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Bandits violate security measures in Katsina, killing several people, looting homes, and destroying them

By
coic
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0

On Tuesday, bandits overran the Yasore community in Batsari Local Council, Katsina State, in an operation that lasted several hours.

As is customary, the renowned gunmen who insulted the State’s ongoing security efforts arrived on motorcycles.

During the attack on the town, the State Police Command’s spokesman, SP. Gambo Isah, acknowledged that 11 people were killed and 10 others were injured, however community accounts put the number of people slain at 16, with numerous others injured.

According to SP. Gambo, the attack was retaliation by herdsmen seeking vengeance for the deaths of their members who were just purportedly killed by volunteer vigilantes known locally as ‘Yan Sakai.’

Read Also:  Bandits kill 10 people in a new attack on Katsina community, forcing residents to fleed

“Yes, the attack on the community occurred, and 11 individuals lost their lives and ten others were injured to varying degrees.” The attack was a retaliation by herdsmen whose members had previously been killed by Yan Sakai.

“Yan Sakai is still prohibited, and anyone caught impersonating one would be regarded as a bandit,” SP. Gambo cautioned.

Aside from the people murdered and injured in the attack, the hoodlums wreaked havoc on the town by torching numerous homes, looting and carting away cash, food, phones, and clothing, and rustling many livestock before fleeing.

Read Also:  PDP warns FG about an alleged plan to declare a state of emergency in Anambra

Remember that the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, recently alerted the Federal Government to the fact that hoodlums are still able to carry out their horrific crime notwithstanding the closure of communication routes in banditry-prone areas.

Corps member donates toilet facility to Army Day Secondary School

By
Toby
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0

As a measure to put a lasting solution to the felt needs of her host community, corps member Iniobong Emmanuel Dorcas (OY/20B/0993) as part of her personal Community Development Service recently donated a twin toilet facility to Army Day Secondary School, Iwo Road,Ibadan.

Commissioning the project, the NYSC Oyo State Coordinator, Mrs Grace Ogbuogebe, represented by the Assistant Director, Planning Research and Statistics,Mrs Mariam Umogah praised the corps member for availing herself as an instrument for establishing the core values of the NYSC and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals which is to positively impact and enhance the lives of persons in their host community.
She further enjoined the beneficiaries especially the students to emulate the kind gesture of the project initiator whenever they get to such phase of their lives.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman Ibadan North East Local Government,Honourable Ibrahim Akintayo who contributed immensely towards the execution of the project, commended the corps member for her doggedness and passion in her service to the fatherland. Stating that if every corps member determines to execute a project that will impact their host community positively, the entire country will be a better place.

Also in their separate address, the Assistant Director and Zonal Inspector Ibadan North LG, Mr Olumide Adekeye with the Local Government Inspector Ibadan North East Mr Daniel Akinsola commended the project initiator while encouraging other corps members to embark on projects that will ensure development of their host communities, thereby leaving a legacy during their service year.

In her appreciation, the principal Army Day Secondary School, Mrs. M. Umeike lauded the corps member on the execution of the project, stating that the students will make adequate use of the facility which would ensure a cleaner learning environment. She equally applauded the NYSC scheme and remarked that its relevance cannot be overemphasized.

Present at the event were other sponsors of the project which include: Managing Director Microfinance bank, Orita-Basorun,Mr Idowu, Special Assistant Students Affairs, (IBNE) Hon. Victor Olojede and a host of others.

Celebrating NYSC enduring legacy

By
Toby
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0

 

By Gbenga Osoba

I call myself a Lagosian. I love Lagos with all of me. Everything about me revolves around Lagos. The opportunities are endless. And I would dare say Lagos is addictive. I believe I am not alone on this boat of emotional upheaval about Lagos.

This also brings me to the addiction of university graduates to the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC). The feeling is euphoric when graduates adorn the NYSC khaki. Parents are elated and filled with so much joy. And the corp members themselves feel a sense of accomplishment.
Take it or leave it, the NYSC has been a great blessing to the country because it has brought about a sense of unity and cultural orientation amongst the various ethnicity in Nigeria. We have had instances of people who have never been outside of their states for the duration of their lives. The first trip out was a result of the NYSC programme, and the memories linger a lifetime.

For me, I would forever cherish my NYSC experience in Anambra state. There I made friends across religions and ethnicity. And some of my experiences in Awka remains indelible in my life. After my service year, I have had reasons to visit Akwa again and again for business and leisure. That is the beauty of the NYSC.

Do I talk about those that experienced business breakthrough as a result of their participation in the NYSC? Do I mention those that found their missing ribs during the NYSC programme? Do I say those who discovered their guardian angels during their service year or those whose fortunes changed forever because they were posted to particular states in the country due to the NYSC programme?

The NYSC is indeed an enduring legacy that ought to be upheld by successive governments for its benefits are innumerable. This much can be corroborated by those who initially thought outside their domains; there would be no life. But the good thing is that it is on record that these categories of people find it amazing that there could be life outside their immediate environment.

I know of scores of people who, after leaving for the NYSC programme, elect to stay behind and start-up life. The case of a childhood friend Rotimi comes in handy. Rotimi and I had been childhood friends. During our NYSC programme, he was posted to Adamawa state. I recall the depressed looks that he wore upon realizing he was posted to Adamawa state. Where is Adamawa state, he asked me? What part of the country is that he also asked? It was like the world had ended, and I am sure he cursed the NYSC scheme.

Today, Rotimi can be referred to as a son of the soil, as he stayed behind, got a Job in Yola and is happily married to a beautiful Numan lady, with whom they have three lovely kids. If anyone told Rotimi that Yola was where his destiny was, he would curse. If anyone ever told Rotimi that a Numan princess would be the mother of his kids, he would also curse. But such is life and the power of the NYSC.

Aside from the national integration purpose of the NYSC, it has served to bridge the critical gap amongst the various ethnic and religious affiliations in Nigeria. The NYSC is the bridge that links the South to the West, the North to the East and many more. And with these enduring attributes, I wonder what those advocating for the scrapping of the scheme have at the back of their minds.

Maybe mischief or ignorance, but whatever is the case, it is misplaced and must be discarded for lacking in merit and commonsense. Unless they want to feign ignorance to the nation-building impact, the NYSC has brought about in the country. Maybe they are not aware of that, but for the NYSC programme, lots of destinies would have been lost, and lots of people would probably still be wandering in search of direction in life.

They must also realize that participation in the NYSC scheme has also brought about religious and ethnic tolerance. It has erased some of the prejudices that were expressed towards certain tribes in the country. And if this is the case, isn’t the NYSC scheme worth celebrating? In this era of ethnic and religious tension across the country, the most potent tool to address the issues at hand is enhancing the NYSC programme.

The positives outweigh the negatives, and it would be foolhardy for us to jettison such an enduring legacy that has stood the test of time. There are no two ways about how enduring the NYSC scheme has been in the country’s annals. And as such, we must do all within our reach to preserve the legacies of the NYSC.

I am glad that I was a part of the NYSC scheme and, likewise, millions of others. And the relevant stakeholders owe Nigeria and Nigerians a national duty to ensure the sustainability of this enduring legacy. The NYSC experience is enriching, memorable, and worth the while for millions of Nigerians. This piece is in celebration of an enduring legacy.

Osoba is a human resource manager writing from Bauchi.

Why does the NCC bar Nigerians under the age of 18 from owning a SIM card?

By
coic
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0

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has formulated stricter regulations guiding the ownership of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards in Nigeria, which tentatively set 18 years as the age limit for anyone registering and owning a SIM card in the country.

However, NCC is still asking for telecom stakeholders’ inputs into the proposed regulations.

This is contained in the draft copy of the modified Registra­tion of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on the commission’s website.

In the modified regulations, the NCC limited telecom subscribers to including anyone over the age of 18.

Read also: Life is roller coaster, so be nice – Obi Cubana

“Subscriber means a person not below the age of 18 years who subscribes to communications services by purchasing a subscription medium or entering into a subscription contract with a licensee.”

The licensee refers to ‘a pro­vider of communications ser­vices that utilises a subscription medium in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

The regulations were made in line with the powers conferred upon the commission by section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In accordance with section 57 of the Act, the NCC conducted a public inquiry into the Registra­tion of Telephone Subscribers Regulations alongside the draft SIM Replacement Guidelines and the draft Spectrum Trading Guidelines at its head office in Abuja on Tuesday.

NCC’s Executive Commis­sioner, Stakeholders’ Manage­ment, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, gave the opening remark at the event.

He said, “The public inquiry is an avenue that enables the commission to develop and re­view its regulatory instruments by incorporating the comments and suggestions of industry stakeholders.”

During the public inquiry, which was held physically and virtually, key stakeholders, including MTN, urged the commission to revise the age limit.

MTN asked the commission to make the age limit 14 years and above. The NCC, however, insisted on 18 years and above for anyone who wants to own and register a SIM in Nigeria.

Reps want fire stations established along highways nationwide

By
coic
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0
Nigerian Senate

The Nigerian House of Representatives has called for the construction of fire stations along the country’s federal highways.

The House specifically urged the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Federal Fire Service to work together and establish fire stations on all federal highways “to ensure prompt rescue during road fires.”

Also, the lawmakers urged the FRSC to increase supervision on trucks transporting petroleum products as well as other highly flammable products “to avoid overloading and to ensure compliance with safety standards, to prevent and reduce accidents that have the potential of resulting in explosions on the highways.”

Read also: 2022 Budget: FG will Borrow to Finance N6.258 Trillion Budget Deficit, Minister Says

These resolutions were sequels to a motion moved by Taiwo Oluga, titled “Need to Establish Fire Fighting Quick Response Stations on Federal Highways Across the Country,” which was unanimously adopted at the plenary on Wednesday.

According to Oluga, “Despite the efforts of the federal government, accidents on the highways continue to occur, some of which result in fire explosions that result in the loss of lives and property.

“When such heinous accidents occur that result in fire explosions, firefighting or road safety agencies are often slow to respond because they do not have firefighting equipment on hand on the highways.

“The House is aware that on June 22, 2021, many vehicles were burned beyond redemption after a tanker laden with fuel burst into flames on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway’s Ogere axis, resulting in loss of lives and property and causing terrible traffic gridlock due to a lack of equipment to put out the fire and evacuate the debris from the federal highway,” says the report.

Between January and October 2019, over 153 Nigerians died as a result of fuel tanker accidents, according to a report released on October 26, 2019.

PDP warns FG about an alleged plan to declare a state of emergency in Anambra

By
coic
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0

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) warns the Federal Government over alleged plans to impose a state of emergency in Anambra state ahead of the November 6 governorship election.
In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the move to foist an emergency rule in Anambra state was a ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to suppress the people, manipulate the process and rig the governorship election for the APC and its candidate.
The PDP charged the APC administration at the center to come clean on its role in the sudden rise in insecurity in Anambra state ahead of the election.
“This demand is predicated on apprehensions in the public space that the spate of insecurity in Anambra is contrived to heighten tension in the state so as to derail the democratic process to the advantage of the APC.

Read also: Life is roller coaster, so be nice – Obi Cubana

“The PDP insists that the Federal Government has the capacity to ensure peace in Anambra before, during, and even after the election if it so desired. We, therefore, invite President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to be guided accordingly.
“Our party also charges the people of Anambra state to remain calm and alert, as well as to take steps within the confines of the law to resist plots by the APC to derail the electoral process in its excessive ambition to seize Anambra through the back door,” the statement continued.

2022 Budget: FG will Borrow to Finance N6.258 Trillion Budget Deficit, Minister Says

By
coic
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0

The federal government has revealed that the projected 2022 Appropriation Bill’s N6.258 trillion budget deficit will be funded by local and international loans.

Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, disclosed this on Wednesday in a chat with journalists at the end of the weekly virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja. FEC also approved the proposed N16.39 trillion budget for 2022.

Despite protests from many quarters, Mrs. Ahmed explained that the country’s goal of completing many of the administration’s legacy projects would be impossible to achieve without borrowing, stressing that the produced revenues are barely enough to fund recurring costs.

Read Also:  Bandits kill 10 people in a new attack on Katsina community, forcing residents to fleed

Despite worries voiced about the administration’s frequent borrowings, the minister assuaged fears that the situation was already spiraling out of control, adding that Nigeria’s borrowings are still within healthy and sustainable boundaries.

“If we only rely on the income that we receive, even though our revenues have increased, government operational expenditures, such as wages and other overheads, are hardly covered or swallowed up by the revenue,” she said.

Read Also:  Buhari writes to the N’Assembly, promising to provide the Appropriation Bill for 2022 on Thursday.

“As a result, we’ll need to borrow in order to create these projects that will allow us to develop in a sustainable manner.

“Nigeria’s borrowing has caused a lot of alarm and debate, but when you look at the whole magnitude of the debt, it’s still within healthy and sustainable bounds.” Total borrowing is 23 percent of GDP as of July 2021.”

Life is roller coaster, so be nice – Obi Cubana

By
coic
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0

Obi Cubana, a billionaire businessman, has offered his ideas on life’s facts.

The prominent business mogul compared life to a rollercoaster, saying it has the power to swing in any direction at any time.

While emphasizing life’s chaotic nature, the hotel mogul urged his audience to be deliberate in their actions when life swings and smiles at them.

When one is successful, according to Obi Cubana, one should try to be kind to family members, friends, and associates, including old school and childhood buddies, keeping in mind that life might turn around at any time.

“Life is like a roller coaster; it can swing in any direction,” he wrote.

I mean, in any case!

“What matters is what you did when you were at your best. What are you doing when you’re at your best?

Read Also:  Buhari writes to the N’Assembly, promising to provide the Appropriation Bill for 2022 on Thursday.

“Did/do you make yourself available to your family, friends, and associates, particularly old schoolmates and childhood buddies?”

“Be kind to your brother, be kind to your brother!” It may swing either way for anyone, bro! My two cents…..”

Bandits kill 10 people in a new attack on Katsina community, forcing residents to fleed

By
coic
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0

Following the massacre of ten persons in Yasore Community in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State by suspected bandits, residents are fleeing to Batsari town and other safer settlements.

It was learned that a group of around 30 bandits riding motorbikes invaded the community and other nearby communities from their hideouts in the infamous Barnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State.

The marauding bandits who attacked the community on Tuesday around 6:30 p.m. inflicted injuries on 11 other citizens and destroyed many homes and businesses in the area.

On Wednesday, a resident of the region, Abubakar Jamilu, said that when the bandits arrived in the town, they began firing sporadically, killing ten individuals who were observing Magrib prayers on the location.

While the military and police onslaught against armed bandits may have been successful in other villages and communities, he claims that the impact on farming communities in the Batsari axis has been minimal.

Read Also:  Ohanaeze and the Mid-Belt Forum support the NASS’s call for bandits to be declared terrorists

“About 30 criminals riding motorcycles attacked Yasore community yesterday (Tuesday), killing ten people and injuring 11 others, including children,” he claimed.

“All of the victims were buried this morning (Wednesday), and those who were injured are being treated at Batsari General Hospital.”

He went on to say that many members of the town who had survived the horrific assault had sought refuge in Batsari, the Batsari Local Government’s headquarters.

The 10 victims were killed by the outlawed Yan’sakai, according to State Police Public Relations Officer Gambo Isah, who verified the incident to journalists (Volunteers).

“The bandits were out for vengeance.” A total of ten persons were murdered, with another eleven injured. Yan’sakai members have been killing Fulani people in the community recently, and the bandits went there on a revenge mission.”

Read Also:Bandits killed 42 people in the Southern Kaduna massacre

“Any member of Yan’sakai caught from now on will be punished as bandits,” said Isah, a police superintendent. Yan’sakai was still an outlaw in the state.”

 

Buhari writes to the N’Assembly, promising to provide the Appropriation Bill for 2022 on Thursday.

By
coic
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0

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly’s two houses, formally requesting permission to deliver the Appropriation Bill for 2022 on Thursday.

The budget presentation will take place by 12 p.m., according to Senate President Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who read the letter at the start of Wednesday’s session.

Read Also:  In Kaduna, motorcycle riders accuse security agencies of extortion

In the letter, President Buhari requested that the National Assembly leadership provide him a 12-hour slot on Thursday, October 7th to formally present the 2022 appropriation bill before the joint session of the National Assembly.

Details will be provided later…

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