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*14 Passengers Still With Abductors, Says NRC

ABDUCTORS of the train passengers at Igueben, Edo State on Saturday are reported to have demanded the sum of N20 million per victim, according to family members.

  Even though the state Police Command was yet to confirm the development, but Executive Director of Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, described the demand as absurd, calling on the authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted persons still in captivity.

  “I can tell you that the kidnappers have demanded N20 million, totalling N620 million. This is absurd and I don’t know where poor people will be able to raise that amount of money,” he said.

  Meanwhile, the Managing Director the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria, has said about 14 of the passengers who were kidnapped at Tom Ikimi train station were still being held by their abductors, assuring that efforts were on to rescue them, even as he disclosed that approval had not been gotten to acquire sophisticated security systems.

  Okhiria, speaking on television programme, asked whether lessons were learnt from the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train, said: “We learned a lot from the last attack. We have deployed some systems and improved our security by increasing the number of personnel; vigilantes, army, police, and some technology but we are not there yet. We have to continue to improve and make sure that we get the required result.

  “The IG deployed some policemen; Mobile and various anti-terrorism teams, same thing with the NSCDC and we also engaged the community watch.

  “On Itakpe-Warri, we have engaged the local community to protect and also support the security architecture we have in place.

  “So, I think we have improved but there is nothing that cannot be sabotaged with the will and determination of the saboteurs.”

AGAIN, the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has knocked President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption, citing nepotism as one major factor that has characterised his administration in the last seven and half years.

  On the President’s numerous trips to a United Kingdom (UK) hospital for medical treatment, Kukah lamented that Buhari would be leaving office in good health, while Nigerians remain in pain due to his failure to fulfill his promises to fix the country, adding: “I speak for myself and Nigerians when I say, we thank God that He mercifully restored you to good health.

  “We know that you are healthier now than you were before. We can see it in the spring in your steps, the thousands of miles you have continued to cover as you travel abroad. May God give you more years of good health.

 “However, I also wish that millions of our citizens had a chance to enjoy just a fraction of your own health by a measurable improvement in the quality of health care in our country.”

  The clergyman, however, commended Buhari’s efforts in the area of infrastructure, where he acknowledged there has been a measurable improvement in the landscape, especially in the area of roads.

  In his Christmas message at St. Mary Catholic Church, Sokoto, titled, ‘Let us turn a new leaf,’ the fiery bishop stated: “It is sad that despite your lofty promises, you are leaving us far more vulnerable than when you came; that the corruption we thought would be fought has become a Leviathan and sadly, a consequence of a government marked by nepotism.

  “In my Christmas Message last year, I pointed out the fact that you had breached the constitution by your failure to honour and adhere to the federal character provisions of our constitution. The evidence is all before us all.

  “Nepotism is a cancer, which has consumed us in the last few years. We have paid the price of nepotism entrusting power into the hands of mediocres who operate as a cult and see power purely as an extension of the family heirloom.

  “In my Easter Message last year (April 4, 2021), titled, ‘Before Our Glory Departs,’ I drew attention to the urgent need for us to reclaim our glory, because it was slipping away from our hands. Before our eyes, the notion of patriotism was becoming alien in the minds of our young people.

  “Before our eyes, the capital letters that spelt Nigeria are falling to the pressures and irruptive forces of primal ethno-religious nationalisms. Before our eyes, a dubious jihadist culture has held our nation to ransom with the government simply looking away.”

Lawyer

THE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Usman Baba, has condemned the shooting and killing of a legal practitioner, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, by a Police officer.

  The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Monday, December 26 in Abuja that the deceased was allegedly shot and killed by a policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State.

  He stated that the IGP, while describing the incident as unfortunate and sad, had ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, adding that the act didn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.

  Baba commiserated with the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased and prayed for the repose of her soul, pledging to ensure that justice prevailed in the case, just as he warned officers and men of the Force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties.

  The Police chief urged officers to always operate within the ambit of the law, warning that the Force leadership would not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts.

THE Governor of Delta State and vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday, December 14, assured Nigerians that they would rejoice again and the country would overcome its present travails after next year’s general elections.

  Speaking at this year’s Annual Convention and Christmas Concert of Christ Holy Church International, Asaba, with the theme, ‘Immanuel,’ Okowa urged Nigerians to pray to God who alone could turn situations around for the good of the people, adding that that the sufferings of today would definitely pass away and a new life would come for Nigerians, but “rather than grumble and blame people, spend the time to pray to our God, because He alone can turn things around.”

  The governor, who took the only Lesson of the occasion, said the Christian faith is nourished daily by the word of God and expressed belief that the people were gathered to nourish their faith through the word of God.

  He stated: “The convention is for us to be enriched, such that when we leave for our various homes, we would have been assured that our lives have been affected positively. As Christians, we all know that God always want to be with us, but the question is, are we ready to be with God?

  “The benefit of Christian life is to allow God to be with us and dwell in our lives and as children of faith, we can do nothing without Jesus, so we must struggle daily to abide in Jesus.”

  Okowa said Nigeria was facing challenging times that require the people to go into self-retrospection, saying the very challenging period prevailing in the country is making people wonder if this was the Nigeria of their dream.

  “This, certainly, is not the Nigeria of our dream; so, what do we do in this time? It is to call on the name of our God to touch the lives of our people so that we will do His will.

  “These are interesting times for politics and politicians because as we talk to the people, it is only God that knows our hearts and He alone knows those He has prepared to lead at this time.

  “Our people must be prayerful and watchful, so that God will truly lead us as a church and as a people so that we don’t act with the trauma of the times.”

  In his sermon, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church International, Rev. Daniel Okoh, said the theme of the convention was an assurance that God was always with the people.

  Okoh said God did not abandon His creation, adding that Nigeria would not break because God was with the country.

  “The coming election will not break Nigeria. As a matter of fact, 2023 is the year of golden opportunity for Nigeria. 2023 is year of opportunity to elect leaders who will turn around the fortunes of Nigeria.

  “God has already chosen those who will lead the people come 2023 and since God is interested in the government and the economy of men, then the people should be involved because God will use people to turn things around for the country.

  “Do not be afraid because we have God who dwells among us to chose our leaders and watch over them and to hold them accountable,” he stated.

  The CAN president condemned those attacking INEC offices and urged Nigerians to be prepared to vote for the candidates of their choice to lead the country out of its present travails.

AHEAD of today’s temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge to traffic, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, accompanied by the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban), Mr. Noel Omodon, acting Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Resident Engineer for the project, Oluwaseyi Martins, Delta State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Bassey Esiet, and other top federal and state governments officials, inspected the palliative measures put in place to make the road more motorable.

  Martins, while assuring travellers and motorists of smooth movement during the Yuletide, explained that the bridge would be open to traffic inward Onitsha-Owerri from midnight until January 3, when it would be open to traffic inward Asaba from Onitsha/Owerri till January 15, next year.

  He also stated that the bridge will be fully lit at night during the period for the safety of users.

  Speaking at the Oko by-pass (close to the beginning of the old bridge), Martins stated that the toll plaza would be open to connect the bridge all through the period of one month.

  Fashola emphasised that the toll plaza would be open, but no toll would be collected, reminding the public not to pay any money to anybody at the plaza, as it remains free passage during the period.

  On his part, Esiet assured that the corps would collaborate with all relevant agencies to avert the usual gridlock along the First Niger Bridge, adding that the temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge was to ease the traffic load and ensure that travellers get to their destination on time.

   He stressed: “From December 15, the Second Niger Bridge will be opened to vehicles coming from West to East through Asaba. However, from January 2, 2023, only vehicles coming from the East to West will be allowed to use the Second Niger Bridge.

  “Members of the public are also informed that heavy duty trucks and trailers will not be allowed to use the new bridge.”

  Esiet urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs to arrive alive during the season.

  The Second Niger Bridge connects the Southeast with the South-South/Southwest through Onitsha, Anambra State and vice versa through Asaba, Delta State.

  Every year, especially during the Yuletide, motorists and travellers to and from the Southeast are caught up in unprecedented traffic snarl due to the narrowness of the First Niger Bridge and the opening of the Second Niger Bridge is meant to ease the pain of commuters this season.

  Since the access road at Delta State end linking the bridge is yet to be completed, the alternative, for now, remains the road at Oko, off the expressway, just before the old bridge inward Onitsha, which is narrow and with sharp bends.

  To make the road better for the expected heavy traffic, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has constructed speed breakers on the road to reduce speeding by anxious motorists, while the approach to the toll plaza has been widened and tarred to connect the bridge itself.

  Construction workers and security staff, yesterday, warned commercial motorcyclists (okada riders) to steer clear of the road from tomorrow until January 15 when the bridge will be open to traffic, as it would be one-way throughout the period.

  Some of the workers took time to educate the okada riders on the need for them to keep off the road during the period to avoid accidents and crashes.

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned those abusing the naira notes, especially the redesigned notes, stressing that they are liable to jail.

  The regulatory apex bank warned that the law banning the “spraying’’ and the stepping on the naira, especially at social gatherings, was still in force and offenders are liable to six months imprisonment or N50, 000 fine.

  Principal Manager, Currency Operations Department at the CBN, Ms. Ngozi Etim, who gave the warning, said the CBN was working with the Police, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to curb the abuse.

  While condemning the “spraying’’ of money in public functions, Ms. Etim said the use of the envelope remained the best and acceptable means of extending goodwill at events, adding: “Money should not be squeezed, but be put in envelopes. Oil should not be allowed to touch money; keep it neat like you keep your clothes.

  “You do not dirty your clothes and you do not keep your clothes on the ground, so there is need to keep our naira well.”

  She stated that the CBN Act empowers it to arrest those who abuse the naira, saying the naira notes remains the pride of the nation and must be kept clean at all times.

  Director, Corporate Communication, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, urged Nigerians to always treat the naira with care and frowned at the idea of hurling wads of naira notes in the air and stamping on the currency at social functions.

  “There have also been cases where people mishandle the naira, deface it or hawk it at parties. Contrary to the practice of these unpatriotic persons, it is neither cultural nor moral for people to disrespect the currency, which citizens trade in,” he stressed.

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Delta Command, has urged motorists to cooperate with all traffic managers to ensure free flow of traffic during the Yuletide, especially as the newly constructed Second Niger Bridge linking Delta and Anambra states opens for public use between December 15 and January 15, next year.

  The Sector Commander, Mr. Bassey Esiet, said a statement that the corps would collaborate with all relevant agencies to avert the usual gridlock along the First Niger Bridge, adding that the temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge was to ease the traffic load and ensure that travellers get to their destination on time.

   “Sequel to the commencement of the temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge from December 15 2022 to January 15 2023, FRSC, Delta Corps Command, wishes to notify the motoring public that from December 15, the Second Niger Bridge will be opened to vehicles coming from West to East through Asaba.

  “However, from January 2, 2023, only vehicles coming from the East to West will be allowed to use the Second Niger Bridge.

  “Members of the public are also informed that heavy duty trucks and trailers will not be allowed to use the new bridge,” he said.

  Esiet urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs to arrive alive.