​Adamawa Poly Closes Down Indefinitely Following Students’ Riot

Adamawa State Polytechnic Yola, has closed down indefinitely following a riot, suspectedly ignited by graduating students of the institution.

Albert Matila, Information Officer of the institution confirmed that all the students of the polytechnic were ordered to vacate the school with immediate effect.

He said a joint security team of ‘Operation Tsaro’ comprising of soldiers and other security agencies were able to tame the riot.

Matila said, graduating students of the crime prevention department are supposedly celebrating their exit from the school and later took to the streets, blocking motorists; a situation that later turned violent.

He said students Union office classrooms and some hostels were razed down by the students.

He said no life was lost as at the time of this report as firefighters were on the scene to control the inferno.

The rioting students blocked the gate of the institution and Galadima Aminu way pelting stones on motorists and pedestrians, causing heavy traffic.

Security: ‘We Will Equip Our Markets With Modern Security Gadgets,’ Says Gov. Ganduje

In an effort to enhance and consolidate the security situation in Kano markets, which eventually helps in making businesses safer in the state, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje reveals that, “Modern security gadgets will be installed in our markets.”

“The security gadgets could easily and sharply identify those taking weapons, if there are, and other dangerous items- as the case may be –  to markets. In case that could happen, May Allah forbid. They will be identified from the entrance,” he explains. 

He made the disclosure as he declared opened Seven-Day Retreat for the Development of Draft Sectional Titling (ST) and Systematic Land Titling and Registration (SLTR) Law, for Kano State, held at Manpower Development Centre, Dutse, Jigawa state, Thursday. 

The Retreat was organised by Kano State Bureau for Land Management in collaboration with ITC System Global Nigeria Limited. It was attended by the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, House Leaders, other legislators, Commissioners, Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Land Management, Directors from the Bureau, among others.
Jigawa state governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, was represented by his Deputy, Umar Namadi, during the opening ceremony.

While appreciating the peace being enjoyed by the state in the last couple of years, he wishes that, “All we need to do is to stand up and make our state safer and safer at all times. May Almighty Allah continue to see us through.”

“Our markets need to be secured at all times also. We thank Allah that Kano is the one of the most peaceful states in the country. 

As investors troop to the state and many more people for their legitimate businesses, it is therefore incumbent upon us to create more conducive atmosphere for businesses to continue thriving,” he said.

On the ST and SLTR governor Ganduje said “This idea is only complying with the global best practice. After all the deliberations and a final Draft is ready for legislative process, when it finally being passed into Law, our revenue generation drive will increase. And land management would be most effective and efficient.”

Adding that, “With the composition of those attending this Retreat, it is very clear for all, to understand that, the effort is meant for the development of the state. Not only development, but sustainable development of the state.”
Jigawa State Deputy Governor extended the well wish of the Jigawa state government on behalf of the governor, who was unavoidably absent, as he was attending other crucial engagements outside the state.

In his brief remarks Speaker Chidari commends the governor for the initiative of this magnitude, “We are assuring His Excellency the Governor that, we at the House, will do the needful in passing this Bill you are developing here, into Law,” he assured. 

“This will improve the revenue drive of the state. So that more developmental projects will come to our people at all levels in the state. Your Excellency take our words that, we will do our best to see that, this good initiative sees the light of the day,” he said.

Dr Zainab Ibrahim Braji, who is the Permanent Secretary of the State Land Bureau, said the aim of the Retreat was to prepare a working document that would be transmitted to the State Assembly for onward passage into Law.

The entire programme, SLTR is a programme that is aimed at enlightening the public on the importance and benefits of land registration. Parts of the areas it wants to achieve are, “…making faster and easier registration of property, providing better land information, increase economic empowerment through enhanced access to financing, improve transparency of process, among others.”

​Scrabblers Scramble For Over 700,000 naira at Maiden Emmanuel Egbele Tournament

Over 700, 000 naira will be on offer at the first Emmanuel Egbele Annual Scrabble tournament which is slated to hold at the COWSLO Hall, Lekki, Lagos from the 26-27 of this month.

Top Jammers across the country are expected to jostle for honour and glory at the tournament which organisers promised would be a memorable event.

Players will compete in the Masters, Intermediate and Opens categories where a top cash prize of 150,000 naira is guaranteed for the winner.

Top 15 players as well as spot winners will also win cash prizes at the two-day competition schedule to  begin this Friday.

The Chief Organiser, Emmanuel Egbele who was appointed as a board member of the Lagos State Scrabble Association, said the tournament was conceived to impact on the development of scrabble as a sport.

“I will say that this tournament has been long in the works and it’s actually conceived sometime ago. Basically” he continued, “the whole idea is, Yes we know scrabble as a sport has a wide followership in Nigeria, and of course, you know  our country is one of the best if not the best in the world so, putting up a competition like this is to contribute to the development of the game. It’s also an avenue to give players the opportunity for to come out and play and be able to win some prizes especially as we all know that from last year due to the Covid19 pandemic,  there have been scarcity of competitions and some major tournaments in scrabble. So putting this together is to encourage players to come, play and win prizes & also to encourage new players that may want to come into the game”. 

“Don’t forget also that the National Sports Festival is coming up in April so, we also thought that putting it up at this time will afford those attending to use the tournament as a dress rehearsal” he said.

Flood: FEMA calls for preparedness against raining season

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has emphasized the need for residents to prepare for the rains and avoid environmental practices that could lead to flooding in the FCT this rainy season. 

Speaking to Newsmen in his office recently, Alhaji Abbas ldriss, Director General FEMA, stated that preparedness and sensitization remains the key toward reducing disaster to the barest minimum in the FCT.

He reiterated FEMA’S Preparedness for this rainy season, and prevention measures put in place by the Agency.

Idris appealed to residents to desist from acts that could lead to flooding this rainy season, especially indiscriminate waste disposal into water channels and rivers, building on water ways and river banks as well as diverting water channels

“ Everyone is a stakeholder in this disaster prevention efforts and FEMA has created a high level  awareness amongst FCT residents, through several media platforms to established the consciousness of disaster prevention and mitigation rather than management. This yields better result, because community participation by residents in disaster management will bring about greater results” He said.

On pro-active action plans being made by the Agency for the rainy season,  ldriss said FEMA does not rest at the end of any rainy season but always brings it’s stakeholders together to review and take stock of cause of events, identify gaps and proffer solution for the relevant stakeholders to swing into actions.

“Residents will notice lots of clearing around the city since the last rainy season, removal of illegal structures, desilting of drainages. expansion of narrow drainages removal of waste from dump sites as well as removal of any obstructed thing that could block water from flowing well.  This shows that the FCT Administration is living no stones unturned to ensure no live is lost to flooding this rainy season but residents also have a role to play”, He said.

“If you follow the trend of our response, you will discover that some of the flood issues of 2019 did not reoccur in the same locations, except new ones that came up in different locations. Such locations like Area one and Lokogoma flood issues were taken care of after identifying the obstacles. We also mounted reflective flood warning sign posts at the flash points to sensitive and warn residents from driving or walking into a running water.  some Our monitoring personnel at all locations are surveiling the city for monitoring and reporting situations in and around their areas and report feedbacks from the residents”, he adds.   

He revealed that NIMET has predicted that the Northern part of country should expect rains from May and June this year, while the coastal areas expects rain from 1st of March, but that the rains will not last longer in the year. He therefore advised Argicultural and Extension Officers to sensitize farmers on this and provide for them crops that are suitable for the season to avert food insecurity which could also result to serious disaster.

Alh. ldriss appreciated it’s stakeholders for ensuring that all hands are on deck to prevent disasters in the FCT. He also commended FEMA trained Vanguards, Volunteers and Local Divers who proactively respond to emergencies, adding that with their help and that of the traditional rulers, FEMA has been able to sensitize the rural communities and reduced severity of disasters tremendously in the FCT.

“This year, we have devised another means of reaching out to the communities – through the recently lunched FCTA Citizens Participation Portal for quicker reach out and prompt response”.

Alh. ldriss stressed that while waiting for Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency detailed outlook on floods for this rainy season, it is important for residents to join hands and complement the efforts of the FCT Administration to prevent flood disasters  in the FCT this rainy season, adding that residents have vital role to play as major stake holders in Emergency prevention and mitigation.

He advised them to always clear their drainages. Proper disposal of refuse. Avoid building on flood plains and river banks. Avoid driving or walking on running waters.

He, however, appealed to all residents that are in distress to call the Toll Free Emergency Number 112 to report any emergency for a quick and prompt response.

​Buhari, Tinubu not quarreling, says Presidency

Presidency says media reports of an alleged rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are not true.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who stated this in a statement titled, “Alleged rift between President Buhari and Tinubu; handiwork of cynics,” said the reported rift between the two leaders was the figment of the imagination of media mischief-makers.

According to the statement, “The Presidency wishes to make it clear that there is no rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and his strong ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The President and the Asiwaju have a very strong commitment to the All Progressives Congress, towards bringing change and this is a commitment they have made to the Nigerian people.

“Recent reports of a rift between the two leaders of our party are false; the handiwork of some media mischief-makers.

“It is quite unfortunate that certain sections of the media feed on birthing controversies, providing a nexus for naysayers who work behind the scenes planting such stories which are absolutely false.

“This administration is aware of pessimists and cynics who wilfully spread misinformation to create doubts in the minds of the people about the relationship between its leaders and whether the party will remain intact or not.

“There is no doubt that the President and the party are focused on development, peace and security, restructuring of the economy and war against corruption in the country and will not be diverted to anything else. This desperate attempt to fool the people will not succeed.”

Shehu further stated that Tinubu remained to President Buhari one of the most respected political leaders in the country who has stuck to his principles in the face of all adversities.

The Presidential spokesman added that Tinubu was instrumental to the formation, growth and development of the APC into a formidable political party and the political alliance is waxing even stronger.

Shehu added, “If Asiwaju is not a frequent face in the Aso Rock Villa, it is on account of the fact that he is not a cabinet member of this government.

“The fact that he is not every day around the Villa does not make him less of a friend to the President and this administration.”