The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Plc have restarted a U.K. trial of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine after the study was halted over concerns about a participant who fell ill.

Oxford said in a statement that the U.K. regulator, the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA), had recommended that the trials resume after an independent review of the safety data triggered a pause on Sept. 6. It declined to disclose any details about the participant’s illness.

“The U.K. committee has concluded its investigations and recommended to the MHRA that trials in the U.K. are safe to resume,” AstraZeneca said.

While temporary halts are common in vaccine trials, the interruption to the closely watched Astra-Oxford study had raised concerns about the viability of one of the fastest-moving experimental shots seeking protection from the pandemic.

The statements from Astra and Oxford on Saturday didn’t say anything about the status of tests outside the U.K.

AstraZeneca’s Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said on Thursday that an independent safety review board was reviewing whether the participant’s illness had been caused by the vaccine or was unrelated. Oxford said some 18,000 people have received “study vaccines” as part of the trials.

“We cannot disclose medical information about the illness for reasons of participant confidentiality,” it said. “We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our studies and will continue to monitor safety closely.”

Culled from https://www.bloomberg.com/

▪︎ Those rescued by bandits attack in Abuja were those let go by bandits; Police say they rescued them after gun duel

In fresh killings by alleged Fulani militia, a 62 years old widow and mother of six, and another 52 years old mother of eight have been burnt to death in the latest in a string of killings and attacks in a week in Southern Kaduna.

According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU, the killing of the women took place early Friday morning at Manyi-Mashin village, in Zamandabo ward, in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) in Southern Kaduna.

The Kaduna situation is coming as a source told Everyday.ng that those allegedly rescued by the Police in Abuja, after bandits stormed a large community in Abuja, were actually those released by their abductors on account of age “or because they did not appear commercially viable”.

According to the source who resides in the community, the bandits operated unchallenged for hours, moving from house to house robbing the people and taking along others.

The incident in Tunga Maje community that borders the famous Abuja-Lokoja expressway, just a stone throw from Zuba has sent chills down the spine of many Abuja residents, who recall a viral Nigeria Customs Service intelligence memo that revealed the influx of bandits into forests in Abuja and contiguous states of Nasarawa and Kogi.

The Defence Headquarters was quick to reassure residents of the territory of its readiness to protect them, as the intelligence community lashed out at the Customs service for its indiscretion. But an attack, robbery, and abduction in a community that borders the Federal Capital City, just 50 kilometres from the city centre is raising fears that the leaked NCS memo was genuine, contrary to attempts by the NCS to discredit it later.

Anjuguri Manzah, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command spokesman, tells a different story from those of Tunga Maje residents.

While assuring residents that protection of lives and property remains the core of its policing mandate, he pointed out that when the Police received a distress call on kidnap of some persons on Thursday night, a joint team of Police operatives from the Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Rapid Response Squad and Zuba Police Division responded swiftly to the occasion.

“During a fierce gun confrontation with the heavily armed hoodlums, the Police team successfully rescued five of the kidnapped victims.

“Meanwhile, a concerted effort has been deployed to rescue the remaining five victims that are still with the hoodlums who escaped into Niger state through a nearby forest that is surrounded by rocky terrain”, Manzah said.

On Kaduna, SOKAPU’s spokesman, Mr. Luka Binniyat alleged that the community was invaded by hordes of Fulani armed men who burnt down almost all the houses in the village, looting and carting away valuables.

“Two persons were burnt in their homes beyond recognition: They are Cecilia Ishaya, 62, a widow and mother of 6 children and Iliya Sunday, 56, who left behind 8 children. Though men of Operation Safe Heaven promptly responded, the militia fled before their arrival.”

Police confirmation of the tragedy is still being awaited.

Binniyat adds in a statement: “This was after Fulani militia on the 8th September, 2020 laid ambush for three Atyap youths from Atakmawei village in same Zamandabo Ward in Atyap Chiefdom, as they went to clear weed in their Sugar cane farm about a kilometer from their village.

“Suddenly, armed herdsmen came from hiding and struck. They descended on them with daggers and machetes. Anthony Magaji, 25, a final year HND student with Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, was hacked down. They axed his neck and head with macabre wounds and killed him instantly. Isaac Thomas, 24, also an OND student of the same School, managed to escape with life threatening injuries and is now under intensive care in a hospital, while the third escaped with less injury.

“Meanwhile, we have received complains of farmers in Gora axis of Atyap Chiefdom, who say that Fulani men occasional sneak into their farms destroy large swath of growing food crops, thus leaving them with a bleak prospect of hunger in the near future. All these gory development is taking place after a much publicized peace deal was reached between natives of Atyap Chiefdom on one side and their long time settled Hausa and Fulani representatives on 23rd August, 2020 in Unguwan Wakili, close to Zangon Kataf town.

“Similarly, on the 8th of September, 2020, an attack was launched again by Fulani militias at Kitsarapang village in Kizachi Chiwo of Kizachi community, Tsam Chiefdom in Kauru LGA in the Southern part of Kaduna state, Nigeria.
The attack claimed the life of Emmanuel David Yohanna, 13 leaving two persons grievously with gunshots. They are: Sunday Zango Stephen, 48 and Zakka John, 23

“The two victims are now receiving treatment at a Hospital in Jos.

Meanwhile, three decomposing corpses were found on Kaduna-Abuja highway on Sunday, 6th September, 2020. They were among four persons that were abducted during a brazen operation last week at Maraban Rido, a suburb of Kaduna under Chikun LGA all in Southern Kaduna. They were killed after ransom was paid for their release. Among them is Pius Gargai, 20, and married with a child. He was a nephew of the 1st Vice President of SOKAPU, Mr. Dio Maisamari. The young man was buried last Wednesday in his native home Kufana, Kajuru LGA. The names of the other victims are yet to reach us.

“These bring to eight the number of our members grisly killed by armed Fulani militia within five days in Southern Kaduna in an ongoing genocide against the natives of Southern Kaduna.

“SOKAPU wishes to once again request the Federal Government, through Operation Safe Heaven, under the Command of Major General Chukwu Emeka Okonkwo, to expatiate action and expel and bring to book all the Fulani militia that are currently occupying 101 Southern Kaduna Communities in four of our LGAs. We have furnished the world with the details and we are happy to note, that eight of the displaced communities in Zangan District in Kaura LGA are now returning home as a result of more presence of men of OPSH.

“We are appealing to our youths to shun all forms of provocation and conduct themselves in manners that will not make them fall short of the law, (while) not compromising their rights for self-preservation under the law”.

▪︎knocks FG for mismanaging nation’s diversity, economy

▪︎ says N’Assembly’s constitution review a waste of money

▪︎We expect OBJ to act like statesman –Buhari Media Organisation

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says Nigeria is slowly becoming a failed state and a basket case that urgently needs to be pulled from the brink of collapse.

He said this in Abuja on Thursday while delivering a speech titled, ‘Moving Nigeria Away from Tipping Over’ at a consultative dialogue attended by various socio-cultural groups including Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Pan Niger Delta Forum.

Obasanjo, who played an active role in the Nigerian Civil War, said he had never seen Nigeria so divided, adding that many of the problems plaguing the country today were due to the recent mismanagement of Nigeria’s diversity.

The former President said, “I do appreciate that you all feel sad and embarrassed as most of us feel as Nigerians with the situation we find ourselves in. Today, Nigeria is fast drifting to a failed and badly divided state; economically our country is becoming a basket case and poverty capital of the world, and socially, we are firming up as an unwholesome and insecure country.

“And these manifestations are the products of recent mismanagement of diversity and socio-economic development of our country. Old fault lines that were disappearing have opened up in greater fissures and with drums of hatred, disintegration and separation and accompanying choruses being heard loud and clear almost everywhere.”

Obasanjo said those beating drums of war and calling for secession must remember that were Nigeria to break into several countries, the citizens would still be neighbours and would need to interact with one another.

He stated that if Nigeria was to successfully tackle its challenges, it must first address the problem of disunity because a house divided could not achieve much success.

The former President, therefore, commended all socio-cultural groups present at the meeting, describing their agreement to come together as a good sign.

He added, “With what I have seen, read and heard from the rapprochement that you are forging together, I see a ray of hope that Nigeria can be saved from disintegration.

“If we are ready to live together in understanding, mutual respect and love with equity, justice, inclusiveness while engendering sense of belonging and unity of purpose and all hands on deck, we can deal with internal issues of terrorism, organised crimes, banditry, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug, money laundering and corruption. We will then be able to deal successfully with any incoming attack of terrorism, organised crimes, etc; from outside.”

Obasanjo described the National Assembly’s fresh constitutional review exercise as a waste of time and resources.

He subsequently praised socio-cultural groups like NEF and Yoruba Summit Group for describing it as such.

Obasanjo said, “That ray of hope was somewhat manifested in the last 10 days or so when the Northern Elders Forum and Yoruba Summit Group complemented each other in their separate press releases on the Senate’s idea of inviting submissions from Nigerian public for constitution amendment which had been regular money-gulping activity by every National Assembly session since 1999, a veritable source of waste without end.

“I believe one of our major problems in the past was that we did not dialogue enough, we talk at ourselves and selfishly keep old prejudices and biases. If we show understanding, give-and-take, love of one another and commitment and love of the country, we will do what is right and stand firmly together for the good of all.”

He said he was optimistic that the consultation among the several groups would enlarge the circle from the mini-dialogue group bit by bit until a national dialogue that could save Nigeria from disintegration was reached. When that is done, he said the initiative would come to an end.

The former President said only self-deluded people would claim that all is well in Nigeria.

He said, “I believe Nigeria is worth saving on the basis of mutuality and reciprocity and I also believe it can be done through the process of dialogues rather than talking at each other or resorting to violence. It will amount to dangerous and destructive self-delusion for anybody to claim that all is well in Nigeria today.”

He stated that rather than work on fixing the country and ensuring that grievances among several units within the country are addressed, some are fixated on the 2023 Presidential election.

Obasanjo added, “Some people are obsessed with 2023, I believe that with death, destruction, debt, disease, deceit, disbelief, disenchantment, doubt and suspicion around, we need to see our way through to 2023 and beyond in some form of unity of purpose, reasonable security, shared values, true democratic practice, inclusiveness and shared society. That is why we are here. No constitution is even permanent; it is dynamic with time and experience.”

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Friday, Afenifere Chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo, said the consultative forum had become necessary due to the myriad challenges facing the nation.

He said the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference ought to be implemented rather than have a fresh constitutional amendment exercise that would gulp money and fail to address pressing issues.

Meanwhile, a communiqué issued by Ambassador Ahmed Magaji at the end of the forum stated that the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi; the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors Forum, Atiku Bagudu; and the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, had been briefed on the activities of the forum.

It read in part, “The participating organisations are committed to supporting and themselves in all activities targeted at improving the Nigerian constitution for the purpose of meeting the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerian citizens.”

The meeting agreed to set up panels of experts to discuss, address and make recommendations on about seven subjects, including Nigeria’s federal structure and devolution of power, responsibilities and resources; security; electoral reforms and ensuring the integrity and credibility of elections; local government autonomy and effective administration; the economy and fiscal federalism; judicial reforms and other matters central to the survival of Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Buhari Media Organisation, Niyi Akinsiju, said Nigerians would expect people like former President Olusegun Obasanjo to behave like a  statesman and not join a class of elites who complain because their selfish material interests were not being “serviced.”

Akinsiju said this while responding to comments attributed to the former Nigerian President, in Abuja, on Friday.

He said “ One would expect people like former President Obasanjo to behave like a statesman and not serve as a distraction.

“The Nigerian political elite complain just like he is doing now when their personal interests are not being serviced.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is doing what every sensible leader should do – put the interest of the majority of Nigerians first.  Most of our fault lines which Obasanjo is talking about today are creations of the selfish interests of the elite which have no economic consequences. Most of our elite advance these fault lines to further their interests.”

He said elite from all tribes in Nigeria are responsible for the current state of affairs in the country. Akinsiju insisted that Buhari was moving Nigeria in the right direction.

As Nigerians battle for survival amidst the rising cost of living, resident doctors have eased the burden, a little, by calling off their strike action, as many expectantly await other measures to make life better in the country.

However, Health workers under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has slated September 14 for the commencement of its own nationwide strike.

The strike is to protest unpaid allowances and the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government to meet the demands of JOHESU members.

In a press statement released on Monday, JOHESU National Chairman, Dr. Biobelomoye Josiah said the industrial action was in response to the contravention of the Memorandum of Understanding between the union and the Federal Government.

The Federal Government has declared it is not going back on the recent hike in electricity tariff and the alleged complete deregulation of the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, but other stakeholders are bent on forcing the hand of government.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Trade Union Congress (TUC), among others are poised to tackle government, insisting the hikes were unfair and callous.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also cautioned that the Buhari Presidency is pushing Nigerians to the wall with its arrogant display of insensitivity and total disregard to the demands by the citizens to effect an immediate downward review in the pump price of fuel.

The party described the attempt by the Presidency to justify the wicked increase in the pump price of fuel from N87 per liter under the PDP to N160 as provocative, confrontational and totally unacceptable to Nigerians.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have been fingered as the multilateral agency that pushed the government to introduce recent increases as a pre-condition for billion dollars of loan.

According to report by Channels Television, Dr Aliyu Sokumba, the President of NARD confirmed on Thursday evening that the association was calling off the strike.

Dr Sokumba disclosed that the union will review the progress made in talks with the Federal Government in two weeks.

On Wednesday, the Federal Government and the doctors reached an agreement in a bid to end the industrial action.

During the meeting which almost took the entire day, NARD had disclosed that it will liaise with the executive council with a view to calling off the strike.

Both parties had been in talks to resolve the issues which led to NARD declaring an end to the country-wide strike.

After the meeting, the Federal said an additional N8.9 billion has been approved to pay up a large chunk of the June 2020 COVID-19 allowance to all health workers across the nation,

This was revealed by Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Ngige stated that the implementation of the payment of the Special Hazard and Inducement Allowance has been concluded, stressing that this has been cash-backed and the mandate sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payments to start with effect from September 9.

According to him, this will bring the total disbursement to about N288 billion.

The doctors embarked on the strike to resolve issues bothering on group life insurance for doctors and other health care workers, payment of death-in-service benefit to next of kin/beneficiaries, universal implementation of the medical Residency Training Act in all Federal and state hospitals, immediate review of the hazard allowance of healthcare workers and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance.

Nigerians are complaining of the high cost of food commodities occasioned by poor purchasing power, Daily Trust reports.

Many breadwinners interviewed on Thursday said they can no longer afford to feed their families three times a day as the prices of basic food items doubled in the past few months and their source of income dwindled.

Some traders have attributed the high cost of food items to the inability of farmers to produce enough for domestic consumption while international borders remained closed. Others attributed the problem to the increase in the price of petrol and electricity tariff.

The complaint came at the time President Muhammadu Buhari convoked the meeting of the National Food Security Council (NFSC) where some of the stakeholders also raised the alarm of an impending food shortage in the country and the consequences.

However, some of the attendees expressed optimism of overcoming the impending danger as farmers begun to harvest their produce.

Buhari at the meeting also warned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to give a penny to anybody who intends to import food items or fertilizer, insisting that Nigeria has the capacity to feed itself.

It’s tough time for the poor

A survey conducted on commodity price in Kano revealed that at the Dawanau World Grain Market, a 100kg bag of rice popularly known as Jamila is sold at N54, 000 or more, while a 100kg bag of beans is sold at N21, 000.

Similarly, a 100kg bag of old maize is sold at N22, 000 and that of newly harvested maize is sold at N18, 500.

A 100kg bag of millet goes for N20, 000 and a 100kg of garri is sold at N18, 500. An average tuber of yam goes for N650.

Findings revealed that prices of grains are higher in the North East, North Central and most of the states in the southern part of the country.

In Kano, Malam Sagir Bello,  a father of seven, said feeding three times a day is gradually becoming very difficult for most families as prices of every food commodity have been increased.

“Many people have resorted to buying what is known as broken rice, which is the last grade of milled rice and even at that, a measure sold at N550 before is now N950 and a measure of maize is now N600. To be honest, survival is becoming so difficult these days,” he said.

In the words of another resident, Malam Ibrahim Abdul, “People now only look for what is affordable and available; prices of food commodities are so high and beyond the reach of the common man. I have two wives and five children and I earn a little above N40, 000. How do I survive in a situation where a 50kg of rice is sold at N26, 000?” he asked.

In Abuja, some artisans who spoke to Daily Trust expressed concern over the sharp rise in food across various markets in the territory.

A bricklayer, Mustapha Ndako, who is a father of six children, said he used to buy a bag of guinea corn that lasts for a month but could no longer afford it.

“I only buy half of a bag these days and therefore my wife has to cut the ration we use daily. Besides, I have six children apart from the three children of my late brother who are staying with me…It is indeed a trying moment,” he said.

Ibechukwu Alfred, who is a vulcanizer, said: “six months ago, I used to buy a bag of rice and half a bag of beans and garri and keep them in my house. But these days I can’t afford it, I only take home what we would eat.”

At Wuse Market, a mudu of local rice is sold at N850, while a mudu of foreign rice is sold at N1, 200. Also, a bag of beans, which was sold at N18, 000 in May, 2020, is now sold at N22, 000.

Prices doubled in Lagos

At Ojodu mini-market in Lagos, the business hub of Nigeria, a bag of rice, which was hitherto sold for N18, 000 is now N22, 000 while a bag of foreign rice, which has been banned but still being smuggled in is sold at N30, 000. Vegetable oil, which was sold for N11, 000 is now N14, 000. Also, a 4-litre paint bucket of garri goes for between N700 and N1000. A 4-litre paint bucket of beans rose from N1, 500 to N1, 700.

Similarly, bread makers under the aegis of the Premium Bread-makers Association of Nigeria (PBAN), said on Thursday that the price of flour, a major ingredient for bread, increased from N10, 500 per 50kg bag to N13, 500 per bag, sugar increased from N13,500 per bag to N29,000 and down to N19,000.

Why we’re promoting self -sufficiency – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria ‘’not to issue a kobo’’ of the country’s reserves for the importation of food items and fertilizer as the federal government rolls out the Economic Sustainability Plan and sets goals for National Food Security.

President Buhari restated his earlier verbal directive to the apex bank at a meeting of the National Food Security Council at the State House, Abuja.

Buhari said that he would pass it down in writing that ‘’nobody importing food should be given money.”

He also directed that blenders of fertilizer should convey products directly to state governments so as to skip the cartel of transporters undermining the efforts to successfully deliver the products to users at reasonable costs.

He told private businesses bent on food importation to source their foreign exchange independently.

‘’Use your money to compete with our farmers’ instead of using foreign reserves to bring in compromised food items to divest the efforts of our farmers.

‘‘We have a lot of able-bodied young people willing to work and agriculture is the answer. We have a lot to do to support our farmers,’’ the president said in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.

The meeting, chaired by the president with other key members of the council in attendance, was briefed on the food security situation prevailing in the country.

The Vice-Chairman of the council and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and a governor from each of the six geo-political zones – Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba, Ebonyi, Lagos and Kebbi, made presentations.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed, outlined measures introduced by the administration to tackle the unprecedented challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation as contained in the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP).

Among others, the minister highlighted that the government will facilitate the cultivation of 20,000 to 100,000 hectares of new farmland in every state and support off-take of agro-processing to create millions of direct and indirect job opportunities.

In his presentation, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, told the council that Nigeria expects a bumper harvest of food items despite floods in the north and drought in the south.

Nanono quoted the latest market surveys to show that the recent hike in the price of commodities is being reversed.

On his part, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 reported the negative impact of the pandemic on the lives and the livelihood of citizens, while the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) expressed the hope of an early reopening of the partially closed borders given the progress made with neighbouring states in joint border patrols – one of the key conditions by Nigeria for reopening of the borders.

Hike in food prices a threat to security

The Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, while speaking at the opening of the council’s meeting, said the recent surge of food prices was gradually evolving to a food crisis with the ability to threaten the nation’s food security.

Gambari underscored the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to address the challenge of a hike in food prices amid the COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure challenges.

Gambari said: “Yesterday (Wednesday), my office as the secretariat, National Food Security Council, met with the all agricultural  commodity association to ascertain the root causes of the recent spike in food prices and craft mitigating strategies to what could be a potential crisis.

“Although various concerns were raised as the root cause of increase in commodity cost, we have been informed that prices are actually on the decline as new grains have been introduced to the market.

“For example, new maize, which was previously sold for N25, 000 per bag is now being sold between N12, 000 and N17,000 and it is expected to fall to between N7,000 and N8,000 per bag by November 2020, according to the various leaders of agricultural  commodity association,” he said.

“The price decline has also been experienced in millet, beans and sorghum. The hike, therefore, is to be seen as a transient situation,” he said.

Daily Trust reports that President Buhari constituted the National Food Security Council in 2018, whose members include the Chief of Defence Staff and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Among others, the broad objectives of the council include developing sustainable solutions to the farmers-herdsmen clashes, as well as climate change and desertification and their impact on farmland.

Additional reports by Daily Trust, Channels TV

A 35-year-old pregnant woman, Risikat Saliman, was shot dead during a bloody clash between suspected cult groups at Aleke community in Ikorodu, Lagos State on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that dozens of suspected cultists invaded Aleke community market around 8p.m. and started shooting sporadically, killing the woman.

The Baale of Aleke, Chief Adeniyi Okemati, said the hoodlums had gunned down the mother of two before the arrival of policemen from at Imota Division.

“I don’t know why they came and be terrorising our people.

“We want Lagos government to intervene so that we can collectively curb the menace to enable my people sleep with their two eyes closed,” the Baale said.

He appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene as a matter of urgency for the safety of lives and property in the community.

Okemati also urged residents to collaborate with local vigilante teams to curb insecurity in the area.

The brother of the deceased, Mr Babatunde Saliman, told NAN that the hoodlums arrived at the market around 8: p.m. and started shooting sporadically and eventually the bullet hit her on the back.

“I met her at the market lying in a pool of blood; some of her friends who came to the scene said that she was pregnant.

“Her body has been released by the police and was taken to Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary in preparation to transport her to her home town in Kwara State,” he said.

He called on the police to investigate the killing and ensure perpetrators of the evil act that took the life of his sister were brought to justice.

Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the killing, said that the cult clash was between “Aiye and Eiye” confraternity.

He added that policemen have restored normalcy to the area while the matter had been taken to the State Criminal Invesgation Department (SCID)Panti, Lagos.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has zero tolerance for cultism and warned that the police will deal ruthlessly with anyone found culpable.

“The woman was killed by stray bullet when the two rival cults of ‘Eiye’ and ‘Aiye’ engaged each other in a supremacy battle.

“The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, has zero tolerance for cultism. Cultism breeds various other crimes wherever they exist,” he said. (NAN)

The Federal Government has perfected plans to distribute 2,000 buses to cushion the effects of transportation on Nigerians, especially those living in rural areas.

Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs,  Senator George Akume, made this known on Friday at an interactive session he had with  stakeholders of cooperative societies in Nigeria, at his office in Abuja.

Akume explained that the initiative was a collaboration between his ministry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other agencies of government.

He said the ministry took the decision to pass through the cooperative bodies to ensure the materialisation of the project, rather than giving out loans to individuals, which might delay quick execution of the project.

“Basically, we do recognise the fact that when you give out loans to individuals, sometimes you have the difficulty of recovery. When cooperative is involved,  it becomes easier to manage the facility.

“The whole essence of the initiative is to ensure that our rural force have access to transportation facility, now that there is a slight adjustment of the price of fuel.

“We do recognise that some transport business men can  decide to take advantage of fuel increase over Nigerians.

“So when this is implemented, we believe the initiative will do quite a lot to stabilise the prices for the benefits of the people,” he said.

Also speaking, Olakunde Jeff, Project Coordinator, Cooperative Asset Scheme, explained that the Federal Government had given the buses to cooperative societies at a very good price for onward distribution to interested members of the society.

“The essence of everything is that now that we have a new pump price, we want to ensure that the effect on the masses is on a minimal level and that is the essence of the first 2, 000 buses.

The initiative, according to Jeff, would also mitigate the effect of challenges of transportation faced by rural farmers, even as he assured that they would receive greater attention of the programme.

He added that members of the public would also benefit from the project.

“Like in the case of a van, farmers who are under the cooperative movement will be given the van to convey their farm produce from the farm to the road and they are expected to pay back.

“There will be allocation of buses to other cooperative groups to run transportation businesses,“ he said.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Sept.7, said the payments for petrol subsidies which accrue to a trillion naira annually, have become unsustainable. (With NAN report)