4
The Oracle Today Wednesday January 10, 2018
NEWS ACROSS THE NATION
Adamawa, Ondo govs pardon 49 prisoners From VICTOR NZE
G
overnor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has
pardoned 37 prisoners serving various jail terms in the state, to mark the New Year celebration. This is also his Ondo State counterpart, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu extended the same gesture to 12 prisoners. A statement issued on Monday in Yola by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, said the governor also
commuted the death sentences of two other prisoners to life imprisonment. “As part of the New Year celebration for 2018, His Excellency has invoked the powers conferred on him under the prerogative of mercy, acting on the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, decided to pardon the convicts…’’ The governor, who is wishing the people of Adamawa a prosperous New Year, urged them to
reflect on the preceding year and try to see areas that needed sustenance and improvement. He also called on all eligible persons in the state to ensure that they obtained their voters cards, in order to fully participate in the democratic process that would commence during the year and to remain vigilant, to ensure peace and prosperity in throughout state. Meanwhile, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has approved the pardon of 12 prisoners.
State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi, who disclosed this in a statement made available in Akure on Monday, explained that the gesture was in exercise of the power conferred on the Governor by Paragraph (d) of sub section (1) of Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. According to him, the pardon was approved by the governor following the recommendation by the Ondo State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
“In his letter, dated 27th December, 2017, and addressed to the Comptroller of Prisons, Governor Akeredolu advised that the affected prisoners be released. All the prisoners have served portions of their various sentences. “The governor advised the affected prisoners to make use of the opportunity of their release to turn a new leaf and engage in legal and positive activities that will contribute to the development of the country,” the commissioner added.
FRSC issues 5, 420 driver’s licences in Katsina
T
he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), said it had issued no fewer than 5, 420 driver’s licenses to motorists in Katsina State in 2017. The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Godwin Ngueku, who disclosed this in Katsina, said of the total number, 3, 581 licenses were distributed by the FRSC Katsina unit, while 1, 354 were issued in Funtua, 262 in Daura, and 223 in Dutsin-ma. Ngueku explained that fresh applicants for drivers’ license would first go to driving school for lessons on driving for some weeks before getting the document. He further said that after the lessons, they would be issued with a certificate before an examination by the Vehicle Inspector Officer (VIO), make payments, after which, the applicants would be given a temporary license. Ngueku said that the temporary license expires within two months before a person is issued with a permanent one. He said drivers with expired licenses or those without it would have their vehicles impounded by the FRSC and be asked to pay a fine of N10, 000. ‘’Vehicles of such drivers will remained with the FRSC until they settle the payment and register with any of the driving schools in the state as first step for acquiring the license,’’ he said. Ngueku, therefore, advised motorists to always ensure that they drive with license, number plate and other required documents to avoid embarrassment.
•President Muhammadu Buhari receiving in audience a delegation of the Governance Support Group, led by Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, at the State House, Abuja, last week
P/H-Maiduguri rail line negotiations to be P finalised H1, 2018 -- FG resident Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that contract negotiations for the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri railway line will be concluded by the first half of the year. President Buhari who said this during his New Year broadcast, Monday, also said the newly-commissioned Abuja – Kaduna railway service will be boosted with additional rolling stock by Thursday and will be able to handle one mil-
lion commuters annually. The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri railway line covers Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Makurdi, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Damaturu. The President who disclosed that the proposed Abuja to Itakpe railway line would go through Baro and terminate in Warri with
Omoku New Year Killings: We have clues, Police From NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt
T
he Rivers State Police Command says it has begun a manhunt for the unknown gunmen who ambushed and murdered innocent people who had gone to their various churches on New Year Eve, on December 31 and were on their way home in the early hours of New Year, January 1, 2018, at two different communities, Aligwu and Omoku, both in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area. Spokesman of the command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, stated that the Police already have clues on
the identity of the known gunmen that carried out the attack and that men of the command were following the leads and were closing in on the attackers. “We already have clues as to the identity of the perpetrators of the bloody attack at Aligwu and Omoku on New Year Eve. We are on their trail and the Police are closing in on them. I cannot say much on our clues so that it does not jeopardize the effort of the Police and other security agencies,” he “The Police have confirmed the death of 16 people from the gun attack. The Police command is taking this incident as an un-
provoked attack on innocent people. We are currently trailing these vicious criminals. Normalcy has been restored to the affected communities. Let me assure the public that the Police and other security agencies will not disappoint them. We will arrest these criminals.” Peace Advocate, Mr. Napoleon Adah has vehemently condemned the attack. “We have all prayed and worked hard for peace to return to ONELGA only for some criminal elements to attack innocent people on New Year Day. This criminal action is condemn this wicked act.”
construction of a new seaport at Warri, said negotiations are also advanced for the construction of other railway lines, “first from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic, passing through Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibia to Maradi. “Secondly, Lagos to Calabar the “Coastal Rail” through Ore, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Sapele, Ughelli, Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo and Calabar. In the next few years, all these Nigerian cities will be linked by functional modern rail systems, giving enormous boost to the social and economic life of our people,’’ he added. With respect to the Abuja Capital Light Rail, the president revealed that progress had reached 98 per cent completion, as at 64 per cent completion when he assumed office. He stated that only test runs remained before start of operations, and expressed hope that the train service would stimulate economic activities in the federal capital and provide residents with an efficient and safe transportation system. He said the 12 railway sub-sta-
tions around the capital over a 45.2 kilometre route would serve as a catalyst and a pull factor to the economy of the area. President Buhari expressed optimism that the light rail system would reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission in line with the administration’s policy on climate change. On road reconstruction and rehabilitation, the president stated that the Management of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had been reconstituted and charged with a 12-week rapid intervention in road repairs to cover all the geo-political zones. According to him, each geopolitical zone will benefit by an equal amount of N16.67 billion. “The following major highways are to receive special attention: Oyo – Ogbomosho; Ofusu – Ore – Ajebandele – Shagamu; Yenagoa Road Junction – Kolo Otuoke – Bayelsa Palm and Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Way. “Others are Onitsha – Enugu Expressway Kaduna Eastern Bypass; Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road; Dualization of Abuja – Lokoja – Benin Road and the Dualization of Suleja – Minna Road.’’