Education

Against the backdrop of the resurgence of the mass abduction of pupils, the Federal Government has said schools in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are at risk of attacks by bandits and insurgents.

The National Coordinator of Financing Safe Schools in Nigeria, Hajia Halima Iliya, confirmed on Sunday, that the data of at-risk schools had been collected for intervention.

Iliya declined to identify the states, but the Commander of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, Nigeria Security, and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Abodunrin, said they included Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Katsina, FCT, Kebbi, Sokoto, Plateau, Zamfara and three others.

No fewer than 465 pupils, teachers, and women abducted in the past week are still in the custody of their captors.

Fifteen pupils of an Islamiya school in Sokoto State were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday, less than 72 hours after 287 schoolchildren and teachers were abducted from the LEA primary school and the Government Secondary School both at Kuriga, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

However, 28 of them were on Sunday reported to have escaped 259 in captivity.

A few days before the Kaduna incident, 200 female Internally Displaced Persons were taken away by terrorists in Borno State.

The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno state while fetching firewood in the bush.

On Sunday, there were reports that nine of them had regained freedom remaining 191 in captivity.

Penultimate Thursday, bandits abducted an undisclosed number of people in the Gonin-Gora community in the same Chikun LGA of Kaduna, prompting residents to barricade the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway in protest.

As a response to the April 2014 abduction of the Chibok school girls, the Safe Schools Initiative was launched by the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, alongside the Nigerian Global Business Coalition for Education and private sector leaders at the World Economic Forum Africa.

Safe schools

The initiative entails a combination of school-based interventions, community interventions to protect schools, and special measures for at-risk populations.

The Federal Government inaugurated the Safe Schools Fund with a $10m contribution and another $10m pledge from the private sector.

In further support for the programme, the Federal Government budgeted N15bn for the SSI in the 2023 fiscal year.

Speaking on the programme in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, Iliya explained that the implementation of the SSI had started in several states.

Responding to questions on what was being done to fortify schools against bandit attacks, she said, “The project has taken off. We commenced implementation in 2023 with the flag off of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, which we intend to replicate at state and local government levels.

“The states have selected most at-risk schools in each senatorial zone for the implementation of National Plan on Financing Safe Schools Programme (2023-2026).’’

In response to the development, the coordinator explained that state governors had expressed plans to provide funding for the SSI for the protection of pupils and teachers in the identified locations.

She added, “Some states have made provision for the Safe Schools Programme in their 2024 budget in line with the National Plan. We intend to engage the states to guide them through the implementation.

“We’ve communicated to all the states; letters have been written for inclusion of Safe Schools in their budget and for them to select the most at-risk schools. More than 11 states have responded. The budget from states is for them to work on physical infrastructure such as fencing state schools and put other control measures.’’

Iliya further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education and the NSCDC had conducted some training for their men, adding that the Nigeria Police had trained senior officers, including all divisional police officers across the country on Safe Schools.

According to her, the security forces have commissioned equipment that would be deployed to various state commands for the operations.

“Data of at-risk schools from 14 states, including the FCT have so far been collected for intervention. The Defence headquarters and DSS (Department of Security Services) are expected to mainstream Safe Schools through capacity building of their officers. N15b was provided and released as takeoff in 2023; utilisation is still ongoing,’’ she stated.

The Commander of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre, NSCDC, Abodunrin, said the four-year project was being implemented simultaneously in all the states but in phases, adding that it began with the sensitisation and training of security personnel late last year.

He condemned the latest abductions of school pupils, noting that the attackers operated in locations with poor telecommunication service.

Abodunrin said, “The attacks are unfortunate. What the attackers do is to look for soft targets. They now go to villages where they feel they can quickly operate before help can come. They also target when communication networks are bad. The cases in Ekiti and Kaduna are examples where community members could not quickly call for help. There is also the need to raise more awareness in the communities.

“There is a need for more cooperation. Schools are to register on www.nssrcc.gov.ng detailing their addresses and at least a phone number. Registration is free. Any registered school will automatically be on a database with their coordinates for easy accessibility.

“There are patrols. Global standards do not allow security operatives to be in schools for various reasons. Those who want to target them may kill or injure students and other members of the school communities in the process. There will be more patrols.’’

The commander also said that since security requires personal attention, students and teachers would be given training on personal safety and protection.

“Equipment and platforms are also being developed to facilitate easy communication even without a network. They will be trained on this too. Capacity of various communities are being built in the areas of personal security and information management for effective preventive and response efforts,’’ he disclosed.

On the states that have been identified to be at risk of attacks, Abodunrin said, “Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Katsina, FCT, Kebbi, Sokoto, the Plateau, Zamfara.

“These are the states where the state governments have submitted the list of vulnerable schools to Safe School Financing and some of them have already donated Response centres to NSCDC for coordination.

“Some commit to including Safe School in their budgets for the centre to commence operations. Note that all states’ commissioners for finance were addressed by Safe School Finance for cooperation. You may still seek further clarification from Finance (ministry).’’

On the states that have been identified to be at risk of attacks, Abodunrin said, “Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Yobe, Katsina, FCT, Kebbi, Sokoto, the Plateau, Zamfara.

“These are the states where the state governments have submitted the list of vulnerable schools to Safe School Financing and some of them have already donated Response centres to NSCDC for coordination.

“Some commit to including Safe School in their budgets for the centre to commence operations. Note that all states’ commissioners for finance were addressed by Safe School Finance for cooperation. You may still seek further clarification from Finance (ministry).’’

Continuing, he noted, “Those selected (states) are where concentration is. What the centre is doing in conjunction with NSCDC is to be proactive by making the sensitisation and community engagement national.

“All states of the federation now have Safe School Desk Officers/Coordinators. These attackers would look for soft targets that they think the government is not considering at present.’’

Meanwhile, the state commands of the NSCDC in Gombe, Kano, Osun, Taraba and other states said they were involved in the SSI implementation.

The Gombe State Commandant, Muhammad Bello, noted that his officers were ensuring that no school child was abducted in its safe school project.

He said, “We are ready to face the problem even though we are dwelling in a serious challenge in the area of logistics, and transportation but I will not allow it to impede securing schools and our children. We are doing our best, shortage of mobility will never impede safeguarding children.’’

In a statement, the spokesperson for Osun NSCDC, Kehinde Adeleke, said the Safe School Programme was operational in the state but identified mobility challenges in covering all local government areas in the state.

The Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Dr Augustina Godwin, on Sunday, said the state government had beefed up security around schools, especially in areas prone to banditry attacks since November last year.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent in Jalingo, Godwin said the state government had embarked on the building of perimeter fencing of most schools in the state as a first layer of security.

Godwin said, “We have credible intelligence regarding the plans by bandits to carry out massive school children abduction in the state, and so, the sad incident in Kaduna did not come to us as a surprise.

“The government has engaged personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the state security outfit- Taraba Marshall to provide security in our schools.

“We have also formed the Safe School Security Committee as requested by Unicef. We have also identified schools with serious security needs based on their location and we have fortified such schools with more security.

“Just last week, I embarked on supervision of schools to see the level of security presence in our schools and I was impressed with what I saw on the ground.

“For the schools that are yet to get security personnel, we have provided dedicated phone numbers for school principals and teachers to call in case of any incident,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has described the recent cases of kidnapping across the country as efforts by ‘’sub-regional geopolitical forces conspiring to undermine the government of President Bola Tinubu.’’

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, affirmed this when he spoke on TVC’s Politics on Sunday monitored by The PUNCH.

On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale revealed that the Federal Government was already receiving support from the United States government for the release of students kidnapped in Kaduna.

“I will say this: across the north, we understand that some of the sub-regional geopolitical forces that are currently at play are actively conspiring against the stability of Nigeria,” said the President’s spokesman.

Ngelale assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was on top of the situation and had received support from the US government to secure the release of the school children and address the regional forces at play.

“We understand that and we are not sleeping. We are responding to it and we’re doing it in a concerted way, with our neighbours.

“And it is worth noting that the United States Government has also pledged its assistance to ensure that there is a full return of all of the schoolchildren who were kidnapped recently in Kaduna.

“But the point is we are going to continue to intensify our collaboration not just within the region, but internationally to make sure that some of the regional actors that are conspiring against our nation are brought to justice and ultimately silenced in the future,” he explained.

The Presidential spokesman lamented that with increased security in major communities in the South-East and South-West, the government was working to extend coverage to vulnerable far-flung settlements in the north.

“First of all, the President has been very clear that this is an administration of no excuses. If you look at other parts of the countries that were in flames before he took office, such as the South-East and parts of the South-West for example, you will know the level of work that has gone into securing our nation.

“Where we still have some challenges is in the North-Central in the North-West and to a lesser extent in the Northeast. There’s still a lot of work to be done along the Kaduna axis. Remember the time when you could not travel by road on the Abuja-Kaduna highway? Now, you’re able to do that.

“Now the problem is when you have these far-flung communities, we do have these hit-and-run incidences of not just violence and killings, but kidnappings and hostage-taking,” Ngelale explained.

He toed the line of the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, proposing capital punishment for kidnappers, saying, “I think that there’s going to have to be some sort of robust legislative reform that makes it clear to every citizen of our country that if you kidnap anybody, you will be killed by the justice system.

“There will be a death penalty attached to it. I don’t see how this can be solved if we don’t do this and see to its implementation.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Police operatives attached to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the FCT Police Command in the continued effort against criminality in the Territory have arrested one of the most wanted and deadly kidnapping kingpins terrorising Abuja and environs.

The kidnap kingpin, Saidu Abubakar, is one of the three wanted kidnap kingpins who were declared missing after narrowly escaping a raid operation of the Special Intervention Squad, the IRT, and the Anti-Kidnapping  Unit of the FCT Command

Spokesman of FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, the wanted kingpin, was arrested when the Anti Kidnapping Unit raided two kidnappers’ camps bordering Nasarawa and Abuja via Kuje area council.

“During the raid, the police dislodged the camps and arrested one Saidu Abdulkadir, popularly known as (Dahiru Adamu), who is the gang leader and one of the wanted suspects of the kidnapping syndicate paraded by the Police Command on 14th February, 2024.

“The bandits, on sighting the police operatives, opened fire and engaged the police in an intense gun duel and were eventually overpowered by the police.

The PPRO said, “One Habu Yakubu and Isufu Abubakar, earlier abducted from Kwaita village via Pegi district of Kuje area council, were rescued unhurt and the suspect arrested.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect masterminded the kidnap and killing of one Mr Sunday Yahaya Zakwai, the district head of Ketti village.

“While efforts are ongoing to apprehend the other wanted suspects on the run, CPr. Benneth Chinedum Igweh, the Commissioner of Police, wishes to warn criminals in the FCT that there is no hiding place for them.”

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Sport

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, rewarded the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a national award (Member of the Order of the Niger, MON) flats in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and a piece of land.

President Tinubu made the pronouncement when he received the players and officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation is led by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh.

The Super Eagles finished as runners-up in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), hosted by Côte d’Ivoire.

All the team members, clad in green attire, and officials were in attendance, including Alex Iwobi, who had faced cyber attacks following Nigeria’s loss to Cote d’Ivoire at the final of the just concluded African Cup of Nations.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commended the team, the coach, the crew, and the entire management team for their hard work, assiduity, and sacrifice to come this far in the tournament, acknowledging the hurdles they consistently surpassed with steadily improving performance as they pulled through to the finals.

The President had urged Nigerians to be of good cheer, emphasising that we won a great victory in the hearts of Africa and the world with our grit, rigour, and determination in the field of play.

“Let this passing event not dispirit us but bring us together to work harder. We are a great nation bound as one by the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and untiring love.

“To those cherished Nigerian youths expressing their gifts in communities, drawing lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you can be our heroes tomorrow, do not relent in your pursuit. My administration is here to make dreams come true,” the president said.

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Economy

The Special Investigator on the Central Bank of Nigeria and Related Entities, Jim Obazee, has indicated that the recent naira redesign wasn’t expressly approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Obazee had gathered that the approval came from Buhari’s aide, Sabiu Tunde ‘Yusuf’.

This was contained in the investigator’s final report tagged, ‘Report of the Special Investigation on CBN and Related Entities (Chargeable Offences) submitted to President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday.

Recall that Obazee, a former Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, was named by Tinubu as the CBN special investigator in a letter dated July 28, 2023, sighted by The PUNCH.

The report revealed that it was the embattled former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who, in collaboration with Sabiu, implemented the naira redesign.

Sabiu is the former President’s nephew.

Emefiele, who is currently in Kuje Custodial Centre, is being prosecuted for N1.2bn in procurement fraud.

He has not been able to perfect the N300m bail granted him by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on November 22, 2023.

However, documents obtained by our correspondent on Thursday indicated that the former apex bank governor might face fresh criminal charges over the handling of the CBN naira redesign policy.

Emefiele could be “prosecuted for illegal issuance of currency under Section 19 of the CBN Act alongside Tunde Sabiu and the 12 top directors of the CBN.”

It was gathered that the naira redesign policy was sold to Buhari at the instance of Sabiu and that the initiative was done without the approval of the board of the CBN.

The investigator found that Buhari didn’t approve of the naira redesign. It was Tunde Sabiu who first told Emefiele in September 2022 to consider the redesign of the naira.

“On October 6, 2022, Emefiele wrote to Buhari that he wanted to redesign and reconfigure the N1000, N500, and N200 notes.

“The former president tagged along but did not approve the redesign as required by law. Buhari merely approved that the currency be printed in Nigeria. The redesign was only mentioned to the board of the CBN on December 15, 2022, after Emefiele had awarded the contract to Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc on October 31, 2022,’’ the documents noted.

Emefiele was said to have contracted the redesign of the naira to De La Rue of the UK for £205,000 under the vote of the head of the Currency Operations Department after Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc said it could not deliver the contract within a short timeframe.

It further showed that “the special investigator found that N61.5bn was earmarked for the printing of the new notes, out of which N31.79bn had been paid.

“As of August 9, 2023, findings revealed that N769bn of the new notes were in circulation.

“The probe of the CBN also revealed the fraudulent use of N26.627tn Ways and Means of the Apex Bank as well as the misuse of the COVID-19 intervention fund.

“For instance, the CBN under Emefiele at its 661st meeting held on October 27, 2020, approved that the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account should be debited with the sum of N124.860bn, and the decision was implemented on October 9.

“Similarly, the Committee of Governors, at its 670th meeting held on December 9, 2020, granted ‘anticipatory approval’ pending receipt of a formal request by Mr President and ratification by the board of directors for the payment of the sum of N250bn only to the Federal Government of Nigeria to address challenges as a result of low revenue inflow and the payment of salaries.

“The decision was implemented on December 15, 2020.”

The CBN investigator discovered that the CBN Ways and Means was abused under the Buhari administration.

Under the CBN Act, the Ways and Means provision allows the government to borrow from the apex bank if it needs short-term or emergency finance to fund delayed government expected cash receipts of fiscal deficits.

It costs the CBN and its subsidiary about N74.84bn to produce and roll out currencies, including new naira notes, in 2022.

Despite the scarcity of naira that plagued the country in the latter months of 2022, the CBN spent 40.42 per cent more than the N53.29bn it spent in the preceding year to roll out currencies.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Environment

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has notified the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Kwara, and 22 other states of 48-hour downpour beginning on Thursday.

In its weekly heavy rainfall forecast bulletin released on Wednesday, the agency told the residents to also expect flash floods.

Other states listed are Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Delta, Bayelsa, Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, and Benue.

The bulletin reads: “Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within the forecast period (Thursday 28th and Friday 29th, September 2023) over parts of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa.

Other States are: “Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The agency said other parts of the country will experience light to moderate rainfall.

On the likely impact of the rains, NiMet warned: “The expected moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to cause some flash flooding over their areas of occurrence.

“Strong winds should accompany the rains with the strongest winds expected over parts of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi State.”

The agency cautioned residents against driving through surface runoff waters, as they have strong undercurrents.

It identified slippery road surfaces and reduced visibility as other hazards that may be triggered by the downpour.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Housing

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved a three-month grace period for owners of 189 undeveloped plots of land in the FCT to begin to develop them or get their allocation papers revoked.

The Director of Information and Communication at the FCT Administration, Mr Muhammad Sule, stated on Sunday in Abuja that the affected titled holders had obtained building plan approvals, but were yet to develop the properties.

He stated that the affected property owners were expected to develop the property within the stipulated period or have their title documents revoked in line with extant laws.

The grace period, he explained, applied to individuals and to corporate organisations that had showed the desire to develop their property by obtaining building plan approvals.

He added that public institutions that had land titles within the FCT but yet to develop same were also advised to do so within the three months grace period to avoid the sanction.

“The minister has extended this gesture to 189 property owners due to their desire to develop the properties by obtaining building plan approvals, a prerequisite for the development of any property in the FCT.

“Owners of the plots were exempted from revocation because they had already demonstrated firm commitment to develop their property by obtaining necessary documents from the FCT Administration.

“The minister is urging the affected property owners to take advantage of the gesture and develop their plots in line with the terms of their offer of Right-of-Occupancy,’’ Sule stated.

The director added that the FCT Administration equally appealed to public institutions that had been allocated land to begin the development of their plots, failing which their title documents would be revoked.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Environment

The Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked 165 lands in Abuja, some of which belonged to notable Nigerians.

A document signed by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Olushade Adeshola, which was obtained by The PUNCH, reveals that the revocation was due to the violation and contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy.

The document reads, “The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby informs the general public that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28 (5) (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, 1978, revoked the underlisted plots with names and titles as reflected in our records for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development.”

Some notable Nigerians affected by the revocation order are former Senate Chief Whip, Udoma Udoma, former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, the first Minister of Niger Delta, Ufot Ekaette and late publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Wike, on his first day as the Minister of FCT vowed to revoke any land contravening the Abuja Land Use Act no matter those involved.

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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News

19 persons were on Thursday, kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja, while no fewer than 30 persons were reported to have died in a landslide caused by activities of illegal miners in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

These were revealed during the maiden meeting between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the six Area Council Chairmen.

The Minister, who was concerned about the developments, said he would summon the FCT Director of State Services, as well as the Commissioner of Police, to be comprehensively briefed about the kidnap incident and facilitate rescue operations.

While asking the council bosses to set up a surveillance task force in their areas to monitor mining activities, Wike said he would meet with his counterpart in Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, to eliminate illegal mining in the FCT.

Speaking on the challenges confronting the councils, Kwali Area Council chairman, Danladi Chiya, appealed to the Wike and the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, to come to their aid.

He said, “When we heard about your appointment, we were happy because you have been a Council Chairman and therefore, understand our challenges. Our challenges are inadequate funding of the Local Government system.

“We have the major challenge of insecurity across the six Area Councils. Just today (Thursday), about 19 people were kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council. I just received about five people in my council, who were in captivity for about six days.

“The next is the development of satellite towns. The issue of sanitation is one of the major challenges confronting us. There is also no efficient transport facility. The Abuja Urban Mass Transit buses are no longer functional.

“Then, there is the issue of land allocation. You sit in your council and your backyard will be allocated to someone you don’t even know. Graveyards and worship centres would be allocated and all we are saying is that we should be carried along in terms of land allocation.

“The responsibility of primary school teachers is on the Local Governments. The UBE’s payment of salaries lies on the council, which by law is supposed to be 60-40 percent. We are pleading that you help us so that this issue can be looked into.”

The Kuje Area Council Chairman, Abdullahi Sabo, also lamented the menace of illegal miners, saying, “There is the issue of illegal mining in the FCT. Indiscriminate mining licences are given out and this has led to insecurity. They give letters of consent to Chinese people.

“Just a few days ago, there was a landslide that took the lives of 30 people as a result of the activities of illegal miners. We appeal to you to engage the Minister of Mines to stop mining in the FCT.”

“On sanitation, we have a problem. Sanitation is a big issue. It is the duty of the council not just to collect the fees but to dispose of refuse. We have to sit down and work together on this by adopting a common template.”

Responding, Wike said, “On illegal mining, I will talk to the minister. Ordinarily, I would say you should also form your own surveillance taskforce as Chief Security Officers of your councils and make arrests and we will support you. However, I will meet with the minister”.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Economy

By Abiodun Adeoye

Osun State Government has expressed the hope that it will benefit maximally from the Federal Government’s largesse in Abuja.

The state’s Commissioner for Federal Affairs, Mrs Adenike Adeleke stated this in Abere while fielding questions from newsmen.

Mrs Adeleke pointed out that she saw her appointment as an opportunity to serve the interest of Osun State at the Federal seat of power, promising to make her impacts felt as one of the members of the State Executive Council representing the state in the Federal Capital Terrotory.

On the home front, she said the state government remained committed to its 5-point, and sees them as feasible and achievable.

The Federal Affairs Commissioner explained that the state’s helmsman, Governor Ademola Adeleke would maintain his pursuit of provision of dividends of democracy in areas such as health, agriculture, road construction and rehabilitation, workers welfare, rural and community development.

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Environment

Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate identification and arrest of the owner of a two-storey building which collapsed in Abuja on Wednesday night.

The building had at least 39 residents, with two certified dead, and 37 rescued and taken to various hospitals.

The building, located at Lagos Crescent, Garki Village in the Garki District of the nation’s capital, was one of the first storey buildings in the area.

While it caved it caved in around 11pm on Wednesday amid heavy downpour, rescue operations were initially very slow over the night as there was no immediate access to an excavator and rescue efforts were purely manual.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Wike who noted that original residents of the area were designated for resettlement, however wondered why foe years, the FCT Administration could not carry out such resettlement.

While he applauded the rescue efforts, Wike said; “It is unfortunate that we woke this morning to the very disturbing news of this building collapse. It is not what we contemplated. Let me thank the agencies particularly NEMA and FEMA that have supported us to rescue not less than 37 lives. It is unfortunate that we lost two lives. I will appeal to the Permanent Secretary to make sure that funds are raised to pay the hospital bills of those who were rescued so that we do not lose any more person, and this should be done immediately.

“Secondly, these are the things we have been saying, nobody knows whose turn it will be, therefore when government says it will take actions in areas we believe there are illegal developments or buildings that do not comply with the standard codes, it is not as if anybody has any personal vendetta but for me it is for us to do the right thing.

“I don’t know why it has taken long that the FCTA has not resettled them and so we will take immediate action to see that the indigenes of these place are resettled and then government has to plan out this place.

“When government says take building plan, it is not to suffer anybody but to make sure that everyone is protected. Cities are planned to forestall this kind of occurrences. Imagine buildings without approval. I will ask that we must identify and arrest the owner of this property. It is very important.

“Government will, of course, take over this area and make sure no further development is carried out here. I want all the stakeholders here to please work with government in the interest of everybody. No one has come here to say I like A, I don’t like B. I know sometimes government’s decisions may not be too comfortable with the people, but in the long run, it is in the interest of the people. Now we are all gathered here and none of us is happy we are here. These are the things we are trying to forestall. Again I sympathize with those who lost dear lives, while government will pick up the bills of all those in the hospital. We will also support the rescue efforts and ensure that they get to the last level and rescue everyone still trapped in the rubble”.

On his part, Director General of FCT Emergency Management Agency FEMA, Dr Abbas Idriss said 37 persons were rescued at the scene of the collapsed structure.

He said the victims were evacuated to various medical facilities in Abuja.

“Thirty Seven persons have so far been rescued and evacuated to hospital, others reportedly still trapped. Rescue team and others are on ground. Rescue operations on but slowly due to ongoing rain”. They are making frantic efforts at getting an excavator to remove people from the rubble”, he added.

The DG commended the efforts of all stakeholders working hard manually to rescue trapped persons, including members of the community.

It was gathered that the victims were taken to various hospitals including the National Hospital, Asokoro, Nyanya, and Garki District Hospitals, Alliance hospital and Zenith hospital.

Also speaking, Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the building had no planning approval because the area is meant for resettlement.

“The building is located within the Garki indigenous settlement. The building had two suspended floors, one used for commercial activities while the other floors were used as residential accommodation. The building caved in yesterday (Wednesday) and 37 persons were rescued

“The status of the place is that it is not a planned area so the development had no planning approval. In fact, the area is meant for resettlement from here to Apo resettlement town”

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Politics

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, has assumed official duties as the Minister of Federal Capital Territory with the minister of state, Mariya Mahmud.

They arrived at FCTA at about 1:20 pm after the swearing-in ceremony at the presidential villa to hold their first press conference.

Wike was accompanied by a mammoth crowd into the building of FCTA.

At his maiden news conference, Nyesom Wike  pledged to restore the city’s master plan, and that land allottees who had been given Certificates of Occupancy but failed to develop them would also lose their lands to give way to those ready to build.

He said: “If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down”,

Culled/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

A 16-year-old female SS3 student, Christabel Henry, of Government Girls Science Secondary School (GGSSS) in Kuje, FCT, was allegedly beaten by the teacher, Mr. David Yusuf, to a state of unconsciousness.

The incident, which occurred during a night prep session on Friday, at 10PM WAT, has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the safety and well-being of students in schools.

According to Mrs. Stella Henry, the victim’s mother, she received a distress call from fellow students informing her that her daughter had been admitted to Kuje General Hospital in a ‘coma’.

Mrs. Henry expressed her shock and dismay, stating that she was unaware of the incident and even so the school authorities took her daughter to the hospital who was unconscious for five hours without notifying her.

The “assault”

Narrating her daughter’s account of the incident, Mrs. Henry explained that the teacher, Mr. David, entered the classroom to charge his hair clipper. When a student made a noise, the teacher demanded the identification of the culprit. Failing to identify the student, Mr. David decided to punish the entire class. He ordered the students to kneel down and asked them to fetch a stick for him. However, when they couldn’t find a stick, he picked up an iron rod and struck a girl in front of Christabel.

“Startled, Christabel exclaimed, “Jesus Christ,” which angered the teacher. He lifted the iron rod to strike her on the head, but she managed to dodge, resulting in the rod hitting her shoulder instead. Undeterred, the teacher raised the rod again intending to hit her, but she instinctively reached out to grab it, causing a deep cut on her palm and injuring three fingers”

The situation escalated as the teacher continued to assault Christabel. He repeatedly slapped her face and struck her shoulder with the iron rod, causing her to hit her head on a chair and lose consciousness. Fellow students intervened to help her, but the teacher persisted in his violent behavior.

Students account

Witnesses, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed Christabel’s version of events, expressing their shock at the teacher’s extreme reaction.

They explained that Christabel had suggested punishing only the responsible student instead of the entire class, which infuriated the teacher and triggered the assault.

Mrs. Henry said she reported the matter to the Kuje Police Station, but the suspect, Mr. David Yusuf, managed to evade arrest, leading to the case being transferred to the FCT Police Command.

Principal evades interview

Efforts to reach the school principal, Mrs. Sabina Agbuedu, for comment were unsuccessful, with calls being answered by someone claiming it was a wrong number, though a search with an Identity App, revealed her name as the owner of the number.

An SMS sent to the number has also not been answered.

The FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Josephine Adeh, confirmed that the case had been received and assured the public that an investigation is underway.

As of now, Christabel has regained consciousness but had to undergo a scan to assess the severity of her head injury, as recommended by the doctor.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter measures to ensure the safety and protection of students in schools.

Julian Osamoto

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Economy

The Federal government has concluded arrangements to harmonize revenue collection in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Sub-States across the Federation. 

The minister of FCT Mallam Muhammad Bello made this known in Akure, Ondo State during a two-day retreat on the harmonization of revenue collection in the FCT 

Mallam Muhammad Bello decried that multiple agencies and departments responsible for the collection of various taxes and fees from businesses and individuals had caused confusion, duplication, and inefficiency within the system 

Represented by the permanent secretary, FCT Administration, Sir Olusade Adesola, the minister explained that the reform would enhance transparent, predictable and efficient regulatory environment for businesses 

Earlier, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was represented by Ondo state commissioner for finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa recommended policy and administrative reforms which he said had increased the State’s IGR from 10.2 billion naira in 2017 to 32.8 billion naira in 2022

Also, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi who described the tax as an essential tool for national growth advised the government on moderate taxation to encourage small businesses to grow 

In separate remarks, some participants including Chairman of, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Muhammad Nami described the retreat as not only timely but also a key to getting sustainable internally generated revenue for a better standard of living

Olorunferanmi Odofin

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Lifestyle

The first batch of pilgrims to return from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria has landed safely at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,  Abuja. 

The 423 pilgrims who were  from Federal Capital Territory  left Jeddah Airport this morning aboard

FLYNAS flight XY7002 and landed in Abuja around noon.

Another FlyNas flight is expected to leave for Nigeria later today with second set of passengers of the FCT.

Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria,  NAHCON, Alhaji Zikirullah  Hassan had earlier said the pilgrims’ departure from the holy land would be in line with their arrival into Saudi- Arabia. 

Alhaji Hassan who asked for the cooperation of other stakeholders gave an assurance that the airlifting of pilgrims back to Nigeria would have been completed before August 13 deadline given by Saudi Arabia. 

In a statement in Makkah by NAHCON’s Assistant Director,  Public Affairs, Alhaja Fatima Sanda- Usara, the inaugural flight from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia was conducted by Max Air on the 9th  of last month ( June ) with pilgrims from Borno State. 

The statement,  however, notes that due to home advantage,  Saudi- Arabia FlyNas secured slots earlier than Max Air that is billed to commence its homeward journey from tomorrow, Saturday, 16th July with pilgrims from Maiduguri Borno state.

Our Correspondent,  Ridwan Fasasi reports that the  3rd approved airline, Azman will not begin its return journey until next week Wednesday due to the delay it experienced during the outbound journey to Saudi Arabia for this year’s pilgrimage. 

Ridwan Fasasi

Security

Following the recent attack at the Kuje Medium Correctional Facility by suspected terrorists, which led to the escape of many inmates, the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello has tasked traditional rulers in the area, especially, to work with relevant security operatives to apprehend all the escapees.

Malam Bello who stated this in Abuja, when he visited the Kuje Prison facility for an on-the-spot assessment of damage after the attack, called on the Gomo of Kuje, Haruna Tanko Jibrin to summon all traditional chiefs in Kuje Area Council to combine intelligence with security agencies to fish out the escaped inmates from the community.

The FCT Minister also called on members of the communities to provide appropriate intelligence to the security agencies to enable them to do their work.

He expressed confidence that with maximum cooperation from the communities, all those that escaped would be traced and brought back to the facility.

The Minister who met with the Comptroller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa and the Gomo of Kuje during the visit, described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate”.

The Minister also said efforts are being made to strengthen security around the facility, and other parts of the territory.

Malam Bello expressed his condolences to the Gomo of Kuje, and sympathised with the family of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps officer who lost his life during the incident, describing him as “a very fine and gallant officer”.

On the Minister’s entourage to the correction facility were, the FCT Police Commissioner, Sunday Babaji and heads of all the security agencies in the FCT, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, and other senior officials of the FCT Administration.

Frcn Abuja / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Security

Police in Abuja Friday found a resident of the FCT, Safiyanu Amira, the lady who raised the alarm on Twitter alleging that 17 persons, including three expectant women and their children, were kidnapped randomly at the Apo district of Abuja by persons dressed in Police uniforms.

Recall that in a series of tweets, Amira alleged that she and the other victims were abducted at gunpoint after the gunmen came knocking on their doors and as soon as the door is opened, the men in police uniforms took them into a standby/waiting vehicle and later drove to unknown destinations.

She had also tweeted the locations of the alleged kidnappers, saying they did not know she was with a phone.

When contacted on the development on Tuesday, FCT Police Command had noted it was investigating the alleged abductions.

However, on Friday, in a statement, the FCT Police Command debunked the allegation of kidnapping noting that it had found Amira and she “is currently safe in Police custody.”

It said, “The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command wishes to categorically debunk the viral news of the alleged kidnapping of one Safiyanu Amira and seventeen (17) others who were reportedly abducted at gunpoint by Armed men in Police uniform on Tuesday 14th June 2022 at about 1:00 pm and to state that Safiyanu Amira is currently safe in Police custody.”

“While she is currently in the hospital receiving medical attention as demanded by global best practices, the investigation continues and findings will be communicated subsequently.

“The Commissioner of Police FCT Command, CP Babaji Sunday while commending the gallantry of the Tactical and Investigative apparatus detailed on the case, appreciated the members of the public for their calm maintained and the various degrees of useful information given to the Police.

“He enjoined the people of the FCT not to relent in partnering with the police, especially towards the rendition of information, to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence.”

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Transportation

 

Following an attack on the Kaduna-Abuja train by suspected terrorists, Kaduna commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Samuel Aruwan has stated that the evacuation of those trapped has been concluded by security forces, officials of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Nigerian Red Cross.

“Passengers who sustained injuries, and other fatalities, have been moved to hospitals, he said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the state would bear the cost of treatment.

According to the commissioner, the Kaduna government was still liaising with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to compile a list of passengers on the train to guarantee that everyone was accounted for.

The Monday 6 p.m. train, which departed from Idu Station in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was bound for Rigasa train station in Kaduna, was hit by explosives around 30 minutes before its destination.

This comes just days after an attack on Kaduna International Airport.

Reports say after an explosive device detonated; the train was believed to have derailed.

In an earlier statement, Aruwan said security agencies had secured the Kaduna-bound train.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria,  told newsmen on Monday night that “there were reports of gunshots and the train derailed due to the incident.”

According to a notification on the NRC booking portal, train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route have been suspended.

The NRC also made the announcement via its Twitter handle.

Train services were also suspended in October 2021 after 2 security incidents on the same route.

The train has allowed travellers to avoid the risks connected with travelling by car, such as violent attacks and commuter abductions.

 

Frcn Abuja/Kupoliyi

Economy

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is on its way to self sufficiency in food production.

The President stated this at unveiling of Rice Pyramids in the FCT financed by the Central Bank of Nigeria under the Anchor Borrowers Program.

He said the Anchor Borrowers Program had supported his Governments commitment to economic diversification as it had granted loans to about four point right million smallholder farmers for food production.

President Buhari said Nigeria now produces seven point five million metric tons of rice annually from four million metric tons in 2015.

In his presentation, the Governorof the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele said the display of the Rice pyramids is a celebration of farmers who had displayed doggedness amid daunting challenges including insecurity.

He said a similar feat will soon be recorded in wheat production as it had moved to transform the value chain.

Biodun Dare

Health

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, PSC, has put six States and the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the FCT, on red alert as part of preventive measures against a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic following the confirmation of the Delta Variant and the rising number of infections and hospitalization in the country.

Chairman of the PSC and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, in a statement urges States to heighten preparedness and continue to enforce safety protocols, “given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant”.

The PSC also notes its plan to continue to minimize the risk of importation of Variants of Concern into the country by strengthening Surveillance at all Points of Entry, enforcing extant quarantine protocols and sustaining the current restrictive measures against travelers arriving from India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

While felicitating with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the statement stresses the need for Religious Leaders to be mindful of the potential for the wider spread of the virus during large gatherings.

The statement recommends decentralization of Eid prayer to neighborhood Friday prayer mosques, suspension of durbar activities and limitations on indoor gatherings, as preventive measures for a safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration

Emmanuel Kutara

Sport

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) congratulates the newly elected State Executive Committee of its FCT Chapter led by Mr. Ndubueze Chidoka, who is a member of staff of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Abuja.

Despite the numerous challenges in the buildup to the election, it is gratifying to note that FCT SWAN chapter was able to overcome those challenges both from some insiders and their collaborators from outside the Association.

This is sequel to the report of the three-man NEC delegate that supervised the said election in line with *Article 12 (g)(ii)* of the SWAN Statute.

According to the report by the delegate led by the South-South Vice President of SWAN, *Bonny Nyong*, the election was conducted in a very peaceful and convivial atmosphere to the admiration of everyone.

NEC wants to advise the elected Chairman and his executive members to be magnanimous in victory and ensure they accommodate every bonafide member of the chapter. To this effect, the Executive Committee may consider setting up a reconciliation committee to reconcile any member who may have been angered by the outcome of the election.

Similarly, the Executive Committee should also at all times knowing that SWAN is a professional body, endeavour to pilot its affairs in line with the Statute of the Association.

Going forward, the leadership of FCT chapter should encourage its members to regularly update their membership because that is the only way they will be eligible to participate in every activity of the Association both in the chapter and at the national level.   

It must also be noted that the NEC under the leadership of Sir, Honour Sirawoo will continue to work and collaborate with the various chapters to develop the Association.

Olaolu Fawole

Security

The Defence Headquarters has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory and adjoining states of safety.

This is contained in a Press Release by the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Major General John Enenche

                       Text of Press Release    

Security Alert: Defence Headquarters Assures Residents of FCT and Adjoining States of Safety

1. The Defence Headquarters wish to reassure residents of FCT and other adjoining States that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on red alert to combat crime and ensure effective surveillance of the Federal Capital Territory and other States of the country. This is imperative sequel to a purported memorandum from the Nigeria Customs Service warning it’s staff  on a possible attack on the FCT. The Armed Forces of Nigeria working together with other security and response agencies particularly the core intelligence agencies hereby assure the general public that preventive and preemptive intelligence are ongoing. The general public is thus advised to go about their lawful businesses undeterred.

2. Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wish to assure the general public that the offensives against the common enemies of this Nation will not cease until normalcy is restored in all parts of the country. Hence, the general public is equally enjoined to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity accordingly.

3. You are please requested to disseminate this information through your medium for the awareness of the general public. Thank you for your usual support and cooperation.

JOHN ENENCHE

Major General

Coordinator

Defence Media Operations

Health

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared curfew in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State .

According to the President the curfew was to contain the community transmission of covid-19 in the states where it is prevalent.

He said this during a nationwide broadcast on Sunday the 29th of March 2020.

“Based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.

This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.

All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.

The Governors of Lagos and Ogun States, as well as the Minister of the FCT, have been notified. Furthermore, heads of security and intelligence agencies have also been briefed.

We will use this containment period to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases. We will ensure the treatment of confirmed cases while restricting further spread to other States.

This order does not apply to hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organizations in health care-related manufacturing and distribution.
Furthermore, Commercial establishments such as;

a. Food processing, distribution and Retail companies;

b. Petroleum distribution and retail entities,

c. Power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and

d. Private security companies are also exempted.


Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored. 

Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted”.

President Muhammadu Buhari

29th March 2020

News Analysis

One disease which has continued to record recurrence in Nigeria over the years is Yellow Fever.

Yellow Fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease spread by a particular species of mosquito common in areas of Africa, Central and South America.

The mosquito, aedes aegypti species is believed to transmit the virus from person to person while the “yellow” refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

Some of the symptoms of yellow fever include jaundice, sudden fever, headache, muscle and body pains, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Early this month, three people were reported to have died from an outbreak of yellow fever in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa Local Government areas of Bauchi State.

This prompted the state governor to embark on reactive vaccination for over five hundred thousand residents scattered across the twenty local government areas of the state.

Also, following the outbreak of the disease in eight local government areas of Ebonyi state.

In May this year, twenty of the fifty five suspected cases have reportedly died.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, deployed a rapid response team to support Ebonyi state with contract tracing and case finding.

Available records show that from an outbreak in 2017 to December 2018, three thousand, nine hundred and two suspected cases were reported from all thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Nigeria.

This is a wakeup call to states to increase surveillance in this regard.

Commendably, the eliminate yellow fever epidemics strategy launched in 2017 with more than fifty partners has been working assiduously to reduce the impact of the disease in forty at risk countries in Africa and the Americas.

The partnership is committed to preventing international spread and containing outbreaks rapidly.

It is expected that by 2026 more than one billion people will be protected against the disease.

Also, the federal government in collaboration with World Health Organisation, WHO, and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, recently launched the Yellow Fever Reactive Vaccination Campaign in three states of Ebonyi, Benue and Cross River to contain the outbreak in affected areas.

More still needed to be done to combat this disease.

It is imperative to invest more in vaccines which have been proven to be very effective.

A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and lifelong protection against the disease.

This is important as there is no specific anti-viral drug for yellow fever currently.

Since diagnosis may be difficult at the early stage, it is recommended that people having symptoms related to the aforementioned report to the hospital for proper testing, diagnosis and treatment.

The yellow fever vaccine is available for free in Primary Health Care Centres across the country as part of the routine immunization schedule, mothers should avail themselves of this opportunity for their babies.

People should maintain proper hygiene at all times, clear stagnant waters from their environment, wear protective clothing and use repellent against these mosquitoes which are more active during the day time.

There should be adequate mapping by epidemiologists to identify high risk areas and constantly monitor them to forestall outbreak.

States should embark on regular aerial spraying of aedes mosquitoes identified as the vector that transmits yellow fever disease.

There should also be increased surveillance at the country’s borders to ensure that people with yellow fever and other infectious diseases are prevented from entering the country.

Most importantly, strong commitment at all level of governance is necessary if the country wants to be free from yellow fever.

Anthonia Akanji