Obiano Assures Anambra Civil Servants Of Better Welfare

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Civil servants in Anambra State converged on Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, the state capital, to mark the 2015 African Public Service Day and got the government’s assurance of a better welfare.

Addressing the workers on Wednesday, Governor Willie Obiano, commended them for their immeasurable contributions to the success of his administration.

The Governor described them as the ‘engine of his government’ who have helped to achieve the current status of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue as well as facilitated government policies and programmes that brought fame and honour to the state.

Governor Obiano assured the civil servants of continued prompt and regular payment of salaries while expecting their dedication to duty and support to the government.

In the spirit of the occasion, the Head of Service, Mr Chidi Ezeoke, speaking in the Igbo dialect, admonished workers on attitude to work, as they were very indispensable to the state and to the nation.

Mr Ezeoke commended the Governor who had been assisting workers in the area of prompt payment of salaries and their general welfare.

The function featured presentation of merit certificates and awards to deserving public servants.

Governor Obiano made promises of additional transport buses to the fleet already in operation to ease the transport challenges of workers.

He, however, assured the workers of continued security of lives and property in the state.

Amosun Orders Payment Of 500 Million Naira WAEC Debt

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The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, says he has ordered the immediate payment of about 500 million Naria the state owes the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

Governor Amosun gave the hints on Wednesday while inaugurating the State’s Local Government Transition Committee held at the Obas’ Complex in Abeokuta, the state’s capital.

Urging members of the Transition Committee to shun politics of bitterness, the Governor also asked them to effectively key into the rebuilding mission of his administration for the good of all.

While assuring residents of the state of better days ahead, Governor Amosun seized the occasion to explain some of the policies of his administration. He promised that pensions arrears being owed would be paid soonest.

Speaking on behalf of the Transition Committee Members, Mr Majid Ekelojumati of Ijebu North, promised not to betray the confidence reposed in them by the people of their respective Local Governments.

PDP Seeks Review Of INEC And DSS Heads’ Appointments

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the review of the appointments of the acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Mrs Amina Zakari, and that of the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr Lawal Daura.



The acting National Chairman of the PDP, Mr Uche Secondus, told Journalists at a press conference on Wednesday that the party was uncomfortable with the treatment of its members in the hands of the DSS in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States where elections results are being contested in the tribunals.

Aside from the DSS boss, the PDP also insist that the appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari as the acting Chairman of INEC should be reviewed by the Nigerian President, Muhamadu Buhari, ahead of the elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

Meanwhile, the electoral commission has assured Nigerians that the scheduled governorship elections holding in Kogi and Bayelsa states would be free and fair.

NFF Seeks Germany’s Help in Capacity Building

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Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved to formalise much closer relationship with current world champions, Germany in all football matters.

In its relentless quest to take Nigeria football to a new level, a delegation from the NFF led by President, Amaju Pinnick, paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Mr Dietmar Kreusel on Tuesday.

Pinnick, who expressed the football governing body’s intention to make Germany a model for development of the game of football in Nigeria, sought the assistance of the European country in developmental programmes for women’s football and  capacity building for referees and coaches.

“We keenly desire to partner with the DFB (Germany Football Federation) and the German League”. Pinnick said.

“The NFF is presently doing a lot in the area of development of the game in Nigeria.

“Now, we are requesting for support for our development programmes for women’s football, as well as capacity building for our referees and coaches”.

Pinnick, also underscored the importance of Nigeria in the comity of nations, and reiterated that the emphasis of the present NFF administration was on youth development and making the League the main hub for the National Teams.

Military, Police To Improve Collaboration On Intelligence Gathering

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The Nigerian military and the police force have agreed on more collaborative efforts in intelligence, especially in the face of the security challenges in the nation’s north-east.

At a meeting on Monday between the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, the Chief of Defence Intelligence said that intelligence gathering would not make any difference if there was no collaboration among all security agencies and even the citizen.

He stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to confront the nation’s common enemy, the Boko Haram terrorist group.

Air Vice Marshal Morgan promised to support the Nigeria Police Force through an improved capacity building on intelligence gathering for Police officers with a view to enhancing National Security.

He also expressed satisfaction in the leadership and management team of the Nigeria Police

The Inspector General of Police told the Chief of Defence Intelligence that quite a good number of Police Officers had benefited from the Intelligence course offered by the Military Intelligence School.

He, however, urged the Defence Intelligence Chief to extend same opportunity to Junior Police Officers with a view to boosting the ties between the two agencies

“Collaboration would work better when officers and men in the lower ranks were properly oriented to work together,” he said.

Mr Arase sought for an avenue were a combination of officers and men of the different security agencies could be jointly trained to work together.

Security analysts have stressed the need for security agencies in Nigeria to put more efforts into intelligence gathering in the counter-terrorism operation in the north-east, if the activities of the Boko Haram sect would end.

House Of Representatives Asks FG To Address Unemployment

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The House of Representatives in Nigeria has asked the Federal Government to declare an emergency in the labour sector specifically on employment generation and convoke a national summit on employment.

At Wednesday’s plenary, a member of the House, Honourable Kingsley Chinda, raised a motion on the rising rate of unemployment which he warned was likely to reach 70% over the next six months.

Honourable Chinda warned that increase in unemployment would lead to increase in crime, unrest and breakdown of the social and economic order.

After deliberations on the issue, the House agreed that its Committee on Labour and Productivity, once constituted, would review the Federal Government’s blueprint on generation of three million jobs annually, analyse it and report back to the House in one month.

During campaigns the ruling All Progressives Congress had promised to tackle unemployment by creating more jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youth if given the opportunity to hold power in the centre.

It is the second day of plenary after a one month recess. Activities have picked up, since the House had resolved the rift over the choice of principal officers.

On Tuesday, the leadership tussle came to an end after the House members unanimously chose Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila as the Majority Leader.

Senate To Screen Service Chiefs On July 30

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The Nigerian Senate will on Thursday, July 30, screen the Service Chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

With the leadership crisis at the Upper Chamber finally resolved, with theselection of principal officers on Tuesday, the lawmakers are now set to begin their duties under a peaceful atmosphere, as they take up the screening exercise as their first task.

The date for the screening was announced by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, during Wednesday’s legislative proceedings at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

President Buhari had written to the Senate on Tuesday, requesting the legislators to screen and confirm the Service Chiefs.

The Service Chiefs are the Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Also at the plenary, the Senate constituted three special committees and one Ad-hoc Committee.

The Senate President announced that Senator Babajide Omoworare would chair the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Samuel Anyawu for Ethics and Privileges Committee and Senator Abdullahi Gobri for Senate Services Committee.

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on publicity would also be chaired by Senator Dino Melaye.

Court Refuses To Stop Speaker From Setting Up Committees

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has again declined to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, from appointing principal officers and standing committees for the House of Representatives.

While ruling in an ex parte motion brought by Honourable Abubakar Lado and Olanipekun Jimoh, seeking to stop the Speaker from appointing principal officers, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the issue was a domestic affair of the House of Representatives.

Justice Kolawole said that “the court could only intervene when there is substantial infraction of the 1999 Constitution”, stressing that ‘for now there has been no breach of the Constitution’.

He added that it was not the duty of the court to choose principal officers for the National Assembly, because it had its own machinery.

The court also maintained that it would not allow itself to be used as a platform by aggrieved members, to get what they should canvass on the floor of the House.

Justice Kolawole insisted that  the court was not a supervising institution for the National Assembly on account of Separation of Power and that there was no evidence before the court that the constitution had been breached.

He, therefore, refused the application in its entity  and thereafter directed that the defendants in the substantive suit, which includes the Speaker of the House of Representatives, his Deputy, the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the National Assembly, be put on notice and served with the originating summon.

The case has been adjourned to August 12 before Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

In a related development, an ex parte order seeking to stop the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from constituting the Senate Standing Committe, was rejected on Tuesday.

The Judge, Justice Kolawole, said there was nothing urgent in the application.

House Of Representatives Wades Into WAEC Debt Crisis

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The Nigerian House of Representatives has set up an Ad hoc Committee to intervene in the alleged debt crisis between the West African Examination‎ Council (WAEC) and some states, resulting to a threat by the examination body to withhold the results of some students.

The House took the decision following a motion by a lawmaker, Linus Okorie that the academic pursuit of more than half of the 1.2 million candidates who sat for the examination would be disrupted if WAEC was allowed to carry out its threat.

The motion was passed unanimously after deliberations, and the House mandated the Committee to report back in one week, to allow actions be taken before the date for the release of the May/June 2015 West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results.

On Monday, the examination body claimed that 19 states out of the 36 states were owing about four billion Naira exam entry fees for state government sponsored candidates.

The Head of WAEC in Nigeria, Charles Eguridu, said: “A total number of 19 states in the country owe the Council in respect of entry fees for state government sponsored candidates for the May/June 2015 WASSCE. Some states also still owe the Council registration fees for the May/June 2014 WASSCE.

“We, therefore, want to publicly plead with the affected states to off-set the registration fees of their candidates as soon as possible, as we cannot guarantee that the results of their candidates for the May/June 2015 will be released along with others”.

Senate Asks Buhari To Constitute North-East Rehabilitation Committee

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The Nigerian Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to establish a Presidential Intervention Committee on the rehabilitation of the north-eastern part of the nation, devastated by activities of the Boko Haram terrorists.

The Senate reached the resolution after an observation by Senator George Sekibo, a Peoples Democratic Party member representing Rivers East Senatorial District, on infrastructural damages caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east.

He said: “Thousands of personal buildings and properties, social amenities and infrastructure, such as electricity, and telephone services have been destroyed in many parts of the zone.

“The livelihood of many indigenes of the area has been disrupted such that majority of the people are either in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps or are helplessly roaming the streets without any hope for their future”.

Some lawmakers argued that any rehabilitation of the north-east without first winning the insurgency would be a waste of time.

Others also called for a deliberate strategy to generate adequate funds for the reconstruction of social infrastructure destroyed by the insurgents.

While rounding off the debate, the Senate President pledged that the Senate should complement the efforts of the President to actualise his campaign promises, which was basically to guarantee security and welfare of Nigerians.

After an exhaustive debate on the issue, the Senate resolved that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, would lead a delegation to visit the troops and Internally Displaced Peoples camps in the north-east.

For over five years, the Boko Haram terrorist group has carried out series of attacks on communities, schools, places of worship and other public places in the north-east, rendering many homeless.

GAS EXPLOSION IN WATER-BOARD

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WATER EXPLOSION THAT KILL 8 PERSONS IN JOS PLATEAU STATE THIS MORNING INCLUDING 2 STUDENTS FROM THE NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE...

Police high command warns against illegal use of personnel as guards

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The Nigeria police high command has warned corporate bodies and individuals who hire police personnel illegally as guards to desist from such.

A statement from the police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the force has realized that most corporate bodies illegally hire its personnel for guard purposes.

“A recent case is that of an oil services company that hired a dismissed police officer, who in turn procured miscreants, dressed them in what looked like police uniform and armed them to serve the company,” Mr. Ojukwu said.

He said it is the duty of the Nigeria Police Force to warn the public of the dangers inherent in this unlawful practice. He also noted that the special protection unit of the force is available and equipped to meet the special protection needs of corporate bodies and individuals.

“Those interested are to route their application to the Inspector-General of Police for approval,” he said.

Road crashes less by 15 per cent — FRSC

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The Federal Road Safety Corps on Thursday said it has succeeded in reducing road crashes by 15 per cent since the beginning of 2015.

Speaking at a corps commanding officers retreat in Abuja, the corps marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, said the FRSC has been able to achieve a relatively reduced road crash compared to the past year.

“Well, so far so good, except those crashes involving the tankers and trailers in the first week of June,” he said.

“I think relatively, we have been able to sustain our level of operations and from the report being presented as compared to last year’s report we have been able to reduce the crashes by 15 per cent.”

Mr. Oyeyemi said the reduction in road crashes this year means the Corps has been able to stay on course in achieving its 2015 goals in just six months.

He however noted that the recent tanker crashes have been a terrible period for the corps which made the FRSC fast-track on policies and implementations already slated out to curb more of such crashes.

“I can say we can see some relative improvement,” Mr. Oyeyemi. “We are about commencing the training for the tanker/ trailer drivers and we are providing four centres now for us to have commercial drivers’ licence centres for the NUPENG-PTD drivers.

“Sequel to the drivers training will be medical and eye test to ensure that these tanker/ trailer drivers are fit to be on the road.”

He said most state governors including Anambra, Kaduna, Delta, Lagos among others have showed backing for the FRSC in reducing road crashes across Nigerian states.

“Consequently, September 1 has been chosen as the deadline for all commercial vehicles to have the gadget, Speed Limit Devices installed in them, failure of which will attract sanctions by men of the FRSC as well as other law enforcement agencies,” he said.

He also said the FRSC was strengthening various policies and programmes of the corps with a view to enhance staff productivity.

Also, speaking to journalists, the zonal commander Lagos and Ogun states, Charles Akpabio, decried the attitude of motorists on the roads.

He said, “Even though we have bad roads, how bad or how well we use these roads can either lead to reduction or an increase in road crashes.”

He said the retreat was an avenue for the sector and zonal commanders to review activities in the past three months. He said they would awards for command and departments that have excelled in their activities.

Mr. Akpabio said these awards would help set standards and encourage others in other to add value to the corps effort to reduce road crashes on Nigeria roads.

He encouraged change of driving attitudes by motorists and also called on all corps command to work towards enforce zero tolerance to road crashes.

“My message to motorists in general is that road crashes does not respect anyone; nobody is immune to these crashes; so we are determined, more than ever before to ensure compliance to rules and regulations of the road,” Mr. Akpabio said.

Union decries killing of Nigerian in South Africa

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The president of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene, on Thursday, decried the killing of a Nigerian in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.

A Nigerian, Nonso Odo, 30, from Amangwu-Nkwerre, Imo state, was allegedly tortured to death by South African Police officers on Thursday.

Emeka Ezinteje, Public Relations Officer of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg that the union condemned the killing.

Mr. Ezinteje said reports indicated that the deceased, who was a barber, quarreled with a fellow Nigerian in their business centre.

“After the quarrel, the fellow Nigerian stopped a police patrol team. The barber ran when he saw the patrol team.
According to Mr. Ezinteje, the police patrol went after Odo. He said 30 minutes later, the police brought back the lifeless body of the barber.

“Not satisfied with the police report, some members of the union went to see the corpse in hospital.’’

He said Sgt. Nengobeni, a South African police officer at the hospital, denied that the police killed him.
The officer said the police were flagged down by somebody while the victim took to his heels.

Nengobeni said by the time the police got to the victim, he was tired and gasping for breath and was pronounced dead on getting to the hospital.

Ezinteje said the union suspected foul play and would get to the root of the case.

“We have also received reports by eyewitnesses that Odo was beaten to death.

“We have ordered a post mortem to ascertain the cause of Odo’s death. The union will also take this case to the Independent Police Investigative Department, for more investigation.

“The department is responsible for investigating wrong doings by police officers,” he said.

He also said the incident had been reported to Nigeria`s Consulate General in Johannesburg and Hillbrow Police Station, also in Johannesburg. 

Don’t be selective in probing corrupt politicians, PDP tells Buhari

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe every corrupt politician and not be selective in the exercise.

The spokesperson for the party, Olisa Metuh, made the call at the PDP congress in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday.

“We expect the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government not to embark on selective probing of public office holders found wanting before or during his government,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported President Buhari’s decision to focus on the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan in its anti-corruption drive.

A spokesperson for the president said the government would not have the time to dig through previous administrations.

Mr. Metuh urged PDP members to ensure that they are free of corruption in their dealings.

“If your hands are clean, you will not be afraid of any probe,” he said.

He described corruption as a crime against the common will of Nigerians.

“Corruption is a crime against the people, the nation and our Constitution,” he said.

He said every legitimate means should be deployed to fight public corruption and that the approach to eradicating corruption in Nigeria must be just.

The PDP spokesman urged the would-be-delegates in the state’s congress to elect those that would pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.

Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi said the congress provided members the opportunity to change the history of the party in the state for the better.

“I urge delegates to choose wisely,” the governor said.

Mr. Wada urged members to support the candidates that would make up the state’s executive council from the congress.

“Support any candidate that wins at the end of the congress. What we are doing here today will change the history of the PDP in our state,” he said. 

Nigeria rejects online degrees, warns students against virtual schools

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The National Universities Commission, NUC, on Thursday called on Nigerians to stop patronising online universities and other degree awarding institutions operating online.

Speaking at a press conference, the NUC’s Public Relations officer, Ibrahim Yakasai, said that degrees obtained online are not accepted in the country.

“Nigeria will not recognize online degrees. Online degrees are not accepted in Nigeria at the moment,” he said.

Mr. Yakasai warned Nigerian students and parents against patronising Maryam Abacha American University in Niger Republic.

“We wish to restate that as the only quality assurance agency for universities in Nigeria, the NUC is maintaining its stand that degrees from Maryam Abacha University will not be accepted in Nigeria” he said

He noted that the Commission has been inundated with enquiries from some Nigerian students who had been offered admission to the university.

He said the concerned students were offered admissions on part-time basis with a graduation time of four semesters for programmes like Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health among others.

Mr.Yakasai explained that in Nigeria the duration for a fulltime degree programme is not less than three years for direct entry and at least six years for part-time.

He said professional programmes in Science, Engineering and Health Sciences including Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science and Public Health are not offered on part-time basis in Nigeria.

He added that all part- time cross border education in Nigeria are not allowed.

Mr. Yakasai said the Maryam Abacha University admits Nigerian students who do not have the basic requirements to gain admission into the nation’s tertiary institutions in addition to running courses such as Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science on part-time basis which, according to him, is not acceptable.

Mr. Yakasai said all countries are at liberty to accept any qualification they wish to.

Many Nigerians enroll annually in online schools based in the United States and the United Kingdom, and other countries.

Buhari will probe Jonathan’s govt only; not Obasanjo’s, others – Presidency

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President Muhammadu Buhari will not extend his corruption probe beyond the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidency has said.

Mr. Buhari, who is currently on official visit to the United States, has consistently vowed to investigate and bring to book, persons who looted the country’s funds.

The president said on Tuesday he will arrest and prosecute past ministers and other officials who stole Nigeria’s oil and diverted government’s money to personal accounts.

But the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Mr. Buhari, Femi Adesina, said the president will limit his anti-corruption war to the immediate past administration in the country.

He said Mr. Buhari will not waste time in probing the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida.

He said even before he was sworn in to office on May 29, the president had categorically stated that he would not extend his corruption probe beyond the Jonathan government.

“If you recall, that was already settled before he got inaugurated as president. He has said he will not waste time digging into the far past,” Mr. Adesina said.

“The far past will includes Obasanjo and others. But the president has said he will not waste time to go that far.”

Before leaving office, Mr. Jonathan had said any probe by the new government would be seen as a “witch hunt” if it fails to go beyond his administration.

Speaking on criticisms over President Buhari’s decision to travel to the U.S. with his son, Yusuf, the presidential spokesperson said Mr. Buhari did not breach any rule.  

He said it was a normal practice for presidents to travel with members of their families, citing the example of American presidents who travel abroad with their wives and children. 

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with the president travelling with one of his sons. It is an acceptable and standard practice. He could go with up to four members of his family.

“Don’t forget that when former President Bill Clinton visited Nigeria while he was in office, he came with his daughter, Chelsea.

“President Barak Obama travels with his children and so the President of Nigeria can travel out with three or four of his children. Late President Umaru Yar’Adua used to travel with two of his sons and one of his grandchildren,” he said.

Mr. Adesina described the outcome of the president’s official visit to the US as “a roaring success on every side.”

“There are good returns. It is an investment that will yield very handsome returns.”  

Death toll in Gombe bombings rises to 36

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By Auwal Umar

The death toll in Wednesday’s multiple bomb attack in Gombe State has risen to 36, health officials.
Local authorities had said 30 people died in three explosions that occurred at two motor parks.

But the Chief Medical Director of the Specialist Hospital in Gombe, Reuben Ardo, said on Thursday that 86 people were taken to the hospital, out of which 15 died.

A pregnant woman was among the injured.

Mr. Ardo said the injured woman underwent an emergency caesarian section and was delivered of a baby girl ahead of her due month.

Of the 71 injured people, 56 were discharged and 15 admitted in the hospital, he said.

At the Federal Teaching Hospital, the Deputy Director Public Relation, Haruna El-Rasheed, said 66 people were taken to the hospital, out of which 21 died. Thirty six were admitted and nine discharged.

Two explosions occurred at Dadin/Kowa Wednesday night, followed by third blast at Dukku motor parks, all in Gombe town.
Fwaje Atajiri, the Police Public Relation Officer, said that the Dadin/Kowa park blast occurred around 7:50 p.m.

The Dukku motor park blast occurred nearly two hours after.

A witness, Suleman Isa, told PREMIUM TIMES that the Dadin/kowa park bomb exploded between a Mosque and the motor park, as people were filing out from the Mosque.

Boko Haram plotting to bomb homes of VIPs, not VP Osinbajo – Presidency

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The militant group, Boko Haram, is planning to bomb the homes of VIPs, and not the residence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the VP’s office said Thursday.

The clarification came after media reports quoted the presidency’s initial claim that Mr. Osinbajo’s home was targeted.

The vice president’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said that claim, sourced by journalists from the text of a press briefing after Thursday’s National Economic Council, was a typographical error.

“A press briefing note circulated today by the Secretariat of the National Economic Council, NEC, contains a typo on the very last line of the last paragraph.

“That paragraph should read ‘The Vice President also disclosed that security reports has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of VIPs’.

“The last line erroneously says ‘in the house of the Vice President’,” Mr. Akande said in a statement after the media reports.

The earlier text said intelligence had confirmed that Mr. Osinbajo’s residence was being targeted for bombing.

During Mr. Osinbajo’s recent tour of Adamawa and Borno states, two suicide bombers had blown themselves up outside a village in Maiduguri while he was in Borno.

At the NEC meeting Thursday, governors of Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Kaduna, Gombe, Plateau and Bauchi took turns to brief the council about the security situation in the states.

On Boko Haram, the governors of Yobe and Borno States said five local government areas of the two states were still under the control of the militants.

They called for increased military deployment and provision of sophisticated military equipment to those areas.

Vice President Osinbajo regretted that the insurgency had affected the economic life of the Northeast and Nigeria, and called on the council to speak as a team to put pressure on military chiefs to increase their effort in fighting insurgency.

“There should be increase in sensitization and education channels like radio, television,” he said.

On cattle rustling and banditry, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, disclosed that most of the cattle rustlers are in Kumuku national park. He said if the situation was not properly handled, it could result to another Sambisa forest.

The meeting assured that efforts were underway to deal with the threat.