information, Mrs. Ndidi Ayaunor, revealed that she resigned from her former place of work as a secretary for three years at the Asaba Housing Estate, to apply for the job which she secured.
“During April 29 and we were called off, I put in my resignation letter. The day I was supposed to stop work, was the day Okowa suspended the employment. So, it has been tough. During that time, I conceived my baby and couldn’t look for another job then because it wasn’t easy for a pregnant woman to start applying when your pregnancy is showing and I am pleading with him to bring back my job because my daughter is of school age now”.
Responding to the sacked workers shortly after their press conference, the state Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, said, “I am aware that there are some people who were given employment, over 2000 and when we came, that exercise was suspended for government to look into it critically and I am aware that the government is still looking into it very critically”.
Mr. Ukak said there is no question of sacking anybody, “the question was that the employment exercise was suspended. The government has been carrying out some biometrics and we have been doing some verification exercises. There is about 422 people that up till now still in the payroll that have not come to clear themselves and we have just given an extension of time again for them to come and clear themselves”.
The commissioner insisted that the government didn’t sack anybody but that the exercise is been looked into by the government, “and all the exercise that you have seen that is going on now is evident to the fact that we are looking into it”.
Comptroller Mrs. Nanbyen Burromvyat, CAC, Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has called on all relevant government agencies and corporate bodies to create and enabling environment for the agency to curb the shipment of illicit drugs, cross-border crimes and terrorism.
Mrs Patience Burromvyat, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Calabar Free Zone and Akwa Ibom Command, made the call on Friday in Calabar during the 2018 International Customs Day Celebration. The theme for the 2018 celebration is ‘A Secure Business Environment for Economic Development’.
The World Customs Day is observed by Customs Administrations Worldwide in honour of the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council. Burromvyat said that an enabling environment was needed for legitimate business to thrive for the benefit of all, hence the need to create a fair and sustainable environment.
According to her, it is globally recognised that Customs can contribute to making the business environment more secure, stable and predictable.She said that such achievements were possible through streamlining clearance procedures, tackling corruption, enhancing integrity and facilitating movement of goods and people across borders.
“Legitimate businesses need a secure environment to thrive. Creating a safe environment means eliminating threats such as shipment of illicit goods, combating cross-borders crimes and terrorism.“Customs has the responsibility of creating a fair playing ground for all traders. This can be achieved through enforcing Intellectual Property Rights, anti-smuggling activities to tackle traders who avoid payment of duties.
“Such activities can negatively impact a nation’s economy and development.
“The NCS over the years has improved the capacity of its personnel through numerous trainings both home and abroad to tackle threats to legitimate business.“This is evidence by the seizures of massive arms and ammunition in the nation’s port, live animals among others”, she said.
She further said that the NCS has stepped-up its anti-smuggling drives by equipping officers with modern and sophisticated weapons which has resulted in massive seizures of illegal imports like rice and motor vehicles.On her part, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu, Manager of Calabar Port, lauded the cordial working relationship between the Customs and the Nigerian Port Authority in Calabar.
“Our cordial working relationship has yielded results. Calabar port is very safe for business and our maritime operators can testify to that.“I can say it authoritatively that men of the NCS in Cross River and Akwa Ibom Command are up and doing. On our part, we are doing our best to attract bigger vessels to Calabar”, she said
CP Muhammad Mustafa Delta State Commissioner of Police
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he New Police Commissioner of Delta State Command , Muhammad Mustafa Parley Journalists in State. Delta State police Command has allayed the fears of Deltans following the trending video on Social Media of the arrival of some Fulani herdsmen to Asaba by three flying boats through the River Niger alleged to be armed with sophisticated weapons.
In a reaction by the Police Command, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Aniamaka Andrew, in a press release as obtained by Grassroots Publishers, the Security Agency confirmed the presence of the Fulani Herders but however stated that none of the herdsmen was found with firearms.
The Press Statement titled, ‘RE: FULANI HERDSMEN ARRIVED ASABA BY FLYING BOATS’ read thus;
“The attention of Delta State Police Command has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media to the effect that some Fulani herdsmen have arrived Asaba by three flying boats through the River Niger and that they were seen with suspected firearms.
“The Command wishes to state that on Sunday, 21st January, 2018 at about 3pm, some herdsmen arrived Asaba bank of the River Niger in three flying boats with their cattle. On receipt of the information, members of the Committee on Herdsmen/ Farmers recently inaugurated by the Police Command, led by its chairman Chief Cassidy N. Iloba, Senior Special Assistant on Security to the State Governor, interrogated the herdsmen, and thereafter they returned to Kogi State where they came from.
“It is necessary to clear that none of the herdsmen was found with firearms. One Alhaji Katti, who has been a resident herder in the area for the past three decades, is the only one remaining there. He has however been warned and bounded over not to harbor any migrant herdsmen forthwith.
The statement added that, the Command, in conjunction with Herdsmen/Farmers Committee is working assiduously towards ensuring peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers in the state.
While advising the public to be vigilant, the Police Command called on any person with credible information about any threat to security of any kind to furnish the police or other security agencies with such information instead of using the social media to cause unnecessary panic amongst the people.
Meanwhile, the new Police Commissioner in the State, CP Muhammad Mustafa mni, has assured Deltans of the Command’s determination in ensuring adequate security and safety of lives and properties for all residents in the state, adding that the Command under his leadership, will be working in synergy with other security agencies, well-meaning individuals and organizations in the state and will do everything humanly possible towards ensuring adequate security of life and properties of the citizens.
Mustafa who resumed duty as Police Commissioner in Delta this month, gave this confidence during his first media interaction with Journalists in the State, adding that his officers and men have been directed never to rest on their oars in securing their areas of responsibilities.
He assured that his administration will encourage mutual respect between the Police and the Public but will not condone any act of corruption and impunity on the part of his personnel, nor lawlessness and disregard for constituted authority on the part of the citizenry.
The Police Commissioner further tasked Deltans to collaborate in the fight against the common enemies of the society such as criminals of all descriptions – kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists and criminal herdsmen etc.
CP Mustafa also thanked members of the Press for their cooperation with the Command in time past and urged members of the Press to continue to cooperate with them, as the Press is also a critical stakeholder in the security project, adding that reportage of events should at all times be guided by the principles of objectivity and fairness taking cognizance of the security implications of every report before publication.
Dr. Barr. Stephen Odey, Chairman, Cross River State Basic Education Board, SUBEB
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne hundred and seventy million naira is to be spent on monthly basis for the implementation of 2009/ 2016 teachers’ promotion arrears in Cross River State for teachers working under the auspices of the State Universal Basic Education SUBEB. The amount is to be used by the state Universal Basic Education SUBEB for the clearing off of all backlogs of all arrears and salaries of teachers under the auspices of SUBEB.
The Executive Chairman for the State Universal Basic Education, Dr. Stephen Odey disclosed this while briefing newsmen on giant stride made by the board since the Prof. Ben Ayade led-administration came on board in 2015. Odey appealed to those waiting to benefit from the implementation of the 2009/2016 teachers promotion arrears to be patient, as the board remained determined to commence payment to beneficiaries once funds are released from the coffers of the Cross River State government to the board for onward payment. Odey stated that because of the fact that Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State was a lover of education Ayade was out to ensure that he does whatever that was necessary to ensure that there was sustainability in the educational sub-sector of the state and that Senator Professor Ben Ayade believes Education is the key to sustainable development, state governor went further to commit so much to see the that the sector grows.
He said that it was on the basis of such premise that the Governor released the counterpart funds of 2012-2015 to the board a development he said had helped in the execution of several projects across the three senatorial districts of the state. “I can assure you that in every Local Government, we’ve done a lot of infrastructural development ranging from provision of plastic chairs, furniture, tables, sporting activities, supply of computers with solar energy to power them”. The Cross River State SUBEB boss stressed that within the 2years that they have been on board, the board has succeeded in executing 327 projects across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, adding that the stride has attracted the issuance of Certificates of completion of job to over 182 contractors who have completed and handed over their projects to the board.
He said that he is quite aware of the fact that with execution of such projects succor would have been given to many rural dwellers who hitherto have been struggling to send their wards to faraway places to school due to unavailability of any good school within their vicinity. “Apart from provision of some basic teaching/teaching infrastructures to the schools SUBEB has supplied magnetic box, table tennis to improve sporting activities, over 67,000 plastic tables and chairs, 85,000 textbooks with support from UBEC”. Odey who claimed to be passionate to move basic education in the State to the next level said, “Our duty is to implement what have been approved from Abuja. We must follow the stringent guidelines of the procedure adopted by the UBEC and SUBEB across the country.
On the issue of remodeling and fine tuning of Schools to meet the international standards, Odey said, “We’ve tried to absorb the Model School approach as introduced by the UBEC Secretary, Dr. Boboye. According to him, “For the first time SUBEB is running 3 Junior Secondary schools across the 3 Senatorial Districts of Yala, Abi and Akpabuyo with carefully selected teachers. “This is the first time SUBEB is running such a project with 3 Junior Secondary schools located in Abi, Yala and Akpabuyo LGAs. Abi has already commenced education activities, Yala started 2 years ago while Akpabuyo is just starting.
The schools are boarding schools with Yala and Abi currently having 115 and 85 students”. Odey maintained. He said that it is the mandate of SUBEB to run both Primary and Junior secondary schools across the state. On the allegations that the SUBEB had swept under the carpet the teacher’s interview it conducted in August 22, 2017 Odey said about 1000 teachers have been selected adding that the application it wrote to the governor for approval and subsequent released of funds is yet to scale through adding that when once that is done letters will be released to successful candidates for resumption of work.
“Once we get approval before the end of the year, we will engage the teachers. “I promise we are going to take the best teachers for the Junior Secondary schools”. Odey maintained that the Cross River SUBEB under his watch and his team has been rated as the best by UBEC following the execution of a gigantic project that it is executing in partnership with the UBEC (the British-Canadian International School) located in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State which is to be commissioned in May this year. In his words Odey said, “The Canadian government is keen to give their manpower. The school is a complete boarding school with international standard. It is cited in Obudu due to the climatic condition and in lieu to add value to the Obudu Cattle Ranch resort”. The board chairman boasted that, “SUBEB has done so much in the area of educating and training of teachers currently ongoing to meet up the current trend in education”.
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