NEWS
Ododo Visits Kogi Varsity, Vows to Rescue Kidnapped Students Unhurt
Gov. Usman Ododo on Saturday expressed determination to rescue the nine abducted students of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC), Osara, Kogi safe and sound from their abductors.
The governor made the pledge when he visited the university campus on an assessment of the security situation in the wake of the security breach on the campus that led to the abduction of the students.
Bandits had invaded the institution on Thursday night and abducted nine students, whose whereabouts still remained unknown as the assailants yet to make contact with the management of the institution.
Ododo, who was taking round the surrounding by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulraman Asipita, vowed to secure the safe return of the students from their abductors.
“This visit is part of my concern for what happened on Thursday and to assure parents and management that every necessary step including non-kinetic measures have been activated to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
“I hereby wish to assure members of the university community of efforts of my administration to improve the existing security architecture on the campus.
“We will do whatever it takes to return all the abducted students to the university and to reunite them with their families and friends.
“It is our duty as a government to protect lives and property in all parts of the state. We are prepared to protect the students and that is why we allowed the students to stay on the campus.
“It’s unfortunate that in spite of installed CCTV cameras in all the classrooms and the entire perimeter of the university campus the abductors still struck.
“Our investigation so far revealed that all the cameras were switched off and this can only be attributed to sabotage by internal collaborators,” he lamented.
According to him, security agencies are on their heels and that investigation is ongoing to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
He disclosed that there would be regular review of the operation as more facts emerge from the investigation.
“I am here to see things myself; to assess the situation and also to review the ongoing operation that will ensure the safe return of the students to the school. What is most important now is how to rescue our students unhurt.
“We have the right information at our disposal but we can’t put all that out in the media. I want the parents and students to be calm as we are making concerted effort to secure the return of the students,” he said.
Ododo commended the security agencies for their gallantry in minimizing the impact of the attack by preventing the attackers from gaining access to the university hostels.
“Nothing will be spared to bring back the students and to prevent a repeat of such unfortunate attack on the university campus and elsewhere in the state, ” Ododo assured. (NAN)
NEWS
Tinubu Nominates Chairman, 5 Executive Directors for South East Development Commission
President Bola Tinubu has removed Hon. Emeka Atuma as Chairman of the board of South East Development Commission (SEDC), and replaced him with Dr Emeka Nworgu.The President also replaced all the three executive directors initially nominated and named two additional executive directors, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, said in a statement.
The President also removed one of the board members, Donatus Nwankpa. However, Hon. Mark Okoye retained his position as the Commission’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on the 16-member board, one more member than the initial board.The new executive director for finance is Stanley Ohajuruka, who replaced Anthony Ugbo in the first list.Toby Okechukwu is the new executive director of projects. He replaced Obinna Obiekweihe, while Chief Sylvester Okonkwo is now the executive director of corporate services, replacing Dr Daniel Ugwuja.The two nominated executive directors without a portfolio are Chidi Echeazu and Dr Clifford Ogbede.The President retained Mr Ugochukwu Agballah, Hon. Okey Ezenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Mr Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman and Hamma Kumo.The other nominees retained are: Edward Onoja, Orure Inima and Chief Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma.All the nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.President Tinubu expects the new nominees, as pioneers, to use their wealth of experience and expertise to actualise the Commission’s mandate and develop the SouthEast region. (NAN)NEWS
Rivers Government to Demolish Shanties, Gives Seven Days Notice
Mr Evans Bipi, Rivers Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, has issued a seven days notice to commence clearing Port Harcourt city of slums and illegal waste dumpsites.The commissioner gave the notice on Saturday shortly after an enforcement operation at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Area in Port Harcourt.
Bipi expressed concern on operations of scavengers at the Trans-Amadi industrial area who currently occupy large hectares of private lands using them for sorting and assemblage of solid waste. He condemned the act of proliferation of illegal dumpsites as well as shanties in business areas, and advised occupants to vacate affected properties which had already been marked for demolition.”Scavengers here are contributing to environmental hazards, their operation is highly unacceptable, this administration will no longer continue to allow them to deface our residential and industrial areas.”We have given occupants seven days to vacate affected properties as we shall commence waste clearing and demolition of shanties in the area.”Property owners should refrain from leasing their properties to operators of unapproved and hazardous businesses or face the full weight of the law,” the commissioner warned.Mr David Ogbanga, Chairman, Special Committee on Development Control of the ministry also assured of efforts towards sustainable urban development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.According to Ogbanga, apart from defacing the city outlook, slums impede urbanization, and they constitute a breeding ground for miscreants as well as hideouts for criminals and perpetrators of all forms of social vices.”We will put an end to this in the coming days, our enforcement team will begin demolition to restore serenity to our city as well as protect residents,” he said. (NAN)NEWS
Army Chief Pledges Improved Welfare for Wounded Troops, Orders Evacuation of Critical Cases
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of wounded personnel to ensure their speedy recovery.Oluyede gave the assurance on Saturday during a visit to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Maiduguri.
The COAS commended the healthcare team in the hospital for their dedication, and directed that personnel with complicated medical cases be evacuated to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna for specialised treatment. The Army Chief who interacted with some of the wounded soldiers, encouraged them to remain strong as the army would never abandon them.“We will do our best to ensure that you are recuperated so that you can all go back to your duty,” he said. (NAN)