News

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Plateau State, Bartholomew Onyeka, has asked the residents to join hands with the police and fight insurgence in the state by showing their support.

Onyeka stated that maintaining control over the state depends on mutual trust with the residents.

He disclosed this Thursday in Jos while delivering a keynote address at a one-day retreat for human rights stakeholders organised by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC).

He said, “As attractive as the concepts of intelligence-led policing or technology-driven policing could be, the reality remains that no police agency either in the advanced or developing climes can succeed in its mandate without the consent, support and trust of the citizens they are engaged to serve and protect regardless of how well equipped, trained or motivated they may be.

“The point being emphasised here is that police legitimacy draws from public consent and trust, and the lack of effective partnership between the police and the public can only sustain ineffective policing and engender insecurity within the community.

“Generally speaking, the security situation across Plateau State has been relatively stabiliSed. The reality is that the current concerted operations of the police and other security agencies in the state have engendered a dispersal and relocation of some of the criminals out of the state,” he stated.

By Aisar Fagge

The Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) alongside China Sinoma International Engineering (CSIE) have signed an agreement to build a six million tons per annum cement plant in Itori of Ogun state.

Alh. Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, made this disclosure during the signing ceremony.

Dangote stated that he signed the agreement alongside the Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development, DIL, Devakumar Edwin.

While China Sinoma Engineering, on the other hand, was represented by its Group President, Yin Zhisong, and the company’s chairman, Liu Renyue.

Dangote said that the new integrated cement plant at completion would strengthen the local production capacity of Dangote Cement and bring its local capacity to 41.25 million tons per annum and total African capacity to 57.6 million tons per annum.

He further stated that the Nigeria’s capacity to export cement would also be increased, the development that would enable more diversification and foreign exchange inflows for the economy.

He also noted that the project would further develop the domestic economy through creation of thousands of indirect and direct jobs and drive economic development in the Itori axis.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed commercial banks across the country to start paying the new naira notes to customers over-the-counter to ease the plight of Nigerians. 

In a statement on Thursday signed by the bank’s Director of Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, CBN stated that “We have equally noticed the queues at Automated Teller Machines across the country and an upward trend in the cases of people stocking and aggregating the newly introduced banknotes they serially obtain from ATMs for reasons best known to them”. 

“Also worrisome are the reported cases of unregistered persons and non-bank officials swapping banknotes for members of the public, purportedly on behalf of the CBN”. 

The apex bank has assured Nigerians that the queues at ATMs will end soon. However, Nigerians have continued to express their dismay over the scarcity of the new naira notes.

• News Desk

Oyo State branch of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has waded into the case of rape inside the mosque in Ibadan where a Muslim woman was raped inside a mosque by one Idris, a.k.a. Kesari Rekereke.  

In a press statement released on Wednesday, 1^st February 2023, by Ustadh Ibrahim Agunbiade, the ambassador of MURIC in Oyo State, the group warned that the case must not be swept under the carpet.

MURIC confirmed that the suspect is Kesari Rekereke. The group further noted that Kesari Rekereke is the son of a transport union leader known as Almajiri of the Oyo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).  

The Islamic human rights organisation called for the prosecution of Idris and warned that the case must not be swept under the carpet. Although MURIC commended the police for arresting the culprit, it maintained that justice must not only be done in this case, it must be seen to have been done.

The group also appealed to Muslims in the state to refrain from attempting any reprisal attack.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed worries over the current incessant fuel scarcity in the country.

The electoral body said that the development could negatively affect its arrangements during the election due to the unavailability of products.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this at a consultative meeting with officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Tuesday.

Fuel scarcity is one of the lingering issues many people have continued to decry in the country.

A recent investigation by the Daily Trust claimed that the menacing issue of fuel scarcity in the country is artificial.

Yakubu said, “The commission shares your concern about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on election day. 

“The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products.

“For this reason, the commission will this afternoon (yesterday) meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.

“I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to engage every national institution for the success of the 2023 general election.

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) assured the electoral commission of an adequate supply of fuel during the election.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, governor of Kaduna State, alleged that some officials in Nigeria’s Presidential Villa are working against Bola Tinubu, the APC candidate for president.

The governor added that although the populace had a candidate for the APC presidential primary, he or she would not win.

Responding to questions on Wednesday’s episode of Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, he claimed that some individuals conceal themselves behind President Muhammadu Buhari, who has the commitment to do the right thing.

He was quoted as saying, “I believe there are elements in the Villa that want us to lose the election because they didn’t get their way; they had their candidate. Their candidate did not win the primaries.

“They are trying to get us to lose the election, and they are hiding behind the president’s desire to do what he thinks is right. I will give two examples: this petroleum subsidy, which is costing the country trillions of Naira, was something that we all agreed would be removed. 

“In fact, I had a discussion with the president and showed him why it had to go. Because how can you have a capital budget of N200b for federal roads and then spend N2 Trillion on petroleum subsidy? This was a conversation I had with the president in 2021 when the subsidy thing started rising. He was convinced. We left. It changed. Everyone in the government agreed, and it changed.

“The second example I will give is this currency redesign. You have to understand the president. People are blaming the governor of the Central Bank for the currency redesign, but No. 

“You have to go back and look at the first outing of Buhari as president. He did this; the Buhari, Idiagbon regime changed our currency and did it in secrecy with a view to catching those that are stashing away illicit funds. It is a very good intention. The president has his right. But doing it at this time within the allotted time does not make any political or economic sense.”

• News Desk

The Lagos State Chapter of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has bemoaned the death of seven innocent passengers who fell victim to a 20ft container which fell on a commercial minibus at Ojuelegba, Lagos on Sunday, January 29, 2023. The group urged the Lagos State Government (LASG) to formulate a sustainable and enforceable policy that will regulate the operation and movement of tankers and heavy-duty lorries on major roads.

The statement was signed by the chairman of the Lagos Chapter of MURIC, Dr Busari Muhammad Jamiu.

He said: On Sunday, 29th January 2023, a tragedy occurred in Lagos where seven (7) innocent lives were lost. According to the report, a  truck conveying a 20ft container fell on a commercial minibus at Ojuelegba and killed the occupants.

“We are sad that innocent lives are taken by heavy-duty lorries and fuel-laden tankers unabatedly on Lagos roads. The Ojuelegba incident, which happened two days ago, was not the first as Lagosians do witness myriads of tanker explosions and the falling of containers on innocent road users. We are asking the LASG when such calamities would be curtailed.

“It will be recalled that barely two weeks ago, one life was lost when a  diesel-laden tanker fell on a stationary towing van at Otto Wharf, along Apapa – Oshodi Expressway, Mile 2, in Lagos. This incident is just another example of innumerable calamities that Lagosians have experienced.  Are we safe again as road users? What are the authorities doing in curbing and averting the re-occurrence of these avoidable man-made tragedies?

To this end, MURIC urges LASG to formulate a sustainable policy that will regulate the operation and movement of tankers and heavy-duty lorries on our major roads. The enforcement of such policies has become overdue if they already exist.  

“This could be done in conjunction with all relevant authorities such as the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Police, Lagos State Ministries of Transportation and  Justice, as well as the tankers’ owners and drivers associations.

“There must be a framework on how, where and when these trucks and lorries are loaded,  parked and moved around in Lagos to avert incessant loss of lives and properties of Lagosians. It is believed that a stitch in time saves nine. Therefore, LASG must not wait until such tragedy is recorded again before taking a proactive step. The time to act is now!”

By Kabiru Isma’il

The renowned Nigerian Professor of Physics, Ibrahim Khalil Umar, aka I.H. Umar, died a few hours ago today.

I.H Umar was a Nigerian scientist of repute, and he had once been a University administrator. Wikipedia sources described that he was a Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, from 1979 to 1986. He held a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, an M.Sc. in Physics from Northern Illinois University, USA and a PhD in Physics at the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom. In 1976 he became the first Nigerian academic in Physics to teach at Bayero University, Kano. In 1978 he served on the national constitutional assembly that drafted the Constitution of the 2nd Republic.

Between 1994 and 1997, the late I.H. Umar served as a Sole Administrator of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

He also represented Nigeria at the Executive Assembly of the World Energy Council in 1990. He was a member of the Nigerian delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference from 1989 and was appointed Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria in 1989. He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the IAEA from 2000-2001. In 2004 he was the Director of the Centre for Energy Research and Training, where the first Nigerian research nuclear reactor is located.

In 2007, he was on the international advisory committee for the international workshop on Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development in Africa, held at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in Nigeria.

I.H Umar was among the first five Professors in Nigeria to attain the Chair of an Emeritus Professorship from Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

May the Almighty Allah have mercy on him, amin.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr AB Baffa , said Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is the most prepared and qualified candidate for the Nigeria’s presidency.

Kwankwaso is the presidential flagbearer of the NNPP.

Dr AB Baffa, who is also the NNPP’s candidate for Kano North Senatorial District in the forthcoming general election, disclosed this in an open letter addressed to Kwankwasiyya members and NNPP supporters on Monday.

According to Dr Baffa, Kwankwaso’s political trajectory and experience as a former parliamentarian, minister, diplomat and governor stood him out amongst the contenders for the presidency.

He further explained that Kwankwaso’s educational qualifications to the level of PhD are verifiable and undisputed.

The letter reads in part :
“Dare I remind you that our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, is the only party that fielded the most competent and the most experienced patriot with over four decades of hands-on experience in governance and
Leadership at the civil service, the executive, the legislature, the security, as well as the diplomatic levels, as its Presidential Candidate.”

“Dare I remind you that our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Presidential candidate has over 17 years of experience in the civil service, was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was a member
of the Constitution Conference, is a Class 1999 Governor, was a Minister of Defence, was a Special Envoy to Darfur and Somalia, was a member of the Board of Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is a Class 2011 Governor, and he was a Senator of the Federal Republic.”

“Dare I remind you that our Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has fielded the most properly educated Presidential Candidate in the history of our democracy with traceable and verifiable educational qualifications from Primary School, to Boarding Senior Primary School, to Crafts School, to Technical College (where he obtained his City & Guild certificate), to Polytechnics (where he obtained his National Diploma and Higher National Diploma), and up to Universitiesin the UK and India (where he obtained his Masters and PhD in Water Resources Engineering respectively).”

By Aisar Fagge

As part of the preventive measures, the Center for Democratic and Development (CDD) trained journalists and social media influencers on how to combat fake news ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The training Wednesday in Lagos was in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a nonprofit organisation based in the United States of America.

Participants of the workshop, who are mostly journalists, influencers, media experts and members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), were drawn from different parts of the country in order to have a wider impact on the objective of the event.

The CDD Director, Idayat Hassan, stated that the participants were trained with vital skills on how to identify and prevent the propagation of fake, misleading and incendiary reports sent to them to share on their channels, handles and timelines.

The participants were also cautioned on the dangers of fake news and the implications of misinformation, and how the duo can terrorise the peace in Nigeria.

It was gathered that the training was given on how to use tools forensically, such as Geolocate, Google image search and Tineye, to detect fake videos, tweets, pictures and news.

Politicians use social media to spread fake news

The director also decried the way some politicians avoid media gatekeeping and use social media to spread fake narratives to the public, thus necessitating measures to address the issue.

She further said, “While the phenomenon of political players intentionally disseminating false information is well-known and discussed, the role of digital media influencers who are meant to be the bearers of truth and factual accuracy and in combating misinformation and disinformation has not received as much attention.”

There are many crises online

The CDD Communications Lead, Armsfree Ajanaku, said there are many crises online as people commit violence without consequence.

He stated, “Online gender-based violence exists within a context similar to what happens in real life, which is just as destructive as offline violence.

“We now live in a virtual society, where offline violence has extended to online, which makes it easier for people to commit violence without consequences.

“Women are the main targets of online violence, especially the ones with voices, like female politicians, service personnel, women’s rights activists, journalists, women leaders, etc. As it is globally, Nigeria faces a worse case due to our culturally sensitive environment,” he added.

In his presentation, Introduction to Fake News Ecosystems and Techniques of Spotting and Countering Fake News, CDD Project Manager, Abiodun Banjoko, noted that the 21st Century had seen the weaponisation of information on an unprecedented scale. According to him, disinformation, misinformation and malinformation are the greatest threats to the Information age, especially in a multi-ethnic and religious country like Nigeria. He, therefore, urged the participants to use the skills and knowledge they acquired in combating fake news in their endeavours.