Zamfara State government has declared a one-week public holiday for civil servants to enable them obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle‘s led government made the announcement on Saturday, June 18, 2022.
A statement issued to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital on Saturday, outlined that the work-free day starts from next Monday to Friday, (June 20th to 24th, 2022).
This according to the government would allow the state’s public and civil servants to be able to fulfil their civic rights in the 2023 general elections.
Governor Matawalle in the statement, directed all the commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, other public office holders, party officials and traditional rulers to monitor and supervise the ongoing Voter Registration exercise.
The statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara noted that every citizen above the age of 18 is expected to be part of the exercise, saying that it was their constitutional right to elect their leaders.
Governor Matawalle appealed to the general public to participate in the exercise so that they would not complain later.
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has charged its members across the country to obtain permanent voter cards (PVC) before the expiration of the deadline to enable them to vote for competent and credible leaders in 2023.
This was contained in a statement signed by the IPMAN chairman Kano chapter, Alhaji Bashir Danmallam, a copy of which was made available on Friday to pressmen in Kano.
Danmallam then disclosed that the directive followed a meeting with the National President of the association, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo with the mandate for him to ask members to obtain their PVCs.
He added that the association had also resolved and directed its members not to give salary to any staff working under them until such staff present their PVC.
NNPP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he is in talks with his Labor Party counterpart Peter Obi over the possibility of co-operation in the 2023 elections.
He made the remarks in an interview with BBC Hausa.
He said: “We are really talking to Peter Obi, or at least saying that the committee is working to look into the matter (and cooperate with him), and friends and family are coming to talk to us about it. ”
The former governor of Kano State said their collaboration was especially important as the APC and PDP had not fielded an Igbo vice-presidential candidate.
Obi and Kwankwaso’s collaboration is widely seen as a strong ‘third force’ against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Fresh trouble has come for the Spiritual leader of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev Father Ejike Mbaka as catholic banned clerics and faithful members from attending his ministry.
Naija News reports that Mbaka’s adversity started after the renowned cleric made a derogatory comment about Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Mbaka while addressing his congregants earlier on Wednesday, June 15, described Obi as a ‘stingy’ man who will never be the president of Nigeria.
The cleric said Obi lacked the spirit of generosity, saying “It is better to have a president who is a gifted old man than a young man with ‘gum’ hands.”
His comment has since received a barrage of backlash from Nigerians across states. Though Mbaka has in a statement on Friday tendered an apology to the former Governor of Anambra State, more punishment has emerged for his consistent comments which are considered not in line with the Catholic teachings.
The Labour Party has submitted the name of Nigerian physcian cum politician, Doyin Okupe as Peter Obi’s running mate.
To beat the Friday, June 17 deadline given to political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Labour Party submitted Doyin Okupe name as a placeholder running mate and would later be changed after the party stakeholders must have agreed on the suitable vice presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
Heritage Bank wins Lagos Environmental Sustainability Award, commits to nature protection
R-L: Kehinde Olugbemi, Ag. Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank; Captain Babangida Zakari, Deputy Director of Coordination, Armed Forces Settlement Centre, Oshodi; Prince Ademola Docemo, MD, Lagos State Signage and Advertising (LASSA); Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Government Representative; Brigadier General Maxwell Ejike, Director of Training, Armed Forces Settlement Centre, Oshodi, as Heritage Bank wins Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 World Environment Day event held in Lagos State.
For its contribution and support towards Environmental Sustainability, especially, in Lagos, the state government, awarded Heritage Bank with its 2022 Environmental Sustainability Award.
The bank joined other corporate organisations and schools within the State, awarded for their efforts towards protecting nature and limiting the impact of climate change on Earth.
The Award was given to the bank by the state government through the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State in the commemoration of 2022 World Environment Day Celebrations in which the bank was also a major sponsor.
Speaking at the year 2022 World Environment Day finale held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend, the managing director/CEO, Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo, commended Lagos state government and its ministry for the efforts exuded during environmental sustainability to protect ecosystems in supporting health and wellbeing of all creatures.
Sekibo, who was represented by the Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank, Mr. Kehinde Olugbemi, said: “as this year’s World Environmental Day Celebration theme implies, we have ‘Only One Earth,’ and truly, only one earth to protect. The fact is that human well-being is closely linked to the health of the environment. And our planet is reaching a breaking point. We are beginning to see the consequences of global warming on ecosystems and communities.”
Today, he said, industrialisation, though positive for human well-being on the flip side, has raked lots of havoc on human existence.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said, 24% of deaths can be traced back to avoidable environmental factors, adding that, Heritage Bank Plc has continued to prioritise and make huge commitments to environmentally sustainable practices to help build thriving communities and secure future growth potential.
R-L: Ozena Utulu, Ag. Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank; Kehinde Olugbemi, Ag. Chief Risk Officer, Heritage Bank; Dr. S. Olayiwole Onasanya, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASEIC) and Titilola Docemo, Regional Head, Lagos Island 2A, as Heritage Bank wins Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 World Environment Day event held in Lagos State.
“We realized that our people and other dwellers need clean air to breathe, fresh water to drink, and places to live that are free of toxic substances and hazards.
“So, as a part of our sustainability drive in the Corporate social responsibility space, we have continued to put sustainability at the heart of our decision-making for the sake of humanity and the bank’s own bottom line because a healthy planet is the backbone of nearly every industry on Earth,” he pointed out.
Earlier at the event, Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that, there is an urgent need for everyone to focus on the need to live sustainably with nature for the benefit of mankind, adding that, this has become necessary to shift to a greener lifestyle through both policies and individual choices.
He added that sustainability of the environment is among the most pressing issues in the world today out of which the Earth faces triple planetary emergencies namely, Climate change, loss of biodiversity and Environmental Pollution.
The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omolaji Gaji, added that, the impact of the challenges has negatively made the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) less successful.
“With nature in emergency mode, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign for World Environment Day 2022, wants us to celebrate the planet through collective environmental action”, he said.
The governor commended Corporate Organisations, such as Heritage Bank for ensuring that the persistent drive of the State’s policy towards entrusting the legacy of greening and restoration of indigenous trees to the citizen is sustained.
Similarly, the commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello said, government through the ministry of the Environment & Water Resources has implemented several programmes to mitigate these challenges through Tree planting, Climate change summit, Environmental bees’ clubs in schools, waste to wealth and ban on open defecation.
Speaking through the Director of Sanitation Services Department, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, the PS added that, the government keyed into this call in 2021 by commencing the greening of Abraham Adesanya setback, together with restoration of some historical plants in specific locations like Agege, Idi-Mangoro where Mango trees were planted, Idi-Agbon in Ifako-Ijaiye where coconut trees were planted and in Lagos Island where breadfruit trees were planted at St. Paul Anglican Primary School, Breadfruit Lagos as part of this year’s celebration.
The guest lecturer, Dr. Ayo Tella while delivering his paper, noted that, Anthropogenic effects caused by human activities such as the felling of trees have altered the earth’s natural systems and survival of many species.
Heritage Bank had earlier donated plastic bins to Navy Town Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos, to mark the World Earth Day even as it has embarked on a project to address water crisis, whilst contributing towards making clean and potable water accessible to all.
Similarly, a global open-source movement known as Liter of Light Nigeria partnered with Heritage Bank Plc to provide sustainable solar electricity for Itomaro community in Lagos State while the bank, in 2020, had been on the move to distribute over 10, 000 mosquito nets to rural dwellers.
Talented Nigerian singer, Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe, popularly known as Wande Coal has been called out for allegedly assaulting a resident in Lagos State.
A Twitter user identified as Folarin_AA in a post on his account claimed the singer and songwriter and his team beat up his elder brother.
According to Folarin, his brother was beaten while he tried to move his car out of Wande Coal’s way.
He wrote, “You’re a b**tard Wande Coal and you would not get away with what you did to my brother this evening, My elder brother called me subbing like a child because you and your gang beat him mercilessly simply because his vehicle was in your way.
“This b**tard and his gang asked my brother to remove his vehicle so they could move, my brother obliged and went to get his car keys, as soon as he approached his car to open it, one of them slapped him before he could say anything else, another punched him.
“Never felt so livid in my entire life. My elder brother called me sobbing like a child. They beat him so bad he was crying so much. Who do you think you are?”
“My brother is in tears with a swollen face and black eye. All because of what? My brother is the most easy-going person I know. Always avoids trouble, so I am pretty sure he did absolutely nothing to warrant getting treated like that. You wouldn’t get away with this.”
As of the time of filing this report, Wande Coal is yet to react to the allegation.
The Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed has been impeached.
It was gathered that Mohammed who represents Akpa 1 State Constituency was impeached during an emergency sitting held at the State Assembly complex in Lokoja.
Hon. Enema Paul, the member representing Dekina/Okura Constituency made this known in a motion of urgent importance reason the floor of the assembly.
The assembly accused Muhammed alongside 3 other principal officers of gross misconduct and arbitrary use of their offices. The three principal leaders are; Bello Hassan Balogun (Majority Leader), Idris Ndako (Deputy Majority Leader), and Hon. Edoko Moses Ododo (Chief Whip).
Police operatives in Taraba State have apprehended a man said to be manufacturing bombs and ammunition for Boko Haram terrorists.
The suspect who reportedly hails from Zamfara State is said to also belong to a Boko Haram faction responsible for three bomb explosions recorded in the state this year.
Naija News understands that the suspect was arrested in his house which he uses as a factory in Tella town within the Gassol Local Government Area of the state.
Photos that were taken during his apprehension show a series of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices for manufacturing bombs.
The Taraba Police Command said it discovered upon further investigation that the suspect is also a member of a kidnapping syndicate terrorizing, Niger, Kogi and Taraba states for more than a year now.
It could be recalled that two separate explosions rocked Tabara this year. One happened on April 19th and the other was recorded on the 22nd of the same month.
No fewer than 10 persons died in the two separate attacks which happened both at drink joints, Naija News recalls.
Not long after, another explosion occurred at the headquarters of six brigade Nigeria army located in the state capital. Acting on credible intelligence, the police swung into action leading to the arrest of the bomb manufacturer.
Parading the 37-year-old native, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Sokoya assured that the force have sprayed their dragnet and soon operatives will capture two other suspects who are currently at large even as investigations continue.
The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has apprehended a woman allegedly supplying firearms to terrorists in the state.
The suspect, Naija News understands was captured by the operatives of the Special Tactical Squad Force Headquarters, Abuja (STS) in a recent raid where it worked alongside Operation Yaki of the Kaduna State Command.
The police command in a statement on Thursday evening said it was on a trail of suspected armed bandits on June 15 when the operatives encountered the targets along Saminaka–Jos expressway in a Sharon vehicle.
The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Muhammad Jalige who gave updates on the development said the suspects on sensing an unavoidable danger “posed in their way to deliver some dangerous weapons to their cohorts engaged the operatives, firing sporadically. However, the operatives with tactical precision were able to terminally injure four suspects.”
Jalige explained that the injured suspects were immediately evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna where they were pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
The encounter according to him lasted about 30 minutes as the firepower of the Police forced them to retreat into the forest with bullet wounds.
He added: “When a search was conducted in the vehicle and around the vicinity, the following exhibits were recovered: one AK-$9 rifle loaded with six rounds of live ammunition, AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine, 134 rounds of different calibre of live ammunition and operational motor vehicle.
“The operation led to the arrest of a female accomplice, who during the investigation, confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to bandits within Kaduna State.”
The camp of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has condemned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar for picking the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Naija News had earlier reported that the former Vice President on Thursday announced Okowa as his running mate at the National Secretariat of the party.
The loyalists of Governor Wike who stated that it was the right of Atiku to pick his running, condemned him for not following the decision of a committee set up to pick the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
The Chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike in an interview with Punch said, “There is a local proverb in my village that says nobody will tell a man that eats yam to go and drink water.
“If you are eating yam, you must look for water to drink because if you eat yam without drinking water, it will choke you.”
“If he kept to his words like he said to go with the party’s overwhelming choice, then he would have respected the decision of the panel, the party’s national chairman and his team set up.”
According to Nwanosike, the Rivers State Governor was nominated by all stakeholders of the party as Atiku’s running mate.
Nwanosike when asked if the decision of Atiku would not affect his presidential ambition, he said, “He has made his calculations. And since he has made his calculations, he (Atiku) will live with the result. He will see out of his calculations. It is not the first time he has been the candidate of the party.
“He was the candidate of the party in 2019. He knows what the result was. Now he has made a decision. So let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait for the decision of the electorate. Right now, it is no longer in the hands of Dr Iyorcha Ayu and his team. It is now in the hands of the electorate.”
A former member of the House of Representatives representing Etche-Omuma Constituency, Ogbonna Nwuke on his part said Governor Wike would speak at the appropriate time.
Nwuke further stated that Atiku did not reject Wike, but he rejected Rivers State.
Nwuke said, “I believe that our leader will speak at the appropriate time. We are members and whatever decision he makes will be okay by us because he is the one wearing the shoe now. I think it is not Governor Wike that Atiku rejected; it is Rivers State he rejected.”
