Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) has raised the alarm over plot by some Nigerians who have connived with external forces to incite religious violence in the country.
DSS confirmed this on Monday in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, stating that those individuals target states like Sokoto; Kano; Kaduna; Plateau; Rivers, Oyo, Lagos, and the rest of the South East.
The DSS spokesman disclosed that part of the plan is to cause inter-religious conflicts by using their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, key and vulnerable points.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to alert the public about plans by some elements working with external forces to incite religious violence across the country. Targeted states include Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Rivers, Oyo, Lagos and those in the South East.
“Part of the plans is to cause inter-religious conflicts as well as use their foot soldiers to attack some worship centres, religious leaders, personalities, key and vulnerable points.
“Consequently, Nigerians are advised to be wary of these antics and shun all divisive tendencies aimed at inciting or setting them against one another”, Afunanya said.
He stated further that the service would collaborate with sister agencies to ensure that public order is maintained, noting that those hatching the plots are warned to desist from them in the interest of peace, security, and development of the country.
Law abiding citizens and residents should report suspected breaches of peace around them to the nearest security agencies, Afunanya advised.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi (seated right) during the signing ceremony
The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mota- Engil Group for the construction of $1.959billion dollars Kano-Maradi Standard Gauge Railway lines.
In a statement by Eric Ojiekwe, Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the project was aimed at linking the whole country by rail.
The MoU was signed by Amaechi on behalf of the Federal Government while the Managing Director, Mota- Engil, Antonio Gvoea signed on behalf of the contracting firm.
The Minister stated that the new railway corridor which is to be located in northern Nigeria will run through Kano, Jigawa and Katsina and through Niger Republic territory as far as Maradi.
According to the Minister, other cities such as Danbatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina and Jibiya would also be affected by the rail line in Nigeria.
Speaking on the impact of the transport project, Amaechi said the 283.750 kilometre rail line would help develop freight and passenger transport as it would be integrated with road transport adding that it would contribute greatly to the local economy as well as the nation’s social sector.
The signing ceremony of the multi-billion dollar rail project, whose construction duration would last for 36 months, was witnessed by the Ministry’s Permanent, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the Director, Legal Services, Pius Oteh, the Managing Director, Mota-Engil Group, Antonio Gvoea and Head of Legal, Mota- Engil Group, Cameron Beverley.
Also in attendance were Magajin Garin Kano, Muhammad Wada; Director, Mota-Engil Group, Kola Abdulkarim; Vice President, Mota-Engil Group, Mohammed Abdul-Razaq, among others.
Others at the event include the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala-Usman among other diginitaries also witnessed the signing.
Publisher for Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore standing trial for Public Disturbance on New Year eve.
Arrested on the claims of public disturbance on the eve of the new year, publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore has regained his freedom after an Abuja Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2 granted him bail at N20million on Monday.
Alongside four other – Peter Williams, Sanyaolu Juwon, Emmanuel Bulus and Damilare Adenola, Sowore was arraigned before the court on January 4, 2021, on a three-count charge filed by the police, following which the court ordered that they be remanded in prison.
The presiding Magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello in a ruling held that the defendants were entitled to bail as they did not resisted arrest while being apprehended by the police.
The Magistrate had particularly ordered that the first defendant (Sowore) be admitted to N20m bail with two sureties in like sum.
Magistrate Segun-Bello added that one of the sureties must be a civil servant, not below Grade Level 12 in the federal civil service.
She further ordered that Sowore must report physically to the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any other person designated by the Chief Registrar, every Monday and Friday mornings until the end of the case.
For the other four defendants, the Magistrates said they should be granted bail after endorsing a bond of N1m each.
In addition, each of them is to produce one surety in like sum, who “must be resident in Abuja with an identifiable workplace and residential address”.
“All defendants must not travel outside Abuja metropolis or outside the country pending the determination of the case,” Segun-Bello said.
The defendants were arrested on New Year’s Eve over their involvement in a protest despite the ban on crossover night activities by the government.
They were arraigned on January 4, 2021, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful assembly and public disturbance.
Following their plea of not guilty, Magistrate Segun-Bello ordered that they be remanded at the Kuje correctional centre, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has revealed that the sum of $5.3 billion loan request by the Federal Government is yet to be approved by the Chinese Government.
The Minister, who disclosed this during an interview on a television programme in Abuja on Saturday clarified that contrary to the claim that the government had gotten the loan, what was approved by the government was the approval for the contract.
Ameachi however noted that the construction of the Ibadan to Kano rail project will commence once the loan which was requested for a year ago is approved.
He said: “We are waiting for the Chinese government and bank to approve the $5.3bn to construct the Ibadan-Kano. What was approved a year ago was the contract. The moment I announced that federal government has awarded a contract of $5.3bn to CCECC to construct Ibadan-Kano, they assumed the money has come in, but not so. Up till now, we have not gotten the money and it is a year after we applied for the loan. We have almost finished the project of Lagos-Ibadan. If we don’t get the loan now, we can’t commence.”
On the route the project will take, he said: “The Ibadan-Kano rail would link six areas which are Kaduna-Kano-Abuja-Minna-Ilorin-Osogbo and Ibadan which will make it easy for cargoes to be moved to Kano from Lagos. On the funding of the rail projects, Amaechi stated that his ministry has presidential approval to borrow money to fund projects.
The Nigerian Army Saturday night announced a major redeployment of senior officers to intensify the war against terrorism and other forms of criminality that is ravaging the peace of the country.
The Director, Army Public Relations Brigadier General Sagir Musa, while disclosing the redeployment said the move was to rekindle the spirit of professionalism and enhance productivity of the army.
According to General Musa, the new Army architecture will now have Major General FO Agugo move from Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals Corps Apapa Lagos to Defence Headquarters Department of Communications as Chief of Defence Communications, while Major General M Mohammed leaves the Nigerian Army Resource Center Abuja for Pronto Tech Nigeria Limited and appointed Managing Director.
Also, Maj Gen AR Owolabi is transferred from Defence Headquarters Abuja (Department of Communications) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Signals Corps as Commander.
The General notes that Major General A Bande remains as General Officer Commanding 8 Division Sokoto.
According to Musa ,Major General E Akerejola leaves Army Headquarters Department of Logistics for the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport, Benin as Commandant “Major General UM Mohammed to remain in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff as Special Adviser Nigerian Army University Biu and Vice Chairman Nigerian Army Property Limited, Abuja, Major General CV Eze from Office of the Chief of Army Staff ( Nigerian Army Special Projects) to Army Headquarters, Department of Army Logistics and appointed Director Engineering Services.
“Major General OF Azinta from Defence Space Agency, Abuja to Defence Headquarters as Director Psychological Warfare, Major General AM Dauda from National Defence College, Abuja to Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans and appointed Director Policy, Major General AL Dusu from Army Headquarters, Department of Policy and Plans to Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia appointed Commandant and Major General H Ahmed from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to remain as Provost Marshal (Army).
“Others include: Major General TA Gagariga from Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia to Defence Space Agency, Abuja appointed as Deputy Chief of Defence Space Agency, Major General JO Iwara from Army Headquarters Department of Standard and Evaluation to Department of Army Logistics appointed Director of Logistics Planning, Major General PI Eze to remain at Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE Maiduguri and appointed Theatre Logistics Component Commander,
“Major General OO Oluyede to remain in Sector 2 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Damaturu as Commander, Major General BR Sinjen to remain in Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations, Abuja as Director Operations, Major General R Abubakar to remain in Defence Headquarters as Defence Liaison Officer Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Major General OO Soyele from Defence Hedquarters, Abuja to Nigerian Army Resource Center, Abuja as Senior Research Fellow.
“Major General AK Ibrahim to remain in Headquarters 7 Division/ Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maiduguri as General Officer Commanding/Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Major General SI Igbinomwanhia to remain in Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Monguno as Commander and Major General IM Jallo from Headquarters 63 Brigade, Asaba to Headquarters 6 Division, Port Harcourt appointed General Officer Commanding.
“Brigadier General AIM Lapai from 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Onitsha to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, Kontogora appointed Director Field Defence, Brigadier General Kawugana from Warrant Officers’ Academy, Jaji to Hedquarters 9 Brigade, Ikeja Lagos appointed Commander, Brigadier General MO Jimoh from Defence Headquarters to Defence Space Agency, Abuja and appointed Deputy Director, Launch Vehicle Systems.
“Brigadier General MA Bolarinwa from Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport Benin to Defence Headquarters(Annex), Lagos and appointed Deputy Director Supply, Brigadier General SM Uba to remain in 401 Special Forces’ Brigade as Commander, Brigadier General WM Dangana from Army War College Nigeria, Abuja to 3 Division Garrison, Jos appointed Commander, Brigadier General AGL Haruna to remain in 7 Division Garrison, Maiduguri as Commander, Brigadier General AM Garba from Headquarters Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maiduguri to Headquarters 23 Brigade, Yola appointed Commander.
“Brigade General AG Laka from Army War College Nigeria, Abuja to Nigerian Army Operations Centre, Abuja and appointed Coordinator, Brigadier General IA Ajose from Training and Doctrine Command, Minna to 4 Special Forces Command, Doma as Chief of Staff, Brigadier General DK Zirkushu from Headquarters 1 Brigade, Gusau to Headquarters 28 Task Force Brigade, Chibok and appointed Commander.
“Accordingly, Brigadier General M Ibrahim from Operation SAFE CORRIDOR, Gombe to 14 Brigade Ohafia appointed Commander, Brigadier General A Idris from Army Headquarters Department of Administration Army to Headquarters 63 Brigade, Asaba appointed Commander, Brigadier General RT Utsaha from 34 Brigade Garrison, Owerri to 32 Brigade, Akure and appointed Commander, Brigadier General MA Sadiq from Headquarters Operation DELTA SAFE, Yenagoa to Headquarters 4 Brigade, Benin and appointed Commander, Brigadier General IH Daniel from 304 Artillery Regiment Maiduguri to 34 Brigade Garrison Oweri as Commander, Brigadier General EO Ojabo from Defence Headquarters, Abuja to 81 Division Garrison, Lagos and appointed Commander, Brigadier General SS Tilawan to remain in Headquarters 5 Brigade as Commander.
“Colonel FD Babatunde from Headquarters 81 Division, Lagos to Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN Jos appointed Sector Commander, Colonel OJ Majebi from Operation SAFE HAVEN, Jos to 31 Brigade Garrison, Minna appointed Commander, Col JC Mbanefo from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery to 301 Artillery Regiment (General Support) and appointed Commander, Colonel MA Maaji from Depot Nigerian Army Zaria to 4 Operation DELTA SAFE and appointed Commander amongst others.
“All the postings and appointments take effect from the 18th of January 2021. While wishing all the officers well in their respective appointments, the Chief of Army Staff enjoins them to take their new responsibilities/appointments seriously and discharge all duties professionally with utmost loyalty to the nation and the Service.”
Normal activities regarding the registration of Nigerians for the National Identity Numbers have now resumed across the country after activities
were suspended at the various offices of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) nationwide during the week due to strike action by workers.
The resumption followed the intervention of the Federal Government through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami,
According to a statement signed by the commission’s spokesman, Kayode Adegoke, on Saturday, the glitches experienced since January 6 have been resolved.
The statement read that: the Commission “is glad to inform the general public that normal enrolment services for the National Identification Number (NIN) have been fully restored at all NIMC offices nationwide as the glitches experienced since January 6, 2021, have been sorted out.”
Enrolment services were temporarily disrupted when the local chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) of NIMC embarked on industrial action on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, immediately after their congress, Adegoke said.
He said Dr Pantami who promptly intervened in the matter, assured the workers that their grievances would be addressed.
According to him, Dr Pantami advised them to empathise with Nigerians especially at this time that linkage of the NIN with the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards was ongoing for the security of lives and property in the country.
Adegoke said the Director-General of NIMC, Engr Aliyu Aziz also thanked Nigerians for their understanding in the face of the challenges posed by the two-day disruption of the enrolment process.
He assured that the Management of NIMC would address the welfare, health and safety concerns of all staff of the Commission, especially as related to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Engr. Aziz enjoined staff to go about their normal duties while fully observing the COVID-19 protocols as they enroll Nigerians and other eligible individuals, Adegoke stated.
He also gave the assurance that more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) would be made available to staff, in addition to those already donated by the World Bank which had since been distributed to all NIMC offices nationwide.
The Alleged certificate forgery suit against Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki by his erstwhile political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of its members, Edobor Williams, been dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja..
In a judgement, Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that the plaintiffs failed to prove their claim that Obaseki forged the academic certificates that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the last governorship election in the state.
The judge found as lazy, the attitude of the plaintiffs, who did no make any efforts to cross-check from the University of Ibadan (UI) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the two institutions that issued the certificates they claimed Obaseki forged.
Best graduating students of the Undergraduate and Masters programmes of the Lagos State University has received cheques of N5 million each presented by the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for their outstanding academic performances.
Governor Sanwo-Olu during the presentation on Friday stated that the gesture is part of “our promise to reward academic excellence in Lagos State”.
Shotunde Oladimeji Idris, the best graduating student was also offered automatic employment into the state’s civil service, an offer the Governor reacted to sayiing is a step to continue improving the attractiveness of our civil service for the state’s best brains.
“At the start of this administration, improving education in the state was highlighted as one of my biggest priorities, and we demonstrated commitment by increasing budgetary allocation to the sector as we work on improving the quality of our curriculums & welfare of our students”, Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
Shortly after the Congressional certification of Biden-Harris’ victory, Trump was said to have issued a statement through a senior aide saying there would be “an orderly transition on January 20.”
According to Trump, “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.
“I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted.
“While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”
The much awaited certification by the Congress of the United States of America (USA) for the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and his Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris in the November 4 presidential election finally arrived after a tumultuous day at the Capitol Hill.
The Congress quashed the objections to the Electoral Votes of Pennsylvania and Arizona and upheld that Democrat indeed won the election, thereby putting an end to the direct struggles by President Donald Trump to upturn Biden-Harris’ electoral win.
The Congressional affirmation was coming hours after supporters of President Donald Trump violently took over Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
When the dusts of the violence settled down, four people were confirmed dead by Washington D.C. Police, while others sustained various degrees of injuries.
At the resumed Congressional session much more later, lawmakers overwhelmingly certified Biden-Harris’ electoral victory.
In his closing remarks, the outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over a Joint Session of the US Congress, said after banging the gavel: “The whole number of electors appointed to vote for President of the US is 538, of which a majority is 270.
“Joseph R Biden of the state of Delaware received for President of the US, 306 votes.
“Donald J Trump of the state of Florida has received 232.
“The announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected president and vice president of the United States, each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January, 2021”
R-L: President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo at the President wing of the State House, Abuja.
It has now been confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari, his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and other prominent Nigerians would be among the first set of Nigerians to receive the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine on live television.
This was disclosed by the Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, while speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
He urged Nigerians not to be hesitant on the vaccines when they arrive as key government officials like president, vice president and SGF would take it on live TV.
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