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NG PRESS/NEWSPAPER REVIEW

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NG PRESS/NEWSPAPER REVIEW

News Update 9th Feb. 2021

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News Update 9th Feb. 2021

Stage another protest in Lekki and get kicked, ALEG warns

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Stage another protest in Lekki and get kicked, ALEG warns

 

We have received the notice of a planned public protest by some groups of people, which is slated to hold on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at the Lekki Toll Plaza. According to information going round, some groups of persons are planning to re-enact the unruly method of public demonstration employed by some youths in the last October protest against SARS brutality.

The social media, in the last few days, has been awash with the details of the protest, while the organisers have been talking to some youths to gather support for the planned action.

The rationale for the protest is not clear to us and to every law-abiding citizens of Lagos.

Instructively however, we observed the notice of protest was issued almost immediately after the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, raised by the Government of Lagos State to probe human rights abuses and action of the military in the infamous October 20, 2020 incidents, issued a re-possession order to Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to resume tolling operations at the toll plaza.

We strongly believe the timing of the planned protest is not coincidental, but deliberate and confrontational. It is an attempt to push Lagos to the edge on destruction once again. This informed our emergency meeting held at Campos Mini-stadium on Monday, where we deliberated on the issues. We wish to communicate our stand.

We resolved as follows:

• As a law-abiding socio-cultural organisation that unshakably stands for the peace and progress of our dear state of origin, we have widely dissected the possible grievances of those attempting to embark on another round of protest and we believe their complaints are what the courts of the land can entertain and adjudicate on. The Judicial Panel, which gave the re-possession order to LCC, subjected its decision to a vote, and the verdict came 5-4 in support of the order. If the panel’s decision did not go down well with anyone, we advise them to approach the court, not blocking the highway in protest.

• We make passionate appeal to the organisers of the protest to shelve the planned action, as it is needless in this period. Peace in Lagos is still fragile, months after the bloody End SARS violence.

• Lagos is yet to recover from the monumental loss it suffered last October when the End SARS protests degenerated to violence. Rampaging arsonists who burnt down our state did not spare our cherished cultural heritage and centuries-old legacy inheritance. Lagos has not come back on its feet; organising similar protest in such unruly fashion at Lekki tollgate or anywhere for that matter within our state will not be tolerated this time.

• The Commissioner of Police and other police formations must be alive to their responsibility and protect our state from those bent on bringing it down.

• In the event that security agencies fail to nip the protest in the board, we will be forced to march to the Lekki Toll Plaza on February 13, 2021 and halt the needless protest. Those planning the protest must not test our resolve.

Onilù o ni ję o tú

Signed
Akèté Legacy Group (ALEG)

NMA LAUDS FG & SENATE; CAUTIONS JOHESU!

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NMA LAUDS FG & SENATE; CAUTIONS JOHESU!

NDLEA seizes 40 parcels of cocaine weighing 43.11kg, cost over N32 billion

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NDLEA seizes 40 parcels of cocaine weighing 43.11kg, cost over N32 billion

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seizes 40 parcels of cocaine weighing 43.11kg, cost over N32 billion at the Tincan Port in Lagos.

The consignment containing the illicit drug was put under surveillance by operatives of the Tincan Command of the NDLEA for some days until two clearing agents showed up on Monday, February 8, 2021, to clear it.

Read also: NDLEA SEIZES N1BN TRAMADOL TABLETS

According to the Commander, Tincan Port Command, Sumaila Ethan, the two clearing agents were promptly arrested and the consignment, which was brought into Nigeria from Brazil on board a vessel marked MV SPAR SCORPIO, properly searched.
“After a thorough search, we discovered 40 compressed parcels, which after laboratory investigations tested positive to cocaine. The two clearing agents have been taken into custody while we continue with the investigation. The seizure is no doubt an attestation to the renewed vigour in the operations of the agency. We appreciate our Chairman/Chief Executive, Gen. Buba Marwa who provided guidance all through the operations,” he said.
While commending the Commander, officers and men of the Tincan Port Command for the operation, Gen. Marwa charged them and other Commands across the country to remain vigilant and on red alert.

Read also: NDLEA intercepts 607 cartons with over 11m tramadol tablets

“The successes we’re recording in the last three weeks can only serve as a challenge to raise the bar and do more. We’ll continue to do our best to motivate the officers and men of the agency, and we expect full commitment, dedication to work and discipline in return so that we can collectively achieve the goal of ridding our nation of illicit drugs,” he said.

Bandits Surrender AK 47 Riffles In Zamfara

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Bandits Surrender AK 47 Riffles In Zamfara

Leader of bandits, Auwalu Daudawa, and six members of his gang on Monday, February 8, repented and surrendered 20 AK-47 rifles and one RPG to security agencies in Zamfara State. Daudawa and the others declared their repentance from banditry before Governor Bello Matawalle and security agencies in Gusau on Monday.

Daudawa who spoke on behalf of other bandits sought the forgiveness of the state government and the people of the state. Governor matawalle commended the gang leader and his members for denouncing banditry and keying into the peace process of the state government. 8Matawalle also lauded the council of Ulama and residents of the state for supporting the process.

“We are going ahead with the process as agreed with all stakeholders in the state. We are in this dialogue to ensure sustainable peace in the state. We are committed to that and we are working day and night to achieve the goal.

“We thank Daudawa and his members for their repentance and implore them to join hands with the state government in convincing others to also repent,” the governor said. He also urged other unrepentant bandit groups in the state to subscribe to the peace initiative in the state.

“Today we have more than 20 AK-47 released by the former bandits, this is very commendable. “I call on people of the state to pray for Daudawa and his team so that he can maintain his oath. “We should give them benefit of the doubt as we are going to provide them with accommodation in the town.

“We are going to assist them to improve their livelihood in the town,” Matawalle said.

FG to perform Ground Breaking ceremony of Kano-Maradi rail project

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FG to perform Ground Breaking ceremony of Kano-Maradi rail project

Ground breaking ceremony of Kano-Maradi rail line will be performed by the Federal Government on Tuesday, 9 February, 2021, in preparation for the commencement of the 284km standard gauge rail project.

In a statement issued by Media Aide to the Minister of Transportation , Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the Kano-Maradi line is crucial to the overall railway development in Nigeria and the sub region.

Amaechi noted that the project, if completed, will represents the last section of the corridor that connects Lagos-Kano and subsequently to the Republic of Niger, through the border town of Maradi.

The Project, which is a standard gauge railway line of about 284km traverses Kano-Dambatta-Kazaure-Daura-Mashi-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger Republic.

He said the line has been designed to pass close to major cities, town and villages without dividing them to facilitate public transportation and to stimulate the development of the agricultural economy and manufacturing industries along the corridor as well reduce the cost development.

The Minister explained that the project is planned to have a total of 15 stations including Maradi which comprises two main stations in Kano and Katsina, three medium stations in Kazaure, Daura and Jibiya, three small stations in Shagalle, Dambatta and Mashi, with other Halt stations at the Airport, Kunya Dube, Muduru, Daddara, Anoal Mata and Maradi.

He said, “The project when completed will serve domestic industries and play the role of a viable transportation backbone, linking countries in the West Africa sub-region starting with the neighbouring Niger Republic for their import and export logistics chain.

“In the process, the volume of trade in the country will increase while promoting the realization of Nigeria’s interest on the Africa Free Trade Single Market Area formulation.

“The railway will account for average freight carriage forecast of 1,043,980.5 tons annually in the first 10 years of operation within its short corridor and a forecast of average passenger traffic of 3,543,637.9 annually within the same period.

“A geometrical increase in this service is expected when it is linked to the South Nigeria port of Apapa, Tin-can Island and Warri is realised by the construction of Lagos-Kano and Abuja-Itakpe respectively to average forecast of 2.2 Million tons annually and passenger traffic of average of 5.1 million”

“The total population of the three states concerned by the new line which is Kano, Katsina and Maradi has 19,563,874 inhabitants in 2006 and was estimated at 22,166,543 in 2010, which by estimated annual growth rate of 2.7 percent will amount to 28,933,988 in 2020 which represents 14 percent of the total population of Nigeria.”

The groundbreaking which will be done by Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari GCON will be attended by Governors, Ambassadors, Minister of Transportation of Niger, Ministers from both countries among other stakeholders in the sector.

COVID-19 won’t go soon, devise means of adaptation, Sirika tells aviators

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COVID-19 won’t go soon, devise means of adaptation, Sirika tells aviators

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has urged aviation stakeholders to tighten their belts and device means by which the sector will adapt and operate efficiently with COVID 19 pandemic, inferring that COVID 19 might linger for a while.

This he said has become necessary as the sector cannot afford to take back seat nor derail from the implementation of the roadmap being pursued by the Ministry.

The Minister stated this at the opening of a 4-day capacity building retreat for senior management staff of the Ministry and its Parastatals holding at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resorts, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

According to Sirika, “The aviation sector in 2020 was the worst affected by the pandemic. This happened at a time when the sector become, in 2019, the fastest-growing sector of the Nigerian economy, signifying that our modest effort and Roadmap is not only on the right direction but yielding the right results.

“I noticed that included in the retreat objectives was a discussion on issues and challenges on the implementation of the aviation Roadmap. I will urge the retreat to treat and dissect the aviation sector Roadmap to digest its content and facilitate its implementation,” he stated.

The minister implored the participants to come up with a framework for improving the relationship between Ministry and its agencies to the level that will not only achieve a very high level of implementation of the Roadmap, but will also smoothen the inter-Agency relationship.

The Chairman, Savannah Centre for Development and Training, facilitators of the retreat, Malam Abidu Yazid observed that whatever was being done in the aviation industry, there was a need for partnership and acquisition of knowledge for the industry to succeed.

He said synergy was key to the realisation of objectives where more than one player is involved in driving policies and used the aviation sector as an example of an industry where symbiosis can not dispensed with.

He commended the Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika for leading the sector from the front by not shying away from taking responsibilities and embarking on projects and programmes for the ultimate benefit of the nation’s Aviation industry.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the Permanent Secretary of theMinistry, Engr. Hassan Musa said aviation was a very peculiar sector which is subjected to international regulation and audit, which means that all activities are measured by international standards.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the retreat was organised in order to forge the synergy that would facilitate the realisation of the objectives of the aviation Roadmap, which, on its own, is geared towards the overall development of the sector.

The theme of the retreat was “ The Ministry of Aviation and its Parastatals: A symbiotic relationship for National Development, Growth and Progress.”

South African community police bust drug cartel, seize firearms, munitions, explosives

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South African community police bust drug cartel, seize firearms, munitions, explosives

Gauteng Commissioner of Police, Lt-Gen. Elias Mawela, has commended the tireless efforts of the Crime Intelligence units in the Province that recently, consistently led to significant breakthroughs in the strife to reduce the volumes of crime in Gauteng.

In the latest intelligence-driven operation, members of the Johannesburg Central Crime Intelligence were, on Monday, bust a drug cartel following up on information of drug-dealing at a residential complex in Winchester Hills in the Booysens policing precinct.

In a release by Office of the Provisional Commissioner Gauteng of the south African Police Service, it said that “The team spotted the two vehicles of interest pull up next to each other in the parking lot at the complex and executed a take-down, arresting one suspect after witnessing a transfer of unknown parcels from one vehicle to the other. The second suspect fled and evaded arrest.

“An on-site investigation led police to a flat where they searched and recovered two AK-47 rifles, an LM-5 Rifle, three shotguns, two ruger rifles, and a revolver. Bullet-proof vests, security dashboard lights, ammunition, teargas and smoke canisters, a practice hand grenade, form part of the items seized for further investigation.

“All relevant crime scene management roleplayers were summoned to the scene and the multi-disciplinary team after processsing the scene confirmed that the parcels that were moved between the suspects’ vehicles contained: an undisclosed amount of cash suspected to be the proceeds of drug sales; as well as five bags whose contents will be determined pending forensic analysis.”

Further investigations are underway and will be led by the Directorate Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). The 30-year old suspect from Sunnyside will appear in court in due course. “The recovery of such high calibre firearms suggests that the suspects could be involved in much more than just drug-related crime. The investigating team must leave no stone unturned towards apprehending the sought suspect and their accomplices as we believe that more suspects may be involved,” cited Lieutenant General Mawela.

FG Seals Abuja Laboratory For Issuing Fake COVID-19 Results To International Travellers

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FG Seals Abuja Laboratory For Issuing Fake COVID-19 Results To International Travellers

A laboratory in Abuja has been sealed by the federal government for issuing false COVID-19 results to international travellers.

The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this at the weekly press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said the development followed an investigation conducted by the government after a media report last year revealed underhand dealings of some laboratories issuing fake results after collecting N25,000 from travellers.

Ihekweazu said based on that report, an investigation was conducted and the affected laboratory was sealed with the assistance of the Federal Capital Territory Authority.

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