The Age Newspaper Online

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has disclosed that the national assembly may be removing the direct primary clause which has generated lots of controversy, when they resume from recess. The speaker who spoke while unveiling some projects in Surulere, Lagos State, on Thursday December 30, also described the process of overriding the President’s veto as difficult. Gbajabiamila said: “IF YOU FOLLOW THE HISTORY OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT PRIMARY BILL, I INITIATED THAT AMENDMENT BILL FOR A GOOD REASON AND IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU SEE AROUND WHEN YOU CAMPAIGN EVERY FOUR YEARS. “FOR ME, IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT THESE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A VOICE IN WHO REPRESENTS THEM. IT IS PART OF BEING USED AND I DIDN’T LIKE THAT. MOST OF US ARE REFORMERS AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO REFORM THE SYSTEM IS TO MAKE IT MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND TO MAKE THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE IN WHO REPRESENTS THEM AS OPPOSED TO A FEW PEOPLE SITTIN...

Official statement from the command of Operations Safe Haven states that “While the Paramount ruler of Gindiri in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Chief Charles Mato has been with his abductors, the commander OPSH, Major General Ibrahim Ali placed the troops deployed at Gyanbus on red alert and a hot trail of the perpetrators followed” Consequently, “Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the kidnap incidence and are being interrogated” Following this development, the paramount ruler early this morning of Friday 31 December 2021 has been released by his abductors. Meanwhile Operations Safe Haven is still very much on ground to ensure all those involved in the kidnap of the traditional ruler are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

The Komsol unity peace cup competition 2021 was a football competition organized for the 40 grassroots wards teams of Shendam, Mikang, and Qua'anpan Federal Constituency to reunite and improve local sporting activities in the areas. The finals of the match was between Yelwa United versus Dabat Warriors which ended 2:1 in favour of Dabat Warriors. The finals was played at the Shendam Mini Stadium amidst pomp and pageantry. The prizes of Sharon car goes to Dabat Warriors, Golf - 3 car to Yelwa United, Tricycle to Kurgwi Pillars and a Motorcycle was also given to Total United for securing 4th position at the competition respectively.  Hon Komsol Longgap Alphonsus said he decided to add the prize of a Motorcycle for the 4th position of the tournament, because of the way and manner the teams participated during the tournament.  At the event, there were presentation of prizes to the Highest Goals Scorer, Mr. Nanpan from FC Congo, well behaved Team goes to the Samba Boys, Total Utd Coach,...

The Executive Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, has encouraged residents of the state to arm themselves and confront bandits terrorizing them as the security officials alone cannot tackle insecurity in the state. Speaking during a media parley in Katsina, Masari stressed that the number of security personnel in the state was not enough to tackle the situation. He said: “It’s Islamically allowed for one to defend himself against attack. One must rise to defend himself, his family, and his assets. If you die while trying to defend yourself, you’ll be considered a martyr. It’s surprising how a bandit would own a gun while a good man trying to defend himself and his family doesn’t have one,”. Masari noted that the state government would help those who plan to own arms to help bring an end to the spate of banditry in the state. “We’ll support those who come with the initiative to procure arms because residents need to also complement the efforts of security agencies. These peop...

By Golok Nanmwa, Jos Youths from Pankshin/Kanke/ Kanam Federal Constituency in Plateau state on Tuesday said the member representing them in the Federal House of representatives Hon Yusuf Gagdi has done excellently well in providing dividends of democracy and people of the zone are 100 per cent with him. Gagdi deserves a second term, we can not be intimidated we would continue to work to ensure his victory come 2023. The group also passed a vote of confidence on Rep. Yusuf Gagdi Babayo, the member representing them in the House of Representatives in 2023 saying he carries all his constituents along in governance irrespective of religion and Political party. “Our Yusuf Gagdi is respectful and carries every stakeholder along in governance he is too useful to the people of PKK he needs to return to the House of Representatives,” the youths added. Speaking at a meeting in Pankshin, the leader of the group Gogop George said Gagdi has done very well in the Federal House of reps and should t...

Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has given residents 72 hours to present evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or negative PCR test result to be able to access public offices. Lalong issued the directive on Monday in Jos at the flag-off of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign “All citizens of 18 yearse and above will henceforth show evidence of vaccination or present a negative Covid-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours to gain access to any public office. “This will also go hand-in-hand with observing all COVID-19 safety protocols in schools, markets, banks, weddings, churches, mosques, among other places,’’ he said. The governor added that the directive became necessary to ensure public safety, especially following the discovery of the Omicron variant of the virus in Nigeria. He urged residents to avail themselves of the opportunity of the mass campaign to get vaccinated adding. The governor added that his earlier order to arrest and prosecute those discouraging others from get...

By Udeobasi Ngozi  All Adults in Plateau State would be mandated to Pay a Development Tax of 300 Naira Annually starting from 2022. This, according to the Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Dashe Arlat, is to enable the state meet its 2022 internally-generated revenue target. Apart from that, banks and construction companies would also pay the development tax and efforts would also be intensified to collect consumption tax from persons lodging and spending money in hotels and other accommodation outlets in the State. Arlat, while speaking with journalists in his office in Jos, stressed that the State has the potential to realize “between N3.5bn to N5bn monthly if everyone comes on board. “From January to November 2021, a total of N20,060,219,702.16 was received as IGR, based on our assessment, Plateau has the potential to get between N3.5bn to N5bn monthly as against our initial target of N2bn per month,” he said. Arlat, who gave a breakdown of IGR accrued to the State b...

Danladi Nanman, Langtang The Executive Chairman of Langtang North LGC, Hon Zulfa Bitrus Rimven Esq has sworn in the Council Secretary, Chief of Staff and the Director of Research, Planning and Documentation today Friday 17th December, 2021 at the Council Secretariat in Langtang, the Langtang North LGC headquarters. The Chairman while congratulating the appointees charged them to always place the interest of Tarok Nation first above all other considerations. He said:" work for the interest of Tarok land. This is a rare privilege to serve a Tarok man. "As it has pleased God, you have been given the opportunity to assist in the development of Langtang North Local Government Council" Zulfa urged the new appointees to be guided by the core values of his administration, which include transparency, accountability, justice, fairness, peace and unity which will make development inevitable. In his concluding remark, the Executive Chairman of Langtang North LGC, Hon. Zulfa Bitr...

By Prince Abubakar Ilemona Ibrahim, Kogi  Stories reaching this medium today indicated that the sharing of the tricycles, generators and others valuable items as empowerment has been distributed equitably across the Senatorial district's  Competent source who disclose this stated that many who got their shares took their celebration to their loves once and rents it on air adding this was the first in the political history of kogi east he said  Also speaking was a political frontline from kogi east said the senator has been working perfectly well that he will still do more he said Prince Abubakar Ilemona who also said since the inception of the journey to the red chamber recommendation have been channelling towards him.

The Plateau State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Duncan Maritime Ventures Nigeria Limited, signifying the official take over of the Jos Inland Container Deport (ICD) from Duncan Maritime Ventures Nigeria Limited to the Plateau State Government. Following the signing of this MoU, the Plateau State Government is expected to pay the sum of N2.2billion to Duncan Maritime Ventures Nigeria Limited as consideration in other to take ownership of ICD which is situated at Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. While signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two parties on Wednesday at Old Government House Rayfield, Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, SGS, Professor Danladi Atu revealed that a feasibility study was conducted in 2002 to assess the viability of locating Inland Container Port in the six (6) geopolitical zones. According to Atu; "after the feasibility studies, Jos Inland Container Deport Heipang was chosen because of...

By prince Abubakar Ilemona Ibrahim The Senator representing kogi East Senatorial district's, Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho finally set to distribute Motorbikes, generators, tricycles and other valuables to the people of his constituency. According to a press release available to this medium, indicate that the distribution of the items will go round the entire nine local government areas of Kogi East. Echocho whom through his developmental strides has become the true servant of the people in his state and the country as a whole.

Court Nullifies Emergence of Barr Zulfa Rimven As APC Candidate, Orders For Withdrawal of Certificate of A State High Court sitting in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Monday, nullified the emergence of Barr. Rimven  Bitrus Zulfa as the chairmanship candidate of Langtang North Local Government Area due to non-compliance with the guidlines of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Hon. Nankar Shagaya filed a suit challenging the election of Hon Zulfa Rimven in court, seeking the court to nullify the primary election which he claimed did not follow due process as stipulated in the APC Constitution. In a judgement delivered today, the judge declared that the emergence of Barr. Bitrus Zulfa Rimven as the APC candidate for Langtang North Local Government in the October 09, 2021, Local Government Elections in the state is nullified. The  Honourable Justice Sashet in his judgment also ordered the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) to withdraw the Certi...

  The Plateau State University chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), is set to embark on an indefinite strike over non-payment of earned allowance and other entitlements. The union also said that the strike would commence as soon as they receive approval from the national secretariat. Chairman of SSANU in PLASU, Comrade Timnan Rimdap, said the decision to proceed on strike was taken by SSANU Congress following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to management to act. Rimdap added that the resolution has since been conveyed to the National Secretariat of SSANU for further necessary action. He said that prior to the seven-day ultimatum, which expired on December 8, SSANU had in a letter dated July 2, 2021, issued a 21-day ultimatum which expired on July 23, 2021. “SSANU in another letter dated August 3, 2021, issued a four-week ultimatum which expired on September 3, 2021,” he said. Recall that due to the failure of the University administr...

Jos South Council Boss, Hon. Gideon Swears in Sup. Councillors & SAs With a Charge on them to Perform Optimally Jos South Council Boss, Hon. Gideon Swears in Sup. Councillors & SAs With a Charge on them to Perform Optimally The Executive Chairman of Jos South Local Government Council Plateau State, Hon. Gideon Dandereng on Monday 6th December, 2021 sworn in Eight Supervisory Councillors and Four Special Assistants with a charge on them to hit the ground running, add value and perform optimally for the progress of the Council, the Area and State at large. Hon. Gideon stressed that it will be business unusual urging the New Appointees to bring their wealth of experience to bear to justify the trust and confidence reposed in them with the appointments. “See your appointments as the will of God, as you were carefully selected among many people from your various Wards, the people expect a lot from you and you have to deliver” “Let us join hands to take Jos South LGA to enviable heig...

Riyom Local Government Council Boss, Hon. Mafeng Gwallson, was on Wednesday December 8 2021, Sworn-in the Council's Secretary, Supervisory Councillors, Chief of Staff and Director General of Research with a charge on them to Perform Optimally. The Executive Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, Hon. Mafeng Gwallson charged the appointees to hit ground running to add value and perform optimally for the progress of the Council, and the entire state as a whole. Hon. Gwallson stressed that it will be business unusual urging the new Appointees to bring their wealth of experience to bear, to justify the trust and confidence reposed on them with the appointments. He said: “See your appointments as the will of God, as you were carefully selected among many people from your various Wards, the people of Riyom LGA expect a lot from you and you have to deliver. “Let us join hands to take Riyom LGA to an enviable heights and make it the pride of all in the state and th...

By Golok Nanmwa, Jos APC Executive Committee on Thursday met with its members  of the Plateau State House of Assembly at the Ewarewah party Secretariat.   The meeting which had all the APC members of the house in attendance except the former Speaker of the House, Honourable Ayuba Abok Nuhu, was led by the Speaker, Rt Honourable Yakubu Sanda.   A statement signed by Sylvanus Namang, APC State Publicity Secretary made available to newsmen reads that In his address, the State Chairman of the APC, Honourable Rufus Bature who was himself a former member of the House of Assembly, expressed delight over their honouring the invitation to the meeting.  He said he was happy that peace has fully been restored in the House of Assembly after the change of its Speaker two months ago.  He urged them to remain focused and united as a force in order to  be able to make laws for the common good of the state and its people.    In his words, ''your unity is your integrity. That is why you are cal...

      AVM Bali Rtd In an Exclusive interview with selected Journalists in his Rayfield residece of Jos South Local Government Area, Air Vice Marshal Binkap Bali Rtd, a core military personnel who rose to the Rank of Air Vice Marshal,  discussed his political aspirations, trajectory, liberation ideology and other sundry issues.  Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Napoleon Binkap Bali (Rtd) was born on 28 November 1963 in Langtang, Langtang North Local Government area of Plateau State. He attended Boys Secondary School, Gindiri from 1977 to 1982 and gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1983 as a member of 33 Regular Course. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1986. AVM Bali had his Basic Flying Course in 303 Flying Training School (FTS), Kano from 1990 to 1992 and was thereafter trained as an Instructor Pilot (IP) on jet aircraft between 1998 and 1999 in the same Institution. On completion of his IP Course in 1999, Napoleon attended Joint Air Course (JAWC), Hyderab...