Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, played host to Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who was at the Hilltop Mansion, Government House , Uyo in company of Rivers state top government functionaries and political heavyweights to commiserate with the government and people of Akwa Ibom state on the demise of former Governor, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, Rtd, Former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok,Rtd, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sir Udo Ekpenyong and other elder statesmen who passed on recently.

Governor Wike said his harmonious relationship with Governor Emmanuel stems from the developments witnessed in the Akwa Ibom under his watch adding that Mr Emmanuel has been passionate and sincere in seeking the wellbeing of his people.

The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on Thursday, visited Dakingari, to commiserate with students of the State Polytechnic, Dakingari, over the recent fire incident which gutted one of their hostels.

The Governor who addressed the students, told them that ,he was in the school to commiserate with both the staff and students, over the unfortunate fire incident.

In his words: ” I am visiting you, to commiserate with you over the fire incident. I have seen the extent of damage caused by the fire.

” All the students in the hostel had regrettably lost their properties. Please accept my sympathy,” he said.

Bagudu however expressed gratitude to the Almighty Allah that no life was lost and nobody had been injured.

Bagudu also assured the students that, the state Government would work with the school authority to ensure that, the hostel was urgently repaired and put it back to use.

The Governor also stated that, the affected students would get the necessary assistance from the state government.

He commended the students for coming back to school and charged them to seriously face their studies.

“‘ I am pleased that most of you are back to school, so, face your studies seriously .

‘” We pray that this will be a stepping stone to greater heights,” he averred.

Bagudu doled out instant financial support to the staff and students.

Earlier, one of the students, Ibrahim Muhammad, after narrating to the governor how the fire razed their dormitory, lamented the destruction of all their properties by the inferno.

” All our properties, including our beds, clothes, everything, had been consumed by the fire,” he lamented.

The students appreciated the visit of the Governor and applauded his promise to rebuild the damaged hostel.

The Kebbi Governor had also made a stop over at Koko Market, where he interacted briefly with some farmers packaging beans meant for transportation to accessible markets.

In his usual manner, anytime he meets farmers, Bagudu lauded them for their hard work and admonished them to sustain the tempo.

At Samanaji, he welcomed back a community ravaged and sacked by the 2020 devastating flood disaster.

Signed,

YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor

‘The stomach always wins because survival in the poverty capital of the world is an everyday struggle’.

The reality is that many Nigerians can’t afford to buy books. In fact, books and products of art are viewed as HOBBIES and items that should be given out for free or for peanuts.

In a harsh economy, it is better to keep that N1000, N2000 or N3000 to pay for the next two meals or cook a pot of soup than to splurge it on a book.
The stomach always wins because survival in the poverty capital of the world is an everyday struggle.

Nigeria rewards only her politicians; the rest of the population have to work hard for their daily bread. Only a tiny portion of the almost non-existent middle class and the upper class can afford to buy books and patronize the arts. Unfortunately, however, the majority in this privileged class do not have any interest in arts or literature.
So the brilliant writer having published his book might find himself hawking it out of a wheelbarrow at street corners in frustration.

This explains why the cerebral young Nigerian writers have all fled the country and every day, more are hopping on the plane and flying out to the chilly comfort of the Western world where they can practice their craft and churn out materials for the Western paying audience.

The unpublished writer living in Nigeria faces a complete absence of endowment funds or grants for writing. He has to explore his options. He knows by now that that “Nice story” or “lovely poem”, etc, does not pay bills.

He should define his writing and know why he is writing. He should know the audience he is writing for.
He should DIVERSIFY*, become a freelancer, curate content, pick up a 9-5 job, acquire digital skills, learn a trade, take up a part time job, sell everyday items etc, to pay bills while still nursing dreams of publishing that bestseller.

If he is a student, he should not drop out of school, he should persist and get the certificate, because that certificate could be the SAVING GRACE for him in future.

He should burst of the literary bubble. He should UNDERSTAND that the WORLD does NOT REVOLVE ROUND HIM and his stories or poems. He should network with people and adapt his writings to accommodate and reach out to people who are not literature lovers.

He should get published on other platforms apart from the social media. He should ensure his name and samples of his works appear on Google Search engine.

He has to be smart because he is fighting a system that has already been programmed for him to fail.

By

Chiemelie Onyeka Michael.

In furtherance of its continued efforts at developing the capacity of its personnel to tackle various security challenges in the Country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 23 January 2021, graduated another batch of 676 Regiment personnel, comprising 3 officers and 673 airmen/airwomen. The combined graduation ceremony, which took place at the Regiment Training Centre (RTC), Kaduna, consisted of graduands of the Basic Regiment Officers’ Course (BROC), Regimental Sergeant Majors’ (RSM’s) Course as well as the Basic and Advanced Regiment Airmen’s Courses (BRAC/ARAC). In addition, apart from the 40 Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) that graduated from the RSM’s Course, all the other 637 personnel were trained in Force Protection in Complex Air and Ground Environment (FPCAGE). Significantly, the FPCAGE Course, which was hitherto conducted by the British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT), was, for the first time in the history of the Centre, conducted by the RTC’s NAF instructors, having built capacity over the past 5 years under BMATT guidance.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, reiterated that the human being is the most important resource in any system or endeavour. He noted however that no human being can give their best without being properly trained. He added that it would be irresponsible for any leader to give tasks to any individual or group without adequately equipping them with the required knowledge and skills to be effective in the execution of those tasks. He emphasized that it is only when leadership ensures that personnel have sufficient capacity and are properly equipped with requisite knowledge and skills as well as the necessary tools that it would have the moral courage to hold them accountable in the event of failure or any lapses. He highlighted that this has been the rationale behind the robust capacity building initiatives embarked upon under his leadership since 2015. As a result of this drive, the CAS noted, an unprecedented 152 new pilots had been trained, while 20 others were expected to receive their pilot wings in the coming months. He disclosed that over 1,000 aircraft engineers and technicians had similarly been trained while over 200 NAF personnel were undergoing training in 9 different countries across the globe. This, he said, was aside the thousands of others undergoing various training courses within the country. In specific reference to the building of capacity of Regiment personnel, Air Marshal Abubakar observed that the objective has always been to ensure that the Service has sufficient inherent capacity to protect its air assets and bases as well as its air and ground crews so that the Service is, in turn, able to effectively and efficiently project air power. According to him, “you must ‘force protect’ in order to be able to effectively ‘force project”.

Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar stated that the NAF has relentlessly pursued the improvement of force protection capabilities amidst the increasing complex nature of contemporary threats. This, the CAS said, had necessitated the drive for massive recruitment and training of Regiment personnel to complement NAF air operations across various theatres. He noted that the trainings and subsequent deployments of force protection elements have contributed to bridging the gaps in the protection of NAF critical assets and bases. “It is reassuring to note that the monumental investments by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the acquisition of new platforms and other critical infrastructure are now better secured than they were in the past”, he said. The CAS further noted that, as part of the move by the Service towards the continued expansion of the NAF Regiment Structure, the current NAF Administration recently restructured the 407 Air Combat Training Group, Kainji and established the 41 Force Protection Wing in Kainji. The Wing, he said, is to serve as a dedicated Unit to ensure credible force protection and base defence for Units in the Kainji Base, which has been expanded with the planned induction of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in mind.

The CAS disclosed that 65 Regiment personnel, made up of 20 officers and 45 airmen, have been nominated to attend various specialized Regiment courses in Egypt to further improve the capacity and quality of NAF Regiment personnel. “I want to assure you all that plans are in place to train more Regiment personnel overseas to sustain capacity development in the Regiment Specialty”, he said. He further revealed that the NAF would reinvigorate capabilities that had hitherto declined whilst also developing new capabilities for the changing security environment as well as adopting processes to reflect the broad range of security requirements. He added that the Service would equally continue to invest in capacity building initiatives aimed at generating combat forces not only capable of securing NAF bases against all forms of hostile elements but also poised for effective, efficient and swift response to National security challenges. He noted the the evidence of the effectiveness of the NAF Regiment and Special Forces was in their creditable performance in contributing to the return of normalcy in areas where they are deployed including Agatu in Benue State, Gembu in Taraba State, Gusau in Zamfara State and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.

While congratulating the graduands, Air Marshal Abubakar charged them to imbibe the attributes of the military profession which include loyalty, discipline, honesty, intelligence, physical fitness, motivation, accountability, teamwork and decisiveness, amongst others. He reminded them that they would be operating at a time when the Nation is facing numerous security challenges and must therefore be disciplined and vigilant while protecting all Nigerians, irrespective of their political ideology, ethnic background or religious inclination. In his words, “You will be operating at a time when our nation is facing numerous security challenges. You must therefore be a strong bulwark, disciplined and vigilant. It is also important that you guard your utterances and conduct at all times, and not allow yourselves to be used by ‘disgruntled and criminal elements’ in the society. Furthermore, you must always submit yourselves to civil authority and protect our democracy. Most importantly, the safety and security of our precious people and communities must remain our primary priority. In addition, you must avoid any act capable of denting the image of the NAF. Always remember that your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their political inclination, ethnic background or religious inclination. I am confident that with our continued commitment and sustained effort, we shall overcome every threat to the peace, stability and security of our dear country, Nigeria”.

The CAS expressed his appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his unwavering and relentless support to the NAF. He also commended the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command (AOC GTC), Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, as well as the Commandant RTC, Group Captain Daniel Komo, and his staff for conducting the training effectively, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, which hinders human activities and operations. While appreciating the Chief of Training and Operations, AOC Air Training Command (AOC ATC), Directors and other staff officers, the CAS implored them not to relent, while assuring them of his continued support to sustain the various capacity building initiatives.

In his welcome address, the AOC GTC, AVM Amin, stated that, in order to meet the expectations of the NAF Headquarters, the curriculum of RTC was restructured to ensure that the training of personnel meets the ever-changing complexities of military operations. He said the students were accordingly exposed to both theoretical and practical training in weapon handling and marksmanship, live shooting at the range, contemporary field tactics as well as force protection skills for guarding critical assets. He added that, in order to further improve their level of understanding, the students embarked on tours to Nigerian Army School of Artillery Kachia; Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji and the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, Kaduna. The objective of these trips, he said, was to foster inter-Service cooperation and compare notes on training tactics and methods. The AOC therefore expressed his appreciation and profound gratitude to the CAS for his unwavering support and timely approval of the Centre’s training needs. This, he said, undoubtedly improved the morale of the instructors and enhanced the smooth conduct of training in RTC.

Highlights of the graduation ceremony included the conferment of certificates on the graduating students as well as the presentation of awards to students who excelled in the various courses. Also present at the ceremony were Branch Chiefs from Headquarters NAF as well as Commandants and Commanders of tri-Service and NAF Formations in Kaduna. Before departing Kaduna, the CAS inspected some ongoing projects at the RTC Training Area.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Vice Marshal
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office, on Friday, January 22, 2021 arrested eleven suspected fraudsters. They were apprehended by operatives of the Commission who, acting on intelligence, swooped on their hideouts in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The Commission recovered twelve cars which include three Toyota Highlander SUVs, one Mercedes Benz GLK 350 SUV, One Acura SUV, two Honda Crosstour, two Toyota Venza and three other Toyota brands. Also recovered are phones, laptops and other devices..

The suspects, who variously claimed to be students, artisans, farmers and businessmen, are currently undergoing interrogation to ascertain their level of involvement in the alleged crime.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

A manager at Sterling Bank, Rumuola Branch, Port Harcourt, Anthony Oko Ikpor, has secretly married a lady he was secretly dating and later impregnated despite being married for 17 years.

It was gathered that the lady Anthony Oko Ikpor impregnated and secretly married is a sister to ex- staff to Sterling bank Easter Igbokwe who the bank relieved her duty as a contract staff in his bank.

Narrating the ugly incident to newsmen in Port Harcourt recently, Mrs Blessing Oko Ikpor, who has been married to Anthony since 2004, said she started life with him when they had nothing, adding that they were living in a boys quarter apartment.

Blessing, a graduate who hails from Owerri West, Imo State, said the marriage is blessed with four children, three boys and one girl. She however said it was when she had her third child that her husband stopped her from working and asked her to concentrate on taking care of their children.

According to her, they were living happily until her husband, Anthony, who hails from Afikpo, Ebonyi State, was promoted to the position of manager in charge of Rumuola branch of Sterling Bank.

Blessing, who said she did traditional, court and white wedding with Anthony, narrated that her husband, after his promotion to the position of manager, started living an opulent and wayward life style abandoning his Christian faith and quitting his position in the Church, this made her wonder where he was getting all the money he was lavishing on his sudden flirtatious lifestyle.

She said she didn’t know he was having an illicit secret affair until he pushed her out of their matrimonial home to pave way for his lover to enter.
“We were together until he was promoted to a bank manager.

Now he feels he has money to play around. He pushed me out of my matrimonial home,” she lamented.

According to her, the lady Anthony impregnated, Tessy Igbokwe, just finished a tailoring skill, hailed from Eluama Amabo, Uzoakoli in Abia State.

On the reason why she stormed the venue of the secret wedding venue between Anthony and Tessy Igbokwe (Bishop Anthony Nnedo Pastoral Conference Center) BANPAC HOTEL Umuahia, Abia State, Mrs Blessing said She did so because she is still legally married to Anthony Ikpo and they are not divorced.

She also said the last discussion Anthony Ikpo had with Her family is that he ( Anthony) will reach them when he decides on what he wants to do

According to his aggrieved wife, Blessing, she said; “I took my daughter to prime Hospital for medical attention before I returned my husband have changed all our house keys getting to the house I found out that he have locked us out of our home without no reason with different padlock, I and my daughter have to look for a place to rest our head, his next actions, he moved our three boys from Port Harcourt school to Ogun State and denied me access to our children by writing to the school which the School has heeded to.

“Anthony Oko Ikpor abandoned our house we built at rumuomoi rumuigbo behind small market, and rented a duplex at mumy B link Road off GRA junction were both of them are cohabiting by denting the integrity of his Bank.”

She called on Sterling Bank, Afikpo people, FIDA and Anthony’s friends to call Anthony Oko Ikpor, whom she said is now going about telling lies against her to cover up his misbehaviour, to order.

Christian Onwugbolu