News

Bauchi Govt Frowns On Tree felling, Confiscates 3 Trailers, Arrests 9 Suspects

Published

5 years ago

November 6, 2020

By Our Correspondent, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) has arrested nine suspected tree fellers and confiscated three trailers fully loaded with charcoal in Bauchi.

Mr Hamisu Shira, the state Commissioner for Housing and Environment made the disclosure in Bauchi on Friday while parading the suspects to the press at BASEPA headquarters, Bauchi.

The commissioner, who maintained that it was the policy of the present administration to go against tree felling in the state, disclosed that all the trailers and suspects were arrested on Thursday evening based on intelligence received from a good Samaritan.

“The essence of your invitation to BASEPA today is to brief you about a recent sad development that happened on Thursday. It is something that our Ministry and BASEPA have been campaigning against for a very long time.

“A very patriotic member of our cabinet called me last night to say that he has just observed three trailers load of charcoals coming out of his constituency and was on their way to either Jos or Kano.

2nd left: Hon. Hamisu Shira, Bauchi State Commissioner for Housing and Environment

“I immediately called the commissioner of police who responded by directing his men to swing into action. The vehicles were confiscated and nine suspects were arrested.

“There is a law that was recently passed which clearly states the punitive measures and the provisions of the law stating that, any culprit that is caught doing this act would be punished and prosecuted,’’ said the Commissioner.

He further disclosed that the suspects would be charged to a court of law where they would be trialled, adding that there won’t be any question of justice delayed.

Shira said that the value of the trailers of charcoals confiscated worth a hundred millions of naira.

He pledged to canvas that henceforth, any vehicle that is confiscated conveying charcoal from any part of the state would not be released to the owner, rather it would be put up for government use.

The commissioner also said that anybody who provided intelligence on the activities of tree fellers in the state would be adequately compensated.

He added that anybody who also planted a tree would equally be compensated.

“I will like to use this opportunity to appeal to the media to kindly help us educate Nigerians, that felling of trees is a crime,’’ he said.

News

Edo To Dredge Ikpoba River For Revenue, Flood Control

Published

8 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Edo State government has proposed the dredging of Ikpoba River to curb flooding and exploring potentials for enhancing revenue generation in the state.

The state Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, disclosed this when he led a delegation on an inspection of the river in Benin City.

According to him, the initiative was to find a lasting solution to the incessant challenges of flooding and river overflow on the busy road.

He added that his team was on the ground to assess the condition of the river to get a firsthand observation of its impact on communities near its bank.

Also speaking, Director of Mining in the ministry, Mr. Omoruyi Ihianle expressed the state government’s determination to turn challenges into successes.

He stated that the primary objectives of the project were to generate revenue for the state government through mining and to mitigate flooding in the host communities.

“As a government, we have found a way of converting our challenges until success.

“As a result of the silted river channel, the host communities have been suffering from flooding, hence the Edo State Government is stepping in to desilt while raising revenue for the State Government,” he said.

News

JUST IN: Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Is Dead

Published

9 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has died.

Waidi Akanni, a former teammate and associate, confirmed the legendary goalkeeper’s death to TheCable on Thursday.

Rufai, affectionately nicknamed Dodo Mayana, died at 61 after a reported battle with long-term illness.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria also announced the demise of the former goalkeeper on the team’s official X account.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post reads.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”

Rufai is regarded as one of the best football goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. He was the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He also represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the US and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Rufai had over 60 caps for the Super Eagles over the course of a decade with the team.

News

AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

Published

13 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for N100 billion.

AMCON’s Managing Director/CEO, Gbenga Alake, disclosed this at a media parley on Thursday.

Apart from IBEDC, AMCON also manages other distribution companies, including the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

Alake said, “Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it had already been sold, but we renegotiated the price and got almost double of what it was initially going to be sold for.”

Regarding ongoing legal issues, Alake stated, “We have sold it, and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it.”

However, officials of IBEDC did not respond to inquiries about the sale.