“President Tinubu’s economic reforms making positive impacts”

The National Chairman of All=the Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has extolled the ongoing economic reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu, saying that they were already yielding positive results.

Ganduje made this statement during an empowerment programme’ organised by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, where 1,200 vehicles and motorcycles were distributed to party leaders on Sunday in Kano.

He lauded the administration’s commitment to restructuring Nigeria’s economy, saying that the reforms have brought about greater stability.

“Under President Tinubu’s leadership, we have witnessed substantial progress in revitalizing the economy.

“These efforts are already yielding results, including improved infrastructure, job creation, and growth across various sectors.

“The recent reduction in food prices, the drop in petrol costs, and the appreciation of the naira are all direct outcomes of these reforms,” he explained.

According to him, the president holds Kano in high regard, which was why he appointed them to key positions.

They included the National Chairman of the ruling party, Deputy Senate President, two Ministers, Director-General of the National Productivity Centre and the Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank, among others.

Ganduje commended Barau for his efforts in establishing the North-West Development Commission and expressed gratitude to the president as well.

The national chairman called on the people of the state to support the administration of Tinubu.

He also said that the distribution of vehicles and motorcycles was aimed at enhancing the socioeconomic well-being of the people, particularly party members.

The gesture, he said, was also expected to promote the party’s noble ideas.

Earlier, Jibrin said that the initiative was aimed at empowering the members of the APC to achieve the party’s set objectives.

He stated that the motorcycles would be distributed to all APC ward and local government Chairmen in the 44 LGAs in the state.

The deputy senate president also said that a special package for youths ,women, teachers, students and other stakeholders would soon commence.

He said that it was aimed at ensuring the public benefits from the dividends of democracy.

“We are also planning to empower university graduates who have not secured white-collar jobs.

“Three graduates will be selected from each local government and will receive a loan of five million Naira to start small businesses,” he added

Barau stated that Ganduje’s leadership style had significantly strengthened the party, positing that under his guidance, the party had achieved a remarkable progress.

He also commended the president for his reforms aimed at advancing the country.

Jibrin burged the party’s members to unite in support of the president’s efforts to move the nation forward.(NAN)

Fed Govt raises speed concerns on rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge

The Federal Government has expressed concern about excessive speed by motorists on the newly-rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, expressed the concern in Lagos at a stakeholder engagement on the Phase One and Phase Two of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

He spoke on rehabilitation efforts on key bridges in Lagos State, specifically Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge and Eko Bridge.

The minister urged motorists to avoid excessive speed on the bridge to discourage the government from considering installation of speed bumps.

Umahi said: ` We have to talk to our people. The speed there is terrible. If we put speed bumps, then, it is going to create heavy hold-up on the bridge.”

The minister said that the government had installed Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on the bridge and under it, adding that they would soon be inaugurated.

He disclosed that officials would be on standby to monitor the footage and enforce speed regulations.

Umahi also said that the government had extended rehabilation of the bridge to Falomo, adding that streetlights and additional CCTV cameras had been installed at Falomo.

He disclosed that all activities on that stretch would be monitored remotely from Abuja.

“Let me also announce that we have also done extension of that bridge rehabilitation, a beautiful sight to behold from that Third Mainland Bridge down to Falomo. We have put street lights and we have also put CCTV cameras.

“Whatever you are doing on that stretch of Falomo to Third Mainland Bridge and the ramps, we are seeing you; it is on camera, and we are also rooting it down to Abuja.

“We will stay in our office and watch, like what we have done on the Second Niger Bridge,’’ Umahi said. (NAN)

Soldiers, Policemen restore peace to seven warring Communities

Calm has returned to seven warring communities after no fewer than 23 persons were feared dead with several others injured in an attacks in Ovia South West Local Government of Edo.

The affected communities included Marindoti, Gbelemontin Domiju, Kola Village, Taiye Camp, Eto Camp, Dipe Community, Bala Dele Community, and Thousand Community.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the settlements were predominantly inhabited by farmers from various ethnic backgrounds, including Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Benin.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, believed to be militants from nearby creeks, stormed the settlements early on Feb. 21, shooting indiscriminately, setting houses ablaze, and other properties.

The onslaught forced residents to flee en masse, abandoning their homes and livelihoods.

One of the witnesses described the attacks as a reprisal for the killing of a suspected cocoa thief by local vigilantes employed by the farmers.

This incident escalated existing tensions between the farmers and the alleged militants, who had previously been accused of encroaching on farmlands and stealing produce.

CSP Moses Yamu, Spokesman of the police command, said on Sunday, that operatives of the Iguobazuwa Police Division, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the local Vigilantes had intervened.

Yamu said the police had evacuated the casualties to the hospital.

“The joint operation has restored peace to the communities.

“However, investigation into the cause of the clash has equally commenced.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Betty Otimenyin, has vowed that no stone would be left unturned in order to unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate and avoidable incident,” he said.

A NAN correspondent, who visited the scene, however, observed a mass exodus of displaced persons carrying their belongings, seeking refuge in safer areas.

Many homes were reduced to ashes, and the once-thriving farming communities now resembled ghost towns.

Speaking with NAN, Igbala Obazuaye, the head of Marindoti community, said they had been farming in the area for years, but trouble started for them when some youth began to demand for royalties from them.

“It started in 1998 when some youths began encroaching on our land, stealing our crops, and kidnapping our people, notwithstanding the payment of the royalties,” he said.

Obazuaye, who sustained bullet wounds, said the asailiants evaded the community around 8 a.m killing seven persons in his community alone.

According to him, the assailants burnt cocoa, kola nut and cash crops worth more than N20 million.

He appealed for the establishment of a police station, and assistance in rebuilding their communities.

Also, Nafisat Abdulazeez, a resident of Dipe community, described the experience as traumatic, calling for an immediate intervention of Gov. Monday Okpebholo.

She told NAN that no fewer than 15 persons were killed in her Dipe community, while several others had gone missing.

“They came into our community, shooting and burning houses. They killed 15 people, and many more were injured.

“They even burnt my own house, and my family was forced to flee,” she said.

A resident, Mr Joseph Otu refuted the claim that the attack was communal, saying it was unprovoked attacks by militants aiming to extort and terrorise peaceful farmers.

Otu also urged authorities to deploy security forces to safeguard the area, highlighting the communities’ significant contributions to the state’s economy through the cultivation of crops like cocoa, kola nuts, and plantain.

On his part, Usman Mukaila of Dipe community, lauded the immediate deployment of men of the 4 Brigade of the Nigeran Army, Brig-Gen. Ebenezer Oduyebo, calling for an establishment of Army base in the area.

“We commend the Commander of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, for the immediate intervention and deployment of soldiers.

“That has helped to calm the situation for now. If not for him, the rest people would have gone. We also thank the governor.

“We, however, urge him to bring a permanent Army base to this area. We really need his help. You can see all our women and children leaving,” he said. (NAN)