GOVERNOR LALONG PRAISED FOR PEACE BUILDING IN PLATEAU

Governor Simon Bako Lalong has been commended for his peace efforts that have restored confidence and mitigated human disasters associated with violence and conflicts in Plateau State.

Speakers at a the launch of a book on Disaster and Conflict in Abuja described the Governor as a peacemaker who has become a shining example for de-escalating violence and creating sustainable platform for mutual understanding and dialogue.

The Book facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Duties examined the challenges of disasters that are generated from conflicts in Nigeria and how to mitigate them.

Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Duties Sen. George Akume said Nigerians need to continue to foster peaceful coexistence as a way of preventing disasters that end up hurting development. He said Governor Lalong has proven to be one of the examples of leaders who can be relied upon to galvanise people to do the right thing by embracing one another.

Former Deputy Senate President Nasiru Mantu also said the search for peace in Nigeria cannot succeed without people respecting one another and realising that God is the creator of all while differences in tribe, religion, geography and even orientations are matters that cannot be blamed on humanity as people never chose where to be born or the families to be born in.

He said this is why people must be able to accept one another as human beings and stop fighting. He said Governor Lalong has been able to achieve this by enabling people of various backgrounds to have a sense of belonging which has doused tensions and made peace possible in Plateau State.

Governor Lalong who praised the author of the book for conducting the research said peace remains his cardinal objective and as such, he will not relent in making sure that people work together to engender good relations.

He urged all Nigerians to support peaceful coexistence as conflicts do not only cause disasters, but leave a huge burden on development.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
20th April 2021.

By Editor-in-chief


President Idris Derby of Chad is dead.

Details of his death are still sketchy but the army authorities said he died from injuries sustained on the war front.

The Chadian army is currently combating rebel forces who have launched an assault on the capital, N’Djamena.

He was reelected for a sixth term on April 11 and was expected to be sworn in.

Details later…

OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR SIMON LALONG ON THE NEED  TO ESTABLISH PLATEAU STATE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AGENCY ( PLASTMA).


Your Excellency, I must commend your efforts in completing the Dogon Karfe to secretariat junction road. It is my earnest prayers that you will continue with the original plan of dualizing the road down to Bauchi road with a flyover bridge at the British/ American junction.


Your Excellency sir, please permit me to bring to your attention the shameful & selective activities of men of the Nigeria Road Safty core in the city of jos.


Sir, I understand policies & rules of government are meant to be binding on all citizens wherever they may be.

However, I am deeply saddened by the corrupt activities of Road safety officers who select very peculiar neighborhoods to mount checkpoints. These officers are making good business collecting money from traffic offenders & diverting the same to their pockets ( i was once a victim). It’s disheartening how hard-hearted some of them have become turning deaf ears to pleas from even citizens with honest excuse & forcing them to part with some money or risk having their vehicles impounded.



Sir the road safety officers are notorious for mounting morning & evening checkpoints around the new dogon Karfe roundabout to the former civil defense office at Millionaire’s quarters down to lamingo junction near the NIMC office Rikkos to Stanel service station.

Other roads include fwavwei junction Rayfield, Yingi, Hwolshe down to the State Headquarters of the Nigeria police through to polo roundabout, just to mention a few.


Whereas, areas like Gangare, Dilimi, ungwan Rogo & Zololo junctions are completely left out of Road Safety officer’s route checks. This leaves some of us wondering if these are the only areas with traffic offenders.


Sir it will interest you to know that these are the same areas with the highest number of motorcycle operators still conducting business even with the ban on motorcycle operations still in force.


Sir gave this, I strongly advise that the Plateau State Government should create a Plateau State Traffic Management Agency  ( PLASTMA) to take charge of roads within the state including Jos & Bukuru Metropolis. PLASTMA among others should be charged with the responsibility of checking vehicle papers as well as drivers’ licenses & defaulters should be charged with payments of fines which will help boost revenue generation to the State Government coffers as well as help create employment for the state unemployed youths.


Sir, may I bring to your remembrance that states like Lagos, Enugu & recently Kaduna have all created such agencies & revenues generated are sent straight to the state government accounts while officers of said agencies are recruited from the states.


Sir, I pray this gets to you for possible consideration.



Dogo Nanzing

( Sarkin Yakin Plateau).

By Editor-in-chief

Staff and students of the University Of Jos, Unijos were left stranded outside the main Campus gate and the permanent site gate as a result of an ongoing protest, which started in the early hours of Monday .



Our correspondent reports that all gates were locked, with students holding various placards with inscription “Say no to external interference”.



It was also gathered that the protests is purported to be about an alleged plan to bring in an Executive Secretary after the expiration of the tenure of the Vice Chancellor, Pending the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor.



However the Students Union Government SUG have called for calm in an earlier press release in which it said “the Students Union Government is not calling for any protest but is only attending a press conference today, as such every call for a protest from whatever angle should be disregarded”.



As of the time of filling this report, no one is being allowed to go into the school premises as Security Men are saying “Go Back home, till further notice”.

PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT COMMENCES ROLL OUT OF NIN REGISTRATION CENTRES
Following the approval by the Federal Government for Plateau State to participate in the ongoing National Identity Management System (NIMS) which is implemented by the National Identity Management Commission under the Digital Identity Ecosystem project, the State Government has rolled out its first NIN Registration Centre in Jos.

The NIN Data Registration Centre located at the JD Gomwalk Secretariat Jos is the first of the State’s intervention to ensure that indigenes and residents of the State are enrolled into the National Identity Data Base (NIDB) for the issuance of the National Identity Number (NIN) with ease.

The roll out which is expected to gradually be extended to the 17 Local Governments, is being coordinated by the Plateau State Information, Communication and Technology Development Agency (PICTDA) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, who were directed by Governor Simon Bako Lalong to serve as implementing partners after the approval was secured.

Already, the agency with the collaboration of the NIMC has trained enrollment officers across the State to operate the enrollment exercise. NIMC officials are also providing support throughout the process of registration and roll out of Centres to ensure the exercise is smooth.

Citizens and residents are therefore advised to approach the Plateau State Secretariat Enrollment Centre situated at the Maintenance Building after the main entrance to the J.D. Gomwalk Secretariat with relevant documents to be captured.

Supporting document for Enrolment include:
1. Birth Certificate
2. International Passport
3. Driver’s license
4. Voters card
5. Private/governmental ID Card.
6. Indigene certificate.

The Plateau State Government is hopeful that the roll out of the Registration Centres will further enhance service delivery in payroll and tax verifications, payments, scholarship awards, enrolment in schools, provision of health care especially as related to the PLASCHEMA, land administration, agricultural support and other related services performed by the different Ministries Departments and Agencies in the State.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
19th April 2021

The Federal Government has approved the issuance and registration of new SIMs from Monday.

Other suspended activities like old SIM replacement will also resume on the same date, as long as verification is done and the guidelines are fully adhered to, the federal government said.

A statement by a technical assistant to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi Adeluyi, on Thursday, said the minister, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said the activation of a new SIM registration with National Identity Number (NIN) process which gives provision for ‘Telecoms Master’ for phone numbers belonging to corporate companies had also been approved.

“An earlier policy was approved on the 4th of February 2020, while the Revised Policy was developed in early March 2021.

“The final amendments to the revised policy based on the directives of Mr President to make the use of NIN mandatory for all SIM registration were completed yesterday, 14th of April, 2021,” Adeluyi said in the statement.

According to him, the implementation of the policy will commence on Monday, 19th of April 2021.

The issuance of new SIMs and other suspended activities will also resume on the same date, as long as verification is done and the guidelines are fully adhered to, he said.

He said the key aspects of the draft policy had been presented to the stakeholders at the 4th Review Meeting of the Ministerial Task Force (MTF) on the NIN-SIM registration which held on Friday, 26th of February, 2021.

He said: “The Policy includes Guidelines on New SIM Acquisition and Activation, SIM Replacement, New SIM Activation for Corporates and Internet-of-Things/Machine-to-Machine (IoT/M2M), amongst others.

“The possession of a National Identity Number will be a prerequisite for each of these categories.

“For the Corporate registration, institutions will be required to appoint a Telecoms Master (at the minimum of an Executive Management level) to provide the operational Primary NIN representation.

“The Telecoms Master will also be responsible for ensuring that the users provide their NINs to serve as a Secondary NIN.”

For IoT/M2M activations, SIM security protocols would be implemented on the SIM profile to ensure that SIMs can only be used for point to point data services specific to the URL they are working with.

All other services will be barred, he said.

In the event that a data-only service is particular to individual use (eg home car tracking, WiFi, MiFi services, etc), the standard NIN registration process will be followed.

A Telecoms Master will also be required for Corporates requiring IoT/M2M activations.

According to the FG, the full details of the requirements for each class of service will be made available in due course.

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to the country from the United Kingdom, UK where he went for a private trip.
Buhari arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport on Thursday evening.
More details to follow …….

Hon. Stephen Jings Appointed Spokesman Federal Character Commission, Abuja

April 15,2021

 The Federal Character Commission Headquarters Abuja has appointed a spokesman for the Commission.

The Commission’s new spokesman is Mr Stephen Jings,the Commissioner Representing Plateau State at the at the Commission.

Jings was appointed during an Executive Session of the Commission at its Board Room.

Members observed that activities of the Commission were not adequately given the desired publicity hence the need to appoint one of the Commissioners as a spokesperson.

Accordingly members unanimously resolved that given the experience of Mr Jings in the media he should be given the responsibility.

In a remark, Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Dr.Muheeba Farida Dankaka called on the new spokesman to deploy his expertise in the assignment in other to give the Commission the necessary publicity.

Responding,the new spokesman of the Federal Character Commission Abuja, Stephen Jings said he will do his best to ensure the Commission is heard and effectively synergize with media and other relevant stakeholders in adequately disseminating information on activities of the Commission.

The newly installed 27th Long Kwo of Kwo Chiefdom in Kwande District of Qua’anpan Local Government Council of Plateau State Colonel Fidelis Attahiru Longtoe 1 has officially resumed in his Palace in Kwo Chiefdom yesterday.



Thousands of people include Gamai’s Masquerades lined up the road in their traditional attires carrying fresh leaves to welcome the traditional ruler in what observers described as a triumphant entry into Kwo.



Prior to the arrival of Miskoom Fidelis Attahiru Longtoe 1 from Jos to Kwo, traditional preparation and rites of passage was concluded before his home coming as he was ushered into the palace .



The Long Kwo also stopped over to pay homage to the Long Pan Nda Emmanuel Dabang and the Chairman of Qua’anpan LGC Hon. Abdulmalik Haruna at the council secreteriat in Baa’p .



Speaking at the palace of Long Pan and Qua’anpan local government council’s secreteriat the new Long Kwo Miskoom Fidelis Attahiru Longtoe 1 lamented the 33 years absence of leadership in Kwo chiefdom.



He further promised to build bridges of reconciliation and friendship with neighbouring communities with a view to ensure harmonious co-existence among the people adding that no meaningful development will take place in an atmosphere of bitterness and rancour .



The new Long Kwo also said he hold in trust the mandate that was given to him by the people stressing that he will continue to interface with relevant Government agencies to ensure that Kwo as a farming Chiefdom get farming implements and inputs so that they can engage their youth who have been made idle for the past 33 years to contribute their quota to the development of the Chiefdom, State and the Federal Government food security initiatives .



He assured that he will carry all Princes of the Chiefdom along in his quest to unite the people and develop the Chiefdom for the benefit of all.

Governor Simon Lalong on Thursday again advocated for tolerance and religious harmony as a catalyst for peace, security and good governance in Nigeria.



The Governor was speaking at the installation and reception of Pallium by the new Catholic Archbishop of Jos Most. Revd. Dr. Mathew Ishaya Audu held at the Divine Mercy Cathedral, Lamingo -Jos.





This was contained in a statement signed by Simon Macham ,his director of press and public affairs and made available to newsmen in Jos



Lalong while congratulating the Archbishop said within one year of assuming duties, His Grace Most. Rev

Mathew Audu has demonstrated that his calling is divine and that he is totally committed to ensuring that the will of God is implemented in Plateau State and the world at large through the Church.



Lalong said the Archbishop has given the Laity, religious and clergy the needed leadership to enable them carry out their duties in the service of God and humanity without any hindrance. He has made personal sacrifices to ensuring that all challenges are addressed to make the propagation of the gospel of Christ seamless.



The Governor said “While it is the duty of religious leaders to speak the truth to power and the public, you should also beware of, and shun rhetorics that promote hate, division, and distrust among the people. You should guard against politicians and other interests that are always desperate to exploit the pulpit for their selfish reasons. The people look up to you for guidance and motivation that guarantees a united, equitable and prosperous society where the rights and privileges of all are guaranteed. Be assured that my administration will continue to work with you as we build a better Plateau and Nigeria of our dream”.



Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria Most. Revd. Anthonio Fillipazzi said the presentation of the Pallium to the Archbishop is a significant event that confers authority on the Archbishop to discharge his duties in line with the doctrine of the Catholic Church. He called for prayers for Archbishop Audu as he shepherds the Church within his jurisdiction even in difficult times.



Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba also congratulated the Archbishop and promised the support of the traditional Institution for the Church and the Government.



Archbishop Audu thanked God for bestowing on him this assignment which he intends to do his best to discharge. He thanked His Holiness Pope Francis for the installation and called for unity in the body of Christ in Plateau State, Nigeria and the world at large.



He also assured of his intention to continue to work for inter-faith harmony, tolerance and forgiveness in Plateau State and elsewhere just as his predecessor, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama had done. Archbishop Ishaya Audu also marked his 20th Anniversary as Bishop.