Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Tuesday promised to put an end to violence and continuing attack on residents of Igangan.

Makinde who was on-the- spot-assessment in Igangan in Ibarapa axis of state following a recent attack on the community by assailants leading to destruction of lives and properties

He made the pledge while addressing residents of the community in a town hall meeting held in the town.

He, however, appealed to the people while taking responsibility for the recent attack, stressing that some security measures he had put in place to forestall such occurrence had not paid off hence the need to restrategize to ensure the people truly sleep with their two eye close.

According to him, if you want to say who doesn’t do what he should have done to prevent this sad occurrence, it is me, I’m begging you and assuring you that this will be the last of this such occurrence.

“If a flies land on the delicate part of someone’s body, it requires wisdom to solve the situation, I have told your Chairman that all the vigilantes and the local hunters that are responsible for watching over people will be taking care of, but I’m begging you to please give us a chance.

“This government is yours, if you don’t vote for me I will not be there, please give me the chance to do the needful and to take the rightful decision over this matter so that this gathering will not happen again, and to also make sure security issue in Igangan will be a thing of the past.

“Please give me a chance to do the needful, please don’t take laws into your hands, all the failure recorded during the attack have been identified.

“This weather demand we should be on farm now, and also required sleeping with our two eyes closed, please hold me responsible and accountable for what has happened, I have no where to run to, I cannot run to Abuja, because there are certain things we have put in place that didn’t worked out as planned, but please give me the time and by God’s grace when there is live, there is hope for us all. Makinde said.

The Governor also took out time to assess the level of damages and told the people to hold him accountable for the lost.

The community leaders and elders in the community had briefed the Governor upon his arrival on how the incident occurred, recalling number of properties and lives lost in the attack.

The Federal Government on Tuesday has revealed that Nigeria only meets 20 per cent of the local demand for coconut in the country.

Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum stated this in Abuja, on the occasion of the flag-off of 2021 Coconut Planting Season organised by the National Coconut Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPNAM).

According to Katagum , the local supply of coconut can only meet about 20% of the demand, hence the need to urgently address the supply side constraints.

The minister therefore, urged the private sector to bridge the production gap, in a bid to create more jobs and generate wealth in the country.

Her words, “I wish to call on the private sector to key into the opportunity of developing the coconut value chain in Nigeria.

“As I said earlier, we are currently producing just 20% of the coconut we consume.

“We cannot continue to import what we can produce locally.

“The Coconut is a commodity with lots of economic, medicinal and nutritional value and the market for it in Nigeria is huge.

“Unfortunately, the local supply can only meet about 20% of the demand, hence the need to urgently address the supply side constraints.”

The minister pledged the commitment and support of the Ministry to harness the huge economic benefits of coconut.

“As a Ministry, we are committed to supporting activities that will help harness the immense benefits of the coconut to the economy, which is why the Ministry nurtured and formed the National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN).

“This was done to create a value chain for both local and international consumption of the commodity, especially now that the export market is growing appreciably.

“The global market for the coconut is in excess of USD $6 billion, which means that the opportunities are huge.

“Therefore, as the 18th largest world producer of coconuts, we must work harder to increase our market share, and the best strategy is to start cultivation of the commodity for improved yield.

“Your campaign, “One Family, Three Coconut Trees” is strategic, and you must sustain the vision.”

Katagum further commended NACOPPMAN for initiating and promoting the establishment of 10,000 hectares of Coconut Plantations in each of the Coconut viable States in Nigeria, under the “One Family Three Coconut Trees” campaign.

She pointed out that the programme would reposition the coconut industry in the country to be among the largest coconut producers in Africa and the world at large, adding that the 2021 Coconut Planting Season flag-off, was a vital step in a series of activities to actualise the coconut master plan for economic, health and export potential.

Earlier, the Coordinator of NACOPPMAN, Mrs. Okoroji Nma Okechukwu, said the Nigerian coconut industry is 80 per cent untapped with massive importation, adding that the industry has the potential to generate foreign exchange greater than the current crude oil earnings as well as boost Gross Domestic Product(GDP).

The Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) militant group on Monday in an audio recording heard by Reuters yesterday that Abubakar Shekau, leader of rival Nigerian militant Islamist group Boko Haram, was dead.

Shekau died around May 18 after detonating an explosive device when he was pursued by ISWAP fighters following a battle, a person purporting to be ISWAP leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi said on the audio recording.

“Abubakar Shekau, God has judged him by sending him to heaven,” he can be heard saying.

Two people familiar with al-Barnawi told newsmen saying the voice on the recording was that of the ISWAP leader.

A Nigerian intelligence report shared by a government official and Boko Haram researchers had also said Shekau was dead.

It would be recalled that last month, Nigeria’s military said it was investigating Shekau’s alleged death.

The audio statement, first obtained by local media, is ISWAP’s first confirmation that its arch rival in the Lake Chad region has been killed.

Shekau’s death could lead to the end of a violent rivalry between the two groups, enabling Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to absorb Boko Haram fighters and consolidate its hold on territory in northeastern Nigeria, political analysts said.

That would allow ISWAP to focus its attention on the government and military, whose war efforts are languishing.

Boko Haram’s leader was reported to have been killed on several occasions over the last 12 years, including in announcements by the military, only to later appear in a video post

In the audio recording, the man identified as al-Barnawi said his fighters had sought out the warlord on the orders of the Islamic State leadership, and battled Boko Haram insurgents until Shekau fled.

ISWAP chased him down and offered him the chance to repent and join them, he said.

“Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the after-life than getting humiliated on earth, and he killed himself instantly by detonating an explosive,” he said.

Shekau led the transformation of Boko Haram from an underground Islamic sect in 2009 to a full-fledged insurgency, killing, kidnapping and looting its way across northeast Nigeria.

The group has killed more than 30,000 people, forced around 2 million people to flee their homes and spawned one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

ISWAP was previously part of Boko Haram before its split five years ago, pledging allegiance to Islamic State. The schism was caused by religious ideological disagreements over the killing of civilians by Boko Haram, to which ISWAP objected

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the newly remodeled Government Girls Secondary School Chibok Local Government Area of Borno state which was hitherto attacked by dreaded Boko Haram sect on Monday.

The new school is now ‘Government Secondary School’ as is mixed with Boys and Girls.

The attack which took place on 14th April, 2014 had left about 276 school girls, mostly Christians being abducted and feried into Sambisa forest, after destruction of properties within the school premises.

Recall that, since then, former President Goodluck Jonathan through his finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iwella visited Chibok in March 2015, where she laid a foundation for rebuilding the school, and not until President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, in which, the Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum took over and completed the project this year.

Although, quite a number of the abducted schoolgirls escaped, about 112 of them were in captivity or married off to the terrorists as their whereabouts is still unknown.

Buhari who was represented by Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said, she was in the state to bring a goodwill message of President Buhari to the people of Borno, especially those in Chibok.

She thanked Borno State Government for single handedly renovated the school.

Government she said, is determined to provide quality of education, especially to the down trodden improve the girl child education.

She noted that the present administration is also determined to root out insurgency in the North-East region and the country as a whole to enable citizens return to normal life.

According to him; “We sympathize with the Chibok community. We know what you are going through. But I want to assure you that we are working day and night to make sure that life returns to normal both in your community and all others affected by terrorism.

“I want to appeal to Chibok leaders and the community to continue give their maximum support to the present administration under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum who is ever willing to give girl child education the desire it needs”. The minister stated.

The Chief Host, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum thanked president Buhari for his support and cooperation to the state Government obtained the required funds which led to the completion of all the destroyed structures, and pledged his administration’s commitment to uplifting the education sector in the state.

He prayed God Almighty to rescue the remaining schools Girls and all those still in the captivity of Boko Haram.

“The reconstructed Chibok school have a state of the art classrooms, library and laboratory, computer and ICT Center, a sports arena and a clinic.

“For security, it has a gate house and observation post to be manned by well-equipped security agents.

“This administration promised to rebuild the Government Secondary School in Chibok which was destroyed by terrorists. Today, I am glad that we are all witnessing the official commissioning of the completed befitting projects.

“We want our students to go back to school. We want them to get the education they need to live a decent life. We will support them and we will do everything we can to support their parents and the entire community.

“We will also not forget the Chibok girls. We are working hard to ensure that they return home. As a father, I can feel the pain of the parents. What happened was tragic. But I want you to know that this administration cares. We will not abandon our children. We are with you.
He used the opportunity and commissioned numerous projects executed by the state government to mark his two years anniversary.
The projects executed by Zulum’s administration and lined up for commissioning include, the newly constructed Government Lodges in Chibok and Askira Uba LGA,  Mbabala Technical College also in Chibok, Primary Health Care Centres in Mbalala and Wamdeo in Askira Uba, 200 Housing Units in Chibok town, 20 double classrooms in Damboa, boreholes in Mboa community as well as distribution of palliatives among others.
In her welcome address, the Principal of the school, Hajiya Asabe Ali Kwongla, thanked Governor Zulum for the gesture, and solicited for reequipping of the school laboratory, provision of school bus/Tricycle for any emergency or eventuality and additional teachers to meet the demands of the students.
Our Correspondent report that over 3000 students in Chibok have been unable to return to school since the deadly attack by Boko Haram in the community, but with the reopening of the new edifices, hundreds of students have been enrolled into various classes amidst tight security.

The Federal Government has given condition under which the ban imposed on Twitter will be lifted.

Recall that on Friday, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter for alleged undue interference.

The action of the government had sparked a global outrage.

In a statement, The Diplomatic Missions Of Canada, The European Union (Delegation To Nigeria), The Republic Of Ireland, The United Kingdom And The United States, rejected the action.

“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.”

“Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions, as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read.

At a meeting with the foreign missions on Monday, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he invited the diplomats to clarify issues around Twitter ban.

He said, “I felt it’s absolutely right and appropriate to take your comment very seriously and meet with you for us to in our usual friendly way discuss and share opinion with regard to that and clarify certain issues.

“We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or any such thing; why we have taken this measure is to stop them to be used as platforms for destabilisation and facilitation of criminality or encouragement of criminalities. We want to use social media for good.”

On when the ban will be lifted, Onyeama said there is no definite timeline but “The condition (for lifting the ban) would be responsible use of the social media and that really has to be it.

“Lives matter; Nigerian lives matter and we have to do everything we can to preserve Nigerian lives. When we feel our goals are threatened, actions need to be taken.”

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has ordered that violators of the Federal Government’s ban on Twitter activities in Nigeria be prosecuted immediately.

Malami directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to swing into action and begin the process of prosecuting Federal Government violators in earnest, according to a statement by his media aide, Umar Gwandu.

Twitter’s operations in Nigeria have been deactivated.

Malami directed the DPPF to liase with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Communication Communication (NCC) and other relevant government agencies to ensure the speedy prosecution of offenders without any further delay.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has criticsed the Federal Government over the suspension of Twitter Operations in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that on Friday, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, had announced the suspension, saying government took the action over the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

But the development has been rejected by many who highlighted the benefits of the microblogging site.

This was contained in a statement on Saturday which was made available to newsmen , Makinde, however, called for a reversal of the suspension for the “greater good of Nigerians”.

The statement reads; “It has become imperative for me to release a statement regarding the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government.”

“As leaders, we should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how our actions will affect the people we lead and our international ratings socially and economically.

“Twitter has become the platform for young people and indeed all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental right to express and publish an opinion. They use the platform to complain, argue and give feedback to government and its agencies who in turn, use these to improve policies. This is a fundamental point that should be kept in mind as we debate the necessity of this suspension.

“We should also remember that Twitter has gone beyond a source of communication for many of our hardworking youths in Nigeria. It has become a source of livelihood for many, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious leanings.

“Nigerian youths and digital communications organisations earn a living from being able to use the platform to post communications on behalf of their clients.

“Others who may not have physical stores also rely on Twitter to give visibility to their products and services. Furthermore, I believe the Federal Government should be actively interested in how certain policies and action will affect investor confidence.

“I, therefore, use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to reverse this suspension for the greater good of Nigerians.”

The faceoff with Twitter started after the microblogging site deleted a tweet of President Muhammadu Buhari on