Security agencies obey Buhari’s directive, restore ‘normalcy’ to Abuja-Kaduna highway

Published

10 months ago

April 3, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari‘s directive to security chiefs to arrest or neutralize all terrorists responsible for the Monday night terror attack on the Kaduna-bound train during the week under review has begun to bear fruit.

Presidential Villa

The Nigerian News Agency reports that the Nigerian leader gave the directive on March 29 when he summoned security chiefs to the Presidential Villa, following the attack on the wrecked train.

It was reliably gathered that no fewer than 86 of the bandits were reported to have killed the team of police and soldiers in various bandit-infected enclaves in Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger states after the Abuja-Kaduna train attack on Monday.

The president met behind closed doors with security chiefs just hours after the terrorist attacks on Monday night.

Army General Staff

reports that the Chief of the Army General Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya had visited the site of the attack on Tuesday before meeting with the president, where he ordered troops to intensify search and rescue operations as well as hunt down terrorists.

In the meeting with security chiefs, the president ordered the immediate conclusion of all processes for the implementation of the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution for the Abuja-Kaduna railway line.

Nigerian Railway Corporation

Buhari also directed the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation to quickly repair the damaged lines and resume normal service without delay, while the integrated security surveillance and monitoring solution should also be extended to the Lagos to Ibadan railway line.

reports that the Kaduna-bound train, which left Abuja at 6 p.m. on Monday, was attacked at around 7:45 p.m., with only 15 minutes of travel to go before reaching Kaduna.

Federal Executive Council

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja on Wednesday observed a minute of silence in honor of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

Vice President

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had on Tuesday visited hospitals in Kaduna where injured victims are being treated.

President Buhari

Also on March 29, President Buhari declared open the second National Tax Dialogue Week, with the theme; “Fiscal harmonization for greater income generation”.

He expressed the commitment of his administration to guarantee an efficient tax administration to improve tax collection in the country.

The president also expressed his concern about the current tax system in the country, which was characterized by multiple and sometimes overlapping taxes.

President Buhari

President Buhari on Wednesday chaired the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) where the Council approved N1.06 billion for the supply of eye-scanning lie detectors and digital night vision goggles for the National Drug Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA).

The Council also approved N29.2 billion for the completion and rehabilitation of road projects in some parts of the country.

Minister of Works and Housing

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who revealed this to the correspondents of the House of Representatives, said that N9.4 billion of the amount is an increase for the Zaria-Funtua highway linking the states of Kaduna and Katsina.

President Buhari

On March 31, President Buhari received his Nigerien counterpart, Mohammed Bazoum.

Presidential Villa

The two leaders held bilateral talks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Bazoum

President Bazoum, speaking to reporters at the end of the bilateral talks, expressed his gratitude to President Buhari for approving the US$1.96 billion Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project.

Katsina State

Buhari had held in February 2021 the ground-breaking ceremony for the 284 km Kano-Dutse-Jibia (Katsina State)-Maradi railway project connecting Kano in Nigeria with Maradi in the Republic of Niger, virtually.

Executive Council

The project, approved by the Executive Council (FEC) in September 2020, is believed to be crucial for railway development in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

It is running, a multinational engineering and construction company.

Republic of Niger

The project, with 15 stations along the corridor, would boost socio-economic activities in the states of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa in Nigeria, as well as in Maradi in the Republic of Niger.

President Buhari

President Buhari also virtually inaugurated the Bank of Industry (BOI) Second Tower building, in Abuja on Thursday, where he praised the Bank for creating more than nine million jobs in the past seven years.

He also praised BOI for disbursing more than N1.24 trillion to 4.2 million beneficiaries in micro, small, medium and large companies.

National Institute for Labor Studies

Also on March 31, Buhari approved the reconstitution of the National Institute for Labor Studies (NILS) Governing Council, with Mr. Sam Onokohwomo (Kowho) as Chairman.

Board of Directors

It also approved the reconstitution of the Board of Directors of the National Employment Directorate (NDE) with Mr. Festus Keyamo as President. Keyamo is also Minister of State for Labor and Employment and Minister for Oversight of the NDE.

The president had called on March 31 for an end to the groups of murders, kidnappings and sexual assaults that have spread to other states, particularly in Ogun.

Microsoft Corporation Chairman Brad Smith

Also on Friday, Buhari received Microsoft Corporation Chairman Brad Smith at the State House, Abuja, saying that Nigeria is ready for more initiatives and investments in digital technology.

Microsoft African Development Center

He expressed his gratitude to the $200 million Microsoft African Development Center engineering hub.

Communication and Digital Economy

Smith was accompanied by Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami.

Governor Nasir

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state updated President Buhari on Friday on security developments in his state following Monday night’s terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna bound train.

The governor, who was sober about recent events in his state, told House correspondents that he had been assured by the president that drastic measures were being taken to control the activities of terrorists and bandits in Kaduna state and more. there.

According to him, security agencies have been making frantic efforts to rescue the victims of Monday night’s attack on a Kaduna-bound train from their kidnappers.