Headline

Bauchi Gov Signs 3 Executive Orders, Directs Full Compliance

Published

1 year ago

June 9, 2024

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, on Friday, assented to three 2024 Executive Orders and ordered for immediate compliance of the orders.

Signing the Orders, Mohammed said that the Executive Order No.3 of 2024 for the removal of illegal structures in the state would prohibit the issuance of permits along road corridors, green areas, right of way, utility areas or setbacks by any of the Ministries or Parastatals and Local Government Councils.

According to him, any person who failed to comply with the provision of the Order or aforementioned laws shall be liable on conviction to a three months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000 or both.

“It shall be an offence under this Order to Obstruct, hinder or resist any authorized officer to carry out or execute his or her lawful duties. Without any excuse, refuse or willfully fail to comply with any enquiries on directives made by any officer or Task Force in accordance with the Order.”

Governor Bala Mohammed on the signing of the Executive Order No.2 of 2024 to unify weight and measures in the state, noted that the state government has observed with serious concern the proliferation of different weight and measures across the state which places the consumer at disadvantage.

He said the state government recognised the need to protect the consumer by maintaining standard and unifying weight and measures in the state, adding that the use of all old weight and measures presently in circulation in the state is banned and prohibited.

Mohammed mandated the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to produce, circulate and distribute the approved unified standard weight and measures which shall be used throughout the state and Local Governments.

“All the old weight and measures that are different from the approved unified ones shall henceforth be mopped up and withdrawn from circulation by the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

“Whoever is caught using the old weight and measures after the official release of the new weight and measures shall be tried and convicted, punished with a term that may extend to six months imprisonment and N500,000 fine,” he said.

While signing the Executive Order No.1 of 2024 on Community and Environmental Protection, Public Safety & Security and Prohibition of Deforestation, Mohammed said by this order, no Traditional or Community leader shall issue any consent letters to any individual or corporate body for any excavation activity.

According to him, none of them should enter into or sign any Community Development Agreements within the proscribed limits of this Order without the requisite approval of the State Government through the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“Any individual or company found carrying out any activity that is against the provision of this Order or without due compliance with the relevant provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act shall be liable to punishment in line with section 60 of Environmental Impact Assessment Act ( CAP.E12) LFN 2004.

“Any individual or company found carrying out any activity that is against the provision of this Order whose activity is not covered under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of three years or fine which may extend to N1 million or both.

“Any person who obstructs, prevents, hinders or assaults any obstruction officer of the Mobile Court in the lawful execution of his duties under this order shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term not less than 1 year or both,” said the governor.

Headline

Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region

Published

19 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.

Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.

Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.

After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.

Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.

Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia

Headline

US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi

Published

19 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.

The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.

“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.

The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.

Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.

“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.

“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.

The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”

Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.

He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.

In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.

The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.

Headline

US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants

Published

20 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.

The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.

US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.

“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.

However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.

It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.

“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”

The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”