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The 2017 diary: September

By Oshineye Victor Oshisada |   25 February 2018   |   3:33 am  

IPOB

September 1.At Salah, Buhari tasks corps members on national unity. President Muhammadu Buhari performed 2017 Eid-el-Kabir prayers in his home town, Daura, Katsina state. Buhari said NYSC scheme over the years continued to pursue the purpose of integrating the country, noting that diversity of cultures remained Nigeria’s greatest strength.

September 2. Air Force jets kill Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa. The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) said its fighter jets killed hundreds of Boko Haram terrorists in Garin Maloma of Sambisa Forest.

September 3. Attack me first, before you evict Igbo, Sultan tells northern youths. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, said anybody planning attack on the south-easterners would have to attack him first.

September 4. Resident doctors begin indefinite nationwide strike. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) rejected the terms of settlement reached with the Federal Government on August 31, and declared a nationwide industrial action until the demands of its members were met. The President of NARD, Dr John Onyebueze announced it in Abuja after a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association, said the strike took off in the morning.

September 5. Nigerians must feel impact of exiting recession, says Buhari. “Until coming out of recession translates into meaningful improvement in people’s lives, our work cannot be said to be done”. Buhari spoke in his country home in Daura, Katsina State when he received the President of Niger, Alhaji Mahamadou Issoufou.

September 7. Govt begins payment of varsity teachers’ salary arrears. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed that the Federal Government began the payment of salary arrears of the striking university teachers. But the lecturers, insisted that the Federal Government must remit N200 billion into the universities’ revitalization fund before the strike could be suspended.

September 8. LASU sacks ASUU chairman, deputy, 15 others. The Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU) terminated the appointments of 15 academic staff and two non-academic staff for various acts of misconduct, while two others-one academic staff and one non-academic staff were also demoted.

**Another Catholic priest shot in Lagos. Another Catholic priest presiding over St. Thomas Catholic Church, Onilekere, Lagos was shot by unknown gunmen, posing as worshippers, inside the church premises. He was Rev. Father Daniel Nwankwo who was taken to LASUTH for medical attention.

September 9. North cautions Yoruba, southerners on clamour for 1963 Constitution. Northern elders and youths cautioned the Yoruba, their South Eastern and South South neighbours over their clamour for the country’s restructuring, as well as return to the 1963 Constitution.

September 11. Customs in Lagos seizes 1, 100 rifles imported from Turkey. Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted a container loaded with 1,100 pieces of pump action rifles at Tin Can Port, Apapa, Lagos, making a total of 2,201 such arms seized at three different times in 2017. The Comptroller-General of NCS, Hameed Ali paraded the arms and disclosed that the rifles originated from Turkey.

September 12. Many feared killed as soldiers lay siege to the Nnamdi Kanu’s home. There was tension in Abia state as soldiers laid siege to the Afaraukwu country home of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and clashed with members of his group leading to the alleged death of 15 persons.

**Buhari commissions $150 million feed mill in Kaduna State. President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned a new poultry feed mill worth $150 million in Kaduna State. It was located at Chikpiri Gabas village in Gwagwada area of the state.

September 13. Buhari orders probe of ex-heads of JAMB, NIMASA over poor remittances. President Muhammadu Buhari ordered an investigation of past heads of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), over what it described as poor remittances.

**Ambode raises hope of female governor in Lagos State. Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode said the state would soon produce a female governor and deputy governor, who would pilot its affairs. He said that when he received the 17th one-day Governor, Miss Adebukola Noimat Zuffon of Awodiora Senior secondary school,Olodi-Apapa.

September 14. Whereabouts of Kanu, father, mother unknown. The troops of the Operation Python Dance II allegedly invaded the family home of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in Afaraukwu, Abia State. The where about of Kanu, his father and his mother were not made known.

September 15. Military declares IPOB terrorist group. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared the Indigenous People Of Biafra a “terrorist’s organization”.

**South-east Governors, Ohanaeze proscribe IPOB activities. Governors of the South-east and leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo announced the proscription of activities of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) asking its members and all agencies aggrieved groups in the zone.

September 17. Buhari meets three governors, depart for New York. President Muhammadu Buhari met behind closed doors with the Governors of Borno, Kashim Shettima; Kano, Abdullahi Gamouje and Sokoto State Aminu Tambuawal in the Presidential Villa Abuja before departing for New York to attend 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

September 18. Kudos as CJN okays special courts for corrupt cases. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onneghen, announced a plan to create special courts specially for the purpose of hearing and speedily determining corruption and financial crime cases.

**Eagles beat Ghana 2-0 qualifying for WAFU semis. Super Eagles stunned the Black Stars of Ghana with two quick goals in the early minutes to the second half of the WAFU Cup last group game held at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

September 19. Buhari asks UN to dialogue with North Korea over nuclear weapon. President Muhammadu Buhari called for a United Nations delegation to urgently negotiate with North Korea over the development of accelerated nuclear weapons by the country.

September 20. Olubadan sues Ajimobi over installation of 21 monarchs. The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji approached Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, asking it to declare the installation of 21 member monarchs by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi as “illegal and abuse of office”. The monarch also claimed that the governor’s action violated the provisions of the CAP 28 of the Chiefs Law of the state. He, therefore, prayed the court to set aside the installations of the new kings.

September 21. Seizes another 470 rifles imported from Turkey. The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs service (NCS), Hammed Ali, announced the seizure of another 470 pump action rifles smuggled into the country through the Tin Can Ports in Apapa, Lagos. Consequently, the NCS placed all the nation’s gateways on red alert to checkmate the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country.

September 22. IPOB urges court to set aside its proscription. The Indigenes People Of Biafra (IPOB) approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order of the court, setting aside its ex-injunction dated September 20, 2017.
September 24. NADECO back, says democracy under threat. Members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the group of pro-democracy activities who fought the bitter war for the entrenchment of democracy in the dark days of military dictatorship, were once again back in the trenches.

September 25. Buhari greets re-elected Markel, returns from London. President Muhammadu Buhari joined other world leaders to congratulate German Chancellor, Angela Markel, on her victory at the polls. The President returned to Nigeria from London at 7.00pm, after stop-over from New York, USA.

**South Africa Navy chief visits Nigeria, seeks stronger ties. The Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Mosiwa Hlongwane, visited the Nigerian Navy to foster existing bi-lateral relationships between his country and Nigeria. The Chief of Naval staff, Nigeria Navy, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibass, received the navy boss, Hlongwane.

September 27. Justice Salami leads panel to monitor trial of graft cases. Retired President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, was appointed Chairman, Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO). The appointment was approved by National Judicial Council. The 15-man committee had some judges and senior lawyers as members.

September 28. Governors seek to take over, manage federal roads. Governors of the 36 states of the federation agreed to take over the construction and management of some federal roads under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The governors were to submit to President Muhammadu Buhari a strategic plan that would guide the handover and management process.

September 29. Edo Government sacks Perm Secretary. The Edo State Government sacked a Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Youths and Special Duties, Dr Osayunware Idahosa and those other civil servants for padding the Budget for the conduct of primary schools examination to the tune of N283 million.

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