Jerry Mallo, a 25-year-old fabrication engineer and chief executive officer (CEO) of Bennie Technologies LTD, has manufactured Nigeria’s first ‘carbon fibre’ sports car called ‘Bennie Purrie’.

The car was launched on Thursday at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

Speaking during the event, the Plateau-born engineer disclosed that the sports car is the first of many more innovative products he will be manufacturing.

He also appeared on ‘Driving Local Innovation,’ a segment on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, where he explained that the love for luxury vehicles in Nigeria and Africa informed his drive to manufacture such car.

“In Europe, we learnt that making the car is just half of the challenge, and selling it is the other half; Africa is usually is the target place to sell these vehicles, so I feel there’s a big market for it here,” he said.

He added that the availability of the resources for fabricating the car also facilitated such innovation.

Giving the specifications of the car, he said fibre was used in producing the Bennie Purrie so as to enable it withstand shocks in case of an accident.

He added that lack of shock absorbers in aluminium made ones often account for deaths of people whenever a crash occurs.

The car has since been drawing commendations from several quarters, with many using it as a reference to push for made in Nigeria products.

The Plateau state government, who sponsored the unveiling of the innovation at Abuja, also took to his social media handle to commend Mallo, with a picture of Governor Simon Lalong posing inside the car.

“Plateau ingenuity and innovation on the rise as Governor Lalong’s support for young entrepreneurs yield more results. Gov. Lalong unveiled the BENNIE PURRIE, a sports car manufactured by Jerry Mallo of Bennie Agro & Automobile Technology Ltd,” it wrote.

Former Member of the House of Representatives and Board member, Nigeria Football Federation, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande escaped death on Saturday when his car somersault severally into the bush along forest road in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Suleiman, a son of former Nigeria Ambassador to Switzerland, Alh. Yahaya Kwande and a two term Member of the House of Representatives was said to have being driving from Abuja to Jos on Saturday when the incident occurred.
He was said to have being driving a Lexus Jeep with registration number Nig Football FED NFF-06 A when the tire burst and somersaulted into the bush.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Usama Jaafar said: “Join me in appreciating God Almighty for preserving the life of Hon. Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, former member of the House of Representatives and Board member of Nigeria Football Federation who was involved in a ghastly accident.
“Dr. Kwande was driving from Abuja to Jos when the incident Occurred along Forest Road in Riyom LocL Government Area of Plateau State where the car somersaulted into the bush and damage.”
He said Dr. Kwande survived the incident without injuries despite the damages on the car.
Kwande, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) delivered his Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency for President Muhammadu Buhari with over 93,800 against the opposition PDP.

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE RT. HON. SIMON BAKO LALONG AT THE 3RD DINNER WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN PLATEAU STATE HELD AT THE BANQUET HALL, NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE, LITTLE RAYFIELD JOS ON 29TH NOVEMBER 2019.

PROTOCOLS

Let me begin by thanking you for honouring us with your presence at this 3rd Executive Governor’s Interactive Dinner with the Business Community in Plateau State despite your very busy schedules. I again express my deep appreciation to you for your support throughout my first tenure which enabled us to achieve some of the results we got. I am optimistic that you will accord us the same kind of support in the final term of our Rescue Administration. We are here essentially to rub minds together in our journey towards building a more prosperous, productive and business-oriented Plateau State. This interactive dinner therefore provides another opportunity for us as a Government to discuss our level of commitment towards the improvement of the business enabling environment of the state and explain some of the reforms we have been carrying out. We also want to listen to you the organized private sector directly and understand your challenges that will hopefully drive the government to come up with sustainable solutions. Of course, it is at this forum that we can look back at what we discussed during the 2018 interactive dinner to see if the recommendations we put forward made any impact. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you are aware that during our first tenure, we had a 5-pillar policy thrust which guided our development efforts. After the first tenure and a review of achievements, we decided to tinker with it and streamline our goals for better efficiency. Consequently, we narrowed our policy vision to 3 pillars namely: Peace, Security and Good Governance; Infrastructural Development; and Sustainable Economic Rebirth. We also engaged the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to develop a 5-year Strategic Development Plan for us which clearly spells out our economic direction and how we can take Plateau to the Next Level. Following the adoption of the Strategic Development Plan by the State Executive Council, we organised a Policy Retreat at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, to enable our heads of MDAs understand and key into the Second Term Vision. I am happy to report here that the retreat was fruitful as it gave us opportunity to benchmark our plans and also tie them to revenue generation templates and timelines. The Commissioners also signed a Performance Contract to which we shall use to hold them to account. We have also established the Project Monitoring and Result Delivery Unit domiciled in the Office of the Chief of Staff with clear mandate to ensure diligent tracking of Projects and Programmes implementation by all the MDAs. Our administration has continued to work on the Ease of Doing Business by removing obstacles in the way of investors. We have established the One Stop Shop to make it easier for investors to get information and other facilitation under one roof to save time and cost. Earlier this month, I inaugurated the Planning Committee for the Plateau State Economic and Investment Summit which we hope to host soon as we open up our potentials to Nigeria and the World. We are further working on improving our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which although has gone up slightly, it is a far cry to what can be collected. We are therefore working with a group of consultants to leverage on technology and strengthen institutional capacity for effective revenue collection and accountability. We are working on legislations that will enable our MDAs offer better services to the business community quickly and efficiently. The Plateau Geographic Information System (PLAGIS) is also being repositioned to make land acquisition less cumbersome and instill credibility in the process. Working with partners such as GIZ, our efforts at addressing the issues of youth unemployment, poverty reduction, entrepreneurship development, skills acquisition and promoting financial literacy through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (PLASMIDA) is yielding good results. Only yesterday, I was in Abuja to unveil BENNIE PURRIE, a sports car manufactured by Jerry Mallo through his Company, Bennie Agro Machinery & Automobile. He has become the face of MSME in Nigeria and continues to inspire others to make us proud. Early this month, Plateau State participated in the 1st National Competition of Student Entrepreneurship Activity (SEA-HUB) Organized by the German Corporation for International Development (GIZ) in Abuja. We can go on and on to count our modest achievement at empowering our youths and women. However, like I said earlier, this is essentially a forum for us to interact as I listen to you on what we have done right, what we are not doing right and how we can correct it. I have summoned all my heads of MDAs here so that you can engage them and take them to task in their areas of jurisdiction. Please feel free to tell us the truth and push us towards delivering our promises to the people of Plateau State. Let me assure you that our administration will do everything within its power to sustain the peace we have restored to Plateau State even as we continue to deal with crime and criminality. Without security, businesses cannot thrive and investors will run away. I will not forget to specially thank GIZ for partnering with us all the way and also supporting this dinner. We cherish your partnership. The PIPC and PLASMIDA also worked hard to make this possible. We commend you also. Once more, I welcome you. Let the interaction begin. God bless Plateau State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong Executive Governor Plateau State & Chairman, northern Governors’ Forum. 29th November 2019.

PRESS RELEASE



The Northern Governors Forum has condoled with the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over the loss of his long term aide Umar Pariya.

Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong in a statement described the death of Pariya as a great loss not only to his immediate family, but to the nation at large having supported the former Vice President in his service to Nigeria.

The statement described Pariya as a diligent aide who demonstrated competence, loyalty and excellence in his duties as assigned by the former Vice President.

Lalong prayed God to grant the soul of the late Pariya eternal rest and give his family and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the grace to bear the loss.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State
30th November 2019

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State was depleted on Friday as seven serving local government chairmen elected on the party’s platform joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They swapped the umbrella for the broom at a rally held at the Fajuyi Pavilion where they were received into the APC by Governor Kayode Fayemi.
The local government chairmen who defected to APC along with their supporters described Fayemi as a true leader who plays inclusive politics and never victimised them since coming to power last year.
The council chairmen who dumped PDP were Ayodeji Daniel ( Ekiti West), Abiodun Dada (Ijero), Yemi Ayeni (Ikere), Tunde Aladegbami (Ido/Osi), Sikiru Ogundana (Ekiti East), Olubayode Okeya (Emure), and Yemi Owoeye (Efon).
Governor Fayemi was represented at the rally by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye. Other party chieftains present include the state APC Chairman, Barrister Paul Omotoso and APC Southwest Zonal Publicity Secretary, Rt. Hon. Oladapo Karonwi.
The vice-chairmen and councillors in the seven councils also defected to APC just as some commercial motorcyclists and mining association members formally joined the party.
All the seven council chairmen who addressed the gathering one after the other promised to work hard for their new party in future elections.
They expressed gratitude to Fayemi for restoring them back to office after they were removed from office by the immediate past Assembly, a development they said had not happened in the history of the state.
Okeya described Fayemi as “a real leader and a bridge builder who will go far in the politics of the country.”
Aladegbami said Fayemi has set a record in ensuring a harmonious relationship between opposition parties and never deceived or coerced them to join APC.
He described Fayemi as a promise keeper who is passionate about the development of Ekiti and better welfare for its people.
Ogundana advised the remaining local government chairmen still in PDP to accept the reality and cross over to APC which he described as the party Ekiti people are in love with
APC zonal spokesperson Hon. Karonwi said the defectors have taken the best decision “by quitting PDP whose governance structures have collapsed irretrievably.”
Receiving the new members, the party chairman, Barr Omotoso who described them as great assets promised that they would not be discriminated against as they will enjoy the same privileges with old members.
He said: “Nobody is a latecomer in our party, we are ready to accommodate you.
“You have seen the light and you will never go back to darkness again and together, we will move Ekiti forward
“I want to say that our doors are still open to those who are still in opposition to join us, come over to APC the party of the people.”
Omotoso said APC would give them a better platform to contribute to Ekiti development. He urged them to join hands with the Governor in taking Ekiti to greater heights.

Yesterday the 29th of November, 2019, my foundation, the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Center Jos donated food items; 40 Bags of maize, 3 bags of beans, 3 bags of millet, 5 jerricans of palm oil to the School for the Deaf, Bassa LGA – Plateau State.

The donation was necessary owning to the fact that the school had no food item left and was on the verge of closing abruptly so that the students can return home despite the fact that the academic session is still on. This has consistently remain the plight of these students over the years necessitating our support always.

The Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Center over the years has built classrooms, renovated classrooms, renovated hostels, renovated the school dinner hall and equipped the school computer laboratray, donated farm implements to the school farm and has been providing food items to the school on a yearly basis, among many other interventions. Currently, we are awaiting Government approval so that we can build new toilets for the female hostel.

The school has been in existence for about 40 years and is seriously lacking in terms of infrastructure befitting an academic setting for such gifted children who need to be properly tutored and imparted with the necessary skills to be productive citizens of our country. I kindly call on the Government to declare a State of emergency so that the fortunes of this school can be turned around. Also, individuals in the society can contribute and assist. It will be appreciated.

Chief Hon Ayuba Burki Gufwan (Esq)
Makaman Langai and Talban Panyam
30th November, 2019.

Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, has taunted Jeremiah Useni, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival in the March election, saying he should have allowed his daughter, who was his classmate, challenge him in the election .
The governor, who ran under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had defeated Usani securing 595,582 votes while the PDP candidate trailed with 546,813 votes.
Useni had challenged the victory of Lalong but lost at the tribunal and the appeal court.
Speaking with state house correspondents on Friday, Lalong said the validation of his reelection by the appellate court is “very sweet”.
Lalong said his reelection as governor is based on the wish of the people of the state, adding that they had prayed for his success during the poll.
“As far as I am concerned, the main election was more important for me. I did the election, I did a run off, we went to the tribunal the first time, we went again for the second time. Well I don’t know whether he is going for the third time,” he said.
“One thing I am very sure and with the confidence I have in Plateau people I know that this victory they are very happy about it. They have prayed about it and the victory is very sweet.
“I will say it again here, his (Useni) daughter was my classmate, I have told him several times, his first daughter was my classmate. So at this stage I would have been expecting his daughter to contest for governor and not him.
“His daughter was my classmate, we went to school together and so why should we be fighting? Fighting him is like fighting a father, it’s unfortunate but for me, I say my focus is Plateau state. We have done that in the first election, he was defeated, he said no, they will go back for a re-run, I said let’s go back for rerun.
“We went back for rerun I defeated him, he said no he was going for the tribunal. We went to the first tribunal, he said he is a general he doesn’t fight and retire, he will go to the Supreme Court. That I think is to make me lose focus but I have not lost any focus in Plateau State. As he is moving, I am becoming more determined because just before the judgment I think he will say go to Plateau state.”
Useni, a former governor of the old Bendel state, was appointed minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) in 1994, a position held till 1998.
Born on February 16, 1943 at Langtang in Plateau, Useni was educated at the Central Primary School, Langtang, and the Nigerian Military school, Zaria.

The Management of the Federal University Lafia (FULafia) has denied the rumour trending on the social media that a students of the institution was expelled for impregnating a female lecturer.
This was contained in a statement signed by Abubakar Ibrahim, Head, Information and Public Relations of the university and made available to press men in Lafia.
According to the statement, “the attention of Management of FULafia has been drawn to a story on the expulsion of a students for impregnating a female lecturer.
It said that the story has gone viral on the social media that one “Kelvin,” of Computer Science Department has impregnated a lecturer of the department is not true.
The story is fake and nothing like that has happened in the university and there is no students of the department by the said name and no lecturer was impregnated.”
The statement said that the story is nothing but a fabrication aimed at destroying the good image and reputation of the university.
The statement called on the general public to disregard the purported story and assured of their resolve to continue to maintain high moral standard in the university.

The plateau State Secretary of the Apc Alh Bashir Musan Sati have congratulated Plateau State Governor His Excellency Barr. Simon Bako Lalong On the Appeal Court judgment in Jos which affirmed his reelection as the duly elected Governor of Plateau State .

Alh. Sati said the Appeal Court verdict was a victory for democracy and the good people of Plateau State and further stated that the victory of Lalong at Court of Appeal gave the APC-led Government of Governor Lalong the mandate to lead the state and to show continuous tremendous goodwill and support to its noble vision in ensuring good governance and impacting positively on the lives of the masses.

Sati, while thanking God for the victory, appreciated the judiciary for rising up to its solemn responsibility of ensuring that justice prevails, stressing that the judgment was a clear indication that the third arm of government is the last hope of the common man. He also described the victory as a true reflection of the votes and wishes of the Plateau people especially those at the grassroots who aggressively and massively voted for Governor Lalong in the 2019 Gubernatorial elections.

The Court of Appeal victory of Governor Lalong clearly indicated that Gov lalong was a popular choice and I am honestly pleading with PDP Governorship candidate Gen. Jeremiah Tinbut Usaini and other Plateau PDP faithful who are still aggrieved with the Court of Appeal verdict to put their differences behind and join hands with the Governor Lalong in moving state forward for the overall interest of the people said Alh. Sati

As a matter of fact, Alh. Sati maintained the judgment of the Court of Appeal Jos only affirmed the unanimous decision, goodwill, solidarity and support the good people of Plateau State have continued to accord Governor Lalong and his administration for the entrenchment of good governance and people-oriented leadership

Finally Alh Sati, wishes to call on a few persons who may still be aggrieved to drop their difference in the interest of the state and join hands with our visionary governor to move Plateau State forward, Our governor as a man of peace is ever ready and willing to accommodate all shades of interests in line with his administration’s peace and development initiatives, therefore, I advise the PDP Governorship candidate, Gen. Jeremiah Usaini and his party faithful to accept the Court of Appeal verdict in good faith and support Lalong to deliver on his campaign promises.

Congratulations Plateau People
Congratulations Governor Simon Bako Lalong
Congratulations APC Family.

The National Coordinator Of Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO) Alh. Pasali have congratulated Plateau State Governor His Excellency Barr. Simon Bako Lalong On the Appeal Court judgment in Jos which affirmed his reelection as the duly elected Governor of Plateau State .

Alh. Pasali said the Appeal Court verdict was a victory for democracy and the good people of Plateau State and further stated that the victory of Lalong at Court of Appeal Jod gave the APC-led Government of Governor Lalong the mandate to lead the state and to show continuous tremendous goodwill and support to its noble vision in ensuring good governance and impacting positively on the lives of the masses.

Pasali, while thanking God for the victory, appreciated the judiciary for rising up to its solemn responsibility of ensuring that justice prevails, stressing that the judgment was a clear indication that the third arm of government is the last hope of the common man. He also described the victory as a true reflection of the votes and wishes of the Plateau people especially those at the grassroots who aggressively and massively voted for Governor Lalong in the 2019 Gubernatorial elections.

The Court of Appeal victory of Governor Lalong clearly indicated that Ortom was a popular choice and I am honestly pleading with PDP Governorship candidate Gen. Jeremiah Tinbut Usaini and other Plateau PDP faithful who are still aggrieved with the Court of Appeal verdict to put their differences behind and join hands with the Governor Lalong in moving state forward for the overall interest of the people said Alh. Pasali

As a matter of fact, Alh. Pasali maintained the judgment of the Court of Appeal Jos only affirmed the unanimous decision, goodwill, solidarity and support the good people of Plateau State have continued to accord Governor Lalong and his administration for the entrenchment of good governance and people-oriented leadership

Finally Alh Pasali, wishes to call on a few persons who may still be aggrieved to drop their difference in the interest of the state and join hands with our visionary governor to move Plateau State forward.Our governor as a man of peace is ever ready and willing to accommodate all shades of interests in line with his administration’s peace and development initiatives, therefore, I advise the PDP Governorship candidate, Gen. Jeremiah Usaini and his party faithful to accept the Court of Appeal verdict in good faith and support Lalong to deliver on his campaign promises.

Congratulations Plateau People
Congratulations Governor Simon Bako Lalong
Congratulations APC Family.

Signed :
Amb. Muhammad Abdulkadir
Media Aide to Pasali.