The Editorials

 State Governors have expressed willingness to implement RUGA Fulani settlement in their respective states. This was the statement obtained from a senior official of the Federal  Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, who would not want his name in press. The Official claimed that the Ruga settlement initiative is set for implementation in 11  pilot states including Sokoto, Adamawa, Nassawa , Kaduna, Kogi, Taraba and others. According to senior officials of the ministry, the Federal Government is determined to go ahead with the project, notwithstanding the public outcry, particularly in the South. He said, “The Governors of the 11 states are coming to the ministry to learn how the Ruga settlements will be implemented,” a senior official at the FMARD, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. "They are the states that have fully shown their interest. But unfortunately, people are talking about this as if the Federal Government is planning to grab land in the st

Controversy has continued to trail the statement of the General Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Baba Uthman Ngelzarma, that the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s office is helping the herdsmen to create Ruga settlements across the country, this is just as the Office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has faulted the claim. Recall that Ngelzerma had on Sunrise Daily, a programme on Channels Television boasted that when the programme has been successfully completed, Nigerians would fully enjoy the benefits of animal husbandry. However, Ngelzerma said, “This Ruga settlement model is a component part of the livestock development and transformation plan that is being implemented under the Office of the Vice-President. It is a component part of it. “All must agree with me that the crisis we are facing today has become a multi-dimensional one and so the approach must also be holistic. It was the desire of the Federal Government to take a holistic ap

The controversy over the purchase of security gadgets by the last administration in Ogun State has taken a new dimension as Senator Ibikunle Amosun has alleged that his successor Governor Dapo Abiodun was the main suppler of some of the controversial security equipment. Former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun in a statement released on Thursday said his government legitimately purchased the 13 units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 1000 units of AK 47 rifles, two million rounds of ammunition,1000 units of bullet proof vests and 500 bullet proof helmets and other security communication gadgets. Recall that the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bashir Makama,had earlier onfirmed that former Governor Ibikunle Amosun gave a total of 1.4 million ammunition, three ballistic helmets and one Armoured Personnel Carrier to the command at the expiration of his tenure. The CP had revealed then that  he received the security gagdets as part of his statutory responsibility t

Alh. Mohammadu Umar, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has revealed that the Federal Government has begin to establish “Ruga Settlements” for herdsmen in 12 pilot states nationwide. He made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday on the sidelines of a workshop on Regional Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and associated legislation in West Africa. According to him, the farm settlements when fully established would address the incessant clashes between Fulani cattle rearers and farmers.. Umar further explained that the pilot programme had already commenced on a 31,000-hectare in Kotongora, Niger state. He said, " The required facilities for a basic life and treatment of cattle are being provided to enhance productivity. The government would replicate the programme in selected states as work “is ongoing in the 12 pilot states”. "Six settlements will be established in ea

Oredola Adeola| The South West Governors have agreed to review their liberal policy of openness in the region and adopt community and state policing. These were part of the strategies discussed at the maiden edition of the South West Security Summit, organised by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). The Chairman of the South West Governors Forum and Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, led the Governors of the six states in the South West, to the summit held at the Theophilus Ogulesi Hall, Opposite UCH, Queen Elizabeth Road, Ibadan, Oyo State. This is coming against the backdrop of the ugly trend of insecurity in the South West region of the country. The host Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in his opening remark disclosed that the advantages of state police far outweighs the fears people have about it. He said,"Governors, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone in our midst, indigene or alien resident is assured of

A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Tuesday sentenced an internet fraudster, Temitope Charles, to 35 years in prison without an option of fine. The Presiding Judge, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, while delivering Judgement on a criminal charge brought against the convict by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pronounced the convict guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison on each of the five-count charge. Abdulgafar directed that the prison sentence should run concurrently. The Judge agreed that EFCC had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence of the only prosecution witness, Olamide Sadiq, who is an operative of the commission, was very strong and reliable. ”The evidence of PW1, Olamide Sadiq, was left unchallenged by the defendant; all the chats and text messages were printed from his email address in his presence. “I have considered the testimonies of the PW1, this honourable court is of the opinion that the PW1 i

Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that most of the stories told about  kidnappings in Nigeria are not entirely true and some are not new. He made this statement in the New Yirk on Sunday evening while addressing the Diaspora community at a town hall meeting. This is against the backdrop of the rising insecurity occasioned by kidnapping, banditry, militancy, terrorism and other challenges. Responding to questions and comments on the security situation made by the participants at the town hall meeting,  Osinbajo said the social media “ tends to be hysterical about practically everything” , the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Many members of the audience had taken turns to express concern about the reported spate of killings and kidnapping back home, and wanted to know what the government is doing to address the situation . He said , “ With respect to general kidnapping which we have seen in parts of the country, again, this is not entirely new. In fact, some of the k

Remi Adeleke (36), US Navy SEAL, youngest son of the Late Chief Adebayo Adeleke founder of what is now known as Banana Island in Lagos, speaks about what it was like being raised by Nigerian royalty.Remi is one of the two sons of the late Adeleke, the architect and engineer who was the original owner of Banana Island, Nigeria’s most expensive real estate and a  luxury development built on a manmade island in Lagos Lagoon. In this article Remi talks about the tragedy that befell his family in Nigeria, an event which explains how the luxury estate was taken over from his father after his death in 1987 as a result of bite by a rabid dog. Remi Adeleke In English and American culture, we refer to royalty as king and queen or duke and duchess, and so on and so forth. African culture is different. Royalty is referred to as “chief” or designated by the last name. My grandfather was a chief in the Yoruba tribe, and started the Adeleke name (“Ade” means “crown”; “leke” means “above

 Dr Nasir Onibon, the Provost, Michael Otedola College of Education (MOCPED), and  Concerned Nation Builders Initiative (CNI), have called on the present administration led by Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state to resuscitate the moribund sites in Epe division. Onibon made the appeal on Thursday at Epe stakeholders meeting held in the institution, in Noforija-Epe, Lagos state. He said that the stakeholders’ forum was jointly organised by Concerned Nation Builders Initiative (CNI) and the institution. He said that the theme of the event, tagged, " Next level: Whither Epe Division".  Mr Idris Tele-Olukoya, President, Concerned Nation Builders Initiative (CNI) at the event, in Epe, Lagos state. The provost said that the development became necessary in other to boost commercial activities in the communities and to create employment opportunity for the indigents. He mentioned some of the abandoned sites as; Epe plywood, Oluwo fish market, boats yard, Adebowale lam

Oredola Adeola | In the wake of unchecked cases of kidnapping, banditry, and killing in South West coupled with the seven-day ultimatum handed down on the criminal Fulani herdsmen by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Ibaa Gani Adams, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, on Tuesday received Mr.Jude .Nwankor, Chief of Staff to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu , to seek support in solving the security challenges in the country. Ibaa Gani who received the IG's delegate at his house in Lagos, urged the IG to be proactive in tackling the various security issues in the country. He also affirmed his belief in boosting local security, suggesting that the best measure is to get people at the grassroots involved in local security. The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, said, “there are pressures on me to act on the issues. “OPC is ready to partner with the police in solving the security challenges in the country”, adding that “our group has a history of winning war again

Oredola Adeola Some suspected hoodlums loyal to a faction of All Progressive Congress( APC) in Edo State have attacked and molested Hon. Seidu Oshiomhole (Etsako West 11), younger brother of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 14 other lawmakers on Tuesday. The 9 lawmakers who were inaugurated on Monday The lawmakers loyal to Adam Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the APC  were not invited to the Monday night inauguration of the Assembly where 9 members met to elect Rt.Hon. Frank Okiye (Esan North East 1) as Speaker. They were at the Assembly complex to invalidate the Monday night inauguration of the 9 lawmakers loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki, which produced Okoyi as Speaker of the Edo Assembly, but were assaulted by the hoodlums and sustained serious injuries that landed most of them to the hospital. The Editorials gathered that Comrade Adam Oshiomhole had initially given order to the 15 lawmakers to initiate t

Oredola Adeola | A 32-year old Nigerian, Jeffrey Apkovweta Ewohime has destroyed several properties of the Nigerian embassy in London for the refusal of the Embassy to renew his international passport. TheEditorials gathered that Jeffrey approached the Embassy to collect his passport which expired since Nov 2017 at about 2 p.m and was told collection of passports closes at 1pm.He then insisted on collecting his passport , and was told to bring his collection slip which he could not produce. According to reports from the Embassy, it would of course be wrong to hand over his passport to him , without his collection slip. He thereafter left agitated and returned from a nearby hotel to destroy about seven cars,5 belonging to the mission, and 2 to visitors who parked near by. The  Embassy said Jeffrey’s attempt to destroy the High Commissioner's car failed as it is a bullet proof. Meanwhile, the Federal Government through Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians

Oredola Adeola and agency reporters| Governor Babajide Sanwo -Olu of Lagos State , on Friday, warned officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority( LASTMA) to arrest anyone no matter their status warning that no one is above the law of the land. The Governor made this known at an interactive session with staff of the agency , during his visit to the LASTMA office in Oshodi on Friday. The governor said he would not condone corruption in the agency. He charged them to be respectful when arresting an offender . “ Lagosians expect a corrupt -free LASTMA that will not be collecting bribes. Therefore, you should be respectful and courteous even when you are going to arrest an offender. Lagosians want LASTMA that is decent and neat; we don’ t want laziness and lateness to work. Be my advocates ,” the governor said . Sanwo- Olu said that the government would provide a conducive working environment for the staff, such as improvement of their allowances , repair of dama