Headlines
FG decries opposition’s downplaying of Buhari’s achievements
Federal Government has faulted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for saying that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has done nothing for Nigerians in the last eight years.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this at the 7th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).
The series was launched in October to showcase achievements of the current administration. Before now, six ministers had presented their scorecards, including Ministers of Works and Housing, Transportation, Aviation, Interior, Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as Finance, Budget and National Planning.
Mohammed decried “increasing tendency by some opposition presidential candidates to downplay the achievements of Buhari administration,” saying: “The worst offender, in this regard, has been the presidential candidate of the PDP, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.”
He frowned on a recent statement during Atiku’s campaign in Akure, Ondo State, where the candidate was quoted to have said APC had not done anything for Nigeria in eight years. According to the minister, this was a preposterous statement from somebody who should know.
“I guess we can excuse the former Vice President, who until recently, had fully relocated to Dubai, thus, losing touch with Nigeria,” Mohammed said, adding that if anyone could accuse the APC-led Federal Government of doing nothing, it should not be Atiku Abubakar.
According to the minister, throughout the PDP years, there was no motorable road to Atiku’s hometown and key local councils in his senatorial district, until APC came into office.
“Today, the Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Toungo road has been constructed fully and it is the road that Atiku Abubakar uses to get to his hometown of Jada,” the minister said.
Mohammed insisted that before APC came into office, the five councils in Adamawa’s northern senatorial district were under the control of Boko Haram terrorists. He said even the police, the judiciary, schools, hospitals and markets were sacked.
He noted: “Traditional rulers, including emirs and chiefs, were displaced, while their palaces were taken over by the terrorists as headquarters.
“The affected five local councils in the northern senatorial zone, include Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South and Little Gombi. In the central senatorial zone, two local councils were effectively under the control of Boko Haram terrorists. These two local councils in the central senatorial zone are Maiha and Hong.
“Today, not an inch of these councils in Adamawa, the home state of the former Vice President, is under the control of terrorists. All institutions of state have relocated back and are operational. All emirs and chiefs have returned to their palaces.
“Schools and markets have opened. Please, note that throughout that period, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could not even go home. As a matter of fact, when one of his right hand men, Mr. Adila, was killed by the terrorists, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar could not even go to condole with the family of the deceased. It was that bad.”
The minister urged the PDP candidate to commend Buhari for making it easy for him to travel to his hometown.
He added: “Now that he can travel home freely, thanks to the Buhari administration, it is not sweet in his mouth to accuse the same administration of doing nothing. As they say, ‘the bed wetter should not join those who are insulting the washer man’.”
Headlines
Commission, journalists partner to revamp water sector in Kaduna
The Kaduna State Water Services Regulatory Commission (KADWREC) says it is partnering media practitioners towards revamping water services in the state.
Mr Dogara Bashir, the Executive Chairman of KADWREC, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day workshop organised for media practitioners on regulation of ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ (WASH) activities held in Kaduna.
Bashir said the commission was aware of the importance of the role media practitioners played in the society.
He stated that the workshop was to provide an avenue to liaise with them as important stakeholders on water supply and sanitation services in the state.
Bashir said: “As media practitioners, we believe you are a gateway to the citizens so, the workshop would acquaint you with some of the regulations already in place so that you can in turn transmit it to the public
“The state of water services in Kaduna State is in dire need of attention and the State Water Corporation and KADWREC were established towards addressing the seeming challenges.
“The commission is mandated to ensure better service delivery and regulation of water and sanitation services in the State.
“The idea is that once the regulations are developed, we send them to the State Ministry of Justice to gazette and then we get the state government to endorse and give the go ahead to commence the implementation of the regulations
“We intend to implement them fully come January, 2025 God willing, as we have embarked on advocacy activities having gone to zones 1 and 2 where we talked to traditional rulers, security agencies and the Judiciary.”
He disclosed that a special Court has already been attached to the commission by the Chief Judge of the State for service providers who may likely violate regulations.
The chairman further said that amongst the commission’s objectives include ensuring security, reliability and quality of service in the production and delivery of water to the consumers as well making regulations to control the sinking of boreholes.
Others included; maximising access to water services by promoting and facilitating consumer connections to distribution systems in urban and rural areas.
According to Bashir, they also include ensuring that regulatory decision-making has regards to all the relevant health, safety, environmental and social legislation applying to the water sector.
Bashir further said that the commission collaborate with the relevant state and federal agencies on water policies.
Crime
2 ladies docked for allegedly obtaining money by fraud
The police in Lagos have dragged two women, Mmesuma Ofunna, and Blessing Adimekwe, before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged obtaining money by false pretence.
Ofunna, 22, and Adimekwe, 25, were arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr L K J Layeni, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to breach peace.
They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, ASP Simon Uche, told the court that the defendants conspired with others now at large, to commit the offence on Oct. 26 at the Okokomaiko area of Ojo.
He alleged that they had obtained the sum of N70, 000 from one Faith Ahamefule, with a promise not to post her nude photo on social media.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendants later posted the nude photo of the nominal complainant on social media, knowing that their promise was false.
He alleged that they stole the N70, 0000, thereby conducting themselves in a manner likely to breach public peace.
The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 168(d), 287, 314, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The court granted the defendants bails in the sum of N500, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
He adjourned the case until Jan. 8, 2025 for mention.
Headlines
Driver jailed 6 months for attempting to steal a car
A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday, sentenced a 37-year-old driver, Ahmad Umar to six months in imprisonment for attempting to steal a car.
The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of N30, 000 fine or spend six months in prison.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 10, at the Area Command Police station through a distress call by one Sydney Peacemorie the complainant.
Gokwat said the complainant parked his Toyota RAV4 in front of Access Bank and went inside to carry out some transactions, only to return to find the convict inside his car.
“The convict unlawfully opened the car and was in the driver’s seat when the complainant raised alarm and he was apprehended, but his accomplice escaped.
“The convict was severely beaten by a mob but was rescued by the police,” said Gokwat.
“The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Plateau Penal Code Law.
-
Business3 years ago
Facebook, Instagram Temporarily Allow Posts on Ukraine War Calling for Violence Against Invading Russians or Putin’s Death
-
Headlines3 years ago
Nigeria, Other West African Countries Facing Worst Food Crisis in 10 Years, Aid Groups Say
-
Foreign3 years ago
New York Consulate installs machines for 10-year passport
-
Technology3 months ago
Zero Trust Architecture in a Remote World: Securing the New Normal
-
Entertainment2 years ago
Phyna emerges winner of Big Brother Naija Season 7
-
Business7 months ago
Nigeria Customs modernisation project to check extortion of traders
-
Business9 months ago
We generated N30.2 bn revenue in three months – Kano NCS Comptroller
-
Headlines6 months ago
Philippines’ Vice President Sara Duterte resigns from Cabinet