Tens of thousands of people gathered in central London Friday to protest about U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Britain.
The Metropolitan Police have closed off a large area of London to traffic and a huge security operation swung into place over fears that terrorists may take the opportunity to strike.
Anti-Trump protests were taking place in other towns and cities, but the focal point for the demonstrations was in London.
Zoe Gardner, one of the organizing members of the Stop Trump Coalition, said demonstrations were taking place in 50 cities across Britain.
“Our message in one sentence would be Go home, Trump. You are not wanted here, nor your brand of politics,” she said.
Trump was 66 km away in Buckinghamshire at the country retreat of Prime Minister Theresa May as the build-up of protesters continued in London.
Ahead of the protests a ring of steel was erected around the Houses of Parliament, with nearby Trafalgar Square the intended destination for a rally following a march through city streets.
Many carried banners with messages such as “Trump not welcome”.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party Friday criticized May for rewarding Trump with a red carpet welcome to Britain.
He said: “Theresa May has invited President Trump to our country at a time when his dangerous and inhumane policies are putting the lives and well-being of millions of people at risk.”
The U.S. embassy in London urged American citizens in London to exercise caution, warning that the protests could turn violent.
Issuing a “demonstration alert” the embassy told people to be aware of their surroundings, exercise caution among large gatherings in case of violence and keep a low profile.
Away from the protests and the talks at Chequers, First Lady Melania Trump visited the Royal Hospital in Chelsea where she was due to meet a group of the famous Chelsea pensioners as well as local school children. She was escorted on the visit by Philip May, husband of the Prime Minister. (Xinhua/NAN)
An elder statesman, Ibrahim Mohammed Gashash, has decried the shortage of medical personnel in northern Nigeria.
Speaking as chairman at the 2018 graduation of Womenhood School of Health Sciences, Kaduna, Northwest of the country, Gashash noted that there was the urgent need for northerners, especially young girls to embrace the medical profession with a view to overcoming the phenomenon.
He enjoined northeners to embrace the opportunities abound in Womenhood School of Health Sciences to bridge the gap northerners are facing in the health sector by ensuring young boys and girls enroll in the school.
A Consultant Paediatrician with the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Dr Kudirat Ahmed said access to quality education is the most rewarding investment a country could make, assuring that the successes of any nation is hinged on intellectual and mind management of women.
In a paper titled: ‘Girl-Child Education: An Imperative To Development’, Dr Ahmed said education was one of the most critical areas of empowerment for women, adding that offering girls basic education is one sure way of giving them much greater power of enabling them make genuine choices over the kind of lives they wish to live.
She said education is a key part of strategies to improve individuals’ well-being and societies’ economic and social development, pointing out that as female education rises, fertility, population growth, infant and child mortality fall and family health improves in girls.
She explained that Nigeria needed to go beyond rhetoric and should involve in policies and programs with measurable results, stressing that government could start by making SDGs part of national development plans and monitoring progress toward those goals.
“Girls’ education does not only bring the immediate benefit of empowering girls, but is the best investment in a country’s development.
“Educated girls develop essential life skills, including self-confidence, the ability to participate effectively in society, and protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation.
“Girl’s education also helps cutting children and maternal mortality rates, contributing to national wealth and controlling disease and health status. Children of educated women are more likely to go to school and, consequently, this has exponential positive effects on education and poverty reduction for generations to come.
“Educated women generally want smaller families and make better use of reproduce health and family planning information and services in achieving their desired family size,” she said.
Earlier, Chairperson of Womenhood Foundation of Nigeria, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar, tasked the graduands not to consider themselves to have arrived, but as being on a journey of service to humanity.
She enjoined the graduands to continually update themselves with knowledge in their fields to be useful to themselves and community, noting that education is a journey that only ends when we exit this world.
“We are all aware that education is the most powerful tool for fighting poverty, ignorance, disease and promoting and sustaining peaceful coexistence across our country. I hope that you will be our ambassadors in promoting peace wherever you find yourselves,” she admonished.
Hajiya Abubakar also informed the gathering that the Womenhood School of Health Sciences is accredited to train students on the following courses: Dental Health Technician/Assistant, Environment Health Technician/Assistant, Health Information Technician, Trained Birth Assistant and X-Ray Technician.
Kaduna State PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant 2019, Isa Ashiru
Kaduna State PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant 2019 Election, Isa Ashiru
By Joseph Edegbo:
The Ashiru Project 2019 has said that the State under the leadership of Isa Ashiru will ‘unlock’ Sir Kashim House being occupied and ‘ locked’ against the citizens by El- Rufa’i Administration.
At a meeting with members of the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, North west of the country on Thursday, the Project’s Media team led by a Veteran Journalist, Shaibu Gimi noted with regret that “a wrong person was enthroned to occupy Sir Kashim House in 2015.
“Our task is to put all hands on deck to take over the reign of government to relieve the people from the worst so far experienced.
“We Urge our people to join hands to democratically remove the badman in the government House”, the Team emphasized.
Members of the Ashiru Project 2019 media team being welcomed to the Kaduna State Secretariat of the NUJ by the Council Chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf holding Microphone
Describing Ashiru as a man to beat come 2019, the team said the Gubernatorial hopeful is a man of integrity and sound in character who desires to see Kaduna has a new look.
Accorxing to the team, the Aspirant thinks Kaduna first before any other, saying he is the man whom the cap fits.
On why the Aspirant had been silent over the happenings in the State, the team said being a member of the ruling party, the APC, and also a contestant in the primaries that brought El- Rufa’i to power, it was dignified for Ashiru to remain silent.
The team which assured the media to be friendly, also pointed out that it was wrong for one to corner government as personal right.
On the national scene, the team noted with regret that it was the period of campaigns Nigerians were informed that the country had up to 30,000 policemen that could be pushed to Ekiti State in the name of capturing power, while hundreds of innocent Nigerians were left and being killed in states like Zamfara, Plateau, Kaduna, Taraba among others.
The team was accompanied by the Director General of Ashiru Project 2019, Ambassador Sule Buba, former member of the House of Representatives, G. Gaiya and PDP former State Chairman who is also known as the grand father of Kaduna politics, Yaro Makama Rigachikun.
Inspector-General of Nigeria Police, Ibrahim Idris
By Bashir Bello
KATSINA – Nemesis has caught up with a police Inspector, Lawal Mohammed at Faskari local government area of Katsina, when he lost his manhood during sodomy act with 13-years old boy.
The incident which was said to have happened on Tuesday night in Tudun Markabu is at the moment talk of the day in the area.
A source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said the police inspector was transferred from Sabuwar local government area to Kankara before his posting to Faskari where he met his waterloo.
The source said that the police inspector was fond of committing the act with boys in the area.
The source allegedly said the victim used knife to cut the manhood.
He said the incident leading to the cutting of his manhood by his victim happened when the boys set him up and planned to take revengence.
The source said the police Inspector was rushed to hospital in Faskari with his manhood bleeding and was later referred to another hospital.
When contacted, Police Spokesperson in Katsina, SP Gambo Isah, said the command receive the news with dismay.
“We are not expecting our men involved in this kind of act. That one of our own commit this.
“He is an Inspector of Police, he was wounded. He is in the General hospital in Faskari. He has been referred to the General hospital in Katsina but still in Faskari.
“The command is investigating the matter. Immediately he recovers we will investigate the matter and get all the witnesses.
“If found wanting will face necessary disciplinary action and charge to court,” SP Isah said.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to mandate the Police and other security agencies to apologise to Nigerians over alleged brutality on Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose.
This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by Rep. Yussuf Tajudeen (PDP-Kogi) at the plenary on Thursday.
The police were said to have on Wednesday interrupted a rally organised by the PDP ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state, and shot guns and teargas canisters to disperse the crowd.
In the process, policemen were alleged to have attacked the governor, a situation that led to injuries on him.
The House condemned what it described as “unwarranted attack and assault’’ on the governor and people of Ekiti by the police and pointed out that it was uncivil and unconstitutional.
It stated that no candidate for election needed the permit of Police or any other agency to campaign within his constituency during the period allowed by relevant laws.
The green chamber urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the Saturday’s election in the state was free and fair.
Moving the motion earlier, Tajudeen had said that few days to Saturday’s elections in the state, policemen barricaded and took over the Ekiti Government House.
He said that the heavily armed security personnel prevented free movement of people in and out of the government house.
According to him, the police men were shooting sporadically with the aim to instil fear in the people ahead of the election.
The legislator said that the police was mandated under the law to prevent and detect crime, apprehend offenders, preserve and implement laws and protect lives and property.
He said that Nigeria was a democratic state and that the take-over of the government House was an assault on armless civilians.
He said that assaulting citizens did not fall under the duties of the police neither did it comply with the tenets of the Rule of Law.
The lawmaker said that state of affairs playing out in Ekiti portended danger for the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.
He referred to the actions of the police as illegality and constitutional breach which should not be allowed in democracy.
He expressed worry that the police would put a clog in the wheels of progress made by INEC after committing time and resources to ensure a credible election.
Tajudeen said that the actions of the police and denigration of the office of the governor had ridiculed Nigeria in the comity of nations.
He said that urgent steps had to be taken to halt the development and called on security agencies to order to prevent Nigeria’s democracy from failing.
In his contribution, Rep. Michael Adeniyi (PDP-Ondo) said that as representatives of the people, “politicians go to campaign every four years’’.
He said that what happened in Ekiti was an abuse of the people as it was not a crime for the governor to lead people on a rally.
Also, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) said that the legislature should jealously defend democracy.
He said that the motion bordered on a topic that undermined the principle of democracy in the country.
Chinda said that the incident was a pity and should be condemned by all lovers of democracy.
Rep. Sunday Karimi (PDP-Kogi) said that if Ekiti election was not handled properly, it could spell doom for the country in 2019.
He said that INEC must be free and fair, adding that Ekiti people must be allowed to choose their next governor without fear or intimidation.
However, Rep. Mohammed Mongonu (APC-Borno) stressed the need to listen to all the parties before making judgments.
He said that all that was available to the house were comments in the media, and urged the parliament to investigate the matter.
The House, therefore, mandated all relevant committees to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the matter.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, mandated the committee to report back in two weeks for further legislative actions.
Women Peace Mentors, an NGO, has commenced the establishment of peace clubs in four selected government girls secondary schools in four local government areas in Gombe state, North East of the country.
The local government areas,are Balanga, Kaltungo, Kwami and Yamaltu Deba.
Lead Mentor, Naomi Maiguwa disclosed this at a one day sensitisation meeting with Peace Club members on peace, Gender and Human Right issues held at Government Girls Secondary Schools, Kuri, in Yamaltu Deba.
The Programme is supported by UN-Women in implementing EU-funded program in partnership with UNICEF, Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Search for Common Ground.
Maiguwa said that the meeting brought together all members of the clubs in the four schools to enlighten them on issues bordering on peace, gender and human rights. “This is intended to equip them to be able to build their self-esteem as girls and boys, identify conflict early warning signs and guard against all forms of human right abuses in their schools to be facilitated by the resources persons.
“The overall purpose of the women peace mentors is to ensure that key individual women leaders in target local government areas and communities provide strategic direction, overall guidance, mentoring and capacity building for women and young girls to be actively engaged in the mechanism of State Peace and Security architecture, and to form the basis of a networked cadre of women peace advocates, at all levels.
“Specifically the women mentors closely consult and collaborate with UN Women and voluntarily commit to mentor a significant number of women and youth in target areas through the conduct of regular meetings, development of action plans, for community-based Peace building and Conflict Resolution processes, identifying women and girls in target areas and equip them to be effectively engaged in both formal and informal conflict prevention.
They are also tasked with exploring and enhancing specific activities and areas of cooperation of promoting women’s engagement in peace and security with UN Women and its key partners, serve as a platform for women dialogue, consensus-building, sharing of lessons and good practice for increased engagement of women and girls in peace and security in target communities, and local government areas. she emphasised.
President Buhari commissions First Phase of the Abuja Light Rail Mass Transit Project in Abuja on 12th July 2018
President Buhari commissions First Phase of the Abuja Light Rail Mass Transit Project in Abuja on 12th July 2018
By Peter Usman
President Muhammadu Buhari says the All Progressive Congress (APC), is a government that keeps its promises following the completion of some phases I of Abuja Rail Mass Transit System.
Buhari stated this while commissioning the Project on Thursday, describing the feat as a dream come true in the quest for a modern transportation system for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja residents and other Nigerians.
He said that the project is a demonstration that the APC government is committed to the completion of critical infrastructural projects, saying that the government would continue to provide the necessary funding until other aspects of the Abuja rail mass transit system are completed.
President Buhari, while performing the commissioning ceremony at the Abuja Metro Station, in the Central Business District, said he has no doubt that a modern rail service would bring about a boost to the FCT economy and social life.
He commended the FCT Administration for its effort in ensuring that the project is completed as well as other milestones it has recorded in the areas of education, public utilities and other infrastructural development.
The President also extended appreciation to the people and government of China for their investment in the economy and the people of Nigeria.
He said this gesture has further cemented the already existing cordial relationship and developmental partnership between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
According to him, “I am indeed thankful to the Government and people of China for their investment in the economy and people of Nigeria. I sincerely applaud the CCECC Limited – the Contracting Firm, for the quality and delivery of this project. Similarly, I thank the EXIM Bank of China for providing the needed funding,”
President Buhari gave assurances that the Federal Government would continue to provide the needed support for all the negotiations towards the realization of the Abuja Light Rail system.
He called on the FCT Administration and other relevant stakeholders to ensure efficient operations, good customer service and maintenance culture in the operations of the rail services
Earlier in an address of welcome , Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Musa Bello, explained that the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System is an integral part of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Transportation Master-plan.
According to him, it was designed primarily to transport large number of commuters and goods between Satellite Towns and the City.
Bello further disclosed that the Implementation of the project has been divided into phases; with phase 1 being what is being commissioned. Phase 1, he revealed consists of Lot 1A & 3 with a total length of 45.3 kilometres.
Both Lots, he said, connect at the Idu Station to enable easy passenger transfer with the National Rail line linking Kaduna and Abuja.
He said the entire Abuja mass rail project is packaged into 6 Lots planned for phased development, based on preferential demand and available financial resources. It would also integrate with the National Rail Network when eventually completed.
Giving further breakdown on the cost of the project, the Minister said the Lots 1A and 3 cost the total sum of US$823,540,545.87, with 60 percent of this sum provided by the China – Exim Bank while the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) provided the remaining 40 percent.
The FCT Minister equally disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has also taken delivery of the three coaches meant for initial operations while awaiting the arrival of the rolling stock of 48 coaches.
To this effect, FCTA, he disclosed has concluded an infrastructure soft loan agreement with Exim Bank of China for the supply of the remaining coaches, including their maintenance for three years at a cost of US$194,008,602.43.
The Bank would fund the project to the tune of US$157,001,049.89 (85%), while the FCTA would bring in a counterpart fund of US$37,007,552.54 (15%).
The FCT Minister paid glowing tributes to President Buhari for his inspiration and support towards the project. He acknowledged all past FCT Ministers and officials who made their own contribution to the success of the project.
His words, “As you commission this project, Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge with great appreciation the role played by past Ministers of the FCT and their respective staff for initiating this project and nurturing it over the years.
Our appreciation also goes to the China – Exim Bank, the Consultants, the Contractors, CCECC and Julius Berger Plc handling infrastructure projects in the Central Business District for timely completion of the access road to the Station and the Communities along the rail corridor and their leaders for the support they have rendered to this project.”
In his goodwill message , the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Jingpian, praised the Nigerian government for their commitment to improving the living conditions of the people of Nigeria.
He described the relationship between Nigeria and China as very cordial while giving assurances of the commitment of the Chinese government to stronger partnership and collaborating with Nigeria. Saying, to go far, the Chinese Government wishes to go together with Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary, Financial Reporting Council (FRC), Daniel Asapokhai says the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance would promote ease of doing business and attract local and foreign investments into the country.
It also enhances the integrity of the Nigerian capital market, by entrenching a culture of disclosure, transparency and accountability.
The Executive Secretary stated this while speaking at a one day public hearing/sensitisation on Nigeria Code of Corporate Governance organized by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) for the North east zone of the country held in Gombe.
He said that the Code has adopted the ‘Apply and explain’ principle, which requires companies to apply the requirements of the Code and to explain how they did so.
In his words: “The decision to adopt the ‘Apply and Explain’ approach was made after careful considerations of several factors including the Nigerian legal system, Nigerian culture and history, government policies, state of the Nigerian economy, global economic and political climate, and levels of capital inflow of investment coming into the country.”
“This has spurred various governments to carry out a review of their countries’ governance practices and adopt new legislation to regulate corporate conduct and behaviours.”
Asapokhai said the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 was developed based on comprehensive review of the suspended 2016 Corporate Governance Code, by a 15-man technical committee with the attendant consultative engagements with a wide range of stakeholders and regulators.
Also speaking, a financial expert, Bala Mohammadu Abubakar, said that lack of corporate governance and fiscal responsibility in both private and public sectors of Nigeria economy are the major factors militating against business activities in Nigeria.
Conflict and poor relationship between Boards and company executives in most cases, he added are bottlenecks towards smooth performance of most establishments.
Abubakar expressed regrets that lack of effective tool guiding corporate governance in private and public businesses and institutions over the years has given rise to a situation where certain individuals in leadership positions have become powerful and even richer than the institutions they are heading.
The financial expert said it will be difficult for any country to attract domestic and private investment without a regulatory document such as the code, hençe the need for organizations in Nigeria to adopt the new code as most companies around the world suffer as a result of weak corporate governance regulations.
“The need for this code is long overdue, however it is better late than never, and there is the need for every Nigerian to embrace the code because we cannot develop our private and public enterprises, without complying with a standard code.”
Dr. Abubakar who noted that, Nigeria is good in designing excellent policies but without implementation, explained that for the the document to be effective and embrace by Nigerians, FRC most design effective mechanism towards compliance.
“I wish to draw the attention of FRC to go all out in mobilising, sensitising and educating relevant stakeholders to find the process, for the acceptance and adoption of the new code easier”.
“It is very important for FRCN, to go beyond the regional hearing by visiting states for town hall meetings to better equip the private and public sectors on how to implement the content and provision of the code.
He also suggested that the document be translated into the 3 major Nigeria languages of Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo for better assimilation.
