Tinubu sets up committee to consider gaps in police legal framework.

Tinubu sets up committee to consider gaps in police legal framework.

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, October 31, set up a special committee that will take a look at and work on all the gaps in the nation’s legal statutes, right from 1999 till today.

Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, disclosed this to journalists at the state House, Abuja, after the confirmation of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun by the National Police Council.

According to Mohammed, who lauded the choice of Egbetokun as IGP, the council’s meeting and the confirmation process led to extended deliberations concerning the Nigeria Police Force.

Bala stated that the committee consists of the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, all collaborating on a shared reform agenda to ensure the comprehensive overhaul of the Nigeria Police.

He said: “The confirmation of the IGP prompted further discussion on the Nigeria Police Force and the President has formed a special Committee to look at all the gaps in Nigeria’s 1999 constitution with a view to bring harmony and synergy, closing technology and manpower to the Nigerian Police force.

“The committee comprise of the Minister of Police Affairs, NSA, Chairman of PSC and the Chairman of the NGF to work on common on reform agenda with a view to make sure that the Nigeria Police is reformed.”

Also speaking on the confirmation of the IGP, the governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun mentioned that IGP Egbetoken remarked on professionalism in the Nigerian Police Force, Community Policing and adequate funding for the Nigerian Police Force.

Abiodun disclosed that the National Police Council observed that no meaningful reforms have taken place in the Nigerian Police force since its creation in 1861.

The governor added that the newly set up committee will come up with ideas that would lead to reforms that will characterize the new Nigerian Police Force.

He added: “The newly confirmed IGP is adequately prepared, his CV is extremely rich, very experienced intellectually and practically. He also addressed us as a Council on the state of policing in Nigeria, amongst other things that he highlighted he spoke about the need for technology driven policing.

“The need for community-based policing, the need to ensure that required budgetary provision is provided for community-based policing which has been proven to be very effective”, he said.

Abiodun further revealed that the newly confirmed IGP also addressed the Council on major Police requirements, which involved technology-driven policing.

“The IGP also remarked on professionalism g the police canvassing that each police man will have endowed certain qualities and they should be encouraged to follow those qualities so that they can be encouraged to follow such qualities so that they will be professional.

“The issue of funding also came up and this committee of 4-5 will look at these issues that border on reforms. We observed that there have been no meaningful reforms since the establishment of the Nigerian Police Force.

“So we believe that with the newly set up committee they will come up with ideas that would lead to reforms that will characterize the new Nigerian Police Force.”

In attendant at the briefing were the Ministers of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam and Iman Sulieman-Ibrahim, Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun and the Bauchi State Governor and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase.

Source:The Nation Newspaper.

Lagos Assembly amends Appropriation Law 2023.

Lagos Assembly amends Appropriation Law 2023.

Lagos State House of Assembly has amended the Appropriation Law of 2023 to authorise the re-ordering of N761,218,455,055.

The reordering was sequel to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s letter seeking authorisation of re-ordering of the 2023 Budget.

The House, at plenary yesterday, approved the reordering after Chairman of the Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, Lukman Olumoh, presented the committee’s report and recommendations, which were adopted as the House’ resolution.

At the sitting presided by the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, the lawmakers read the bill a third time before its eventual passage.

Titled ‘A Bill for a Law to amend the appropriation Law, 2023 and to authorise the re-ordering of N761,218,455,055 from the consolidated Revenue Fund for Recurrent Expenditure, and N1,006,795,700,230 from Development Fund for Capital Expenditure’, it was unanimously approved by the lawmakers through a voice note.

The Deputy Speaker, thereafter, directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to forward a copy of the approval to the appropriate quarters.

Source: The Nation Newspaper. 

Motion on injunction: Court fines Aiyedatiwa.

Motion on injunction: Court fines Aiyedatiwa.

An Ondo State High Court has awarded N200,000 cost against Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over absence of his counsel in court.

Aiyedatiwa had filed a motion asking the court to restrain the state Chief Judge and the House of Assembly from proceeding with his impeachment, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal he filed against the judgment delivered by the court on October 10, 2023 dismissing his case.

His counsel was not represented in court to argue the motion.

Hon. Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, who awarded the cost, directed Aiyedatiwa to pay N50,000 cost each to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the House of Assembly, the Clerk to the House and the state Chief Judge, who were sued as the 3rd to 6th respondents in the motion.

Counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Emodamori, represented by A. S. Subair, informed the court that the motion for injunction was adjourned till today (yesterday) based on the agreement of both parties, but wondered why the counsel for Aiyedatiwa was absent and did not deem it fit to write the court over his absence.

Justice Osadebey adjourned the hearing of the motion till November 7, 2023 and awarded N200,000 cost against Aiyedatiwa for wasting the time of the court and the other parties.

President Tinubu Highlights Investment Opportunities as Foreign Ambassadors Present Letters of Credence.

President Tinubu Highlights Investment Opportunities as Foreign Ambassadors Present Letters of Credence.

President Bola Tinubu has assured foreign ambassadors in Nigeria that his administration is ready to maintain open lines of communication and cooperation, with a focus on advancing mutually beneficial economic opportunities across sectors.

The President gave the assurance while receiving the Letters of Credence of the Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, Mr. Jose Bamoquine Zau; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, Mr. Pieter Leenknegt; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Nigeria, Mr. Sevin Baera, and the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Nigeria, Mr. Albert Castelar. 

In separate meetings with the Ambassadors, the President emphasized the importance of strong diplomatic relations and expressed his willingness to engage with the foreign missions. 

He told the Ambassadors that the Foreign Ministry and the Office of his Chief of Staff would always be available to interact with the foreign missions and address any matter of concern.

"We will maintain an open-door policy. We are ready to do anything that will make your stay rewarding and our relationship strong. Do not hesitate to bring up any matter with the Foreign Minister or my Chief of Staff; they will bring it to my attention," the President said, while wishing the ambassadors the best in their duty tours.  

During his meeting with the Angolan Ambassador, President Tinubu congratulated President Joao Lourenco of Angola on his re-election and referred to him "as a very good friend."

Receiving the Belgian Ambassador, President Tinubu acknowledged the active participation of Belgian companies in Nigeria's maritime industry and expressed the need to strengthen political and economic cooperation, particularly in the maritime and energy sectors. 

The President also exchanged views with the Ambassador on the potential dredging of Calabar port to make it more viable for revenue generation.

In his discussions with the Norwegian Ambassador, President Tinubu articulated his energy transition vision for Nigeria, stating that the transition from petroleum to gas to hydrogen is a priority for his administration. 

He called on Norway and other EU-member countries to support the economic reform programmes of his administration, particularly in the areas of food security, preservation, and other key agro-allied investments. 

‘‘You are a valuable partner, and we need your support. We have the population in Nigeria, and one out of every five black persons is a Nigerian. We must stimulate our economy. If Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds. This government is promoting a lot of reforms, and it is committed to improving the ease of doing business,’’ the President said.   

The Angolan Ambassador expressed gratitude to Nigeria for its role in liberating his country from colonial rule and expressed his commitment to building sustainable partnerships between the two nations. 

“I have four years to stay in the country, and I have the mandate of my President to build bridges between our countries. I am here to work to build a sustainable partnership,’’ he said.

Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt of Belgium discussed the commercial linkages that bind the port of Antwerp with ports in Lagos and Onitsha, while he expressed interest in expanding their presence to the Calabar port. 

He also called for enhanced ministerial engagements between the two countries, noting the interest of Belgian companies in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. 

Ambassador Baera of Norway congratulated President Tinubu on the recent affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court. 

‘‘The bold steps you have taken on economic reforms since your assumption of office have been well received by Norwegian firms,’’ he said.

Stressing the need to strengthen business partnerships between the two nations, the Ambassador noted that there was great interest of Norwegian firms in Nigeria’s agriculture and energy sectors, highlighting recent investments in Nigeria's growing cocoa and solar panel industry. 

The Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Nigeria called for the establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Venezuela, even as he expressed his country’s desire to deepen economic partnerships between the two oil-producing nations across multiple sectors, in terms of trade and investment.

Tinubu Intervenes in Fubara and Wike Dispute, Aims for Resolution.

Tinubu Intervenes in Fubara and Wike Dispute, Aims for Resolution.

President Bola Tinubu has waded into the political and security crisis unfolding in Rivers State.

The relationship between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor in office and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, suffered a setback following attempts by a section of the state House of Assembly to impeach the governor.

Blame for the attempted impeachment of Governor Fubara is being placed on Wike, with sources accusing him of being the hidden hand orchestrating the actions of the House of Assembly faction behind the impeachment efforts.

The president used the opportunity of Tuesday’s meeting of the Police Council, which both the governor and the FCT Minister attended as members, to ostensibly end the feud between the two political allies.

Governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, disclosed the president’s intervention while briefing correspondents on the outcome of the Police Council’s meeting, held at the State House, Abuja.

Despite their feud, Fubara and Wike had earlier exchanged pleasantries inside the Council Chambers venue of the meeting before it commenced.

Muhammed, who is the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF) also disclosed that the opposition governors have resolved to work with the president because he has shown good faith by not interfering with gubernatorial cases brought before the courts by PDP members.

Oyebanji Mourns Death of Ekiti Building Collapse Victim, Says Disaster Painful, Distressing.

Oyebanji Mourns Death of Ekiti Building Collapse Victim, Says Disaster Painful, Distressing.

....Urges owners of dilapidated buildings to relocate.

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, grieved over the death of a 13-year old girl in a building collapse disaster that happened in Igede- Ekiti, headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, today, Tuesday, October 31.

The governor, described the incident as devastating and agonising, calling on occupants of dilapidated buildings across the state to relocate to safeguard their lives.

Oyebanji said this, on Tuesday, during his visit to the site of the building collapse, where a couple, had lost a 13-year old girl, with parents and two other siblings, got trapped and injured in a storey building collapse and now receiving treatments in the hospital.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, also visited Adeyinka Adebayo General Hospital, where some of the victims are receiving medicare to show sympathies and wish them quick recuperation.

Commenting on the incident, Oyebanji revealed that the government will foot the medical bills of the victims, while directing the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (EKSEMA) to arrange for another habitable residence for the embattled family.

Oyebanji revealed that he has directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani to oversee the medical treatments of the victims and ensure that they are given the best to fasttrack their full recovery.

To forestall such occurrence in the state, Oyebanji said the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, would begin aggressive enforcement of laws that would dislodge those living in dangerously unhabitable buildings across the state.

Oyebanji said the government has existing laws that govern building habitation, saying this would be stringently executed to halt reoccurence of such sordid and devastating scenario. 

The governor appealed to the victims' family to take the sadness with equanimity, promising that the government shall take all necessary actions to support those receiving treatments to bring them back to their feet sound and safe.

"This is one incident that really saddened my heart. How could we lost precious human life to such an avoidable circumstance? The building must have been giving some signs for long.

" If you check very well, the adjoining buildings are not even safe. The government agents will visit here soon to assess those houses and probably pull them down.

"I sympathise with the family and admirers of the victims. This is indeed a trying time for all of us, but we must learn one or two lessons from this and take actions that would safeguard our lives by being careful with the choice of buildings we will live in.

"We have enough regulations and extant laws that guide building residency in Ekiti and our people should comply while trying to apply these laws; it is for their own benefit, which is to ensure safety and avoidable loss of the precious lives of our people. 

"We want to appeal to our people, especially those still living in residence suspected to be dilapidated to quickly relocate, so that nobody will suffer such calamity again in our dear state". 

One of the children of the landlord, Lanre Olagunju, who received the entourage, disclosed that the incident occured around 2am on Tuesday and confirmed that one casualty was recorded.

Olagunju further revealed that the building didn't give prior notice or suspicion before the sudden collapse, saying other occupants of the other wing of the building had immediately relocated after a close shave with death.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Council, Chief Babatola Ogundana, disclosed that the council had marked some buildings in Igede Ekiti for demolition, calling on the state government to swing into action and implement this for the safety of the people. 

Ogundana appreciated the governor for his swift response and actions taken to assuage the feelings of the victims, saying these further confirmed that Oyebanji is running a people-centric government. 

Also on the entourage of the governor, was the Permanent Secretary, EKSEMA, Mr. Jide Borode, among other top government functionaries.

Chairman's Contributions Boost Agric Department in Gbonyin LCDA with Essential Farm Tools.

Chairman's Contributions Boost Agric Department in Gbonyin LCDA with Essential Farm Tools.

In a heartfelt message, the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mrs. Olaito E O, expresses profound gratitude for the Chairman's exceptional support.

In a heartwarming letter addressed to the Chairman, the Deputy Director of Agriculture and the entire staff of the Agriculture Department in Gbonyin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) extended their deepest appreciation for the Chairman's remarkable kindness and invaluable contributions to the department.

The Chairman's unwavering support was acknowledged as instrumental in propelling the Agriculture Department to new heights, reflecting his exceptional leadership within the community. Notably, his recent contributions facilitated the acquisition of essential farm tools, such as rain boots, cutlasses, hoes, files, and more. These tools have significantly improved the efficiency of farming activities and positively impacted the lives of dedicated staff members.

The department expressed genuine gratitude for the Chairman's understanding of their needs and his commitment to fulfilling them. They also lauded his continuous support and encouragement, which have been a source of inspiration, driving them to strive for excellence and seek opportunities for further development.

In light of these developments, the Agriculture Department humbly requested additional farm tools, firmly believing that the Chairman's vision and commitment would enable them to accomplish even more together.

The Chairman's leadership was commended as an inspiration to all, particularly due to his profound understanding of the challenges faced by the Agriculture Department and his relentless efforts to address them. The bonds he has forged with the entire workforce have made daily tasks more rewarding, productive, and fulfilling.

The message concluded with an assurance of the Agriculture Department's confidence in the Chairman's continued guidance, stating their belief that the department would flourish and make significant strides in the field of agriculture within Gbonyin LCDA.

The Chairman was thanked for his exceptional leadership and dedication to the growth and development of the community, signifying the deep impact he has had on the Agric Department and the LCDA as a whole.