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Security: PDP Governors reiterate call for state policing

Zainab Sa'id
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Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have called on President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the states concerning security arrangements culminating in some form of state policing and the general security architecture of the country.

The governors also aligned with the Southern governors’ ban on open grazing, while urging the president to immediately call the meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises the president, all state governors, and other critical stakeholders, to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to national unity, especially with respect to policing.

The calls form part of a 6-point communique issued at the end of the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting, held behind closed doors, at the Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, on Monday.

Twelve governors were present at the meeting.

National unity and cohesion

The PDP governors urged the Federal Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in the country and concentrate on projects and policies that would enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.

Chairman of the Forum, who also chaired the meeting, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, read the communique after the meeting, which lasted for about three hours.

He said the essence of the consultative meeting was to further review the state of the nation, particularly on practical steps to take to advance the conversation on the worsening security situation and the collapsing economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The 6-point communique reads in part, “The meeting called on Mr President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the States with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of State Policing and the general security architecture.

Also Read: PDP advises Nigerian Government to create Border Protection Force

“In the interim, Mr. President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr. President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union, especially with respect to policing.

“The meeting agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority.

“The meeting supports the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently by the Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders/farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States, and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria.

“The meeting enjoins all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, and other cleavages. To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.

“The meeting re-iterated our earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.

“The meeting thanked the Host Governor, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for being a gracious and wonderful host, and congratulated him for the many landmarks developmental projects he has executed, and urged him to continue to work with all stakeholders in the South-West Zone to ensure that PDP takes over majority of the States in the Zone.”

Governors in attendance include Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).

Others are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Deputy Gov. Mahdi Mohd (Zamfara).

 

Zainab Sa’id

Nigeria’s Inflation Rate at 18.12% (April, 2021)- NBS

Amaka Nliam
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Latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 18.12% in April 2021, indicating the first decline in headline inflation in about 20 months. This is contained in the Consumer Price Index report.

 

This represents a 0.05%-point decline when compared to 18.17% recorded in March 2021.

 

On a month-on-month basis, inflation dropped by 0.59% point compared to 1.56% recorded in March 2021 to stand at 0.97%.

 

The urban inflation rate also declined from 18.76% recorded in March 2021 to 16.68%, while the rural inflation rate stood at 17.57%. A reduction compared 17.6% recorded in the previous month.

 

Food inflation

The closely watched index recorded a drop in the month of April 2021, from 22.95% recorded in March 2021 to 22.72%.

 

On a month-on-month basis, the food sub-index increased by 0.99% in April 2021, down by 0.91% points from 1.9% recorded in March 2021.

 

The average annual rate of change of the Food sub-index for the twelve-month period stood at 18.58%, indicating a 0.65% points higher than 17.93% recorded in the previous month.

 

The rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of coffee, tea and cocoa, Bread and cereals, soft drinks, milk, cheese and egg, vegetable, meat, oil and fats, fish and potatoes, yam, and other tubers.

 

Core inflation

The “All items less farm produce” or Core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce stood at 12.74% in April 2021, which represents a 0.07% increase compared to 12.67% recorded in March 2021.

 

On a month-on-month basis, the sub-index stood at 0.99% in April 2021. This was down by 0.07% points compared to 1.06% recorded in March 2021.

 

The average 12-month annual rate of change of the index increased to 11.25% from 11.01% recorded in March 2021.

 

The highest increases were recorded in prices of Pharmaceutical products, vehicle spare parts, hairdressing salons, and personal grooming establishment.

 

It also includes garments, furniture and furnishing, medical services, shoes, and other foot wears, motor cars, major household goods, and fuel and lubricants for personal transport equipment.

 

State Inflation Rate

In April 2021, all items’ inflation on a year-on-year basis was highest in Kogi State with 24.33%, Bauchi (22.93%), and Sokoto State (20.96%), while Abia State (15.94%), Kwara (15.7%), and Katsina (15.58%) recorded the slowest rise in headline inflation.

 

In terms of food inflation, Kogi State recorded the highest with 30.52%, followed by Ebonyi State with 28.07%, and Sokoto (26.9%), while Abuja, Akwa Ibom, and Bauchi State recorded the slowest with 18.63%, 18.51%, and 17.64% increase respectively.

 

Sudan welcomes normalising relations with Israel

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The head of Sudan’s transitional government, Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, on Monday defended the normalisation of relations between Khartoum and Israel as the conflict in the Gaza strip erupts. But he said it had “nothing to do with the right of the Palestinians to create their own state”.

The fiercest hostilities in the region in years is now in its second week. Gaza health officials say 201 Palestinians have been killed in the latest violence, including 58 children and 28 women. In Israel, 10 people have been killed, including 10 children.

Last Monday, Hamas began a rocket assault after weeks of tensions over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. The attacks were also in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near the al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

In January, Khartoum signed normalisation agreements with Israel under the aegis of the United States, which a few months later removed Sudan from its blacklist of countries accused of supporting terrorism.

Three other countries in the region – the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco – have also normalised in recent months their relations with the Jewish state also under the aegis of Washington.

These agreements, which shattered the Arab consensus that no deal is possible with the Jewish state without resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have been denounced as “betrayal” by the Palestinians.

“Normalisation has nothing to do with the right of Palestinians to create their own state,” Burhane told broadcaster France 24 on the sidelines of an economic conference in Paris.

It is a “reconciliation with the international community which includes Israel.”

“What is happening in Gaza against defenceless civilians is regrettable,” said Burhane, reiterating Sudan’s position for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the creation of a Palestinian state.

Khartoum maintained a strict anti-Israel stance during the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in April 2019 following mass protests.

The transitional government in place since August 2019 is trying to end Sudan’s international isolation and revive its crisis-stricken economy.

Suzan O/AFN

NGX: Equities market begins trading week with N91bn loss

Amaka Nliam
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Transactions in the equities market closed on a negative note on the first trading day of the week as investors lost N91 billion to close the day’s trading at N20.487 trillion compared to N20.578 trillion on Friday last week.

 

The All-Share Index shed 0.44% or 175.42 points to close at 39,306.47 points as against 39,481.89 points of the last trading day last week.

 

Monday’s trading saw a total of 357.693 million shares worth N3.564 billion traded in 4,394 deals.

 

Eternal led the gainers on Monday as it appreciated by N0.65k to close at N7.25k, followed by Royal Exchange, which gained N0.25k to close at N0.83k while Caphotel gained N0.20k to close at N2.40k.

 

Conversely, Enamelware led the losers’ chart having lost N1.95k to close at N17.95K

 

It was followed by African Prudential which lost N0.45k to close at N6.05k, then NPF Microfinance Bank, which lost N0.12k to close at N1.75k.

 

Out of the five sectoral indices tracked, four closed in the red while one closed positive:

 

The banking index lost 0.05%; Insurance index lost 0.28%; the Consumer goods index lost 0.08%; while the Industrial index shed 0.66%

 

The Oil and Gas index gained 0.61%.

 

Amaka E. Nliam

Drugs worth 100m euros seized in Africa, Middle East – Interpol

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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International Police (Interpol) made a report on Monday of an operation sweep where drugs worth nearly 100 million euros have been seized in Africa and the Middle East in March and April. 

Interpol worked with customs and police officials from 41 countries and arrested 287 people on the African continent and in the Middle East.

In Niger warehouses, authorities seized 17 tonnes of cannabis resin, worth around 31 million euros ($37 million). The drugs were destined for Libya and it was the largest drug bust in the history of West Africa.

“We are seeing a marked increase in drug traffickers using Libya as a transshipment point, including for drugs from as far as South America,” said Brigadier General Adel Abulkasem Al Sharwy Bentaleb, Head of Libya’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau. “While many of these drugs are neither produced nor consumed here, this has not spared us from the violent crime inevitably wrought by such activity, which we are determined to combat alongside INTERPOL.”

Meanwhile, in South Africa, police seized 973 cocaine bricks worth around 32 million euros from a fishing vessel and arrested 10 people, Interpol said. It was also one of South Africa’s largest drug busts.

In addition, more than 4.5 million tablets of Tramadol, a powerful opioid diverted from its medical purpose, 10,000 steroids and 200 kilos of amphetamines were recovered during the operation. Police also found living pangolins, vehicles, rough diamonds and contraband cigarettes.

“The striking results of these two operations demonstrate the sheer scale of the trade in illicit drugs and its international nature,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol.

“Drug trafficking is a threat that we collectively face and the massive seizures achieved in Operation Lionfish show what is possible when law enforcement fights back together,” added Secretary General Stock.

Africa has recorded many record busts in recent years and is seen as a transit route for illegal drugs from South America to Europe.

Suzan O/AFP

National Development: Traditional Rulers applaud NCC Boss

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Traditional rulers and  community leaders have commended the Executive Vice Chairman  of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta for his role in boosting security and supporting other initiatives aimed at developing Danbatta Local Government Area, Kano State, and its environs, North-west,Nigeria, as well as his efforts towards national development.

The traditional rulers and the community leaders spoke at an event organised by Danbatta (Community) Charity Foundation (DCF) in conjunction with four other organisations including Zauren Tuntuba, a non-for-profit organisation; Danbatta Academic Forum (DAF); Danbatta Reporters and Duniya Ba Hutu, in Danbatta community, Kano.

The event was the graduation ceremony of ten female students from Muslim Community College of Health Sciences and Technology, Funtua and another twenty  empowered females in vocational training focused on tailoring and fashion, all of whom were sponsored by Prof. Danbatta.

The event, which featured the provision of sewing machines and other fashion tools to the two sets of graduands, also saw Prof. Danbatta being conferred with a special recognition award for his immense contribution to the security of Danbatta community, among other community development initiatives.

Speaking for traditional rulers, the Sarkin Bai of Bichi Emirate and District Head of Danbatta, Alhaji Isiyaku Wada Waziri, stated that, “one of the most important things anybody can give to Nigerians presently is security because without security, no business will prosper and people will not live in peace,” adding that “That is why, among all the efforts that Prof Danbatta has made to support the community, his support in the areas of security is valued the highest.”

He emphasised that the local community had witnessed improvement in its security efforts following personal security support received from Prof. Danbatta.

“Danbatta has been at the forefront of supporting the community in the area of security by sponsoring vigilante groups and financing all aspects of security planning in the local government area and these efforts have continually yielded positive results,” Waziri said.

He further urged Prof. Danbatta not to relent in his philanthropic gesture of helping the community and acknowledged the critical role which the Danbatta-led NCC is playing in leveraging the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), through the Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs) which NCC is implementing across the country, in enhancing security of lives and property in the country.

In the same vein, one of the leaders of the community and Chairman of DCF, Alhaji Nasiru Danguda, spoke glowingly by reeling out various initiatives by Prof. Danbatta towards contributing to the overall development of the community.

Responding, the NCC Boss thanked the Foundation, its partners as well as the community leaders for recognizing his modest contributions to the development of the Danbatta and neighbouring community, saying “this gesture can only encourage us to do more for our community.” 

 

Nnenna.O

Disregard information on Congresses, National Convention – APC

Zainab Sa'id
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Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) says the public should disregard any information being circulated on plans and timetable for its Congresses and National Convention.

The APC National Secretary Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe said this in a press statement.

He said such information is fake and the handiwork of political jobbers and fifth columnists.

Senator Akpanudoedehe added that the party leadership will continue to be honest about the party activities.

“Our attention has been drawn to obviously coordinated and syndicated misinformation being circulated in some sections of the media on purported plans and timetable for Congresses and the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“This is the handiwork of political jobbers parading themselves as media sources. The media, party members and indeed the general public should be wary and completely disregard the misinformation, antics and schemes of these fifth columnists.

“We have never lied on our party activities and we simply have no reason to. The consultative Party leadership style instituted by Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) has institutionalised the APC as a party of processes and internal democracy.

“The CECPC is focused and is delivering its mandate to recover, rebuild and reposition the APC as well as achieve peace-building, true reconciliation and to give a sense of belonging to every member of the Party,” he said.

Also Read: APC to hold Conference of Progressive Youths June 14

 

Zainab Sa’id

People are free to express decent opinions – Minister

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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0

 

Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that citizens have the right to express their opinions on matters affecting the polity and state of the nation but not to make calls for secession or beating drums of war.

The Minister also called on the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), as a
stakeholder on national issues, to speak out against those fanning the embers of disunity and discord in the country.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Monday when he received the President of NIPR, Mr. Muktar Sirajo and other members of the
Governing Council on a courtesy visit to his office, ahead of the Institute’s Annual General Meeting in Bauchi on 20 May 2021.

“Each of us in our respective positions has a role to play to tone down the rhetoric and reduce the tension (in the polity), and I am glad that NIPR is lending its platform to work with the government to ensure that we have a country, which is peaceful and which is secured.

“Without security there can be no development and that’s why this administration is doing everything possible to return peace and
security across the country. This is where I think you can come in as a body of NIPR that we must put the nation first,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed welcomed the NIPR’s offer to make available its platform for a national engagement on national unity, peace and
security, saying this falls into the template of the town hall meetings on topical issues, which have been institutionalized by the Federal Government.

From left – Retired Police Commissioner Emmanuel Ojukwu; Prof.
Emmanuel Dandaura of Nasarawa State University; General Manager NTA
Channel 5 Abuja, Mrs. Fatima Abbas Hassan; the President, Nigerian
Institute of Public Relations; Mr. Muktar Sirajo; Minister of
Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mrs. Chinenye Ihuoma, Director Public Communication and National Orientation, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (extreme right) when the Governing Council of NIPR paid a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja on Monday.

He also urged the NIPR to join the federal government in the fight against fake news, saying the NIPR needs to rein in members who always throw professional ethics to the wind for pecuniary gains in order to advance fake narratives.

“You have a powerful platform to actually ensure that the menace of fake news is confronted squarely. Regrettably, however, members of the Institute have been found waiting. They most times place pecuniary interests and motives above professional ethics and patriotism.

“If you recall the sad incident of the P&ID saga, it was a member of this Institute, a firm of Public Relations Consultants, which was hired to give the impression to the world that Nigeria indeed entered
into an agreement with P&ID and actually reneged, and as such Nigeria should pay over US$9 billion. It took this Ministry and others to go to the UK to actually change the narratives,” the Minister said.

In his remarks, the President of NIPR, Mr. Sirajo, decried the politicization of the security situation in the country by politicians, saying the issue of security is beyond politics.

He said the NIPR is ready to provide a platform for national dialogue on peace and security in order to secure a consensus on the unity of
the country.

 

Nnenna.O

Bayelsa state imposes curfew to control increase of new variant

Kamila Bello
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The Bayelsa government has announced the imposition of curfew from 8 pm to 6 am, daily, to prevent the spread of the new variant of COVID-19 in the state.

Chief Ayibaina Duba, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, announced the development in a statement on Monday that the curfew takes effect from Sunday 16th May 2021.

“Movements within and out of the state through the major entry points including Bayelsa/Delta States’ boundary at Adagbabiri GloryLand Drive at Igbogene, and Bayelsa/Rivers States’ boundary at Mbiama are prohibited during the hours of the curfew,” Duba explained.

He also said relevant security agencies have been mobilized to enforce the curfew.

According to the state government, this is part of the proactive measures to prevent the spread of new variants of COVID-19.

Commuters and members of the general public have been advised to take note of the development.

READ ALSO: Kwara Gov imposes curfew on Offa, Erinle towns over renewed hostilities

 

Felicia/ Channels

ICT Development: ITU urges countries to strengthen strategies

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Member Countries of the International Telecommunication Union have been urged to strengthen national strategies on ICT development, implement smart policies and effective measures to encourage investments in ICT and digital skills.

The Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union, ITU, Houlin Zhao  made this known  In a statement as the World celebrates World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, 2021 .

Zhao emphasised the need for countries to upgrade services with new technologies ranging from Artificial Intelligence to 5G that are central to the digital economy.

According to Him, the information society has emerged as one of the main lines of defense against COVID-19.

The  ITU Secretary General added that the organisation will use the Day to unite the world in pursuit of digital transformation in every area of business and all parts of life.

“In this decisive year, ITU will use World Telecommunication and Information Society Day to unite the world in pursuit of digital transformation in every area of business and all parts of life.

“It will be an opportunity to strengthen national strategies on ICT development, implement smart policies and effective measures to encourage investments in ICTs and digital skills, and upgrade our services with new technologies ranging from AI to 5G that are central to the digital economy”.

“This moment in history calls for cooperation and partnerships. I am calling on our members and other stakeholders to continue our efforts to harness the power of ICTs to advance the WSIS Action Lines, ITU’s Connect 2030 Agenda, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the theme “Connecting the unconnected to achieve sustainable development” of the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference 2021, so that the accelerating digital transformation we are witnessing leaves no one behind, no one ​​offline”

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is observed every year on May 17 in order to raise awareness about the possibilities of the use of Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) in bringing societies and economies together by the ways to bridging the digital divide.

The theme for this year is “Accelerating digital transformation in challenging times” focusing on the critical role of information and communication technologies for continued functioning of societies during COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Nnenna.O

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