Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Kaduna State Command, have disclosed that it arrested 84 suspects and seized 451.976kg of illicit drugs in Kaduna State.
Ibrahim Braji, NDLEA Commander in Kaduna said the arrest and seizures were made between July and August.
Braji said within the period under review, the Command secured six convictions of suspects.
The Commander said the various drugs seized included Indian Hemp, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Tramadol and other Psychotropic substances.
“ Grand total weight of drug seized within the period under review is 451.976kg.
The Commander, also, disclosed that its Operatives also recovered 90 rounds of live ammunition; Live bullets of 7.62mm calibres and a new Jojef pump action gun with registration number 23-0174.
“Within the month under review, 18 illicit drug joints have been dismantled across the state which included Kantin Agah, Hayin Dan-mani, Mando, Anguwan Dosa, Mararabar Rido, Tukur-Tukur and Sabon Gari.
Others are Palladan, Unguwar Doki, Mekera, Rigasa, Dan Daura, Karji, Ghana road, Television, Unguwar Ma’azu, Kudenden and Jushi.
Braji appealed to parents to watch over their children and know the kind of friends they associated with at all times.
He warned illegal drug dealers to look for better livelihood, adding that if they refused, the agency would go after them and ensure they faced the full wrath of the law.
After about 70 years of its establishment, the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, (FECA) Ondo state, is still battling with threats from land owners and grabbers.
To this end, the Provost of the College, Dr. Akinyemi Fadiyimu, has cried out over continuous attacks and harassment of students and staff of the institution by those still laying claim to ownership of land on which the college is located.
Apart from physical attacks, Dr. Fadiyimu said the people are in court and that three quarters of the institution’s land would be gone if the court ruled in their favour.
According to him, five different litigations are currently filed by aggrieved individuals that are laying claim to ownership of college’s land.
The Provost, who disclosed this to leadership of media correspondents in Akure during a visit, stated that the security threat faced by students due to attacks by land grabbers was causing distraction for the institution.
Besides attack by land grabbers, Dr. Fadiyimu said removal of Colleges of Agriculture from benefitting from Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) caused ‘serious infrastructural deficit in the institution.’
“Our greatest threat here is the issue of land grabbing. Land grabbers want to forcefully encroach on our land. We are facing five litigations from people who are trying to lay claim to this college. On several fronts, different persons are laying claim to our land. The issues are so serious.
“If per chance we should loose those cases, the land available to this college will be reduced by three quarter. Only one quarter will be left for us to operate.
“They come in all the time to attack our staff and students. It is a lot of security risk for staff and students.
“The location of the college is attractive to land speculators. They should leave us alone to develop and be able to serve the society.”
He also revealed that the College has not been receiving the needed patronage from both the state or the federal government.
“There are a lot of developmental project lacking in the institution. There is dearth of infrastructure. The federal government has been shortchanging us since 2010.
“We (college of Agriculture) were removed from benefitting from TETFUND. In 2010 all Colleges of Agriculture were exempted but state universities are benefiting from it. State governments are not establishing College of Agriculture because they will not have access to TETFUND.
“We are talking about food security, agricultural development. Our graduate are able to ensure we achieve technological advancement. We are critical stakeholders in agricultural development in this country.”
At last, the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) has a Board strictly saddled with responsibility of recruiting personnel into the Force. The Police Service Commission (PSC), has just announced the setting up of the Recruitment Board.
The Board, which is made up of relevant stakeholders as announced by PSC Chairman, Solomon Arase, would be inaugurated in due cause.
It will be responsible for screening and ensuring that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the Nigeria Police Force reflecting the principle of Federal Character.
PSC’s move is in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court on July 11, 2023, which laid to rest the contentious issue and controversy between the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force, as to whose duty it was to recruit constables for the Nigeria Police.
The Supreme Court in the judgment, unequivocally held that the Police Service Commission remains the agency statutorily mandated to do so.
In a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of the PSC, Dr Arase, explained that the imperativeness of peace, harmony and cordiality between the two institutions cannot be over-emphasized.
He pointed out that contemporary security provision has become more tasking than ever
Arase, in the statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC, stated that there are more demands than ever before for a robust policy guideline from the Commission.
He added that “the Nigeria Police Force must be repositioned for greater efficiency and effectiveness in not only meeting up with the myriad of security challenges confronting the country but, also birthing a responsive, responsible and accountable police for the nation.
“Peace is essential for growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate, and it is hoped that the Commission and NPF will continue to build and consolidate on the emerging trust, confidence and mutual respect.
“This will aggregate to foster and entrench a culture of love and symbiotic relationship between the two agencies, towards the attainment of our statutory mandates, for a greater, safer, prosperous and more secure Nigeria.
“Prior to the judgment, efforts were already in process and at advanced stage towards amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions.
“It is highly embarrassing to Government, and indeed other stakeholders for the duo, which ought to work in harmony and mutuality to have engaged in such avoidable legal disputation over an issue that sought understanding, respect and compromise.”
Arase stressed that chairman of the PSC noted that before the Supreme Court judgement, the unnecessary imbroglio impacted negatively on the Staff of the Commission and officers and other ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.
He further said that the judgment simply and legally cements the resolution of the issue in a win-win situation for the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force which ordinarily cannot effectively function, and deliver on its respective mandates without the cooperation of each other.
The chairman of the PSC therefore said that it must be said and seen, that the judgment was delivered for the overall best interest of national security, and goes to underscore the imperative need for harmonious working relationship and mutual trust amongst agencies of Government.
“Consequently, it is important that all concerned de-escalate and eschew all forms of hostilities, misconceptions, preconceptions and prejudices against each other which were at the base of the hitherto characterizing of a no love lost relationship between the Commission and the NPF.”
Another Law Lecturer has fallen over allegations of se€ual harassment of female students. The Lecturer who fell on the wayside, this time, is Mr Adam Ezeaku of the Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
Ezeaku’s fall came fast on the heels of the fall of the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Professor Cyril Ndifon.
Ndifon was suspended, and is facing an investigation after the unprecedented public protest by female Law students of UNICAL against his alleged constant se€ual harassment of the girls. Carrying placards, the female students, backed by their male counterparts, marched to the Vice Chancellor’s office to ask for the sack of the Dean. He has since been suspended after his unsatisfactory answer to a query, and is now undergoing investigation.
Soon after Ndifon’s scandal, the news broke that students of UNIZIK have followed in the foot steps of their UNICAL counterparts.
The difference: they accused their Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Esimone, of sitting on the report of a Panel headed by Professor Obi Ogujiefor to investigate allegations of se€ual harassment against some lectures.
But in a press release, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor on Public Relations and Special Duties, said there was no protest by the students over se€ual harassment. He also said it was not true that the Vice Chancellor had taken no action over the allegations, the indictment of Ezeaku, and the students’ concerns.
His words: “It is important to state that there was no protest of any sort in the university.
“However, there is an ongoing investigation concerning alleged se€ual harassment by some lecturers.
“The Vice Chancellor immediately removed the affected lecturers from their official positions and issued those affected strong warning letters in the affected departments.”
He, however said the problem was that the students who made the allegations were not forthcoming in appearing before the investigation panel to give evidence.
He disclosed that the Vice Chancellor had summoned a meeting of all the affected departments where he expressed the university’s embarrassment, and read the riot act to staff over unwholesome behaviours, especially, se€ual harassments of students.
Ojukwu, also, disclosed that the Vice Chancellor has made available a dedicated telephone number for students to “report all forms of harassment by staff especially se€ual harassment.”
The Vice Chancellor, Ojukwu said, “further assured students of the renewed determination of the university to protect them and treat all forms of allegations of se€ual harassment with the seriousness it deserves and confidentially.”
Se€ual harassment of female students by Lectures has, in recent times, become a big problem in Universities in Nigeria.
The Military Junta in Niger Republic has denied the viral news that it has expelled Nigeria’s Ambassador, to the Country, Mohamed Usman.
On Friday, the news broke that Niger Republic’s Foreign Affairs Ministry had, in a release, ordered the expulsion of Usman alongside the Ambassadors of France, Germany, and USA. They were given 48 hours to leave the country.
In the case of Nigeria, the statement said: “In reaction to Nigerian Ambassador Mohamed Usman’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday August 25 at 11.30 a.m., and due to other actions of the Nigerian government contrary to Niger’s interests, the ministry is giving 48 hours to Mr. Mohamed Usman’s to leave the Nigerien territory.”
But on Saturday, the Country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement, dismissed the first memo as fake. It said it only expelled the French Ambassador.
The statement reads:
“Contrary to the information deliberately distilled on social networks which report a decision by the Nigerien authorities ordering the Ambassadors of Germany, Nigeria and the United States of America to leave Nigerien territory within 48 hours, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad specifies that the said information is false and that only the Ambassador of France in Niger is declared persona non grata.
“Also, the Ministry reminds those who are agitated and still doubt the expression of its sovereign will, that Niger does not need an authorization or an interpretation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to exercise its prerogatives and have Ambassador Sylvain ITTE leave, after this 48-hour period ubur D Done in Niamey on August 25.”
Reports indicate the Junta was embarrassed by the news of the expulsions as it was unaware of it.
Usman, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Niamey had, earlier, denied the story of his expulsion.
It feels great to welcome you all to the valedictory ceremony for #BemoreOndo2023.
The last two weeks have been truly eventful. These freshly-minted Bemore champions are the beautiful products of our rigour in the last two weeks. They have been carefully moulded in line with Bemore Standard and I can tell you for free that this is another BREED WITHOUT GREED.
Having given them the best in the various spheres, it is time to formally release them to take on the world.
While all Bemore girls are very dear to me, let me note that the 2023 set occupies a peculiar place in my heart for personal reasons, and as such, I look forward to seeing them achieve special wins.
It may interest you all to know that, since the founding of Bemore Summer Boot Camp, six years ago, this is the only edition, in the series, that I was not physically part of its making. And, perhaps, this explains why I consider the set as unique in a way.
Let me say, however, to my new Bemore Techy Girls, that, you may have missed grandma’s physical warmth on your arrival in the camp; you may have missed bonding with me on the Yoga mat or missed having to watch and cheer you on the day you played friendly football match with the Sunshine Queens. And you won!
Bemore is increasingly becoming a breeding ground for future female footballers. Ondo State Sports Council should take note. You may even be missing me on this day, your graduation day, to share the dance stage with you for the valedictory dance; but be assured that I am greatly celebrating you right here in Germany, thanks to digital technology. Nevertheless, you will all dance with grandma again.
Reiterating the good job Bemore was set out to do, we have built another batch of builders. Our primary business has been about giving a head start. Bemore thrives on building capacities as well as building lives. We have since built sturdy bridges across ethnic, religious and economic boundaries by turning lives around and yearly enlarging our empire of female champions.
Over the years, we have built incredible talents in solar technology, ICT and nurtured a culture of entrepreneurial adventure. And as we build, we give them out as bricks for building a virile, fair and gender balanced society. Having built over three thousand vibrant young women who are making waves on different fronts around the world, it is only ideal to build for these geniuses a place they all can call a home; a befitting edifice where the generations of Bemore girls would freely meet, interact and make things happen.
We are, therefore, calling on all well meaning citizens, government, corporate bodies, donor agencies to join us in building a home, our own Jerusalem, for these problem solvers; to join us in securing a lustrous legacy that will outlive us all and last for generations.
It will interest you to note that land has been acquired at Emure-Ile, along Owo road, and the designs are ready. Please, check out the designs, well displayed on the bill boards for you to appreciate and make commitments.
I, therefore call on you, my friends, associates and political enthusiasts, to join hands with me in erecting enduring halls, hostels etc that would stand as a memorabilia in your honour when we have all gone; to donate structures in your names that would remind the world into the far future of what roles you played in the struggle for the emancipation of the girl child in this nation and the continent even when we are no longer here.
This is the clarion call we all need to heed to help the girl children to soar above primordial limitations, to restore abundant pride to the female folk; to give girls renewed sense of self and a worthier future, and to build a gender-fair country that we all can be proud of.
As I crave your sincere support and commitment towards the success of this illustrious project, individually, as government and corporate bodies, I would like to mention that we have a goal to hold the next Bemore boot camp at the permanent site, and we believe that this is achievable with your kind support.
As I thank all persons and bodies who have variously contributed to the success of the 2023 Bemore Summer Boot Camp, may I appreciate in a special way, Mabest Academy, our host for Bemore Summer Bootcamp for two consecutive editions that facilitated a hitch free stay on their premises. As we plan to build a permanent site for Bemore, the role Mabest Academy played in the success of Bemore Summer Bootcamp will remain unforgettable and evergreen.
May I add, that the last two weeks have been a show of love by our technical partners – Ashdam solar and Matrix Technologies, matrons, assistant matrons and facilitators for the development of the Nigerian girl-child.
Though the training was designed to be intensive and can sometimes be stressful like waking up at 5am for jogging and exercise, we also made learning to be fun and the outcome has been positive and remarkable.
I am yet to receive any expression of regret from Bemore girls, parents or sponors for participating in Bemore Summer Bootcamp since its inception in 2017! So na carry go be dat!
Lastly, I join the Bemore family to remind my brand new Bemore Techy Girls of the need to keep your heads high up; of the beauty of being women on your own terms; of the primacy of deploying the skills acquired to live above board and help humanity and of the special joy in giving back to your community like the Bemore Sister’s Network is doing. Go ye to the world and conquer! Grandma loves you all.
Text of an address by Ondo State’s First Lady & Founder of BEMORE Empowered Girls’ Foundation, Her Excellency, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, at the Closing Ceremony of BEMORE Ondo 2023, which held at Mabest Academy, Oke-Ijebu, Akure, Ondo State
Death struck Saturday morning, August 26, 2023, and unexpectedly, took away with it, Major General Bernard Onyeuko.
Onyeuko who was promoted to the rank of a Major General in December, 2022, hardly enjoyed his rank before he was retired recently. His retirement, along with others, followed the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu. Course-wise, they were his junior.
He did not, also, enjoy his retirement before his sudden death.
Reports say he was hail and hearty, with no signs of ill-health, but that he suddenly complained of “cold”. He was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja where he died.
General Onyeuko had held a couple of high profile offices in the Military including, Director Defence Media Operations, and Director, Procurement, Defence Headquarters – his last office before his retirement.
Newly recruited secondary school teachers in Ekiti state are entangled in ongoing administrative supremacy between the commissioner for education and career civil servants in the Ministry.
The State Teaching Service Commission had on Friday released lists containing names of those that scaled through the interview processes for appointment as teachers.
A statement by the Commission read “Following the recruitment exercise recently carried out by the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission for the appointment of qualified
teachers into the State Public Secondary Schools, the Commission hereby releases the under-listed names of successful applicants.
“Accordingly, all successful applicants are enjoined to complete their documentation at the Teaching Service Commission between
Monday, 28th and Thursday, 31st August, 2023.
“They are to come along with original copies of their credentials and receipts of payment for the sum of Five Thousand Naira
(N5,000.00)each for employment and document forms payable to: Account No:0537177025,
Account Name: Teaching Service Commission
Overhead Account Bank Name: FCMB.’
Sources at the commission disclosed that this has been the practice for newly employed teachers to pay N5,000, regarded as administrative charges for processing of their credentials.
Recalled that the state Civil Service Commission had earlier forced some job applicants to pay N3,000 to the state Treasury for inexistent job vacancies.The applicants are yet to be refunded their money.
The latest information for newly recruited teachers did not however go down well with the commissioner for education, Mrs Kofoworola Aderiye who views the order as exploitative of the new recruits.
Aderiye is coming to the ministry for second time as commissioner, after serving as Special Adviser in same ministry and could not have claimed ignorance of previous payment of ‘administrative charge’s by recruits.
A counter order by the commissioner states “Further to the notification for the release of lists of successful applicants into teaching profession in Ekiti State Public Secondary Schools, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr ( Mrs) Kofoworola Aderiye mni has directed that successful applicants are not required to pay for the employment and documentation forms as contained in the earlier notification.
“However, they are to appear for documentation processes at the Teaching Service Commission from Wednesday 30th August, 2023 to Tuesday 5th September, 2023 at 9.00am prompt. This information supercedes the earlier notification in this regard.”
The Commissioner’s counter order was signed by the permanent secretary, Mike Omolayo.
Some Staff of the Ministry are surprised by the Commissioner’s counter order since she has been part of the system.
It was gathered that some of the successful candidates had already paid the money into the stipulated account before the Commissioner’s order.
President Bola Tinubu says his administration will ensure that judicial officers in the country are well-remunerated in its effort for swift dispensation of justice and to combat corruption.
The president made this known when the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its President, Yakubu Maikyau paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja
Nigerian judges are not well paid, according to those familiar with their earnings even though their job loads are very high.
Apart from their poor pay, the environment in which they work is not complimentary, considering how important their work is to the smooth dispensation of justice in the country.
For instance, a Supreme Court Justice is believed to be earning less than N800,000 per month, while other judges in the lower courts earn less, according to those close to the nation’s court system.
The salaries of Ministers, Senators, and House of Representatives members are way higher than this.
Not a few Nigerians have therefore demanded upward reviews of judicial officers’ remuneration in line with the importance of their duty to the country.
President Tinubu. According to a statement issued on Friday by his Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity has now promised to increase salaries and allowance of judges as part of his government’s reform of the nation’s judiciary, saying this is necessary “to fight corruption in the judiciary.”
“We must deal with the review of remuneration if we truly want to fight corruption in the Judiciary. We will look at the cost as well as the consequences,” President Tinubu told the NBA President during the meeting.
The Port Harcourt refinery will be ready by December 2023 as had been earlier scheduled, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has said.
The minister spoke after inspecting the refinery facilities to ascertain the level of work done.
The federal government started the repairs of the refinery in 2021 with $1.5 billion allocated for the project, which had earlier been scheduled to start working by December 2022.
The scheduled time for production in the 210,000 barrel per day capacity refineries has been shifted twice, raising doubts about the government’s seriousness in making the refinery functional
Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration made a renewed commitment to pull the refineries back to work, as part of the agreement with organized Labour to shelve their nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy and its consequential increase in the pump price of petrol.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC had demanded the repairs of all the refineries in the country to ease the frequent increase in the price of fuel in the country.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to ensure that the refineries become functional, the minister said repairs are currently ongoing to beat the deadline.
He explained that other refineries in Warri and Kaduna, including Dangote Refineries will start work by the end of 2024, adding that the aim of the government is to ensure better supply of petroleum products in the country.
According to him, “Our objective is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria will stop fuel importation. The idea is to ensure that we complete these refineries on time to enable the people enjoy the benefits of deregulation.
“These things take time to do, but Nigerians should expect better supply of fuel and better economy. We believe that this projects will be completed as scheduled to renew the hopes of Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians are curious why the Dangote Refinery has not started production, three months after it was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, the owner of the multi-billion dollar petrochemical refinery promised that production would commence by July this year.
