CAN to DSS: Stop raising the alarm — arrest bandits killing Nigerians

 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest bandits killing Nigerians instead of always raising the alarm. 

TheCable had reported how the DSS on Wednesday raised the alarm over alleged plans by some persons and groups to cause ethno-religious violence in some parts of the country — after a similar warning in January.

“For the umpteenth time, the Service strongly warns these elements to desist forthwith from their (planned) nefarious acts or face the full wraths of the law,” Peter Afunanya, public relations officer (PRO) of the agency, said in a statement.

“The DSS will, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, take necessary steps to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.”

But in a statement,  Adebayo Oladeji, spokesman for Samson Ayokunle, president of CAN, said the agency should focus on tackling terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements causing trouble in the country.

“Whenever the DSS raises alarm over the security of the country, ordinarily, one should take them seriously because of the fact that their primary responsibility includes, but not limited to intelligence gathering,” he said.

“We recall that they raised similar alarm recently. But how many suspects were arrested, detained and arraigned? All the killings in the country have been happening without bringing those responsible to book. Are they not aware? People are being kidnapped on the highways and in their residences without any arrest. We wonder why? Those who are shedding the innocent blood and those who are kidnapping for ransom are they spirits? This doesn’t speak well of us as a nation.

“Terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals are not invincible and until they are apprehended and successfully prosecuted, people will no longer have respect for those who are in charge of the security. The media should stand up and asked our government serious questions through front page comments and editorial. Things are becoming increasingly complicated daily. Criminals are operating as if our security agencies are on holidays.

“CAN has been calling for total overhauling of the security architecture, but that has fallen on deaf ears. May God deliver us from those criminals who are now operating with impunity.”

- THECABLE

Massive protest in Enugu over commissioning of FG’s uncompleted project

 

Residents of Eke community, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, have taken to the streets in their numbers, protesting the commissioning of a road project yet to be completed in the area.

DAILY POST reports that the road, which is an ecological fund project under the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, is yet to commence, but a Federal Government delegation is said to be in the area to commission the project.

The over N400m project- Enugu-Eke-Ogui Uno-Eke Eke-Obodo Amankwo-Oma Eke road, is yet to be constructed.

Members of the community displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Corruption Unlimited; ICPC where are you; EFCC where are you; Fraud Unlimited; Public Procurement Act Crucified,” among others.

They described the development as a monumental fraud which would be resisted.

- DAILY POST

Trinity VC lauds FG’s approval of 20 new private universities

 Prof. Charles Ayo, the Vice-Chancellor, Trinity University, Yaba, has commended the Federal Government for approving 20 new private universities in the country.

Ayo, who was a former Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, made the commendation on Thursday in Ota, Ogun.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved 20 new private universities to be sited in different parts of the country.

He said that the approval of more universities was a development that would improve access and quality education to students.

He applauded FEC’s decision, saying the approval could have been borne out of the need to create better access to private universities.

“It is unfortunate that the total enrollment in the nation’s university system even with the increased number of private universities can only admit about five per cent of the enrollment annually,’’ he said.

The don said that there were many Nigerians parents who were interested in the private universities due to their unbroken calendar, discipline and quality of education provided by the institutions.

According to him, the public universities have been shut down for more than six months, adding that some of these institutions have announced the cancellation for the session.

“The quality of education offered by the nation’s private universities has become obvious and can no longer be disputed,’’ Ayo said.

He listed some of the universities to include Covenant University, Bells University, Ota, Redeemed University, Trinity University, Yaba and Bowen Universities, among others.

Ayo appealed to the Federal Government to provide some financial support that would help the private universities to grow because they would also contribute to human capital development of the nation.

He stressed the need to do more than approving those universities by considering granting some financial support as setting up a university requires huge funding.

He said that there would not have been the need to canvass for financial assistance from the government if basic infrastructure such like internet facilities, stable power supply, and potable water, among others were made available to them.

“The government should also find out why subscription to these universities is a reflection of the economic situations in the country.’’

The don suggested that the government should work out modalities on how the cost of education in private universities could be reduced.

He said that the government should look beyond just approval but to ensure that the private universities could also benefit from Tertiary Education Trust Fund to cushion the unbearable cost accrued by the owners of the institutions.

- PM NEWS

Igboho’s supporters raise N4.9m in 19 hours for purchase of buses

 

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, for the procurement of buses. 

The campaign, which was launched on Wednesday, has so far raised N4. 9 million (£9,500) out of the targeted N51.7 million (£100,000) in 19 hours.

The campaign was launched by one Maureen Badejo with the purpose stated as “purchase of buses for Sunday Igboho”.

A check by TheCable on the GoFundMe website on Thursday morning, showed that 265 donors have contributed to the campaign.

Sunday Ighoho made the headlines in recent weeks when he issued eviction notice to herders in Ibarapa local government of Oyo state.

He plans to embark on a tour of south-west states of Nigeria to flush out ”killer” herders in the region.

On Wednesday, the youth leader during a virtual town hall meeting, said he needs buses to “transport people” for his south-west tour.

“I need buses to transport people. The three vans we use are bought by me. We lost three buses that were hired on our way to Oyo,” he said during the virtual town hall meeting.

- THECABLE

Ortom: Buhari promised to be for all Nigerians but it appears he is for Fulani herders

 

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says President Muhammadu Buhari promised to be for all Nigerians but it appears he is for Fulani herders.

In his inaugural speech when he assumed power in 2015, the president promised to be for ”everybody and belong to nobody”.

Addressing a press conference in Makurdi on Wednesday, Ortom said nothing shows that the president is representing the interest of all Nigerians.

The governor said no Benue indigene is a slave to any Fulani person.

“Mr President, in case you are listening to me, I want you to know that your people, Nigerians, you promised Nigerians that you will be fair to all,” The PUNCH quoted him as saying.

“You said that you will be for everybody and for nobody, and now it will appear that you are for Fulani people because nothing is coming from you to give the people confidence that you are their President.

“You are the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, you are not the President of Fulani.

“You are the President of everybody and I owe you a duty as a stakeholder in this nation to let you know that what is going on is wrong and this has the potential of dividing this country which will not be in the interest of anyone –some of us believe in the unity of this country.”

The governor said he asked the federal government to allow the licensing of AK 47 rifles so that Nigerians can defend themselves.

“That was why I called the Federal Government to licence me and many others to have guns, to have AK-47 too. Because if I have my AK-47 and a Fulani man is coming there, he knows that I have and he has, then we can fight each other,” he said.

“But you can’t disarm me and arm a Fulani man. This is not right, the federal government is biased, it is unfair. The failure in security is caused by the federal government.”

- THECABLE

COVID-19: University of Ibadan bans students from hostels

 

The management of University of Ibadan has banned students from all the hostels in the institution.

DAILY POST gathered that the ban of students from hostels in the institution is due to the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world.

The affected students according to DAILY POST findings are both the undergraduate and the post-graduate students.

Director of Public Communication, University of Ibadan, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday, added that the move was to adhere with COVID-19 protocols.

Oladejo added that no student would be accommodated on campus henceforth.

He said that the 2020/2021 first semester lectures will be delivered online.

Oladejo insisted that no student will be accommodated on campus.

He said, “Management has noted the information trending on the social media indicating that the University has published allocation of students into their respective Halls of Residence and students are expected to make payments.

“The University hereby wishes to inform the new students and the general public to disregard the information as STUDENT REGISTRATION PORTAL HAS NOT BEEN OPENED. Kindly beware!

“Management wishes to restate as contained in the University’s Official Bulletin No. 4353 of 14 January, 2021 entitled APPROVED REVISED ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2018/2019 as follows:

“In approving the Calendar, Senate noted the prevailing circumstances occasioned by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to comply with the protocols established for the control of the spread of the pandemic.

“It, therefore, agreed that the 2020/2021 First Semester Lectures will be delivered online. In this regard, ‘NO STUDENT WILL BE ACCOMMODATED ON CAMPUS.’

“New students are to please note that the opening of the registration portal and the orientation programme for 2020/2021 session will commence on or before Saturday, 20 February, 2021.

“Details of Registration Procedure/Guideline will be available on the University website www.ui.edu.ng soon.”

- DAILY POST

Private varsities pushing out graduates with empty brains: ASUU

 The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has tasked the newly approved private universities to ensure quality and good academic standards in their operations.

Dr. Lazarus Maigoro, Chairman of the University of Jos Chapter of ASUU, made the call on Thursday in Jos.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday granted approval to 20 new private universities in the country.

Maigoro, who decried low academic standards in most of the existing private universities in the country, urged the new ones to live up to expectations.

The chairman also decried the alarming rate of poor quality graduates he alleged the private universities are churning out annually.

“It is actually good to have private universities that have standard and quality, unfortunately, most of the existing ones are nothing to write home about.

“Most a times, they push out people with empty brains as graduates; these graduates hardly contribute meaningfully to the growth ad development of the society.

“These graduates become a problem to the society rather than solving the existing problems as intellectuals.

“So, I want to urge the owners and managers of these newly approved universities to maintain standard,” he urged.

Maigoro called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to intensify monitoring mechanisms to set high standards.

He further advised the new institutions to charge moderate school fees in order to accommodate children of both the rich and the poor in the society.

“In any case, the essence of having private universities is to reduce pressure on public universities.

“But you discover that the exorbitant fees they charge still don’t address the problem. Many people can’t cope with the high charges.

“So, even with the large number of privately owned universities in the country, their enrollment rate is just ten per cent. Public universities still have pressure,” he said.

Maigoro also called on government at all levels to ensure proper funding of public universities to improve standards.

The newly approved private universities include; Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, and Mudiame University, Irrua.

Also approved are; Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, NOK University, Kachia, Karl-Kumm University, Vom, James Hope University, Lagos, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Capital City University, Kano, and Ahman Pategi University, Pategi.

Others include; University of Offa, Offa, Mewar University, Masaka, Edusoko University, Bida, Philomath University, Kuje, Khadija University, Majia, and Anan University, Kwall.

- PM NEWS