The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Ibarhim Garba has handed over the mantle of leadership to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Danladi Amodu-Ameh as acting Vice-Chancellor. Mr Garba made the handing over yesterday during a brief management meeting held at the Vice Chancellor’s conference room. He called on the university community to give the Acting Vice-Chancellor maximum support to enable him succeed. It could be recalled that Prof. Garba’s tenure is expected to expire on April 30, 2020. However, crises ensued when the Governing Council of the institution directed him to proceed on terminal leave by March 1, 2020, following a letter dated February 7, signed by the Registrar of the university, A. A. Kundila, and the council headed by its Chairman, Adamu Fika (Wazirin Fika). However, the VC rejected the idea, expressing his resolve to stay until the end of his stipulated five-year tenure in office. In January, it could be recalled, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration at the university, Prof. Kabir Bala, was appointed as the new vice-chancellor of the institution and he is to resume office on May 1. Director, Public Affairs of the university, Dr Ismail Shehu confirmed to our correspondent that the Vice Chancellor handed over to the DVC Academic out of civility in order to avoid crisis in the university and also in compliance with the directives of the Governing Council

PRESS STATEMENT

PLATEAU STATE GOVERNOR SALUTES COCIN PRESIDENT, REV. DATIRI AT 61

Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State has rejoiced with President, Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Rev. Dr. Dachollom Datiri on the occasion of his birthday.
The Governor in a congratulatory message to the clergyman, described him as a man of God who has devoted his energy, talent and time to the service of God and humanity.
He noted that “Rev. Dr. Datiri has played a major role in the propagation of the gospel and promoting religious freedom and tolerance among the citizens of Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole. He has expressed deep faith in boldly responding to the challenges of members of his congregation and the Christian community on the Plateau and beyond through his preachings and interventions”.
Lalong while thanking the COCIN President for enhancing the contributions of the Church to the development of Plateau State in various sectors such as health, education agriculture and many more, urged him not to relent in strengthening members of his congregation to continue to support the Government as it delivers on its mandate.
Governor Lalong also encouraged Rev. Dr. Datiri to continue to work towards uniting the body of Christ in the State and the nation by offering his wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
He wished him more years of peace, joy and divine health.

Makut Simon Macham, Ph.D
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State
4th March 2020.

The United States Department of State is offering a reward of up to $7m (N2.5bn) for information leading to the arrest of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.

The Rewards for Justice Program, which is the counterterrorism rewards program of the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, said this in a tweet on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.

The tweet reads, “The United States Department of State offers a reward up to $7m for information leading to the arrest of the terrorist, Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram.

Shekau has been the leader of Boko Haram since the extrajudicial killing of its former leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009.

The terrorist group has killed tens of thousands and displaced 2.3 million from their homes and was at one time the world’s deadliest terror group according to the Global Terrorism Index.

Boko Haram’s past targets have included suicide bombings of police buildings and the United Nations office in Abuja.

Of the 2.3 million people displaced by the conflict since May 2013, at least 250,000 have left Nigeria and fled into Cameroon, Chad or Niger.

The group has carried out mass abductions including the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014 and two years ago, abducted some schoolgirls from Dapchi in Yobe State, releasing all of them except Leah Sharibu who refused to deny her Christian faith.

The Federal Government has since initiated a plan to give amnesty to repentant terrorists while the Senate is currently debating a bill to establish an agency that will cater to the repentant insurgents.

The government has on three separate occasions claimed to have killed Shekau but the Boko Haram leader has resurfaced on several videos to show that he is still alive.

Shekau is currently number eight on the list of the most wanted terrorists by the US.

Some others include: Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is the current emir of Al Qaeda and former leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad ($25m); Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is the leader of the Haqqani Network, based in Pakistan ($10m); Abu Muhammad Al-Julani $10m, Abdullah Abdullah ($10m) wanted for his role on behalf of Al Qaeda in the 1998 US embassy bombings

Saif al-Adel ($10MM) – Saif al-Adel is believed to be a high-ranking member of the al-Qaida organization and also wanted for the 1998 US Embassy twin bombing.

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sokoto State Command, has arrested a woman who had been on the watch list for 10 years and 18 other drug dealers. The NDLEA Sokoto Commander, Mr Yakubu Kibo told newsmen on Tuesday in Sokoto that all the suspects were arrested in February. He said the command made a total seizure of 141.534kg of illicit drugs during the month. According to him, the illicit drugs includes cannabis sativa 134.128kg and psychotropic substances which includes tramadol diazepam and pentazocine injection. “We arrested a very notorious cannabis sativa dealer in the state, Madam Queen from Raymond Village. ”Madam Queen has been on our watch list for the past 10 years and on the 28th of February, she was arrested alongside her sales boy. “This time around, it was not limited to cannabis sativa, she is now a multi-illicit drug dealer. Apart from the cannabis we seized from her, other drugs including pentazocine injection was also found with her,” he said. He said pentazocine is a dangerous injection which is class ‘A’ in prohibited drugs worldwide. The commander revealed that another notorious business centre of one Ali Custom was also raided on two occasions at Kofar Marke, Rukubawa area and 97.750kg of illicit drugs were seized. He said NDLEA had also returned sanity to popular Sokoto Hotel as well as raided a lot of other black spots in the state in February.

Source: NAN

The House of Representatives Committee on Navy on Tuesday visited the Western Naval Command in Lagos as part of its oversight function during which it pledged its support.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee members’ first point of visitation was the Navy Ordinance Depot, Special Boat Service and Joint Maritime Security Centre.

They visited the Underwater WarFare School, Nigeria Reference Hospital, the newly commissioned apartments for personnel, stadium, Nigeria Navy Secondary School and Naval Air Base within the Ojo barracks.

They also visited NNS ships in BEECROFT, Naval Base BEECROFT, Naval Training Command, the Naval Dockyard Limited, Naval Doctrine and Assessment Center as well as Forward Operating bases in Igbokoda and Badagry, respectively.

Yusuf Gadgi, Chairman of the Committee, after the visit, said that he was impressed with the achievements of the Command.

“The Nigeria Navy within the jurisdiction of the Western Naval Command have done unprecendently well and we commend them.

“Perhaps, as Committee, we have our own reservations but to see military institution establishing projects according to standard and according to specification.

“To see military institution looking at the welfare of their personnel both junior and senior officers, to see it doing the best in ordee change the value.

“And to add to the morale of their engagement, I think we must commend them and aside from those physical things, personally in the areas of operations, ” he said.

Gadgi also commended the Western Naval Command in the areas of training its personnel and partnering with foreign navies.

“The Western Naval Command is doing well in terms of partnering in so many international and domestic operations, they have done well and we commend them.

“Any institution that doesn’t have the capacity to sustain its manpower development, I don’t think it’s worthy of being an institution,” he said.

The Chairman also said that the committee would ensure that special consideration was given to the Navy in terms of having access to fund.

Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, said that he believed that the visit would give the lawmakers an insight to areas that needed intervention.

“Oversight visits such as this, I believe, are designed to further strengthen institution processes and procedures, so that where things are not done properly, they can be corrected.

“I am, therefore, confident that this visit will further give you a better understanding of the working of the navy as far as the WNC is concerned in order to know the areas of possible intervention,” he said.

Source (NAN)

PRESS STATEMENT

GOVERNOR LALONG CONDOLES FORMER GOVERNOR JANG OVER LOSS OF PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Governor Simon Bako Lalong has expressed shock over the death of Mr. Samuel Dung, Personal Assistant to the former Governor of Plateau State Jonah Jang.
Governor Lalong in a statement described as saddening the sudden death of Mr. Dung which occured on Monday 2nd March.
While consoling the family of the deceased and the former Governor Jang, Lalong described the death as painful and a huge loss to the people of Plateau State giving his services to the State.
He said ” the deceased served with passion and commitment leaving no one in doubt that he was a dependable father and husband as well as a worthy assistant to his principal. Such a loss is deeply hurting especially looking at the vacuum created by his demise”.
Governor Lalong however asked the family and former Governor Jang to be comforted by the record of impeccable service the late Dung offered to his principal and the entire State in loyalty, honesty and selflessness.
Lalong also prayed that God will grant his soul eternal rest and give the family the grace to bear the loss.

Makut Simon Macham, Ph.D
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
3rd March 2020.

The Police in Plateau State have arrested 102 underage girls believed to be prostitutes in Jos.



The state’s Commissioner of Police Mr Emmanuel Ayeni, made this clear to reporters on Monday during the command’s monthly news conference in Jos. He said that the arrest followed a security tip-off that made security men to raiding the hotels.

According to him, “The girls are aged between 12 and 16 years and they were arrested dancing naked at Pleasure Inn at Shendam Street and Mandela Hotel at Rwang Pam Street… The suspects were interrogated and, on request, handed over to the Plateau State Ministry of Social Development for rehabilitation,’’ he said.

The commissioner also said that officers and men of the command had carried out extensive raids on criminal hideouts in Jos and Bukuru, where 109 suspects were rounded up and arrested: “In the last one month, a total of 13 cars and 11 motorcycles were recovered at different locations and some of them have been released to the owners… Property valued at N11 million were also recovered,’’ he added.

This development is coming against the background of a statement linked to the state governor wherein he was quoted to have said that God is angry with the people of the state and that is why so much evil has been befalling the state recently. One wonders how people are still able to perpetrate these heinous acts despite the civil unrest in the state.

*Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi Activities within the weekend From February 29th to 1st March 2020* .

The Member Representing PKK in the Green Chamber Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi was at TCNN staff school Bukuru on Saturday 29th to attend the 70th birthday celebration of Mrs Pandang Yamsat and the dedication of some books authored by the Former COCIN President Rev. Pandang Yamsat. Represented by his SLA Pharm. Mizim Dagung,the Member eulogised the Person of Rev. Pandang Yamsat and his contributions to peaceful coexistence and good governance. While praying God to continually bless and grant Mama good health and many more years. He supported the books dedication and the birthday celebration with the sum of a 100 thousand Naira.
In the same vain the Rt. Hon. Member sent in a contribution of N50,000.00 towards the Educational Endowment fund of the Jepmidiyel Community of Chip district during their Cultural day celebration on the 29th February 2020 and admonished the Community to sustain the drive towards ensuring its people are well Educated, the catalyst for development.
The Rt. Hon. Member also took out time through his SLA to attend The Lecture and Productivity award ceremony organised by the Andrew Gogwim Foundation which took place at Jos Business school Jos on Sunday 1st March,2020 where he was an Award Recipient for ” Doggedness
In Legislative duties,passion and dedication to the welfare and well being of his constituents and the Never- say Never Spirit “. He dedicated the award to the peace and loving constituents of PKK who have entrusted their mandate to him and are standing with him in prayers to succeed . He then supported the Foundation with the sum of N50,000.00
The Rt. Hon was also ably represented by Chamzy Bako and his other aides at the book Launch of Satmak Dapar which took place at Zumji Event centre Jos same Sunday 1st March and also supported the book Launch with the sum of N50,000.00
God Bless the Efforts of the Rt. Hon.

*Gagdi Media Team*

DALUNG PAYS FAREWELL TO LATE SENATOR LONGJAN AS HIS BODY LAID TO REST IN QUANPAN LGA
2nd March, 2020

The Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has condoled the family of Senator Ignatius Longjan who died after a protracted illness at Turkish Hospital Abuja on Monday 10th February, 2020 and was buried today 2nd March, 2020 in his hometown Kwan Quanpan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Barrister Dalung who is out of the country, delegated members of his Foundation to paid farewell to late Senator Longjan during his burial in Quanpan LGA.
Earlier, the Minister paid the condolence visit to the family on the 11th February, 2020, described the death of the Elder Statesman as tragic, shocking and painful. “This evening (12th February, 2020), I condoled with the family of late Senator Ignatius Datong Longjan”. “The exit of Baba is a great loss to Plateau State and Nigeria at large”. “We have lost a man of great honour and humility.” Baba was a peaceful man with great passion in serving his people; we will surely miss him”.

Until his death, Ambassador Longjan was a Senator Representing Plateau Southern Zone at the National Assembly.
He also extolled the sterling qualities of leadership in Nigeria as former Career Ambassador. He was a Former Deputy Governor who served Plateau State steadfastly and loyally from 2011 to 2015 during Senator Jonah David Jang as Governor. Senator Longjan was disciplined, humbled and patriotic.

“We are deeply pained by this sudden loss and pray that God Almighty will console his immediate family, the people of Plateau State and beyond. Ambassador Longjan, before his election as Senator, he was appointed as Board Chairman of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The burial of late Senator Longjan was attended by many dignitaries in Plateau State and across the nation. Amongst are: Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawal, Deputy Senate President Omo Agege, Senator Almakura, former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Jonah David Jang, former Governor of Plateau State, Hon Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, and others numerous sons and daughters of Plateau State.

May his soul rest in peace Amen.

HON MANJI GONTORI HAS EXPRESSED SHOCK OVER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HON SAM DUNG,P.A TO SEN.DARA JONAH JANG,SEND HIS CONDOLENCE…..

Hon Manji Gontori yesterday night has expressed his shock over the news of the untimely death of a plateau promising young man,SAM DUNG,a personal assistant(P.A) to plateau ex-Governor and senator of the federal republic Dara Jonah Jang yesterday on their way back from the burial of an elder stateman,Sen. Ignatius Datong Longjan whom we are still mourning.

Gontori said the news is unbelievable!in his words he said”these are indeed sad days for us on the plateau”.death is not a new thing to us but untimely death such as this is shocking and painful.he said ,the exit of this young resourceful brother is a colossal loss to us on the plateau.
Hon Manji Gontori condole with his immediate family,Dara Jonah Jang,the berom nation and indeed plateau state over this irreparable lost.he said”only God Almighty by the Holy Spirit can comfort us at this trying moment”.

May the soul of the decease and all the faithful departed rest in peace with the lord.
We mourn your exit Hon Sam Dung………

Sign:
Hon Manji B.D.Gontori
(On behalf of the Gontori support team for Governorship of plateau state,2023).