Governor Dikko Radda on Monday presented a budget estimate of N682.2 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the Katsina State House of Assembly.

Tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation’, the fiscal estimate has an increase of N200.5 billion or 40 percent more than the N454.3 billion expenditure total for 2024.

Radda said Capital Expenditure of the budget estimate stands at N524.2 billion or 76.8 percent of the total estimate, while Recurrent Expenditure is expected to gulp N157.9 billion or 23.1 percent of the total fiscal expenditure.

He said the economic sector is expected to gulp N302.2 billion or 44.3 percent of the total budget, Administration to take N98.2 billion (14.4 percent), Law and Justice, N6.2 billion (0.9 percent), and Social Sector, N275.5 billion (40.4 percent).

Giving a specific breakdown for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA), the governor said the Education sector would take N96 billion (14%), Agriculture and Livestock, N81.8 billion (12%), and Works, Housing and Transport, N9.6 billion (10%).

Others are Rural and Social Development, N58.7 billion (9%), Water Resources, N53.8 billion (8%), Environment, N49.8 billion (7%), Health, N43.8 billion (6%), Internal Security and Home Affairs, N18.7 billion (3%), and Others, N230.7 billion (31%).

Radda said Recurrent Revenue stands at N381.3 billion, and that the budget is expected to be funded by federal allocation (FAAC) of N316.9 billion, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N64.4 billion, Aids and Grants of N126.4 billion, and Capital Development Fund of N154.4 billion.

The Speaker, House of Assembly, Nasiru Yahaya assured lawmakers would carefully analyse the budget draft, conduct effective oversight, and monitor the implementation of the developmental projects outlined in the estimate once it is approved.

Yahaya said the Legislative arm would continue to work together with the Executive arm to ensure timely implementation of policies and programmes that would better the lot of the citizenry.

Troops of Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), in collaboration with the Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have thwarted an attack on the Kukawa community in Borno State.

According to the task force, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists used a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) to ambush the soldiers.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama on Monday in Maiduguri that the terrorists launched their attack with the SVBIED, but the troops swiftly responded.

Soldiers of the 101 Special Forces Battalion thereafter killed the bandits in an ensuing fierce gun battle.

Additionally, he added that other surviving insurgents were forced to abandon their rifles and logistic supplies, fleeing towards Lake Chad.

Makama reiterated that the troops received aerial support from the Air Component of OPHK, which carried out precision airstrikes on the retreating ISWAP terrorists.

Besides the airstrikes, he added that the reinforcement of the special forces battalion has helped consolidate military dominance, forcing the terrorists to retreat in disarray.

The troops also recovered several fighting equipment during the coordinated military operations in the Lake Chad region.

Military intelligence sources warned that ISWAP may attempt to regroup by potentially targeting reinforcements or military posts with improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

He, therefore, urged the troops to maintain heightened vigilance.

“This is in anticipation of a possible attack on the military base at Malam Fatori, a border community with Niger in Borno State,” said Makama.

A driver has miraculously escaped death after a container crushed his vehicle in the Mile 2 area of Lagos State.

According to a statement posted on the official X account of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the accident occurred on Monday morning.

“In a distressing incident, a 40-ft loaded container fell onto a Toyota Camry, registration number LSR 293 HJ, at Mile 2, en route to Apapa,” LASTMA spokesman, Adebayo Taofiq said.

“Through the swift and coordinated response of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency services, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the driver of the vehicle was rescued alive.”

Taofiq said added that the victim received immediate medical attention after being rushed to the hospital by the joint rescue team.

He said security during the operation was effectively maintained by officers from the Kirikiri Police Division who ensured a secure and orderly environment for the emergency responders.

Following the rescue, the Toyota Camry was successfully removed from beneath the container.

Taofiq explained that efforts to evacuate the fallen container are in full swing, while LASTMA officers continue to manage the scene to ease traffic congestion and restore normalcy.

Meanwhile, the General Manager (GM) of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, has reiterated the critical importance of proper container securing by truck drivers and owners.

Bakare-Oki stressed that negligence in this regard endangers lives and property, urging strict compliance with road safety protocols to avert such catastrophic occurrences.

LASTMA has also said it remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lagos roadways and continues to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to uphold traffic laws and enhance public safety.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has called for peace and vowed to deal with the perpetrators of the alleged killing of a Fulani by an indigene of Isanlu in Kogi State.

Ododo made the vow after convening an emergency security meeting in Lokoja to address the indigenes of Isanlu and the Fulani settlers after the latter alleged that one of them was killed by the former.

The governor summoned the emergency security meeting to listen to both sides in a bid to restore peace and security in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State.

Ododo said that is in order to take actions that will guarantee peace and security, believing this would help to forestall reprisal attacks that could put the community under threat.

According to a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo on Monday, the meeting was successful as both parties subscribed to the governor’s position that they should embrace peace.

Fanwo said Ododo had to cut short his brief journey to Abuja where he was to receive an award to return to Kogi State to stem the “rising security temperatures in Isanlu.”

“The governor had a robust meeting with the people of Isanlu and the Fulanis yesterday (Sunday) at the Government House, Lokoja where he listened to their grievances and addressed them accordingly,” he said.

“He frowned at a situation where people would take laws into their hands by killing fellow humans, saying such is not acceptable and that perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.

“He has directed that some traditional rulers in the affected areas be properly interrogated in order to get to the root of the matter. He has also directed that a particular traditional ruler be suspended due to his role in the saga.”

Fanwo added that the governor urged the leaders of the Isanlu community to warn their subjects to desist from actions that constitute insecurity in Yagba East and the entire Yagba Federal Constituency.

According to him, Ododo also urged them to fish out the criminal elements among them as his administration will go after every criminal in the state, regardless of tribe.

“The governor, without mincing words, also challenged the leadership of the Isanlu community and its environs in Yagba East to sensitize their people on the need to stop constituting security threats in the area by taking the laws into their hands,” Fanwo said.

“He particularly told them to stop harboring criminals and to ensure that criminal elements among them are reported and handed over to law enforcement agencies in order to curb insecurity in the area.”

According to the commissioner, Governor Ododo promised to protect everyone living in the state but stressed that no criminal would be spared.

The governor commended the Fulanis in the area for resisting the temptation of launching a reprisal attack over the unfortunate incident, thanking them for demonstrating maturity, understanding, and commitment to peace and security.

He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Fulani community in the state for supporting the security initiatives of the administration, saying their efforts at maintaining peace and security are well documented and appreciated.

The emergency security meeting was attended by top government officials, security agencies, community leaders, and representatives of the Fulanis in the area.

The Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon. Dare Joshua, thanked the Governor for his swift action in averting a major security breakdown in the Local Government Area.

The Akwa Ibom State government on Sunday launched a probe into the nutrition and living conditions of students at Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, following the circulation of a viral video that exposed poor conditions in the school.

The footage depicted students consuming meals in an unsanitary dining area.

In response, the state commissioner for education, Idongesit Etiebet, announced in a statement that she has directed a comprehensive investigation into the state of boarding facilities in the school and the other 25 boarding secondary schools across the state.

Etiebet said the government has suspended Dr. Nse Sunday Umoh, the school principal, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Etiebet also noted that the “review, which will focus on hostels, dining halls, recreation areas, menus, kitchens, and sanitary facilities.”

According to her, the investigation is being jointly overseen by permanent secretaries from the Ministry of Education and the State Secondary Education Board.

The commissioner added that the state’s free education policy covers tuition fees only and not boarding fees.

She, however, appeals to parents to undertake basic parental responsibilities to support their children in secondary schools, noting that “they have already been greatly relieved of the burden of tuition fees.”

“The ministry is committed to ensuring that all public school facilities meet irreducible minimum standards that uphold the well-being of both learners and staff.”

Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court in Maiduguri on Monday, November 18, 2024 convicted and sentenced one Mpada Ishaku Dzarma to nine years imprisonment.

Dzarma was first arraigned on May 4, 2024 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering and cybercrime to the tune of N9 million.

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma between 2023 and 2024 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession of aggregate sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine Million naira) only into your Access Bank with Account No. 1233383458, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma being the naira equivalent value of the Cash App, Pampay, and Gift Cards denominated in United States of America Dollars which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known is proceeds of your fraud or form part of an unlawful act to wit: falsely representing yourself to unsuspecting foreign nationals amongst who are; Nils Kaptur with social media account @nilf­_kpt, Grace Wamalwa, @ejstorm53 e.t.c as a software engineer based in Holly wood, Texas and could unblock and activate blocked tiktok account and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty, which set the stage for the commencement of trial.

Similarly, at the resumed hearing of the case, the defendant through his counsel H. M Dauda prayed the court to change his plea.

Thereafter, the charge was read to him and he pleaded “guilty” to all the count charges preferred against him by the EFCC.

Justice Dagat thereafter, convicted and sentenced Dzarma on count one to four years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000 and on count two, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of fine of N200,000.

The Judge further ordered the forfeiture of iPhone 14 pro max, Android phone Redmi 4C model, used Toyota Corolla 2008, five pieces of blink necklace and one blink penchant to the Federal Government of Nigeria that were recovered from him in the course of investigation.

The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of Maiduguri’s Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for internet-related offences. He was charged to court and convicted.

In another development, one Amuda Ayuba was arraigned on Monday, November 18, 2024, before Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court, on a one-count charge for the offence of Money Laundering to the tune of N401,006.98 (Four Hundred and One Thousand, Six Naira, Ninety-eight kobo).

The lone count reads: “That you Amuda Ayuba sometime in 2021, in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst being a POS Operator did accept the transfer of a total sum of N401,006.98 (Four Hundred and One Thousand, Six Naira, Ninety-eight kobo) into your first and second POS account No. 1040660023 and 1040906053, account name Amuda Ayuba domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc from a customer whose identity you fail to verify and undertake due diligence of the customer before carrying on transaction of electronic money transfer and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4(1)&(2) and Section 19(1)(F) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.

Counsel to the prosecution Faruk Muhammad prayed the court for a trial and date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.

Justice Dagat adjourned for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in prison custody.

The defendant’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when he was arrested by operatives of Maiduguri’s Zonal Directorate of the EFCC for failing to verify and undertake due diligence before carrying on the transaction of electronic money transfer.