NEWS
Imo Gov Declares Dusk to Dawn Curfew in 10 LGAs
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo has imposed dusk to dawn curfew in 10 council areas in Imo to check further breakdown of laws in Orlu Local Government and other affected areas.
The governor said in Owerri on Monday that the curfew would hold between 6am and 6pm daily till further notice.
Some security agencies in Imo and a group known as security volunteers clashed in Orlu council area on Monday, living one person dead.
A popular timber market known as Ogbosisi Market was set on fire during the crisis which lasted for several hours.
The police spokesman, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, who confirmed the incident, said police had moved into action to restore peace and immediately arrest those behind the incident.
But Uzodinma said, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mr Oguwike Nwachukwu, that the curfew would check further breakdown of laws in the area.
The governor also gave a matching order on security agencies to immediately arrest those behind the incident and bring them to book.
He said: “This afternoon, I received a very disturbing news about a clash between security agencies and some militants who unleashed shooting in Orlu LGA.
“I am totally sad over this incident which nearly painted a picture of near breakdown of law in the state and I am condemning this act of holiganism and those behind this will regret their actions.
“As an interim measure to check the crises, I have directed a dusk to dawn curfew in 10 LGAs in Orlu zone between 6pm and 6am daily till further notice.
The governor warned that anybody caught within the period of curfew would be treated as a suspect to the crisis.
The affected LGAs are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North and Ideato South.
Others are Njaba, Isu, Nwangele and Nkwere Local Government. (NAN)
NEWS
Kogi Govt Gives 14-day Ultimatum to Illegal Occupants of Confluence Stadium to Quit
The state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Monday Anyebe, gave the directive when he led a team to assess the extent of vandalism in the stadium in Lokoja.
Anyebe said the team was in the stadium to assess the extent of vandalism by criminal elements who had carted away some equipment at the stadium.
He expressed concern over the level of vandalism, describing it as ‘worrisome’ and vowed that government would do everything possible to bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
The commissioner, therefore ordered all the illegal occupants to vacate the premises within 14 days, after which they would be forcefully evicted and arrested for prosecution.
He also warned that the government would not allow miscreants to turn the stadium complex into harbouring criminal elements and vandalizing the sports facilities.
“All illegal occupants within the premises and the immediate perimeter fence of the stadium should heed the directive to vacate the premises within 14 days.
“Gov. Ahmed Ododo will not condone any act of criminality in the state; anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law,” Anyebe warned.
Anyebe further disclosed that plans were ongoing to renovate the stadium to a world standard for easy sporting activities in the state.
He, therefore implored the perpetrators to desist from causing set back for the government in its quest to develop the state.
The commissioner stressed that adequate measures were being put in place to safeguard the sports facilities.
Reports says that after assessing the stadium, the commissioner visited the State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He intimated the NSCDC Command of the development and stressed the need for collaboration with the ministry towards providing adequate security for the stadium.
Anyebe appealed to the Command to work collectively with his office in ensuring that personnel of the Corps were posted to the facility to avoid recurrent vandalisation.
In his remarks, the Deputy Commandant, Bala Bodinga, on behalf of the state’s NSCDC Commandant, Paul Igwebuike, commended the commissioner and his encourage for the visit.
He described the visit as timely and assured the commissioner of the NSCDC collaboration to ensure the safety of facilities at the Stadium complex. (NAN)
NEWS
MPC: Ex-CBN Director Predicts Increase in lending Rate
Dr Titus Okunronmu, former Director of Research Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has predicted an increase in the lending rate from its current 24.75 by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Okunronmu gave the prediction in an interview on Monday in Ota, Ogun.
Reports says that financial expert spoke against the backdrop of the MPC meeting scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
He stated that the lending rate would be raised by MPC, as CBN might not want to force it down, adding that until the inflation rate came down, the lending rate would continue to go up.
“It is at the same level of inflation that CBN will net or fix the lending rate,” he said.
According to the former CBN director, the higher the inflation rate, the less profit commercial banks will record. (NAN)
Foreign News
Iran to Hold Memorial Services for Raisi on Tuesday
Memorial ceremonies for President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian are planned in Iran for Tuesday.
Raisi, Amirabdollahian and seven senior Iranian officials died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
Local media reported that a ceremony is being planned in the provincial capital of Tabriz in the morning, followed by a ceremony in the religious stronghold and pilgrimage city of Qom.
The date for the funerals of the two statesmen has not yet been announced.
Raisi is to be buried in his hometown of Mashhad.
The helicopter crashed in dense fog on the mountains over East Azerbaijan Province while the deceased were travelling back from a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
(dpa/NAN)