Road crashes: FRSC tasks educational institutions on public enlightenment

Mrs Patricia Emeordi, Plateau FRSC Sector Commander, has tasked educational institutions on public enlightening to avoid factors leading to road crashes across the country.

The sector commander gave the charge on Thursday in Pankshin during a familiarisation visit to the Provost, Federal College of Education (FCE), Pankhsin, Dr Amos Cirfat.

Emeordi said there was much to be done in the area of public enlightenment, particularly of the staff and students on the need to be careful on the highways as drivers or motorcyclists.

“The most critical issue is those unlicensed individuals, who have no business being on our roads.

“They are seen plying our highways and causing unnecessary road crashes and death tolls.

“Nigeria has lost millions of innocent lives due to the recklessness of such unlicensed persons, who in the first place, have no business being on our highways.

“It’s our duty to ensure that such people know the need and importance of obtaining the driver’s licence as qualified drivers before plying our roads,’’ she said.

The road safety boss also frowned at the trend at the hinterland, where motorcycle riders deliberately refuse to obtain number plates.

According to her, this has contributed to the increase in motorbike theft at the hinterland.

“Since these bikes are not registered, it, therefore, becomes difficult to identify their owners,” she said.

She reiterated the commission’s commitment to preserving lives of drivers and commuters by enforcing its rules and regulations on the highways.

Responding, Cirfat expressed happiness over the visit and described the FRSC as a lifesaving organ, saving the lives of millions of innocent souls on the highways.

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Cirfat said, “We are very glad and excited on how FRSC has succeeded in reducing death rate on our highways through curbing road crashes with the introduction of the speed limiting devices.

“We, in FCE Pankshin, are very ready to do our best at enlightening the public on the dangers of reckless driving, especially speeding and overloading, which are key factors of road crashes.

“This college will continue to partner with FRSC on safety rules and regulations, as well as the need for prospective drivers to obtain their licence before hitting the road for the betterment of our society, ’’ he said.

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One dead in Ebonyi village headship tussle

One person has been killed while a dozen others were wounded in a clash between rival groups in Igbagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.

Also, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed in the clash. The Nation gathered that the crisis which started at the early hours of Tuesday is a tussle over the headship of the village.

The Special Assistant to the state Governor on Internal Security, Hon. Kenneth Ogbala disclosed this to our reporter in Abakaliki.

Hon. Ogbala, who condemned the killing and incessant communal crisis in the state, accused some individuals of Igbagu community who had an interest in the headship of the village of forming the division among youths who went out to cause the mayhem.

He, however, pointed out that issue of who becomes the village head is already a matter before the court but due to impatience, some individuals took the law into their own hands to foment a crisis.

Mr Ogbala revealed that over 7 suspects have been arrested by the Nigeria Police force in the state over the incident.

His words: “It is just common issue among the villagers, they had the issue of village headship, the matter currently is in court but like you know some people did not have patient and allow the judiciary to settle the matter.

“So some villagers formed themselves into 2 groups and started fighting each other over the village headship. I visited there today and I saw vehicles and houses worth millions of naira destroyed. I was however told that one person lost his life in the crisis and dozens wounded. But normalcy is gradually returning to Igbagu community”, he explained.

“And now the police have arrested about 6 or 7 persons in connection with the crisis at Igbagu community, so we are thoroughly on top of the situation,” he assured.

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Senate adopts report on grass cutting scam

 To submit recommendations to presidency

The Senate on Wednesday considered and adopted the damning recommendations of its ad-hoc committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Shehu Sani, had submitted the final report of the committee for consideration on Tuesday.

The upper chamber did not only consider and adopt wholesale the recommendations, it also approved the votes and proceeding of Tuesday’s meeting to pave the way for eventual submission of the recommendations to the Presidency.

The report was signed by seven out of eight members of the committee.

It was learnt that the Senate rushed the consideration and adoption of the committee’s report which heavily indicted the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal.

The lawmakers, after adopting the final report on the alleged contravention of the Procurement Act, 2007 and breach of Oaths of Office by Lawal in the handling of projects and contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE), resolved to convey the resolutions to the Presidency for further consideration and implementation.

The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, moved for brief adjournment to “allow the secretariat to prepare votes and proceedings of Wednesday’s plenary.

The Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, promptly seconded the motion.

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Ekweremadu raising false alarm on raid – EFCC

Ekweremadu raising false alarm on raid – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday accused the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, of raising false alarm that the agency was plotting to raid his residence and plant monies.

It said the antics of planting monies and guns in suspects’ houses were alien to the commission.

It said the alarm by the deputy senate president was not only strange but “smacks of a scripted propaganda campaign to distract the commission by putting it on the defensive.”

It advised Ekweremadu to sleep easy if he is not involved in the looting spree that seems to be the pastime of many Nigerians in the corridors of power.

EFCC, however, said no amount of scare-mongering would dissuade the commission from vigorously enforcing its mandate to rid Nigeria of corruption.

A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the alleged plot only existed in the fertile imagination of Ekweremadu.

The statement said: “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to the alarm purportedly raised by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, at Wednesday plenary of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

“The distinguished Senator alleged that there were plots by the Commission to set him up by planting monies and guns in his residence.

“Ekweremadu who claimed that he was tipped off about the purported plot by an ‘EFCC covert investigative journalist privy to the design, told his colleagues that the agency had secured a warrant and plans to storm his home on May 6, 2017, under the guise that it was working on information provided by a whistle blower regarding huge amount of money of (sic) currency in the apartment said to be belonging to you Ike Ekweremadu.”

“He said going by the script of plot he is to be arrested, detained for three weeks and charged to court while his constituents would be mobilized to protest and seek his recall from the National Assembly!

“The commission wishes to state in very strong terms that it is not aware of any plot to set up Ekweremadu for any arrest.

“If any agency is plotting to plant monies and guns in Ekweremadu’s residence, it is certainly not the EFCC as such antics are alien to the commission.”

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Why Efe won Big Brother Naij #BBNaija 2017

#BBNaija 2017:

Why Efe won Big Brother Naija ON APRIL 10, 20178:21 AMIN SHOWTIME PEOPLECOMMENTS Abuja – Big Brother Naija: Housemate, Efe secured 57.61 per cent of votes to emerge winner of the 2017 Big Brother Naija ‘See Goobe’ reality TV show on Sunday. The Warri-born up and coming rap artist beat Bisola, who became the 1st runner up with 18.54 per cent of the vote at the grand finale. Efe Tboss scored 13.60 per cent to emerge the 2nd runner up; Debie-Rise 8.78 per cent, 3rd runner up while Marvis scored 1.47 per cent. Efe was given a brand new Kia Sorento SUV and N25 million naira cash prize. Efe who had never failed to stress that he was real was nominated for eviction in January and March but survived. The economics graduate had stressed that his humility, simplicity and being real would make him win the hearts of viewers. His emergence came after Marvis, Debie-Rise and Tboss were evicted during the grand finale. Efe who was Marvis’ love interest in the house said in spite of the attraction between them, he was careful not to do anything that could jeopardise his stay in the house. He was Head of House once and had been very active in most games and tasks in the Big Brother House. He had actively participated in the ONE Campaign song, the video shoot, drama and others. He had always been delight of the party during the usual Saturday night party in the house. Efe, during Davido’s visit said if he won the grand prize, he would use it to push his music career to the next level Earlier in the run-up to his announcement, Bisola, was announced the winner of the One Campaign. Bisola’s winning the One Campaign appeared to be an anti-climax. The One campaign will make Bisola represent Nigeria at the United Nations later. High point of the grand finale was musical performances by Tiwa Savage, Emmy Gee featuring AB Crazy and Tuface Idibia. Abisola Ayeola, also known as Bisola in the 2017 Big Brother Naija reality TV show has emerged winner of “ONE Campaign” on girl-child education. Desmond Elliot, an actor and member of the Lagos State House of Assembly presented the prize to her. According to the Coordinator of the ONE Campaign, Ms Serah Mekka, Bisola would join the ONE Campaign Organisation in the United Nations Assembly in New York to speak on girl-child education. During their stay in the house, housemates were given a task to make a presentation on girl-child education in Nigeria where Bisola won the heart of the judges with her captivating presentation. She had done exceptionally well in the 11 weeks reality show; becoming the head of House and wining the hearts of many viewers. ONE Campaign is an international Advocacy Organisation for girl-child education with offices in London, united States, Nigeria and parts of the world.The single mother of one who emergef 1st runner up in the show expressed delighted in accepting the prize for the ONE Campaign. Earlier in the show, Bisola said she missed her family. The Nigerian-British actress, singer, MC and presenter described her fellow housemates as fantastic and great people. She said Marvis was a committed person and was more stronger than when she came in the house. On ThinTallTony (TTT), her love interest while in the house, Bisola said that she loved him as a person. “I appreciate how he allowed me to play with him and disturb him every time. “I like his person; its not that I want to have a relationship; am here to have fun and that is what I was doing,” she said. She had displayed that she was not bothered during the show when one of the fake housemates, Ese informed her (Bisola) that TTT was married with kids. She told Ese that whatever happened between she-Bisola and TTT stayed and ended in the Big Brother House. Bisola who came fifth at the first season of Project Fame West Africa had a lot of controversial moments in the house with some of the housemates.

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