• Says Report on Shooting of Protesters by the Police, Not True.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has affirmed that officers of the Nigeria Police Force acted professionally, exercised commendable restraints and some paid the supreme price for peace during the recent protests and ensuing violence in some parts of the country. The IGP made this observation following report by Amnesty International dated 21st October, 2020 that Police personnel shot at peaceful protesters. He described the Amnesty Int’l report as untrue, misleading and contrary to all available empirical evidences.

The IGP noted that during the protests, officers of the Force used legitimate means to ensure that the protests were carried out in a peaceful manner and in most cases, physically protected and walked side-by-side with the protesters. He reiterated that even when the protests turned violent in some parts of the country, the officers still maintained utmost restraint and did not use excessive force in managing the situations.

Available Reports show that twenty-two (22) police personnel were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests. Many of the injured personnel are in life threatening conditions at the hospitals. Two hundred and five (205) Police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters. Despite these unprovoked attacks, our police officers never resorted to use of unlawful force or shooting at the protesters as alleged in the report. It also beggars imagination that Amnesty International failed to mention or pay tribute to Police officers who were gruesomely murdered during the protests while serving their fatherland. The Force decries the discriminatory tendencies exhibited by Amnesty International as seen in the report. One wonders if in the estimation of Amnesty International, police officers are not also human beings equally entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights to life and dignity of human person.

The IGP, while noting that the Force is committed to the Federal Government’s ongoing holistic reforms of the NPF targeted at improving service delivery, positive police-citizen relationship and respect for human rights, enjoins Amnesty International to ensure they subject their reports to adequate scrutiny and proper verification of facts before making the reports public.

DCP FRANK MBA

EndSARS PROTEST

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri has commended the peaceful conduct of Borno youths during the EndSARS protest and reiterated the federal government’s commitment towards addressing all their grievances.

He appealed to all Nigerians, particularly the youths, to embrace peace and stop the looting of warehouses across the country while addressing youth leaders and stakeholders in home state, Borno.Speaking during the Presidential Stakeholders meeting held at the Government Hall in Maiduguri, Borno State, the Minister, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri stated that “Mr. President in his nationwide broadcast emphasized that the youth were heard loud and clear with a pledge that the 5 – point agenda they raised, would be addressed accordingly”.Shehuri stated that the present administration is working hard through many pragmatic ways to mitigate the hardship faced by the citizens in the wake of the global COVID -19 Pandemic which has altered the dynamics of global governance, Nigeria inclusive.

The Minister informed that the ” the idea of this Presidental engagement of Stakeholders and youths is initiated by Mr President to provide the needed platform where aggrieved parties, youths, community leaders, religious leaders, professional and political leadership are expected to rub minds and develop a pragmatic approach that will rekindle hope and aspirations of our people and to help bring about lasting peace, security and development “.He stated that ” this platform provides an opportunity to solicit for more support of the political, traditional, religious, youth and women leaders in the State against the wanton destruction of lives and properties resulting from EndSARS protest”.He emphasized that ” peaceful demonstration is a constitutional right of every citizen but infringing on other people’s rights, looting, killing of innocent souls and other criminal acts that will breach public peace and national stability is not acceptable”.

The Minister pointed out that the projects executed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development include: ” the provision of 3 solar-powered boreholes in Maiduguri, Bama, and Jere, provision of 1 motorized borehole in katsina road, Maiduguri and provision and installation of 15 units of 60 watts all in one solar street light in potiskum road, Maiduguri among others.

He stated that ” our march to the attainment of sustainable food security, employment, revenue generation, production and supply of raw materials to Agro-industries, promotion of market accessibility and competitiveness for foreign exchange earning and Rural socio-economic development is fully guaranteed through various agricultural programs and projects put in place by this administration “.He added that improvements are aggressively being pursued in areas of Agricultural Mechanization, Agricultural research, extension services, land development amongst others. Shehuri noted that the “ Federal Government policy of closing the borders has resulted in a phenomenal increase in local rice production and value increase, curtail smuggling activities injurious to our economy and boost our internally Generated Revenue “.

The Minister said that ” Mr. President has specially commended the decorum exhibited by the youth in Borno State during the recent widespread protest and further advised that they maintain that peaceful conduct, brotherhood, and communal harmony so that the State can spring back to its historic amiable position as the center of peace in the country “He solicited for continuous support, cooperation and understanding of the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, traditional, Youth and religious leaders in achieving the national goal of a prosperous stable and peaceful Nigeria. In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Borno State, His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Zulum appreciated the restraint shown by the youths for not participating in the protest which he said is not unconnected to the efforts of all stakeholders in Borno.

Governor Zulum stated that his administration had initiated viable projects to transform the state, adding that he remains focused on reconstruction, rehabilitation, and resettlement of persons affected by the insurgency. Earlier in his goodwill message, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar-Garba Ibn El-Kanemi, commended the youths for not participating in the protest and described the parley as timely. He also lamented the backward trend in the state in terms of western education and revenue generation, he urged parents to enroll their wards in school.El-Kanemi urged the Federal Government to resume oil exploration in the Lake Chad Region, which was abandoned due to the insurgency.

The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has said that the Federal Government of Nigeria vowed to end impunity for crimes against members of the public including the journalists.

This was made known in a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu,
Special Assistant on Media to the AGF, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, 1st November, 2020.

In his message commemorating the United Nation proclaimed November 2nd as International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Minister said it is gratifying to note that Nigeria is no longer among the countries with impunity for crimes against journalists.

The 2020 global index for impunity for crimes against journalists by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), released on Wednesday 28th
day of October 2020 indicated that Nigeria is the only country that came off the index from 2019.

Malami described the achievement as a result of deliberate and committed efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government through the implementation of many reforms in the Nigerian justice sector to include increased access to justice, speedy justice dispensation, decongestion of Nigeria’s correctional centers and judicious implementation of the Criminal Justice Act and Justice Sector reforms.

He expressed optimism that with solid foundation of reformed justice sector to be bequeathed by Buhari Administration, never again will Nigeria feature among nations where journalists, citizens and inhabitants of the country will suffer from any form of impunity in the future.

The Minister said the recent developments in the Nigeria’s international arbitration against P&ID and some international oil companies are but indicators of resolute determination of the Federal
Government to bring to an end the era of impunity and lack of adherence to due diligence and rule of law in governmental operations.

He said that it could be recalled that in the last decade, before the advent of the present administration, Nigeria ranked 13th across the globe and used to be among top three African countries with impunity for crimes against journalists only after Somalia and South Sudan.

While expressing commitment to maintain the tempo, Malami said there
was no room for complacency in ensuring serene online and offline atmosphere of journalism practice in the country.

He noted that with the development of information and communication
technology and as the internet became a veritable tool for mass mediated communication, the Minister said government is working to ensure safety of journalists against rhetorical aggression, trolling,
incursion of privacy, phissing and cyber attacks.

He stated further that with the implementation of cybercrime Act 2015 the incidences of cyber
related crimes would be minimized.

He urged journalists to adhere strictly to the ethical provisions of their profession and refrain from misinformation and fake news.

Modupe Ogundoro

Give N50,000 to a secondary school dropout and watch him buy a stove, a frying pan, cooking oil and other things to start Indomie business.

In just three years, the young man will have a wife, a plot of land worth N1million, a Tokunbo car, a TV, sofa, bed, etc in his one-bedroom house.

Give N1m to most university graduates and watch them buy Samsung Galaxy phones and several pairs of skinny jeans, take their numerous girlfriends out, take selfies and post them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

In less than two years, they will be buying Indomie on credit from the secondary school dropout and paying rent or staying in their parents’ house.

The question is:
DOES EDUCATION BREED WASTE, ARROGANCE, GULLIBILITY AND STUPIDITY?

Education does not necessarily breed any of the above, but it makes you look down on possibilities as “not befitting my status”.

Unemployment is actually higher amongst the educated than amongst the uneducated.

The uneducated are more innovative and ready to do what the educated will refer to as “dirty, menial jobs”.

And before you know it, the uneducated guy will be needing an Accountant to manage his finance books and will now employ the educated guy!

That is the reality of our society!
My counsel…let us work as if we have no certificate, remain humble…

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, has been commended for his role in community and national development through his Danbatta Charity Foundation (DCF), a non-profit organisation.

The Sarki Bai of Bichi and District Head of Danbatta, Alhaji Isyaku Wada Waziri and other beneficiaries of the DCF gave the commendation during the Quranic Graduation Ceremony of 21 students of Garkuwa Usman Community Primary School Islamiya, Danbatta Local Government Area, Kano State, at the weekend.

While commending the EVC for being a pillar of support for the nation’s development, Alh. Waziri particularly praised him for the role he is playing at ensuring security in the local government among numerous other interventions in education, health and youth employment.

“We are blessed to have someone like Prof. Danbatta, who has shown remarkable interest in the development of Danbatta. We can’t thank him enough for what he is doing at the grassroots. And he is doing us proud at the national level as our worthy ambassador,” said the traditional ruler.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Danbatta disclosed that the foundation is currently sponsoring 10 young women studying different health-related courses at the Muslim Community College of Health, Sciences and Technology, Funtua, Kano, as part of efforts to empower members of the community through education and technology.

He said the foundation has, for 15 years, sponsored different skill acquisition programmes, while a dialysis machine has been donated to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), among other interventions.

“This school is one of the initiatives of Danbatta charity foundation. It is intended to be a source of support to our immediate community and the larger society in general, having, emulated the good examples set by other well-meaning Nigerians,” Danbatta said.

The NCC boss, subsequently, called on well-meaning Nigerians to embark on community development activities in order to get rewards from Almighty God.

The need to diversify economy has become imperative for states in the country especially those at the Northern part of the country. In an age of information technology which is tilting towards the 4^th industrial revolution, capacity building and competency in digital ecosystem has been identified as a crucial aspect of economies ability to scale and survive in an increasing digital world. Having said this, Katsina State is taking the bull by the horn by bringing world class capacity to the teaming youths of the state.

Recently, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi,CCIE received in audience, Katsina State, Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters. One of the core objectives of this visit is to synergise areas of training and interventions in the areas of IT and its infrastructure.

The visit by the Governor is to collaborate with NITDA in the areas of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Digital Job Creation for Nigerian Youths. This is in line with the set objectives of the agency. NITDA has built more than 50 IT infrastructures all over the nation and has developed blueprint for IT in public and private sectors. With eyes on the new reality with is Post Covid 19 economic narrative, this would see  a robust deployment of IT solutions. Having collaborated with the NCC and other relevant agencies in the nation, NITDA under the leadership of Kashifu has consistently and constantly demonstrated purposefulness and focus in the area of deepening ICT in the country.

National Information Technology Development Agency is a public service institution established by NITDA Act 2007 as the ICT policy implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Communication of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ANTHONY EMEKA NWOSU