National

By Uzair Adam Imam

Several reports from Zamfara State have indicated that the remains of a notorious bandits warlord, Bello Turji, was not among the 37 terrorists naturalised by the Nigerian Air Force on Saturday, September 17, 2022.

The Daily Reality recalls that the military personnel have bombed the bandits’ hideout. Although Turji escaped, he was reported to have been badly injured while 37 of his loyalists were killed.

Turji is an infamous bandits’ warlord that controls a large gang. He has been leading attacks in Zamfara and some other parts of the northwestern part of the country.

Zamfara is one of the epicentres of the insurgence of banditry and kidnapping. The development has thrown many of the residents into hardship and affected businesses and many other activities in the state.

Governor Bello Matawalle of the state had asked residents to take up arms and defend themselves in his effort to end the rising insecurity and attacks in the state.

The Governor was also reported to have raised community protection guards, which he empowered with over 7000 guns. However, the attacks continue.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Spokesperson of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi said Nigerians have no right to retaliate when assaulted by men of the Nigerian Police Force.

He stated this on Twitter on Saturday Adejobi tweeted in response to a viral video of two young men dragging a riffle with two policemen in uniform.

In the video, the two young men whose phones were seized reportedly by the policemen were seen haranguing the officers for the release of their phones.

Adejobi said doing that is against the extant laws of the land and that such actions are disrespectful to the country.

“Even if a policeman on uniform slaps a civilian, the civilian has no right to retaliate more so if he is on uniform, its an act of disrespect to Nigeria, to beat an officer on uniform, the disrespect is not to the policeman but to our nation and its a crime as enshrined in our criminal laws.

“So its not a case of what the policeman did, that led to it, but the reaction of the civilians who actually assaulted the police. If police assault a civilian, you report and actions will be taken to rebuke him, not to take the law into your hands.” He tweeted

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A total of 286 foreigners, including 86 Lebanese, 14 Britons, and 4 Americans, received Nigerian citizenship on Thursday in Abuja from the Federal Government.

At the State House, President Muhammadu Buhari granted the affected foreign nationals the status of Nigerian citizens.

By means of naturalization, 208 qualified individuals who signed the declaration declaring themselves to be Nigerians received citizenship.

After they had formally uttered the national pledge and oath of allegiance for Nigeria, the remaining 78 were granted the same status by registration.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Buhari gave the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) instructions to present the new Nigerians with the proper credentials right away.

According to him, this would allow people to start enjoying the prestige bestowed upon them, regardless of where they reside in the nation.

Mr Buhari asked them to uphold national beliefs and make an effort to positively impact the communities in which they live.

The president noted that the event was required under the constitution and was intended to exonerate all lawful citizens of the nation from the label of “statelessness.”

Meanwhile, Rauf Aregbesola, the interior minister, had earlier disclosed that the foreigners had undergone a series of exhaustive examinations by the country’s security agencies before being deemed qualified and deserving of Nigerian citizenship.

He was quoted to have said: “Today’s ceremony is a reminder of our common human ancestry.

”These people came from near and distant lands, from different races, religions, ethnicity, and other social affiliations and identities.”

By: Ibrahiym A. El-Caleel

British multinational oil corporation, Shell is set to wear a new face of leadership effective 1st January, 2023.This was highlighted by the corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ben van Beurden.

Beurden, a Chemical Engineer and Dutch national announced the development through his LinkedIn page earlier today.

“After a great 39-year career at Shell, I’ll step down as Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2022. Wael Sawan, currently Integrated Gas, Renewables & Energy Solutions Director, will take over from 1 January 2023.”, he said.

While wishing the incoming CEO the best term in office, Beurden remarked that he has great confidence in Wael as his successor. “He is a principled and dynamic leader, who I know will continue to help deliver our #PoweringProgress strategy purposefully and profitably.”, he said in the statement.

Shell is one of the oil multinational corporations involved in the exploration of oil in Nigeria. The company has been working in Nigeria since 1937, and currently has the largest footprint of all the international oil and gas companies in Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Federal Government of Nigeria, today Thursday, has said that the family of Kaduna-Abuja train victims should be at ease as the arrest of Tukur Mamu will not halt the efforts to rescue those in captivity.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingiyadi, disclosed this in Abuja after the NSC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers.

The Daily Reality reported how more than 60 passengers were abducted when terrorists attacked the train conveying them from Abuja to Kaduna. However, today marks exactly 186 days after their abduction and 23 of the victims are still in captivity while others, on the hand, who regained their freedom, were said to have allegedly paid N100 million as ransom.

The Daily Reality also reported that the bandits negotiator was first arrested in Egypt on the orders of the federal government of Nigeria on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.

He was later brought back to Nigeria where he was, again, arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Our reporters learned that the train victims have not communicated with their families since Mamu’s arrest.

By Aisar Fagge

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has awarded another set of Covid-19 vaccine champions on identifying, tracking and countering Covid-19 related false narratives, rumours, misconceptions and disinformation on social media platforms.

The program tittled “Public Education on COVID-19 Vaccine Project” was aimed at educating, informing and sensitizing people on the importance of Covid-19 vaccine with a view to counter false narratives about it.

Supported by MacArthur Foundation, the centre has been working with 18 partner organizations and social media influencers in six selected states from Northern Nigeria to enlighten the public about the vaccine through various activities and programmes.

Recalled that, Covid-19 is a communicable respiratory disease that terrorises the entire world, leading to the death of number of people and set the economies of hundreds of nations in limbo.

The details on the event was in a statement signed Wednesday, 14th September 2022, by the coordinator of the campaign, Mal. Hamza Ibrahim.

The statement reads in part: “CITAD received 93 applications from young people who want to be champions and 18 of them were selected from six northern states – Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Plateau and Kogi State and trained for two days.”

“After their training, they embarked on daily campaigns on tracking, countering and persuading people to take the vaccine. They submitted reports of their campaigns at the end of every month and the reports were shared with panel of judges who review, assess and subsequently selected the best three who are then regarded as the Covid-19 champions.”

“In this fourth round of the competition, Sumayya Abdulaziz from Kaduna emerged in the 1st position with 97 points and got Hisense refrigerator. Mundi Ilyasu from Kogi State emerged 2nd with 75 points and was rewarded with Plasma TV. From Bauchi State, Abdullahi Barau emerged in 3rd position with 70 points and went home with a mini laptop.”

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Board of Trustees (BoT), Send. Adolphus Wabara has vowed to resolve the internal crisis in the party.

The Acting Chairman assured this when he led some members who called on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State at his country home in Umuobiakwa.
Wabara added that the board would visit state governors and other stakeholders with view to restore peace in the party.

He was quoted as saying, “Our ineptitude in the things we did not do well led this country to where we are heading now; otherwise we will have not gone into the hands of APC in the first place.

“We are not in the same place we were in 2015. We need to look at the variables that have changed and respond to these variables and dynamics accordingly.

“We need to remain hungry for power so that our adrenaline level will remain optimum and drive us towards attaining that goal.

“All countries in this world that have risen from the ashes of civil war, quarrels, and bitter clashes are countries that did genuine truth and reconciliation. I pray that we would realise that there is no half measure to victory in politics,” he said.

The Daily Reality recalls that PDP has been in a long crisis since it’s presidential primary election in Abuja whereby former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, emerged a winner.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Join Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged the House of Representatives to grant the examination body total financial autonomy.

The Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, who made the plea on behalf of the examination body, asked the lawmakers to remove them from the annual national budget.

He made the call on Wednesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

He added that in 2017, after remitting N7.5 billion, the examination body reviewed its registration fees downward from N5,000 to N3,500. However, Oloyede said the Federal Government should allow JAMB to revert, considering the current economic development in the country.

He stated, “There is nowhere that government funds this type of examination. They actually provide some support for the institution because students pay some token as registration fees, and from it, they bear the responsibility of salaries and provide some succours.

“We are comfortable to be taken off the budget, but there are conditions. One of the conditions, for example, when students registered in 2016, we collected N5,000, and that had been on for five years before I joined.

“When we came in, we remitted N7.5 billion. We felt it was too much and approached the federal government to reduce the fees. We have not added a Kobo since.

“I believe we should revert to the N5000 we were charging. Given the inflation, if we charge N10,000– I am just giving it as an example, nobody will ask the federal government for one kobo.

“I am not aware of anywhere in the world, except maybe Finland— that charges as low as JAMB is charging. In Finland, we know that everything is free,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Two retired Deputy Directors of Finance and Account of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were reportedly sued over alleged intimidation and defamation of character.

The duo were sued by Mrs Aisha Al-Amin, a civil servant at the SDGs department, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Mrs Al-Amin said she has been accused of leaking classified documents to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the development she described as intimidation.

Consequently, the defendants, Messrs Ayeni Richard and Sani Muhammad were taken to Upper Area Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu.

Speaking to newsmen, her lawyer, Danshitta Shittu, said the allegations were false and that have defamed the person and character of Mrs. Al-Amin.

When journalist contacted Richard, he said he and the other defendant, Muhammad, can not make any comment.

By Khalid Imam

The Northern Nigerian Writers’ Summit (NNWS) elects new Executive officers to pilot its affairs for a two year term.

The election held at Katsina State Secretariat Conference Hall on 11st September, 2022 was conducted by a Four Man Electoral Committee under the able leadership of Professor Idris Amali, the DVC Admin., Federal University, Lafia. Professor Albishak, MON and Professor Yusuf Adamu served as Members with Zahradeen Ibrahim Kalla, former Treasurer of NNWS serving as the Secretary. At the end of the Congress, members of NNWS in attendance voted in new officials.

Those elected and their portfolios included Dr. Bashir Abu Sabe as the new Chairman, Isyaku Bala Ibrahim as Vice Chairman, Khalid Imam as the General Secretary, while Isma’ila Bala is to serve as the Ass. Gen. Sec..

Other included the Financial Secretary, Dr. Shamsudeen Bello, Treasurer, Abubakar Zukogi, PRO North Central
Tim Cuttings, PRO North West, Dr. Murtala Uba Mohammed, PRO North East, Legal Adviser
Ogbe Benson Aduojo Esq., Auditor Fatima Bello and an Ex-Officio, Auwal Gata

Soon after taking oath of office, swiftly administered by the reelected Legal Adviser, the reelected Chairman, Dr. Bashir Abu Sabe delivered a brief acceptance speech in which he thanked call members for their votes of confidence and giving him new mandate. He also appealed to all new Executives to put all hands on deck for them to reinvigorate the association. He concluded by calling on all members and other stakeholders to support him to provide the desired leadership the association needs to attain greater hight.

The election coming on the second day of the Two Day Conference and the first Arewa Literary Awards the NNWS organized. Thereafter what followed immediately was the illuminating papers presentation by carefully selected literary scholars and some writers from different regions of the North with papers presented in Fulfulde, Hausa, Nupe and Tiv indigenous languages.Prior to that, the Keynote Address was presented by Professor Saleh Abdu, former DVC, Federal University, Kashere after the conference was declared officially openned by His Excellency, Right Honourable Aminu Bello Masari who was ably represented by Honorable Abdulkarim Sirika, the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Home Affairs.

The unveiling of “Tulu: A Multilingual Anthology of Northern Nigerian New Writings” was the hallmark of events held on the opening day of the Two Day Conference on Northern Nigerian Indigenous Literatures and Languages themed: ‘ Indigenous Literatures and Languages as Vehicle for Taming Insecurity in Northern Nigeria”.

A powerful delegation of NNWS led by Professor Idris Amali were warming received by His Excellency, the Right Honourable Aminu Bello Masari, the Governor of Katsina State at his residence.

On Day Two, participants toured some fascinating historic sites in Katsina and the Daura Emir’s Palace.