The Federal Government has approved the postponement of the National Sports Festival Edo 2020.
The postponement is attributable to the Coronavirus outbreak for which Nigeria has recorded three confirmed cases.
The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, in a series of tweets on Tuesday, said the postponement was to safeguard the spread of the virus in the country.
Details shortly…
The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has hailed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai for sustaining the momentum and intensity in the fight against terrorism.
CALSER paid special tribute to the Army Chief at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Nigerian Army recently announced remarkable success in anti-terrorism and anti-banditry operations across the country.
The Nigerian Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, noted that armed bandits, kidnappers and other sundry criminals were finding it difficult to operate in the country due to the increased onslaught of the troops against them.
CALSER, in a statement signed by President, Princess Ajibola, lauded the COAS whose steadfastness and dedication to the course has rubbed off on his gallant troops, evident in their recent outings.
According to the Centre, this “ is indeed an indication that the war against terrorism would indeed come to an end soon”.
It further revealed that “with the reports gathered, there has been tremendous progress that has seen to the rescue of innocent people, mostly women and children from the Boko Haram/ISWAO enclaves.
“This is indeed commendable and as such the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights wishes to state that the Nigerian troops have indeed proved that where there is a will there is always a way because, despite the various conspiracies against Nigeria in the war against terrorism, the Nigerian troops have always given the Boko Haram terrorists fatal and decisive blows in the war front. “
The Centre reckoned that this tremendous gains wouldn’t have been possible without President Muhammadu Buhari’s concerted effort to ensure that the security agencies are up and running with improved welfare and up to date operational equipment.
“The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights salutes the resolve of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration for this display of patriotism and unalloyed commitment to Nigeria,” Princess Ajibola said.
CALSER, however, urged Lt. Gen Buratai not to take his foot off the pedal at this point, especially with the troops in an all-time high in terms of morale.
While charging Nigerians to rally behind the military, the Centre called on the African and international communities not to play ostrich and join hands with Nigeria in ridding the country of fleeing and heavily decimated insurgents.
This, the group declared, has become paramount as a bulk of the arms and ammunition used by the Boko Haram terrorists were supplied by foreign countries.
“ The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic also wishes to state that the war against terrorism requires all hands to be on deck in our quest to defeat terrorism. All Nigerians must stay united with the Military as they push for the final decimation of the Boko Haram terrorist group,” Princess Ajibola noted.
“ This is also calling on other African countries to intensify their resolve in the fight against terrorism in the African continent as it must be stated that the threats posed by terrorist organizations in the region is a collective threat as the effect would be felt across the region and ultimately affect our growth and development.
“This charge is also extended to the European Union to do all it can to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism by ensuring that it sanctions any of its member countries that sell arms and ammunition to the Boko Haram terrorist group.
“ This is indeed the time for African leaders to exhibit the true African spirit by join hands with Nigeria to defeat the remnants of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group. This much is necessary because the strategic importance of Nigeria in the African continent cannot be overemphasized.
“This is on the heels that the bulk of the arms and ammunition used by the Boko Haram terrorist were supplied from some European countries. It must be stated that it is not by mere coincidence that the Boko Haram group continue to enjoy the strategic support of some European countries.
“We wish to state that it is deliberate and a part of the grand plot by some foreign interest to destabilize Nigeria in fulfillment of their nefarious agenda. This is unacceptable and must be discontinued immediately.
“Nigeria shall be indeed great again. The leadership of the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights salutes the courage of all Nigerians that have kept faith in the country for the labors of our hero’s past shall never be in vain. “
The General Officer, Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj.- Gen Farouk Yahaya has tasked officers to improve their performance in ensuring the security of the country.
The GOC gave them the task on Friday at the closing ceremony of a five day Inter-Brigade sports competition organised in Kano by the Division, with 1-Division Garrison Kaduna, Artillery Brigade Minna and 3-Brigade Kano participating.
According to him, the inter-brigade sports competition 2020 was part of the training instruction by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai to improve their proficiency, to have a professional and more confident soldiers.
“I expect that professionalism should be your watchwords, as you put into good use the knowledge and experience gained during the competition.
“Such will be for the overall benefit of your units and the Nigerian Army at large.
“I will like to assure you that trainings of such nature will continue to receive priority attention in the Division.”
He said that from the enthusiasm shown and performance of the participating formations, the division was satisfied that the objectives of the competition was achieved.
“The objectives of the competition was basically to improve your physical fitness, enhance your leadership traits, organisational ability, use of initiative, promote esprit de corps among you.
“It is also to prepare you for battle in view of the present security challenges in the country.
“I have no doubt that the events you competed in have greatly improved your physical and mental capacity,” the GOC added.
Speaking at the event, the Special guest of honour, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State commended the military for organising such sports competition among the soldiers.
Ganduje, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Kabiru Ado-Lakwaya said it was another step in tackling insecurity challenges in the country.
According to him, such training can keep the military fit and strong in fighting the security challenges in the country.
The governor further pledged to continue to give all the security agencies in the state, especially the military adequate support to tackle insecurity.
the events competed for include Football, Boxing, Taekwondo, Swimming, Squash, Basketball, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Obstacle crossing, Tug of war, Cross country race, Badminton, Chess and Scrabble.
At the end of the competition, 1 Division Garrison Kaduna clinched the 1st position, 3 Brigade Nigerian Army Kano 2nd position and 31 Artillery Brigade Minna took the 3rd position.
The Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum has commended the Nigerian military particularly the Army for their commitment to tackling the numerous security challenges in Nigeria, especially insurgency and terrorism in the Northeast Geo-political zone.
Prof Zulum made the assertion Monday at the Army Headquarters, Abuja when he visited the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.
The Governor thanked the Federal Government and the military for their support to the people and the government of Borno State and solicited for more support and cooperation to ensure the successful completion of the war against insurgency in the State.
According to the governor, – his visit to the COAS was aimed at cross-fertilization of ideas that would help to improve on the counter insurgency/ counter terrorism operations, stressing that the battle needed to be taken to the enclaves of the insurgents.
Governor Zulum called on governments at all levels to support the military maximally to enable them carryout their tasks of protecting the nation, adding that there is the need to strengthen Civil-military relations and foster synergy between and among security agencies. He noted that the people of Borno State and the Nigerian Army have a common objective.
He expressed optimism that terrorism would soon be a thing of the past.
Responding, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Buratai commended the Governor for his dynamic approach to governance and his determination to finding an enduring solution to insecurity in the state.
General Buratai used the opportunity to thank the governor for all his supports especially to the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE deployed in Borno State.
He noted that Borno State has high prospects for human capacity development that could be developed for the benefit of Nigeria and other parts of the world, while expressing hope that the State will in a near future return to its glorious position of peace and prosperity.
The Army boss enjoined the Borno State government to take into consideration the reintegration, deradicalization and employment of repentant members of the Boko Haram sect as the nation heads towards the final phase of the war against insurgency/terrorism.
The COAS was hopeful that with the recent lift on the ban on fishing activities on the Lake Chad basin, business activities in the area and Maiduguri metropolis will bounce back.
The COAS acknowledged the injection of members of the Civilian Joint Task Force in the fight and commended their efforts and that of other security agencies, reiterating the readiness of the Nigerian Army to work in conjunction with its counterparts in other countries to ensure that the war is fought to a logical conclusion.
By Evangelist Sunday Attah
A larger percentage of the world’s population lives below the poverty line. As nations grapple with how to overcome this, they are not spared from the further debilitating and catastrophic effects of other disasters that aggravate the pitiable conditions of the poor and even increasing their number. Due to this, there have been injunctions by the major religions on assisting the poor and coming to the aid of the needy. In Nigeria, while organizations and individuals have taken it upon themselves to intervene in various ways to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, the combined effect of natural and man-made disasters has emphasized the need for more of such efforts. Considering the enormity of the problems on ground, many have given up while others who have managed to remain and have had their resources drained.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was set up by the government to intervene in emergency situations and has been doing so over the years but with the coming of Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, there seems to be an understanding on the part of the agency that the role NEMA is supposed to play goes beyond living up to government’s mandate but to serve humanity and do the will of God. In the Bible, the question was asked, who should be considered a nieghbour and Jesus Christ responded with a parable of the good Samaritan in which the assistance of a foreigner categorized as an enemy qualified him to be regarded as the neighbour of the slain traveller who was ignored by his brothers and those supposedly close to him in his time of distress.
If the question, ‘who is your neigbour?’ is to be put to the very weak and poor in Nigeria today, regardless of religion, ethnic group or geo-political zone, the response would be unanimous: Maihaja.
This is because since the coming of Engr Mustapha Maihaja as the Director General of NEMA, the agency has responded to emergency situations and has moved swiftly to help the needy in a way that has qualified it to be seen as the neighbour of the poor, vulnerable and weak in the society.
The agency has been able to achieve these from the observation of analysts on four major fronts, namely, through its response to disasters and emergencies, constant reaching out to the distressed, providing succor to the weak and poor through social protection intervention measures.
In Deutronomy, the Bible says: “ For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land and in ACTS 20: 35 it says. “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
In Islam, the Hadith stated that Hadrat Abdullah Bin Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger(peace be upon him) as saying, ”There are some servants of Allah the Almighty whom He has bestowed with special blessings by which they help His servants. As long as they help people with their wealth and influence, Allah the Almighty keeps bestowing His blessings on them. If anyone of them keeps away from helping people then Allah the Almighty withdraws His blessings from him and transfers it to some more deserving person. “
And according to Hadrat Abu Hurayra(Radiyallahu Anhu), Allah’s Messenger(peace be upon him): “Whoever relieves a believer of a difficulty from the difficulties of this world, Allah shall relieve for him a difficulty from the difficulties of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever lightens the burden of someone in difficulty , Allah shall lighten his burden in this life and the next.”
Disasters and emergencies as is well known are of two different kinds, but NEMA has positioned itself to take up the challenges with equal adroitness. The agency’s response to natural disasters like flood and emergency situation caused by human activities like the insurgency in the North East have received high élan an commendation both within and outside the shores of the country.
In the former category, NEMA has shown sensitivity and concern to the plight of those ravaged by natural disasters that its intervention in the areas has so mitigated the effect of the disasters that the victims have been brought back to normal lives leaving no room for regrets.
It is common knowledge that in Nigeria, several communities in several states during the rainy seasons, are ravaged by floods due to heavy rains and release of water from some dams. This has usually leaves a large part of the population in the throes of the devastation from loss of lives, homes and other property.
Several states in Nigerian including Benue, Niger, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and others are rendered homeless and citizens reduced to destitute.
But with the intervention of NEMA which lately has even gone head to take proactive steps by warning communities of likely floods and giving them adequate advice on preventive measures, much of the effect of the devastation has been reduced.
The agency has helped communities and individuals with relief material to return to their bases and start new lives without allowing themselves to be overwhelmed by the devastation of the disasters.
On the man made disasters especially the hardship caused by the effects of insurgency in the North eastern part of the country, the various initiatives employed by NEMA have had tremendous impact on the lives of those that have been affected by the crisis in the area. NEMA has been able to establish bases in terms of reaching out in several villages, communities, and hamlets with food items, clothes, medications and other relief materials that the impact of NEMA in North-East Nigeria has been commended in several fora in that regard.
Does this line of action also answer to a call? Yes. In Deutronomy 15:17 it says, “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”
And in Islam it says, “Give to the near of kin his due, and also to the needy and the wayfarers. Do not squander your wealth wastefully; for those who squander wastefully are Satan’s brothers, and Satan is ever ungrateful to his Lord. (17:26 – 27).
Not done with that, the agency lately moved ahead and exercised its mandate to tackle humanitarian issues emanating from ecological devastation in the country.
This is one area that has been neglected in the past but with the coming of Maihaja, realizing the number of people affected and the effect on the general well being of the citizenry, NEMA took up the responsibility. NEMA’s Establishment Act empowers it to cover ecological problems hence the agency took up the mandate seriously as many parts of the country are suffering from ecological devastation.
The southern parts of the country suffer from erosion, the central part of the country suffers from the activities of miners and in the north there is the age long problem of desertification.
The intervention by NEMA has reduced the hardship caused by each or a combination of these disasters and has brought succour and relief to the communities and individuals living in these areas.
This also has a spiritual background as the Bible says in Proverbs 19: 17 that “ Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed and in 1 John 3: 17-18, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
In Islam, Safwan ibn Salim related that the Prophet said: “Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah’s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari) and Anas related that the Prophet said: If any Muslim plants something or sows seed from which a man, a bird or an animal eats, it counts as a charity for him. (Bukhari, Muslim)
NEMA under Maihaja has also reached out to the distressed. When Nigerians were being humiliated and put under harsh conditions for repatriation in Libya, the agency felt concerned and moved into action.
This has seen the agency participating in the repatriation and rehabilitation of Nigerian refugees from Libya through airlift of returnees from Tripoli to Port Harcourt, fact-finding negotiation mission to Libya, international and local media and publicity and others. The agency through its distribution of relief material to communities has helped in mitigating the suffering of the poor and the weak,
Again this lies at the background of the love for one another enjoined by the two major religions in Nigeria, proving that NEMA under Maihaja is God-sent.
Attah wrote this piece from Abuja.
By Ede Ogaba Ede
Following the directives of the Benue State Executive Council for the immediate reactivation of the Old Otobi Waterworks to enable the station to resume treatment of water and pumping of same to residents of Otukpo and its environs, Benue State Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu, today inspected the on-going work at Otobi.
He was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr Alex Shaapera and the Director of Civil Engineering, Ministry of Works, Mr Alex T. Orya, who were in Otukpo to sort out an issue of encroachment into the land of the ministry at Otukpo.
After going round all the sections of the waterworks, Engr Abounu expressed satisfaction with the repair work as well as the effort to connect the Old Water Works to the pipes of the Chinese built new digitalised Waterworks.
The deputy governor was received by the Area Officer, Otukpo Waterworks, Engr Paul Owuno and veteran water engineer, Joseph Ben Onaji.
After years of urging its terrorists to attack major European cities, ISIS is now telling them to steer clear due to the coronavirus.
Any sick jihadists already in Europe, however, should stay there — presumably to sicken infidels, according to a “sharia” directive printed in the group’s al-Naba newsletter, the Sunday Times of London reported.
The “healthy should not enter the land of the epidemic and the afflicted should not exit from it,” the newsletter advised.
The newsletter instructs jihadists that the “plague” is a “torment sent by God on whomsoever He wills.”
Iraq, where most of the surviving fragments of the group remain, had 110 reported coronavirus cases on Sunday morning, 10 of them fatal, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the contagion.
Osun Student who got President Muhammadu Buhari’s scholarship for emerging best scientist of the year Master Akintade Abdullahi, a student of Osogbo Grammar School has got a full scholarship up to PhD level for emerging the overall best Young Nigerian Scientist of the Year.
President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the young Osun public school student the award after he won the 1st position in the National Examination of the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award, organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola has appreciated the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari for giving Abdulahi the scholarship prize.
Governor Oyetola, who personally congratulated the winner and his parents, expressed his appreciation to President Buhari while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the presentation of the Presidential Awards to the young Abdullahi and two others on Monday at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The Governor was Guest of honour at the event.
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared opened the programme today the 2020 Science, Technology And Innovation EXPO at the Eagle Square, Abuja..
The Hon Ministers of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and Barr Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi (Magajin Garin Uke) alongside their colleagues and other dignitaries including the Emir of Lafia, HRH Alh Dauda Sidi Bage 1 and the Yakanajen Uke, HRH Alh Ahmed Hassan Abdullahi today at the opening ceremony of the programme.
STI EXPO which is to hold from today through 20th of March 2020 is a programme under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology where agencies of government and private organizations including individuals showcases their scientific and technological innovations.
… says plans underway to relocate the market.
Immediate past Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council of Benue State, Hon George Alli has sympathised with victims of the Otukpo market inferno of Monday 16th March, 2020 promising that government will come to the aid of those who lost properties in the incident.
Hon Alli gave the assurance Monday, while speaking in a telephone interview with Television Nigerian.
He noted that the nature of the market had made it difficult for fire trucks to gain access into the epicentre of the inferno but praised the efforts of spirited individuals and the firemen for their gallantry in bringing the situation under control.
Hon Alli noted that plans are underway to relocate the market to a safer location as talks have reached advance stage with some developers to build an ultramodern market to boost economic activities in the city.
He hinted that he had brief both the Governor and the Deputy Governor on the development and extracted their commitment towards alleviating the pains of the victims.