The Enugu State Ministry of Education said it has scheduled to meet with major stakeholders in the sector, on Monday, January 4, 2021, to discuss schools resumption in the state.
According to a statement released by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, the outcome of the meeting will be duly communicated to the general public.
Enugu State is in the hands of God.
The Federal Government drive to ensure all Subscriber registrations are linked with National Identification Numbers (NINs) is moving forward and all stakeholders in the industry are working together to ensure the process is carried out as seamlessly as possible.
The Government would like to seize this opportunity to sincerely appreciate Nigerians for the understanding and commitment demonstrated towards ensuring the overall success of this exercise.
The Ministerial Task Force under the Chairmanship of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy set up a Technical Committee made up of representatives of:
3). The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); and
4). Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
The Technical Committee is charged with the operationalization of the process to ensure an expedited linkage of all SIM Registration Records with NIN.
Based on recommendations of the Technical Committee, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy has approved a SIM Replacement Policy for subscribers whose SIMs have been lost, stolen, misplaced or damaged subject to the following conditions:
i) That the subscriber present a NIN;
ii) That an effective verification of the NIN is carried out by NIMC; and
iii) That the relevant Guidelines and Regulations of NCC concerning SIM Replacement are fully adhered to.
This policy is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce the burden on subscribers and simplify the exercise. It is aimed at enabling telecommunications service users who need to replace their damaged, stolen or misplaced SIMs to re-establish access to telecom services.
Signed
Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde
Director, Public Affairs
NCC
Signed
Mr. Kayode Adegoke
Head, Corporate Communication
NIMC
2020 has been an (un)eventful year with a whole lot of ups and down, the economy witnessed a lull and dull especially during the Corona Virus pandemic which made the economy to be on lockdown. Many sectors of the economy witnessed a slow growth curve, telecommunication sector included. Though as Nigerians where at home observing the lockdown as it were in other part of the world, the telecoms regulator (Nigerian Communication Commission) did go on lockdown! The telecoms regulator, Nigerian Communication Commission headed by Umar Danbatta ensured that telecoms facilities were in top shape because a lot of Nigerians were tilting towards digital economy and working from home.
The regulatory agency prepared the telecoms sector for this situation and mandated them to provide the needed digital impetus and conduits that helped to keep the Nigerian economy afloat through seamless communication by individuals, businesses and government institutions in terms of voice and data services provided by telecoms operators, at a time when all other sectors of the economy were comatose – lockdown period of 6 months.
The stride the regulator made during this teething period of the nation was expedited and enhanced by the reappointment of the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta. With this continuity in the commission, the operations, regulations and implementation of roadmaps and blueprint was followed to the latter. A move that the industry stakeholders and watchers lauded as welcomed development, this is when the strides of the EVC has been analyzed over the years when he was at the helms of affairs. The reappointment was seen as a respite to an industry that needed a focused and knowledgeable person to pilot the affairs and Dabatta has done exceedingly well these past five years. So the reappointment was a testament of his commitment to the growth of the telecommunication ecosystem in Nigeria and Sub Saharan Africa.
In the year under review, growth statistics and major regulatory initiatives and policies undertaken by the Commission which have continued to put the industry on the consistent path of growth and keep the telecommunications sector resilient to support the national economy, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, are examined.
According to official telecom industry data, the telecoms contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased to over 14.30% as of second Quarter of 2020, according to data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In financial value, the 14.30% translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2, 2020. Whereas, telecoms contribution as at December 2019 was 10.60%. Also, telecoms investment continued to grow in leaps and bounds in 2020 beyond $70 billion.
Active mobile voice subscribers increased from 184 million in December, 2019 to 208 million by October, 2020. This represents an additional 24 million active mobile lines accessed by Nigerians across mobile networks from December, 2019 to October, 2020. Accordingly, teledensity (the total number of telephone lines per hundred people in an area) increased from 96.76% in December, 2019 to 108.94% by October, 2020.
The commission unveiled strategic roadmap that will be in tune with the current realties. This was unveiled during the mid-2020 around June. Running into million, the strategic plan is geared towards partnership with the academia and also to drive Information and Communications Technology (ICT) innovations in the academia and while also supporting innovative ideas among young Nigerian tech innovators. The two universities – the premier University of Ibadan, Oyo State and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, are endowed with N20 million each over the next two years to embark of massive research to promote innovation to drive socio-economic development in the country. This brings to four the number of tertiary institutions of learning that have benefitted from the NCC’s innovation-driving initiative, having endowed professorial chairs in Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in May, 2019.
Remittances to the nation’s coffers grew in leaps. The commission contributed to the economy and improved on what it had in 2019. Total remittances by NCC into the Federal Government’s coffers from 2015 grew and reached N344bn in 2020. The revenue was essentially generated from spectrum sales, operating surplus and sanctions.
In line with the trend in telecommunications, apart from having an eye on the 5G, making the commission few in the continent that has this ambitious technological deployment in the continent, the commission took the bull by the horn by introducing eSim (Electronic SIM card). The commission allowed telcos to deploy this cutting-edge technology in the country. Approvals were given to two mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN Nigeria and 9Mobile, to carry out trial on the workability of embedded Subscriber Identification Modules (e-SIM) Service in Nigeria. The trial, approved to run for a period of one year, will involve testing 5,000 e-SIMs by the two networks, subject to compliance with a number of regulatory conditions.
Commitment to due process and regulatory framework saw NCC toping the list of the most effective government parastatals. Ranking highest in terms of compliance to ethics and integrity among other sister agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. The outstanding performance of NCC was contained in the recently released Ethics Compliance and Integrity Scorecard (ECIS), 2020 by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s (ICPC). With a total score of 81.15 per cent, the Commission topped the list among three other agencies under the Ministry, which featured in the intra-ministerial agencies’ ranking in ethics compliance and institutional integrity.
For effective operation and transparency in the industry, NCC commenced the implementation of the Accounting Separation Framework (ASF) in the telecoms industry effective which became effective July 15, 2020. The policy document, “Determination on the Implementation of an Accounting Separation Framework for the Nigerian Telecoms Industry”, which was developed via a consultative process in 2015, has undergone a comprehensive review by the regulator in collaboration with telecoms licensees and other critical industry stakeholders.
In the words of EVC, he opined that “the Commission considers the Accounting Separation Framework “as an effective, least evasive and less costly solution to implement to meet its regulatory objectives”, adding that the implementation of the Framework is also a key deliverable for the Commission in the new National Broadband Plan (NBP), 2020-2025.”
2020 saw a lot of collaboration between the agency and other government offices such as the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS) etc. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in May, 2020, to ensure the tax agency ascertain accuracy and completeness of value added tax (VAT) elements and other taxes payable in the transactions of telecoms operators. With this MoU, the FIRS will be able to integrate an application programming interface (API) technology solution with the systems of telecom Operators for independent verification of the amount of VAT that should be paid by mobile network operators (MNO) rather than relying entirely on the Operators’ books of accounts.
With numerous strides in the industry, Danvatta and the commission was recognised in various awards in and outside of the country. The highest of which is Zik Prize won by Danbatta in the professional leadership category. The prestigious award, which was presented to the EVC at an elaborate and well-attended annual Zik Prize 2020 organized by Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) in Lagos on Sunday, December 6, 2020, was in recognition of Danbatta’s excellence regulatory finesse, which has resulted in accelerated growth of the industry since 2015. Other awards received in the course of the year include: The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA) 2020 won by the Commission for its harmonized emergency number, 112 and the construction of Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) in 36 states of the Federation and the FCT with 19 states already operational and additional five ready for activation. At the Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA) 2020, the NCC was declared Winner of ‘Emergency Management Security and Emergency Management Award and was additionally presented with a Certificate of Excellence for ‘Outstanding Accomplishments in Category of Emergency Management’ at the award. The commission also received other numerous awards such as Nigeria Tech Innovation and Telecoms Awards (NTITA), Earlier in August, 2020, two awards, ‘Human Rights Telecoms Defender’. Also, in September, 2020, the National Association of State Assembly Legislators (NASAL) has in September, 2020, honored the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta with a “National Service Excellence Award” for his transformational leadership
By Anthony Nwosu.E
antoniokrys@outlook.com , anthony@techandbiz.com.ng
By Jimin Geoffrey
Popular Big Brother Naija 2020 Housemate Terseer Waya, better known as Kidwaya says the commencement of commercial flights into and out of Makurdi will open up Benue State for tourism and other investments.
Kidwaya who stated this today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi during a visit on Governor Samuel Ortom, said organizations and individuals who wish to invest in the state would no longer have to spend many hours on the road, expressing the hope that 2021 would be a better year for the state.
He said he is proud of being from Benue State, adding that he would continue to promote the state and attract investment to it, particularly in the entertainment industry.
Governor Ortom while welcoming Kiddwaya, acknowledged that he had promoted Benue’s cultural heritage while in the Big Brother Naija show and commended his humility.
The Governor said his administration is open for youth development initiatives, pointing out that the fallout of the recent youth summit presented resolutions that could be harnessed for meaningful youth engagement and participation in governance.
•Lagos Earmarks N500 Million In 2021 To Address PWDs’ Challenges
•Governor To Appoint SSA On Disability Affair
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, had a special moment with residents with special needs – People living With Disabilities (PWDs).
It was at an interactive session jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Information and Strategy and Office of Disabilities. The event, held at the State House in Marina, offered the PWDs a golden opportunity to personally intimate the Governor with various challenges facing their clusters.
Rendition of songs of praise by the choir of Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children relaxed atmosphere for a productive discussion, which the clusters of PWDs had with the Governor.
Representatives of each cluster spoke their minds on challenges limiting their members to cope with day-to-day activities, top among which are employment and inclusive education. The PWDs offered suggestions on how the Government could make life better for them.
An Assistant Director of Programmes at the Lagos State-owned Traffic Radio, Victor Oteri, who represented cluster of visually impaired persons, hailed Sanwo-Olu for creating time for the PWDs amid challenges facing the State, noting that the Governor had devoted time and resources to the weakest people in the society.
Oteri called for an increment in the employment ratio dedicated to PWDs in public and corporate organisations in the State from two to five per cent, while urging the State Government to equip Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) to fully enforce the Special People Law of 2011, which mandated all public and private business establishments in Lagos to absorb physically challenged persons.
This, Oteri said, would help to reduce poverty burden on people living with disabilities and create economic opportunities that’ll help them cater for their immediate needs and families.
Hon. Israel Akiode, who represented dwarf cluster and also representing the PWDs in Lagos chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), made a case for an appointment of a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on PWDs, which would serve as a link between the clusters and the Governor.
Akiode also clamoured for the increase in employment slots reserved for the physically challenged in public service five per cent.
Chairman of Association for the Blind, Mr. Babatunde Mohammed, praised Lagos Government for creating education access for the cluster, but said the current integrated education model had segregated the visually impaired persons.
Mohammed urged the Governor to allow enrollment of the blind for inclusive education to stop the segregation.
Women leader, Lagos State Association of the Deaf, Yemisi Alabi, drew the Governor’s attention to the discrimination against PWDs in healthcare sector, noting that LASODA certificates issued by the Government were not being honoured in the General Hospitals.
The situation, she said, is limiting access to healthcare for residents living with disabilities.
Also, Oyedele Wakil, who represented PWDs in Alimosho, said Local Government Areas had not respected the Special People Law of Lagos of 2011, urging the Governor to prevail on the council chairmen in the State on the issue.
Olajumoke Otitoloju of Iyaniwura Foundation for Children Living with Disabilities drew attention to the dearth of teachers and caregivers for children living with mental disabilities.
She also clamoured for Government intervention at centres for children with intellectual disabilities. This, she said, would help detect the disabilities early in children.
Responding to the issues raised, Sanwo-Olu instantly approved some of the demands of the PWDs and promised to implement others in the course of time. He reiterated his administration’s readiness to empower the PWDs and give them a sense of belonging in ’Greater Lagos’ project.
The Governor said the demands of the PWDs came at a better time when the State Government was about to access the N500 million Disability Fund appropriated in the 2021 Budget passed on Monday by the House of Assembly.
He said the Government would be meeting with each cluster of PWDs on how to maximise the funds for the benefit of their members.
He said: “This Christmas period presents a better time for us to host this special interactive session and felicitate with you. I deliberately asked for the event to be done at the State House, Marina, so that I can share good moments with you in the spirit of the season. We called for this engagement to hear from you all challenges you face.
“After listening to your representatives, we now have better understanding of which intervention we need to make and where we need to improve our relationship with you. We have taken all the points raised. The N500 million Disability Fund in the 2021 Budget will be accessed next year and we will agree with all clusters on better to utilise the funds.”
The Governor said the Government would be working to ensure free quality healthcare services for the physically challenged persons in primary and secondary health institutions in the State, while also giving directive for free Coronavirus (COVID-19) test for PWDs in registered clusters.
Granting the request of the PWDs, Sanwo-Olu approved the creation of the Office of Senior Special Assistant on PWD Affairs, which will be the link between his administration and people living with disabilities.
In January, the Governor said an appointment would be made into the office, which will be domiciled at the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
In the spirit of Yuletide, Sanwo-Olu and the First Lady donated 50 wheel chairs, 170 walking sticks, 75 white canes and 69 crutches to the clusters to assist the PWDs in mobility. About 364 persons living with disabilities benefited from the gesture.
Groups at the event included Association for the Deaf, Association for the Blind, Association for the Dwarf, Albinism Association of Nigeria, Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), National Association of Physically Challenged, Intellectual Cluster Groups, comprising Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, today commissioned a Permanent Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centre at Eti-Osa Local Government to provide swift emergency oxygen therapy to residents who require such service.
The facility, which doubles as a COVID-19 sample collection centre, is located within the premises of the Eti-Osa Maternal and Child Care Centre and is one of 10 others strategically located in 10 local governments of the State with a high burden of COVID-19 cases.
Speaking during the official launch of the facility, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the need to better manage severe-to-critical COVID-19 cases spurred the State government to build and deploy the oxygen therapy centres in 10 high burden local government areas.
According to him, “One of the strategies adopted in response to the recent increase in COVID-19 infection is the provision of the COVID-19 Permanent Sample Collection Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centres in 10 local government areas across Lagos to support patients with oxygen before they are transferred to care centres”.
The Governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, explained that the project which was handled by super-fast project management is inevitable to prepare against the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State.
He stated further that the facility could not have come at a better time than now, when the State is recording an increase in the number of people presenting with difficulty in breathing and requiring urgent oxygen therapy.
Sanwo-Olu noted that with the construction and decentralisation of the Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centres, citizens requiring oxygen therapy would not have to travel a long distance to Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital to access care, stressing that patients requiring oxygen treatment in Eti-Osa can walk to the centre for treatment and care.
The Governor explained that the facility which is a permanent facility will be an addition to the existing infrastructure in the hospital, noting that the facility after the pandemic can be used for other medical purposes.
He said other Permanent Triage and Oxygen Therapy Centres, located in Alimosho, Isolo, Surulere, Gbagada, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ibeju-Lekki, Apapa, Mushin and Amuwo-Odofin areas of the State, are almost completed and would be activated in two weeks.
His name is Dr Godwin Maduka, a United States based medical practitioner. On one of his visits to his village, he took a look around and wasn’t happy with what he saw and now took it upon himself to singlehandedly transform his community(Umuchukwu in Orumba South Local Government, Anambra state).
These are some of his accomplished and ongoing projects.
1, he built two churches, one for the Catholic and Anglican.
2, he built Trinity hospital and maternity which is a 17 story skyscraper.
3, he built over 100 standard bungalows for the poor and the widow.
4, he built immaculate conception international college, 1 and 2, with buses donated to them.
5, he built a police station for maintenance of peace and security.
6, he built a magistrate court.
7, he built a standard market called affor, for the community.
8, built barracks for the civil defense staffs.
9, built two monasteries for churches.
10, built a Civic center for the community.
11, built a post office.
12, built a state highcourt.
13, he provided transformers to boost electricity in the village.
14, built mighty edifices for primary and secondary schools.
15, built a befitting palace for the monarch of his village.
16, built houses for the clerics of the Catholic and Anglican Churches.
17, he built a five star hotel known as ” Lion of Africa resort”.
This is apart from sponsoring of students and helping many to secure good jobs.
And I dare ask, who do you think his community will think about after Jesus Christ if the person does all these for them?
NDI IGBO CAN’T WE THINK?
WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR WORLDVIEW OF ” AKU RUE ULO”? Abi dem do us?
You buy up exotic buildings all over Nigeria and beyond while your village is like an evil forest, yet when you die, your carcass will be brought to be buried there. Can you imagine what the dignitaries that accompanied your corpse to your forest you call village will be saying after the burial? Not too hard to imagine!
They say Diamonds last forever but it’s apparent that Dr Godwin Maduka will last more than any diamond in the minds of the people in his community and ndi Igbo in general.
Kudos to this worthy son and it’s not as if he is even the richest Igbo man. No way! We have plenty of them but their brains are not with them.
AKU UNU RUE ULO so that our people are directly empowered. Let’s not forget like this honourable doctor, na obu aka mere ohia ya awoo uzo.
Need I add here that he has singlehandedly achieved what some state governments in the south east could not, ever since this democracy came to be in 1999.
Chiedozie Nwokoye.
The continuous campaign for a redress and restitution of the civil service dignity and rules of service to the state and humanity cannot be overemphasized.
His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has continued to reiterate at every fora, the need for introduction of hygiene within the civil service. However, this cannot materialize without enabling atmosphere and that informed the Governors maiden visit to the state Secretariat upon resumption of duty.
In a recent expository by His Excellency, he bared open the rate of civil servants complicity in perpetration of frauds by politicians. While urging the politicians to redress, the civil servants shouldn’t be of exclusion. The Governor reassured that while the problem is big, yours truly who has come to solve it, is bigger.
His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, made it clear that we can’t afford to have all that we desire if we do not jettison fraud and corruption in the civil service. We desire quality road construction while some people are receiving pension but never worked for the state; we desire infrastructure while some people receive multiple salaries from various government agencies. All these were made possible by the complicity of the civil servants.
In the midst of propaganda and misdemeanor by purported Union leaders, whom are presumably retired, the government would continue to fight these set of cabals who have sworn to milk the state dry for selfish reasons. Profit cannot be actualized without proficiency, the successful elimination of corruption from our system would guarantee governments delivery of quality infrastructure.
The Shared Prosperity administration of His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma would not relent in the drive for zero tolerance in governance and administration. Imo must be better.
…harps on zero tolerance for corruption
…says Oyo’ll become worthy reference for others
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday inaugurated the state’s anti-corruption commission, declaring that his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption remains unshakable.
The governor, who was speaking inside the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan, said that with the inauguration, Oyo State as Pacesetter State, will become a worthy reference for other states across the country.
While speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of members of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA), the governor declared that the commission will have no political bias.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as warning against all forms of corrupt practices, noting that the establishment of the agency was to sanitise the public/civil service and ensure that everyone carries out their responsibilities without corruption.
It will be recalled that the bill for the establishment of the agency was forwarded to the House of Assembly shortly after Makinde assumed office in 2019.
The governor said: “The journey to this inauguration formally started about a year ago with the signing of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Law 2019. The law is primarily directed at sanitising the public/civil service and ensuring that both public and civil servants at both the state and local government levels carry out their responsibilities without institutionalised corruption.
“When I was campaigning, we knew corruption was an issue and I basically divided corruption into two broad categories. We have the routine one, which the Okada riders, micra drivers, other people too engage in.
“We meet policemen on the road and give them N50 or N100 because we don’t want any trouble. We just want to pay and go or people come into the Secretariat and they want to get tax clearance for their lands, documents, even things that are as simple as validation of their state or local government of origin certificate, they pay some money and go. That is what I call routine corruption.
“What can kill us and what is killing us is the systemic corruption or the institutionalised corruption.
“What I earn as the salary of a governor is about N600,000 and I am living at a level where I spend on a monthly basis N6,000,000, that is systemic corruption and it is institutionalized. We will be lying to ourselves if we do not acknowledge the endemic corruption in the system.
“With the inauguration of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, OYACA, we are sending out a clear message here in Oyo State. We have zero tolerance for corruption. So, any person, elected, employed or engaged in any capacity in the public or civil service in Oyo State, who accepts or promises to accept money, fees, donations, loans, gifts, or any other reward for rendering a service to members of the public will be investigated and be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“It will no longer be business as usual. Public/civil servants are called to serve, not to steal. And I trust that the members of OYACA will do all within their powers to ensure that all matters brought to their attention are judiciously handled. There are to be no sacred cows. Anyone who runs afoul of this law will be prosecuted swiftly.”
Governor Makinde equally implored residents of the state to take advantage of the anti-corruption agency to duly report any civil or public officer demanding bribe or any form of gratification to render services.
He described members of the agency as people with high integrity and pedigree, and urged them to continue to maintain their standard of integrity, saying : “I ask that members of this agency continue to maintain the track records for which you were picked individually.
“The goal should be that Oyo State public/civil service becomes the benchmark for the entire country. Of course, institution such as FRSC started here in Oyo State and it was adopted nationally. So, it is not the first time that we are setting the standard and the pace for the entire country.
“I will always maintain that for us to build the Nigeria we dream of, we must create strong systems and institutions. We must also be willing to work and make sacrifices for those systems to function correctly. This agency is part of the system we are putting in place. Instead of offering a bribe to get ahead of a particular contract or promotion, why not be patient and await your turn?
“Corruption works with a giver and a receiver. One side of it is the side of demand. If there is no demand, there won’t be a supply. So, there is the demand side and there is supply side. I don’t know whether it is elastic but I do know the two exist. So, I urge the good people of Oyo State to refrain from offering bribes and to refuse to give bribe to any public officer even if they insist on it.”
The governor indicated that there are many channels to report misconduct to the agency, urging that residents of the state use the feedback channels already put in place by his government to report any official including himself.
“We have many channels to report such misconduct and there will be more channels on the way. For now, please make use of our feedback channels to make a report against any public officer who is involved in corruption including me.
“Some people may use my name to say His Excellency said we should do this or that. Please, I don’t have any agent or anyone to act on my behalf. So, report me to the agency. I promise I will come and defend myself for any report that comes to you regarding me, so also the rest of the cabinet.
“Let me also say this, it has nothing to do with politics. It is not PDP or APC and you are not to be used to witch-hunt anybody. Corruption does not know PDP or APC. So, let our people on the other side know that we will ask them to account for their stewardship if there is a need for that. If they go to town to say they are being witch-hunted, they will prove their innocence in the law court but not in front of you,” the governor added.
In her remarks, the chairman of the agency, Retired Justice Eni Esan, former president of the state customary court of appeal, assured that the agency would do its best to fulfil its mandate and assist the state government in sanitising the public service.
Other members of the anti-corruption agency are Barrister Temitope Ayorinde, Prince Oyebade Oyedapo, AS Asaolu, Esther Olapade, Ihindero Lawrence and Ibrahim Tijani, who will act as the secretary of the agency.
Signed
Taiwo Adisa
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde
My name is ThankGod Okuk, I left for Abuja on Thursday 17th December 2020 in order to attend a friend’s wedding on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday 20th I boarded Big Joe bus to Benin city, getting to Ekpoma, the driver told us that he won’t be going to Benin because it was already past 7pm, so some of us took our belongings and took a Sienna bus going to Benin, after Ehor we were attacked by a gang of Fulani herdsmen who shot sporadically into the air, after taking all our money and phones from us, the leader of the team then asked us to match into the bush, it was at this time that I knew that it was not just robbery but kidnapping.
After few minutes into the bush, the leader of the gang asked who was the driver of the vehicle, the driver identified himself, he was given a thorough beating after which he was allowed to go.
In the process of matching us into the bush with gun shots, one of us who is a pregnant woman fell down and could not move anymore, while they were trying to revive her, one other man escaped into the bush, this made the kidnappers very angry so they left the pregnant woman to die while we were matched into the forest .
We trekked for about three hours into the bush, crossed a river and ascended the hills which was about twenty minutes to climb and after which we descended into the ditch and then the thick forest.
I observed that the kidnappers had a sign of communication and direction inside the forest . I discovered that some rags were tied on some trees in the forest with a sign, once we approach the tree, they will point the torch to identify the point that the rag turn to, this happens to be the way and so we moved on and on using same strategy to find the way.
In another instance, once they heard any noise inside the forest we will be asked to stop while the kidnappers make a sound like that of a herdsman to cows, if there is a similar response it means that it is their colleagues but if no response then they will start shooting into the bush before commanding us to move on.
There were lots of dead bodies inside the forest with their hands tied to their back . We trekked for another two hours before getting to their camp which is located inside the heart of the forest.
On our arrival, there was jubilation, the place was filled with dead bodies and then one of them came and tied our hands to our back but they never spoke any word to us until the morning.
On Monday morning the leader of the gang who was being referred to as Alhaji came to us after he had made some calls to their boss and then commanded that we been beaten, we were beaten like animals without mercy .
After the beating, we were then asked to call our families for negotiation, anyone whose family did not give positive answer to the ransoms will be beaten seriously after series of gunshots in the air to put fear in their minds.
When it was my turn, the negotiator picked me up and began flogging me, then I began to beg him in Hausa language, I was shocked that he stopped and their boss then asked him to remove me among the others, then he asked me if I was from the north since I was bearded but I told him no but that I was born in the north, because of that, the kidnapper loose the blindfold that was on my eyes and asked me to sit in the ground while others lay on their stomach.
I then called my elder brother, at first I was scared that my brother will not respond positively and fear of being beaten again, but my brother in his wisdom even though fear could be felt in his voice, he told the kidnappers that firstly he has to talk to me and I was given the phone to speak to him, then he told the negotiator that things are hard but he was going to get them the money and that they should call him back by midday same day.
This conversation made them happy and I wasn’t beaten anymore but the others were seriously dealt with. After series of negotiation with my brother who was always given them hope. Finally, the ransom was settled and yet to be paid.
I was in the kidnappers den for four days without food nor water, once in a day the kidnappers fetch river water then add Tramadol inside the cup and give us to drink or else we will die of hunger, we poo and urinate on our body in the days we spent there. They kidnap passengers twice daily, both women and children, sometimes when the encounter any police escort, they kill the police and make away with his gun and cap and whenever this happens, the person that shot the policeman will be promoted.
Within the den of the kidnappers there is an amourer who services their guns.They have bags of bullets, different types of guns including two SMGs. Arms and ammunitions litter the ground as they always change guns in each operation, which means that the guns used in the morning won’t be used in the evening till two days time because their funder from the look of things is highly placed. They don’t eat real food, what they eat is garri soaked in oil with onions and Maggi. They don’t rape their victims but beat their victims to death.
Guns don’t penetrate them there in the forest. Before going out for any operation, they shot at each other randomly after which the leader brings out a white rag, spread it on the floor and all others will surround the rag and chant their incantations before leaving.
After my elder brother paid the ransome for four of us that night, the leader of the team sent me a message to the Nigerian police, he asked me to tell the police that they have come for the police and that they will kill all policemen that come their way because they have taken over Edo state and will soon start a war that will lead to the taking over of the whole state. I promised him I will personally deliver the message to the Commissioner of Police, Edo state. Four of them walked us into the bush until we got to a village, then they told us to walk into the village and from there find our way since my brother was already waiting to receive us .
Finally it was freedom at last .
PLEASE DONT EVEN ENCOURAGE YOUR ENEMIES TO TRAVEL OUT OF BENIN NOT TO TALK OF YOUR FRIENDS.
Thanks for a the love and care shown to me during my abduction in the kidnappers’ den.
ThankGod Okuk
