NEWS
Kolo, Federal Character Commission (FCC) Member- designate Dies
From Alfred Babs, Ilorin.
Kwara state Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said he was shocked by news of the death of Mr James Kolo, a Federal Character Commission (FCC) member – designate who died in the early hours of Tuesday.
The late Kolo died at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) after a brief illness.
He hailed from Kpada in Patigi local government area of the state.
Kolo was one of the 37 members appointed into the Federal Character Commission (FCC) by President Mohamadu Buhari in April this year.
Mallam AbdulRazaq in a Condolence message commiserated with the Patigi community and the All Progressives Congress (APC) family on the sudden death of the politician.
AbdulRazaq, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye described Kolo as a loyal member of the party and a team player whose death was a great loss to his family, the people of Patigi local government, and the entire state.
“We are devastated by the death of Mr. Kolo after recently falling ill. He was a staunch party man and a bridge builder who worked hard alongside other patriots for the success of the APC in the state.
“We are consoled by the fact that he was a good man who got along with everybody that crossed his path. Many knew him for being a generous person. We commiserate with his family and pray the Almighty God to comfort them and rest his gentle soul,” the governor said.
Speaker of the Kwara state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Yakubu Danladi in a statement signed by Ibrahim Sheriff, Special Assistant on Media said that he sympathized with the good people of Patigi Emirate, family, friends and associates of Mr. James Kolo, Kwara state FCC Commissioner designate, whose death was announced earlier on Tuesday.
“It is with a rude shock that I receive news of the demise of Mr. James Kolo, who was recently announced as Commissioner designate for Federal Character Commission.
“The demise of Mr. James Kolo, who, until his death was a loyal party man, committed to the progress and development of Kwara state is a colossal loss, especially at a time his expertise and wealth of experience is sought in the Nation’s service”, Danladi added.
“Thoughts and prayers of the 9th Kwara legislature are with the people of Patigi and the family of the deceased. We pray Allah comfort them and grant late Kolo eternal rest”, the Speaker said.
NEWS
Police Warn Against Violence During Ramadan Cultural Show
The Police in Kano State on Monday warned youths against perpetrating violence at the Ramadan, particularly during the “Tashe” cultural activities.
The cultural show usually starts during the middle of the holy month and ends few hours before the commencement of the Sallah.
The event is an Hausa cultural show staged during the Ramadan period when people, especially young men and women, dramatise certain cultural norms in form of comedy.
The Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, gave the warning during an interactive session with traditional rulers, community leaders, religious authorities and influential youth leaders in the state, held at the Police Officers Mess, Miller Road, Bompai, Kano.
The session was part of the command’s efforts to ensure a peaceful “Tashe” during the current Ramadan fast.
Gumel assured that proactive security measures had been taken on the build-up to the event.
He said that Area Commanders of the Metro, Central, and Dala as well as SPOs Jakara, Kwalli, Gwale, Nassarawa, Dala, Mandawari in Kano metropolis had briefed him on “the unhealthy practice by some miscreants.
He said such misreants usually took advantage of the show to derail from the practice and promote insecurity.
He warned those planning to perpetrate such act to desist, as adequate security measures had been deployed at the identified locations, and that stringent strategies would be employed to checkmate the situation.
“We have also reached out to traditional rulers in the affected LGAs in the metropolis to preach peace among the youth participating in the show, to desist from any act capable of bringing confusion before, during and after the Ramadan period.
“We have also taken concrete security measures to deal with any person or group of people that take advantage of promoting Tashe cultural show to breach any security during the Ramadan days.
“Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) are also directed to identify and reach out to prominent people/youths that organise Tashe and to beam the necessary searchlight against any form of violence in the state,”Gumel said.
Furthermore, he said the command had increased surveillance and patrols in some identified areas where youths tended to exploit the show to promote nefarious activities.
He said the command’s intelligence units had also increased vigilance for collecting and putting into action relevant information to pre-empt likely emerging security threats.
“These proactive approaches are to allow the command to adequately and swiftly respond to early warning signs of potential breach of security and maintain peace and order.
The commissioner said the command was confident of surmounting the challenges posed by those category of youths that might exploit the show to unleash violence during the fasting period.
“Ultimately, our goal is to create a secure and harmonious atmosphere for all residents of Kano State.” (NAN)
NEWS
Voice, Data Services Affected by Undersea Cable Cuts Restored – NCC
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says the voice and data services affected by the cable cuts have been restored.
NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, stated this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
Muoka said that services were restored, following its disruption on March 14, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics on the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal.
“We are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90 per cent of their peak utilisation capacities,” he said.
Muoka said that all the operators who were impacted by the cuts had taken recovery capacity from submarine cables which were not impacted by the cuts.
According to him, mobile network operators (MNOs) have assured the commission that data and voice services will operate optimally, pending full repairs of the undersea cables.
He said that the MNOs had managed to activate alternative connectivities to bring the situation back to normalcy.
“We extend our appreciation to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea fibre,” he said. (NAN)
NEWS
Borno: Non-Academic Staff Union Seeks Public Understanding Over Strike Action
The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) branch of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) has appealed for public understanding over its decision to embark on strike action.
The appeal was made by the branch Chairman, Mr Musa Liman, who spoke to Newsmen on the impact of the strike action in UNIMAID.
Liman said the action, which was nationwide, was in compliance with its national body’s directives to protest the alleged unfair treatment of the union members by the Federal Government.
The Chairman, who said the action was also to save public universities from collapse, noted that the level of compliance in UNIMAID was impressive.
“I want to thank our members for the almost 100 per cent compliance and to urge them to remain calm, peaceful and wait for further directives.
“If you observe, places like senate building, bursary, works department, exams and records, fire service, and many other places in the university are closed for the seven day strike,” Liman said.
He explained that it was only the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the university that said it would be joining the strike action on Wednesday. (NAN)