– By sdnonline–

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has rallied support for women empowerment, girl child education, and equal opportunity for all genders.

“I join the rest of the world to commemorate the International Women’s Day,” the Governor said in a statement by his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye.

The statement is in commemoration of the International Women’s Day with the theme #EachForEqual.

“As an administration, we are unshaken in our belief that no meaningful development can take place when half of our population is unheard. We stand firm in our resolve to empower the girl child, as we do to our male child, to aspire to the highest height,” the statement said.

“This administration believes that half of our developmental challenges are rooted in not giving the right opportunity to women to reach for the stars. An educated woman is many times more likely to raise a healthy and successful family. Enlightened and empowered, she is more likely to save her family from malnutrition, extreme poverty, ignorance, and other social malaise that now plague our world.

“Today, therefore, I join the rest of the global community to seek fair treatment for all women and girl child. I align myself with the global rejection of sexual violence against women, forced marriage, and other oppressive policies targeted at anyone, especially women and other vulnerable groups in our society.”

-By sdnonline–

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has acquired a license to operate a radio station. The Commandant General, NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu stated this in his address at the 2020 International Civil Defence Day Celebration.

He confirmed that the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, granted the radio station license to the Corps, and this is his gift to the defenders to mark this year’s International Civil Defence Day.

“This is to make the Nigerian populace play an active role in national security and disseminate security matters effectively to the public,”  he said.

– By sdnonline-

The International Press Centre Lagos (IPC) is disconcerted by reports of security surveillance of Premium Times Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed and Reporter, Samuel Ogundipe.

A Premium Times publication disclosed that both journalists were trailed by suspected state security service (SSS) officials. The SSS agents who visited Mr. Mojeed’s home attempted to gain entrance into his Residence, but were unsuccessful.

The operatives were also reported to have monitored Mr. Ogundipe’s residence and drove off.

Possible grounds are linked to Ogundipe’s recent publication on the rift between the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari.

A follow-up story reported the unusual and unprecedented recall of all the senior army officers deployed to the NSA’s Office, without their replacement, leaving a resource void in the NSA’s Office.

The recall, the report further revealed, was being “countermanded” by the NSA.

In the aftermath of the story, Samuel Ogundipe’s internet identity and domain are also said to have been subjected to relentless hacking attacks while he has been receiving calls from strange numbers to confirm his identity.

IPC’s Executive Director Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement noted that the reported incidents represent fresh onslaught on press freedom in Nigeria and aggravated assault on the right of journalists to practice freely without fear.
“Journalists who seek to provide information to the public to promote accountability should never be subjected to any form of harassment”, he said.

Mr. Arogundade therefore called on the Presidency to prevail on the DSS to immediately stop its attacks on Premium Times