NEWS
Benue: Restore Security, IDPs Want to Return Home, Alia’s Aide Begs Tinubu
Security
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Senior Special Assistant to Benue State Governor on Youth Mobilization and Empowerment, Mr. Moses Mkeenem has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu for full restoration of security in the state, saying such feat would afford the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) the opportunity to return to their original homes and livelihoods.
The governor’s aide lamented that the displacement of the victims as a result of herdsmen attacks have thrown them to the dark side of life, saying the President, as a matter of urgency, direct all security agencies in the state to work towards ensuring that peace returns to all the troubled areas in the state so that the government can freely return the Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs), to their ancestral homes.
Mkeenem who made the plea while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, enjoined the president to wave his magic wand on the security situation bedeviling the state and ensure that internally displaced persons return to their homes peacefully.
He explained that the appeal has become necessary due to the fact that armed militia herdsmen “are still grazing on people’s farm lands in the state and causing mayhem, killing people and raping our wives, mothers and sisters despite government efforts to resettle IDPs in the state.”
“My office and the entire youth of Benue are making a renewed and passionate appeal to herders who are still grazing on people’s farm land in the state and causing Mayhem, killing people and raping our wives, mothers, and sisters to desist forthwith as this may not be condoned any longer.”
He solicited the collaboration of youths from the neighboring states of Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, and Cross River to enable the state to achieve peace, unity and protect territorial integrity.
“The activities of armed militia suspected to be herdsmen on the border areas have affected people from the local governments of Logo, Guma, Kwande, Ukum, Katsina-ala, Makurdi, Gwer-west, Agatu, and Ogbadibo.
“We call on the federal government and various security agencies to expedite actions and curb the security situation in these local governments so that farming activities and businesses will strive, as these have greatly affected the youth who are the active population that engage in farming activities and businesses,” he said.
The aide urged Benue youths to key into the Governor Alia’s agenda for development and peace, and cautioned those who are in the habit of fomenting trouble to have a rethink as his office will no longer condone any form of distraction to state development.
He thanked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume for his support to the state governor and his fatherly role to the youths, as he congratulated President Tinubu on the affirmation of his mandate by the Supreme Court.
The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has called for a lasting solution to eradicate environmental pollution caused by plastic wastes.
In her message to mark the year 2025 World Environment Day, with the theme ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, in Abuja on Thursday, the first lady also advised people to curtail the way they consume food and drinks packaged in plastics.
“I join millions of Nigerians and the world in calling for urgent and united action to safeguard our environment.
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, affecting our health, our environment, and our future.“In Nigeria, we must rise to this challenge by changing how we consume packaged food items and how we dispose of plastic containers and bags.
“I particularly want to speak to our youths, the leaders of tomorrow, be it in schools or within our neighborhoods, each of you has a role to play in creating a cleaner, healthier and greener Nigeria,” she said.
Mrs Tinubu had recently promised to introduce environmental solutions clubs to schools through her NGO, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
“I want to use this opportunity to introduce our students to two programmes that the RHI will be launching soon.
“First is the Environment Club for Secondary School Students and the Environment Society for Students in Tertiary institutions nationwide to help us clean up our environment and grow more trees.
“Second is the “Flow with Confidence” for our girls in rural communities.
“This programme is to provide one year’s supply of disposable sanitary pads to our adolescent girls to support them to remain in school during their menstrual cycle,” She said.
NAN further reports that some of the functions of RHI environmental clubs in schools would include raising environmental awareness; fostering social and life skills; empowering students to take action and promoting sustainable behaviours.
The clubs can also enhance critical thinking and creativity, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen communities.
The club would encourage students to participate in various environmental projects, like tree planting, recycling, and garden projects, gaining practical experience and deeper understanding.(NAN))
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation on Wednesday evening banning citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States.The countries affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Nationals from these countries will be “fully” restricted from entering the U. S., according to the proclamation. Similarly, the entry of nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted.The proclamation is effective on June 9, 2025 at 12:01 am EDT (5:01am Nigerian time).Trump said the move was needed to protect the U.S. against “foreign terrorists” and other security threats.“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” Trump said in a video posted on X.The U.S. President said the list could be revised and new countries could be added.He said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbour a “large-scale presence of terrorists”.He alleged others failed to cooperate on visa security and had an inability to verify travellers’ identities, inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the U.S..“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States,” Trump said.Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security”.Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.That order directed several cabinet members to submit a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”During his first term in office, Trump had announced a ban on travellers from seven countries, a policy that generated so much controversies before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.However, former President Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump, repealed the ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.” (NAN)From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro has congratulated the traditional ruler of the Okochiri Kingdom in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Ateke Tom on the occasion of his 61st birthday.Otuaro was among prominent guests that graced the colourful birthday celebration of King Ateke at his palace in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, on Monday.
He described the Rivers monarch as “a respectable leader whose reign has brought about unity, peace, progress and development around his community. ”He stressed that King Ateke, who is also the ‘Sekuro of the Niger Delta’, was a great asset who had contributed immensely to the peace, stability, security and development of the region.Otuaro expressed his utmost regard for the traditional institution and the vital role of traditional rulers in the peace and development of communities in the Niger Delta.He noted that traditional rulers were among the critical stakeholders that the PAP was collaborating with to strengthen the programme’s peace-building process in the region.He reiterated that the programme was in safe hands, and strongly motivated by President Bola Tinubu to bridge the region’s human capital development gap through formal education scholarships and vocational training in aviation, maritime, agriculture, and other relevant trade areas.Otuaro said his policy of inclusivity had ensured the involvement of Niger Delta women in the programme’s initiatives, stressing that there were plans designed for their empowerment and contribution to the region’s socio-economic growth.He emphasized that he was focused on rendering quality service to the people of the region, and not distracted by the shenanigans of his detractors.Otuaro called on all stakeholders of the region to remain steadfast in the effort to sustain the prevailing peace in the region so that socio-economic and developmental activities could thrive around the communities.While expressing appreciation to King Ateke for his unwavering support to the programme, the PAP boss prayed to God to grant him long reign, longevity and good health.
Diaspora Group Organizes Solidarity Workshop for Seyi Tinubu
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja A group, The Future Platform, based in Georgia, USA is organizing a workshop to create awareness...
Wike Seeks Support for Tinubu-led FG
ShareThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu-led...
Court Convicts 9 Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos
Share A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Thursday, convicted and sentenced nine Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each,...
Shettima Mourns Jubril Aminu
ShareVice-President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, led mourners at the funeral prayers for the late elder statesman, former Minister of Education...
Federal High Court Mourns ex-Chief Judge
ShareThe Federal High Court (FHC) on Thursday, extends condolences to the family, friends, and associates of its former Chief Judge,...
Man Jailed 9 years for Sexually Assaulting 13-year-old neighbor’s son
ShareAn Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Thursday sentenced a man, Francis Onwuzulike, to nine years six months...
Only Tinubu Can Lead Us to Nigeria of Our Dreams – Wike
Share The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the country needs leaders like President Bola Tinubu...
Fire Service Retrieve Corpse of Man Inside Well in Kano
Share Men of the Kano State Fire Service have retrieve the remains of a 33-year-old man, Muhammed Sagir, from inside a...
Kwara Govt. Urges residents to Prioritize Oral Hygiene
ShareThe Kwara State Government has urged residents to prioritize oral hygiene by maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and...
NDA Announces Screening Test of Shortlisted Applicants for June 14
ShareThe Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA), on Thursday fixed the screening test of shortlisted applicants for June 14. The Academy Spokesman, Maj....
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish