By Iliya Kure

Kaduna State Government says it has notified telecoms service providers to restore services to areas placed under restriction in the state with immediate effect.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan made this known on Friday, while briefing Journalists on security situation in the state.

Residents of 7 LGAs in the state had gone 8-weeks, without telecoms services, which the Government says was to help security agencies in the fight against banditry in the state.

The sudden change might however not be unconnected with the news of daily attacks and kidnapping of travellers on Abuja-Kaduna Express way for four consecutive days running Monday through Thursday.

The kidnappers in one of the videos released after abduction of Baptist Worshippers in Kakkau Daji village, outskirts of Kaduna, claimed that the telecoms restrictions had aided their operations, as residents of the area no longer have opportunities to report cases to security agencies.

But according to Mr. Aruwan, the restoration followed reports by security agencies that a level of success has been achieved in the fight against banditry.

“The telecoms shutdown had helped the security agencies to achieve some results, which the security forces will reel out soon,” he said.

While commending residents for their sacrifices, Aruwan said “the restoration of full services in the affected areas may unfold over a few days, as the service providers mobilise to power and boost their transmission systems accordingly.”

The Commissioner, however added that other security measures such as ban in the movement of motorcycles, Keke Napep, sale of fuel in Jerrycan remains, as well as every other restrictions announced, remain effective.

Press briefing by Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna. 26th November 2021

My dear colleagues:

I am here to inform you that the Kaduna State Government has contacted the relevant federal agencies to effect the immediate restoration of telecommunication services which were suspended in some local government areas.

Security agencies had requested the shutdown in October 2021, among other measures, to assist ongoing operations against armed bandits and other criminals. The security agencies have now notified the government that telecoms services can be restored.

Along with the other measures in the security containment order, the telecoms shutdown had helped the security agencies to achieve some results, which the security forces will reel out soon. The prolonged application of this measure was always out of the question, due to its impact on the legitimate activities of citizens and businesses.

Residents are advised that the restoration of full services in the affected areas may unfold over a few days, as the service providers mobilise to power and boost their transmission systems accordingly.

The Kaduna State Government regrets the inconveniences residents of the affected LGAs may have encountered as a result of the shutdown. The state government wishes to commend the sacrifices made by residents while this temporary measure lasted.

Notwithstanding, the government wishes to reiterate that the other measures announced as part of the security containment orders remain in force. These include the prohibition of motorcycles all over the state, the ban on weekly markets, transportation of cattle, and the prohibition of sale of fuel in jerrycans in specified local government areas.

Thank you for your kind attention.

By Joseph Edegbo :

On his second day of commissioning tour in southern Borno, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday commissioned a skill acquisition centre and a secondary school in Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area.

The governor, after passing Tuesday night at Biryel in Bayo Local Government also spent Wednesday night in Kwaya Kusar Local Government through to Thursday.

The Governor’s second day was marked by commissioning of a skills acquisition centre donated by the state’s Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajjiya Zuwaira Gambo.

During the commissioning, Zulum announced support to about 200 beneficiaries jointly sponsored by the governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Alhaji Haruna Hassan Tela, and Hon. Salisu Ibrahim, a board member, Borno State Housing Cooperation.

Governor Zulum also commissioned a newly built Government Secondary School in Yimir Dalang also in Kwaya Kusar. The school has 20 classrooms to accommodate 1,000 students and has 4 blocks of 1 and 2 bedrooms staff quarters.

The Governor directed the recruitment of new teachers to be identified from qualified residents of Yimir Lang community.

He also distributed over 300 bicycles to students who used to trek from neighboring villages to schools.

At Ganjiwa town also in Kwaya kusar, Zulum directed the construction of a new secondary school in the year 2022.

At the commissioning, the state’s Commissioner of Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Walkibe, recalled that in the last two years, the Zulum administration has constructed 21 mega schools of 60, 30 and 20 classrooms capacities, constructed over 432 classrooms in 48 schools and completely rehabilitated 39 schools.

The commissioner noted that the government has procured 231,000 sets of Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics and Biology textbooks to be distributed for free to students.

Zulum was accompanied by the state APC Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, senator representing southern Borno, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Deputy Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Engr. Abdullahi Musa Askira, members of state assembly, commissioners and other heads of government agencies and parastatals.

… Asks HMB to Fix General Hospital

Before leaving Kwaya Kusar, Governor Zulum inspected the town’s General Hospital and directed the Hospital Management Board, HMB, to submit all a needs assessment report.

“This hospital lacks a lot of facilities, submit all your requirements to the CMD, we will make sure all your needs are provided. We will prioritize them and make sure that we provide them as soon as possible”, Zulum said after his assessment.

By Iliya Kure

Nigeria has announced the constitution of a 13-member Task Force to oversee and deliver the Audience Measurement Service on Nigeria Media Platforms.

A government statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, quotes Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, saying the approval followed recommendation of the Task Force’s membership by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

According to the statement, the Minister has directed the NBC and APCON to collaborate to set a framework for the operations and activities of the Task Force, in order to ensure the Audience Measurement Service comes into effect in the first quarter of 2022.

“APCON and the NBC had earlier announced the appointment of First Media and Entertainment Integrated (Nigeria} Limited (FMEIL) for the development and delivery of audience measurement service on Nigeria Media Platforms in order to deepen advertising spend, improve the advertising and broadcasting ecosystem and increase investment in advertising and broadcast media content,” it states.

The members of the Task Force are:

1. Mr. Tolu Ogunkoya – Chairman

2.  Mr. Femi Adelusi    – President MIPAN

3.  Mr. Steve Babaeko – President AAAN

4.  Mrs. Bunmi Adeniba – President ADVAN

5.  Mrs. Jibe Ologeh  –   President EMCOAN

6.  Mr. Yinka Oduniyi – President ITPAN

7.  Mr. Guy Murray Bruce – President IBAN

8.  Kadaria Ahmed – Member

9.   Mrs. Pauline Ehusani – Director, NBC

10. Mrs. Ijedi Iyoha – Director, APCON

11. Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi – Member

12. Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim – Member

13. Mr. Joe Mutah – Secretary

By Joab Apollo

As the 2022 Kenyan Presidential election campaigns intensify, fresh headache has hit Deputy President William Ruto’s camp, dealing a heavy blow to his Presidential quest.

The ghosts of the 2007/08 post-election ethnic pogrom have refused to leave him even after the case was terminated in April 2016.

In a detailed and long statement submitted to the court by the International Criminals Court (ICC) Deputy Prosecutor, James Stewart, dated November 22, Ruto risks being imprisoned by the court for witness interference.

According to the Prosecution, Ruto alongside lawyer Paul Gicheru, who is already at the ICC, charged with witness interference and intimidation, hatched a well-oiled plot to bribe or intimidate witnesses.

“The evidence establishes that the pattern of witness interference was conducted for the benefit of, and in coordination with, William Ruto,” said the statement.

“The ultimate goal of the common plan was to undermine the Prosecution witness.” It added.

The case was terminated on 5th April, 2016, with the then ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, blaming witness intimidation and interference. Bensouda alluded to a possibility of a future reopening of the case.

Ruto was charged together with Joshua Arap Sang, a renowned radio presenter with six counts of Crimes against Humanity which included murder, rape, forcible transfer of population and destruction of property.

The post-election violence resulted into the death of 1200 people within a period of one month. To end the violence, a political truce was hammered by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

What this case means is that Ruto is also likely to be barred from participating in the forthcoming election, should the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kenya’s election agency, apply the Integrity clause of the Kenyan constitution.