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Niger State To Kick-Start School Feeding Programme

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Niger State To Kick-Start School Feeding Programme

Free school feeding

The Niger State government is set to kick-off the school feeding programme for primary pupils in the state.

Governor of the state, Abubakar Bello, issued a directive to this effect when he hosted a team of education experts from Cambridge University, United Kingdom and MRL Public Sector Consultants to discuss a new education initiative by the state government called “Transforming Education in Niger State, TENS”.

The governor directed the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to carry out a pilot scheme of the school feeding programme with a view to fully implementing the project in all primary schools in the state.

“We benefited from such schemes when we were young. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology should embark on a pilot scheme to enable us capture all schools in the state,” the governor directed.

Governor Bello said the TENS initiative is aimed at transforming the education sector in the state and raising it to global standards, rather than continue to lament the decay in the sector.

He pointed that he was aware of some of the challenges concerning the sector in the state and expressed his readiness to restore education standard in the state and lay solid foundation for it to attain global standard.

“…we are committed to seeing the sector restored. We strongly believe we can correct these lapses we met because this is the beginning of a new page in the sector,” Bello assured.

Leader of the Cambridge University delegation, Colleen Mclauglin, commended the school feeding initiative, stressing that it would improve the learning capabilities of the pupils.

Kogi Governorship: Appeal Court To Decide Case August 4

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Kogi Governorship: Appeal Court To Decide Case August 4
James Faleke
James Faleke

The ruling of the Appeal Court in the Kogi State Governorship case involving James Faleke and governor Yahaya Bello, has been fixed for August 4.

Faleke was the running mate to late Audu Abubakar, the All Progressives Congress, APC, flag-bearer, who was already coasting to victory in the November 21, 2015 governorship elections, but died suddenly before the election was concluded.

Chairman of the election petitions tribunal, Halima Mohammed, had thrown out Faleke’s petition, saying it lacked the locus standi to challenge the nomination of Bello to replace the late Audu since he was never a deputy governor-elect.

At the appeal court, counsel to Faleke, Wole Olanipekun, argued that without the supplementary election, a candidate would have emerged in the person of Faleke.

“This is the first time where a governor that did not vote was named a governor,” Olanipekun told court.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Alex Iziyon, argued that the votes were meant for the party and not the person of the candidate, and since the APC had presented Bello as Audu’s substitute, Bello inherited Audu’s vote.

He further asked the court to dismiss Faleke’s appeal.

Supporting the argument, Joseph Daudu, counsel to Bello, told the court that Faleke lost every right to be the governorship candidate when Audu died.

According to him, INEC had the statutory decision to declare the election inconclusive, either right or wrong, therefore Faleke’s appeal was “incompetent”.

Faleke is currently the chairman of the federal House of Representatives’ committee on customs, and has always insisted that he is the one that should be governor of Kogi State following Audu’s death, not Bello.

Buhari Promises To Connect States By Rail

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Buhari Promises To Connect States By Rail
President Buhari At The Commissioning of the Rail line
President Buhari At The Commissioning of the Abuja-Kaduna Rail line

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised that his administration will link all states of the federation, well as major commercial centres by rail.

He spoke on Tuesday at the commissioning of the Abuja-Kaduna rail project.

The President said the new rail line would significantly enhance and provide affordable and safe movement of passengers and freight between the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Kaduna State.

He noted that the train operation would also serve as a major catalyst for industrialisation and generation of employment.

He later took a train ride from the main station at Idu to Kubwa, a satellite town in the FCT.

The Abuja-Kaduna rail project was initiated by Goodluck Jonathan-led administration and works were already at an advanced stage before the coming of a new government.

Catholic Priest Killed In Rouen, France

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Catholic Priest Killed In Rouen, France

France Church Attack

A Catholic priest has been killed in an attack by two armed men at his parish near Rouen in northern France.

The French Interior ministry said the armed men entered the church in during Mass, taking the priest and four other people hostage.

Police later arrived at the scene and engaged the attackers in a gun duel, killing both of them.

The area has been cordoned off and police have told people to stay away.

Pierre-Henri Brandet, spokesman for the Interior ministry, said one of the hostages was critically wounded and Police were now searching the church for explosives.

The minister said the motive of the attackers was not immediately clear, but the investigation into the incident would be led by anti-terrorism prosecutors.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has described the attack as “barbaric”.

“The whole of France and all Catholics are wounded. We will stand together,” he wrote on Twitter.

President Francois Hollande and Interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, are on their way to the arear where the attack took place to be briefed by police.

The Vatican also condemned the attack saying “We are particularly shocked because this horrible violence took place in a church, in which God’s love is announced.”

Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, who released a statement on behalf of Pope Francis, said that the Pontiff was feeling “the pain and horror of this absurd violence” and “condemned in the most radical way any form of hate”.

A woman who works at a local beauty parlour, Eulalie Garcia, said she had known the 92-year-old priest since her childhood.

“My family has lived here for 35 years and we have always known him. He was someone who was treasured by the community. He was very discreet and didn’t like to draw attention to himself,” she said.

There was no immediate word on the identity of the hostage-takers, but France has been on high alert since the Bastille Day attack in Nice earlier this month, when a man ploughed a lorry into celebrating crowds, killing more than 80 people.

AGF To Reopen Corruption Cases Against 30 Ex-Governors

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AGF To Reopen Corruption Cases Against 30 Ex-Governors
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is set to reopen corruption cases against some former governors for which they have been investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC.

THE PUNCH newspaper reported on Tuesday that the ICPC received a letter from the office of the AGF, giving the anti-graft agency a directive to that effect.

According to the report, some of the ex-governors had been convicted for charges preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Others are currently undergoing trial on charges initiated against them by the EFCC at either the various divisions of the Federal High Court or the High Courts of their home states.

Names of the affected ex-governors were not disclosed as further investigations could be necessary but it was gathered that about five of them are now serving senators while some had served as senators after completing two terms as governors.

The affected personalities, it was learnt, are from all the six geopolitical zones in the country and belonged to the two dominant political parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

THE PUNCH reported a reliable source as confirming to it that former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who is currently serving prison sentence in the United Kingdom for fraud-related charges was on the list.

Two former governors from the South-South, Five from the South-East, and three from the South-West are said to be on the list; as well as six from the North-West; six from the North-East, and eight from the North-Central.

The cases against some of these former governors had reportedly been investigated some years ago but charges were never filed against them.

Kogi State House Speaker Resigns

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Kogi State House Speaker Resigns
Kogi Assembly Complex
Kogi Assembly Complex

The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh, has resigned from his position.

His resignation letter was read on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Ali Akuh, who commended the Speaker’s decision, saying it is in the best interest of the state.

Another member of the House, Umar Imam, is to take over as Speaker.

The Kogi Assembly has been rocked by crisis since February, resulting in the splitting of the chamber into two factions.

Five lawmakers in the 20-member House, reportedly backed by the state governor, Yahaya Bello, had purportedly impeached Jimoh “for not carrying other members along in the affairs of the House” and replaced him with Imam.

The Speaker and his loyalists took the matter to court where the purported impeachment was nullified, but the governor reportedly continued to recognize the five-man faction.

The Jimoh faction then took its case to the Federal House of Representatives, where a resolution of the members declared that the Kogi State Assembly was incapable of carrying out legislative functions and ordered the then Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to seal up the assembly premises.

Boko Haram: Army Rescues Queen of Bama, Daughter

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Boko Haram: Army Rescues Queen of Bama, Daughter
File: Troops rejoice after Bama was recaptured
File: Troops rejoice after Bama was recaptured

The Nigerian army has rescued the wife and daughter of the Shehu of Bama, Umar Ibn Kyari El-Kanemi, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists about two years ago when the town was captured.

The General Officer Commanding, GOC, of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Victor Ezugwu, reportedly brought the queen and her daughter to the abode of the traditional ruler in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday.

Their rescue was greeted with wide jubilation by members of the royal family and some of those present when they were returned home could not help but shed tears of joy.

The Shehu’s wife was abducted along with two of her children, a boy and a girl, but her son had died while in captivity.

It was learnt that the queen and her daughter were rescued during a military operation in the Damboa axis of the state.

A source at the Maiduguri residence of the paramount ruler said the Shehu could not hold back tears of joy on sighting the queen and his daughter.

The Shehu’s abode turned into a carnival of sorts as the news of the queen’s rescue spread around town, with many trooping to felicitate with him.

Among the early callers at the residence was the Borno State Deputy Governor, Usman Durkwa and the wife of Borno State Governor, Nana Shettima.

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FG Sets $42.5 Benchmark For 2017 Budget

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FG Sets $42.5 Benchmark For 2017 Budget
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma

The federal government has unveiled key benchmarks for the budget of 2017.

This was done by Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma during a medium term fiscal framework public consultative forum with civil society organisations and the private sector.

The minister said the benchmark for crude oil price is put at $42.5 per barrel, while government projects that oil output will rise to 2.2 million barrels per day in 2017; then 2.3 million and 2.4 million in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Udo-Udoma said the price of crude oil is expected to move up to $45 and $50 in 2018 and 2019.

He believes the naira would be at 290 against the dollar in 2017, contrary to the projection of the CBN which said it was optimistic that the Naira would settle at 250 to the dollar.

The minister added that Company Income Tax is expected to rise to N1.86 trillion in 2017 from the projected N1.788 trillion in 2016.

Also, Value Added Tax, VAT, is expected to grow to 42.4 percent in 2017 as states intensify efforts to boost internally generated revenue.

Udoma urged the organized private sector to join hands with the government in its efforts to make non-oil revenue the game changer for the present administration.

The budget minister said the federal government had spent N598.63 billion, in the last two months, on servicing existing debts, while N331.58 billion was spent on capital expenditure within the same period, bringing the total amount spent to N2.1 trillion.

Recall that this year’s budget pegged crude oil benchmark at $38 per barrel, while naira was put at 197 to the dollar but it at the parallel market is currently trading at more than 350 to a dollar and Brent crude sells for $44.80 per barrel.

I Will Stamp Out Cattle Rustling – Kano Police Commissioner

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I Will Stamp Out Cattle Rustling – Kano Police Commissioner

Cattle rustling

The new Commissioner of Police for Kano State, Rabi’u Yusuf, has promised to intensify efforts toward stamping out cattle rustling and the rampant cases of Kidnapping in Falgore forest and environs.

The new CP, while taking over the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, DIG, Abbati Dikko, who vowed to sustain the fight against kidnapping and cattle rustling at the dreaded Falgore Forest, said he would not disappoint the outgoing commissioner of police , by consolidated and build on the existing record by him.

Taking over the Command, the new CP acknowledged that his major challenge is the activities of cattle rustling in the notorious Falgore Forest, stressing that he will fortify security in the area in his efforts to smoke out the perpetrators from their hide out.

His words ”We shall improve upon the already solid foundation of my predecessor and with the collective cooperation of officers and men of the Command, we would be able to secure Kano because I cannot do it alone. We must work collectively to achieve the daunting task before us.”

The CP, disclosed that ”As soon as I settle down, I will personally visit Falgore forest to lay a solid foundation, as well as to sustain the achievements of my predecessor, who has done excellently well in minimizing the activities of cattle rustlers.”

He however noted that with the cooperation of the officers and men of the Command, in addition to the support of the general public would immensely contribute to achieving our goals, as well as take the Command to another level by keeping the criminals at bay.

”We shall also make sure we infiltrate the community to source vital information from the public, with which to fight crime and criminality, adding that without information and collaborating with members of the community, there is no way, we can succeed.

By this, we are going to extend our hand of fellowship to members of the public to cooperate with us by giving us vital information that will go a long way in assisting us to nip any problem in the bud and I also call on members of the press to assist us in the fight against crime in the state.

Earlier, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, who is now the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Logistics and Supply, urged officers and men of the Command to also extend the same support and cooperation extended to him to his successor to enable him succeed in his new assignment.

Kano Drug Peddlers Recruit Almajiris-NDLEA

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Kano Drug Peddlers Recruit Almajiris-NDLEA

NDLEA

The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in Kano,  Hamza Umar , has said that over 50 Almajiris are currently in his custody for aiding and abating drug peddling in the state, just as he disclosed that the Command has arrested 200 girls who indulged in drug activities.

This is just as he noted that drug trafficking in the state has taken another worrisome dimension as drug dealers have started using Almajiris as drug carriers and distributors.

According to him, “it was also worrisome that the teenagers do not only serve as distributors, but are also initiated into the act of drug abuse by their pay masters.

Hamza however stated that his office has handed over the girls to the state Ministry of Women Affairs for counseling.

He added that “most of these young women are nursing mothers who abandon their children at home only to lodge in hotels where they do drugs and engage in other immoral activities.

His words “I have a recent case whereby a young woman locked up her two little children inside the house, flee her home and joined her friends in a red-light hotel where they engage in all kinds of illicit activities, including drug abuse.”

He noted that, “just recently, we arrested over 50 Almajiris who confessed to having engaged in the business of drug peddling for a price to the tune of N300 per day.”

“It is a known fact today that there is a phenomenal increase in the number of youths engaging in drug use and peddling. Young adolescents begin to use drug as early as when they are 10 to 20 years of age in Kano.”

The NDLEA boss, however, identified illicit drugs commonly abused in Kano to include Scorpion gas, angel breeze, Monkey tail, chasing the Dragon, flying stone, man-die-go, fire-for-fire, cough syrups, psychotropic substances, solvent and solution, gigabytes, suck-and-die, lizard dung, as well as using pipes to suck and sniff human remains from the grave.

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