The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for March 17, 2022.
This was revealed in a circular obtained on Thursday by our Reporter.
Details shortly……
BREAKING NEWS: APC Set Date For Emergency NEC Meeting.
Bello’s Emergence Will End APC Crisis – Group
The appointment of Niger State Governor Sani Bello as chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee has been hailed by the MBO Dynamic Support Group.
President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly fired caretaker committee chairman and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, and replaced him with Governor Bello, who assumed party leadership on Monday.
The group’s National Coordinator, Hon Usman Ibrahim, said Buhari should also remove the “bad eggs” from his government.
Read Also: Buhari Gave Us Clear Directive To Remove Buni – El-Rufai
“The party’s self-inflicted crisis has given us sleepless nights for the past year,” it said.
“We have seen the confusion surrounding party registration, ward congresses, LGA and state congresses, which has dragged the party into endless legal battles due to poor party management.”
Buhari Gave Us Clear Directive To Remove Buni – El-Rufai
President Muhammadu Buhari gave them a directive to remove Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni as the chairman of the APC’s caretaker committee, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said on Wednesday.
El-Rufai said governors elected on the party’s platform allowed things to degenerate in the party by taking a back seat, according to Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to him, 19 governors and one deputy governor of the party unanimously agreed to carry out the president’s directive, while the remaining three governors are spreading “fake news” that Buni has not been removed.
Read also:Sen. Sani Musa, APC Chairman, Pays Visit To Governor Akerodolu
“The president held a meeting with us (APC governors), gave us a clear directive and responsibilities, and then went into his waiting chopper at the airport,” the governor continued.
The president, in his wisdom, recognized our capability.
“It’s just that some of us decided to take a back seat and let things get to this point because we believe that once elected, we should concentrate on governance and leave party administration to those who are better at it.”
“However, it became clear that something was going to go wrong.”
We needed to take action because the party was in jeopardy.
“I’m relieved that the caretaker committee, led by Abubakar Sani Bello, has called an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee.”
“We’ll have a virtual meeting with the president.”
Of course, His Excellency, the Vice President, all of the governors, and all of the state party chairmen will congregate at the party headquarters, where we will make certain decisions that will lay a very solid foundation for the convention on March 26.”
El-Rufai urged all party members to dismiss rumors that Buni will reclaim his position as party chairman when he returns from his trip, noting that the new CCEPC had to whittle down the list of former convention sub-committees due to the large number of members captured.
Buni’s name was missing from a list of APC national convention sub-committees released by the party yesterday, according to our reporter.
He hasn’t been taken away – Umahi
Buni, however, has not been removed as the chairman of the caretaker committee, according to Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi.
He insisted that Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, the governor of Niger State, was only appointed by his Yobe counterpart to hold a brief while he went on medical leave.
“The national chairman went on medical leave, and we were there when he asked the governor of Niger State to act for him,” Umahi told APC supporters in Abakaliki.
“If anything changes, you will be notified.”
But for the time being, there is none, and the party is intact,” he said.
Also yesterday, the party finally zoned the chairmanship and national secretaryship to the North Central and South West, respectively.
Salisu Na’inna ambatta, Director of Publicity, signed the zoning formula.
Meanwhile, Sani Bello, the acting chairman of the party and the governor of Niger State, has stated that the interim committee will ensure a smooth convention.
Read also: NDLEA Arrests Taraba Drug Kingpin, Injuring 7 Officers
The governor also announced that the number of sub-committees for the convention had been reduced, speaking to reporters after their meeting at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
Senators will meet with Buhari and others.
Senators from the APC held an emergency meeting for the second day in a row yesterday to discuss the party’s crisis.
Following a closed-door meeting, the lawmakers stated that various issues confronting the party had been thoroughly discussed, with a clear indication of peace ahead of the convention.
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi) told reporters that the Senate caucus agreed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, the governors’ forum, the party’s caretaker committee, and aspirants in order to strengthen the party and position it to win local and national elections.
NDLEA Awards Army Officer Fighting Drug Traffickers In Benue
The NDLEA in Benue State has awarded the outgoing Commanding Officer (CO) 72 Special Forces Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Abdulkadir Alhassan, the title of War Against Drug Abuse Ambassador (WADA).
Alhassan received the award at the battalion’s North Bank headquarters.
Mrs Esther Musa, NDLEA State Commander, said Alhassan was instrumental in her command’s huge successes in 2021 operations.
Read Also: Phase3 Telecom, Africa’s LITS Provider, Expands Into Digital Connectivity In Nigeria, West Africa
Musa praised the commanding officer for his unit’s consistent support in raiding and arresting drug abusers, growers, and traffickers throughout the state.
Two years ago, WHO declared COVID-19 pandemic
The WHO says nearly 500 million people have been infected since March 2020, and new variants are still a threat two years after declaring COVID-19 a pandemic.
Two years ago, WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Six weeks after the virus was declared a global health emergency, there were less than 100 cases and no deaths outside China.
Two years later, over six million died.
‘The pandemic is far from over – and it will not be over until it is over everywhere,’ WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.
Ghebreyesus reminded journalists in Geneva that many Asian and Pacific countries are currently experiencing epidemics of cases and deaths.
“The virus is evolving, and we are still having difficulty distributing vaccines, tests, and treatments,” he said.
Read Also: ECOWAS Parliament Seeks Precautionary Measures Against Covid-19
On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed the WHO chief’s assessment that it would be ‘a grave mistake’ to think the virus was gone.
Vaccine distribution remains “scandalously unequal,” Guterres said.
It is estimated that nearly three billion people are still waiting for their first shot.
According to the UN chief, this “failure” is due to policy and budget decisions that prioritize the health of wealthy nations over those in poverty
“This is a moral indictment. It also means more variants, lockdowns, sorrow, and sacrifice in every country. “Our world cannot afford a COVID-19 two-tier recovery”.
Despite other global crises, Guterres added, the world must reach the goal of vaccinating 70% of people by the end of the year.
“Science and solidarity have proven unbeatable. “We must recommit ourselves to ending this pandemic once and for all for all people and countries,” he said.
His concern was the ‘dramatic reduction’ of testing in several countries.
“We can’t see where the virus is, how it spreads, or how it evolves,” he warned.
A ‘recombinant strain’ has been detected in Europe, according to COVID-19 Technical Lead Maria Kerkhove.
In France, the Netherlands, and Denmark, it has been detected, but at low levels, she said, calling for more testing and sequencing globally.
Kerkhove said the recombinant was expected given Omicron and Delta’s high circulation.
“In some countries, such as Europe, the wave of Delta had already passed, so circulation was low when Omicron emerged,” she said.
Scientists have seen no change in COVID-19 severity with this strain, but studies are still ongoing.
“Unfortunately, recombinants are expected because viruses evolve over time. “We are seeing high levels of circulation; this virus is affecting animals and may return to humans,” she warned.
Read Also: Federal Executive Council Approves Issuance Of Quality Certificates For N1 Billion In ICT Projects
Kerkhove urged countries to strengthen surveillance and sequencing systems rather than dismantling them to tackle new threats.
She also called for a layered approach to public health tools.
“The pandemic is far from over; we must focus on both saving lives and halting its spread. “We cannot allow such rapid virus spread,” she said.
Federal Executive Council Approves Issuance Of Quality Certificates For N1 Billion In ICT Projects
The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a new security measure requiring all federal public institutions to obtain a quality assurance certificate from the National Information Technology Development Agency before embarking on any ICT project worth more than N1 billion.
The certificate that must be obtained after the completion of the government digital services project, according to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Ali Pantami, is meant to ensure that it was carried out according to specifications.
“We discovered that sometimes an approval or clearance could be granted in the cost of implementation, some of the specifications will be changed, and if there is no quality assurance certificate, we will not be able to know whether the project is implemented according to the clearance or not,” says one of the reasons for introducing this layer.
Read also: Phase3 Telecom, Africa’s LITS Provider, Expands Into Digital Connectivity In Nigeria, West Africa
The minister stated that the federal government saved over N24 billion as a result of the initial provision that required all federal public institutions to obtain IT Project Clearance from NITDA before embarking on ICT projects.
Meanwhile, the vice president’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said Mele Kolo Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, told the council that about 1.9 billion liters of fuel were available to last 32 days.
Phase3 Telecom, Africa’s LITS Provider, Expands Into Digital Connectivity In Nigeria, West Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria (APO Group), March 10, 2022 — Phase3 Telecom (www.Phase3Telecom.com), Africa’s leading independent aerial fibre optic network infrastructure and telecommunications services provider, is enabling advanced digital connectivity, improved performance, and enhanced network security for businesses. This initiative aims to provide businesses in Nigeria and the West African sub-region with cost-effective and unified network endpoint management.
This development is also intended to help MSMEs, large corporations, and institutions deploy Phase 3 enterprise value active network deployments.
According to Stanley Jegede, the company’s executive chairman, “This extensive service optimization is aimed at improving coverage on Phase 3 network routes through Africa, as well as ensuring solutions that assist businesses in seamlessly transforming and scaling.
He declares, “Security features, performance enhancements, agile update capacity, and quality delivery mechanisms for enterprise segments are all part of Phase 3 current network upgrades, which are currently underway. Particularly in the areas of productive work-from-anywhere or do-business-from-anywhere, as well as digitized remote connectivity solutions “..
In addition, the company is focusing on increasing the data handling capacity of enterprise-based networks and their ability to access data from disparate sources faster and smarter, as today’s global climate demands.
In his final statement, Jegede says, “In remote locations with significant Phase3 presence and network access points, Phase3 layered digital capabilities will both enhance Phase3 network architecture and complement legacy connectivity service experience.
Read also: NDLEA Arrests Taraba Drug Kingpin, Injuring 7 Officers
APO Group distributed on behalf of Phase3 Telecom.
For additional information, please contact:
Nwabufo Morayo
Morayon Wabufo can be reached at morayonwabufo@phase3telecom.com.
Phase 3 telecommunications:
Phase3 Telecom is a leading independent fibre optic infrastructure provider in Nigeria, with POPs, colocation, and network operations centers (NOCs). We are the network of choice for high-performance, data-intensive, and low latency connectivity that span dedicated internet access, MPLS VPN, metro ethernet, wide area network solutions, and more. We were granted a National Long Distance Operator (NLDO) license by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2003, and with a vibrant and dedicated team of experienced professionals, we are the network of choice for high-performance, data-intensive, and low latency connectivity that span dedicated internet access, MPLS VPN, metro We currently operate in the ECOWAS region as well as international markets, thanks to strategic partnerships that allow us to connect our clients in over 400 cities around the world. And ours is a large, secure network with end-to-end capabilities on which service providers and businesses can scale, manage costs, and ensure efficiency. Our invaluable clients will continue to be at the heart of every investment we make, innovation we create, and technology we adopt during the fourth industrial revolution to position us as the network of the future as our network evolves into other layered service streams, including cloud-based and network security solutions. www.Phase3Telecom.com
NDLEA Arrests Taraba Drug Kingpin, Injuring 7 Officers
Micha Godwin, a notorious drug dealer in Taraba, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Godwin was apprehended in Jalingo’s state capital, Nukai market, on the Jalingo-Wukari road.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, anti-narcotic officers were attacked on Wednesday, resulting in seven officers being injured and one vehicle being damaged.
Read Also: Sen. Sani Musa, APC Chairman, Pays Visit To Governor Akerodolu
According to his statement, the agency stormed the market Tuesday afternoon based on intelligence to arrest the drug dealer and evacuate illicit substances from his warehouse.
After he was apprehended, miscreants from the neighborhood attacked officers and vehicles with lethal weapons.
To save them, officers from the NDLEA and other security agencies rushed to the scene.
“What happened today is bad because this is the second time I’ve been arrested and brought here,” Godwin told Babafemi.
“It wasn’t like this the first time I was arrested.” I’m not sure who invited the boys who attacked the officers from the NDLEA.”
The assault was condemned by NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), who directed a switch to new operational guidelines that will allow officers to defend themselves adequately.
Read Also: In Kebbi, Niger, Fleeing Bandits Kill 64 Members Of Vigilance Group
Any obstruction or attack on operatives in the line of duty by suspects or their supporters, Marwa warned, would be met with a retaliatory response.
Sen. Sani Musa, APC Chairman, Pays Visit To Governor Akerodolu
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, a leading contender for the position of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, paid a consultative visit to Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Governor Akeredolu received the frontline Chairmanship aspirant and Chairman, Senate Services Committee, and his team at Government House, Alagbaka. Senator Sani Musa outlined his ambitious plans for the APC if he is elected national chairman, and enlisted the governor’s help in carrying them out.
Read Also: In Kebbi, Niger, Fleeing Bandits Kill 64 Members Of Vigilance Group
Governor Akeredolu responded by advising Senator Sani Musa to stay focused and continue his consultations. The governor harped on the leadership qualities expected of the incoming APC national chairman, urging the aspirant not to be distracted.
Governor Akeredolu also envisioned a national chairman for the APC who is energetic, approachable, people-oriented, and capable of sitting down, listening, and interacting with party members.
The governor praised Sen. Musa’s intellectual capacity, describing him as the type of leader the APC needs to progress ahead of the 2023 general elections, while emphasizing that the party will do well to avoid candidates with predetermined ulterior motives for the party even before they assume leadership.
Read Also: HURIWA Implores Umahi To Respect Law, Step Aside
Governor Akeredolu stated that zoning offices by the APC is not a problem for him as long as the zoning reflects equity, fairness, and justice. “It is not over, until it is over!” he said, encouraging Senator Sani Musa to keep meeting and consulting with party leaders and stakeholders.
In Kebbi, Niger, Fleeing Bandits Kill 64 Members Of Vigilance Group
64 members of the Yan Sa Kai vigilance group were killed in an ambush by bandits fleeing the Nigerian Air Force bombardment in Niger State yesterday in the Zuru Emirate area of Anemi in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Despite the fact that the Kebbi State Police Command has yet to confirm the exact number of members of the vigilance group killed by the bandits in the ambush, Chairman of the group in Zuru Emirate, Usman Sani, a retired Warrant Officer, said the bandits killed over 64 members of the vigilance group while speaking to journalists about the attack (Yan Sa Kai).
He went on to say that the number of casualties they suffered could be higher than 64 because bodies are still being recovered from the bush.
Read Also: HURIWA Implores Umahi To Respect Law, Step Aside
“We also killed the bandits,” he says, “but we can’t say how many there were because they normally remove their dead bodies and burn them somewhere.”
He claimed that local informants must have told the bandits about their (Yan Sa Kai) plan to ambush them as they arrived in large numbers.
“In an attempt to ambush the bandits at Anemi, we came through Darangi-Rijau in neighboring Niger State. However, we were unaware that they were aware of our plans. They hid their motorcycles in the shrubs and ambushed us. “They circled us and opened fire from all sides,” the group’s chairman said.
He bemoaned the fact that one of their number was killed in the ambush, along with his son.
The state Police Command PRO, ASP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident in Kebbi State, saying the vigilance group members were ambushed by a fleeing bandit group from Niger State.
“You are aware that Kebbi State borders Niger and Zamfara States,” he said. When the bandits ran into the members of the vigilance group, they were fleeing the Nigerian Airforce bombardment in Niger State.
Read Also: In Adamawa, INEC Recorded 111,762 Online Voter Registrations
“Unfortunately, the vigilante group failed to notify the appropriate security authorities before launching their attack on the bandits.
“We’re still compiling the attack’s casualty figures.” We can’t confirm the exact number of people killed right now, but I can tell you that both sides suffered casualties.”
