The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has officially pulled out of the Nigerian Army in a parade at Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, on Friday.
As part of the military tradition in honouring a retiring Chief of Army Staff, the event involved a march past by the officers of Nigerian Army.
The event was attended by the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, members of the National Assembly, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, representatives of other services chiefs and Buratai’s Regular Course mates.
The event also featured the unveiling and launching of the book entitled “The Legend of Buratai,’’ written by him.
While unveiling the book, Magashi said that the event was not just a pulling out but a celebration of the numerous achievements of Buratai as Army Chief.
Magashi said the book — “The Legend of Buratai Volume 2’’ — was a chronicle of the life of Buratai while growing up.
He said the book would inspire the younger minds to aspire higher in life.
Buratai, urged the readers to take their time to digest it, noting that all the narratives in the book were real.
The Borno Geographic Information Service (BOGIS) has cautioned organisations erecting illegally erecting masts and other communication towers within the State capital indiscriminately.
The Agency has therefore directed all concerned individuals and organizations to present Title documents of ownership of all properties, Clearance to Operate Note (CNO) from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation indicating the eligibility of their documents or otherwise of operating such facilities within their various premises.
BOGIS in a statement, further warned that any person or organization that has erected such masts or towers but fails to comply with this public notice is doing so at his own peril and would be accordingly treated as a violator of Land Use Regulations.
Kidnappers of 26 youths from the Takum local government area of Taraba demands N52 million ransom for their release.
A relation of one of the victims, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation the kidnappers have established contacts with the affected families and are demanding N2m ransom per head.
He said there was reliable information the kidnappers have moved the victims into a forest situated between Takum local government in Taraba and Katsina-Ala in Benue State.
The sources further disclosed in revenge for the abduction of the 26 victims, youths in Takum on Thursday evening attacked Tivs resident in Takum and abducted 31 persons, including women and children.
He said the abducted Tivs are hostage in an unknown hideout in Takum.
The Takum youths, according to him, have fingered Tivs for the abduction of their kinsmen.
He said they also vowed to kill the 31 Tivs in their custody should anything happen to their kinsmen.
Taraba Police spokesman DSP David Misal confirmed the kidnappers have established communication with relations of the victims.
He appealed to Takum youths to exercise patience, promising the police was making concerted efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped victims.
The Nation had reported 26 Takum youths returning from a wedding ceremony in Wukari were abducted between Chechenji and Kofai Ahmadu villages on Wednesday.
The Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas in Nigeria (HOSCON) has advised the Federal Government (FG) to ignore the calls by some groups and persons to scrap the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
It made the call just as the Niger Delta Development Initiative (NDDI) implored President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the commission’s board.
In a statement Thursday, HOSCON’s National Leader, Prof. Jasper Jumbo, said the call for an end to the NDDC was “irresponsible, an insult and gross disregard and disrespect of the untiring efforts” of prominent Niger Deltans to ensure a better deal for the oil-bearing communities in the country.
He acknowledged the fact that the NDDC had not fully lived up to its expectations, ‘primarily due to the fact that the successive managers and directors of the commission” did not understand the vision of those that birthed the intervention agency.
Jumbo, therefore, suggested the appointment of “patriotic Nigerians who are genuinely committed to the Niger Delta struggle” into the board and management of the commission.
Also on Thursday, the NDDI drew the attention of President Buhari to the illegalities currently going on in the NDDC and advised him to urgently act by inaugurating its board.
In a petition by its President, Chief Ebikalome Anselm and Secretary Johnson Oghenekevbe, the group reminded Buhari that the 13-member board had been confirmed by the Senate and therefore wondered why they had yet to be inaugurated.
The NDDI urged Buhari to sack Senator Godswill Akpabio, the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, for allegedly taking over the functions of the NDDC.
CHIEF Executive Officer of Goodmus Learning Centre, a leading study centre for students planning to study abroad, Ambassador Adekunle Badmus, has presented scholarships to 41 pupils of God Provides Secondary School in Enugu.
The educationist said he was inspired by the need to help the less privileged members of the society.
Badmus, who is also the convener of Quality But Affordable Education in Africa, said the centre was interested in helping Nigerian students secure admission in tertiary institutions in Turkey, where the government has subsidised education.
He said: “Today, we are giving local students tuition scholarship, courtesy of Goodmus Learning Centre and partners. What we are doing is a concept that came into my spirit, years back, to look at ways to give back to those that could not pay the tuition fees for their wards. That was how we came about this programme.
“We tried all we could to reach out to big companies to help us fund this, but they did not take us seriously. Some of them said we should wait. But now, we are awarding these students, and I can see the happiness in them.
“About 41 students benefitted and we spent about N1 million. What we did was to give back to the less privileged, to help those who want to study abroad but feel that the United States of America (U.S.A) or Canada is expensive to get quality and affordable education in Turkey.“
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday, said about N1.9 trillion was generated from sales of Premium Motor Spirit (popularly known as petrol) in a space of one year.
Its monthly Financial and Operations Reports (MFOR) showed that while white products fetched in N1.95 trillion for the period covering October 2019 to October 2020, petrol alone accounted for about 99.07per of the total sales.
The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), responsible for the downstream operations of the national oil company, recorded N158.04 billion from white products in the month of October 2020, representing a 92 per cent increase over the N80.15 billion earned the previous month.
Surprisingly, Nigerians consumed 1.224.54 billion litres of white products in October 2020 as against the 603.39 million litres tally of September.
According to the document, 1.224.20 billion litres of petrol, 0.31 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) also known as diesel and 0.033 million litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) were guzzled in October.
NNPC said total sales of white products for the period under review was 16.462.50 billion litres, with PMS accounting for 16.344.36 billion litres or 99.2per cent
During the period, 23 pipeline points were vandalised, representing about 10 per cent increase from the 21 points recorded in September 2020. Of the figure, Mosimi area accounted for 83 per cent of the compromised points, while Port Harcourt area posted the remaining 17per cent.
The report noted that 214.07 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas were produced in October 2020, translating to an average daily production of 6,908.34 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
The daily average natural gas supply to power plants increased by 8.60per cent to 745mmscfd, equivalent to power generation of 2,801megawatts. During the time, a total of 3,018 BCF of gas was produced, signifying an average daily production of 7,658.88mmscfd.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday affirmed that he will not allow religious prejudice and partisanship to influence the decision and policies of his government.
Buhari said this while hosting the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) led by its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar at the State House.
Buhari, therefore, warned that stoking ethnic and religious prejudices will not augur well for the development of Nigeria as his administration will continue to create an enabling environment for religious freedom as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
According to him: “The Federal Government will continue to promote religious freedom as it is a constitutional responsibility. I must thank the Muslim ummah for promoting inter-religious dialogue in the country. It is self-evident that if the country must work, we must continue to work together in spite of our ethnic, religious and political differences because Nigeria is our collective project.
“Accordingly, the Federal Government under my leadership does not and will not allow religious prejudice or partisanship to influence any of its decisions and policies. It is my solemn decision to be fair and just to all segments of society.”
He added that “The Federal Government has worked tirelessly to combat insecurity and other challenges that are confronting the country.
Security is a protracted problem but we are not relenting in our efforts. Not only are we equipping the military, but we are also boosting their morale to perform their constitutional duties without undue interference. We are also encouraging locales to enhance their intelligence gathering and timely remitting to the security Agencies.
“I acknowledge that security is the first responsibility of Government but Government cannot do it alone. It requires stakeholders, such as yourselves. Therefore, I urge you to lend your support to the security agencies by providing information that may stem the tide of crimes and insecurity in the society.”
The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru has finally taken over command from Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.
Major General Ibrahim Attahiru pays compliment to General Buratai as he takes over command.
This historic event took place during the Handing and Taking Over Ceremony between the Outgoing Chief of Army Lt Gen Tukur Buratai and the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru in a colourful ceremony at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
During the occasion, the outgoing Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai reiterated the key things he will be remembered for during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
According to him, he had improved professionalism in the Nigerian Army, responsiveness in the training, logistics and welfare of the soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army and the improvement of the responsiveness to the Nigerian Democratic imperative.
General Buratai noted that, his achievements within 66 months as he superintended the affairs of Army has increased Civil military relations, brought new innovations, cyber warfare, research and development, infrastructural development, production of fighting platforms (military hardware), among others has drastically reduced the security challenges in the country.
He however thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the privilege and honour to serve as the COAS till he honourably resigned.
General Buratai expressed gratitude to officers and men of the Nigerian Army for the loyalty, discipline and commitment accorded to him during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff.
He therefore, commended the troops in all the formations and theatres of operations for their show of patriotism, professionalism and dexterity in the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other associated crimes in the country.
Gen. Buratai who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2015 as the Chief of Army Staff, spent 40 years in service as a soldier and 66 months in office as Army Chief.
Earlier in his address, Chief of Army Policy and Plans, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun described General Buratai’s tenure as highly successful and rewarding in terms of infrastructural development, welfare of personnel and soldiers, selfless service among others.
He noted that General Buratai came, saw and conquered as the Army Chief and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Recall that General Ibrahim Attahiru was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday alongside other Service Chiefs following the resignation of the outgoing Service Chiefs on 26th January 2021.
President Buhari had on Wednesday met with the New Service Chiefs noting that Nigeria is “in a state of emergency” and charged them to pay more attention to the morale of the officers and men of the military.
The President however charged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to be patriotic in the discharge of their duties and be dedicated to ending insecurity in the country.
Before his appointment as COAS, General Attahiru held several positions in Nigerian Army, amongst them are; the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army Enugu, Deputy Director Military Secretary 2 at the AHQ MS (A), Director Army Public Relations, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Director Staff Duties and Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters.
