Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has observed that for Nigerians to come out of the present economic recession, they must imbibe the spirit of patience, perseverance, change of attitude and believe in the recovery policy of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking on the economic recession, he assured Nigerians that its present challenges would soon come to an end with total dedication and commitment to the policy of the present administration.
In a statement by Media Assistant to the Commandant General, Soji Alabi, at this year’s Ramadan Lecture series at the Corps’ headquarters, Abuja, he said all that was needed is for Nigerians to have a repentant heart in all spheres of life.
He strongly advocated for a spiritual solution which include a true repentance, forgiveness of sins, change of attitude and eschew any act of corruption and corrupt tendencies.
The Commandant General stressed the need for the officers and men of the Corps to imbibe the virtue of patience , live within their means and wait for God’s own time, adding that there was no hurry in life.
In his keynote address, the Honourable minister of Interior applauded the peace, synergy and cooperation that exist among the management staff and officers and men of the Corps irrespective of their religion affiliation and urged them to extend same in the discharge of their duties to the nation.
The occasion also witnessed a special prayer session for peace to reign in Nigeria, God’s protection for the Acting President as well as sound health and safe return of President Buhari to Nigeria
In a renewed effort to put an end to the rampant cases of kidnap on the Abuja-Kaduna highway in the Northern part of Nigeria, the country’s Police have deployed 600 personnel and 90 vehicles to ensure effective road patrol.
Flagging off the operation in Rijana, a village known for notoriety as kidnappers’ den, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Federal operations, Habila Joshak, said the tactical operation, which is a continuation of Operation Maximum Safety launched last year is made up of 500 regular officers and men as well as 100 intelligence officers.
The DIG explained that 60 of the patrol vehicles would be dedicated to patrolling the Kaduna-Abuja highway while the remaining 30 of the vehicles would Patrol the Kaduna-Zaria axis of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway.
Addressing officers and men mobilised from different Mobile Police Commands across the country, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Habila Joshak enjoined the officers and men of the Force to ensure the highway was made safe for motorists and commuters.
“I want to assure Nigerians that we will not have any situation that will overwhelmed us. We will be robust in our actions. We will not only be on the highway but Nigerians will see our actions. We have done it before. There will be no more kidnapping on this road again. We have done it before. We will do it again” he said.
He further charged the police officers and men not to allow any hand that is coming to the road with arms with the intention of kidnapping people for ransom reach the trigger.
The personnel who were deployed from eleven states command of the Force are to be stationed in Rijana, a notorious hub for kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
The mobile policemen were deployed from Kaduna, Abuja, Katsina, jigawa, Akwanga, lafiya, Zaria Minna, challawa , Rivers, and Makurdi.
In the last three weeks, more than twenty persons, including a member of the House of representatives, a member of the the state house of assembly, an army officer and four members of the same family were kidnapped in Kaduna state with the bulk of the incidence taking place on the Kaduna -Abuja highway.
Nigeria’s Acting President, Yemi Osinbanjo, has on Tuesday flagged off preparatory activities for the 2018 Budget based on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the federal government.
This came barely 24 hours after the 2017 Appropriation Bill was signed into law.
Anchored by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the process is to ensure that the 2018 Budget aligns with the provisions of the ERGP and is ready for presentation to the National Assembly by early October this year.
Both the Acting President and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who addressed Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and head of government agencies spoke of the need to reinvigorate the budget preparation process and ensure that the 2018 and subsequent national budgets are ready for implementation by January of the budget year.
Spokesperson of the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Akpandem James, in a statement quoted the Acting President to have said “going forward, we have agreed with the National Assembly leadership on the necessity to get Nigeria back onto a predictable January to December fiscal year. To achieve this, the 2018 Budget needs to get to the National Assembly no later than early October so that the National Assembly can conclude work on it before the end of the year.
“Ministers and Permanent Secretaries are to take responsibility to ensure that as much as possible of their 2017 Budget is implemented between now and December. They are also to be personally involved in the process for the preparation of the 2018 Budget to ensure that we meet the deadline of submitting it to the National Assembly by early October 2017.”
He added that, they must fast-track the implementation of the 2017 Budget to make up for the lost time and to deliver on expectations, adding that, It also means they have to work faster on procurement issues and effectively manage resources, which are very scarce.
He pointed out that Personnel Costs have continued to be a source of budgetary pressure and therefore tasked all MDAs to collaborate with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as well as the Ministry of Finance, in their efforts to ensure that only legitimate employees are on the payroll, including full implementation of the IPPIS. He also tasked the top government functionaries to pay serious attention to the revenue side of the budget as we need to improve on revenue generation for the funding of the budget.
Speaking in the same vein, Senator Udoma reminded the officials that the 2018 Personnel Budget Call Circular had been issued to them since April this year and that work has already commenced on the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework /Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP).
He said the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 prescribes certain deadlines for Budget related activities, which government must endeavor to comply with. These objectives, he said, are particularly important for a government which has a change agenda. “Delayed national budgets are generally considered as indicative of poor public financial management which is not good for the image of the government”, he pointed out.
The Minister also noted that the 2018 budget will be the first full-year budget following the finalization of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and that it is imperative that it is fully aligned with the objectives/priorities of the ERGP.
Meanwhile, the Minister will present the breakdown of the just-signed 2017 Budget to the general public on Monday, June 19, 2017 at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abuja by 10.00am.
Determined to ensure true professionalism in the practice of media, an NGO, Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) on Tuesday held its annual Media Clinic in Kaduna – Nigeria, bringing together stakeholders in the media and Civil Society to examine issues that affect the media and proffering solutions..
This Year’s theme, “Ethical Journalism in the Wake of Fake News” looked at the opportunities and challenges presented by social media to the practice of journalism in Africa.
Participants of the Clinic tasked Professional journalists in Africa to take the driving seat in shaping the output of the social media, given the challenges it poses, especially in the wake of the fake news and quackery.
In the lead paper, a Media Specialist, Iliya Kure spoke on the need for journalists to maintain professional standard and adhere strictly to the journalistic ethics each time they are writing stories.
He cautioned them to resist the temptation of indulging in the ‘Fake News’ syndrome, adding that it adds nothing other than eroding the integrity of the journalist.
He reminded journalists to remember the core principles of the practice among them truth and accuracy, editorial independence, fairness, and impartiality, accountability, balance and integrity among others.
Kure said beyond professional journalists, writers of other platforms including citizen journalists must also be guided so as not to sink into writing falsehood or be found guilty of plagiarism.
He opined that the same rule applies; what is good for professional journalists is also good for other writers using the new media, or social media for public consumption.
Coordinator, Africa Media Development Foundation, Sekyen Dadik, said the Clinic is aimed at presenting journalists with strategies of staying above board despite the cloud of fake and misleading scoops flying around the world.
Participants advocated the introduction of some form of regulation on social media through the use of ethics applicable in journalism profession, provided all relevant stakeholders are involved in the process.
They also recommended that Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, should sanction its erring members through its disciplinary committees.
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has stressed the need for national integration and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria for the overall development of the country.
He made the call in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria on Monday night, after the traditional breaking of fast alongside other prominent Christian leaders at the resident of top Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi in Kaduna charging Christians and Muslims to see each others as equal before their creator.
Dalong explained that for the past five years, he and other Christians had always visited Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, his family and friends to Iftar (breaking of fast), where they share their meal and jokes together building mutual trust and love.
He said that not only Nigeria, but other religiously or ethnic troubled parts of the world can learn from this experience and let the entire earth be lit up by love.
Dalung also used the opportunity to remind Nigerians to keep praying for President Muhammadu Buhari’s speedy recovery, so that he could continue with the good works he has started.
He thanked Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi for his hospitality, while charging Nigerians to emulate such noble gestures.
In his remarks, the host, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi thanked the minister and those that accompanied him for being his guests.
He said that Almighty Allah in his infinite mercy has kept all alive to witness this Ramadan and share in its abundant blessings.
The revered clergyman prayed for peace and unity of Nigeria, which he said would translate to progress and economic vibrancy.
While contributing, popular Christian cleric, Pastor Yohanna Buru, appealed for restraint in choice of words by politicians, groups and individuals.
He said that at a time like this, what was needed most in Nigeria was prayers, expressing optimism that Nigeria would soon come out of the woods.
Students of tertiary institutions in Southern Kaduna, northwest Nigeria have appealed governor Nasir El-Rufai ro reopen their schools in three weeks or face their wrath following a prolonged closure of the schools.
In a press statement, the students under the umbrella of the Southern Kaduna Youth and Students Forum, SKYSFOM, jointly signed by its President and Secretary, Comrade Galadima Jesse and Comrade Ezekiel David appealed to the governor to stop listening to evil advices and make Kaduna Great Again as promised.
“As a result of this injustice and our readiness to salvage the future of our youths and state, we give the Kaduna State government, 3 weeks for the purpose and sanctity of the month of Ramadan, to reopened the above mentioned schools to avoid facing the wrath of the students.
“It is quiet disheartening that education which is supposed to be the pathway to making Kaduna state and any nation great is deliberately crippled and raped by its preachers in the state for reasons that may be best known to maybe only one man, His Excellency, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai.
“The college of education Gidan Waya/Kafanchan, College of Nursing, Kafanchan and the Kaduna State University, kafanchan campus have suffered various degree of direct and technical closure, and some are still under closure.
“The one relocated to Kaduna town is done at the expense of the students comfort. Hence I dare to ask this question “What do you expect from the students who are already psychologically imbalance and uncomfortable, if not failure?”
“The continuous closure of this schools, is not only encouraging under-qualified graduates from every field, it is an affront on the future wellbeing of our members.
“We are therefore calling on various professional bodies, College of Education Academics Staff Union, COEASU, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwifery, NANNM, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, other relevant bodies and well meaning individuals to rise and add their voices against this potential professional murder.
“We also want to add that if this case is not addressed, we are afraid that by or before the end of this administration Kaduna state may lose it value as the“Centre of Learning”, under the watch of the administration that dares to make Kaduna state great again.
What do you think awaits the society and Nigeria when in a year or two over 4000 quack teachers, 300 quack nurses and over 500 quack engineers are being graduated to the society.
“We therefore call on every living soul in Kaduna State to push for the reopening of our closed schools.We are all aware that in the recent history of crises in Kaduna State or the herdsmen attacks in Southern Kaduna, none of the schools have ever been attacked or any of their students killed or injured.
“If you could recall, when the 2011 post – elections escalated to its peak, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic was attacked, a lecturer and few students were killed and raped on campus by hoodlums. It took military intervention to calm the scene. After the calm the then state government under the leadership of Sir Ibrahim Patrick Yakowa of his blessed memory never closed down the schools. Rather, he requested for the deployment of soldiers on campus so that students could still go about their studies peacefully with security guaranteed.
“Yet, it was said that Yakowa’s administration did not put premium on education like the present one convinced us both during its campaign and during its inauguration. If some other negative motive is not intended for our students, we expect the same or even more formidable presence of the military in the closed schools.
“Also, it is common knowledge that despite the series of recent attacks on the under University of Maiduguri campus precisely on the 16th January, 2017, 13th May, 2017, 18th and 19th May 2017, that led to the death of an erudite scholar Professor Aliyu Mani and several others, the school was never closed till date.
“On the 4th of may 2017, the leadership of NAKASS, NAZASS, NANS, and other leaders of students from the affected institutions were invited to the government house Kaduna for a meeting with the Secretary to the state government, commissioner of Education among other top Kaduna state government functionaries, upon the request of the student to know why their schools were technically closed according to the student leaders, the one cogent reason given to them was that the closure were for somesecurity reasons but the officials of government present during the meeting assured them that government is on top of the situation.
“We considered that quiet impressive and a demonstration of concern and responsibility on the part of the state government. However, is the government is insensitive not to consider the risk involve for primary and secondary students who are on session? The adult and children who are more porous to danger should there be any? bearing in mind that these institutions are in the heart of Kafanchan.
“If the government is so concern about the security of our students, why then is Nuhu Bamali polytechnic Samaru Kataf on session? Why is the Federal School of Statistics Manchok on session? Were they not part of troubled zone in southern Kaduna? (Zango Kataf and Kaura local government area) whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.
“We commend the effort of the Nigerian army under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for effectively combing the forest and communities of southern Kaduna and getting rid of those bandits.
“In our opinion, if Kaduna state government through any of its officer still try to justify the closure of those institutions with security reasons we see it as the highest level of ingratitude on the part of the Kaduna state government and a discredit to the competence of Nigerian Army.
“Thus, we want to unequivocally say that the state government owe the Nigerian Army a public apology. On our part we give two Gbosa to the Nigerian Army.Every idle and unengaged mind is a fertile breeding ground for any form of vices.
“The various institutions have been at home for as long as 10 months(KSCOE) Gidan waya/ kafanchan, four months, college of nursing and midwifery kafanchan, without any proposed date of return known to the students by any formal or informal means.
“This has led the students to fall victims of various social vices affecting the society and in a long run thequality of leaders we may have for Kaduna state and Nigeria. We wish to remind you that these students whose parents are widows, peasant farmers and pensioners have laboured hard to raise money for their children fees and the student paid for the services they did not or are not enjoying.
“We want to kindly call on our governor never to allow himself to be tossed by the wind of evildoers to make him dance to their tune by making a decision against his initial wish of making Kaduna state great again.Otherwise the dream of making Kaduna state great again will remain an illusion if not worse than then.
“As a result of this injustice and our readiness to salvage the future of our youths and State, we give the Kaduna State Government, 3 weeks for the purpose and sanctity of the month of Ramadan, to reopened the above mentioned schools to avoid facing the wrath of the students,” the students explained.
Former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Almustapha, has enjoined Nigerian youths to be more responsive in their thinking by ensuring their actions are meant for the overall development of the country.
He also enjoined them to see themselves as future leaders of the country by their deeds, actions and utterances that are meant to ensure the corporate existence of the country no matter what may be the situation.
He enjoined the youth to wear their thinking caps and ensure they take matured decisions that would be to the best interest of the entire country, pointing out that they should not allow anybody or group of people to use them for their selfish desire.
Speaking in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria on Monday in a meeting between Northern and Eastern leaders on ways to ensure peaceful coexistence following the hate speeches that had enveloped the two regions, Major Al-Mustapha said efforts should be ensured that the youth maintain and sustain what the founding fathers of Nigeria took their whole energy to build.
He called on the Kaduna State government to forgive the Northern Group leaders that have given the Igbos three months to return back to their states of origin, stressing that the two regions were making all necessary steps to restore peace in the entire country.
Al-Mustapha said that the development in Nigeria was causing serious tension that is not surprising, adding tha same was expected to be sponsored by countries that envy Nigeria.
He explained that in achieving their aims, they could even go as far as sponsoring stooges to leadership positions in the country, or backing rebels to stop countries with huge potentials from reaching their peak.
Al-Mustapha while cautioning the youth from the North from making statements that would further cause tension in the country, said that they might have resulted to that out of frustration as a result of comments coming from the IPOB leader, Nazi Nbamdi Kanu.
He praised the founder of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike who was physically present at the meeting, for making the right decision of backing the existence of one indivisible Nigeria.
The founder of the Movement for the Actualization for Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Raph Uwazurike, noted that crisis in Nigeria was being manipulated and caused by politicians. “We must not allow that. The country must continue to exist as one nation, but we must act to address issues of marginaluzation, ” he added.
He explained that when he started MASSOB in 1999, it was purely meant to be a peaceful platform through which issues of perceived marginaluzation of the Igbos in Nigeria could be brought to the fore and tackled.
He explained that even though it was right for any part of the country to seek for self determination, it was wrong to pursue same through violent means.
“I handed over Radio Biafra which l created to Nnamdi Kanu in London and was hoping it would serve the purpose for which it was created, but was disappointed that politicians hijacked him and it became something else,” he lamented.
Coalition of Northern Groups has reaffirmed its stand by the Kaduna Declaration while restating its commitment to the respect for Nigerian laws.
A press statement signed by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said, “It has come to the notice of this Coalition that some people have been sponsored and are holding press conferences around Kaduna in our name.
“Specifically, a certain group led by one Adamu Sambo and Auta was said to have told the media that they are part of our coalition and have withdrawn the Kaduna Declaration on our behalf.
“We state categorically that these people are never part of us and have not at any time been mandated to speak on our behalf.
“Our Coalition is coordinated by the only the signatories at the end of the Kaduna Declaration and we emphatically state that these two men are not among.
“We call on the media and the public to be wary of such impersonators and state that if anybody deals with them in our behalf, he does so at his own risk.
“The only reliable information regarding our coalition should only come from our spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman or our leader Shettima Yerima or Nastura Ashir Sharif.
“The public should note that we are not out to extort money from individuals, groups or government agencies the way these people are doing in the name of negotiation.
“Our coalition restates its commitment to lasting peace in our dear country, Nigeria which which forms the basis for our decision to open the doors for the Biafrans who have already carved out a new country for themselves.
“It is the enemies of the North and northerners that are sponsoring the spread of all sorts of lies through these greedy youth that impersonate us.
“We urge the media to be very professional by not taking anything from unconfirmed sources that has to do with our coalition and the Kaduna Declaration.
Doing so will only pave way for these impersonators to continue extorting people in our name.”
Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has observed that for Nigerians to come out of the present economic recession, they must imbibe the spirit of patience, perseverance, change of attitude and believe in the recovery policy of President Muhammadu Buhari.
