News

‘We’re Not Selling Animals In Wildlife Park Because We Are Broke’ – Bauchi Govt

Published

4 years ago

April 24, 2020

By Our Correspondent, Bauchi

Bauchi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Honourable Ahmed Modibbo, has disclosed that the decision taken by the state government to sell some of the animals at the Sumu Wildlife park was not because the state is bankrupt.

The Commissioner who was reacting to insinuations from some quarters that the decision may not be unconnected with the current Coronavirus crisis that has caused a serious threat on the global economy, revealed that the plan was taken even before the outbreak of the virus.

Modibbo, who described the insinuations as laughable, maintained that “government is not a joke, this state government is not local government, therefore anybody saying this is ignorant of the workings of the government.”

He said that the idea came after serious consideration, the space in which these animals are housed.. The animals have over the years been overstretched the park and that informs government’s decision to sell some of them.

“Some of these animals are old and some have multiply in number in such a way that we have to reduce them by selling them out and use the proceed to add to the IGR of the state, because it is not proper to continue to keep those that are too old in the park”, he added.

The Commissioner who said that selling some of the animals have been a normal practice, wondered why people are making an issue out of the decision.

“I think the reason why some people are complaining is because we made our own decision public unlike what was obtainable in previous governments that do things silently. We are doing our things openly because we are determined to run a transparent government.

“People should know that government is spending a lot of money in taking care of the animals. How much is government going to realise from the sales of the animals that some people are saying it is because the government is broke. Can the money sustain even a local government.

“People should understand that we are not selling them because the state is going broke due to Coronavirus crisis. The arrangement has been there even before we came in, I am just implementing a policy that had been on ground since”, he said

The commissioner who urged the citizens of Bauchi to be proud of Sumu wildlife park, said in the whole of Africa, there is no place like Sumu wildlife park.

He hoped that by the time the sell of the animals is flagged off, people will patronize the market so that the state will generate some income out of it.

He also urged the people of Bauchi state to continue to be loyal and submissive to the present government as it is poised to deliver dividends of democracy to all segments of the state.

On the fumigation exercise that took place in Yankari Game Reserve, the Commissioner said it was meant to make the place safe for tourists and to curb the spread of COVID-19.

He said that there was no suspected case there but the fumigation was done as a precarious measures to de-escalate the spread of the virus into the Reserve.

Honourable Ahmed Modibbo who prayed for God’s intervention in ending the Coronavirus pandemic, said that the disease is real and that anybody desputing that is not being fair to himself.

(PHOTO: File)

News

BREAKING: 281 Inmates Missing From Custodial Centre After Borno Flood – NCoS

Published

6 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Editor

The Nigerian Correctional Service has declared 281 inmates missing from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The service noted that this followed an evacuation process in the aftermath of the flood incident in the state, as seven inmates were returned to the centre.

In a statement on Sunday in Abuja by its spokesman, Umar Abubakar, the service released the details of the inmates, including their biometrics.

Abubakar said, “The Nigerian Correctional Service has observed the flooding currently being experienced in Maiduguri, Borno State, and its environment.

“The unfortunate incident has left scars, bringing down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri (MSCC), as well as the staff quarters in the City.

“Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.”

He, however, added that “it is important to note that the service is in custody of their details, including their biometrics, which is being made available to the public below.

“The service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to look out for them.

“Presently, a total of seven inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody.”

“While this effort is on, the public is assured that the incidence does not impede or affect public safety.”

News

JUST IN: First Set Of Trucks Begin Loading Of Fuel At Dangote Refinery [VIDEO]

Published

8 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Editor

The Dangote Refinery has announced that the first set of trucks is set to load Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at the facility.

Dangote Group disclosed this in a video posted on its official X account on Sunday.

“HAPPENING NOW: First set of trucks set for loading of PMS at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery,” the company stated.

This comes as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, on Saturday announced that over 300 trucks had arrived at the Dangote Refinery to load petrol.

DAILY POST reports that this is the first time in years that locally produced petrol will be loaded in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and the Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, said that all agreements had been made for NNPCL to lift petrol from Dangote Refinery.

Petroleum marketers have said that the commencement of petrol distribution from the Dangote Refinery will end fuel scarcity and eventually lead to price reduction.

Watch video:

HAPPENING NOW: First set of trucks set for loading of PMS at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. pic.twitter.com/rEPbjGqCS0

— Dangote Group (@DangoteGroup) September 15, 2024

News

JUST IN: Sowore Released After Arrest At Lagos Airport

Published

11 hours ago

September 15, 2024

Editor

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has been released minutes after his arrest.

Sowore was arrested on Sunday morning at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

He wrote, “I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me.

“This is not unexpected because I have always known that it is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist @officialAbat regime on dissent and their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt.

“In case this becomes another prolonged and protracted detention, I urge our citizens to ensure they ALL stop tyranny by all means acceptable and necessary, by engaging in the planned series of direct actions slated for 1 October and beyond.”

His flight left Washington Dulles International Airport at 6.14 EDT and arrived in Lagos at around 9.43am.

On Thursday, 12 September 2024, a DSS memo ordering the arrest of Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria was leaked.

However, in a post via his official X handle, Sowore disclosed that he had been released by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his passport had been released to him after it was earlier confiscated.

He wrote, “I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me.”