Briefing Newsmen
Imo: NDLEA arrests 60, takes drug war to churches, schools
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized 646.23 kilograms of hard drugs and arrested 60 drug suspects in Imo State between January and June 2021. The seized drugs are Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp) cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and tramadol while the suspects arrested were between the ages of 17 and 60 years. Briefing newsmen on the commemoration of 2021 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, the Imo State Narcotics Commander, Nse Inam, said that the Federal Government Special Border Task Force had transferred 4,784kg of Cannabis Sativa to the state command. Inam, an Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, further said: “15 drug addicted persons admitted, two persons were successfully rehabilitated and discharged while five others ...
NSCDC raids illegal mining centre, confiscates 700kg of precious stones
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Zamfara Command, has raided an illegal mining centre at Sawa village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area, and confiscated 700kg of precious stones. The command’s Public Relation Officer, Aminu Ismail, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Gusau. Ismail said that the command received information from the Mining Officer of the Federal Ministry of Mining that some people in the local community had engaged in illegal mining in the area. He said that the command immediately mobilised personnel to the area, adding that none of the suspects was arrested, but a total of 14 bags of 50kg were found fully loaded with precious stones. He said that the stones were confiscated and taken to the command’s office, while investigation was on...
Private polytechnic owners set to clamp down on illegal operators
The National President of the Association of Private Polytechnic Founders/Rectors in Nigeria, Pastor Bassey James, has said that illegal school operators across the country would soon run out of business. He stated this in Uyo while briefing newsmen as part of the activities marking the maiden matriculation of Southern Atlantic Polytechnic, scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2021. James mentioned that a total of 300 students would partake in the maiden matriculation ceremony of the Southern Atlantic Polytechnic, even as admissions were still ongoing in the institution. According to him, the association had written to both the national and state assemblies to inform them of the ugly incident even as he had met with some of the perpetrators of the illegal business and had given them a timeline...
Rivers governor: PDP will suffer if I leave
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will suffer if he leaves for another party. Wike made the assertion on Monday while briefing newsmen in Government House, Port Harcourt, the state’s capital. Newsmen report that the governor’s claim is coming barely one week after his Cross River counterpart, Ben Ayade, dumped the part for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor also claimed that he would win election in any party he joins, stressing that PDP in Rivers State lack political detractor. Governor Wike, who described himself as asset to the national opposition party, accused some members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) of been “tax collectors”. He said, “If I leave PDP tomorrow, the party will suffer… S...
James Ibori loot: Delta asks federal government to return recovered fund to state
Delta State Government on Tuesday reacted to receipt by the Nigerian government of the £4.2 million first tranche of the Ibori loot from the goverment of the United Kingdom. The state government restated its earlier stand that since the returned money was illegally taken out of Delta’s Treasury, it should appropriately be returned to Delta State. This is coming on the dissolution, on Tuesday, of the Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa asking the Secretary to State Government (SSG), all civil commissioners and the governor’s aides to surrender all vital government documents and property to their respective permanent secretaries in the ministries, departments and agencies. The outgoing state commissioner for information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, reiterated the positio...
Management shuts down Nasarawa polytechnic over students’ protest
The Management of Isa Musthapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, has shut down the institution for one week following students’ protest on Thursday. Newsmen report that the students had barricaded the Lafia-Jos Road for several hours, to protest the alleged closure of the school’s registration portal by its management. Dr Justina Kotso, Rector of the polytechnic announced the temporary closure of the school while briefing newsmen on the aftermath of the protest in Lafia. She said decision to shut down the institution for one week was reached at an emergency management meeting following the unrest in the school. “We woke up Thursday morning preparing our students for semester examination scheduled to begin on Monday, March 15, then suddenly we realised that the students started a protest.” She said...
Ebonyi governor pledges to abide by peace pact with political opponents
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has pledged to abide by the peace pact he made with political opponents in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Umahi made the pledge on Tuesday at his hometown Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state while briefing newsmen after a state Security Council meeting. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state founding fathers forum in conjunction with the Catholic Church in Ebonyi, recently organised a peace meeting between Umahi and stakeholders of the PDP in the state. The stakeholders include former Senate President, Sen. Pius Anyim, former Gov Sam Egwu among others whom had been at loggerheads with since his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor urged his supporters to cease all attacks, saying that he had ‘moved on...
Delta to cut political appointees, workers’ salaries effective from July
Following the dwindling global economy occasioned by the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, the Delta State Government, weekend, said there would be a review of the salary of political appointees and workers on salary grade level 7 and above for six months with effect from July 2020. Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, who disclosed this, yesterday, while briefing newsmen in Asaba, said the decision was part of measures to overcome the debilitating effect of COVID-19 on the national economy. Saying that the state government had adopted interim fiscal measures to sustain public spending, Ebie noted that the decision to review workers’ salary was reached at a consultative meeting with the organised labour in the state. He said the review was painful, difficult but inevitable, addi...
