We’ve Formidable platforms For Effective Information Dissemination –Ukah

THE Delta State Ministry of Information will continue to champion the process of informing and educating Deltans on the activities and government mode of operation in order to be better informed and keying into the SMART Agenda of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa administration.

 The Commissioner for information, Mr. Patrick Uka stated this yesterday in his office at Asaba while playing host to members of the Sub-Committee on Roadmap for the Co-ordination of Tax Activities in Delta State.

 The commissioner said that since the emergence of Governor Okowa administration, running the state has not been easy due to shortfall in the revenue accruable to the state, especially from the federal level; hence the need for all taxable persons and companies to co-operate with the state government by paying their tax as and when due.

 While congratulating the members of the sub-committee for their selection, which was based on merit, the commissioner stated that his ministry, apart from ensuring adequate publicity to the activities of the committee also have structures that can generate revenue for the state, noting however that some of them need to be restructured in order to be more effective to enhance the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

 Ukah informed the sub-committee that apart from giving adequate publicity to the activities of the committee members of the committee should avail themselves with the platform presented by the state-owned media outfits, Delta Broadcasting Service in Warri and Asaba, as well as The Pointer Newspapers by participating in talk shows and advert placements to get the people more oriented.

 Earlier, the chairman of the sub-committee, Barr. Frank Nwugo informed the commissioner that they were on advocacy visit to MDAs, especially revenue generating ones to inform and educate them on the need to synergise in order to achieve the common aim of enhancing internally generated revenue of the state.

 Nwugo, who is also the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Revenue Matters, said that the committee is also using the opportunity to inform the revenue generating agencies that there is a law which mandates all agencies to collect and pay all revenues into the appropriate government account, desist from collecting and spending revenues generated, as well as solicit the co-operation of the ministry and its agencies in informing and educating Deltans on the need to pay their tax appropriately.

 Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Hon. Patrick Ukah, has advised the members of Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) to ensure that they always adopt the basic tenets of journalism, discipline, based on accurate reporting and determination to build lasting goodwill, cautioning that it is impossible for them to use bad news to attract government patronage, saying that other strategies could be preferable.
 The commissioner spoke during a courtesy visit to his office at Asaba by a delegation of the forum on Wednesday.

 He lauded the people for coming together as a united body, which he said, makes it easy for any aggrieved or offended person or group to seek redress, if it becomes necessary, using their corporate names as a platform, but emphasised that “my office would strictly deal, as we have been doing before, with some selected online publishers based on their proven antecedents, positive tract-records and roles as partners in progress with the state government.”

Ukah lamented the situation where some online publishers blatantly shun professional ethics of journalism in their writings, either because they are new on the job or just merely interested in online business to attract negative attention from the public, adding that it is very surprising that despite the numerous good works of the Governor Okowa administration within the past two years, despite the obvious economic recession, most online writers pretend not to

Ukah Enjoins Youths Not To Abandon Their Roots, Cultural Heritage

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has urged Nigerians, especially youths, not to forget or abandon their roots and cultural heritage stressing that it is the only way the incoming generations will continue to preserve culture as a society.

Mr. Ukah spoke with newsmen during the traditional marriage ceremony between Stefan Oma Nwandu-Vincent (a US Navy Lieutenant) of Elibujor Family, Asaba, Delta State, and Ogechi Onyiyechukwu Agim at Agim Family Compound, Umuduru-Ekwe, Isu Local Government Area of Imo State.

The Commissioner said that marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God and charged the newly married couple to continue to imbibe love for one another and stick strictly to the bond between them, while wising them the best of luck in their matrimonial life.

Mr. Ukah stated that despite the fact that the couple are based in far away USA, they should remember their roots as demanded by the culture and acceptable norms of the society.

An uncle of the bride who also spoke at the ceremony, Chief Donatus Ohiri Amaechi, expressed happiness over the colourful ceremony and advised young people to always indulge in long periods of courtship to enable them fully understand themselves, determine their compatibility, and commit their marriages to God for His guidance and protection.

The traditional marriage ceremony was attended by elders, friends, family members and well wishers from Imo and Delta States.

Osinbajo not qualified to probe SGF —NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for suspending Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. David Babachir Lawal and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke.

This came as Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, yesterday, urged the President to purge his cabinet of corrupt elements, saying “a lot of them have one mess or the other.” Reacting to the suspension of the SGF and the D-G, NIA, General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, wondered why the Vice President should be the person to investigate criminal allegations against the SGF.

 He said: “Well, we think that it is something that is positive.  There are those who will say that it has taken long, particularly the issue of the SGF. Well, government has now decided to suspend them and investigation is going on, it is fine. “But what we don’t understand is how an administrative committee, chaired by the Vice President, will be investigating what is an alleged criminal offence.  However, whatever processes they have chosen to adopt, what is important is that they need to bring the facts before the nation. “We need to know that there are no sacred cows and at the end of the day, we hope that justice will be done and citizens will be able to attest that justice has been done.” On whether the president should extend the action to other political office holders having corruption allegations against them, Ozo-Eson said the normal practice was that people with established corruption cases against them should step aside. He said:  “Once there are allegations of corruption and there are prima facie cases established while such investigation is going on, the normal practice is that people step aside, or are suspended or they remove themselves from the process.” Also reacting to the suspension, National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke, said:  “Should Buhari be serious with his anti-graft campaign, the Presidency should not be investigating the SGF and others. “If somebody in the Presidency is accused of corruption, the usual anti-corruption agencies that investigate other ones, should also investigate the SGF. The Presidency should not investigate Presidency, nobody should be a judge in his own case.

Scannews

FAYOSE: BUHARI MUST GOVERN PHYSICALLY, NOT THROUGH PROXIES

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has questioned President Muhammadu Buhari’s persistent absence from state functions, especially the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, asking whether or not the president was now governing the country by proxy.

He said; “Every day, what we hear is President said this, President said that without seeing the President in any official function and one is prompted to ask; where is the president?”

In a release issued in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, by the governor’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, he said it was becoming obvious that a group of cabal is exercising the powers of the President.

“I saw the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal on television responding to his suspension and what came to my mind was that there could actually be many presidents operating in the Buhari’s presidency.

“Perhaps, it is for this reason of possible existence of governments within the government of Buhari that confusion pervades the polity, with the President himself writing letter to the Senate to clear someone of wrongdoing and the same person being suspended three months after on the basis of the same allegation. It is also for this reason that the President nominated Ibrahim Magu to the Senate for confirmation as EFCC Chairman and the DSS, an agency under the Presidency wrote the Senate not to confirm him.

“Most importantly, the President did not attend the FEC meeting last week and the meeting did not hold this week under the flimsy excuse that Easter Break stalled it. How could Easter Break that ended on Monday be responsible for the inability to hold FEC meeting on Wednesday? Definitely, there is more to this than meets the eye.

“It has therefore become necessary that Nigerians hear the voice of their President and see him physically, not through surrogates or the cabal operating behind the scene,” the governor said.

Speaking further, Governor Fayose, who described a President as the face and image of a nation, urged President Buhari to hold regular media chat in which Nigerians can ask questions and offer suggestions on the running of the country.

“Since his first and only media chat was held in December 2015, Nigerians have not had opportunity of seeing their President address them directly and this is not the best approach to governance in a democracy,” he said.

2000 APC, APGA members defect to PDP in Ebonyi

▪ Vanguard Newspaper

OVER 2,000 men, women and youths have decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State yesterday during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party rally in preparation for the forthcoming LGA elections in the state.

The decampees who came from All Progressives Congress, APC, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, were led officially by the former Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Ebonyi State,  Ambrose Okoro.

According to Okoro: “PDP is the only political party in Nigeria with the interest of everybody at heart. So, we have decided to come home because there is no place like home and we belong to where our people belong, which is the PDP. I served as Commissioner in Ebonyi State and on behalf of these men and women, I  hereby declare that we are fully back to PDP as born again PDP members, praying that we be accepted and we promise never to sin again.”

Welcoming the defectors, the State governor, Engr Dave Nweze Umahi noted that the PDP is still committed to rendering people-oriented programmes and policies for the development of the state.

Represented by the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Ogbonna Francis Nwifuru, the governor thanked them for their courage, spirit of appreciation and promised them that henceforth, they would be part and parcel of the PDP.

Among the dignitaries that received them were the National Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, South East, Chief Austin Umahi; the State Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, Ebonyi State, amiong others.

DELTA GOVT GOES TOUGH ON SANITATION OFFENDERS, EMPOWERS TASKFORCE WITH MOTORCYCLES

As part of committed efforts to ensure strict compliance with extant sanitation laws and the dire need to ensure that all parts of the state are brought into the dragnet of the state sanitation enforcement initiative, the Delta State Ministry of Environment today handed over Motorcycles to the Delta State Environmental Sanitation Taskforce to facilitate compliance monitoring and sanitary inspections across the state.

Making the presentation of the enforcement equipments, the State commissioner for Environment, Barr. John Obukohwo Nani stated that the Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration pays high premium to environmental concerns in the state as it an integral ingredient to healthy living. He stated further that government is deeply concerned that despite ongoing sensitization on both radio and television, some people still continue in the heinous and ungodly acts of  dumping waste indiscriminately in the state.

Our Partnership With Police Advancing Peace, Devt In Delta, Says Okowa

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has disclosed that the partnership between the Delta State Government and the Nigeria Police has helped in the advancement of peace and development in all sectors of the state.

Okowa disclosed this yesterday when he played host to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Training and Development, Mr. Emmanuel Inyang and other top ranking officers of the Nigeria Police Force, in Government House, Asaba.The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, said no meaningful development could be recorded in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony, and pledged to sustain the robust relationship with the police in ensuring that the Prosperity for all Deltans mantra is achieved and sustained.

While describing the relationship between the Delta State Police Command and his administration as cordial, the governor said he will continue to provide the necessary support to enhance security of lives and property in the state.He outlined measures on ground by the state government to forestall a breakdown of law and order to include constitution of peace building and advocacy committee, Delta State anti-vandalism committee, anti-cultism law, waterways and land committee, as well as the establishment of the Directorate of Orientation to inculcate the right values in the youths of Delta State.

Senator Okowa, who lauded the DIG for proposing the creation of more police commands in the state, emphasised that it will among other things advance security development to the grassroots.
Earlier, DIG Emmanuel Inyang, in his address, said the visit was part of the tour of South -South states under his supervision, aimed at x-raying the level of performance of the force and ways to enhance surveillance in security.

Mr. Inyang, who said statistics at his disposal revealed that remarkable success has been recorded, resulting in the reduction in crime wave, promised to ensure that the South- South zone became the safest in the country.
He said professionalism, the rule of law and justice were germane to him in the task of crime control and solicited the support of all stakeholders in making the zone safe for economic activities to thrive. He noted that the force is anticipating the creation of more area commands to make policing more effective in the state.

On hand to receive the DIG, were the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Festus Agas, some civil commissioners, including the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Patrick Ukah, the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Hon. Chuks Obusom, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Steve Eruotor, and other top government functionaries.

We set up EFCC to fight corruption, not to entertain Nigerians — PDP

 The Peoples

 Democratic Party, PDP, has charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to stop what it described as a circus show, noting the agency had drifted from the focussed body established in 2003 by Olusegun Obasanjo, who became President on its platform.

 PDP Reacting to the  monies discovered by the EFCC in an apartment  in Ikoyi, Lagos, PDP alleged that under President Muhammadu Buhari, the anti-corruption fight had lost focus. The opposition party said it had become embarrassing for the anti-graft agency to keep finding money in apartments and offices without disclosing the identity of the owners. The party accused the EFCC of refusing to reveal the “true identity” of owner of the flat where the money was discovered. It also urged the anti-graft agency to tell Nigerians the owners of the funds discovered at Kaduna airport, Victoria Island and Balogun market in Lagos state. The party tweeted yesterday: “The PDP administration established the EFCC to fight corruption effectively & efficiently and not to entertain Nigerians.” “The anti-corruption fight under the APC govt has become comedy. The EFCC now discovers funds in apartments and offices that have no owners.” “It is preposterous to imagine that the last four seizures coincidentally have no known owners. This is most unfortunate and embarrassing. “Who are the owners of N49 millionh at Kaduna Airport, N448 million at LEGICO Mall, N250 million in Balogun Market and $43.4m, N23.2m & £27,000 in Osborne Road? “The EFCC must also tell Nigerians the total amount they have recovered in the last two years & provide verifiable accounts of recovered funds.”

Sani Chides El-Rufai Over Attack On Tinubu

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Shehu Sani, yesterday berated the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, for making derogatory remarks on the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement yesterday, Sani, who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District, noted that the comment attributed to El-Rufai was a clear case of ingratitude to Tinubu who has contributed immensely to the growth of democratic rule in the country.

He said that Tinubu’s contribution to the victory of the APC in the 2015 elections is unparalleled, adding that but for Tinubu, the victory over the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would have remained a mere dream.

The statement read in part: “The memo written by Kaduna Governor which tends to belittle the contribution of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the South-West is sad and unfortunate. It is perfidious and the height of ingratitude.
“We must accept the stark truth that without Bola Tinubu and the principled position of the South-West, dislodging Goodluck Jonathan and the then ruling PDP could have still remain a pipe dream, a hollow hope or a political mirage. El-Rufai defecates on a broom that is supposed to clean the littered floor of the nation.

“President Buhari is the heart of APC and Asiwaju is the lungs. Tinubu’s contribution to the success of the party is unequalled. El-Rufai smiles with Tinubu on broad daylight and stings him at night. He hugs Tinubu with a chest of hooks and shakes him with toxic palms.

“El-Rufai should publicly apologise to Tinubu and the South-West .To insult a man publicly and apologise to him privately is to eat your cake and have it. Those heavily drinking from the liquor of power should know that they will later or lately have to drive back home.

Scannews

SGF, NIA CHIEF’S SUSPENSION AN AFTERTHOUGHT – FAYOSE

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and Director General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, as an “afterthought and a prelude to the

official cover-up of the N13 billion cash found in a residential apartment in Lagos.

Fayose slammed the Federal Government for setting up a three-man committee to investigate the crime and sidelining the anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Services (DSS).

The governor wondered why the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Administration unleashed EFCC and DSS on opposition figures and judges under investigation while setting up a committee to investigate its officials accused of corruption.

Accusing the Buhari government of becoming an embarrassment to Nigerians with what he called the macabre dance of shame, Fayose alleged that the President is fast losing control of his administration, accusing it of hypocrisy in its fight against corruption.

He wondered why the same President that wrote a letter to the Senate exonerating Lawal and clearing him of any wrongdoing now came back to suspend him from office over alleged involvement in the Presidential Initiative for the North East grass cutting scam.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said: “Would the President have set up a probe panel if these scams were linked to anyone in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or those members of his party that are not in his good books?

“Most importantly, what business does Presidential Committee have with investigation of crime? Are they telling Nigerians that they have lost confidence in all the intelligence and investigative agencies of the government, including the EFCC and DSS?

“The Buhari-led Federal Government is operating like many governments within one government. There appears to be many Presidencies within the Presidency and this is the reason for the confusion everywhere.”

“Nigerians can no longer be deceived by a government that protects its own people whenever they are accused of corruption while setting the DSS and EFCC to invade houses of members of opposition parties, especially those perceived as having presidential ambition in 2019 in the night to arrest and detain them indefinitely even when corruption allegations against them have not been proved.”

“Did the President not write a letter dated January 17, 2017, to the Senate, exonerating the SGF? So what has changed in the case of the SGF? Was his announced suspension just for balancing?

“Why waiting for this messy OsborneGate to act on the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) grass-cutting scam? Could it have been a case of one Presidency (Buhari) writing the Senate on January 17, 2017 to clear the SGF and another Presidency suspending him today?

“Whichever way one looks at it, it gives no other impression than that of confusion in the government.”

“Is their presidential committee also going to tell Nigerians those who abandoned N49 million cash in an airport that has CCTV cameras? What the owner of the N448 million the EFCC said it found in a shop at LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos?

“In all these, what I see is a government trying frantically to cover-up corrupt acts of its functionaries but like I said before now, even though we know that the APC-led federal government has the capacity to sweep it under the carpet like many others before it, Nigerians will have it on record that they are being ruled by a government of the more you look, the less you see.”

Army Launches Operation Against Bandits In Kaduna

The Nigerian Army has launched a special military operation code named, Operation Harbin Kunama, aimed at flushing out armed bandits in the southern part of Kaduna State.


The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, launched the operation at an event attended by the State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai.

General Buratai said the operation, which lasts for one month, is being carried out in six states in Nigeria’s north-west and north-central regions.

He said the operation was part of the internal security responsibility of the military, bestowed on it by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the Army chief, the operation will enable the troops to comb the nooks and crannies of Southern Kaduna, and flush out all the criminals from their hideouts.

He said that it would also help to restore peace and security to the area and other neighboring states where armed bandits have been carrying out series of attacks.

Commending the Army for the intervention, Governor El-Rufai expressed hope that the operation would restore confidence and enable the people to go about their normal businesses.

He, however, stressed the need for people of the area to tolerate each other, irrespective of their ethno-religious differences.

Scannews

Community Leader Applauds Okowa’s Giant Strides

THE Delta State Government under the leadership of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has been commended for
the giant strides it had recorded in socio-economic development through pragmatic approach.

The President-General, Unenurhie Community Development Association, Chief Felix Edjereki and the Chairman of the Project Management Committee in the communi ty, Mr. Julius Arererian made the commendation at Unenurhie in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state during the presentation of cheque to the community to start off its examination hall project.

Chief Edjereki and Mr. Ararerian said the Governor Okowa administration’s collaboration with international
donor agenc ies had brought development to the state; especially rural communities, adding that Delta
State was witnessing tremendous development even in the face of the economic recession confronting the country and the state.

While applauding the World Bank and European Union for the Community-Driven Development Social Project initiative which according to him, several rural communities had leveraged on to better their lots, maintained that the two micro projects their community chose would turn around the fortunes of their children.

In he r rema rks , the s t a t e Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development,
Rev. (Mrs.) Omatsola Williams, who was represented by the Director of Community Development, Mrs. Juliana Ireyefoju advised the community to shun shoddy jobs and utilise the money effectively.

The Project Coordinator of the SEEFOR Projects, Mr. Benson Ojoko urged the community to ensure
prudent management for the funds and to work within the work plan so as to avoid errors, adding that SEEFOR was aimed at empowering the teeming youths that were jobless.

Ukah Felicitates With Senator Nwaoboshi On Conferment Of Award Of Excellence

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has felicitated with the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the upper chambers of the National Assembly, Senator Barr. Peter Nwaoboshi, on the conferment of Award of Excellence on him by Ibusa community in Oshimili North Local Government Council of Delta State.


The award was confered on Senator Nwaoboshi by Ibusa Community Development Union (worldwide) for his impacts on humanity and developments that he has attracted to Ibusa community and Delta North Senatorial District at large.


Mr. Ukah stated that the timing of the presentation of the award, which fell on the eve of the resurrection of Jesus Christ who died for the redemption of mankind, is an indication that Senator Nwaoboshi has the interest of all his constituents at heart and will put smiles on their faces.


The Commissioner for Information noted that in a period when some political leaders were being stoned and booed and others having serious problems with their people in some parts of the country, Senator Nwaoboshi was honoured by the people of his own community which is a confirmation that they are solidly behind him.


Discribing the Senator as a political leader of no mean repute and a fantastic grassroot mobilizer, Mr. Ukah noted that his emergence as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) clearly shows the level of acceptability and goodwill that he enjoys amongst his colleagues.


While urging Senator Nwaoboshi to continue with his various empowerment programmes meant to better the lives of his people, the Commissioner for Information called on those that have not benefited from the empowerment programmes to be patient as their interests will be adequately protected.


The award was presented by the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Festus Ovie Agas.

NANS Writes Governor Al-Makura Over The Death Of Student

29th March, 2017.

Alh. Tanko Umaru Al-Makura,
Executive Governor,
Nassarawa State,
Lafia.

Your Excellency,

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) received the news of another mindless and unprovoked killing of Amos Ovey, JSS II Student of Government Science College, Lafia, Nasarawa State. In our private investigation, it was a shock that the Governor's son Khalil Umaru Al-Makura was the one who drove carelessly and killed the said promising Amos Ovey after uncontrollable consumption of hard drugs.

Sir, it would be recalled that this is the 3rd time that your  son- Khalil Umaru Al-Makura got involved in the mindless killing of young people by car based on the fact that he is always high on hard drugs and uncontrollable alcohol consumption.

In strong terms, the NANS leadership wishes to register her total displeasure over these unfortunate incidents and condemned the killing of the  promising young man and the subsequent attempt by the Nassarawa State Government and other lawful authorities at making Khalil Umaru Al-Makura escape justice by facing prosecution each time a life is lost due to his mindless anti-social indulgence in hard drugs and excessive alcoholic consumption.

With heavy hearts, we commiserate with the entire students of Nasarawa State over the untimely death of AMOS OVEY, his families, the management and staff of Government Science College  Lafia, and the Joint Campus Committee of NANS in Nassarawa State over the unfortunate loss of the deceased student.

Sir, as responsible citizens, we feel that no life is more important than the other. The repeated cases of aimless killing of citizens by your son (Umaru Al-Makura) involved in the accident that claimed the life of Amos  Ovey and others in time past should be a concern to all. He should be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrence to others.

In response to the high power shielding of Khalil Umaru Al- Makura, the leadership of NANS is in consultation with our team of legal experts on ways to ensure that justice is done. The National leadership shall soon be leading students on a peaceful protest to the National Human Rights Commission, Abuja and the office of the Inspector General of Police to expeditiously set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the issue with clear intent to ensuring justice to the family of the deceased.

Sir, let it be known to all, that NANS will vehemently pursue the unjust killing of the student without hesitation or compromise.

Temporarily, the National Secretariat of NANS shall be relocating to Nasarawa state with immediate effect for mass protest against the killing of the Student.

Consequent upon the foregoing, Nigerian students have been directed to begin a process of civil disobedience against the government of Alh. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and all government institutions in Nasarawa State until justice is seen to be done and Khalil brought to book in accordance with laws of the country.

However, in the meantime, we hereby declare Khalil Al-Makura personal non-grata at all public functions and school environments nationwide.

We hope that your excellency will show leadership by asking Khalil to report to the Police authorities in Nassarawa State for possible prosecution and justice.

Thank you, Sir for your continued attention and service to humanity.

ALUTA CONTINUA!

SIGNED:
Comrade Chinonso Obasi, GCNS.
National President, NANS.

Okowa Calls For Actions To Ensure Availability Of Kerosene At The Right Price

DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called for necessary actions that would ensure regular supply and appropriate pricing of petroleum products to ease the suffering of Nigerians.

Governor Okowa made the call on Thursday (09/02/17) at the commissioning of an ultra-modern filling station owned by North-West Petroleum and Gas Company Limited in Asaba.

The governor observed that it was unacceptable that most Nigerians buy kerosene above the official price, yet the product was not readily available, stating that any action which would ease the suffering of the masses would be welcomed, especially in Delta State.

“Our people have been finding it very difficult to get kerosene at the appropriate prices, so, we are very much interested in its regular supply at the right pricing,” Governor Okowa said, adding, “it is our hope and prayer that the kerosene will never be out of stock and we thank God that we are going to get it at the official price at this ultra-modern filling station; it has been an unlikely thing in the past few months to have kerosene at the appropriate prices and I believe that this will lead to greater competition and also drive other filling stations to try to keep their prices at the price that has been stipulated by the authorities.”

While commending the management of North-West Petroleum and Gas Company Limited for its interest in establishing ultra-modern filling stations in the state, Governor Okowa urged the company to take advantage of the availability of crude oil and gas in the state to establish modular refineries, assuring that his administration was ready to facilitate acquisition of land for such investment.

“We would rather want a modular refinery to be established here in Delta State than in other places; after all, we produce the crude, the transport of the crude will be close by and we will find a place that is very close by for you so that you would not need to have transportation challenges and I think that even if that refinery is already established elsewhere, I know that it will not be the last that you will establish, so, please put Delta State into consideration as you move forward because, I truly think that if we have a proper direction in our country, the modular refinery is the best process to go through now and the more we have it in various areas, particularly where oil is being produced, the better it will be for our nation; it will improve employment opportunities, improve on the availability of products, reduce restiveness and ensure continuity and the constancy of crude oil production in our nation,” he said, reiterating, “with this station, we want to encourage other private investors to invest more and provide this kind of project that will help to improve the lives of our people.”

He expressed satisfaction that investors are having more confidence in establishing their business in the state, disclosing, “not too long ago, just before the Christmas, the Shoprite complex was commissioned in Asaba and barely two months after, we are witnessing another commissioning ceremony of this ultra-modern filling station; it shows that the environment is friendly and economically viable; we welcome the development because, it will ease the movement of people, beautify the environment and I know that it is also going to above all, create jobs for the people.”

A director in the company, Dr Olaolu Modashiru in a welcome address, stated that the friendly environment for investment attracted the company to Delta State, assuring that the company has a reputation of having products at all times at the right price.