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Benue partners NIPR to standardise PR practice in Nigeria

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By: Ede Ogaba Ede

The Benue State Government has pledged it’s support to the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR) in it’s bid to sanitise, energise, and standardize the practice of public relations in the country.

Governor Samuel Ortom made the pledge today at the Benue People’s House when he received the President and Chairman in council of the Institute, Mallam Murktar Zubairu Sirajo and other national officers, who are in the state to celebrate with Dr. Tyotom Keghku.

Governor Ortom, who was represented by his deputy, Engr. Benson Abounu stated that the NIPR has a central role in getting Nigeria out of dire straits it is in at the moment, and promised government partnership and support in sanitising and reinvigorating the practice of public relations in the country.

He lamented the damage, the absence of effective communication, which, he said is the tool for public relations has done in the country, and prayed that the mistrust and divisions along ethnic, religious and sectional lines should not tear the country apart.

Earlier, Mallam Sirajo had explained that they were in Makurdi to honour an icon in the field of public relations, Dr. Tyotom Keghku. He sought for the assistance of the Benue State government in implementing the NIPR law, which criminalises the practice of communication without due certification.

He complained that successive governments have not given proper attention to communication and said that the dearth of effective communication has accentuated the crises in the country.

He called on the Benue State Government and governments at all levels to engage members of the NIPR in the governance process

One of the highlights of the courtesy call was a one minute silence observed at the instance of Engr. Benson Abounu in memory of the flamboyant politician and NIPR guru, late Chief Senator J.K.N Waku, whose footprints are still visible several years after his death.

On hand to receive the delegation were the state Head of Service, Mrs Veronica Onyeke, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Comrade Ojotu Ojema , Commissioner for Works, Engr. Alex Shaapera and Hon. Barr. Jacob Ogwuche, Special Adviser to the Governor.

IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has written United States President, Joe Biden to turn down request of Buhari to purchase weapons

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The leader of this proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has written United States President, Joe Biden to turn down the request of President Muhammadu Buhari seeking its military and arms help. Nnamdi Kanu in a statement titled”Re: petition for the United States military assistance by President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria”, maintained Buhari had made Nigeria the most dangerous country, particularly those of the former Republic of Biafra. The letter read,

“We, the Indigenous People of Biafra applaud your election as President of the United States, the most effective office in the history of the earth. We salute your proficient and muscular discharge of presidential duties during your tenure at the White House.” Mr. President, since you believe Buhari’s request for military assistance to Nigeria, we respectfully urge you to also consider the following:

Read also: Massive death of farmers on Saturday by Boko Haram in Borno state

“Mr. Buhari’s draconian steps were geared toward retaliating against peaceful demonstrations scrutinizing the restoration of Biafran liberty that was cruelly extinguished by a genocidal military campaign Buhari partly led between 1967 and 1970. “He’s concocted treason charges against IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to conquer Biafran self-determination, regardless of the fact that self-determination is lawful under law.”We respectfully suggest that you consider, among other things, denying weapons sales or transfers to Nigeria under the Leahy Amendment; list Nigeria complicit in persecuting Christian and Jews under the International Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

“We respectfully urge Mr. President to invoke particularly Section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended, which prohibits the furnishing of assistance authorized by the FAA and the Arms Export Control Act to any foreign security force unit in which there’s credible information that the device has committed a gross breach of human rights.”In conclusion, we state that the national interests of the USA lie in protecting Christians and Jews in Nigeria, defeating radical Islam, and preventing instability in West Africa which will altogether be enhanced by a US-led diplomatic pressure to the Nigerian government to — as a matter of urgency — agree to some UN-supervised referendum on Biafran Independence.

“We want you and your family many wonderful years at the White House.”

 

Massive death of farmers on Saturday by Boko Haram in Borno state

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110 Famers killed on Saturday by Boko Haram insurgents on their farms at Kwashebe Village of the Zambarmari area of Borno State.

Nigeria dropped over 2,000 taxpayers to reevaluate insecurity in the first quarter of 2021, Civil Society Organisations have stated. The Joint Action Civil Society Coalition, consisting of 125 nongovernmental organizations berated the plan of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, for its inability to curtail the upsetting security challenges facing the country. The CSOs said this at a joint statement titled, “State of the Country: A Call to President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the bleeding and take action to end the carnage,” made accessible to our correspondents at Abuja on Sunday. They also urged Nigerians to take part in solemn assemblies throughout the nation to commemorate the 4th National Day of mourning and remembrance of victims of mass atrocities on May 28, 2021.

Read also: Boat conveying about 100 people including women and kids capsized midway

They requested all citizens to boycott all of Democracy Day activities on May 29, 2021, in protest against the deplorable state of the country’s democracy. Part of the announcement read, “After its sharp growth of 43 percent in mass atrocities in 2020, Nigeria has continued to experience a decrease in safety throughout the country.

“From the first quarter of 2021(January to March), we listed an all-time high of nearly 2000 deaths from mass atrocities events throughout the nation.”This week, across the six geopolitical zones, there have been awakened combustions of violence leading to more deaths.

“The CSOs noted they emphasized the several kinds of migraines that were contributing to the loss of lives throughout the nation, in their past joint announcement issued in February 2021. A number of these according to the CSOs, comprise, the unending war at the North-East and attacks on peaceful protesters by security agents while terrorists take out mass rape, murder, maiming, and kidnapping of Nigerians including women and kids.

The classes noted with concern that terrorists were granted amnesty and got compensated by the authorities.” That is tantamount to supporting and funding terrorists, supporting the decimation of Nigeria’s gallant troops and amounts to treason against the Nigerian nation and individuals,” they added. The announcement also cited instances of terrorist herder attacks on unarmed farming communities and reprisal strikes in the face of government inaction and failure to attract the terrorist herdsmen and their funders to justice, due to the loss of innocent lives. Other cases they mentioned were”Large scale terrorist attacks in the North West irresponsibly labeled by the authorities as banditry in an effort to downplay their criminality.

“Additionally, the BBC reported that taxpayers said that 100 were murdered in Shadadi city in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on Wednesday. The British moderate, however, said that the 100 may comprise abductees. The report in part, “Many residents of Niger State at Central Nigeria told the BBC which gunmen attacked their cities on Wednesday, killing several people and kidnapping over 100. The Wednesday assault came only days after Governor Abubakar Bello verified that Boko Haram was busy in his condition.”The worst impacted by the most recent assault is Shadadi city in the Mariga Local Government Area in which eyewitnesses state tens of thousands fled after what occurred.

Read also: EFCC Has arrested the high respected government functionaries in Taraba: N21 billion

“As stated by those in Shadadi, those killed in the Wednesday assault attained 100 though the Niger State authorities haven’t proven to deny that the amount, they’re compiling amounts

“Even though the Niger State authorities had failed to offer a figure a week, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, stated through a lecture hosted by Lagos established Pastor, Ituah Ighodalo, he had been advised from the Niger State governor that over 40 individuals were abducted at Agaie community, among those cities assaulted.

El-Rufai had stated, “What’s occurring in Zamfara and Katsina countries is a lot worse than what’s happened in Kaduna State. I talked to the Senate of Niger State only a few minutes ago and he explained that 40 people were kidnapped in Agaie yesterday (Wednesday).”

Building a robust health care infrastructure CBN disburses over N83.9 billion in loans to health professionals

In a bid to help build a robust health care infrastructure, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has so far disbursed over N83.9 billion in loans to pharmaceutical companies and health professionals. Its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos during the launch of the documentary film,
“Unmasked”, lamented that Nigerians’ out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare had risen to 76 percent of total health cost. Noting that the growth of a strong healthcare infrastructure is vital for the progress of any society, he clarified that addressing the public health disaster together with the downturn in the economy required strong coordination from the fiscal and monetary authorities.

Read also: EFCC Has arrested the high respected government functionaries in Taraba: N21 billion

” This job will require the collaborative efforts of public and private industry stakeholders,” he added. On the CBN attempts by the healthcare industry to contain the pandemic, Emefiele said: “In this regard, we analyzed over N83.9 billion in loans to pharmaceutical companies and healthcare practitioners, which is supporting 26 pharmaceutical and 56 medical projects across the country. We were also able to mobilize key stakeholders in the economy throughout the CACOVID alliance, which led to the supply of over an N25billion in relief materials to affected households, and also the set-up of 39 isolation centers throughout the country. These steps helped to expand and strengthen the power of our healthcare institutions to react to the COVID-19 pandemic. One key aspect which we’d need to tackle is improving access to healthcare for many Nigerians.

A key factor that has impeded access to health care for Nigerians is the prevailing cost of health care services. According to a study by WHO, just 4 percent of Nigerians have access to medical insurance. Besides food, healthcare expenses are a substantial component of the normal Nigerian’s personal expenditure. Out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare amount to close to 76% of total health expenditure. At such levels of wellbeing, individuals especially those in rural communities may be denied access to healthcare providers.

Boat conveying about 100 people including women and kids capsized midway

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Sixty-five people were rescued from the crash scene In Tijana, Munya council area of Niger, but seven people remain missing. A boat conveying about 100 people including women and kids capsized midway at about 6:00 pm Saturday if the villagers were coming from a local market in Zumba in Shiroro local government area of the state.

The Sarkin Kasuwan (Head of the Economy ) Zumba, Adamu Ahmed, confirmed the retrieval of 30 bodies since search-and-rescue operations started Saturday night.

Nigerian Army joint group of government security operatives killed 11 members of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) in Imo State

He clarified that the local divers are still intensifying search for more bodies as he stated that lack of aid in the area of logistics from any quarter is slowing down their search performance. The boat that’s supposedly six months old in a heavy windstorm in a rain on Saturday evening. Among the victims were a few returnees who had earlier fled their houses with their children due to bandit attacks. Adamu stated,

“Some of the victims were going back to the village to go and get some food thing and return back into Zumba where they’re taking refuge as a consequence of bandits activities in the communities that are affected. The Director-General, State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, when contacted on the issue said the true number of people who were on board that the capsized were about 100. He explained 28 bodies have been recovered, 65 people rescued while the search for the rest seven is continuing.

13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists have been arrested on Saturday in Kano

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The Nigerian Army says troops of 3 Brigade Kano have arrested 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima disclosed that in an announcement on Sunday in Abuja. Yerima reported the suspected terrorists had been detained around Filin Lazio at Hotoro region of Kano, after a successful operation.

He explained that the ongoing operation was based on the requirement to apprehend criminals who may want to hibernate in any component of Kano State.

Read also: Former minister, Senator Aisha Al-Hassan (Mama Taraba) is dead

“The general public especially inhabitants of Filin Lazio Hotoro, are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses as security forces are at the top of their circumstance.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to use this medium to appeal to the peace-loving people of Kano country to keep a high degree of vigilance and continue to report the supposed motion of strange individuals or groups in their surroundings to the appropriate security agencies for prompt action,” he explained.

EFCC Has arrested the high respected government functionaries in Taraba: N21 billion

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EFCC arrests top government functionaries in Taraba

The three officers are from the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Even though their names have not been made public, The Guardian gathered that a permanent secretary, a cashier and a manager of finance and government are those presently playing visitors to the commission.

Findings revealed that corrupt practices, which have resulted in surcharging of councils, resulted in the intervention of the EFCC.  Additionally, the alleged illegal withdrawal of N21 billion in the state’s treasury without due process was said to have necessitated the arrest, while jittery officials of this state authorities have gone into hiding to prevent arrest. A staff of the Bureau reported that the direction of the Bureau was indicted for breaching the financial regulations withdrawals, but believed those detained would soon regain their liberty, as most of the efforts by both the Bureau and the state government to wade in”are in top gears.

Read also: Two dead, 10 injured as smugglers attack customs officers in Ogun

“Aside from the Bureau, the anti-graft commission beamed its searchlight on additional ministries, branches and agencies in the country which were enveloped by corrupt practices.  One of such institutions is the State Universal Basic Education Board and the Ministry of Finance. Since the coming of this current government, councils have become a shadow of themselves, as all actions are grounded.  Some of those council chairmen who spoke on the issue agreed that they have been going cap in hands, as monthly allocations meant for them are constantly being redirected.

“Actually, our monies from the federation accounts do not get to us but the government at the country level constantly make us sign as to when we collected the monies.  They always wind up giving us whatever they feel like lending.”Occasionally, the amount they release for us cannot even pay the salaries of our workers.  It is our prayer that the EFCC would do the needful so that in the close of the day, the much-needed sanity in our councils will be attained,” they said.

Nigerian Army joint group of government security operatives killed 11 members of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) in Imo State

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The Nigerian Army has stated a joint group of government security operatives have neutralized 11 members of the Native People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) throughout a failed assault on a police station in Imo State.

The manager, military general public relations, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Yerima stated that the group flew Orlu city in seven vehicles using the intention to assault the compound housing the Area Control and Police Station at Orlu LGA of Imo State.

He said that the Turks were resisted by corrupt authorities employees in the region Control and so were totally obliterated when a psychologist group of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force came to the scene.

Read also: Idoma Governor 2023: Abounu calls for unity to achieve power shift in Benue

The manager said the assailants who were on the radar of the Joint Technical Intelligence Team were believed to have come to a Forest Camp at Ideato North LGA of Imo State from where they mobilised and proposed the failed assault. He announced that there were no casualties on the face of the safety forces.

He advocated law-abiding citizens in the region be on the watch for odd men with gunshot injuries and report the same to the closest security service for the security of the communities. He restated the commitment of the Nigerian Army into a united Nigeria that’s secure for law-abiding citizens. He urged that the public encourage the safety forces with timely and useful information which will help remove the safety dangers in their own communities.

Former minister, Senator Aisha Al-Hassan (Mama Taraba) is dead

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A former Minister for Women Affairs and ex-Governorship Candidate in Taraba State, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba is dead.

According to media reports she died in a hospital on Friday in Cairo, Egypt at the age of 61.

Al-Hassan, who was a former senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Taraba North Senatorial District, was the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for Taraba in the 2015 general elections.

She later contested for the same seat on the platform of the United Democratic Party in the 2019 general elections after resigning from APC and as a minister in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on July 27, 2018.

The former senator was born on the 16th of September, 1959 in Jalingo, Taraba State, to Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, Sarkin Ayukan Muri.

Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan attended Muhammed Nya Primary School, Jalingo and LEA Primary School, Tudun Wada, Kaduna before proceeding to Saint Faith College (now GGSS) Kawo Kaduna where she studied between January 1973 and June 1977.

Two dead, 10 injured as smugglers attack customs officers in Ogun

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Two persons were confirmed dead, while ten others sustained gunshot injuries as hoodlums suspected to be smugglers allegedly attacked operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 command at Oja-Odan in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun state on Thursday.

The Command’s spokesman, DSC Bukoye Oloyede, issued a statement saying based on credible intelligence, the patrol team seized about 320 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each out of the large number stockpiled in a building around the said area.

The statement read, “At 0200hours of Thursday, 6th of May, 2021, Officers and Men of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Command Military personnel were on information patrol to Oja-Odan, Yewa North of Ogun State”.

“Based on credible intelligence, the patrol team intercepted about three hundred and twenty bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each out of the large number stockpiled in a building around the said area”.

“During the evacuation of the said rice, some diehard smugglers aided by unscrupulous elements and hoodlums in their numbers and armed with sophisticated weapons shot and attacked the patrol team.

“They shot sporadically at officers. Unfortunately, four Customs operatives, one soldier and five civilians assisting in the evacuation sustained gunshot injuries.

“They were immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical attention and are currently responding to treatment.

“The patrol team repressed the attack by gunning down two of the hoodlums and left many others with gunshot injuries.

“The patrol team succeeded in evacuating the aforementioned items, arrested one suspect, Mr Taiye Kujo and six motorcycles used by the suspected smugglers, and conveyed all to the Customs house at Idiroko.”

Oloyede also noted that investigation was ongoing to fish out more perpetrators of the criminal act.