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I’m ready to assist Buhari to take Nigeria to next level – Akpabio

Sen. Godswill Akpabio, ministerial nominee, says he is ready to work with President Muhammadu Buhari to take the country to the next level.

Akpabio gave this assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria at the sidelines of the ministerial nominees screening at the National Assembly, Abuja on Wednesday.

He who explained that the country is under siege by banditry and other hoodlums, expressed his willingness to assist President Buhari to take the country to the next level.

According to him, with my wealth of experience as a former governor, senator and lawyer, I have a lot to offer Nigerians.

“Nigerians should expect higher performance, commitment to service and dedication to the country.

“If you look at my record, I don’t want people to look at my lips, they should look at my track record, which is very impressive in terms of dedication to quality service.

“We are going to work so hard to ensure that the president leaves a legacy to all Nigerians, not just in the area of fighting corruption, but we also want Nigerians to remember they once had a president dedicated to putting the country on the right track.

“Therefore, expect a lot of uncommon representation and uncommon performance that will culminate in uncommon achievements,’’ he said.

Akpabio, however, acknowledged the fact that they may not solve all problems, but they are determined to minimise the current problems plaguing the country.

Sen. George Akume, also a ministerial nominee from Benue said the next level of President Buhari’s administration will be more productive.

Akume noted that Buhari is committed to his agenda and as such has carefully put together a team to assist in achieving the goal of moving the country to the next level.

“I alone cannot make a difference, but together with my colleagues we will do our best for the country and Nigerians, and I believe when we are done, Nigeria will never be the same again positively.

“Seven of us from the senate are part of the Federal Executive Council, and so I believe the process is meant to smooth the relationship between the executive and the legislative arm of the government,’’ he said.

On his part, Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, described the ministerial nominees screening process as elating to the senators and to himself.

Enang said it is a confirmation that President Buhari took time to select men of good standing, people he knows and the best for the next level.

“From the presentation by the distinguished members, who have been screened and the other nominees, it has been very revealing and that the president went to a great refinery and brought very refined men good enough for the next level of this country,’’ he said.

On the relationship between the legislature and the executive, Ita Enang noted that both arms of government are working together seamlessly.

He said, “this shows that the relationship is very good, and there were consultations between the executive and the legislative before the list was compiled and delivered.

“There is also an indication that the senate prepared in advance for the screening and nothing has taken them by surprise.

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“The CVs of all the nominees we had them, we produced 120 copies, which were sent to the clerk of the senate to be distributed as each of the candidate was coming in.

“You could see from the composure and dexterity displayed by the President of the Senate, and even the comportment and professionalism of the distinguished senators shows that Nigeria is actually different under the 9th senate and second term of the president,’’ he said.

NAN reports that the senate will reconvene on July 25 to continue with the screening of the ministerial nominees.

Suspected hoodlums allegedly attack Zamfara APC secretariat, destroy property

Unknown persons, suspected to be hoodlums, have allegedly attacked the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat in Zamfara and destroyed property worth million of Naira including billboards, posters and windows.

Briefing newsman on Wednesday in Gusau, Abdullahi Tsafe, the Chairman of the Security Committee of the party, said that the attacks were carried out on Monday and Tuesday.

Tsafe, who is a retired Commissioner of Police, said that apart from the state Secretariat at the bypass Gusau, the Central Zonal office of the party and other offices across the state were also attacked.

He decried the action and said that the party had since alerted the police over the matter.

“I believe they must have acted on it by now”.

“If our members reacted to that it would create problem, but APC as law abiding political party, we always caution our members to be law abiding and shun political violence,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Muhammad Shehu confirmed the incident to newsmen.

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Shehu said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Usman Nagogo had already visited the scenes of the incident.

“The command has already commenced investigation on the matter and promised to deal with any body found wanting on the matter,” he added.

The command’s spokesman said that in spite of the efforts of the police to maintain law and order in the state, some people were hellbent on causing trouble in the state.

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Customs destroys poisonous “Ponmo” in Seme border

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday burnt the intercepted poisonous animal skin popularly known as “Ponmo” (cow hides) imported into Nigeria.

The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Muhammad Garba, led the team of Joint Border Agencies to the site where the animal skins were destroyed in Seme, Lagos.

Garba said that the deadly animal skin was intercepted by his men on Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

According to him, the command is going to widen its investigation to ensure that no unhealthy item escape into the country.

Garba added that the Nigeria Customs Service was not limited to revenue generation alone, noting that the command was also fighting against the smuggling and other related vices.

The controller also hand over 146 wraps of cannabis worth N112.4 million to official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for destruction.

Speaking, Mr Udotong Essien, the NDLEA Commander, Seme Command, lauded the customs officers for their eagle eyes and professionalism.

Essien attributed the success of the joint border patrol to their synergy and cordial relationship.

He promised that the command would try its best possible to get to the root and brain behind the illegal substance.

The NDLEA commander said that regular briefing would be reported back to the customs service.

Also, Dr Nurudeen Audu, the Coordinator, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Seme Command, commended the Customs Service, for suppressing smuggling and facilitating legitimate trade.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the destruction of poisonous skin and hand over of cannabis were witnessed by official of Port Health Services.

Others were Agricultural Quarantine Service, Department of State Services, Police Border Patrol, NAFDAC and NDLEA.

Police arrest 53 armed robbery suspects in Borno

The Police in Borno on Wednesday said 53 suspects of armed robbery and other crimes had been nabbed in the ongoing ‘Operation Puff Adder,’ in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, made the disclosure at a news conference in Maiduguri.

Aliyu said that the suspects were arrested for crimes which included armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, cattle rustling, drug peddling, phone snatching and car theft.

He said that the suspects were apprehended at different times and locations within the past four weeks.

Aliyu said that the command recovered a number of AK47 rifles, ammunitions, large quantity of drugs and narcotic substances, knives, cutlasses, tricycles and cars from the suspects.

He said that the command arrested one Henry Haggai and four others, after they attacked and robbed one Dr Gambo Zira in Maiduguri on July 18.

Haggai accomplices, he said, were Abubakar Abba, Jesini Yakubu, Joseph Nathanial and Jeremiah Haggai.

“The suspects armed with Ak47 rifle attacked the victim’s resident and carted away his computer, cell phone and N19, 000. The rifle and other items were recovered from them,” he said.

Aliyu said that other robbery suspects arrested were Abba Ali, Ahmed Ali, Umar Mohammed and Mustapha Mohammed, adding that a tricycle and two cutlasses were recovered from the suspects.

He added that four suspects were also arrested for the theft of a car belonging to a former governor of the state, Alhaji Alsheikh Zarma.

The commissioner said that two of the suspects, Sale Ibrahim and Abba Sharif, connived and stole the car in Maiduguri.

“They transported the car to their accomplice in Kano, Ahmed Saidu, who sold it to one Sani Hamisu at the cost of N1.2 million.”

He disclosed that on July 12, the command arrested Sule Ya’u, Mukhtar Abubakar, Shuaibu Hamza and Konto Mustapha while in possession of a Toyota bus valued at N2.7 million, adding that the car was stolen from Kano.

Aliyu disclosed that two other suspects, Yusuf Mohammed, 22 and Umar Bukar, 19 were arrested over the abduction and rape of a lady at Moloi area of Maiduguri on July 15.

He added that one Dane gun, sticks, axe, knife and a cutlass were recovered from the suspects.

He said that seven other suspects, found with 45 animals suspected to have been stolen, were also apprehended by the command during the period.

Aliyu gave the names of the suspects as Umar Kellemu, Ibrahim Mustapha, Malam Goni, Kori Mohammed, Bashir Modu, Jibrin Maina and Tahir Mustapha.

According to him, the police have arrested a kidnap kingpin, Bello Dabiyo, with the help of members of his gang, adding that two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the gang.

Aliyu said the command equally arrested one Joseph Michael, Andrew Simon and Ismail Musa for illegally trading in large quantity drugs.

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He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the drugs were not certified by National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), adding that all the suspects would be arraigned after investigations.

The commissioner reiterated the commitment of the police to protect lives and property in the state, and called on the people to provide useful information on suspicious movement and activities in their communities. 

Gbajabiamila advocates periodic training of media personnel

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has urged media organisations to invest more in periodic training of their personnel and provide resources for investigative journalism.

Gbajabiamila said this during a one-day seminar to mark the House of Representatives Press Corps Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

The speaker, who was represented by Minority Leader of the house, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP- Delta) said the training was necessary to enable journalists fully understand the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

He said that if the media fully embraced the possibilities of the Act, it would contribute immensely to the fight against corruption.

“When the FOI Act was passed into law, many critics worried that the press will abuse the law to demand access to information that isn’t covered by its mandate.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that you in the press have fully embraced the possibilities of the Act. Media houses have not invested in training personnel and providing resources for investigative journalism.

“This needs to change, because as those of us in public office have a mandate to fight corruption by building a culture of transparency within our institutions.

“By empowering law enforcement to do its job effectively without fear or favour, you too have an obligation to hold us to account, and to do so honourably,” he said.

He said corruption had denied the country of its resources and the will to invest in its communities and urged all Nigerians to join in fighting the scourge.

“Corruption in public office severes the relationship of trust and accountability that ought to exist between leaders and the people they lead; this is not a fight against individuals or political interests.

“We must not look back, we must not waiver, and above all, we must not fall into the false comfort of believing that this is somebody else’s fight. We are all responsible, we are all obligated,” the speaker said.

Also, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa) a member of the Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, urged the media to join in the fight against corruption.

Namdas also reiterated the need for the media to represent the facts of the house in their reportage to promote the confidence of Nigerians in the National Assembly.

“This is the 9th Assembly, We will need your joint cooperation. If information comes from the press corps covering NASS, giving serious fears, then it is terrible that Nigerians will buy into that.

“Sometimes, you find that the headline is too frightening. I will urge that this is the 9th Assembly. We will need your joint cooperation and ensure that your reports are factual.

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“If we have done something that is actually good, like passing a bill, let the public know and also the far reaching effect it has and by the time it comes from you, people will build confidence in what we are doing,” he said.

The event organised by the press corps in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) had as its theme: “Fight Against Corruption: Setting Agenda for the 9th House.”

New India Navy Chief pledges closer ties with Nigerian Navy

The Nigerian Navy says newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff of Indian Navy, Adm. Karambir Singh, has expressed readiness to strengthen existing levels of bilateral cooperation with the Nigerian counterpart.

Navy’s Director of Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that Singh’s pledge of fellowship was conveyed in a letter to Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas.

He said that Singh acknowledged the work of his predecessors which had helped to establish strong bonds of friendship between the two navies as well as maritime partnership between Nigeria and India.

Dahun said that Singh also pledged to explore new avenues for closer ties between the two navies.

“He affirmed that the Indian Navy greatly value the relationship with the Nigerian Navy and pledged that the Indian Navy would continue to work closely with the Force in the collective pursuit of maritime security.’’

According to the statement, Singh assumed command of the Indian Navy on May 31 as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff.

“Singh is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July, 1980.

“He earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1981 and has flown extensively in the Chetak (Alouette) and Kamov helicopters.

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“Singh is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington; College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai and has served as Directing Staff in both institutions.

“In his career spanning over 39 years, he has commanded Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi, Missile Corvette INS Vijaydurg, as well as two guided missile destroyers, INS Rana and INS Delhi,” Dahun said.