News

Tinubu ill-advised on Niger Republic sanctions – Ndume

Published

5 months ago

December 26, 2023

Senate Majority Chief Whip, Ali Ndume

Tinubu ill-advised on Niger Republic sanctions – Ndume

The Senate Majority Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has said that President Bola Tinubu was wrongly advised on ECOWAS sanctions on Niger military junta.

Mr Ndume, who represents Borno South in the Senate, said the sanctions were ineffective because they were only affecting innocent citizens.

Newstrends reports that the West African regional bloc imposed heavy sanctions on Niger following the ouster of President Mohammed Bazoum by the country’s military.

But speaking during an interview with journalists in Maiduguri, Mr Ndume said the sanctions were not affecting the military junta but innocent citizens.

“The sanctions are not affecting the military junta. The sanctions are affecting the poor people that are not part of the coup, and these are people, especially children, women, petty traders, and poor middle-income earners.

“Even the international law that guides us does not support sanctions that affect humanitarian needs. The suffering the people of Niger Republic are going through is more than imaginable.

The senator lemented that seven northern states who shared borders with Niger are also bearing the brunt of the sanctions.

He, therefore, appealed to Mr Tinubu, who is the ECOWAS chairman, to immediately lift the sanctions and address the crisis.

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“Because Nigeria is ECOWAS, and ECOWAS is Nigeria. Nigeria has the majority of votes and contributes 70 percent of ECOWAS funding.

“I am one of those against the actions taken by the ECOWAS leadership to impose sanctions on Niger. I strongly believe that that decision was rushed and it was not the right thing. I don’t support those sanctions because the decision affects me, my state and my region.

“Over 100,000 Nigerians, Borno State citizens from Abadam, Guzamala, Kukawa, and other places, all migrated to Niger, and they received them with open arms, not putting them in the camp, but taking them to their own houses; and they have been for more than 10 years now,” he said.

“Niger Republic has been supporting Nigeria. During the Biafran War, France, the colonial masters of Niger, supported the Biafrans, but the then Niger Republic President [Diori Hammani]refused to follow France in that decision. They gave us military support. Not only that, every time Nigeria stands for something, Niger stands with us.

“Lift the sanctions first, agree with them to start negotiating on when and how they are going to release the ousted President Bazoum, and then when they are going to hand over to civilians,” he advised.

Tinubu ill-advised on Niger Republic sanctions – Ndume

News

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

Published

8 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

The Army Headquarters on Saturday said it has ordered investigations into allegations of overcrowded cells in its barracks and poor feeding of detained personnel following a viral video showing some detained soldiers protesting.

A statement by Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, titled, “Army’s Response to Viral Audio Visual Footage of Soldiers Protesting Overcrowded Cells, Poor Feeding” made this known.

It reads, “The Army headquarters has taken note of a report and audiovisual recording circulating on social media produced by some of its personnel held in custody at the 8 Division Garrison detention facility.

“Undoubtedly, the Sokoto barracks detention facility incident is quite unfortunate and an embarrassment to the sound administration efforts of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to say the least, and in line with his leadership style.

“The COAS has instituted an appropriate investigation into the incident to determine whether it is an isolated or widespread situation in similar detention facilities.

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“While the service regrets and has gleaned some lessons from the incident, it will, however, not condone the manner the inmates expressed their purported grievance.

“Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service order are grievous misconducts, and this very incident epitomises such.

“As such, as Army, on the one side, goes ahead to implement the COAS directive to look into the state of all NA detention facilities, as detainees’ lives also matter, the Service shall not shy away from appropriately sanctioning the soldiers involved in the unruly behaviour in its Sokoto detention facility for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities.

“And if it was discovered they did and nothing was done, necessary administrative actions will be taken against anyone found to have failed to discharge his/her duties effectively.

“While the Service is mindful of its subjective oversight engagements by statutory bodies, it remains primarily a responsible, self-regulating professional body.

“As such, the Service remains committed to ensuring that everyone, even those found guilty of aiding terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits, and are awaiting confirmation of their sentencing, as it has been discovered in the Sokoto case is accorded a relatively decent life until their judgment is confirmed and executed.

“This commitment underscores the NA’s dedication to upholding professional standards and maintaining a just and fair system.

“The NA appreciates all Nigerians for their concern and support as well as pledge to remain focused on its drive to defeating security challenges facing the nation in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies.”

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

News

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

Published

8 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

CNG buses

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

Ahead of the roll-out of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mass transit buses meant for commuting nationwide, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Olawale Edun, has inspected the assembly plant where the vehicles are being put together.

He expressed optimism that the buses when they hit the road would ease transportation and lead to a substantial slash in fares.

He expressed this view during his visit to the JET Motor Company Assembly Plant in Lagos.

The CNG buses are being mass produced under the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) as part of measures to reduce the high cost of living and curb inflation after the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Federal Government has promised to launch the first set of the CNG buses and tricycles by the end of this month (May).

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, quoted the minister as saying, “I have come to see the CNG buses that Nigerians are asking about. I have seen them. “I have tested them and driven them. I have seen them being assembled. The benefits will soon be available to Nigerians.”

Edun highlighted the significant cost savings that CNG buses offer compared to their petrol-powered counterparts.

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“Two critical aims will be achieved. Whereas it costs about N55,000 to fill a 15-20 seater bus with petrol, it will cost between N12-15,000 to fill a CNG bus of the same capacity. This is three times, if not four times less.

“This is a huge savings that will help reduce transport costs and at the same time help reduce inflation,” he said.

According to him, the PCNGi is all about mass transit that is affordable, and praised JET’s employment of local talents in the assembly of the vehicles.

The Chairman and founder of JET, Chidi Ajaere, took the minister round the assembly plant during the visit.

Also on hand were the CEO of JET motor company, Engr Derek Ewelukwa, and other members of the JET team such as Sanjay Rupani of the Technical Development Department and Ebimo Ofongo, the plant manager.

Present also were Tosin Coker, Commercial Director at the PCNGi, and Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Development and Design Council.

Ajaere commended President Bola Tinubu for his initiative in promoting local production of the CNG vehicles and the entire PCNGi team’s resolve to make the project a success.

JET was established in 2018 to build Electric Vehicles (EV) vans, pickups and CNG/Petrol buses tailored to meet Nigeria’s unique transportation needs.

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

News

NSCDC arrests man for allegedly defiling 4-year-old girl in Ekiti

Published

8 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

NSCDC arrests man for allegedly defiling 4-year-old girl in Ekiti

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti state command, has arrested a 27-year-old man, Ojo Afolabi, for allegedly defiling a four-year-old girl.

The suspect, who lives on Olujoda Street, Ado-Ekiti, was arrested after the mother of the girl made a formal complaint at the office of the NSCDC in Ado-Ekiti.

The four-year-old victim, while narrating the incident, alleged that the suspect removed her underwear and had carnal knowledge of her sometime in late April, 2024.

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The mother of the girl, who spoke to journalists, also said that her daughter informed her about the incident.

However, the suspect denied the allegation, saying he was being indicted unjustly.

The NSCDC spokesperson in the state, Tolu Afolabi, said a medical report had confirmed that the hymen of the girl had been broken.

Afolabi stated that investigations were ongoing.