Television Nigerian

Abducted sister of honourable released after spending 11 days in captivity

coic

-

January 2, 2021

Abducted sister of honourable released after spending 11 days in captivity

The abducted sister of Honourable Sunkanmi Babalola, the Deputy Majority Leader in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs Jumoke Babalola Oludele, has been released after spending 11 days in captivity.

Oludele, who was kidnapped at the Monatan area of Ibadan on Monday, December 21, 2020, was set free at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 2, 2021.

A source close to the lawmaker informed the Nigerian Tribune that a ransom was paid to secure the release of the businesswoman.
He, however, failed to declare how much was paid to the kidnappers.

Oludele was abducted after the gunmen crossed her car while returning home after the day’s work

Sanwo-Olu’s wife presents gifts to 2021 Lagos’ first infants

coic

-

January 2, 2021

0

Sanwo-Olu’s wife presents gifts to 2021 Lagos’ first infants

Mother of a newborn baby, Mrs. Tomilola Amoo (left); First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye and wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat during the visit of the First Lady and her team to Lagos’ first baby of the year at Mushin General Hospital…yesterday. PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

The wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, visited 4 public health services to felicitate with families of the first infants of the year at the hospitals.

The healthcare centers she visited have been Mushin Normal Hospital, Alimosho General Hospital, Orile Agege General Hospital and Ayinke House, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Baby Amoo, a male, who weighed 3kg, was delivered at 12:01am by Mrs Amoo Tomilola at Mushin General Hospital. At Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, baby Foluke, who weighed 4.35kg was delivered at 2:38am. Baby Ajayi, a girl, who weighed 2.35kg, delivered at 12:01am was the first baby of the year at Orile-Agege General Hospital while baby Adesola-Fagade, who weighed 3.3kg delivered at 12:21am was first baby of the year at LASUTH.

At each of the hospitals, the governor’s wife presented mum’s packs, baby essentials and other gifts to the babies and their parents.

Sanwo-Olu said the birth of a child does not happen by chance, noting that women take steps to ensure that they live healthy life styles while pregnant.

She stated further that the visits were not just to celebrate the newborn babies but also to make a difference in the lives of the people by showing kindness and compassion.

She acknowledged the efforts of frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19, urging residents in the state to assist the government by adhering strictly to all the safety protocols against the disease.

She also expressed hope that this year would be full of accomplishments, projecting that the state would grow stronger despite the pandemic.

“All hands must be on deck towards flattening the curve of the second wave of the virus by strictly adhering to all preventive and safety guidelines designed to ward off the threat of the virus,” she said.

(Mr and Mrs Onumba, parent of the 2021 baby of the year in Alimosho General Hospital. PHOTO: NAN)

(Mushin General Hospital…yesterday. PHOTO)

FRCN Yola FM lost two workers 12 hours apart

coic

-

January 2, 2021

0

FRCN Yola FM lost two workers 12 hours apart

An arm of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Yola, Fombina FM, has been thrown into mourning as two employees members died Thursday night and Friday morning respectively.

Colleagues of the deceased told our correspondent on Friday that the two died of surgery-related complications but that the circumstances were separate.

Sarah Thomas, a continuity announcer with the station, died about 6.30 AM Friday while Zakiyya Ahmed died about 12 hours earlier, evening Thursday, December 31, 2020, according to a colleague, Mr. Shekara Anthony.

Shekara Anthony who is the Fombina FM chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said while Sarah Thomas died of complications arising from surgery, Zakiyya Ahmed died from a rupture of the appendix.

Also speaking on the development, a friend of Sarah Thomas, Mohammed Aliyu, said, “The shadow of death has once again engulfed Fombina FM Yola and snatched a youthful, cheerful and industrious person, Thomas Sarah.”

By the ‘shadow of death engulfing Fombina FM again,’ Mohammed Aliyu would mean an incident a year ago when a staff of the Fombina FM Yola, Maxwell Nashon, was murdered in a mysterious circumstance.

Maxwell Nashon had reportedly been overwhelmed and left for dead by the wayside near the Fombina FM complex in Girei, and was taken to the hospital the place he was finally confirmed dead.

Read also: 126 suspected pipeline vandals, oil thieves have been arrested by NSCDC in Abia

126 suspected pipeline vandals, oil thieves have been arrested by NSCDC in Abia

coic

-

January 2, 2021

0

126 suspected pipeline vandals, oil thieves have been arrested by NSCDC in Abia

THE State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command; Mr. Vincent Ogu, has acknowledged that his command arrested 126 suspected pipeline vandals/oil thieves within the year 2020.

Ogu who disclosed this at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital, whereas talking on the achievements of the

command in the year under review commended the efforts of the officers and men of the command who he said have shown unreserved commitment in carrying out the zero-tolerance directives of the Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana Mohammadu, against all forms of vandalism of petroleum pipelines and other critical national assets of government within the state.

Read also: Terrorists Invasion: Actions Being Put in Place to Handle Intelligence Accordingly -DHQ

According to him “As a command, we appreciate the locals for having confidence in us as demonstrated by the timely and useful information they provided which helped in no small measures towards the successes the Command has recorded in the fight against all forms of Economic Sabotage against our Nation Nigeria.”

Giving an update on the prosecution of some of the suspects thus far arrested, the Abia NSCDC boss acknowledged that “The command has secured a complete of 60 convictions with over 35 vehicles (Truck and Passenger Automobiles) used in various unlawful Petroleum Products business forfeited to the Federal Government.

“We now have a complete of 66 cases at different phases of trial at the Federal High Court, Umuahia”.

Read also: Troops rescue kidnapped victims, uncover illegal refineries, recover arms and stolen crude in Niger-Delta

Dealing with youth unemployment in Nigeria is a must

coic

-

January 2, 2021

0

Dealing with youth unemployment in Nigeria is a must

Regardless of the Federal Government’s pledge to carry 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over an interval of 10 years, youth unemployment continues to be on the rise. It’s also worrisome that a nation with plentiful materials and human assets can’t absolutely provide sufficient jobs for its youths. Doubtless, youth unemployment accounts for the excessive rate of violence and criminality within the nation.

Based on the 2019 new youth policy, all Nigerian citizens aged between 18 and 29 years are thought of as youths. Nonetheless, the African youth charter deems those between 15 and 35 years as youths. Generally, youths constitute the active population of any society. Additionally, they decide the extent of development in any nation. In accordance with the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the youth unemployment rate within the nation is put at 27.1 per cent. It estimates that the youth population constitutes 60 per cent of the nation’s whole population, now put at 206 million. Of this determine, the urban youth population was put at 35.5 per cent in 2020. With the recession mentioned to be the worst within the nation in the last 36 years and the ravaging effect of the second wave of the COCID-19 pandemic, the youth unemployment figure could also be larger in 2021. The rising youth unemployment is a time bomb that needs to be urgently addressed before it explodes with dire consequences.

Read also: PATRIOT: UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE NIGERIAN YOUTH

Subsequently, the federal and state governments should cease paying lip service to unemployment and poverty eradication. This is the appropriate time to begin lifting millions of Nigerians, particularly the youths, out of poverty as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari. Since Nigeria has to turn into the poverty capital of the world, the government ought to come up with pragmatic measures to create more jobs to totally engage the youths.

During the campaigns, President Buhari promised to eradicate corruption, insecurity, and unemployment. Now that he has about two and a half years to go, he should just fulfill these promises. We say this because unemployment among the youths is one of the major problems inhibiting the peace and security of the country. There is a link between unemployment and rising criminality in the country. Unemployed youths can be willing tools in the hands of insurgents, terrorists, cultists, kidnappers, and other criminal elements. With a low level of industrialization in the country, many youths have remained unemployed. Unfortunately, while the population is growing so fast, there is no corresponding growth in job opportunities for the youths.

Read also: Buhari’s administration seriously creating jobs for the youths —Lai Mohammed

Moreover, many Nigerian youths are no more interested in agriculture. The dwindling interest in agriculture and the absence of basic infrastructure in the rural areas, contribute to the migration of many youths to the urban areas in search of non-existent jobs. It is lamentable that the number of unemployed youths continues to increase without considerable means of livelihood.

This is the time to promote vocational education that places less emphasis on white collar jobs. There is a need to encourage vocational education which trains the individual to develop occupational skills and become self-reliant. The government should set up more skill acquisition centers through effective entrepreneurship development, revitalize ailing industries, encourage agriculture, and fight corruption. The youths should be encouraged to embrace agriculture and other productive sectors.

It is not enough for the government to promise to create 10 million jobs in a year. Let strategies be put in place to realize the objective. More efforts should be made to create an enabling environment for job creation by the organized private sector. Small and medium scale enterprises should be established. This calls for further enhancement of the ease of doing business in the country. The government must address the energy sector challenge and ensure an adequate supply of electricity for industries to thrive.

There may be also the necessity to diversify the economic system and end the reliance on oil income. Nigeria’s overdependence on oil as its main source of revenue has led to the neglect of different sectors. All tiers of government should work in concert to create extra jobs for thousands and thousands of unemployed Nigerians, particularly the youths.

Read also: Buhari launches farming programme for 774,000 youth

Thieves invade Anambra community, cart away MTN’s present to Ngige

coic

-

January 2, 2021

0

Thieves invade Anambra community, cart away MTN’s present to Ngige

Suspected armed robbers have invaded Alor community in Idemmili South Local Government Area of Anambra State and stole a newly installed water pumping machine at their primary health center.

A cell telecommunication big, MTN Nigeria, Saturday Solar gathered, had drilled the borehole within the clinic on the directive of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to whom they had provided the project as a present.

Narrating what transpired during the annual general meeting convened by Alor People’s Assembly (APA), Ngige told his kinsmen that MTN had offered to drill the borehole near his house but he directed them to the clinic.

Read also: Regional Security: South-East governors meet with IGP in Enugu

“MTN Nigeria wanted to give me a borehole. They said that they would site it in my village area; my village square. But I said ‘no, locate it for me in the community’s health center.’ It was their Corporate Social Responsibility.

“They built it in the health center as I directed. They have also tested it. But do you know what happened? The day I came to flag off a free medical programme I sponsored which was held in the health center, I was told that thieves have stolen the sumo (water pumping machine).

Read also: Thieves cart away millions of Naira from Akwa Ibom Govt House

“The borehole was constructed about three months ago. There was no water within the hospital. I had to buy water. I provided the well-being centre with tanker a great deal of water for the programme. Nurses informed me that there was no single safety man working within the hospital”, Ngige lamented.

FG Launches Mobile App to Improved NIN Slip

coic

-

January 1, 2021

0

FG Launches Mobile App to Improved NIN Slip

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economic system, Dr. Isa Pantami, has approved the development and launch of an improved National Identity Number (NIN) slip and a Mobile App.

A press release by the Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to the Minister, Dr Femi Adeluyi mentioned that is a part of the Federal Government’s Policy to enhance the method of obtaining NIN and linking it to SIM, which was despatched to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for implementation.

“The N20 and N40 charges for NIN verification by individuals and Mobile Network Operators, respectively, have been additionally waived. These efforts are geared toward supporting the coverage to hyperlink subscribers’ NIN to their SIM, which was approved by the Federal Government earlier within the year and communicated to the NCC on the 4th of February, 2020”, the statement noted.

The additional noted that the extremely anticipated Web Service (MWS) Application, referred to as the NIMC

Mobile App and the improved National Identification Number (NIN) slip are actually obtainable for public use.

“The app offers a safe channel for all Nigerians and authorized residents to simply confirm and authenticate their identities on-the-go using smartphones. It additionally allows them to link the NIN to their phone numbers.

The development of the app and other tools to help the National Identity Number (NIN) process align with the National Digital Economy Policy for a digital Nigeria.

The app provides a built-in harmonization process that enables for its use throughout different government services together with the NCC, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, and National Well being Insurance coverage Scheme, to say a number of.

It can be accessed via a self-service Portal, where people who already have been issued the NIN, can log in, download a PDF of the document in colour (if preferred), print and laminate as desired. The current NIN Slip will remain valid and will be gradually phased-out.

“The App is available on the Google Play Store for Android users and App Store for IOS users. Details on how to download and install the App and download the improved NIN slip are available on the websites and social media platforms of the Ministry and NIMC. Users can also download the improved NIN Slip at https://dashboard.nimc.gov.ng.

“The Honourable Minister has directed NIMC to respond to enquiries and also provide multimedia guides to make it easy for users to obtain their improved NIN slips and install the App.

The Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy remains committed to creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians and legal residents to obtain their Digital Identity Number,” the statement added.

Abia Govt. approves reopening of schools on Jan. 11

coic

-

January 1, 2021

0

Abia Govt. approves reopening of schools on Jan. 11

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, has authorised the reopening of all schools in the state on Monday, Jan. 11, for the continuation of the first term of the 2020/2021 academic session.

That is contained in a press release by the state’s Commissioner for Schooling, Dr. Kanaelechi Nwangwa, in Abia on Friday. Nwangwa directed all school heads and proprietors to make sure the observance of COVID-19 protocols for the safety of teachers and students.

He said that this was imperative following the second wave of the COVID-19 in Nigeria.

“They should also note that by this directive, the first term of 2020/2021 will now officially end on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021.

Read also: Police arrest four suspected traffickers rescue 19 children in Abia

“This is to ensure that the first term runs a full course as expected.

“Any school proprietor that shortchanges this schedule and decides to cut corners by running an abridged term will be appropriately sanctioned.

Nwangwa urged school heads and proprietors to be correctly guided by the directive to keep away from unwanted consequences.

Read also: COVID-19: Makinde gives update on reopening of religious centers, schools

#EndSARS Activist, Odele Goes Into Exile

coic

-

January 1, 2021

0

#EndSARS Activist, Odele Goes Into Exile

Modupe Odele, a member of the Feminist Coalition, says she has been forced to go into exile because of immigration woes.

The Feminist Coalition is among the promoters of the #EndSARS protest and it raised about N147 million for the trigger.

Odele, a lawyer who was actively involved in the campaign, offered legal assistance to individuals who have been arrested in the course of the demonstrations. In a collection of tweets on Thursday, the activist stated, “You force me to enter exile from my very own nation for no crime. I can’t go to and go as I please anymore. “I would have missed my flight if I didn’t make those calls. As a result of the individual to do the secondary clearance wasn’t on sit.

Read also: #EndSARS: Court Grants Bail To Osun Protester, Seizes His Passport, Forbids Interviews

“I’m informed I’ll always be stopped like that upon entry to or exit from Nigeria. What’s my crime once more? Offering legal help?”

Her passport was earlier seized for days in the wake of the protests in October.

There have been allegations of witch-hunt towards protesters and promoters of the #EndSARS campaign by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Not too long ago, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) obtained an ex parte order to freeze the accounts of 20 people and an organisation linked to the campaign. Amongst those affected are Bolatito Racheal Oduala, Chima David Ibebunjoh, Mary Doose Kpengwa, Saadat Temitope Bibi, Bassey Victor Israel, Wisdom Busaosowo Obi, Nicholas Ikhalea Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Lanre Yusuf, Uhuo Ezenwanyi Promise, and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.

Read also: #EndSARS and Our Missing Conscience

Gatefield Nigeria Restricted, house owners of Gatefield, an advocacy group that supported the media protection of the protest by providing funds to journalists, had its Access Bank account frozen. As well as, a number of individuals have been illegally detained by the police in Lagos, Osun, and the FCT without trial. These actions have, nonetheless, been largely condemned by activists and legal specialists across the country.

Read also: #EndSARS: APC caucus demands Gbajabimila resignation as Speaker

Banditry: Northern Patriots applaud Buratai, Nigerian Army’s Sahel Sanity for commitment to peace in the North-West

Recent News

admin

-

January 1, 2021

0

Banditry: Northern Patriots applaud Buratai, Nigerian Army’s Sahel Sanity for commitment to peace in the North-West

The Coalition of Northern Patriots (CNP) has hailed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. T.Y Buratai for the success of the Nigerian Army’s Operation Sahel Sanity.

In a New Year message signed by its President, Nuruddeen Dodo, on Friday, the coalition said the COAS and his troops’ commitment to restoring peace have drastically reduced crime and criminalities in the North-West.

First launched in July last year in Faskari, Katsina State, Lt. Gen. Buratai vowed that the military exercise would comprehensively tackle banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the region.

In September, the operation was extended to the North-Central region to ensure peace in all parts of the country.

And according to the coalition, the exercise has so far yielded positive fruits, bringing about the much-needed peace and tranquillity in the region by engaging criminal elements in ways too numerous to mention.

After considering the feat recorded, the group expressed confidence that the other regions will soon experience the same.

The CNP, however, called on all well-meaning Nigerians to extend support to the Nigerian Army’s operations in its bid to make Nigeria safe and secure for all.

Read the full statement below:

The Coalition of Northern Patriots wishes to commend Operation Sahel Sanity’s efforts in curtailing the excesses of armed bandits in North West Nigeria that has resulted in a drastic reduction of crime and criminalities in the North West region.

We wish to reiterate that since the launch of Operation Sahel Sanity by the Nigerian Army to combat armed attacks, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other criminal activities in North-West Nigeria, it has been a success story.

This feat was achieved through the troops’ commitment under Operation Sahel Sanity in ensuring that criminal elements operating in the region are neutralized and kept at bay.

We wish to state that in the North West today, incidences of Armed Banditry has been reduced to the barest minimum due to the presence of Operation Sahel Sanity in addressing the security challenges in the region.

The Coalition of Northern Patriots having reviewed the security situation in North-West Nigeria wishes to emphasize that Operation Sahel Sanity has brought the needed peace and tranquillity in the region by engaging criminal elements in ways too numerous to mention.

We are consequently applauding the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai that has been tireless in rendering service to the country despite the avalanche of conspiracies against the peace and progress of the country.

That Operation Sahel Sanity has recorded tremendous success in North West Nigeria indicates the laudable efforts of the Nigerian Army in internal security operations in Nigeria. This much has been the hallmark of the Nigerian Army’s involvement in internal security operations in Nigeria.

Thus, it is our considered opinion that indeed the Nigerian Army under the watch of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has contributed immensely to addressing the threats posed by criminal elements across the country.

The Nigerian Army has also stoutly risen in defence of our nascent democracy in the prosecution of the war against insurgency in North-East Nigeria and addressing the threats posed by militants and criminal gangs across the country.

The relative peace and tranquillity experienced in North-West Nigeria indeed buttresses this point and indicates that Nigeria shall overcome its security challenges with the right support.

The Coalition of Northern Patriots states in unequivocal terms that Operation Sahel Sanity is a huge success. It has contributed immensely in reducing the activities of armed bandits in the region.

We also wish to commend other security agencies that have an equally displayed outstanding commitment towards curtailing incidences of Armed Banditry in North-West Nigeria. Our considered opinion is that they are deserving of our commendation and support in the onerous task at hand.

The exigencies of time indeed require all hands to be on deck and support the laudable initiatives of the Nigerian Army in addressing the security challenges in the country. The case of Operation Sahel Sanity is just a tip of the iceberg given the Nigerian Army’s commitment to preserving and protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The Coalition of Northern Patriots herby sends a clarion call to all well-meaning Nigerians to extend support to the Nigerian Army’s operations in its bid to make Nigeria safe and secure for all.

The Operation Sahel Sanity example in North West Nigeria should indeed give insights into the fact that with the right motivation, the country’s security challenges can be addressed.

Thank you.