| Source | Date | Title | Summary of Report | Subject/Category | Weblink/Page No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, December 15, 2020 | Kano Assembly Speaker, Majority Leader Resign | The Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Abdulazeez Garba-Gafasa, and the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Kabiru Hassan Dashi have resigned. The Speaker announced his resignation in a letter titled ‘Notification of Resignation’ dated December 14th and addressed to the Clerk and Permanent Secretary. The resignation was confirmed to journalists on Tuesday, December 15 in Kano, by the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Nura Bala Ajingi. Garba Garfasa in the resignation letter stated his decision was based on his personal reasons, and appreciated the support of all the members during his stay in the position. Meanwhile the Majority Leader, in a one-paragraph letter addressed to the Clerk did not state the reason for his resignation. However, the Clerk of the Assembly, Abdullahi Alfa has confirmed to newsmen that he has received the resignation letter. | Kano State House of Assembly, Speaker, Majority Leader | https://dailytrust.com/kano-assembly-speaker-majority-leader-resign |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, December 15, 2020 | Katsina School Attack: We’re Negotiating With Abductors – Masari Tells Buhari | The Katsina State government is discussing with the abductors of hundreds of students kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, on Friday, December 11. Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter, saying they were discussing with the kidnappers. It is, however, not clear if the discussion revolves around ransom or the abductors made a different demand. Masari in the company of his deputy, Manir Yakubu, visited Buhari who was holidaying at his country home, Daura. In a statement on Monday, December 14, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu stated that the Katsina State Governor had told the President that steady progress was being recorded to bring back the abducted schoolboys unharmed. Masari, who said security agencies had located the position of the children, added that the President was fully committed to the rescue of the school children. It was learnt that the students are being kept in clusters in the forests that stretch parts of Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna States. On Saturday, December 12, military authorities said they were engaging the bandits, while the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, said on Sunday, December 13 that the students would be rescued within hours. | Katsina Abduction, Governor Aminu Bello Masari | https://dailytrust.com/katsina-school-attack-were-negotiating-with-abductors-masari-tells-buhari |
| Punch Newspaper | Tuesday, December 15, 2020 | Assembly lifts Four Ondo Lawmakers’ Suspension over Contempt Charge | The Ondo State Assembly on Monday, December 14 lifted the suspension order placed on four of its members. The affected members include the former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, Adewale Adewinle Williams, Favour Tomomewo, and Tomide Akinrinbido. They were among the nine lawmakers who opposed attempts to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, in June. Following their suspension for alleged gross misconduct, the four lawmakers challenged the decision in court and won at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. However, it took another court intervention to get the leadership of the Assembly to obey the order of the court for them to be reinstated. It was gathered that the House finally reversed the suspension in order to avoid being sanctioned by the court which had slated a contempt hearing against principal officers of the Assembly. Speaking during the plenary session on Monday, December 14, the Speaker of the House, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, stated that the suspension of the four lawmakers was done in accordance with the standing orders of the House. | Ondo State House of Assembly, Contempt Charge | https://punchng.com/assembly-lifts-four-ondo-lawmakers-suspension-over-contempt-charge/ |
| Punch Newspaper | Tuesday, December 15, 2020 | PDP Caretaker Exco Suspends South-West Chairman for Non-Performance | The South-West Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has announced the suspension of its Chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro, for alleged negligence. Seven out of the 12 members announced the suspension during a meeting held in Ibadan, on Monday. They accused him of failing to convene any meeting since his appointment as chairman. Those said to have attended the meeting where the decision to suspend Ogungbenro was taken were the Zonal Secretary, Daisi Akintan; Mrs. Funmilayo Ogun, Ayobola Fadeyi- Awolowo; Nekan Olateru- Olagbegi; Wahab Owokoniran; Alhaji Mustapha Sikiru and Martins Olu-Abiloye. Others who were said to be at the meeting also include Adedeji Doherty; Sikirulai Ogundele; Sunday Bisi and Chief Bisi Kolawole, Chairmen of Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States respectively. They also accused Ogungbenro of failing to convene any meeting to plan for the Ondo State governorship, as well as the Lagos West bye–elections, both of which the PDP lost to the APC. The caretaker committee equally announced the appointment of former Governor Ayo Fayose’s media aide, Mr Lere Olayinka, as the party’s regional spokesman. | PDP South-West | https://punchng.com/pdp-caretaker-exco-suspends-swest-chairman-for-non-performance/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, December 15, 2020 | COVID-19: Minister Advocates Increased Testing | Amid the recent rise in cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has taken the campaign for increased testing to the Mangu Permanent Orientation Camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Plateau State. After reviewing the COVID-19 control protocols with camp officials, the Minister took the test at the station where arriving corps members are being screened. Dare called for the strengthening and expansion of the testing capacity at the NYSC orientation camp, calling for the people to strictly observe the preventive measures put in place to slow down the spread of the virus. According to him, “I want to make sure that the testing station is properly set up and working the way it should. The same should go for all our orientation camps across the country. There is a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic being reported, and testing is one of the measures to curtail the spread. Even if someone tests positive, it will only help ensure the person gets timely medical attention. Therefore, I urge corps members and Nigerians in general to take the test, especially when showing symptoms or being in areas where there are high incidences of the virus.” | COVID-19 | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/12/15/covid-19-minister-advocates-increased-testing/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 14, 2020 | Reps Minority Caucus rejects Sole Administrator for NDDC | House of Representatives minority caucus has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of a Sole Administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), describing it as a disservice to the Niger Delta region. It urged President Buhari to inaugurate a governing board for the NDDC without further delay as required by the Act establishing the Commission. In a statement by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP Delta), he described the development as “a further pathway to deprive the people of the Niger Delta of the much-desired infrastructure development of the region.” | NDDC, Appointment of Administrator | https://guardian.ng/news/reps-minority-caucus-rejects-sole-administrator-for-nddc/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 14, 2020 | COVID-19: NCDC Reports 418 New Cases, as Total Cases hit 73,175 | The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 418 new cases of COVID-19 in the country. The NCDC made this known on its website on Sunday, December 13. It stated that the new cases were recorded in 16 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The health agency added that Lagos State topped the chart with 113 new infections followed by FCT, Abia and Kaduna with 86, 47 and 39 cases, respectively. Others were Rivers-27, Katsina-22, Benue-14, Oyo-13, Kano-12, Enugu-8, Edo-7, Imo-7, Bauchi-6, Ebonyi-6, Ogun-6, Ondo-4 and Nasarawa-1. The NCDC further stated that till date, 66,090 cases had been discharged while 1,197 deaths had been recorded in the 36 States and the FCT. It advised Nigerians to ensure they wash their hands with soap in running water, while also observing all other safety protocols. | COVID-19, NCDC | https://guardian.ng/news/covid-19-ncdc-reports-418-new-cases-as-total-hits-73175/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 14, 2020 | UNICEF speaks on Katsina Pupils’ Abduction | The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the abduction of pupils in Katsina State. UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Marie-Pierre Poirier, on Sunday, December 13, stated that the incident was a “violation of children’s rights.” Marie-Pierre said that according to unconfirmed reports, hundreds of students were still unaccounted for. She stated thus: “UNICEF condemns in the strongest possible terms this brutal attack and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all children and their return to their families. Attacks on schools are a violation of children’s rights and international humanitarian law. This is a grim reminder that abductions of children and widespread grave violations of children’s rights continue to take place in northern Nigeria.” | UNICEF, Katsina Pupils’ Abduction | https://guardian.ng/news/katsina-pupils-abduction-worries-unicef/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 14, 2020 | Lawan makes Case for more Women in Governance | Senate President Ahmad Lawan has urged the country to learn from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), the need to give more women positions of authority. Lawan spoke at the investiture of Mrs. Clara Nnachi as the 6th Chairman, Abuja and District Society of the CITN. He observed that the president of CITN, Dame Gladys Olajumoke Simplice, is a woman and Clara, wife of Senator Michael Nnachi (Ebonyi South), is also a woman. According to him, there must be something unique about women that the CITN has seen and which Nigeria should learn from. HE stated thus: “I think Nigeria needs more women in government. We can’t neglect that sizable portion of our population. About 51 per cent of Nigerians are women. We have to ensure that opportunities are there for our women to participate not only in governance or politics because that is elite, but in other spheres, including business, market, and farm. I think Nigeria has a lot to learn from CITN.” | Ahmad Lawan, Women Representation | https://guardian.ng/news/lawan-makes-case-for-more-women-in-governance/ |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, December 14, 2020 | Crisis Rocks Niger APC over Caretaker Leadership | Crisis is rocking the Niger State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the inauguration of Aliyu Saidu Galkogo as State Caretaker Chairman. The former State Chairman, Engr Mohammad Jibrin Imam, who addressed journalists on Sunday, December 13 in Minna, stated that Governor of the State, Abubakar Sani Bello should be held responsible for the crisis in the party. Imam urged the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC National Caretaker Committee to reverse what he called “illegal inauguration of one Aliyu Saidu Galkogo as caretaker chairman of the party” in the State. He advised the Caretaker Committee to comply with the December 8, 2020 resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and be sworn in together with other congress elected officials as the caretaker committee in the State. Imam also disclosed that all channels of communication had been exhausted to challenge “some of the unconstitutional breaches and automatic actions by party enemies”. Imam, who explained that the problem confronting the party in Niger State was “the unconstitutional breaching of the APC Constitution”, added that such action should be resisted in all ramifications. He vowed to challenge “the governor and his cohorts using constitutional means if the crisis persists”. In his remarks, Chairman of the Founding Members of APC, Muhammad Abubakar Katcha, stated that they had waded into the crisis between members of the party and the government of the day. | APC, Niger State | https://dailytrust.com/crisis-rocks-niger-apc-over-caretaker-leadership |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 7, 2020 | #EndSARS: You are Free to Protest Peacefully - Buhari | President Muhammadu Buhari Monday, December 7 stated that Nigerians are at liberty to freely express themselves in a democracy but the government will not tolerate any acts of hooliganism. He stated that hooligans hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests will be dealt with decisively to ensure peace and stability in the country. The warning came amidst claims of a second wave of the #EndSARS protest in the country. In October, the protest against police brutality and the excesses of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), were staged across major cities in the country, a development which resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties by hoodlums who hijacked the protest. Declaring open the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020, President Buhari, who spoke virtually, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their efforts at swiftly restoring law and order in various States during what he described as “the large-scale criminality” that ensued in the wake of the #ENDSARS protests. Reiterating the Government’s commitment to the rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests responsibly in accordance with the laws of the land, the President recounted that the #ENDSARS protests were sadly hijacked by hooligans to cause wanton damage to lives and property in many cities across the country. | President Muhammadu Buhari, #EndSARS | https://guardian.ng/news/endsars-youre-free-to-protest-peacefully-says-buhari/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 7, 2020 | Bayelsa Bye Election: Police Confirm Recovery of Six Officers’ Bodies from Boat Accident | Bayelsa State Police Command on Sunday, December 6 confirmed the recovery of six bodies of policemen who were missing in a boat mishap during their journey to Southern Ijaw for Saturday’s senatorial bye-election in Bayelsa State. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when one of the speedboats conveying 11 policemen from Yenagoa to Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) capsized at Opokuma, the headquarters of the LGA. Command spokesman, Asinim Butswat, confirmed at a media briefing that while the bodies of the six missing police officers that drowned were recovered yesterday, five of them were rescued during the mishap. The statement by Butswat also disclosed that a combined team of rescue officers from the Marine Department of the Bayelsa State Police Command and local divers recovered the six bodies of the missing policemen, which have deposited at the morgue. Butswat stated that while condoling with the families of the deceased, the Command had commenced investigation to ascertain the cause of the boat mishap. Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri had commiserated with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu and the entire force over the unfortunate death of the six officers on election duty. | Bayelsa State, Bye Election, Police | https://guardian.ng/news/police-confirm-recovery-of-six-officers-bodies-from-boat-accident/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 7, 2020 | Anti-Democratic Elements Tried to Scuttle Bye-Elections - INEC | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described the bye-elections held across 11 States on Saturday, December 5 as being generallu successful. The Commission, however, lamented that some ‘anti-democratic elements’ tried to disrupt the processes. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, stated this while giving updates on the elections held for nine State House of Assembly seats and six Senatorial seats. Okoye stated thus: “The Commission regretted that in some areas, electoral officials were assaulted and materials destroyed, while in others there was resistance to the use of the Smart Card Readers. In yet other areas, Commission staff were prevented from deploying altogether. In fact, in one area in Lagos State, some people demanded for money from INEC staff before they would be allowed to deploy. These acts continue to reflect poorly on our country and denude the spirited efforts of the Commission to improve the electoral process under very difficult circumstances.” Okoye confirmed that a number of electoral staff were assaulted during the polls, while commiserating with families of the six policemen who lost their lives when the boat in which they were escorting election staff and materials capsized in Bayelsa State. He further stated that results of elections into the State Houses of Assembly and four Senatorial seats had been successfully declared, except for Bakura State Constituency in Zamfara State. According to him, the Commission would remobilise and conclude the election in Zamfara State on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. | INEC, Bye-Elections | https://guardian.ng/news/anti-democratic-elements-tried-to-scuttle-bye-elections-says-inec/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 7, 2020 | Imo North Senatorial Bye-Election: PDP urges INEC to Nullify APC’s Participation | The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to nullify the participation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 Imo North Senatorial bye-election due to conflicting court orders. The PDP candidate in the election, Mr Emmanuel Okewulonu, made the call on Monday, December 7 in Owerri, Imo State, while speaking with newsmen on the subsisting court orders. Okewulonu argued that the country’s Electoral Act does not allow a political party to contest an election without a valid candidate. He, therefore, called on INEC to declare PDP, which garnered the second highest number of votes, the winner of the election. He further stated that two separate court orders also invalidated the candidacy of two APC flagbearers, Ifeanyi Ibezim and Ifeanyi Araraume, barely 24 hours to the election. The PDP candidate contended that the development left APC without a candidate for the poll. He further argued that, in line with extant laws, a political party should be disqualified from participating in an election “in the event that it presents more than one candidate for the same election”. He stated thus: "Since two different courts of competent jurisdiction have disqualified the two major contenders from APC, it means that the party has no candidate and is therefore disqualified from participating in the election. If the political party claims to have two candidates going into the election, that still disqualifies the party and we must be able to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary. We hereby call on INEC to disqualify APC on these grounds and declare PDP winner of the bye-election, in line with the electoral Act as amended.” Okewulonu thanked the electorate for turning out en masse to cast their votes and promised to offer quality representation, if eventually returned as winner of the election. | Imo North Senatorial Bye-Election, PDP, APC | https://guardian.ng/politics/imo-north-senatorial-by-election-pdp-urges-inec-to-nullify-apcs-participation/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 7, 2020 | Dickson wins Bayelsa West Senatorial Bye-Election | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared former governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of December 5 Bayelsa West Senatorial District bye-election. INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Okechukwu Okeke of the Federal University Otuoke, (FUO) stated that Dickson polled 115,257 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Peremobowei Ebebi of All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 17,500 votes. Eleven political parties participated in the election. | Bayelsa West Senatorial Bye-Election, Seriake Dickson | https://guardian.ng/politics/dickson-wins-bayelsa-west-senatorial-by-election/ |
| Daily Trust Online | Monday, December 7, 2020 | Yari, PDP Trade Words Over Inconclusive Zamfara State Assembly Bye-Election | Former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State are trading accusations over the inconclusive Bakura State Constituency bye-election held on December 5. The PDP in Zamfara State had alleged intimidation, harassment and rigging by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election. In a press conference on Sunday, December 6, Chairman of the party in the State, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani, stated that the APC hired thugs to disrupt the election when they learnt that they will lose the election. In his submission, the Chairman of PDP committee for the bye-election in the State, Senator Lawal Hassan Daniya, stated that despite cancellation of elections in 14 polling units, PDP was leading in the polls. Daniya stated thus: “It is noteworthy that all the wards cancelled are our strongholds where the votes tally were all won by the PDP. But the Independent National Electoral Commission has cancelled them and declared the elections inconclusive." On his own part, Yari accused the PDP’s administration and some of the security personnel deployed during the election of aiding and abetting massive rigging. | Zamfara State, Bakura State Constituency bye-election, PDP, APC | https://dailytrust.com/yari-pdp-trade-words-over-inconclusive-zamfara-state-assembly-byelection |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, December 7, 2020 | Federal Government Promises PWDs Better Deal in Aviation, Others | Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has pledged to make Nigerian airports fair to all, including People With Disabilities (PWDs). At an event to mark the 2020 International Day for PWDs in Abuja, the Minister stated thus: “Even at the moment, we have space and area we cordoned, especially in Lagos and Abuja and so on, where such persons can rest. We provided wheel chairs and other special needs, and we will continue to do that.” Sirika addded that, “I assure you that our airports will continue to be compliant with people with disability.” Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who was also at the programme, stated that his ministry was committed to enthroning conducive environment for all persons to thrive, specially PWDs. Also speaking, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment for the promotion of the welfare of PWDs across the Federation. | Federal Government, Persons with Disability | https://guardian.ng/news/fg-promises-plwds-better-deal-in-aviation-others/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | APC Begins Membership Registration, Revalidation December 12 | The National Caretaker and Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, November 30, unfolded plans to begin the party’s membership registration and revalidation from December 12, 2020, to January 9, 2021. The Chairman of the committee and the Governor of Yobe State, Mr. Mala Buni, in a statement, urged members of the party to revalidate their membership in their wards. He added that prospective members should seize the initiative to join the party. Buni stated thus: “Having consulted stakeholders, including His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC membership registration and revalidation is scheduled to hold from Saturday, December 12, 2020, to Saturday, January 9, 2021. The membership registration and revalidation will take place simultaneously in every ward in the country. The process of distributing the membership registration and revalidation materials to all the states, local governments and wards will be concluded before December 12, 2020.” He appealed to states, local governments and wards leaders to take all the necessary steps to ensure smooth and transparent registration exercise. He assured members that the party will continue to provide an update of the process on a regular basis. | APC, Membership Registration | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/12/01/apc-begins-membership-registration-revalidation-december-12/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | Court Martial Convicts General Adeniyi, Demotes Him over Leaked Video | Former Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, was on Monday, November 30, convicted by a military court martial sitting in Abuja. The tribunal found Adeniyi guilty of violating military social media guidelines and ordered his demotion by at least three years. Adeniyi’s aide, Private Tokunbo Obanla, who was prosecuted alongside the general, was also found guilty and sentenced to 28 days in jail with hard labour. Both convictions are subject to confirmation by the military authorities. Adeniyi reportedly pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful use of social media, and damage to service property amongst other issues. The verdict came eight months after a video of Adeniyi complaining about a lack of military equipment to combat Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East went viral. He also complained that insurgents were outgunning troops, noting that intelligence failure was responsible for an attack by insurgents that claimed dozens of soldiers. Embarrased by the revelations, the major-general was removed from the front and also suspended by the military authorities. The Nigerian Army subsequently filed charges of military social media guideline violations against him. Adeniyi had denied any wrongdoing, stating that he did not leak the video, adding that his phone was in Obanla’s custody at the time of the incident. Obanla had in his statement admitted to posting the video on social media in error. Adeniyi’s lawyers have vowed to appeal the judgment. | Court Martial, General Adeniyi | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/12/01/military-court-convicts-general-adeniyi-demotes-him-over-leaked-video/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | Insecurity: Governors are Frustrated, Almost Helpless, Says El-Rufai | Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, November 30 disclosed that Nigerian governors were frustrated by the security challenges in the country, saying their roles as provided for in the Nigerian Constitution were not satisfactory. El-Rufai made suggestions on how to ensure the country surmounts its various security challenges such as insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping among others during an interview with Channels Television. He stressed that the recent #EndSARS protest by youths against police brutality in parts of the country has exposed the inability of the governors to secure their States despite being called the Chief Security Officers (CSOs) of their States.El-Rufai stated thus: “We are all frustrated. I am frustrated in my State, many governors are frustrated in their States; we are called chief security officers only in name, we have no control over cohesive instruments of the State.” He added, “We are almost helpless. The #EndSARS protest clearly showed the limit to the control of governors over the police and the military. He made a case that the decentralisation of the police force will go a long way in addressing the security problems bedevilling the nation. According to him, Nigeria is the only country in the world that is a federation that has a unified police force. The Governor stated that the governors had engaged in arguments that States should be allowed to have their own police, while local governments should be allowed to have community police. He noted that most State governments were responsible for the running cost of the police such as vehicles, fuel, communication, while the Federal Government was only responsible for the payment of the salaries of policemen. El-Rufal, therefore, stressed the need to recruit more personnel into the police force and ensure they were rightly deployed into designated areas of duty. | State Governors, Insecurity | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/12/01/insecurity-govs-are-frustrated-almost-helpless-says-el-rufai/ |
| Daily Trust Online | Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | Zabarmari Massacre: Buhari Orders Armed Forces To Take Fight To Insurgents | President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Armed Forces to take the fight to the insurgents on a continuous basis until the terrorists are rooted out. President Buhari announced the move in a message delivered on his behalf on Monday, November 30 by a delegation sent to Borno State, following the Boko Haram killing of rice farmers in Zabarmari village. The delegation sent to Maiduguri to deliver a message of condolence and solidarity with the government and people of Borno State comprised a team of high-level officials representing the executive and legislative arms of government. The Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan spoke for the team and the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari representing the President, presented a joint message, on behalf of the President, the government and people of Nigeria to the Governor, the Shehu of Borno, and the bereaved Zabarmari community. The President stated his commitment to making more resources available to the military to prosecute the war. He promised to “work closely with neighbouring countries on bilateral and multilateral levels to ensure that there is no hiding place for the terrorists." | Zabarmari Massacre, President Muhammadu Buhari | https://dailytrust.com/zabarmari-massacre-buhari-orders-armed-forces-to-take-fight-to-insurgents |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, December 1, 2020 | COVID-19: FG Rolls out Grant for Transport Operators | The Federal Government has inaugurated an intervention grant for micro transport operators under its Survival Fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to overcome challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum stated in Abuja on Monday, November 30 at the inauguration of the scheme known as ‘Transport Track’, that it was part of the Artisans and Transport Scheme. Katagum, who is also the Chairperson, Programme Steering Committee, stated that the MSMEs Survival Fund and Guaranteed Offtake Schemes had five different tracks approved under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) of the Federal Government. The minister who was represented by Mr. Adewale Bakare, Director, Industrial Development Department in the ministry, stated that the Transport Track targeted 4,505 beneficiaries in each State across the country. According to Bakare, “This track, which is being launched today will give a one-off grant of N30, 000 each to qualified individuals operating in the transport sector. These include: Ride share drivers, such as Uber, Bolt, etc., taxi drivers, bus drivers, ‘keke Napep’ riders, okada riders, cart pushers etc. Under the Transport Track, being launched today, applicants are encouraged to apply through their registered associations to be enumerated. Individuals who are members of associations but choose not to apply through their association can be enumerated but this ‘independent’ applicant will need proof of membership to be enumerated." | COVID-19, Government Grant | https://guardian.ng/news/covid-19-fg-rolls-out-grant-for-transport-operators/ |