VOAN Pays courtesy visit to National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC); promises better and improved transport system in Nigeria

The National executives of the Vehicle Owners Association of Nigeria (VAON) led by its National President Hon (AMB) Odo Vincent Okoko yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Engr. Aminu Jalal and his team.

The visit which was meant principally to introduce the VOAN and its activities to the Director General, had in attendance principal members of both bodies as well as journalists and other key stakeholders in the transport and automotive industry.

BLUSH Cosmetics presents Make-Up/Gele Tying 2 Weeks Abuja Masterclass

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Date: 27th Sept - 11th Oct 2016

Time: Two classes 9-12noon, 3-6pm

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Vacancy! Professional Make-Up Artist urgently needed for immediate employment

A reputable Make-Up studio in Abuja URGENTLY needs a professional female Make-Up/Gele Tying expert for immediate employment. Qualified persons should call 09022834883 or visit No 1B OLA Vincent Close, Opposite Pathfield Mall, 4th Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja for more details.

Bombshell!!! Dogara shared $25,000 to each lawmaker to pass vote of confidence on him - Jibrin

A former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, on Wednesday alleged that the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, handed out $25,000 to lawmakers so that they could pass a vote of confidence on the speaker.

Photos from Dr Jonathan's Visit to President Buhari

Former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Yesterday, paid a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa to among other things, brief the incumbent on his recent activities as relates to international assignments. Here are some photos from the visit after the cut.. 

Breaking News: Another Catholic Priest, Fr Gospel Inalegwu Kidnapped in Kano

Barely 24 hours in to the discovery of the lifeless body of Rev Fr Adeyi of the Otukpo Diocese who was kidnapped two months ago, another catholic priest of the Diocese of Kano Fr Julius Gospel Inalegwu has been kidnapped.

CCT Trial: Saraki May Resign Any Moment – Report

Following the commencement of his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for falsely declaring his assets when he held sway as governor of Kwara State, Vanguard is reporting that Senate President Bukola Saraki may resign any moment ahead of the delivery of the judgment.

Vanguard cited mounting pressure from some Senators including those who are loyal and has vowed to remain with him as a pointer to the likely resignation of the Senate president.

Some of the senators reportedly asked the Senate President to consider the resignation option so as to save the Senate, as an institution.

According to the report, the option of resignation was thrown to him at a special meeting held by a group of some loyal senators, who followed him to his Maitama residence, shortly after the end of yesterday’s trial at the court.

But as Saraki is considering the option, senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, appeared to be at loggerhead with their counterparts in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the Senate President’s successor.

While the APC senators are insisting on producing Saraki’s successor, those of the PDP are favorably disposed to anointing one of their own, a development that has further polarized the Red Chamber.

Saraki was given the option of resigning basically to save the institution of the legislature, a PDP senator who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.

‘”I can confirm to you that at a special meeting held yesterday, we asked the Senate President to consider the option of resignation.

“We believe that doing so would preserve the institution of the Senate, “he said, refusing to speak further.

Asked whether the Senate President was considering the resignation option, the lawmaker said ‘” this was just thrown at him this evening. We believe that he would do the right thing.’”.

Meanwhile, names of senators Abdullahi Adamu, representing Nasarawa West from the APC and Suleiman Adokwe of the PDP were being touted as possible replacements of the Senate President.

Naira sells at N321 to dollar at parallel market, N197 at CBN

The Naira on Monday continued to exchange at N321 to the Dollar at the parallel market. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the nation’s currency has maintained this value since April 1.

The Naira, however, slide against the Pound Sterling and Euro as it traded for N445 and 355 respectively, from N457 and N357 it traded last week.

Meanwhile, the Naira also sold for N197 to the Dollar at the official inter-bank rate.

Traders at the foreign exchange market said that activities at the market had yet to rebound after the weekend break. (NAN)

Nigeria Police Begin Recruitment Of 10,000 Personnel

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has warned that there would be no short-cut into the Nigeria Police Force in the recruitment of 10,000 personnel.
President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2015 approved the recruitment of 10,000 policemen at the National Security Summit in Abuja.

In a statement Wednesday, Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission, told journalists that Mike Okiro, Chairman of the commission, gave the warning while unveiling a portal for the exercise in Abuja.

The statement said that the portal would be opened to the public on April 1 to herald the commencement of the exercise.
“The process leading to the recruitment of 10,000 Policemen as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the National Security Summit in Abuja last year, has commenced,” the statement said.
It said the unveiling of the portal was in actualisation of the presidential directive on the recruitment of the 10,000 Policemen.
The statement noted that the exercise was remarkable because there had not been recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force for more than five years.

It said that thousands of policemen who died in the course of service, dismissed or retired, had not been replaced since the last five years.
The statement stressed that the recruitment would strengthen and re-energise the force to tackle more security challenges facing the country.
It explained that the exercise could not begin last year because the funding was not captured in the 2015 budget.
The statement urged interested applicants to access the portal through the commission’s website: www.psc.gov.ng or that of the Nigeria Police Force: www.npf.gov.ng.
It said that no fee would be charged for the processing of the forms which would be filled on-line.
“We are not charging money. It is free, absolutely free,” it said.

The statement said that the exercise would be in three entry points of Constable, Cadet Inspector and Cadet ASP, while there would also be recruitment into the Specialist cadre.
It said that applicants for Police Constables are expected to possess five credits including Mathematics and English Language at Senior School Certificate Examination in not more than two sittings.

It said that for Cadet Inspectors, in addition to having the requirements of Police Constables, candidates would be expected to have an Ordinary National Diploma (OND), Advanced Level (A level), National Certificate in Education (NCE) or their equivalents.

The statement said Candidates for Cadet ASP must possess a University degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND).
(NAN)

BREAKING: At last, Senate passes 'controversial' 2016 budget

The senate has passed the 2016 budget into law after weeks of delay. Presenting a report on the budget, on Wednesday, Danjuma Goje, chairman senate committee on appropriation, said that the budget was “full of controversy”, but that the senate would not want to delay its passage by adding more controversies to it.

He said that there were lapses in the budget, but that the committee had to work around them. He said that the delay in the passage of the budget had already been given a political hue, hence Nigerians would blame the legislature for any further delay.

In December, the budget proposal presented to a joint session of the national assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari was N6.08trn. A total of N351bn was for statutory transfers, N2.8trn for recurrent expenditure and N1. 8trn for capital expenditure.

The senate, based on the recommendation of the committee, adopted $38 per barrel crude oil benchmark for the budget, as proposed by the federal government. It also adopted a foreign exchange rate of N197 per dollar as proposed by the government.

The senate, however, reduced the total budget sum from N6.07trn to N6.06trn: N351bn for statutory transfers, N1.4trn for debt service, N2.6trn for recurrent expenditure, and N1.5trn as capital expenditure.

Also, the upper legislative chamber observed that the budget was not presented in time to the national assembly, which effected its passage.

It urged the federal government to submit the budget subsequently in strict compliance with the Fiscal Policy Act, and advised that there should be proper consultation between the budget office and the ministries, departments and agencies.

The senate also asked the government to diversify its revenue base, and to shore up capital expenditure and reduce recurrent expenditure.

Oshodi demolition: Igbo traders demand N20bn compensation - today.ng

Igbo Traders in the demolished Owonifari market, Oshodi yesterday demanded for 20 billion naira from the Lagos State government for properties and goods lost to the demolition. The traders under the Igbo Traders Congress while protesting the demolition at the market denied allegations that Biafra agitators were holding meetings inside the market.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Chibuzor Onugha said the demolition was targeted at Igbo traders in the state.

“We are being punished because PDP won in this area, they alleged that the we are holding Biafra meeting its all false, they just want to punish the Igbo’s for political reasons,” Onugha said.

The traders said the state government breached the court Injunction against demolition, saying its heading to court to seek compensation against the 20 billion goods lost to the demolition.

He said the markets accommodated about 5000 traders while the government only provided slots for 600 traders at the new Isopakodowo market.

However the Lagos State Government defended the relocation of traders plying their trade in Owonifari market to the newly built ultra-modern Isopakodowo market in Bolade-Oshodi, saying the action was taken in the overall interest of public good, safety and security.

Speaking during a joint press briefing addressed by the State’s Ministries of Information and Strategy, The Environment, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Office of Civic Engagement, the government said it constructed an alternative market stall for the traders which can conveniently accommodate over 600 shops and hundreds of kee clamps, and agreed to subsidize payment by giving shops at the new market at a monthly give away price of N5, 000.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the traders were adequately notified before the exercise took place as required by law, and that government engaged with the leadership of the market severally before carrying out the demolition exercise on Owonifari Market.

While clarifying issues on the demolition which took place on January 5, 2016, Ayorinde said it was important for people to note that the issue of the market had been on for nothing less than ten years, adding that government had been engaging the leadership of the market to make them realize that it could no longer continue in the manner in which the market was being used.

He said unfortunately, the leadership of the market, in the last three years, refused to move despite the fact that the new market has over 600 shops apart from the kee clamps which takes the number of people that the market could conveniently accommodate to over a thousand all together.

Sponsored: Group wants Al-makura to focus on human capital development

The leadership of a group, the Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Forum (NAYEF) has urged Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura to put more emphasis on human capital development.

Comrade Rabiu Tijjani Omame, deputy coordinator general made the plea yesterday while delivering a speech at the group’s end of year meeting held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital.

While applauding the governor for embarking on commendable capital development projects in his

bid to reposition the state, NAYEF appealed to Governor Al-makura to refocus towards human capital development.

Omame said the forum is set and poised to empower the youths of Nasarawa state, having formulated projects and programs all geared toward youths development and capacity buildings to be achieved separately and quarterly next year.

He added that the forum will partner with relevance bodies such as NGO’s and other donor agencies both local and international, to empower the youths on skill acquisitions and other technical and vocational training to enhance self- reliance.

The forum equally reminded the governor on his promise during the conference organised by Labour Congress of employing 6000 youths spread across four years commencing from this year, urging Al-makura to always give top priority to the payment of workers’ salaries in the state.

On his part, Comrade Umar Yusuf, coordinator students’ wing, further appealed to the governor to come to the aid of law students from the state as well as other students undergoing studies in various tertiary institutions.

“We are appealing to his Excellency to use his esteem office to please put into recognition the issue of scholarship for our law students and others in the tertiary institution which will go a long way in curtailing the financial hardship being experienced by our students and also school of engineering and medicine should be established at the Nasarawa State University for the purpose of posterity to help us in competing with our sisters universities across the nation.

“We all believe that you are a man of your word and in the recent past amidst all odds we have come in sincerity and unity of purpose to endorse you and your project. Here we are today to pass another vote of confidence in you so that what you have in mind for the people of Nasarawa state will be achieved in God willing” he said.

From Muhammad Lawal, Lafia.

Sponsored: NSUK Alumni Association To Honor Ten Great Nigerians

As part of activities lined up to mark the 10th anniversary of the Nasarawa State University Alumni Associations 10th anniversary, ten eminent personalities who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the institution will be honored by the alumni association on the 11th and 12th December, 2015.

According to a statement issued by the association through Comr Daniel Lawee Sunday, those to be honored includes:

1. Governor Tanko Al Makura of Nasarawa State for beautifying NSUK through the construction of roads, male and female hostels in the school.

2. Gen T.Y Danjuma for building the ultra modern NSUK Hospital and Mega Water reservoir.

3. Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for facilitating the construction of the School of Post Graduate Studies.

4. Sen Abdullahi Adamu for his foresight in establishing Nasarawa State University in 2002.

5. Prof Adamu David Baikie, Pioneer Vice Chancellor for setting an enduring template for the university. During his time, NSUK wasamong the best five universities in Nigeria.

6. Alhaji Abubakar Kana, pioneer Registrar, NSUK

7. Dr Salisu Maikasuwa, Clerk, National Assembly for landscaping faculty of social sciences, decorating NSUK gate and voluntary lecture in the school.

8. PROF Julius Okojie Executive Secretary, NUC for approval and accreditation of most NSUK programmes.

9. Prof Sulieman Bogoro, Executive Secretary, TET Fund for approving the construction of lecture halls in NSUK

10. Dr. Abdulahi Mohammed Y, Director ICT NSUK Award of excellence as the first NSUK Alumnus PhD  holder

These individual awards will be given to them in culmination of our recognition of their immense contributions to the development of our alma mata. Accept our congratulations.

Announcer: Comr Daniel Sunday 

N2.1bn fraud: Dokpesi denied bail; to remain in EFCC custody

The Justice Kolawale led high court sitting in Abuja has ordered has denied the bail application of embattled AIT Chairman emeritus Raymond Dokpesi by ordering the EFCC to keep him behind bars till December 14, when further hearing will be entertained on the matter.

Not guilty, was the response of Chief Raymond Dokpesi at the Federal High after the six counts charges read to him filed by EFCC.

The charges, FHC/ABJ/CR/380/2015 and filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicated that Dokpesi is charged along with his company – Daar Holding and Investment Limited.

Charge 1. That you DR. RAYMOND DOKPESI and DAAR INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED between October 2014 and 19th March, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conducted procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act, to wit: receipt of payment into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc of public funds in the sum of N2,120,000,000 (Two Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) from the account of the office of National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 58 (4)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) & (7) of the same Act.

Charge 2. That you DR. RAYMOND DOKPESI and DAAR INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED between October 2014 and 19th March, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entered into a purported contract on presidential media initiative and received payment in the sum of N2,120,000,000 (Two Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc from the account of the office of National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of the purported contract without a “Certificate of No Objection to Contract Award” duly issued by Public Procurement Bureau and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 16 (1) (b), (4) & (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) of the same Act.

Charge 3. That you DR. RAYMOND DOKPESI and DAAR INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED between October 2014 and 19th March, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. entered into a purported contract on presidential media initiative and received payment in the sum of N2,120,000,000 (Two Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc from the account of the office of National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of the purported contract without any open competitive bidding for the said contract and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 16 (1)(c) & (d) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) of the same Act.

Charge 4. That you DR. RAYMOND DOKPESI and DAAR INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED between October 2014 and 19th March, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court submitted a purported proposal for the contract on presidential media initiative and received payment in the sum of N2,120,000,000 (Two Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc from the account of the office of National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of the purported cont1act without a written and comprehensive request to you by the Federal Government of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence contrary to sections 45 (3) and 46 of the Public Procurement Act. 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) of the same Act.

Charge 5. That you DR. RAYMOND DOKPESI and DAAR INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED between 22nd January, 2015 and 19th March, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took control of the sum of N2,120,000, 000 (Two Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) paid into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc from the account of the office of National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria which sum you reasonably ought to have known was a proceed of an unlawful act to wit: fund obtained from corruption and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) & (4) of the same Act.

Charge 6. That you DR. RAYMOND DOKPESI and DAAR INVESTMENT AND HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED between 22nd January, 2015 and 19th March, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knew that an aggregate sum of N2,120,000,000 (Two Billion, One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) directly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of COL. MOHAMMED SAMBO DASUKI (RTD.) and SHUAIBU SALISU who were National Security Adviser and the Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser respectively (to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount) used the said property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

After all the drama today Thursday in court, presiding judge, Justice Kolawole adjourned the case to Monday, December 14.

The judge also ordered that the accused remain in the custody of the EFCC till the day of ruling.

Kachikwu removed as OPEC president after two days

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has removed Ibe Kachikwu as its conference president.

Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, became OPEC president only on Wednesday, replacing Diezani Alison-Madueke.

However, a fresh election was made on Friday at the 168th ordinary meeting of the organisation in Vienna, Austria, Kachikwu’s first meeting at the helm.

In a statement by the organisation, registering the resumption of Indonesia as an OPEC member, the oil cartel declared the new holders of other offices.

“In approving Indonesia’s resumption of its full membership in the organization, the conference extended a warm welcome to its delegation, headed by HE Sudirman Said, minister of energy and mineral resources of Indonesia,” OPEC secretariat revealed.

“The conference elected HE Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, minister of energy and industry of Qatar, as president of the conference for one year, with effect from 1st January 2016, and HE Ali I. Naimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as alternate president, for the same period.

“The conference failed to curb oversupply, as it banked on non-OPEC supply to drop in 2016, when the market is expected to experience a surge in demand.

“The latest numbers see OECD and non-OECD inventories standing well above the five-year average. Having reviewed the oil market outlook for 2015, and the projections for 2016, the Conference observed that global economic growth is currently at 3.1% in 2015 and is forecast to expand by 3.4% next year.

“In terms of supply and demand, it was noted that non-OPEC supply is expected to contract in 2016, while global demand is anticipated to expand again by 1.3 mb/d”, it stated.

The Conference decided that its next ordinary meeting will convene on Thursday, June 2, 2016 in Vienna, Austria.

MTN GETS DEC 31 DEADLINE TO PAY N674BN SLASHED FINE

FINALLY, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has reduced the N1.04 trillion fine it imposed on MTN Nigeria to N674 billion.

However, the commission has also mandated the telecom operator to pay the fine on or before December 31, 2015.

The fine imposed on the telecom operator was due to what NCC described as MTN’s inability to disconnect about 5.1 million Nigerian subscribers improperly registered on its network, after several warnings in August and September 2015.

In reaction, MTN has said it would carefully study the new development and would mandate its Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, to immediately and urgently re-engage with the Nigerian authorities before responding formally.

The reduction, which represents a 25 per cent slash, provides MTN with a reprieve, after series of meetings which have seen several officials from South Africa thronging the country to negotiate the fine.

Ikpoki, Goodluck resign

However, the reprieve did not come without costs as about three of the company’s top and finest management officials, including two Nigerians, Messrs Michael Ikpoki and Akinwale Goodluck, have been relieved of their duties following a management shake up as a result of the controversial fine.

While Ikpoki was MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Goodluck was Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, until yesterday when MTN Group suddenly announced their resignation.

In their stead, Ferdi Moolman and Amina Oyagbola take positions as CEO and Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, respectively.

MTN begs Buhari to further reduce $3.2bn fine

Telecommunications giant, MTN, is seeking a further reduction in the fine slammed on it by the Nigerian government.

MTN had been fined $5.2bn by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, for failing to disconnect unregistered subscribers from its network.

However, Nigerian authorities had slashed the fine by 30 percent to $3.2bn and gave the South African company Dec. 31 to pay up.

It was gathered that the decision to reduce the fine was taken by President Buhari’s office, which passed on the information to the NCC on Wednesday.

However, Reuters reports that management of the troubled company is still pleading with the Nigerian government to further reduce the fine.

But the reduced fine, if enforced, is still more than two times MTN’s average yearly capital expenditure of about $1.5 billion over the last five years and can still cause a lot of trouble for the company.

Oando plans $350mln gas processing plant

Nigeria’s Oando plans to build a gas plant for up to $350 million as it focuses on integrating gas production with its supply business, the head of the gas and power unit said on Thursday.

Bolaji Osunsanya, Managing Director of Oando Gas and Power said the plant, with a capacity to process 300 million standard cubit feet a day (scfd), will take 24 months to complete and cost $300 million to $350 million.

He said Nigeria had room to ramp up gas plants as current capacity was around 2 billion scfd, adding that its project was at the development stage to be launched in the first quarter.

London-listed Nigerian firm Seplat is also boosting gas capacity. It plans to increase gross output from around 120 million to 400 million scfd by 2017, as demand grows.

“We have done transport in the past, we are getting into (gas) processing right now,” Osunsanya told Reuters in an interview. “We are working ourselves up the chain.”

Oando’s gas and power unit reported a net income of $19 million for the nine months to September, down from $22 million the previous year.

But the amount of power produced has stagnated since, failing to reach a 2012 peak of 4,500 megawatts of electricity due to gas constraints, plant outages and tripped circuits, according to Transmission Company of Nigeria.

Osunsanya estimated Nigeria will need around $55 billion over the next seven years to develop gas infrastructure to meet growing demand, which would include building new pipelines, processing plants and drilling of new wells.

He estimated demand at 5 billion scfd, of which 3.5 billion was needed for power and the rest for other uses. However, half the 7.5 billion scfd gas generated was flared or reinjected into the ground due to inadequate pipelines for distributio

Fire destroys 65 shops in Kano Sabon Gari market

No fewer than 65 shops were destroyed by fire in the furniture section of Sabon Gari Market in Kano on Thursday night, an official said.

The Director of Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Balarabe Kabara, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the incident, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. affected permanent and temporary structures.

Kabara attributed the fire to negligence but said the agency would meet with the affected traders to ascertain what they lost individually.

“The main cause of the inferno is negligence because people are in the habit of playing with fire, especially now that it is harmattan period,” he said.

Kabara advised the people to avoid unnecessary use of fire as any mistake could lead to fire disaster.

Kabara recalled that seven female students recently lost their lives in fire incidents in two secondary schools in the state and advised school authorities to ensure proper monitoring of students.

Kabara also advised students to desist from cooking and using electrical appliances, especially water heater and pressing iron, in their hostels to avoid fire outbreaks.

Emir of Keffi, Chindo Yamusa II dies at 70

The Emir of Keffi in Nasarawa State, Mohammadu Yamusa II, is dead, the palace announced on Friday.

The Galadima of Keffi, Abdul Usman, confirmed this at a news conference in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

The Galadima, who is also the emir’s cousin, said the late monarch, who took ill briefly, died in the early hours of Friday in his palace in Keffi.

“Our emir, the promoter of peace and culture died this morning after a brief illness.

“His death is heartbreaking, painful but God gives life and takes it at will.

“The emir had contributed a lot to the development of not only Keffi, but to the development of Nasarawa State and the entire country while alive,” he said.

According to him, the late emir was born 70 years ago and was enthroned on May 11, 1978.

The Galadiman Keffi called on the people of the state to pray for the family of the late emir, adding that the death was a huge loss to the Keffi Emirate Council and the state at large.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that late Yamusa II left two wives and 27 children and many grand children.

It was gathered that traditional rulers, including the Emir of Lafia, Mustapha Agwai 1 and other sympathisers were seen trooping to the late emir’s palace in Keffi.

Meanwhile, the final funeral rites and burial of the late emir would be performed after Juma’at prayer in Keffi, in accordance with Islamic teaching.