Jonathan should negotiate with Boko Haram- Shettima

Governor Kassim Shettima of Borno State has said that if negotiating with the Boko Haram sect would bring back the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, the Federal Government should not ignore the option.
Shettima in tears

He also regretted that it took President Goodluck Jonathan three weeks to reach out to him on the matter.

Shettima, who said this in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour yesterday, decried the decision of President Jonathan not to go into negotiation with the insurgents, noting that the nation had no option.

He said: “Do we have any other option? If I have to talk to the devil to secure the release of the girls, I will do so. President Jonathan did not act on time and did not talk to me over the kidnappings until 19 days after.’’

The governor, who belongs to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, described Boko Haram militants as a “bunch of lunatics.”

Power supply: Nigeria to get $6 billion nuclear plant in 2022 – NAEC

The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC disclosed yesterday that plans have been concluded to procure a $6 billion nuclear plant in 2022 to ensure stable power supply in the country for a period of 60 years.

In its presentation before the Rashidi Ladoja-led Committee on Energy at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, Director, Human Resources of the commission, Prof Simon Mallam, urged the Federal Government to explore and develop all sources of energy available in the country, adding  that the best thing to do if we must have sustainable energy is to develop all the available energy sources including nuclear, gas, hydro, coal and solar.

He though the country wasted a little time in the nuclear arena, the commission would be able to deliver nuclear power by 2022 if the enabling environment and support were  given, adding that nuclear power may be expensive, but can endure for a very long time even if it starts with a small plant.

Professor Mallam, who noted that all the available sources can exist side by side, said that what will be generated from nuclear energy can be used to feed into others and it becomes a basic supply.  While dismissing its expensive nature, he explained that the country can embrace the principle of “Build and operate” option where private individuals with the skill and finance can develop and manage it for some time and recoup their money and then hand over to the government.

He explained that the option gives room for a country to provide the enabling environment and other frameworks needed and the partner will be concerned with the development and operation which leaves the two bodies with a win-win situation.

He said: “I believe that although we wasted time, but we are not arriving late on the scene. All the administrations right from Chief Obasanjo have given their commitments in this regard. We also hope that subsequent administrations will key into it, there is no reason they will not key in.

We want to be sure of what we are doing as far as the technology, safety and environment is concerned. That is why we are taking our time and collaborating with the international community; we will meet our target with the support we are getting.”

Police nab member of 6-man robbery gang in Lagos

A member of the six‑man armed robbery gang said to be terrorising Ajangbadi, Shibiri, a Lagos suburb and its environs, has been nabbed by security operatives.
The suspect was arrested following a tip‑off by residents, when the gang operated along Imude road, Shibiri.

Although five members of the gang escaped, four locally‑made shotguns and cartridges were recovered from the arrested suspect, simply identified as Kabiru.

It was gathered that the gang began operation at 9 p.m., robbing residents and shop owners in the area, including one Alhaja Musura Haziz.

However, when the gang retired to share loot at an uncompleted building close to Kabiru’s mother’s house, a resident (names withheld) alerted Neighbourhood Watch members who were on routine patrol.

Kabiru was arrested while the others escaped. He was handed over to Policemen at Ilemba Hausa police station.
It was learnt that the suspect has been transferred from Ilemba Hausa police station to the Special Anti‑Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

Channel your grievances to Confab, delegates tell Boko Haram

Delegates representing National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, have asked the members of dreaded Boko Haram Islamist sect, to forward their grievances to relevant committees of the Conference.

This is just as they condemned in totality the abduction of some female students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok by members of the dreaded sect.

The NANS delegates, in a statement yesterday, in Abuja, signed by Comrade Clifford Abur, called on Nigerians to join hands in taking part to secure lives and property through what they called “the neighbourhood watch.”
NANS also advocated the establishment of vigilante club in all universities and other schools to report issues on security to appropriate agencies.

Reduction of 13% derivation, call for war —N-Delta youth leaders

Niger Delta youth leaders, yesterday, described the recent call by a Northern leader, Mr. Junaid Muhammed, for a reduction of the current 13 per cent derivation to five per cent, scrapping of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Ministry of Niger Delta, as an invitation to war.

The youth leaders, Austin Ozobo, National President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI; Musa Biayeibo,  President of Niger Delta Youths For Positive Change, NDYPC; Ebi Wayas,  President,  National Association of Izon-Ebe Law Students, NAILS, and Jude Asiayei, President, Coastal Heritage and Economic Watch, CHEW,  spoke to newsmen in Warri, Delta State.

According to Ozobo, “Except the demand for resource control is approved, there is going to be another oil crisis in the Niger Delta region.
“The Niger Delta will not accept or tolerate such abuses from the North any longer because our region has been feeding the North for a very long time, and the North should be grateful to the people of Niger Delta.

“No level of intimidation from the North will deter the region from its stand on the issues of resource control and creation of more states in Niger Delta region.

“Remediation for Niger Delta environment that has been despoiled by oil exploration and exploitation can only come through resource control since the government at all levels have failed the region. The North should, therefore, sheath its sword over its stand on resource control to avoid war and disintegration in the country.”

Man, 51, arrested with 3.870kg drug at MMIA

Attempt by a 51-year-old man to smuggle 3.870kg of suspected Methamphetamine to Nairobi, Kenya has been foiled following his arrest by operatives of the  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

During investigation, Ayodeji disclosed that he expected to realise N2.4 million had he succeeded in the illicit deal, adding that he attempted to carry the drug to generate money to clear his debts.

He further stated that his inability to cater for his family forced one of his wives to leave for her parents’ home.
According to the Osun State-born suspect, “I am owing people. I couldn’t sleep because of debts.  I have two wives. But the first one left to live with her parents because of  my condition.

” I would have made a profit of $15,000 (N2.4 million)  had I succeeded in selling the drug in Nairobi. I intended paying my debts and start a business with the  money realised.”

Explaining how he was arrested, the agency’s Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, stated that the drug was found inside the luggage of the suspect.
He said: “The drug was packed in a white transparent polythene and hidden inside his bag containing soup ingredients like pepper, melon and crayfish.

“Methamphetamine often called ice or meth is a crystal-like powdered substance that sometimes comes in large rock-like chunks. It is odourless, bitter and dissolves easily in water or alcohol.”

INEC data machine on sale in markets, Niger Republic – Confab Delegate

A member of the Committee on Political Parties and Electoral Matters, Mallam Dani Zoro, said yesterday that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Direct Data Capture Machines, DDCM, are currently on sale in the open market in the country and neighbouring Niger Republic.

Zoro, former National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, raised the alarm when the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega appeared before the committee.

The delegate, who shocked the INEC chairman when he brought out a battery of the DDCM with INEC logo on it, told committee members which has former Senate Presidents Iyorchia Ayu and Ken Nnamani as co- chairmen that he bought the battery in the open market and that the seller assured him that he will get him as many quantities as he wants if he was ready to pay for them.

According to Zoro, besides Nigerian markets, the INEC machines were also sold in the open market in the neighbouring Niger republic.