The Ghana Prisons Service has revealed plans of introducing university education programs to qualified inmates who want to improve academically
Spokesperson of the Service, Vitalis Ayeh, said, three Ghanaian universities (Winneba, University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast) have been invited to extend their distance learning programs to inmates to upgrade their academic qualification.
According to Ghanaweb, Ayeh said: ”We are in talks with the Universities of Ghana, Cape Coast, and Winneba to extend their services to the Prison Service of Ghana so that these inmates who are qualified to enter university but because they are serving in the prison and cannot go to the university.
“They can benefit from the distance education system and they can come out better off.
“It hasn’t started yet, but I believe that where it has gotten to, very soon we‘ll have distance learning in our prisons,” he stated.
The prisons in Ghana have ongoing educational programmes including technical and vocational training, Information and Communication Technology as well as primary and secondary school education.
If an agreement is reached, it will be the first university education programme at the overcrowded prisons in Ghana, africanews reported.
According to a 2016 Ghana Prisons Service statistics, the country has a total inmate population of 13,685, filling 43 prisons built to hold 9,875 inmates.
Last year, the Chairman of the Ghana Prisons Service Council, Stephen Yenusom Wengam, called for both state and private support to transform the state of prisons in the country.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has cautioned that Nigerians should be beware of new tactic adopted by suicide bombers in the North East, saying, female suicide bombers are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back.
Spokesperson of DHQ, Rabe Abubakar, in a statement on Friday appealed to members of the public to be patient and cooperate with the military and other security agencies while carrying out thorough security search and checks as the essence is to nip in the bud the murderous intention of the Boko Haram suicide bombers.
According to the statement; ”female suicide bombers are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back, that ordinarily pass them for innocent nursing mothers. The two recent suicide bomb attacks in Madagali, Adamawa State are instructive in this regard.
“The DHQ wishes to seize this opportunity to appeal to members of the public to be patient and cooperate with the military and other security agencies while carrying out thorough security search and checks as the essence is to nip in the bud the murderous intention of the Boko Haram suicide bombers.
“The DHQ wishes to state further that the usual traffic “go-slow” at military and security check points as a result of rigorous security checks are not meant to cause public discomfort or a deliberate action to induce traffic disruptions on our roads, but an effort put in place towards protecting the lives and properties of our innocent citizens.
“Members of the public are therefore urged to always volunteer useful information to the military and other security agencies that would assist in exposing Boko Haram and their evil machinations in our society and to make our communities safe and secure for all to live,” the statement noted.
The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to activities of fraudsters demanding money from applicants of the 76 Regular Recruits Intake for trades/non trades men and women.
Army spokesperson, Usman Kukasheka, in a statement noted that the fraudsters posing as army officers with the names, Lieutenant Femi and Lieutenant GbengaDanjuma respectively, operate with the GSM number 08165007425.
According to the statement, “The NA wishes to state that the processing of application forms into the Army is free of charge. Applicants are advised to log on to www.narecruitment.org to process their application forms or if in doubts, call the following phone numbers: 08038575725 or 08061541440. While effort is ongoing to track and apprehend the fraudulent syndicates, the general public should note that the NA does not charge applicants money or gratification for whatever reasons.
“The public is therefore encouraged to report any person or group parading himself or herself as an agent of the NA for the ongoing recruitment exercise.
“The general public is also advised to be wary of dubious offers of recruitment especially through the internet and report such offers or person to the nearest Nigerian Army unit or formation and Police Stations”, the statement pointed out.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Don Awunah, on Wednesday said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, did not lead a ‘high powered delegation’ to London to see President Mohammadu Buhari, as reported by some media, but went on an official visit on the invitation of SO15, the London Metropolitan Police Service.
Awunah in a statement noted that, the visit of IGP to London while the President is on vacation is merely coincidental.
According to him, “Indeed, the present visit to the United Kingdom by the IGP will not be the first time the nation’s top security chief will be consolidating on pre-existing protocols and collaborations with other countries across the world, in the quest for a more secure Nigeria and by extension, a safer world.”
Awunah further added that, the SO15 is part of the Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism Command that works for the protection of London and the United Kingdom, against threats of terrorism; hinting that the IGP’s visit is part of the gains of the International donor platform established by the IGP to empower Police personnel in modern techniques of fighting organized crimes.
“Although terrorism is being rapidly degraded in Nigeria, owing to the steadfastness of the Nigerian security system, there are collateral challenges confronting the nation such as kidnap for ransom, ethnic clashes and politically motivated murder.
“The visit will discuss areas of provision of working tools and capacity building.”
He however called on the media to always cross check their facts and report objectively, as the Force would continue to partner with them in the attainment of National Security Goals.
Meanwhile President Mohammadu Buhari is currently in London for a 10 day vacation, during which he said he would do a medical check-up; but there are a lot of fake news on new and social media that the president is dead.
Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, has stressed the need for Nigerians to imbibe the culture of discipline in business for the country to witness economic development.
Osinbanjo who spoke at the monthly meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Council, PEBEC in Aso Rock, said those who fail in that regard will be punished.
“We are at a point when we feel obliged to do our very best to improve in all the factors that will create an enabling environment for businesses in the country. We have to be committed to what we want to achieve. We must develop a system that punishes bad behaviour and reward good behaviour,” he said
Nigeria’s economy is experiencing a setback and the country is looking for ways set itself up with other powerful countries in the world in times of business, the country in hope of reaching its potential has decided serve due punishment to defaulters who will not allow its growth.
The vice President who was also visited by the Director of the World Bank, Rachid Benmessaoud with other high ranking officials from Washington DC head office of the global financial institution in made known his intention of implementing discipline in the country and fighting corruption to make the country trust worthy for busines
Osibanjo explained how country Lagos state judiciary fought corruption, where the guilty were sacked implying that the country can still fight corruption.
A survey in the Lagos Judiciary was conducted in 1997. According to the survey, 89% people who were guilty of corruption were discharged, making the sector free of corruption in the next survey in 2007 with 0% corruption.
“So we decided to deal with the situation. In the first year we sacked 21 magistrates and 3 judges in the second year. By 2007 when we conducted the same survey, the result was o%,” Prof Osinbajo disclosed explaining further that lawyers surveyed responded that there was no corruption in the Lagos State judiciary.”
“Nigerians, like any other will behave well, if we put in a system where people won’t get away with misconduct. We are the ones to do it,” he submitted.
Presidency has vehemently rejected the speculation making the rounds that Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo was being held hostage and pressured to resign his office by Nigerian governors.
The insinuation has been rife following the rumoured death of President Muhammadu Buhari who took leave to see his doctors for medical attention in London, United Kingdom last week.
Reacting to the matter in a tacit statement titled “State of the Nation,” the Special Adviser to the president on Political Affairs in the office of the Vice President, Femi Ojudu in Abuja on Wednesday said there was no truth in the matter, saying it was entirely false. He said that Osinbajo was busy yesterday attending to visitors after presiding over the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
Ojudu stated: “I have read many ridiculous stories saying the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is being held hostage by some governors who are trying to compel him to resign.
“I have equally received several calls regarding this. The story is simply not true. It is a fabrication. Don’t be a purveyor of fake news .
“The Vice President is behind his desk carrying out his task. The Federal Executive Council presided over by him has just ended and he has been busy receiving visitors and holding meetings.”
Meanwhile, Vanguard observed that it was only Governor of Jigawa state, Badaru Abubakar that visited the acting president as at the time of filing this report.
The Nigerian Police has confirmed the killing of three persons in two separate suicide bomb attacks in Maiduguri (north-east Nigeria), which occurred Wednesday morning.
Confirming the incident, Spokesperson of the Bornu State Police Command, Victor Isuku, said more information would be provided at a press briefing by the State’s Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu.
But a Civilian -JTF (Joint Task Force) Officer, Danbatta Bello, told journalists that the incident happened at midnight when a male suicide bomber was shot dead from an observatory by a military sniper leading to the explosion of the bomb he was carrying .
According to him, “We heard the first explosion about some few minutes after midnight but soldiers were able to stop him from carrying out his attack when they shot him near the security check post in Usmanti.
“His bombs went off not quite 50 meters away from the sandbags at the check post as soon as the soldier sitting on top of a security observation post shot at him,” Mr. Bello said.
He added that, at about 5.30 a.m. another blast was heard as another suicide bomber, a teenage girl, blew herself up after members of the Civilian-JTF, stopped her from advancing towards a mosque; noting that, the female suicide bomber died alongside one member of the Civilian-JTF that tried to stop her. Two others were injured by the explosion, he added.
Maiduguri and environs is witnessing the gradual return of suicide bombing since the reduction of Boko Haram activities in Sambisa forest – several people have been killed in the act in Maiduguri, strong base of the group.
Nigerian military said it has defeated the Islamic jihadist group in Sambisa with the help of the Civilian-JTF.
Governors of the 19 Northern states in Nigeria under the umbrella body of Northern Governor’s Forum (NGF) after its two days meeting with Council of Emirs/Chiefs to discuss issues bedeviling the region and how to address them ended successfully on Tuesday in Kaduna, north-west Nigeria.
Chairman of the Forum cum Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima at the end of the meeting read the resolutions of the governors to newsmen as follows;
“The Northern Governors in pursuance of the primary objective of securing lives and properties of citizens in their respective States as enshrined to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended found it expedient to convene a Joint Extra Ordinary Meeting with Chairmen of the Council of Emirs/Chiefs of the respective Northern States. The meeting which was held on Monday 23rd January, 2017 was overwhelmingly attended by all stakeholders including the leadership of Northern Elders Forum and Arewa Consultative Forum.
On behalf of the Forum therefore, l wish to highlight some of the outcomes of our meeting held today, Tuesday 24th January, 2017.
(a) The meeting resolved to accept the recommendations of the Body of the Attorneys General of the 19 Northern States to domesticate the model penal code, the model Fiscal Responsibility Law and the model Administration of Criminal Justice Law through the necessary legislative actions and subject to the individual peculiarities of the State in order to ensure transparency, prudent management of public funds as well as smooth dispensation of criminal justice in the region.
(b) The management of NNDC presented the progress report of its activities with a detailed report on the 5 year Development Plan which seeks to transform the Company’s fortunes. The Forum considered the progress report presented by the management of NNDC, noted the company’s achievements in the Oil and Gas Sectors, its partnership with Savannah Petroleum in the exploration of Oil at the Chad Basin, the effort of the company towards resuscitation of Kaduna Textiles Limited, establishment of a financial institution, exploration of solar power as an alternative source of energy, as well as solid minerals.
The Forum resolved that: –
(i) The management of NNDC should evolve a comprehensive Business Plan and present to the Forum at the April, 2017 meeting;
(ii) The Governors of Kaduna and Sokoto States should lead in the discussion on power and financial institution respectively and report progress at the next meeting;
(c) The Committee that undertook the Study of New Nigeria Newspapers Company Limited (NNNC) made their submission and the Forum resolved. It further resolved to restructure the company to a modern media outfit.
(d) The Forum was briefed on the achievements of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation which includes, Free Medical and Scholarship Programmes, Vocational Training of about 2,700 youths in the North. The meeting expressed appreciation to the Foundation and noted the need to synergize the activities on similar organizations of Northern origin like Arewa Consultative Forum/Northern Elders Forum with the Foundation in order to achieve a common purpose.
(e) The meeting also accepted the far-reaching recommendations of the Chairmen, Northern States Council of Emirs/Chiefs on the current security challenges and the socio-economic problems bedeviling the region. It expressed its appreciation to the Council to their support, insight and bringing to bear their vast experience on the issue of security and social well-being of the people.
Therefore, the Forum resolved to collectively tackle the issue of insecurity as one entity.
Gentlemen of the Press, although these are pockets of challenges in some parts of Northern Nigeria, the Forum wishes to put on record the efforts made by the Federal Government in curbing criminality in the polity. Indeed the greatest of our appreciation goes to Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for providing the necessary leadership to the Country to subdue Boko Haram insurgency and the drive to rid the Country of all forms of vices that bedevil our society.
The Forum also wish to extend its condolences to the Government and People of Borno State over the accidental bombing at Rann of Kala-Balge Local Government whereby several lDPs lost their lives and thanks all those who have commiserated with the families of the victims. Similarly, the Forum sympathizes with the families of victims in Southern Kaduna who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident and assured all and sundry that the crises will soon be a thing of the past, as Kaduna State Government is on top of the situation. The Forum noted that the crisis is being aggravated by the activities of some mischievous elements within the State and outside the region.
We wish to commend the efforts of Kaduna State Governments for the prompt actions taken so for in arresting the situation.
The Forum is also grateful to His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto and all the other Chairmen, Northern States Traditional Council of Emirs/Chiefs and other stakeholders who have made the meeting a successful and fruitful one.
On this note, l thank you all Gentlemen of the Press and be assured that you will see more of our appearances for the Forum meeting more frequently to lift the North to greater heights.”
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has cautioned that Nigerians should be beware of new tactic adopted by suicide bombers in the North East, saying, female suicide bombers are now evading detection from security operatives by carrying babies on their back.
