Troops of the Nigerian Army dismantled a gun-running syndicate supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups in the North-West.
The army in a post on its official X Handle on Thursday said the troops also arrested a notorious kidnapping syndicate and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.
It said that troops working in coordination with other security agencies on Wednesday seized a notorious gunrunner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim.
The suspect was nabbed at Babinga Kudaru village of Saminaka, Lere local government area of Kaduna State.
According to the army, the arrest followed the arrest of another syndicate member by the troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jos on July 31.
The post read: “Among the items recovered are an AK-47 rifle, AK-47 rifle magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and 49 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.
“In Katsina State, the troops laid an ambush and neutralised a terrorist at Anguwa Boka in Faskari Local Government Area.
“The troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK 47 Magazine, three Rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, a mobile phone and assorted items.
“In a separate operation, the troops tracked and apprehended one Abubakar Shehu (25) in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun.
“Shehu is a member of a kidnap syndicate responsible for the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) in Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“Following preliminary investigation, the suspect led troops to Okoka forest in Itesiwaju Local Government Area.
“They recovered four AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, eight magazines, one cartridge, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
“The troops are continuing their pursuit of other members of the kidnap syndicate.”
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Troops arrest notorious gunrunner in North-West
LG chair candidates to pay N250,000, says Ogun electoral body
The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission has announced that each chairmanship candidate presented by political parties for the local government elections scheduled for November 16, 2024 will be required to pay administrative charges of N250,000.
The electoral body also stated that male councillorship candidates will be charged N150,000, while female candidates will pay N100,000.
The commission explained that the reduced fee for female councillorship candidates is intended to encourage women’s participation in politics by lowering barriers.
The commission’s chairman, Mr Babatunde Osibodu, disclosed this on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting and the unveiling of the guidelines for the 2024 Local Government Elections, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
Osibodu, represented by Mr Olatunji Akoni, Commissioner of the Electoral Commission, emphasised that people are central to the electoral process and play a crucial role in elections, so they must be adequately informed and involved for the process to succeed.
The OGSIEC chairman explained that the meeting aimed to build confidence among participants, including political parties, associations, and religious and community leaders. He added that the commission’s goal is to organise an election that will be free, fair, and credible, setting a benchmark in the state’s electoral history.
Osibodu said, “The elections are scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 8am to 2pm.
“At OGSIEC, we are committed to gender sensitivity and actively advocate for female participation in the democratic process.
“The commission has therefore set the administrative charges for the political parties presenting candidates at the elections: N250,000 per chairmanship candidate, N150,000 per male councillorship candidate, and N100,000 per female councillorship candidate.”
He explained that this approach aims to lower the barriers for women to participate in local governance and ensure they have fair and equitable opportunities.
He assured that the upcoming election would genuinely reflect the wishes and aspirations of the grassroots population.
In his contribution, the state chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Mr Yinka Williams, urged OGSIEC to take all necessary steps to convince political parties that the election will be free and fair.
“There should be voter registration, which is crucial to this election,” Williams demanded.
Representatives of security agencies, traditional rulers, political parties, and other stakeholders were present at the meeting.
Edo election: Only 3 parties nominated required number of agents – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed that only three political parties out of 17 participating in the forthcoming Edo state governorship election uploaded the details of their agents for all levels of polling and collation, while one party has no single agent for any level of voting or collation.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement issued on Thursday that the commission had replaced the manual process for accreditation of observers, media, polling and collation agents with dedicated portals to which the required information, including photographs, is uploaded.
He stressed that political parties are subsequently required to upload the details of their agents for polling units and collation centres for all elections.
The National Commissioner explained that for the Edo State governorship election, the portal opened on July 17, 2024, and automatically shut down at midnight on July 30, 2024, as indicated in Item 9 on the timetable and schedule of activities for the election released almost a year ago in September 2023.
He said: “In Edo State, there are 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centres, comprising 192 ward centres, 18 local government centres and the state collation centre in Benin City. A political party fielding candidate in the election is expected to nominate 4,730 agents.
“From the 17 parties participating in the election, the Commission expected a cumulative figure of 80,410 agents. However, only 44,687 were uploaded to the portal, made up of 43,043 polling, 1,452 wards, 179 local government and 13 state collation agents. Put together, the 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents.
“Three political parties uploaded the details of their agents for all levels of polling and collation, while one party has no single agent for any level of voting or collation.”
Olumekun stressed that a summary of the submissions by political parties has been uploaded on the commission’s website and social media platforms for public information.
Edo election: Only 3 parties nominated required number of agents – INEC
Over 44,000 polling agents submitted for Edo gov poll — INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that more than 44,000 polling and collation agents have been submitted by political parties for the upcoming Edo State governorship election.
This information was disclosed in a press release issued on Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
The Edo governorship poll is scheduled for September 21, 2024.
According to INEC, the portal for submitting agent details, which opened on July 17 and closed at midnight on July 30, saw 44,687 agents uploaded by the 17 political parties participating in the election.
This figure represents only 55.6 per cent of the expected 80,410 agents needed for the election.
The submitted agents include 43,043 polling unit agents, 1,452 ward collation agents, 179 local government collation agents, and 13 state collation agents.
INEC noted that while three political parties submitted the details of agents at all required levels, one party did not submit any agents at all.
The Edo State governorship election will take place across 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centres, including 192 ward centres, 18 local government centres, and the state collation centre in Benin City.
“For the Edo State governorship election, the portal opened on July 17, 2024, and automatically shut down at midnight on July 30, 2024, as indicated in item 9 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election released almost a year ago in September 2023.
“In Edo State, there are 4,519 polling units and 211 collation centres, comprising 192 ward centres, 18 local government centres, and the state collation centre in Benin City. A political party fielding candidates in the election is expected to nominate 4,730 agents.
“From the 17 parties participating in the election, the commission expected a cumulative total of 80,410 agents.
However, only 44,687 were uploaded to the portal, consisting of 43,043 polling agents, 1,452 ward agents, 179 local government agents, and 13 state collation agents. The 17 political parties nominated 55.6 per cent of the expected number of agents.
“Three political parties uploaded the details of their agents for all levels of polling and collation, while one party submitted no agents for any level of voting or collation,” the statement read in part.
A full summary of the agent submissions by political parties has been made available on INEC’s website and social media platforms.
Kwara assembly passes N509.8bn supplementary budget
The Kwara State House of Assembly, on Thursday, approved the Supplementary Appropriation Budget of NN509.8bn for the state government.
The budget was considered, approved, and presented by the Committee of Supply during the Thursday plenary.
While laying the report, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Arinola Lawal, representing Ilorin East Constituency, explained that the budget would be used for capital projects and completion of ongoing and new infrastructures across the state.
Lawal, however, urged her colleagues in the Assembly to support the passage of the supplementary budget for the development of the state.
The Speaker, Yakubu Danlad-Salihu thereafter announced the passage of the supplementary budget after the majority of the lawmakers supported it through a voice vote.
He then directed the Clerk of the Assembly to prepare a clean copy of the bill for the governor’s assent.
Recall that the state governor, Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq, on July 23, 2024, forwarded a bill seeking the revised Supplementary Estimate of the state by N201 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.
Though the governor did not state the reason for the supplementary budget in his letter to the assembly, the motive, it was gathered might not be unconnected with the recent approval of the new minimum wage of N70,000 recently by the Federal Government.
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Taraba gov vows support for SMEs, unveils cattle market
The Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, on Thursday reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in the state.
Kefas stated this while commissioning the Kefas-Aminu Cattle Market in Bubbling Ward, Zing Local Government.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Aminu Alkali, the governor applauded the crucial role of SMEs in boosting revenue and reducing unemployment.
He commended the Zing Local Government Council Chairman, Davoro Gwandis, for his dedication to operationalising the cattle market, emphasising its alignment with the state’s economic growth strategy.
The governor assured that adequate security measures would be put in place to safeguard the market, given its strategic importance and encouraged the residents of Zing LG to take ownership of the market for its sustainability.
“To recognise the potential of this market and enhance internally generated revenue, I will support the market with a sum of Ten million Naira.
“To the youths and women, I urge you to utilise the market as a platform for engaging in legitimate business activities, promoting self-reliance and economic empowerment,” the Governor said.
Davoro in his remarks thanked the past council chairmen for conceptualising the idea of a market in the area.
Davoro said the market has the potential to generate employment, stimulate economic prosperity, and boost commercial activities and called on the people to sustain the market.
The chairman appealed to the state government to build a perimeter fence, and provide a livestock clinic, a modern police outpost, and potable water for the market.
This is even as he commended the Deputy Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. John Kizito Bonzena, and Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change Hon. Aisha Barde for their roles in the commissioning of the market.
Fintiri faults National Hajj Commission’s handling of state pilgrims
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has questioned the way the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, handles its operations as they involve state authorities.
The governor said on Thursday that NAHCON, for instance, allocated airlines to state Hajj contingents during the last Hajj operations without giving the states a choice.
Speaking while receiving a report of the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in the state, Fintiri, who similarly punched holes in how NAHCON handled accommodation in the holy land, said the state governors would in the future resist such arbitrary decisions of NAHCON.
The state 2024 Independent Post-Hajj report was submitted to the governor by the State Amirul Hajj team and the management of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission in his office on Thursday.
Governor Fintiri, who commended the state Hajj team for doing a good job on their part, reassured that Hajj exercises will continue to be better because the government supports the Hajj Commission.
The state deputy Amirul Hajj, Prof. Abdullahi Liman Tukur, who presented the report, said it provides the government with enough perspective on the hajj exercise to strengthen the operations of the state Pilgrims Commission and hajj exercises.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Commission, Malam Abubakar Sadiq, said the 2024 Hajj exercise was a great success, adding that as a board, it keeps improving on its shortcomings from year to year.
Fintiri faults National Hajj Commission’s handling of state pilgrims
LAUTECH announces two new deputy vice-chancellors
The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, announced the appointment of two professors as Deputy Vice-Chancellors on Thursday.
A statement by the Deputy Registrar of Public Relations, Olalekan Fadeyi, in Ibadan, the state capital, revealed that the new Deputy Vice-Chancellors are the immediate past Chairman of the Committee of Provosts and Deans, Adepoju Ogunkunle (Strategy and Development), and Dauda Araromi (Academics and Innovations), respectively.
Fadeyi stated, “Two Professors at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Nigeria, have been appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellors for the esteemed institution.
“The appointments were made following a Senate meeting held earlier today (Thursday) at the A. M. Salau Senate Building on the University’s Main Campus in Ogbomoso.
“This marks the first time that LAUTECH has appointed more than one Deputy Vice-Chancellor simultaneously.
“Observers of the University’s affairs believe that the recent appointments are aimed at bolstering the Vice-Chancellor’s efforts to drive significant development at the leading university,” he added.
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‘I have no murder case on my neck,’ Doguwa replies Jibrin
The member of the House of Representatives for Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State, Alhassan Doguwa, declared on Thursday there was no murder case hanging on his neck.
The lawmaker was reacting to a murder allegation against him by his colleague from Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State, Abdulmumini Jibrin.
The two lawmakers have been at a loggerhead lately and exchanged angry words in public.
Jubrin on Tuesday insisted that he helped Doguwa to secure the majority whip in the House in 2019.
He also insisted that his rival cannot win a credible election in the state.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Doguwa argued that a court had dismissed the charges and set him free.
He said: “Let me say categorically that as of today. I, Doguwa, am not standing before any court of law in Nigeria for an alleged murder, a culpable homicide.”
He added that there was equally no case against him for any politically instigated violence contrary to claim in some quarters.
“I went through virtually all criminal investigations and judicial considerations at various levels and came out clean and victoriously innocent.
“Copies of such rigorous police investigations conducted by the highest police investigation authority in the land, the Force Criminal Investigation Department, are available for public scrutiny,” the lawmaker added.
He insisted that his political enemies within and outside his constituency had failed in their plots to get him indicted for what he had not committed.
“For the information of Jibrin and his partners, it was based on the police clearance that the Attorney- General and Commissioner of Justice in Kano State acted and issued advice that exonerated me.
“I was exonerated from the alleged criminal charges,” he stated.
Doguwa said the crisis in his constituency was fabricated to destroy his political ambition.
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Arik resumes operations after NAMA grounding
Arik Air said it has resumed operations barely eight days after one of its aircraft was grounded by the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency.
The grounding of Arik aircraft followed the inability of the founder of the airline, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, to repay a $2.5m debt he owed a billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze.
This development immediately caused the airline to halt its operations.
The resumption of the airline was made known through a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Captain Roy Ilegbodu (in receivership) on Thursday.
The statement noted that the pause of its operation did not derail the airline’s commitment to the safety of the flying passengers.
The statement read, “ Arik Air is excited to announce that we have today, August 8, 2024, resumed our flight operations. During our brief pause, we have been dedicated to ensuring a smooth and seamless return to service, preparing to welcome you back on board with the comfort and reliability you expect from us.
“Our entire team has been working tirelessly to enhance your travel experience. From our friendly ground staff to our attentive flight crews, everyone at Arik Air is ready and eager to serve you once again.
“Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, you can rely on Arik Air to get you to your destination smoothly and comfortably. We extend our gratitude to all the stakeholders who played a crucial role in resolving the recent impasse. Your support and cooperation have been instrumental in our return to the skies.”
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