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Governor El-Rufai: Killing of policemen evil
Gov. Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday described the killing of policemen by protesters in some parts of the country as evil. El-Rufai, who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna after the meeting of the Northern Governors Forum and traditional rulers as well as other key stakeholders in the region, said that the police must be supported to discharge their duties. He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had briefed the meeting on the #EndSARS protest and its aftermath. “We support the police, we believe that there may be some bad eggs in the police just as there are bad eggs in any organisation, but it is no excuse to destroy or kill policemen. “We hope to expand the footprints and the effectiveness of the Nigerian police in accordance with their mandate. “We have discusse...
Northern governors back social media regulation
The Northern Governors Forum on Monday expressed support for proposals to regulate the social media to check the spread of fake news in the country. The Forum expressed its support in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong. This followed the governors meeting in Kaduna, which was attended by traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region. The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and called for major control mechanisms andcensorship of social media practice in Nigeria. It also expressed support for the reform of the police to strengthen their capacity. “Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course. “The meet...
EEDC implements new revised service reflective tariff in South East
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), on Monday, said it had begun implementation of the new revised Service Reflective Tariff (SRT) within the South-East. The review was based on the outcome of joint consultative meetings held between Federal Government, labour unions and stakeholders, following concerns expressed over the basis for the Service Reflective Tariff earlier planned to be implemented from Sept. 1, 2020. The Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, said in a statement in Enugu that the new revised tariff, which took effect on Nov. 1, was approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Ezeh said that as a result of this development, customers on prepaid platform would begin to experience the revised tariff as they recharge their meters...
#EndSARS: Groups embark on reconciliatory visit to affected states
African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), an NGO, in Collaboration with Nigerians in Diaspora Mentoring Corp (NidMeCorp) have began nationwide reconciliatory visits to some states affected by the EndSARS protest. Founder of the foundation, Mr Noah Dallaji made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, Dallaji said that the visit was for the sake of nation and collective wellbeing and to avoid further damage to lives and properties. He said the group visited to Lagos State due to the Lekki Tollgate incidents and met with various groups to find a lasting solution to the issues that were played up as aftermath of the #Endsars protest. He also said that the group met with stakeholders in the entertainment industry focusing on social media influencers to with vario...
Bauchi reassures on timely release of counterpart funds to development partners
Bauchi State Government has reassured development partners and other stakeholders in the health sector that, it will not relent in its effort of providing a safe and habitable environment in hospitals across the state. The reassurance was given on Sunday by Governor Bala Mohammed who also reassured development partners on the desire of his administration towards the timely release of counterpart funding for the fulfilment of all the agreements and commitments signed. The governor was speaking at the commissioning of an upgraded Hospital Sanitation Facility at Specialist Hospital Bauchi executed by the State Government in partnership with Water is Right Foundation, a German-based organisation. Bala Mohammed who described upgrading of the sanitation facilities as timely said that his adminis...
Water Resources Bill: Minister decries misinformation of Nigerians
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has said that Nigerians are being misinformed about the Water Resources Control Bill. The minister made the statement while interfacing with the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources in Abuja, following the public outcry that trailed the passage of the bill. Newsmen recall that sequel to a motion of personal explanation by Rep. Benjamin Mzondu (PDP-Benue) the house withdrew the bill which had already been passed on the grounds that it was not gazetted. The minister recalled that the bill was presented in the 8th Assembly and there was a two-day public hearing with Rep. Aliyu Ahman-Pategi as chairman. According to him, there was no issue at all until some unpatriotic Nigerians gave bad and dangerous colouration, and tried t...
Governor Okowa begs Nigerian government to revive Warri port in order to decongest Lagos
Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the federal government to quickly resuscitate the Warri port, in order to curb unemployment in the state. The governor made the call at a town hall meeting with youths, including #ENDSARS protesters, civil society groups, students, social groups, community leaders and stakeholders across Delta South and Delta Central Senatorial Districts in Warri this week. He said that with the congestion of the ports in Lagos, the federal government should revive Warri port and other seaports in Delta State to boost the nation’s economy and create employment for the youths. He stated that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria is very high, and that checking unemployment is not just about employing people into public service. Okowa disclosed that to tackle the une...
FCT minister condemns looting, assures residents of safety
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has condemned the looting of warehouses at the Idu Industrial Layout, Gwagwalada, and other areas within the territory by hoodlums in search of COVID-19 palliatives. He assured the residents of maximum security. Bello gave the assurances when he led the FCT Security Task Force, comprising the FCT Commissioner of Police and heads of various security agencies to assess the level of destructions by hoodlums at Idu Industrial Layout. He also assured of FCT Administration’s commitment to work with relevant stakeholders to provide adequate security, especially at the Idu industrial zone. The minister said, “For the last few hours, we have been going around the Idu Industrial Layout of FCT together with Abuja branch Chairman, Ma...
#EndSARS: Nigerian government sets up N25 billion youth fund – minister
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, on Saturday, said the federal government has created a N25bn youth fund as part of efforts to address the dissatisfaction of #EndSARS protesters and other youth-related restiveness in the country. The minister made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, in Kaduna on Saturday. According to Ahmed, the meeting was in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to ministers and governors to dialogue with stakeholders and the youths with a view to addressing their agitations. The minister, who explained that the youth fund would be increased to N75bn within a period of three years, explained that the fund aims to support youths to actualise their entreprene...
#EndSARS: Institute invites protesters for dialogue
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has invited the youths currently protesting against police brutality with the hashtag, #ENDSARS for a dialogue with officials of the institute. The Director-General of the institute, Dr Bakut Bakut, who planned the dialogue spoke in a statement signed by IPCR Head of Media, Mr Musa Mato on Thursday in Abuja. Bakut said that the invitation was extended to the protesters to engage them in discussions with a view to ending the social unrest by youths in the country. ‘’The institute is willing and ready to facilitate a dialogue between all stakeholders to restore peace in the country and move the society forward. ”No conflict has actually come to an end without dialogue. Therefore, let us stop the violent protests and dialogue for the sake...
Kano government distributes instructional materials to schools
The Kano State Government, says it has begun the distribution of instructional materials worth over N1.5 billion to primary and junior secondary schools in the 44 Local Government Areas of the state. Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed this at the inauguration of the distribution exercise on Tuesday in Kano. Ganduje said the state government procured instructional materials in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and development organisations. He tasked the Local Education Authorities (LEAs), to ensure effective utilisation of the items to ensure delivery of quality services to achieve academic excellence. The governor urged the people, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), School Based Management Committees (SBMC), and other stakeholders to support government pol...
774,000 jobs: Ministry raises federal lawmakers’ slots
There were strong indications on Sunday that the much awaited 774,000 unskilled jobs for Nigerians would take off in October. It was gathered that following a series of negotiations, the Ministry of Labour and Productivity had increased the slots allocated to each member of the National Assembly. It was learnt that each senator would present 1,000 beneficiaries, while a member of the House of Representatives would present 50 beneficiaries from each of the local government areas in their constituency. The lawmakers were said to have rejected the 30 and 25 slots per senator and Rep member respectively, which was initially allocated to them by the ministry in August. A senator confirmed to newsmen on condition of anonymity that he had directed his aides in his constituency office to liaise wi...
