By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike on Thursday revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved the dualization of kuje-Gwagalada road.The FCT Minister stated this while inspecting the ongoing road projects in Kuje that are handling by Arab Contractors (linking road from Kuje to Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport and Kuje internal road, by Gilmor Contractor, in AbujaHe said Gilmor is handing over the project by December 2024 and the Arab contractor would have finished the earthwork.

According to the Minister, “What is most important is that the promise Mr President made is being carried out to the letter, particularly as we came in from the airport to the Kuje community, the work is going on very well as I expected, by Arab Contractors.”They have promised that by the end of 2024, they would have finished everything pertaining to earthwork. So, the work is going on fast and here in Kuje, as per the dualization of this carriage road, we believe that by this December, the contractor, Gilmor, would have handed it over.”We have also directed them to continue the dualization from Kuje to Gwagwalada and that will ease off transport difficulties and also reduce travel time when going to Gwagwalada. So, people who have no business along the Giri-Airport axis will now come to town.”Everybody in Kuje who is going to Gwagwalada will also go straight and I know the economic implications these will trigger. Mind you, all these constructions include streetlights. We think that it will change the landscape of the entire city. People do not need to leave Kuje to go and live in the city to go to work. It will be within 20 to 25 minutes and you are already in the city and that is what everybody hopes for. We thank God that we are keeping to the promises made by this Administration”.Wike therefore urged, “This is a public road, not a private road. It is to be used by everybody for the interest of the public. The transmission company will accordingly be told to expedite actions so as to relocate their electrical installations. We are going to make sure that every stakeholder understands the importance of the quick handover of that road”.Responding to questions on funding, he said, “It is a matter of strategy and a matter of being prudent with available resources. No government or institution can say they will have all the required resources to be able to carry out every service. But what is important to us is that we try to make sure people pay their taxes. One thing I can tell you about Nigerians is that when they see that the taxes they pay are being utilized, they reciprocate that by making sure that they pay their taxes but when they see that they pay taxes and nothing is done with it, they will be reluctant to pay.”We are trying as much as we can to continue to increase our IGR. It is our IGR that we are using to pay. There is no other money coming from anywhere. And again, we are strict on the number of projects and we ensure that we have gone far before awarding another project and that the funding is available so that it does not become an abandoned project. So, it is not that we have much money but it is just that we are trying to prudently manage what we have and apply it to the best interest of our people”.

From Dan Amasingha, Minna

In its concerted effort at combating insecurity, the Nigeria Police Force has now authorized that all Constables will henceforth carry arms to combat insecurity.The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 7 Abuja, Benneth Igweh stated this while on an official visit to Niger that everyone now has the power to make an arrest.

According to him “Community Policing is everyone’s business, we have granted all Police Constables the power to carry arms henceforth. ”We have given them two weeks to get trained by the l SPU, CTU or Mobile base; and this will give them the ability to carry out their duties.”According to him “With the rate of crime in our various communities, everyone now has the right to make an arrest. If you see something say something, and then the Police including the community will do something”The Assistant inspector GeneralofPolice, Igweh explained that, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has assured that there will be recruitment into the Police, adding that Niger and Abuja will get more slots.Niger state Commissioner of Police Shawulu Danmamman said the AIG’s visit is a practical initiative to enhance Community Policing.He added that “crime rate is relatively low compared to previous antecedents due to the crime prevention strategies employed since my assumption in office.”However, he said that “insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and farmers/herders clash are prevailing challenges at Munya, Mariga, Rafi, Shiroro, and parts of Kontagora LGAs because of our neighborhood with Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states”.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in the North-western part of the country.The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on military operations on Thursday in Abuja.

Buba stated that the new terror group originated in the Republic of Niger after the recent coup, which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger. He explained that the terrorists began infiltrating northern areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States from the Niger Republic and Mali, particularly following the coup in Niger.According to him, joint border operations with Nigerien security forces, previously in place before the coup, had kept the terrorists at bay.He said, “The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions into remote areas in some north-western states to spread their ideology.“The terrorists were initially welcomed by locals who believed they had good intentions. However, the movement was not reported to the military and security agencies.”The DHQ spokesperson assured that troops have sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts to degrade the terrorists.He added that the group continued to exploit vast ungoverned areas to hide, evade troops, and harass locals but stated that troops were locating and eliminating the threat.Buba also revealed that the troops of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 216 illegal refining sites across the Niger Delta region in October.He said the troops also destroyed 195 wooden boats as well as recovered 30 vehicles and 429 assorted ammunition during the period.Buba said that the troops also impounded 3.2 million litres of crude oil, 763,860 litres of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and 12,690 litres of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS).According to him, troop operations have progressively increased the nation’s daily crude oil production to over 1.5 million barrels per day.“During October, troops arrested 126 persons involved in crude oil theft and recovered 429 assorted ammunition,” he said.Buba said the troops of Operation UDO KA in the South East, conducted offensive operations against IPOB/ESN terror group in several states killing 40 terrorists, apprehended 55 suspects and rescuing 35 kidnapped hostages.According to him, IPOB/ESN incidents were recorded in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu States.“Troops recovered 21 AK47 rifles, 24 pump action guns, 19 assorted arms, 177 live cartridges and 191 assorted ammunition,” he added.