JUST IN: FG Shut Down Mobile Networks In Katsina State
The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal and has reportedly ordered the shutting down of mobile networks in Katsina State.
It was gathered that the networks were shut down as the Nigerian military increase offensive against bandit terrorists in the northwest region.
According to DailyTrust, 13 Local Government Areas are affected by the development..
The affected LGAs are Sabuwa, Faskari, Dandume, Batsari, Danmusa, Kankara, Jibia, Safana, Dutsin-Ma and Kurfi that are on the fringes of the Ruggu forest where most of the bandits are hiding.
The other three include Funtua, Bakori and Malumfashi.
Recall that the National Communications Commission, NCC, had recently denied plans to shut down networks.
The NCC in a statement by its , Director General (Media), Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, said the Executive Vice Chaiman/CEO of NCC, Professor Umar D. Danbatta, had spoken to the the state government on the matter where he described the story as false.
The NCC VC/CEO added that the purported letter trending in the social media was a cloned version of the one sent to Zamfara State, where there is a total shutdown of telecom sites.
NCC had issued a directive to telecom operators to shut down their services in the neighbouring Zamfara State as from September 3, to enable security agencies carry out required operations in relation to the pervasive security challenges.
You Are A Bandit-Lover, Join Them In Zamfara For Sharwama – Femi Adesina Fires Back At Gumi
The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Femi Adesina has submitted that only those who decide not to be reasonably objective are saying the current administration is not doing enough in the fight against insecurity.
This is as he replied to a controversial Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi that the bandits attacking some regions in the country are surely going to hell and he knows this very well.
Adesina made the submission in an opinion article “I like this pampering. Don’t you?” which he posted on his Facebook page on Thursday night.
The article while praising the gallant efforts of the Nigerian military and other security agencies in the fight against insecurity, also countered an earlier submission by Gumi that the bandits are going nowhere.
It will be recalled that Gumi had on Monday claimed that the bandit terrorists in the northern region of Nigeria are going nowhere.
The controversial cleric made this claim in a post on his Facebook page on Monday.
Gumi titled the post, ‘Zamfara: The Flaring Of Crisis’, military action against criminal herdsmen and bandits will not solve the security challenge, but “will only worsen the situation”.
The cleric stated this while reacting to a recent victory recorded by the military over bandit terrorists in Zamfara forests.
He noted that the bandit terrorists are going nowhere and the action of the military will only worsen the situation in the northern part of the country.
But Adesina in his response said the criminals have missed the chance to repent and the offensive by the military won’t stop until the criminals are destroyed.
He said: “Before they got to this sorry pass, they had the chance to turn a new leaf. Zamfara, Katsina, and many other states offered dialogue. The governments tried to negotiate with them. But they were contumacious. Like dogs fated for destruction, they refused to hear the hunters’ whistle. They filled the land with sorrow, tears and blood, ‘dem regular trademark’ (as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti would say). Now, the shoe is on the other foot,” Adesina opined.
“In the different evil forests, when the Nigerian Air Force strikes from the sky, the remnants of the evildoers not killed immediately attempt to flee. The ground troops then pick them off like flies. I say it again. One has never been prouder of our troops. They are cleaning up the country.
“Shocking and disconcerting, however, that in the middle of all these, you still hear words meant to discourage our gallant soldiers. A bandit-lover is on record as saying military offensive would not work, and that the bandits “are going nowhere.” True? False. They are going somewhere. And that is: hell.”
He added that though the battle has not been completely won, considerable progress has been made and should be appreciated.
He said: “Dr Okolo Oteri Eme is one of the women who love Buhari. To bits. She plays prominently on Facebook, and I love what she posted this week on the pounding the evil people have been getting: “Those who claim bandits are being pampered can join them for Shawarma in Zamfara. Kudos to our troops.”
“It’s promise made, and promise being kept by our President. He said those who trouble the country would be spoken to in the language they understand. It is happening now. The job is not fully done yet, but progress is fast and laudable. And the message is loud and clear. Don’t you like it?
See What Igbo Leaders Demanded From Buhari During Imo Meeting
Details of the discussions between President Muhammadu Buhari and community as well as political leaders of the southeastern people on Thursday have emerged.
The Igbo leaders expressed their minds and made some demands from Buhari during the closed-door meeting held during the President’s visit to Imo State.
As earlier reported by this online news platform, journalists were shut out from the meeting which held at the newly commissioned ultra modern executive chambers at the Imo Government House, Owerri.
In attendance at the parley include the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, and the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ude Okechukwu.
Others present at the closed-door meeting include the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of state Chief Uche Ogar: and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo and the southeast.
Reports have it that the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, George Obiozor told Buhari that Igbos don’t want to be treated as second-class citizens in their own country.
He said if the government addresses the feeling of been left out of governance which gets rubbed in their faces many a time, the agitations coming from the zone to break away from Nigeria will be curbed.
President Buhari during the meeting was said to have assured the delegates of an inclusive government and promised to complete the second Niger Bridge and other major projects in the region.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the State’s Value Added Tax (VAT) with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directing the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.
The House also passed the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state.
The VAT and Open Cattle Grazing bills were passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where they were read the third time.
Immediately after their passage, Speaker Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues grow.
“I Thank you all for this historic exercise,” Obasa said.
Recall that the House held separate public hearings on the bills on Wednesday with stakeholders expressing support.
BREAKING: Lagos Assembly Passes VAT, Open Grazing Bills
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the State’s Value Added Tax (VAT) bill and the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state.
The Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directed the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.
The two bills were passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where they were read the third time.
Immediately after their passage, Speaker Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues grow.
“I Thank you all for this historic exercise,” Obasa said.
Recall that the House held separate public hearings on the bills on Wednesday with stakeholders expressing support.
Lagosians Will Pay N2m For One Cow If Anti-Grazing Bill Is Passed Into Law – Miyetti Allah
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) on Wednesday warned that the cost of a cow could rise to about N2 million in Lagos State if the anti-grazing bill is passed into law in the state, stressing that it is expensive to breed cattle in one location.
MACBAN Zonal Secretary in the South-West, Alhaji Maikudi Usman, stated this during a one-day public hearing organised by the state House of Assembly on the anti-open grazing bill, stated that the best way to breed cattle was to move them from one place to another during the rainy and dry seasons.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday sent the “bill for a law to Prohibit Open Cattle Grazing In Lagos State, the Trespass of Cattle Land And For Other Connected Purposes” to the committee on agriculture after it scaled second reading.
According to him, “If cattle are bred in one place, the price could go up to about N2 million each. We agreed with some local chiefs in other states that anyone who wants to rear cows in a location should register and should indicate when he is leaving”.
Usman, who agreed that there were some criminally-minded herders, argued that raising a cow in one location could increase the price of a cow to as much as N2 million.
“A Fulani man moves from one place to another to ply his trade, but we have some bad eggs that are causing trouble. The government should allow us to talk to our people that they don’t want our cows to destroy people’s farmland.
“We have met with stakeholders in Ekiti, Ondo and even Oyo states and we reached agreements with them,” Usman was quoted as saying this in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House, Mr Eromosele Ebhomele.
During the public hearing on the bill provides 21 years jail term for any herder found with firearms, the MACBAN scribe urged the state government for assistance, noting that ranching is more expensive than open grazing.
He also pleaded with the government to subsidise the cost of raising the cattle in one location.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Lagos State Butchers Association of Lagos State, Alhaji Alabi Bamidele Kazeem, advocated for support to cattle breeders, arguing that “rearing animals in one location could be expensive”.
On his part, the President of the Lagos State Sheep Farmers Association, Alhaji Mustapha Ibrahim, described the bill as “all-embracing and would ensure a symbiotic relationship between cattle rearers and farmers”.
He also advocated for legislation to promote the creation of farm estates across the state.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said the bill was intended to create an atmosphere that would encourage peaceful co-existence among residents.
Obasa, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, said in his keynote address that it was important to address the issue of cattle rearing, especially as it affects security and other human desires.
He added that the issues involved with the current ways of cattle rearing and open grazing called for concerted efforts for stability and economic development.
“If there is no security, there will be no peace and development. Farmers/herders clash appears to be the oldest. Both the farmers and herders are critical to food stability.
“Both of them affect our health. Their conflicts lead to insecurity and claim lives and properties. We must engage ourselves to make the right decisions,” the Speaker said.
Mixed Reactions As Nigerians mock President’s Igbo attire
Nigerians on social media are mocking President Muhammadu Buhari for the Igbo outfit he donned in Imo, while on an official visit.
Buhari on Thursday morning arrived Owerri, Imo, on one-day official visit where he would inaugurate some developmental projects executed by the State Government.
He was received at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo, the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra State gubernatorial candidate, Andy Uba — among other prominent personalities.
Before departing Owerri back to Abuja, the president will hold townhall meeting with stakeholders from the South East zone of the country.
BREAKING: Buhari arrives in Imo for commissioning of projects
President Muhammadu Buhari has landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, the capital of Imo state for the commissioning of projects on Thursday.
Buhari was received by state officials and other dignitaries.
Few days ago, Governor Hope Uzodinma revealed that the President will be in Imo today, to commission some “significant projects” executed by his administration.
“While in Abuja, I secured approval for President Muhammadu Buhari to visit Imo on Thursday, Sept. 9, to commission some significant projects put together by the Shared Prosperity Administration,” the governor told journalists after his visit to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Uzodinma also disclosed that President has assured more support for Imo state on the management of some ecological challenges facing the state.
Tension As Gunmen abduct three Obasanjo’s workers in Ogun
Gunmen have kidnapped three workers of former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a village in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
A source told our correspondent on Wednesday that the gunmen waylaid the three workers at the Obasanjo Holdings in Kobape in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
The source said the workers abducted are the financial controller, group auditor and group store manager of the firm.
The source said, “They were abducted around 4pm at Seseri village after their Hilux car was shot at by the gunmen, who took them away.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.
He said, “It happened today (Wednesday) around 6pm . There is Obasanjo Farm around the area in Kobape.
LG chairmen kick against Sanwo-Olu’s 75-25 VAT sharing formula, demand 50-50
The conference 57 secretary demanded a 50-50 sharing formula, contrary to the 75-25 proposed in the bill in favour of the state government.
The Conference of 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos has requested equal sharing formula with the state in the proposed value-added tax (VAT) bill now before the Lagos House of Assembly.
The secretary of the Conference 57 and chairman of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Abdulrasak Ajala, made the request at a one-day public hearing on the bill organised by the Lagos Assembly on Wednesday.
The parliament is considering a tax bill titled ‘A Bill for a Law to impose and charge Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain foods and services, provided for the administration of the tax and for related matters’, following Rivers’ example.
Mr Ajala explained that for the councils to pursue meaningful development, they required a better sharing formula for its members in the proposed VAT law.
The conference 57 secretary demanded a 50-50 sharing formula, contrary to the 75-25 proposed in the bill in favour of the state government.
Being the closest to the grassroots, Mr Ajala explained that the councils, which also host companies, should benefit from a better share than the 25 per cent in the bill.
The council chairman commended the legislators for the bill, as well as the synergy between the executive and the legislature.
“On the distribution of revenue, you will agree with me value-added tax is on consumption and production, and all these economic activities are domiciled in our respective communities. In addition, local governments, being the closest to the grassroots, need more revenues given the enormity of the responsibilities the Constitution confers on us,” he noted. “Hence, the 25 per cent in the bill is grossly inadequate for local governments to execute all the promises we made to our people; and of course all our electoral promises.”
Mr Ajala further stated, “This is the reason we are making a passionate appeal, on behalf of Conference 57, that we should raise the bar higher, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.”
Contributing, Michael Ade, representing the Lagos Tax Justice and Governance, commended the lawmakers and the state government for having the political will to imitate Rivers’ government and parliament.
Also commenting, the attorney general and commissioner for justice, Moyosere Onigbanjo, declared that the judgment on the VAT law was not valid only in Rivers, but any state in the country stood to benefit from the judgment.
According to the attorney-general, the National Assembly does not have powers on VAT.
The House Committee on Finance chairman Rotimi Olowo, insisted that it would make no sense if all monies accruable to Lagos was taken by the federal government.
Mr Olowo argued that given the pressures on the state governments in terms of infrastructure development, the proposed law on VAT in the state would bring about development.
The Speaker of the parliament, Mudashiru Obasa, assured stakeholders at the public hearing that their contribution were as vital as the bill and would be included in the proposed bill before its passage.
