News
Zulum Says Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months
Zulum Says Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has stated that the Maiduguri dry inland port will begin operations in six months.
Zulum made this known on Wednesday in Lagos while addressing journalists after a courtesy call to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Pius Akutah.
The Governor expressed confidence that the establishment of the NSC, while providing job opportunities to young people, would also boost the state’s economy.
He said: “Establishing the inland dry port in Maiduguri will bring many opportunities to the government and people of Borno state. It will generate employment, taking thousands of young children off the street. This is very important.
Zulum added that: “Borno State shares border with three countries, namely Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The inland dry port will enhance trans-border trade. This is what we are looking for. The relationship between our border countries will improve, the economy of the nation will grow very well, and our GDP will increase.
He also said: “We are trying to divert our attention from mono-economy, which is oil, by investing in other opportunities. I think Nigeria will be great soon.”
The Governor stated that: “The Federal Government is working to ensure rail lines are rehabilitated under President Bola Tinubu’s initiatives. They are in the process of rehabilitating all the roads, and thousands of trucks are entering Maiduguri daily.”
He however noted that: “Establishing a good road system will fast track the process. Even in the absence of rail, the efficiency and effectiveness of the road transportation system are okay for now for the inland dry port. “We expect the project to be ready in six months.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary of NSC, Pius Akutah, noted that if established, the Maiduguri Dry Inland Port would boost transborder trade, considering that Borno is neighbouring three countries of Cameroon, Char and Niger Republics.
The NSC CEO said: “Like the Governor has said, it is important for Borno State as a border town to these three countries, to have an Inland Dry Port. The benefits that will accompany such cannot be overemphasised.
“With the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in place, you cannot overemphasize the need to have this kind of critical infrastructure in a place like Maiduguri, Borno State that has boundary with three countries within the area.
“I have been to Borno and I have seen the consistency of his Excellency in terms of his words and his passion for development of Borno State.
“When he said six months, I believe him and I know the work will be done. For instance, the transit park area the Excellency has developed has one of the critical infrastructure to even service the proposed IDP.
“Now, what needs to be done is for those involved to look at the political will of His Excellency to see how they can quickly agree among themselves for the project to become a reality
“This is business and the initiative is not for government to drive the day to day running of the inland dry port. It is a public private dimension and therefore, private sector driven. So the two entities involved should come together and fast track the process of harmosing and agreeing among themselves.”
Zulum Sqys Dry Inland Port Will Begin Operations in Maiduguri in Six Months
11 kidnapped Benue Links passengers rescued in Okpokwu
By: Zagazola Makama
Eleven passengers abducted from a Benue Links commercial bus have been safely rescued in a forest near Ondo village in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Zagazola Makama recalls that the passengers were kidnapped on June 22 while travelling along the Otukpo–Enugu highway in a Benue Links Hummer bus.
Security sources reliably confirmed that the victims were freed on June 29 following sustained search operations by the security forced supported by local vigilance groups and the Benue State Civil Protection Guard.
Credible intelligence reportedly indicated that the kidnappers were moving the captives through a bush path around Ondo village in Ugbokolo. In response, the rescue teams swiftly mobilised and launched a coordinated search operation in the area.
After several hours of intense combing of the forest, the victims were found alive and safely evacuated to Ugbokolo town, where they were provided immediate care.
The rescued individuals were identified as Bam Joseph, Doom Terhile, Uju Mercy, Ashika Linda, Atule Ladi, Undia Iveren, Terfa Kwshdoo, Akume Hembadoon, Ikpeen Msendoo, Mlumun Hurt, and Philip Igbuan.
One of the victims, Philip Igbuan, suffered a deep machete wound to the head inflicted by the kidnappers and was immediately taken to the General Hospital in Ugbokolo for medical treatment.
The freed passengers have since been debriefed by the Police and Benue Links has arranged transportation to help them reach their original destinations and reunite with their families.
According to accounts from the victims, their abductors were heavily armed and are suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
11 kidnapped Benue Links passengers rescued in Okpokwu
Four police officers killed in ambush by suspected herdsmen in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast four mobile police officers attached to the 12 Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit were killed following an ambush by suspected armed herdsmen in Udei village, Guma Local Government Area.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the officers were on special duty when they came under heavy fire on June 29 while responding to a distress call.
The sources said that the officers were alerted around 2:00 p.m. that a large group of armed men, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, were advancing toward Udei village with a herd of cattle.
“The attackers had approached the vicinity of the primary school in Udei, which serves as a base for the deployed PMF 12 personnel. As the officers moved to intercept them, they were ambushed and attacked with heavy gunfire,” the report stated.
Four officers tragically lost their lives in the attack, and their service weapons were reportedly carted away by the assailants. The deceased officers were identified as: Insp. Samuel Bisalla, Insp. Emmanuel Bitrus, Insp. John Sunday and Insp. Kenneth Gabriel
Two other personnel, ASP Jacob Elisha and Insp. Zakari Bangajiya sustained injuries and was rushed to Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for medical attention. They are said to be responding to treatment after suffering from exhaustion and shock.
The corpses of the fallen officers have been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and medical examination.
In response to the attack, special tactical units and a reinforced team equipped with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) have been deployed to Udei and the Daudu Divisional Headquarters to forestall further incidents and restore calm in the area.
Four police officers killed in ambush by suspected herdsmen in Benue
Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna
By Zagazola Makama
Squatters of a grazing forest by a large community of herders in Kaduna State on Sunday afternoon killed one of the Commanders of Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVIS).
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in Yardoka Grazing Reserve in Kubau Local Government Area, located in Northern Kaduna Senatorial District.
The slain Commander, identified as Saleh Shuaibu, popularly known as Saleh Fiya-Fiya, who is the KADVIS Commander in Kubau Local Government, was killed when officials of the Kaduna State Government visited the area to carry out a government directive in a grazing reserve located at the said Yardoka forest.
The directive, according to a source in Anchau, the headquarters of the local council, was to allocate over 200 hectares of land to a certain company for investment purposes, a move the squatters are resisting due to lack of payment of compensation, while another source said the squatters have been paid but are still demanding more money.
Another source explained that the government officials arrived in the company of armed policemen along with personnel of the Department of State Services but were barricaded from accessing the reserve.
It was while the impasse was going on that the slain KADVIS alighted from a van and was intervening with the irate community members armed with cutlasses and sticks, while one of the protesters stabbed him with a knife and killed him on the spot. A claim Zagazola Makama is yet to confirm.
Breaking: Squatters Kill Famous KADVIS Local Commander in Kaduna
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Four police officers killed in ambush by suspected herdsmen in Benue
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