20110421
leadership
The Federal Government yesterday directed the nation’s security agencies to probe incessant killings and destruction of property by thugs in the northern part of the country.



The Federal Executive Council in a resolution made available to State House Correspondents, congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on his victory at the just concluded presidential poll.

The FEC in the resolution presented by Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku, also congratulated the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, NYSC members, and all Nigerians who took part in the April 9 and 16 elections.

Maku stated, “Council reviewed the nationally and internationally acclaimed free and fair National Assembly and presidential elections which took place on the 9th and 16th of April 2001 and congratulated Nigerians who lined up in the sun and rain to exercise their civic responsibilities.

“Council congratulates the INEC, security agencies, NYSC corps members and all Nigerians who took part in the organization of the April 9 and 16 elections”.

According to the minister, the FEC also charged the president and his vice to unite the nation in the march to national transformation in the years ahead.

The resolution reads in part, “Council notes with regret, however, the unprovoked and premeditated arson, violence and killings in some states of the federation by persons and groups who deployed open hatred against fellow citizens for freely voting for candidates of their choice as enshrined under our laws.

“Council strongly condemns the regrettable tendency by a few to deny our nation its progress towards the united and stable polity from the regional and ethnic divisions of the recent past at the time the world is celebrating the glory of our presidential polls as one of the freest and fairest in our recent history. Some persons chose to stain this glory with the blood of innocent citizens.”

The FEC also commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the “senseless and unfortunate violence and those who lost their property for standing for national unity against forces of division”.

Maku added, “Council strongly reiterates the presidential directive to security agencies to fully investigate the violence and bring to justice all those remotely and directly involved in the killings and destructions that took place in some states of Federation.

“Council reassures Nigerians of government’s determination to enhance security of innocent citizens in the affected states and appeals to state governments, traditional rulers, community leaders and citizens to cooperate with security agencies to bring normalcy back all the affected areas.

“Council reassures the nation of government’s determination to maintain peace and urges citizens to courageously participate in the scheduled elections coming up in the states on the 26th of April”.

The Council also ratified presidential approval of various contracts of over N48 billion for construction of roads, bridges and hospitals as well as flood control projects in some Niger Delta states.

The contracts, awarded through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), include six key roads to be constructed at a cost of N20.97 billion.

The second set of contracts valued at N27.56 billion is for flood control project in Ughelli, Delta state; Oguta bridge in Imo state and two 50-bed hospitals Ekowe and Ekeremor in Bayelsa State.

The Ministry of Interior also got approval to produce six million e-passports and accessories, including 3.5 wafers and laminates at a total cost of N13.95 billion.

Maku noted that N21 billion and $24.17 million had been generated by the ministry through the Immigration Services in the issuance of international travel passports since the inception of the e-passport system.

The contract includes maintenance services for the entire e-passport infrastructure at home and in about 53 e-passport centers domiciled in Nigerian embassies abroad, the minister explained.