Abia State government has stated that the closure of the Waterside abattoir and Ahia Udele market in Aba is permanent. The State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who met with traders of the closed markets on Friday in Umuahia informed them that the closure as directed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is aimed at safeguarding life and preservation of public health. Chief Okiyi who expressed the deep pains and sympathy of the government to the traders over the accident that claimed four lives yesterday, informed them that Governor Ikpeazu has directed the ministry to ensure that the medical bills of injured persons are settled by the government. He highlighted the efforts made by government to relocate the market particularly because of safety concerns raised by relevant agencies with a new Abattoir already under construction at Omumauzor in Ukwa West LGA. According to him, “it will be irresponsible of this government to sit idly by and watch while the life and livelihood of our people are threatened daily by the very real hazards of doing business in and around the closed markets. “We feel your pains and understand the circumstances that led to the market springing up there but we will have no excuse whatsoever to give to posterity if we fail to do the needful immediately.” The Commissioner who was joined by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sir Michael Egwu and other Directors, informed the traders that the closure was permanent and advised that all those concerned should ensure they move out every of their items before the close of business today. He further stated that the Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the executives of Good Morning market in Aba to allow displaced traders from Ahia Udele to take up vacant shops in tne market immediately without demanding rent from them for at least 3 months in order to make them settle with ease and continue their businesses with minimal or no challenge. He therefore directed the Director of Commerce in the ministry and the Chairman of Good Morning Market Committee to supervise the allocation of spaces and smooth resettlement of the displaced traders and report back to him thereafter. On the movement of cattle market to the Omumauzor facility, Chief Okiyi assured the traders that the ministry is already grading the road to the location while the Governor has directed the state ministry of works to commence full reconstruction of the road using rigid pavement technology and hinted that the state ministry of transport will release new guidelines on the movement of articulated vehicles into and out of Aba next week as approved by the Governor. “The new abattoir we are doing at Omumauzor is an ultra modern facility with water, multiple slaughter slabs and other provisions that will make life easier for our people. While we have paid for most of the work being done we are confident that normal activities can go on while we complete what is remaining to be fixed. It is better to do that than wait for another accident to happen or for an outbreak of a disease. The Governemental will clear the closed abattoir, fumigate it and also dredge the area where the market was previously located as well as demolish all the shanties used by criminal elements to hide and perpetuate crimes against law abiding citizens”. Continuing, the Commissioner said, “Let me assure you that the Government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will not ignore or neglect our traders. We are poised to prevent future occurrence of the type of fatal accident we witnessed recently by providing alternative and safer locations for our traders. “We are also putting mechanism in place to stop trailers and other articulated trucks from entering Aba before nightfall. I strongly advise that all those in the affected locations move immediately to enable us do the needful”, he concluded. Responding, the traders thanked the Government for the swift response to the distress calls made when the accident occurred Thursday and assured that they will partner with the government to ensure seamless relocation and resettlement of all the concerned traders.

  The Abia State Government has approved the Ministry of Transport to restrict the movement of heavy-duty vehicles within the Aba, Umuahia metropolis from the hours of 6:am to 9:pm daily. The Commissioner for Transport, Chief Godswill Uche Nwanoruo, made this known during the inauguration of the Ministry’s Special Duty Taskforce on Transportation, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry. He noted that the Governor of the state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has approved for the Ministry to regulate the movement of articulated vehicles from the 14th of February 2022. According to him, from the said date, no truck/trailer would be allowed to ply roads in Umuahia and Aba metropolis, between the hours of 6 am to 9 pm, to curtail the incessant road accidents caused by these vehicles.

  Ibe Pascal Arogorn with agency report Three comedians in Imo State, who were thought to have been eating their excreta in a trending video, have denied doing so, saying they were only making a comedy skit. Great Egbuchulam, Solomon Mbata, and Arinze Mbah, aged 21, 20, and 21, respectively, debunked the video reports while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Wednesday. They denied having anything to do with internet fraud, adding that an anonymous passerby who completely misunderstood their actions recorded the video, causing it to go viral on social media. Egbuchulam, popularly known as “Clean-Mumu,” and Mbata, popularly known as “Baggy_Universe,” identified themselves to be content creators and members of a Comedy crew known as “Funny Embassy.” Also, Mbah, popularly known as “Dat_Skirtboi,” admitted that the video was irritating but said they intended to portray the ills of society and the inordinate quest of today’s youths to make quick money. He called on the youth to desist from internet fraud and money rituals but rather work hard and align with legitimate money-making methods. “We were not eating excreta, just as many persons believe but, we were portraying the extent to which many persons, especially youths, have gone in a bid to acquire wealth,” he said. Also, Mbata advised youths to avoid the lure of seeking wealth through diabolic means as the consequences outweighed the possible gains. Also speaking, Mr Egbuchulam advised youths to learn skills to fend for themselves, adding that this would help distract them from negative thoughts. He, however, called on the government to introduce more youth-friendly poverty alleviation initiatives, noting that hardship could plunge young persons into money rituals and internet fraud. “Government cannot afford to overlook the concerns of the youth because the pressure is high on them, from friends and family. “The government intervention will reduce such vices to the barest minimum,” he said. Reacting, Police Public Relations Officer in Imo, CSP Michael Abattam, said he was unaware of the trending video but promised to investigate the matter. (NAN)

  Some security agencies have got an approval from President Muhammadu Buhari, to access the database of the National Identity Management Commission in the course of carrying out their duties. As a result, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, said his office through the Nigerian Communications Commission, has conveyed the approval to the relevant security agencies. He did not give the names of the security agencies. He, however, said the development would enhance security as it would help security operatives to go after kidnappers and other criminals. Pantami disclosed this while speaking to Nigerian journalists on the sidelines of LEAP 22, a technology event, currently holding Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He said, “Some of the security institutions, based on the cybercrime law, are allowed to gain access to the database without coming to us because the database allows for lawful intercept. That lawful intercept was allowed in order to support our security agencies. “Mr. President has given an approved for them to do it, without even our intervention. So, with that approval, the NCC has conveyed that through my office to all the relevant institutions that the President has granted an approval for that. “So, with it, they can gain access into the database even without our permission, and they have never complained to me, even for once. The only person that wrote a letter to me is the Minister of Defence, asking that we should try to finish the NIN-SIM policy on time.” The NIMC currently house the data of the over 73 million Nigerians who have linked their National Identity Number with their SIM. The minister, however, said the NIMC was still struggling with infrastructure, salary and welfare challenges, among others. He added that the government was struggling to pay salaries and implement measures to help the commission complete its job. Pantami said, “If you look at the circumstances, NIMC is doing very well. Before my coming, what NIMC captured was just about 40 million, but now over 73 million have been done. We have achieved over 30 million within one year, while 40 million was achieved from 2007 to 2020. “Secondly, about NIN-SIM registration, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and the NIMC are not security institutions. We are a sector for economic development but we came up with the policy, because the priority of the government is security and it is a constitutional obligation of any government. It is in the 1999 Constitution as amended, Section 14 Subsection 2, Article B, it is our responsibility.” The PUNCH had reported on January 12, 2022 that no fewer than 64 people were kidnapped between January 1 and 7, 2022. According to StatiSense, a Nigerian data consulting firm, about 5,287 kidnapping cases were recorded in Nigeria in 2021. The minister, however, lamented that despite possessing a total of 73 million NINs, no security agency contacted the NCC to provide any information that might help in tracking down kidnappers in the last six months. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) had during the launch of the National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in Nigerian Telecoms Sector and Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Cards registration said, “The NIN will cover one of the weaknesses in our security structure. We will be able to easily identify and know the personality of Nigerians. We will identify people easily, including the crooks.” The Federal Government had in 2020 mandated the NIN-SIM linkage for every telecom subscriber. Pantami said, “I was in the Federal Executive Council media team presentation last week and these same questions were also asked. “I said to them, this is what we have been doing for security and the EVC/CEO of the NCC was next to me, just like now, and I asked him if there was any time that any security institutions contacted the NCC to provide details of anyone of which he failed; he said ‘no’. He said it had never happened since I became a minister. “Secondly, in the last six months, did they ever contact you to provide any information of which you failed to do so? He said ‘no’. So, in the last six months, no one contacted us.” Pantami, however, stressed that some security agencies recently got approvals from the President, Buhari, to bypass the NCC and the ministry, and access the database directly. He explained that such ‘lawful intercept’ was allowed in order to support the security agencies.

  The funeral service of former Head of Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan is holding at the Cathedral Church Of Christ, Marina in Lagos. Leading the Federal Government delegation is Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Others in attendance are the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, Former Head Of State Yakubu Gowon, the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, as well as the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. The Lagos State government had announced a 13-hour closure of roads leading to Marina where the funeral is taking place. Chief Shonekan who served as the head of Interim national government between August and November 1993 died on the 11th of January 2022 at the age of 86.

  Four members of a family have been found dead at a poultry farm on Anguwar Street in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). City News learnt that a security guard at the poultry identified as Dominic Peter Adegeze, his daughters, Victoria and Judith, and his one-month old son, Peter, were found dead, and the wife, Laraba, was taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, unconscious. A staff of the poultry, who preferred anonymity, said the incident happened on Thursday morning, explaining that another staff who went to feed some cattle inside the poultry farm found the main gate under lock and key, and that he scaled the fence and found the guard and his family members gasping and foaming from their mouths. When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT police command, DSP Adeh Josephine, confirmed the incident, saying the police is investigating.