News

Reps To Invite FCT Minister, Police Commissioner, Others Over Rising Cases Of ‘One Chance’

Published

3 months ago

October 22, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has mandate its Committees on Federal Capital Territory, Police and National Security and Intelligence to summon the FCT Minister, Commissioner of Police, DG DSS over the resurgence of activities of one chance operatives within the capital city.

The House also mandated its Committee on FCT to investigate the use of unregistered/unpainted taxis within the capital city as well as a comprehensive investigation into the activities of kidnapping and arm robbery within the capital city and report to the house within three weeks.

This resolution is sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Ismail Haruna Dabo, lawmaker representing Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi state, on The Resurgence of “One Chance” Taxi Operators” in the FCT on Tuesday at plenary.

The interaction is part of an investigation ordered by the House following the killing of one Miss Nimah Sulaiman a lby “one chance” operatives on Thursday, October 17, 2024, in Abuja.

Debating the motion, Rep. Dabo decried that in recent years, the nation’s capital has experienced an upsurge in the rate of kidnappings and robbery incidents, including “one chance,” from those kidnapped from far flung suburbs to those kidnapped along the Airport Road, from those picked from their Estates, to those kidnapped at the City centre to those abducted by renegade one-chance taxi operators.

According to him, it has been a tumultuous and scary situation for people living within the capital territory of the use of unregistered and unpainted taxis has further worsen. the situation, providing an easy conduit for criminal activities within the capital city.

He said residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are living in fear as the security of the nation’s seat of power has continued to deteriorate as brutal criminals go about with their daily operations without mercy on citizens.

The motion reads: “Further aware that one Miss Nimah Sulaiman a Legislative Aide of Hon. Dabo, was kidnapped and brutally murdered on Thursday 17 October, 2024 on her way home to Jahi District, around 6:15 pm, where she was taken at gunpoint at Banex Junction in Wuse 2, by one chance operators;

“Recalls that despite paying ransom in full, her life was tragically cur short. Her body was found between the hours of 9 to 10 pm at Maitama/Mi.ister’s hill Bridge;

“Disturbed that this heinous crime has sent shockWaves through our community, confirming the escalating insecurity in the FCT. It is our collective responsibility as lawmakers to ensure the safety and security of our citizens”.

The lawmakers observed a one minute silence to pray for Late Nimah Sulaiman.

News

INSECURITY: How Troops Silenced 156 Terrorists, Nab 464 Suspects In 7 Days

Published

18 minutes ago

January 16, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Despite recent attacks in the North East and North West caused by the influx of foreign fighters from the Sahelian Region, troops have taken down over 156 terrorists in the last one week.

Also, over 464 suspects have been arrested during the period under review as troops are thwarting and eliminating forms of resurgent terror attacks in the North West and North East.

Major General Edward Buba, Director Defence Media Operations disclosed on Thursday while briefing reporters in what he said was going to be his last function in the capacity as Director Defence media operations.

He said that though troops might record occasional tactical setbacks which is common place in any threatre of war, “Our strategic objective of breaking the terrorists’ will to fight remains resolute and unhindered.

The military is committed to winning the war against terrorists and insurgency across the country. This is demonstrated as troops are fighting with great effort, great determination and great sacrifice to bring about great results.”

According to him, “The just concluded Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day was a stack reminder that our fallen heroes have not died in vain. Indeed, the life of any personnel lost in battle contributes to making our nation safer,” he said and urged citizens to embrace security as every bodies business and not that of the military. “Citizens must not compromise on security, otherwise everyone’s security is compromised.”

While talking about arms recovered from the insurgents, General Buba, whose next point of operation is not disclosed, said during the period under review, troops recovered 219 assorted weapons and 2,871 assorted ammunition.

He gave the breakdown as one GPMG, 68 AK47 rifles, one AK56 rifle, 12 fabricated rifles and 4 FN rifles.

Others include 4 dane guns, 7 pump action guns, one foreign double barrel gun, 9 fabricated IEDs, 18 FN grenades, 6 RPG bombs, 27 magazines, 4 IEDs and making materials, 1,618 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 676 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 16 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 68 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 317 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 73 rounds of 12.7mm ammo, 175 rounds of PKT ammo, one box of 12.7mm ammo, 25 live cartridges, one baofeng radio, 10 vehicles, 42 motorcycles, 29 mobile phones amongst other items.

News

NASS Threatens Zero Allocation If CEO Of Agric Agencies Fail To Appear For Budget Defense

Published

2 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Agricultural Production and Services has issued a warning, stating that agencies under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security could face zero allocations in their 2025 budgets if their Chief Executive Officers fail to appear in person to defend the proposals.

Chairman Senate Committee, and Bello Kaoje, his counterpart from the House of Representatives, expressed their dissatisfaction with the absence of agency heads, particularly given President’s directive that all heads of agencies should attend the budget defense sessions.

Their frustration was specifically directed at the absence of Dr. Vincent Isegbe, Director General of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, during the budget defense for the agency.

Senator Mustapha told the DG’s representative that there was no valid reason for the absence of the accounting officer, and insisted Dr. Isegbe must appear to defend the budget by no later than Monday, January 20.

He said “We are not going to attend to you. When the President came to present this budget he made it clear that all heads of agencies must come to defend their estimates and should therefore call off any plan to travel. We are going to give him another time, but that may not be too convenient for him because we have a time frame to submit our report.

“We should all make this thing easy for ourselves. There is no need for us to drag what we don’t need to drag. Even if he is coming to take excuse, he should have been here to say these are the people that will do this thing on my behalf.

“At the end of the day, we will ask you certain questions and you will not be able to answer them. Are we supposed to be taking those kind of excuses? You may wish to excuse us and tell him that we are giving him 48 hours to report.

“The President made it very clear that nobody should travel when he came to present the budget and it is now that he will start traveling. So tell him that we are available tomorrow and the best we will give him to appear”.

Addressing the gathering earlier, Senator Mustapha said the projections by the World Food Programme that about 33.1 million Nigerians will be in acute hunger in 2025 is a clear indication that food security is not something that the nation should toil with.

“The projection by the World Food Programme that about 33.1 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2025 is an indication that food crisis is what we cannot allow to happen and we collectively need to avert.

“Given the critical role that agriculture play in ensuring food security, economic stability and rural development, it important that adequate budgetary provisions be made to address the challenges the sector faces today.

“The combined effect of climate change, desertification and other environmental challenges put agricultural productivity under severe threat necessitating improved budgetary allocation to the sector”, he asserted.

He reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to passing the budget, but expressed concern about the sowering prices of agricultural produce across the country and the food is no longer within the reach of the average Nigerians, saying “this situation requires the readjustment of our focus and the policy we made and dedicate our energies to what will improve our yield and increase food production.

“Both the senate and House of Reps observe with concern the ratio of capital allocation to recurrent expenditure in the budget estimate before us. The responsibility and repositioning of the agricultural sector and returning it to its glorious days lies within us here”.

Also Speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Agricutural Services and Production, Bello Kaoje warned against agencies failing to come forward to defend their budget.

Kaoje said “because of the importance of the budgetary provisions, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appeared before a joint session of the National Assembly to present the budget. So, there is no reason for any Head of agency not to appear before the parliament at this critical time.

“You are not the accounting officer. If you are asked any question in the budget, can you defend it? We are giving your agency 48 hours to appear before the parliament or else, you will have zero allocation in your budget”.

Kaoje said food security is one of the challenges facing the country today, leading to the president declaring a state of emergency on food security in 2024.

He said “Sometime last year, Mr. President declare a state of emergency on food security. We have had a robust discussion with the Minister of Agriculture who enumerated alot of challenges before us and we assured him that the two committees will do something to make sure that the budget is enhanced.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that where you have challenges, we can assist. We will put our heads together with the appropriation committee to make sure that the renewed hope agenda of the President is achieved in the area of food security”.

News

You don’t have credible officials to explain policies-Sanusi tells Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says President Bola Tinubu-led government lacks credible individuals to explain the administration’s policies to Nigerians.

Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, said this at the 21st Memorial Lecture of Gani Fawehinmi, organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch in Lagos, on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Sanusi, the chairman of the event, said he would no longer offer advice to Tinubu’s administration on how to tackle the country’s economic challenges.

He stated that he had initially tried to help the government but had now resolved not to do so again.

Sanusi said: “I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explained, it would only benefit this government, and I don’t want to aid this government.

“I choose not to help this government. You see, they are my friends. If they fail to act like friends, I will not act like one.

“I observe their actions, and they lack credible individuals who can effectively explain their policies. However, I’m not here to assist them. I began by offering support, but I’ve decided to stop.

“I will not discuss the matter any further. Let them come forward and explain to Nigerians why the policies they have pursued have been implemented. Meanwhile, I am enjoying a nice movie with popcorn in hand.”

The Emir further stated that he would not offer advice to the federal government or comment on ongoing reforms.

He added: “I will say one thing. What we are going through today is at least in part, not totally, at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.

“People were warned decades ago that if they continued down this path, this is where they would end up. They chose not to listen.

“Is everything being done today, correct? No.”

The event was attended by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, (SAN); the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN); the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN); and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN); among others.