Outgoing Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has inaugurated the Kano NUJ Plaza constructed by his administration and donated to the state Council of the Nigeria Union Journalists (NUJ).
Ganduje also inaugurated the NUJ Conference Hall, also rehabilitated and modernised by his administration, to enable the union host local and international conferences in order to generate revenue to finance its services.
Performing the two functions simultaneously at the NUJ Secretariat by Farm Centre Road in Kano on Sunday, the governor explained that his government constructed the plaza and rehabilitated the conference hall to appreciate and reward the good working relationship that existed between his administration and journalists in the state.
Ganduje commended working journalists in the state for informing, educating, and enlightening the people of the state on the policies and programmes of his administration during its eight-year tenure.
He said the government’s gesture would help to consolidate, enrich and sustain the good working relationship between the journalists and the government, and the people of the state.
Earlier, the state’s outgoing Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba, thanked the governor for his immense contribution to his progression in both his journalism and public service careers, including his rise to become the President of the NUJ and the President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA).
Garba also appreciated the governor for appointing him as his Chief Press Secretary when he (Ganduje) was the Deputy Governor of Kano State, and also when he became governor appointed him as his Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, a position he held for eight years.
He said the position enabled him to initiate and actualise the legacy projects – the Plaza and Conference Hall rehabilitation at the Kano NUJ secretariat, thanking the governor for constructing and donating the 24-shop plaza to the NUJ and modernising the conference hall for the union.
The commissioner expressed delight that he was leaving behind the two legacy projects for which he will be remembered by working journalists and the people of the state for a long time to come.
In their separate remarks, the President of the NUJ, Mr Chris Isuguzo, who was represented by the NUJ Deputy National President, Malam Alasan Yaya, and the Chairman of Kano NUJ, Malam Abbas Ibrahim, also thanked the Ganduje for the gesture.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of awards to both the governor and Garba for their good services to humanity.
The TETFund official train currently moving around the country to inspect and or commission projects recently made a three-day stopover in Benue State of Central Nigeria.
It was such an impactful engagement that the people have not stopped eulogizing President Muhammadu Buhari for uplifting the educational horizon and broadening opportunities in the State, especially the Benue South Senatorial District, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The TETFund executive train, driven by its Executive Secretary, Arc. Sunny Togo Echono, first pulled to a stop at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, JOSTUM, (formerly Federal University of Agriculture) Makurdi, where Chairman House of Representatives Committee on TETFund, Hon Aminu Suleiman, led the team to inspect four projects worth N1.20 billion which had been executed during the tenure of Prof Richard Kimbir as Vice-Chancellor.
They were: a Laboratory/Workshop Block for Entrepreneurship Development Centre; Female and Male Hostel Blocks; as well as an Academic Office Building for College of Agronomy.
The new Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Itodo, was beside himself with joy as he expressed gratitude to TETFund for the projects.
Still in the State capital, Arc Sunny Echono moved over to the state owned Benue State University (BSU) where Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, a former Governor of the State, represented President Muhammadu Buhari to commission six gigantic Projects to the tune of 02.60 billion naira. These included one Academic Office Building; a Block of Offices at College of Health Sciences; Faculty of Education Complex; as well as the Health and Counceling Development Centre and the Centre for Research and Innovation. The TETFund Executive Secretary informed the audience at BSU that the Federal Government has made huge investments in Education, between 2011 and 2021 especially, adding that in Benue State BSU, JOSTUM, Benue Polytechnic, Colleges of Education in Katsina Ala and Oju, plus the newly established Federal Polytechnic at Wannune, have all been granted various developmental approvals awaiting releases.
In his own remarks, Senator Akume thanked TETFund for having sponsored thousands of Lecturers in Benue tertiary Institutions for postgraduate courses both within and outside Nigeria, as well as to attend internal and foreign Academic conferences.
Prof Joe Iorapuu, BSU Vice Chancellor, made a case for more TETFund intervention to enable the University achieve her expansion Program.
From Makurdi, the TETFund train moved to Otukpo on Friday 12th May, with the Executive Secretary expertly deploying his great wealth of experience as a construction expert, to navigate the unmotorable Makurdi-Otukpo interstate highway. Even at that, the entourage still spent two and half hours on the hundred kilometers stretch.
In Otukpo, the ancient capital of the Idoma people, the TETFund team inspected the ongoing remodeling of an Office Complex belonging to the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo. It is also a TETFund sponsored Project under the 2022 Special Impact Intervention Projects.
Arc Sunny Echono, while in Otukpo, also visited HRM Och’Idoma V, Agabaidu John Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji to deliver a special message from President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the newly reconstructed Och’Idoma Palace, glowing in its new splendor, Arc Sunny Echono presented the paramount ruler of the Idoma people a letter from Mr President appointing him Chancellor of the Federal University of Otuoke, Bayelsa State. President Buhari, in the letter, said the appointment was based on the enviable track records of the royal father, in addition to his leadership qualities, integrity, commitment to the development of education and the sustenance of peace and stability of Nigeria.
Accepting the offer, Agabaidu John Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji expressed his utmost gratitude to Mr President for finding him worthy of the prestigious position. He also thanked Arc Echono for doing so much towards the development of Nigeria, especially Benue State.
The TETFund Executive Secretary had earlier sent a heartfelt congratulatory message to the Och’Idoma in which he recognized that the highly revered position of Chancellor in the University system “personifies the highest ideals of the University, encompassing its vision, purpose, and relevance to society”. In his letter of congratulations, Arc Echono also stressed that as a royal father, the Chancellor would provide the moral compass to productively engage all segments of the University, and also act as the stabilizing antidote in times of inevitable crises. “As the custodian of our culture and traditions, you represent a veritable tool for national integration and cohesion, giving shape and direction to the University”, the Executive Secretary added.
Saturday, May 13th 2023, marked the last phase of the three-day TETFund visit to Benue State. Obagaji town, headquarters of Agatu Local Government Area, hosted the team to the commissioning of the TETFund built National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Obagaji Study Center, as well as the Foundation Laying Ceremony of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) Center and Perimeter Fence.
At Obagaji, Arc Sunny Echono pointed out, in his speech, that education represented the greatest love anyone could bequeath to children. He said the NOUN OBAGAJI STUDY CENTER would provide access to Education for those who otherwise could not attend regular Universities, thanking the Hon Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, for graciously increasing the number of Study Centers in the country.
HRM Och’Idoma expressed joy that in addition to education, employment opportunities would also be extended to the people in the area through the establishment of the Obagaji Study Center of the NOUN, advising the people Agatu to take full advantage of the facilities.
Others who appreciated TETFund included Deputy Governorship candidate of PDP in the 2023 elections, Hon Sir John Ngbede, and Rt Hon Solomon Agidani.
Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Prof Innocent Ujah, mni, OON, very ably represented by the Vice Chancellor Academics, Prof Steve Abah, extolled the developmental disposition of the TETFund Executive Secretary, saying that his engagements so far clearly point to the direction of his leadership traits.
In similar vein the JOSTUM Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Itodo, described Arc Sunny Echono as a pragmatic Patriot who is out to advance easy and fast learning across Nigeria.
Prof Joel Eriba, Provost of the Federal College of Education, Odugbo, called for support for Arc Echono who, he told the audience, has taken up the education of Nigerian youths as his personal challenge.
The Auditorium and Academic Blocks were commissioned by HRM Agabaidu Och’Idoma and Prof Isaac Itodo respectively, while former Ambassador to Algeria, Amb Mohammed Mabdul, laid the foundation for the ICT Building.
Highlight of the roundup at Obagaji was the decoration of TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc Sunny Togo Echono, in the red and black Idoma cultural attire, by HRM Agabaidu for “his great contributions to Idomaland”.
To the glory of God the TETFund train touched down safely in Abuja the evening of 13th May, 2023.
Benue people are hoping for many of such awesome visits.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that no fewer than 1,556 processed and valid drivers’ licences are yet to be claimed by their applicants in Kano State.
The FRSC Public Relations Officer in Kano State, Mr Abdullahi Labaran, disclosed this in Kano on Sunday.
Labaran deplored the careless attitude of motorists in the state to safety on the roads.
He said that with the level of exposure of people in the state, it was bewildering that motorists refused to collect their processed and valid driver’s licence.
He explained that some of the unclaimed licences had been at the state’s Board of Internal Revenue office for years now.
”We will ensure that only duly tested and procedurally examined drivers ply our roads to ensure safety of all road users,’’ he said.
On the ongoing “Operation Show Your Valid Drivers’ Licence”, the Public Relations Officer said that the ongoing operation and weekly mobile court sitting had been hitch-free and yielding positive fruit.
”We discovered that some driver’s licences had expired for between two and four years running and these drivers have been evading fines and prosecution.
”We impound the defaulting driver’s vehicle until the drivers were given public enlightenment and advised to go through the driving licence issuance processes and procedures as stipulated and get a fresh driver’s licence.”
The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 29, 2023 as work-free day for all workers in the country to commemorate the inauguration 16th elected President of Nigeria.
The declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in Abuja on Friday on behalf of the Federal Government.
A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Shuaib Belgore, said the Minister felicitated with all Nigerians on the momentous occasion, commending them for their faith in democracy as expressed in the nationwide election that produced the President-elect and his Deputy being inaugurated and indeed in all elections across the nation.
He enjoined them to continue to support and promote democracy through adherence to the rule of law and uphold all democratic institutions.
“Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business and the only way it can keep developing and serve its end of being the vehicle to good governance and the welfare of all the people is by adhering to its tenets of rule of law, support for democratic institutions, promotion of free and responsible press and advancement of the frontiers of freedom for all the people,” the Minister said.
Ogbeni Aregbesola urged Nigerian also to continue to promote ideals of peaceful coexistence and love for our neighbours, noting that we can only practice democracy and enjoy its dividends in a peaceful environment. The Minister commends all Nigerians for their strident efforts at achieving an unbroken civilian rule and successful change of governments since 1999.
My feet in the crocodile infested waters of the River Congo
My first glimpse of Kinshasa was the River Congo. As the African World Airline AWA Flight 342 from Accra, Ghana continued to circle in the air while awaiting permission to land, the sight of the gloriously serpentine river was a temporary relief to the anxiety of waiting.
Moments later, when the airport closure due to a ‘VIP Movement’ was over, the aircraft descended into the turbid embrace of a collection of clouds before erupting into the brilliant Congolese sunshine. That was when the river came fully into view. From my aerial position, I could see the river and its fan-shaped web of tributaries as it meandered through the vast mass of land before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
A quick investigation confirmed that River Congo is the second longest river in Africa, shorter only than the Nile, as well as the second largest river in the world by discharge volume, following only the Amazon. It is also the world’s deepest recorded river, with measured depths in excess of 220 m (720 ft). With its many tributaries, the River Congo forms Africa’s largest network of navigable waterways.
I was so enthralled by the river that within 24 hours of my arrival in the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, I was by the riverside at the Gombe area of the city for a leisurely evening walk. It was a cool and windy evening and the riverside was full of people. There were joggers, loners, lovers as well as picnicking families and groups. Along the lyrical curve of the riverside, the river elicited a collage of dreams and sundry voices that left a myriad of images in the mind. For the young, the river represented a heart-pounding adventure, for the lonely, a companion, for the weary, a solace and for a writer, a repository of stories.
My first Lunch of fried plantain, chicken, butter and pepper.
The river, a romantic interlude to the difficult history of the Congo’s, is also the dividing line between the capital cities of the two countries.
From my position at the Gombe side of the river, Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was on the right bank, while on the left bank was Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. Spanning the river far ahead in the horizon was a splendid bridge wthatjoined the two capital cities.
Expectedly, some major differences exist between the two equatorial Congo neighbors.
The DCR is much larger in both population and area with a population of about 100 million people and area of 2.345 mill km sq out of which, about 17 million people live in Kinshasa. On the other hand, the Republic of Congo has a population of 5.3 million and an area of 342k km sq with 2.3 million in the capital city of Congo Brazzaville. I was also informed that although my visa to the DRC would not permit me to visit the Republic of Congo, citizens of both Congos do not require visas to visit each other.
Apart from being a formidable navigable waterway, the River Congo is the largest source of hydroelectric power in Africa. When fully operational, the river is said to be capable of providing electricity to half of the African continent.
To the literary-minded, the river is evocative of the famous 1902 short story “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad. Conrad’s book conjured up an atmosphere of foreboding, treachery, greed, and exploitation. Today, however, the Congo appears as the key to the economic development of the central African interior.
In my usual practice of paying homage to any great river or ocean of my country of visit, I removed my shoes and stepped into the warm waters of the river.
I was still savouring the pleasure of the company of the deepest river in the world when a young man standing close to me shouted in French; “Attention monsieur, il y a des crocodiles dans la riviere” (Excuse me, Mister, there are crocodiles in the river).
I had come to the Democratic Republic of Congo on the invitation of the Congolese Writers Association for the official inauguration of the Pan African Literature Prize which had been endowed by the President of the DRC and current Chairman of the African Union (AU), His Excellency, Felix Tshisekedi. In addition, I was to also visit the Congolese minister for Culture and Tourism in addition to some other literary functions.
Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) French: République démocratique du Congo (RDC and historically Zaire, is a country in Central Africa.
It is, by area, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, the second-largest in all of Africa (after Algeria), and the 11th-largest in the world. With a population of around 100 million, the DRC is the most populous officially Francophone country in the world, as well as the 4th-most populous country in Africa (after Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt) and the 15th-most populous country in the world.
It must have rained before my arrival as evidenced by the water-clogged roads which I traversed in a taxi cab that had been arranged by my hosts who had come to the airport to welcome me. With its teeming population of commuters waiting for transport in the congested after-work traffic, Kinshasa reminded me of Lagos. After a long winding and tortious journey through many back streets over potholed-riddled roads, we finally arrived in my hotel, Hacienda Hotel in the highbrow Gombe district of the city.
The following morning after a meeting with the President of the Congo Writers Association, Bia Bietusiwa, and some of his executive members in my hotel suite, I was driven to the venue of my main meeting with other members of the Association at the Kasa-vubu part of the city. To reach the meeting venue, we had to pass through the Boulevard du 30 Juin (Boulevard of 30 June) the main jugular of the city which was named for the date in 1960 when the country gained independence from her colonial master, Belgium.
After the meeting with my writer colleagues at Kasa-vubu (named after the country’s first President) I paid a courtesy call to the Hon Commissioner of Arts and Culture for Kinshasa, Madam Yvette Tabu Minangoy.
The trip took me past the Cathedral Notre Dame then on to Boulevard Triumph with its ‘People’s Palace, the seat of the Congolese parliament said to have been built by the Chinese during the reign of President Mobutu. Next was the country’s national stadium, the Stade des Martyrs (Stadium of the Martyrs) located in the Lingwala district of the city. It is the home stadium of the National Team of the DRC, as well as the local clubs; AS Vita Club and DC Motema Pembe. The stadium which has a capacity of 125,000 for most matches is considered to be the biggest in central Africa.
Also in the vicinity was the Avenue Democracy, with its Food and Towel markets, the defunct BIAC bank, the Police National Camp, and the National Research Centre. In addition, the National Museum (built by the Koreans), as well as the proposed site of the Congolese Cultural Centre (to be built by the Chinese).
Later that evening, I attended a reception in honour of delegates to the inauguration of the Pan African Literature Prize in the residence of Madam Kathryn Brahy, the General Delegate of the Belgium-based NGO, Wallonie Bruxelles International at her official residence at the Gombe area of the city. It was a large gathering of Diplomats, Academicians, Writers and Cultural enthusiasts. The event took place outdoors in the expansive garden of Madam Brahy’s colonial style house. While smartly dressed waiters passed round cocktails and ‘small chops’, a band pelted out beautiful and sonorous ‘Congolese music’ from the veranda.
As I put away the tantalizing food and drink, the music brought back childhood memories of listening to ‘Congo music’ every evening on the local radio in my native Nigeria. Not even the slight drizzle which came later and made us move into the main house could douse the beauty and enjoyment of the evening of cocktails, music, speeches and camaraderie.
Sassy, ebullient and restless, Kinshasa is Africa’s third-largest metropolitan area after Cairo and Lagos.
A street scene in Kinshasa
It is also the world’s largest Francophone urban area, with French being the language of government, education, media, public services and high-end commerce in the city, while Lingala is used as a lingua franca in the street Expectedly, the city is the engine room of the high decibel socio-political activities of the land made famous by a succession of leaders such as Patrice Lumumba, Joseph Kasa-Vubu, Mobutu SeseSeko, Laurent Kabila, his son, Joseph Kabila on to the current President, Felix Tshisekedi.
The DRC’s turbulent history has seen the country colonized, liberated, engaged in civil wars, suffered from military dictatorship and currently contending with the negative activities of some terrorists in the eastern part of the country.
However, despite DRC’s difficult past and current challenges, I found Kinshasa a lively place with a light-hearted festivity amidst a colourful social life. A festival city, with a rich offering of arts and cultural events, I quickly melted into the city with its fast paced, soulful beats of ‘Congo music’ (Rumba Lingala) that seemed to ooze from every corner of the energetic city.
Having realized my love for the popular music, my hosts quickly loaded my phone with the music of some of their stars such as Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley, Simaro Lutumba, Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide, Kanda Bongo Man, Ray Lema, as well as one of the most talented and respected pioneers of African rhumba – Tabu Ley Pascal Rochereau. These musicians kept me awake every night during my stay as I listened and sometimes danced to their music in the solitude of my hotel room.
The big event, the inauguration of the Pan African Prize took place on a hot afternoon at the National Museum (Musee National De La RDC) located on the Boulevard Triumph (Boulevard Triumphal). Unfortunately, the cab which my interpreter, Edimo had hired to take me to the venue got stuck in a thick traffic snarl in the central part of the city.
Since most of the other dignitaries were already at the venue of the event, Edimo convinced me to abandon the cab and jump on a commercial motorbike (Moto). Although I had ridden motorbikes during some of my previous trips to places such as Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, riding a motorbike in the congested Kinshasa traffic was one of my scariest experiences in recent times.
On a number of occasions during the approximately 30 -minute trip to the National Museum, I had to close my eyes out of fear of a collision as my Congolese motorcyclist weaved his way in between tightly packed vehicles and pedestrians with an uncanny dexterity. Much to my relief, we arrived unscratched at the venue of the inauguration in time to be part of the historic and memorable ceremony.
My official visit to the riverside Office of the President of the DRC (Palais de la Nation) the following day was both historical and emotional. After the formalities of meeting with government officials in lieu of President Felix Tshisekedi whom I was informed had to urgently travel out of town, I was taken on a tour of the Presidential Palace.
Standing out of the multitude of historical mementoes was an elaborate tomb at the entrance of the Presidential office. Four enormous fists, sculpted in cement supported a structure that looked like a giant tent toppled with a gold star. ‘’That is the tomb of former President Laurent Kabila’’ my hosts explained. Although I could not inspect the tomb because of the late hour, I was reliably informed that the former President’s corpse rested in a coffin clad in the old colonial flag and enclosed in glass. Next to the tomb was the late President’s statue standing about eight meters high.
As I toured the forecourt of the Presidential Palace that oozed with much history and legend, I walked carefully, stepping tenderly on the grounds that the famous and the controversial had once trodden. I was careful not to disturb the spirits of those that had gone before but whom tradition still believes are looking after the place. The names came tumbling out in my mind; Patrice Lumumba, Joseph Kasa-vubu, Mobutu Seke Seko, Laurent-Desire Kabila…
My last official engagement in Kin (nickname for Kinshasa) was at the National Institute of Arts (Institut National Des Arts- INA) at the Flambeau Gombe district of the city. The occasion was a lecture on the Role of the French Language in African Literature to be delivered by Prof Andre Yoka Lye Mudaba, a veteran Congolese bilingual writer.
The Institute which I was told was for the training of youths in all areas of creative arts was jam packed with writers, musicians, actors among others when I arrived for the mid- morning event. In a corner of the hall, a two- man band was playing some old memorable music with the help of a keyboard and violin.
After a rendition of the country’s national anthem, a danceable fast paced music, the proceedings for the day began with beautiful poetry renditions to the accompaniment of ‘Congo music’.
This was followed by the lecture which centered mainly on the need to encourage Francophone countries to also learn English in order to open up their works and the country to Anglophone countries which he believed are more in number. After my own speech, the event came to a close with the band playing another Congo musical piece in my honor. Inspired by the melodious lyrical piece, I got up to dance much to the admiration of the crowd.
Twilight was setting when my hosts took me on a walking tour of the Barndal and Matonge parts of the city. As we walked down an expanse network of open -air bars, canteens and ‘drinking joints’ full of happy revelers, the percussions of sonorous ‘Congo music’ filled the air. ‘’People usually come here every day to relax after work before going back home’ my hosts explained.
The main delicacy among the patrons, I was informed was the grilled bottom part of turkey. ‘’Nobody wants to eat the main turkey, just the bottom part’’ my friends informed me amidst bouts of laughter.
We finally retired to the Writers secretariat for what appeared to be a farewell reception.
After some speeches, photographs and presentations, we feasted on hearty portions of fried chicken, plantain mutton, fish as well as boiled potatoes and cassava. These were followed by generous doses of assorted drinks before the introduction of the ubiquitous ‘Congo music’ which my hosts sang with gusto and relish alongside the musicians. The more the drinks flowed, the higher the decibel of their voices.
It was a befitting end to my one week visit to my Congolese brothers and sisters.
The Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu has said that the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Niger State has injected 700 Mega Watts (MW) into the National Grid to boost electricity.
Aliyu stated this during a farewell party for him and the Minister of State, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba by the Ministry of Power on Friday in Abuja.
He said “Today the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant has become a reality; we have as at today joined the grid with 700MW. Testing started Wednesday night.
“Information has reached us with the pictorial view of the meters showing us that the 700MW has gone on the grid,” he said.
The minister said that the Kashimbila Hydroelectric Power Project, a joint project with the Ministry of Water Resources had been completed.
He said phase one of the project which is the line taking electricity to Yandev in Benue over 240 kilometers, had been completed and inaugurated last week.
On the Siemens project, Aliyu said that the ministry had installed transformers in Abuja, Ajah, Lagos, adding that 10 massive mobile substations had been cleared.
“We have 10 of them at the port and the first one is in Ajah sub-station and some are also on the sea coming, ‘’ he said.
Aliyu also said that the ministry of power on Wednesday presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), a contract for over 13, 000kilometers distribution line.
He said that the contract was approved for the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).
“One thing we should have in our minds is that these things don’t happen just at once, it is a process. These bring about delays of some of the projects,” he said.
The minister urged all players in the industry to continue to work together in synergy to be able to achieve the desired results.
According to him, electricity is a value chain from generation to distribution, urging players to work in synergy.
Aliyu commended members of staff of the ministry and stakeholders in the sector, for the cordial working relationship.
He said that the ministers would not have achieved what they achieved without the support of the staff of the ministry.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Power, Jedy-Agba also thanked the staff for the working relationship that existed between them.
“It is a long journey but I enjoyed working with you all as you took directives from us and you implemented them,” he said.
Al Shabaab fighters on Friday attacked a military base housing Ugandan forces of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, with a Somali captain saying both sides suffered heavy casualties.
The militants attacked the base belonging to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in Bulamarer, 130 km (80 miles) southwest of the capital Mogadishu.
Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) deputy spokesman Deo Akiiki“there was an attack this morning at our base by elements of al Shabaab but we are waiting for official communication from ATMIS headquarters.’’
ATMIS had been assisting Somalia’s federal government in its war against the Islamist group.
The mission was assessing the security situation, it said on Twitter, without providing details.
Al Shabaab claimed in a statement that it carried out suicide bomb attacks and killed 137 soldiers.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the casualties and the group tends to give figures that differ from those issued by the authorities.
The militants attacked an ATMIS base and an adjacent one belonging to the Somali military, a Somali military captain who gave his name as Abdullahi told Reuters from the Lower Shabelle region.
“That prompted a fierce battle for hours. All groups including al Shabaab suffered heavy casualties,” he said.
Residents of the town said they woke up to the sound of huge explosions and heavy weapons.
Local resident Rukia Farah said “Now we see al Shabaab in the town. We cannot know how many died. We are not hearing any shots from ATMIS and government now.’’
Since 2006, the militant group has been fighting to topple the government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
A government pushback since last year has seen the group’s control erode over vast swathes of land. But it is still capable of launching significant attacks on government, commercial and military targets.
No fewer than 10 suspects have been arrested by the Police Command in Bauchi for various crimes, including rape and other criminal conspiracies in the state.
This is contained in a statement on Friday in Bauchi, by SP Ahmed Wakil, spokesperson of the command.
Wakil said that the suspects were arrested for crimes bothering on alleged rape and thuggery.
He explained that the operatives of the command were able to track five suspects for alleged rape and five others who engaged in various forms of thuggery and criminal conspiracy within the Bauchi metropolis, Dambam, Toro and Itas-Gadau Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“Investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend other accomplices.
“The suspects will be charged to court for prosecution on completion of the investigation,” he said.
The spokesman said that the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Aminu Alhassan, has commended the operatives for their dedication and professionalism.
Alhassan also assured residents of the state of the command’s unwavering commitments toward the security of lives and property in the state.
He reiterated that there will be no hiding place for criminals in the state, urging residents to remain vigilant and security conscious.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has outlined the sector’s expectations for the incoming administration within the first 100 days in office to revitalise industrialisation.
Its President, Otunba Francis Meshioye, said this at the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) Agenda Setting for the Incoming Federal Government Administration on Thursday in Lagos.
Meshioye, represented by Mr Ambrose Oruche, Head of Corporate Affairs, MAN, said that a change in administration was usually greeted with expectations, in view of promises made during electioneering campaigns.
He said the expectations would also assist to increase the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said though MAN was an advocacy group and apolitical, the association had expectations from the incoming government.
According him, the association looks forward to working with the incoming government to accelerate the Nigerian economic development, especially the manufacturing sector.
“The assumption is that the new government will move swiftly to fulfill those promises they made and thereby justify the confidence reposed by the electorate.
“This is the essence of the social contract and in a democratic society, the government is expected to be accountable to the people and deliver on the promises made.
“I am convinced that this momentous gathering symbolises not only the ceremony marking the power transition in the country but also a mission to rebuild the future of our country.
“This is by setting a reasonably transformative policy agenda to guide the policy decisions and actions of the new leadership,” he said.
Meshioye noted that the magnitude of the responsibility awaiting the administration was enormous, demanding high senses of determination, and resourcefulness.
He said that almost all parts of the economy was presently in shambles, and in crisis.
According to him, the crisis ranges from political and social rascality to arrays of economic imbalances.
He said the economic imbalances were in terms of multiple taxes, fees, and levies imposed by all tiers of government.
Others, he said, include foreign exchange scarcity, bourgeoning borrowing interest rate, energy insecurity, and an infrastructural deficit in a highly inflationary environment.
According to him, all these have negative impacts on the real sector with graver implications on manufacturing, which has been battling poor performance and now on the verge of collapse.
“Emphatically, while the government believes in tax increments to rake in more revenue, the action is highly counter-productive.
Thus is because a high tax burden on manufacturing and small and medium-scale businesses will squeeze their profit margins, which will have an adverse effect on their tax-paying ability.
“As a matter of fact, multiple taxes on the manufacturing sector cannot enhance government revenue.
“Rather, it will only erode the operational capability, effectiveness, and competitiveness of the industry, with huge negative spillover effects on government earnings, job creation, and the economy at large,” he said.
He urged the incoming administration to reverse the 2023 fiscal policy measure that raises taxes on beverages and tobacco and address the issue of multiple taxes in within its first 100 days.
He added that the productive sector should be given maximum priority for the general good of all, in terms of wealth and job creation for the nation.
Meshioye insisted that government must promote the use of local content by mandating the patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products by all government parastatals, agencies, and ministries as enshrined in Executive Orders 003 and 004.
“Let us not forget that the manufacturing sector is also not doing well due in part to inadequate support for local content development in the sector by government parastatals, agencies, and ministries.
“For instance, there is significant potential in the textile industry to produce high-quality military and paramilitary wear and apparel for the government that cannot be compromised and it is unfortunate that these are still being imported into the country.
“Other critical issues of consideration include insufficient raw materials for the manufacturing sector, counterfeiting, smuggling, and importation of substandard products, inadequate and hard-to-get long-term funds, and the negative impact of the overlapping roles of some government agencies.
“Together, we must build a resilient manufacturing industry that will withstand the test of time and safeguard the wealth of our nation,” he said.
Meshioye also urged government to identify and break the power broker militating against the completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex to make available raw materials for our steel and automobile industries.
The police in the Federal Capital (FCT) on Friday announced traffic diversions in Abuja ahead of the May 29 Presidential inauguration ceremony slated to hold at Eagle Square.
The diversion is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, on Friday in Abuja.
She said the diversion points are Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/Total Filling Station, POWA/FCDA Junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
“Other diversion points are Eagle Square (Phase 1 & Phase 11), Kur Muhammad Way / National Mosque, Abia House, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo and Gana Junction/Transcorp.
“Traffic will also be diverted at Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, Ceddi Plaza, NNPC Twin Tower and NNPC/NBS,” she said.
She said the Command had also deployed human and material resources across the nooks and crannies of the FCT to ensure a safe and peaceful Inauguration.
Adeh said the deployment consists of all Intelligence and tactical assets at the disposal of the command, solidified with inter-agency collaboration.
She said the idea was to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the inauguration and to avert any form of threat on the nation’s democratic process
Adeh said the operational deployment was characterised by visibility policing across the territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance and vehicular/foot patrol.
“The command equally wishes to notify the public of proposed fireworks scheduled to take place on the eve of the inauguration, midnight of May 28 at the City Gate and the Millennium Tower, to usher in the new administration.
“The fireworks will be carried out by Messrs Innate Arts and Media,” she said.
