Governor of Yobe state, Ibrahim Gaidam has revealed how his government spent the N10 billion bailout fund from the Federal Government.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Abdullahi Bego, N4.4 billion have been expended on various capital projects in the health, roads and agriculture sectors of the economy.
The following is the breakdown of how the N4.4 billion was utilized:
Payment of CV 8 & 9 for construction of Kanamma-Kafiya road by CGC amounted to N725, 804, 568.32.
Payment of CV No. 3 for the construction of Nguru-Machina road by RRC Ltd stood at N439.31 million.
Payment of CV No. 3 for construction of Yunusari-Yusufari road by the EEC Intl amounted to the sum of N370, 075, 100.03.
The payments of CV No 5 for the construction of Gadaka-Godowoli road by Rick Rock Construction Ltd gulped N467.76 million.
Payment of CV No. 3 for construction of Kafiya-Yunusari road by CGC N145, 038, 887.15.
Payment of CV No. 4 for the construction of Yunusari-Yusufari road project: N1, 042, 141, 987.70.
SDGs Counterpart Fund for the rehabilitation of Potiskum, Gashu’a and Gaidam General Hospitals: N600 million.
Part payment for the supply and installation of additional equipment at the 200-Bed Capacity Hospital, Damaturu went for N150 million.
Payment to Task Force on Irrigation Farming for the clearing of sites for take-off of special irrigation projects at N88.97 million.
Payment of 30% advance for drilling of two boreholes at Irrigation Project sites totalling N11.13 million.
The governor reassured citizens of the state that his administration will continue to use the ‘bailout funds’ to carry out projects that will impact meaningfully on the lives of the people.
Another Former coach of the Super Eagles, Shuaibu Amodu, has died at the age of 58.
The Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, announced this on Saturday morning via its official twitter handle posted on the of on Saturday morning.
According to the brief statement, Amodu, a four-time coach of the national team, died on Friday night shortly after complaining of chest pain.
NFF secretary general, Mohammed Sanusi, also confirmed the sad development.
“That is correct,” Sanusi said, “He slept and he could not wake up.”
Reports say Amodu complained of chest pains before he went to sleep the previous night.
Until his death, Amodu was the Technical Director of the NFF.
His death is coming just as the nation is still mourning the departure of another ex-Super Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi, who on died in Benin City on Wednesday, aged 54.
Amodu and Keshi worked together as Nigeria’s head coach and assistant coach respectively at the 2002 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.
Amodu took charge of the Super Eagles on four occasions in 1994 and 1995 as well as in 1997, 2001 and 2002 and then between 2008 and 2010.
Highlights of his career include winning the African Cup Winners Cup – known now as the CAF Confederation Cup – with BCC Lions in 1990 and also guiding the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals when it seemed impossible to qualify following a poor start to the qualification series in Africa.
Amodu’s burial is scheduled to hold later today according to Islamic rites.
The Nigerian Army has announced that a number of senior officers, mostly major generals, brigadier generals, colonels, lieutenant colonels and a major has been disengaged from service.
Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Sani Usman, revealed this in a statement.
The officers were retired for displaying partisan interest in the 2015 general elections.
The statement said some officers were investigated for their role during the election.
Others were indicted by the Presidential Committee that investigated Defence Contracts under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
The army stated that some officers had already been arraigned for prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Although the names of those affected were not mentioned, the statement said they were retired based on “Service exigencies” and added that the army must remain “apolitical and professional at all times.”
Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, who was rumoured dead in the media early this week, returned to the country on Friday after a three-week medical trip to Germany.
Babangida landed at the Minna International Airport, Minna, Niger State, at about 3:30pm on Friday and was welcomed by a crowd of well-wishers and a state delegation led by governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello.
Governor Bello praised Allah for preserving the life of the former military leader, noting that wise counsel of distinguished leaders like Babangida are needed at this time when the country is going through challenging times. “Despite unfounded rumour about the life of our national icon, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, we are grateful that it pleases Allah to preserve his life and bring him back safely and healthier to continue in the good work of nation building. General Babangida remain one of the few leaders in this country that we still need around to tap from their wealth of experience and knowledge and we are grateful he is back and kicking like the old soldier he is,” the governor said.
Rumours of Babangida’s death had been all over the social media for about a week but it was refuted by his son, Mohammed Babangida.
Governor Bello expressed displeasure at the media reports of the former leader’s death describing them as reckless, unethical and unwarranted.
A suspect being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Desmond Nunugwo, has died few hours after he was taken into custody by operatives of the anti graft agency on Friday.
He was confirmed dead at the hospital where he was rushed after he suddenly took ill.
According to EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwajuren, late Nunugwu was alleged to have fraudulently obtained the sum of N91 million from an acquaintance after he tricked her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
She wired the said amount into Nunugwo’s nominated account in Diamond Bank.
Shortly after the funds were transferred, Nunugwo became evasive, forcing the complainant to report the transaction to the EFCC.
Consequently, Nunugwo was arrested in Utako, Abuja on Thursday.
He admitted receiving the money from the complainant, adding that he had transferred N30m to Norway, but he could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61m.
The suspect was detained and about six hours later he started complaining of discomfort and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
According to Uwujaren, the incident has already been reported at the Wuse Police Station, where investigation into the cause of the sudden death has commenced.
Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu addresses troops at Pulka, Borno State
By Samuel Malik, Maiduguri
The Nigeria army has warned troops involved in the fight against terrorism in the North east that it would be firm and swift in dealing with any of its men involved in human rights abuses.
General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Victor Ezugwu, a Brigadier General, gave the warning when he paid a four-day operational visit to troops under his command in the frontline to assess their performance and boost their morale.
He said that soldiers should treat civilians they deal with in the region with respect, reasoning that residents have to have confidence in them to help in the fight against terrorists.
“We have to treat them with respect, as that is the only way to differentiate us from Boko Haram. You cannot afford to make them go through the horrible abuses they suffered in the hands of the terrorists. You must focus on what brought you here, which is the fight against insurgency.
He also admonished the troops to stay away from civilians as much as possible and particularly warned about dire consequences if any of them is caught in any irresponsible acts with women in the locations where they serve.
“Do everything you can to stay away from civilians. If someone is hungry and you have food, share with them. If someone asks you for money and you have, share with them. However, you must not because of the compassion you show take advantage of them. I don’t want to hear that my soldier is involved in anything untoward with a woman,” Ezugwu said.
The Nigerian army has come under sever criticisms following accusations of serious human rights violations, the latest of which is Amnesty International’s report of deaths of babies and children in Giwa detention centre in Maiduguri.
It said that the death in the detention facility, particularly of women and children, were harrowing, adding that it was a place of death.
“The discovery that babies and young children have died in appalling conditions in military detention is both harrowing and horrifying. We have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the high death rate of detainees in Giwa barracks but these findings show that, for both adults and children, it remains a place of death,” Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Research and Advocacy Director for Africa, said during the launch of the report titled “If you see it, you will cry” in last month.
With President Muhammadu Buhari repeatedly assuring that his administration would respect human rights abuses, the army, it seems, wants to work hard to redeem its image.
During the four days visit, which saw the GOC visit troops in Bama, Banki Junction, Pulka, Gwoza, Bita, Chibok, Damboa, and Bulabulin in Borno State and Michika, Madagali, Gulak, and Mubi in Adamawa State, he warned that any soldier found to be involved in maltreating civilians not only jeopardises his/her career but also risks going to jail.
In each of the locations visited, the army chief used two on-going cases to remind troops what would befall any culprit. According to him, two soldiers are currently in detention, one for beating a civilian to death and the other for tying an 11 year-old boy’s hands so tight that he had to be amputated due to resulting injury he sustained.
“How could a soldier that has successfully fought Boko Haram and when it was time for him to rest go to town and beat a civilian to death? Another one accused an 11 year-old boy of stealing his money and tied the boy’s hand so hard that blood stopped flowing and leading to injuries, which led to hands being cut off. How can you do that to a child?” he said.
“I can assure you that their careers are over; aside their prosecution and punishment. I’m begging you men to be careful and remember your loved ones back home before doing what bring shame both to them and the army.”
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday sent the names of 47 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate to be screened and confirmed as career diplomats to head Nigeria’s missions abroad.
President Buhari has also appointed his Special Adviser on Planning, Ben Akabueze, as the new Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation.
Mr. Akabueze takes over from Tijani Mohammed Abdullahi who will now serve as Special Adviser to the President on Planning and will continue to work with the Minister of Budget and National Planning.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read the letter containing the names of the ambassadorial nominees on the floor at plenary.
Names on the list include: Obinna Chukwuemeka, Salisu Umoru, Iyang Udoh Iyang, Okeke Vivian Nwanaku, Liman Munir, Edem Jane Ada, Mohammed Hassa Hassan, Martin Young Cobham, Janet Molegbo Olisah, Itegbuoye Sunday, Olatunde Adesesan, Lilian Ijekwu Onu, Manaja Tulahi Isa, Ngozi Ukeje, Bello Kazaure Husseini, Enoch Pierre Ducci, Garba Baba, Usman Bakori Aliyu, Umar Zainab Salisu, Momoh Seidu Omeiza, Kadiri Audu and Balogun Hakeem.
Others are Nosa Ahmed, Ibrahim Isa, Ibidapo Obe Oluwasegun, Ogundaro Sakirat, Eric A. Belgam, Ateru Haliru, Ramota Bulima, Musa Mamman, Kabiru Bala, Adamu Shuaibu, D.A Agiv, T.K Gonglong, Ibrahim Hamza, K.C Nwachukwu, Q.R Wolu, E.k. Oguntuwase, A.I Paragauda, L.A. Gasharga, Olufemi Abikoye, Abubakar Ibrahim, Rabiu Kawu, Odeka Janet Blessing and Adekunbi Habeebat.
Curricula Vitae, CV, of each of the nominees were also attached with the document sent by President Buhari.
Recall that President Buhari had on July 12, 2015, recalled 27 Nigerian non-career ambassadors from the various countries they were posted.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, explained at the time that the recall was part of efforts to reposition the nation’s foreign policies.
Over 100 toilets have been built at satellite camps for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Bama, one of the major commercial towns of troubled Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
Bama is one of the major historic towns of the Kanuris. At the peak of the Boko Haram crisis, it was captured until recently liberated by the Nigerian troops.
Addressing stakeholders in the management of IDP camps in Borno State on Wednesday, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mohammed Kanar said 300 temporary shelters would also be constructed in camps in the state.
He noted that the temporary shelters were necessitated by the destruction of shelters in some of the camps by windstorm.
He said the agency has received commitments from the military to provide escort and logistics for relief operations in liberated communities
At the meeting were officials from NEMA, Borno State Emergency Management Agency, BOSEMA and Oxfam, security agencies and other relevant bodies.
Tributes have continued to pour in from all around the world in praise of Nigeria’s football legend, Stephen Keshi who passed on yesterday at the age of 54.
Football’s world governing body, FIFA, in its tribute to the late Keshi described him as a natural leader.
“He took games by the scruff of the neck and dictated matches from his position of influence as captain,” read a statement on FIFA’s website
The head of the Confederation of African Football Issa Hayatou has also paid glowing tributes to Keshi, describing him as a “jewel” in the Nigerian football family.
Former English Premier League Champions, Chelsea FC, also tweeted its sadness at the demise of the football icon saying, “all at CFC are saddened to hear of former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi’s death. He worked with Mikel & Victor Moses.”
And back home, Austin Eguavoen, former teammate to Keshi and also former coach of the Super Eagles, has asked the federal government to give the late Keshi a state burial as an honour for all the years of ‘meritorious service’ he rendered Nigeria.
Eguavoen said this would send a signal to current footballers that Nigeria would accord them their due respect if they served the country well.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has promised that the federal government will immortalize the former Super Eagles’ coach.
“I will formally inform the government of the death of this great Nigerian, and I want to assure Nigerians that government will seek ways to immortalize him. I pray for the repose of his soul and that the family, especially the children he left behind, will find the strength to bear this devastating loss,” Dalung said.
The Nigerian military on Wednesday said it has surrounded the Sambisa Forest, which was hitherto the dreaded stronghold of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Major General Lucky Irabor, Commander of the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East, codenamed “Operation Lafiya Dole,” made this known during a press conference to highlight the successes of the Nigerian troops against the insurgents in recent weeks.
Irabor said that the Sambisa Forest is completely surrounded by the Nigerian troops and there was no escape for any insurgents still holed inside, adding that it is no longer possible for the insurgents still inside the forest to get any supply.
He said the soldiers were only waiting for the insurgents to surrender, warning that the troops would move further into the forest and level it if they failed to put down their weapons .
Irabor said there was no truth in the story that the insurgents were fleeing from the forest to wreak havoc elsewhere, insisting that the only option for the insurgents is either to fight their way out or surrender.
