The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Saturday graduated 1,800 personnel in Kano, at the Immigration Training School and Customs Training College (CTC),
In Abuja, DCI Anthony Akuneme issued a statement stating that the cadets were among the staff who just completed the 23rd Pre-Basic Course.
Isah Jere Idris, the Comptroller General of Immigration Service, congratulated the graduates and advised them to continue acting in accordance with the agency’s rules of engagement, its guiding principles, and the training they had received.
The CGI, who was represented by the Parade Reviewing Officer and the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Human Resource Management, Babangida Usman maintained that the current management has continued to demonstrate huge commitment to human capacity development efforts to ensuring that the Service produces a professional workforce that would be sufficiently capable to confront emerging challenges in Border Security and Migration Management matters.
The CGI emphasized on the need for the personnel to avoid compromise in the cause of their duty, especially with the 2023 general elections at hand, reiterating that the Service cannot afford to go back to the era of nonchalance and arbitrary abuse of duty call, which demands commitment and bravery. He charged them to remain apolitical and ensure non-Nigerians are not allowed to participate in the election exercise.
He stated that the event was the first of its kind in the history of NIS, noting that never has the Service ever trained such a number of personnel at once. He commended the Commandants of ITSK and NITSOL for the wonderful coordination of the training.
CGI Jere appreciated the Honorable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and indeed the Federal Government for the continuous support accorded the Service in its operations and manpower development activities.
Important personalities at the event include the Nigeria Consulate General to Benin Republic and that of Niger Republic, Zonal Coordinator Zone B, Brigade Commander, 3 Infantry Brigade Kano, very senior functionaries of the Kano State government as well as Heads of other security and military Agencies in the State.
Atiku Abubakar, the standard bearer for the Peoples Democratic Party in the presidential race, has pledged to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company as a national industrial revolution engine.
To facilitate trade for the country, he promised to build, restore, and renovate all federal highways in Kogi.
Atiku made the commitment while campaigning in Lokoja, the state capital, ahead of the next general elections, which will be held on Saturday.
The PDP presidential candidate referred to Kogi State as a PDP State and challenged the populace to rise to the occasion by supporting the PDP in the upcoming election so that he could finish building the state’s inland ports.
While maintaining that if elected he will support the State to pay salaries, and to set aside $10billion dollars for job creation, to tackle incessant strikes in the nation’s Universities.
The PDP Flagbearer expressed satisfaction with the turnout of people to receive him described the mammoth crowd as an indication of a people yearning for change, a positive change that would improve their quality and standard of living.
The PDP Presidential candidate described the party as a light over the ruling APC, expressed dissatisfaction with the dwindling standard of living , acute poverty and gross insecurity across the country.
He promised to include more citizens of the State in governance if elected, assured that the Abuja Lokoja road and other federal roads would get massive attention.
While promising to harnessed the natural and human resources in the State for the benefits of the people, he will revamp the agriculture and tourism potentials that abound in the State.
Gov. Udom Emmanuel, Gov. Ifeanyi Ukowa, said with experience, the will of the people will be respected through the building of massive infrastructures that will make lives bearable for the people.
In the same vain, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of sokoto state said Kogi State has all the potentials in natural and human resources,but lamented for ineffective leadership, urged the people to vote for PDP to rejuvenate the economy.
In a remark, former Kogi Gov. Ibrahim Idris described the hardship facing Kogi people under the APC administration as unprecedented in the annals of the State, assured that the PDP would win overwhelmingly in the coming general election.
Highlights of the event was the massive defection of prominent APC leaders and members from across the State in their numbers, who all stressed that the APC administration in the State has made them worse off in terms of living conditions and dividends of democracy.
Receiving the defectors, Dr. Iyorcha Ayu, National Chairman of the Party, urged the returnees to work collectively towards ensuring victory for the PDP. He decried worsening state of the economy, insecurity and poverty across the state.
Those that moved to the PDP includes; Ex.Deputy Governor , Simon Achuba, Former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Alfa Imam and Hon. Yahaya Karaku, former Chairman, Okene LGA with their 148,000, supporters defected from APC to PDP
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Simeon Achuba, said their return to PDP is occasioned by the failed promises made by the APC to Nigerians in 2015 and 2019, lamented that the country is worse off under APC administration.
Shi’ites, also known as the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), has requested that President Muhammadu Buhari direct security personnel to release Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah’s international passports and other documentation before they leave the office.
During a nonviolent demonstration at the Federal Secretariat Abuja, the protestors also sought the release of their fellow protesters who had been detained in Kuje Correctional Center since July 2019.
According to the sect, an attempt was made to assassinate El-Zakzaky and his wife when their travel documents were taken.
This information was made public by IMN on Friday in Abuja during a procession honoring Fatima Zahra, the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, who turned 18.
The procession started immediately after the Juma’at prayer at Fu’ad Mosque, beside Customs office as protesters marched through Wuse Market to Berger roundabout.
The Secretary Academic Forum of the movement, Abdullahi Muhammad Musa who addressed the rally said Nigerian government had continued to obey the order of Kaduna Stare High Court since July 2021 which discharged and acquitted the Islamic scholar.
He said ” The procession was in honour of the Daughter of the Holy Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him to mark her birth day anniversary and at the same time to demand for Buhari’s unconditional release of Shaikh El-Zakzaky’s International passports to go for medication outside Nigeria as the Nigerian and the foreign medical personnels recommended some years back.
” During the procession, we also demand for the release of 54 young guys detained in Kuje prison by the General Buhari regime since July, 2019 after the brutal killing of 15 peaceful free Zakzaky protesters at the Federal Secretariat Abuja, 5 bodies of these innocent protesters are still with the Police despite a valid Court order that ordered the them to release the corpses to their family members for burial.
” The public will recalled that before the release of Shaikh Zakzaky and his Wife by the Kaduna High Court in July 2021, the Nigerian Security under General Buhari’s order has killed 79 Protesters in Abuja alone, their only crime was peaceful protest demanding the regime to Obey the December 2016 Abuja Federal High Court order in which the government was ask to unconditionally release the Sheikh and his wife and also pay them the sum of 25 million Naira each, for violation of their fundamental rights”
In a statement titled ” FATIMATUZ-ZAHRA, A PARADIGM TO MANKIND” signed by Fatima Ismail Hassan on behalf of Sisters Forum of the movement described Fatima as a radiant pearl of knowledge who lived an exemplary life for the humanity.
” The Islamic movement under the leadership of his eminence Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky congratulates the Muslim ummah on the joyous occasion of the birth anniversary of the beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him (pbuh), Fatimatuz-Zahra salamullahi alaiha (sa), the leader of all women from the first, till the last of creation.
” Lady Zahra (sa) was the only surviving daughter of the seal of the Prophets. She was born on 20th, Jimada Thani, 8 years before hijrah. Fatima (sa) had siblings; Ibrahim and Abdallah who died in their childhood. Following their death, the Quraysh began to mock Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him (pbuh), that he is without posterity. Allah (SWT) consoled the Prophet (pbuh) that he was given abundant good (the birth of lady Zahra), this was revealed in surah Al-Kawthar Q 108.
” Fatimatuz-Zahra (sa) is the radiant pearl of knowledge, piety, and virtue, unfortunately, limited information to buttress these points is available in Islamic history books. She is known for her generosity, kindness, and selflessness.
” Lady Zahra (sa) illuminates our minds with the appropriate manner to think of fellow humans, and the way we act with them. Her son, Hassan (as) narrated that, he always hears his mother pray for the faithful men and women, naming each one of them without including herself. When asked, she says: my son, the neighbor, then the home.
” Lady Zahra (sa) lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. She is best daughter, spouse, and mother to her parents, husband and children respectively”
The mother of the believers Aisha narrates, “I have not seen anyone who resembled the Holy Prophet (pbuh) more in manners, habits, character, and in the method of sitting and standing than Fatimah, the daughter of the messenger of Allah”.
” Abdullah bin Mas’ud also narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) said ‘Fatima has protected her honor and purity in such a way that Allah has forbidden the fire for her children’. Authentic traditions where the Prophet mentioned that ‘Fatima is a part of me, whatever hurts her hurts me’ have been narrated. Other narrations stated that the Prophet (pbuh) said to Fatima (sa) ‘whoever fight against you, I will fight against them and I will make peace with whomever you make peace’. She was a champion and icon of fight against evil during her lifetime. She stood firmly against the oppressors of her time.
” We will like to call on Muslims to research into the life of Lady Fatima (sa), as there are great lessons to be learned in terms of her struggle in the path of Allah, role in business and charity, family, and contributions to Islamic knowledge”
Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, has been chosen by the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to serve as the party’s national leader.
At a meeting of the NEC on Friday at the International Convention Center in Awka, the APGA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) appointed Governor Soludo as the party’s leader.
According to the press secretary, Christian Aburime, Ozomkpu Victor Oye, the national chairman of the APGA, praised Soludo as a trustworthy individual worthy of the position while giving the governor the certificate verifying the appointment.
He expressed the optimism that APGA would advance to new heights under Governor Soludo’s leadership.
He also expressed his joy and gratitude to Governor Soludo for allowing him to witness the momentum in the state.
“Anambra State is synonymous with development, and we pray to God to keep its leadership in place,” Ozonkpu said.
“All our State Chairmen from 36 states of the country and BOT Chairmen are all represented here.
“Our party has made tremendous progress, and all of the goals we set for 2022 have been met. We met the criteria for uploading data from ward to national level APGA candidates, produced a list of officers, and completed the exercise in 21 days.
“APGA was the first political party to meet the INEC deadline prior to the opening of our functional ICT center with 55 ports in 2019.
“I can monitor the uploading of party agents in real time on my phone,” he explained.
“In 2021, we held our primaries in Awka on June 21st, and Governor Soludo emerged as the APGA Candidate and went on to win the Governorship election, and he is now seated here with us as the Governor of Anambra State.
“I’ve always said that no one can curse someone whom God has blessed. Governor Soludo is a visionary leader, and God Almighty will keep him alive so that he can complete his mission on Earth “Ozonkpu prayed
“The state faced critical challenges in areas such as roads, security, health, employment, and education. Eight local governments in the state were under siege, but they have now been liberated under the current leadership of Governor Soludo
“The APGA and NEC are extremely proud of our Governor! We have a brand new Secretariat in Abuja on 4000 square meters of land, as well as a five-story regional headquarters in Awka.
“This party’s leadership will change over the next six months. We did our best, and now it is up to posterity and the people to judge us. “He stated .
Speaking further ,Oye said “APGA is based in Anambra State. This is where APGA was conceived. The goal is to have regional headquarters throughout Nigeria.
“We are building these institutions to entrench democracy, to achieve a greater APGA for the future.” The National Chairman concluded
Receiving the certificate, Soludo described the appointment as a great honor. saying he had been humbled ,adding that he was acceting the honor with great pleasure, sense of humility and gratitude to God.
He assured that with support of God , party members he would live up to expectations.
“This has humbled me! I’m feeling the weight of history right now. The APGA is a coalition of all progressives. I feel the weight of our forebearers and those who have sacrificed their lives to ensure the survival of this great party ” Governor Soludo stated.
“There was a grand progressive alliance in the first and second republics that included the UPN, RPP, NPP, and others.
“All of the progressives are dispersed throughout this republic. APGA is a 21-year-old political party that was the first to be registered with the word “progressives” in its name.
“All progressives call APGA home. It’s a history with two leaders, and I’m honored to be the third ” Governor Soludo continued.
“I must pay tribute to my predecessors, Late Sir Chukwuemeka Ojukwu of blessed memory, the first National Leader of APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, my immediate predecessor as the APGA’s second leader, and here
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, said during the virtual conference on leadership and nation-building organized by the Africa Leadership Group that Nigeria no longer needs “think tanks” but rather “do tanks” leadership.
Speaking with Ituah Ighodalo, president of ALG, who served as the forum’s host, Obasanjo emphasized the essential qualities of effective leaders.
In his words: “A leader is someone who leads in front or ahead. We cannot find them in books, they exist in society. A good leader has character, progressive attitudes and modern skills that can drive nation building.”
Obasanjo who has been a long advocate for strong leadership at all levels of society, not only in Nigeria but in Africa did not mince words on the state of leadership on the continent.
“Africa’s long-standing problem has been good leadership. That is why governance and nation-building are largely deficient in the continent.”
As Nigeria prepares to elect new leaders in the forth-coming 2023 general elections in February, the former president charged Nigerians not to be swayed by the prevalent ethnic and religious colourations present in our society.
He said: “For me, I’ll critically and clinically look at whom to vote for with a clean and clear conscience and not be influenced by religion, ethnicity and nepotism. This is what will guarantee we are progressively looking at the future.”
“Our nation is diverse, which is actually one of our biggest strengths. But if you cannot manage diversity, what right do you have in managing the affairs of the country?”
He further urged the masses to be very astute in selecting the next set of leaders that will rule Nigeria in the coming years.
“In choosing a leader, character matters. Not only that, we should examine a candidate’s track record and scrutinise the person’s vision if it tallies with the kind of future we want for us and our children.”
”The incoming president must be someone who is intelligent economically and has a solid grasp of what is needed to be done to effect things positively.” He added
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress’s presidential candidate, has chastised the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and Atiku Abubakar, warning them that defeat is an impending reality that would materialize in six weeks.
According to him, the PDP candidate lacks any specific information to provide Nigerians, so in order to occupy media space, he makes reckless assertions.
The APC has been blamed by the PDP for orchestrating the security alibi, which was used as an excuse to call off the election and impose an unconstitutional conundrum on the nation.
Bayo Onanuga , Director, Media and Publicity , APC Presidential Campaign Council in a statement said the PDP is confused and disoriented because of the impending defeat of it candidate and has refused to hear the assurance of INEC and the federal government that the election will be held and not be compromised in any way.
Onanuga said the once towering party has become an embarrassment.
The statement reads: “For lack of nothing tangible to tell Nigerians six weeks to a general election as its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar disappeared from the campaign trail, PDP has resorted to making irresponsible statements just to fill media space.
“The latest is the false information that the Federal Government and INEC plan to postpone the general elections.
“Nigerians are advised to ignore this senseless conjecture from PDP as there is no iota of truth in the allegation.
“The electoral umpire has made it abundantly clear of its readiness to conduct the elections and these elections will hold as scheduled in February and March this year.
“President Muhammadu Buhari who has given this country the most credible elections both regular and off season since 2015 has consistently assured Nigerians, even up to two days ago that 2023 elections will hold.
“Similarly the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has reiterated President Buhari’s position that the Federal Government has no intention to postpone elections.
“Knowing that it has no path to victory and no real agenda for development to sell to Nigerians by its absentee presidential candidate, PDP has nothing profitable again to engage in other than raising false alarms, manufacturing outright lies and disseminating innuendos to deceive the public.
“PDP should know that Nigerians have rejected it and no amount of falsehood can redeem a political party that wrecked our economy, under its watch, created massive insecurity and looted money meant for development…
“As a party and presidential campaign council, we are focused on the message of renewed hope of our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that it has been following the many furtive narratives being promoted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the view to blackmail critical election stakeholders to accede to its design to postpone the 2023 general elections, particularly the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba exposed the attempt by the APC to mislead the public by falsely claiming that the PDP has no candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District Election.
Insisting that the 2023 elections is Sancrosant, PDP said, “our Party had earlier alerted the nation of a well-oiled plot by the APC to orchestrate security situation and promote circumstances to warrant the postponement of the 2023 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The ultimate intent of the APC is to use such unfounded circumstance to derail the entire electoral process and impose an undemocratic situation on our country.
“The PDP hereby insists without equivocation that the February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election date is sacrosanct.
“February 25, 2023 date is already locked in for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the security agencies have given their assurances, the Federal Government has also given its assurance; Nigerians are ready for election and will not accept any postponement of elections under any guise whatsoever.”
The PDP said that the APC and its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu know that they have no chance at all in the coming elections, having been rejected by Nigerians because of their multiple failures, recklessness, humongous corruption, violence and continuing infliction of pains, hardship and life-discounting experiences on Nigerians in the last seven and half years.
“Nigerians are not ready to continue with a hopelessly corrupt, miserably incompetent and viciously insensitive political party, the APC, which has mortgaged the future of our country with an accumulated N77 trillion debt as revealed by the Debt Management Office (DMO).
“This explains why the APC and its Presidential Candidate continue to promote and encourage violence in various parts of our country including attacking INEC facilities,” the party said.
PDP also said that APC and its leaders are desperate to use their doomsday orchestrations to frighten and blackmail INEC to alter the electoral schedule after which the APC will take advantage of the situation to unsettle the general election, foist a constitutional crisis and truncate the nation’s democratic process,
The PDP therefore charged INEC, as an independent institution not to succumb to the blackmails of the APC but focus on its preparations and fix its eyes on delivering a free, fair, transparent and credible election on February 25, 2023.
The PDP also demanded that Security Agencies should place APC leaders on watchlist and take urgent steps to halt APC’s implementation of Asiwaju Tinubu’s directives to his party members, as contained in the recently leaked video, to deploy violence and underhand dealings in the 2023 general elections.
“Nigerians are eager to vote on February 25, 2023. They have suffered a lot and cannot wait to kick out the vicious, insensitive and corrupt APC and vote in the PDP and Atiku Abubakar to rescue and rebuild our nation.
“Atiku Abubakar is poised to win the majority of votes cast across the country and secure 25% in all the States of the Federation to emerge President on the very first ballot. Those trying to push the run-off narrative or postponement of elections should perish the thought. They should get ready for elections or quit the race.
“On the Borno Central Senatorial District election, our Party has been made aware of mischievous and misleading claims by the APC, that the PDP has no candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial election scheduled to hold on February 25, 2023.
“For clarity, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that our Candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial election remains Hon. Umara Muhammad Kumalia as confirmed in the list of candidates for the 2023 general elections as published by INEC.
“Such resort to falsehood further exposes the fact that the APC in Borno State is intimidated by the towering credibility and popularity of our Borno Central Senatorial Candidate, Hon. Umara Muhammad Kumalia among the people for which they are eager to troop out enmasse to vote for him on February 25, 2023,” the party said.
***Present NNPP flags to Northeast Gov’ship candidates.
If elected president, the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s (NNPP) Eng. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has vowed that his administration will be dedicated to putting an end to insecurity in the nation.
During his party’s Northeast rally in Bauchi, Kwankwaso made the pledge in front of Ahmed Khamisu Mailantarki of Gombe State and all of the zone’s governorship contenders.
Mohammed Saad Tahir for Adamawa, Halliru Dauda Jika for Bauchi, Dr. Umar Alkali for Borno, Prof. Sani Yahaya, and Alhaji Garba Umar for Taraba and Yobe States, respectively, were also presented with flags.
Kwankwaso said, ending insecurity challenges, creation of jobs to the teaming youths, and revamping the country’s economy will top his administration’s priority.
“NNPP will surely address issues of insecurity which is the policy thrust of the party as it stands for peace, unity, stability and development of Nigeria”, he added.
He therefore urged the candidates, stakeholders and party members to keep convincing eligible voters across all ethnic groups and religions to vote for NNPP in the 2023 general elections.
He commended the people for coming out in en-mass to welcome him, especially women and youths.
He said, “This is a moment of change for our youths and women. Change for our economy and change for the nation. Nigeria is a potentially great nation. What we need is purposeful and committed leadership.”
Earlier speaking, the NNPP national Chairman, Prof. Rufai Ahmad Alkali, said the party has a determination to administer itself and lead the nation out of the current mess.
He promised that the candidates would do their best to provide good governance if elected in their various states.
He said, “We will do our best to bring food and security to the masses of this country, We will also create enabling environment that will make it easy for investors to stay here and help us prosper as a nation.
“Those are the things we believe in that will bring about good governance in all the states”, he stressed.
All 79 Squadron Commanders of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force are currently enrolled in a two-week fully residential refresher training led by the IGP, Usman Alkali Baba.
According to Force Spokesperson CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the training was conducted at the Police Mobile Force Training College in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, from January 9 to January 23, 2023, and it was “in keeping with the IGP’s mandate on training and human capacity building.”
According to him: “The training programme is geared at strengthening the operational efficiency of the Squadron Commanders and for more effective tactical deployment of their personnel to ensure a secured and hitch-free environment before, during, and after the 2023 General Elections to generally reduce crimes to their barest minimum in Nigeria.
“Some of the focus of the course includes the use of contemporary riot control gadgets for suppression of riots and other serious disturbances, crowd control techniques, ambush and counter-ambush, diplomatic protection, combating internal security challenges and insurgency as well as gun safety and weapons handling.”
The IGP has also charged officers and men of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the punching arm of the Force, to effectively make use of the opportunities the training would offer them and improve on their crime control mechanisms and general safety strategies, especially towards having free, fair and credible 2023 General Elections.
In the same vein, the IGP has met with representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) on Thursday 12th January, 2023, to discuss possible areas of partnership to strengthen the oversight and accountability mechanisms of the Nigeria Police Force including the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) and the Provost Department of the Force.
The meeting discussed synergy between the foreign agencies, the Police Reform and Transformation Office (PORTO), the office of the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Police to improve the policing system in Nigeria and handle disciplinary matters judiciously.
The Inspector-General of Police has assured that his administration will collaborate with every sector to sanitize the police towards the achievement of his vision for a people-oriented Nigeria Police.
Government has announced a traffic diversion on the Ikorodu-bound Service Lane beginning on Monday, January 23, 2023, for a period of two weeks in order to further the rehabilitation work on the Ikorodu Road section from the Ojota Interchange to the Ojota Second Pedestrian Bridge.According to a statement from the Transportation Commissioner, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, the diversion was planned to address some asphalt issues found at the edge of the ramps leading into the Iyana-Oworo/Gbagada axis and Seven up on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. He also noted that alternate routes had been made available for motorists to use while the repairs were being made.The Statement further explained that vehicles coming from Maryland on the Service Lane will be diverted at the 2nd Pedestrian Bridge into the Main Carriage Way to make a turn at Mile 12 Underpass and continue their Journeys on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway or link Demurin Road along Ketu axis of the Expressway.The Commissioner assured that the State’s Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and other Traffic Management Agencies will be on ground to direct traffic to ease vehicular movements.The State Government through this statement appealed to residents of the State, especially motorists that ply the corridor to support the project, which is aimed at finding a lasting solution to the ever busy road in line with efficient traffic management and transportation policy of the State Government.
