Security

Reps Reiterate Call for Sack of Service Chiefs

By Web News 805

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed alarm by the attack on the convoy of the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum by suspected insurgents, insisting that the sad incident has again reinforced the urgent need to review the nations security architecture.

Minority Leader of the House, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement urged the presidency to implement the recent resolution of both chambers of the National Assembly asking President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his Service Chiefs.

Mr Elumelu also noted that the attack on the state governor and other dastardly activities of the insurgents in various parts of the nation have further reinforced the urgent need to inject new hands with fresh ideas to handle the nation’s security architecture.

According to him, the worsening security situation in the country under the current Service Chiefs has reached an unbearable state to the extent that insurgents have the temerity to attack an armed convoy of a state governor.

Ibrahim Shehu

Transportation

Transfer of Federal Roads to States Requires Amendment of Privatisation Act – Gbajabiamila

By Web News 686

Speaker of the House of Representative, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila says the transfer of some Federal Government roads to state governments may require amendment of Privatisation Act.

Mr Gbajabiamila stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun in Okemosan Abeokuta.

Mr Femi Gbajabiamila said that transferring Federal Government roads to state government might not be as easy as it seems, explaining that the House would fashion out ways to address it.

He described Ogun State as one of the industrial hubs of the country, and said that there was a need to provide passable roads and conducive environment for investors.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, who acknowledged Governor Abiodun efforts at boosting infrastructure development also commended the state government for taking proactive steps in tackling COVID-19 global pandemic in the state

Earlier, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had appealed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives to intercede on behalf of the state government for the release of some Federal roads to the state.

Governor Abiodun explained that Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, Agbara/Lusada Atan road and other Federal roads in the state were in deplorable condition, thereby hindering the socio economic life of people in the affected areas. 

 Bolanle Adesida

Politics

House of Reps Orders IGP to Arrest Acting MD of NDDC

By Web News 654

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives have ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to immediately arrest the Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Prof Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, for contempt of the legislature.

The Interim Management Committee of the NDDC led by Pondei had staged a walk-out from the committee when it appeared for the continuation of the investigative hearing of the commission. 

Pondei questioned the credibility of the House Committee, saying the committee Chairman, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, was corrupt as he had benefited from award of contracts in the commission.

Irked by the walk-out, spokesperson for the House, Benjamin Kalu, moved a motion invoking section 89 of the 1999 constitution , to issue a warrant of arrest.

The motion was seconded and passed.

Politics

Facility Decay: House Committee Assures FRCN of Quick Response

By Web News 957

House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, has pledged its determination to upgrade facilities of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.

Chairman of the committee, Mr. Olusegun Odebunmi made the pledge when he led other members of the committee on facility inspection to FRCN stations in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Radio Nigeria reporter, Adedayo Adelowo, reports that the committee was received by the management of the FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station.

The first port of call was Amuludun FM at Moniya, the only federal government-owned indigenous radio station in the Southwest, where they were received amidst pomp and ceremony.

The facilities inspected both at Amuludun FM and Broadcasting House, Dugbe, included live and recording studios, mast and power generating plants which has been one of the major challenges of the station, and other broadcasting equipment.

The Zonal Director, FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, who conducted them round the operational areas, took the pains to explain the state of the broadcasting equipment.

Alhaji Bello said Radio Nigeria was an asset to the nation, which should not be allowed to languish in infrastructural decay.

Having inspected the facilities, the chairman of the committee and member representing Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere Federal Constituency in Oyo State, Mr. Olusegun Odebunmi, who expressed dissatisfaction on the state of facilities at the federal establishment, however, commended management and staff of FRCN Ibadan for dishing out quality services despite the visible challenges.

Mr. Odebunmi pledged the readiness of the committee to put the needs of the station forward for prompt action, expressing the confidence that the visit would definitely yield positive results in no distant time.

He implored the management and staff of FRCN to work towards improving their internally generated revenue to complement the effort of the government.

In a remark, Director General, FRCN, Dr. Mansur Liman, who was represented by the Director of Finance, Mr. Michael Oluwole, assured the visitors that Radio Nigeria would not disappoint them.

The committee, thereafter proceeded to the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Ibadan.

Adedayo Adelowo

Politics

House Committee Chairman Visits NTA, Lament Obsolete Equipment

By Web News 893

House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to provide requisite facilities that would make the Nigerian Television Authorities, NTA, ready for digital switch.

Chairman of the committee, Mr. Olusegun Odebunmi made the call when he led other members of the committee on inspection of facilities at the Ibadan Zonal Station of the NTA.

Mr. Odebunmi lamented obsolete equipment currently at the disposal of the NTA saying it was incumbent on the federal government to expedite action through urgent procurement of modern broadcast transmission facilities that would prepare the station for digital switch.

The House Committee Chairman who commended the staff of the Nigerian Television Authority for living up to expectations despite inadequate broadcast equipment said the federal government should not allow election period to form the bases of doing the needful to its media outfit.

In an interview, the Zonal Director, NTA, Ibadan National Station, Engineer Omolola Olorode expressed optimism that the visit of the committee would fast-track the total transformation of the station which she said was long overdue.

Facilities inspected by the committee included rehearsal studio, audiovisual studio library, master control room, transmitter, museum, and the station’s power-house.

Rotimi Famakin