Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has issued Executive Order Number 2, which is directing all commercial vehicles operating in the state, to be painted in the state colour, with immediate effect.
The order is in furtherance of the containment of security challenges which seemed to be escalating recently.
Masari who made this known in a new order signed by him said, it is part of efforts to checkmate the activities of bandits, kidnappers, and other crimes, perpetrated under the guise of commercial purposes. The directive is to take full effect from Monday, September 15.
The Governor who was speaking through his Director-General Media, Abdu Labaran, during a press conference said, all commercial vehicles that intend to continue business in the state should comply, by visiting the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, to get the approved colour.
Masari further stated that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure compliance, as well as punishment for offenders.
Meanwhile, Labaran also used the medium to debunk the front-page headline on a national daily, that Governor Masari passed a vote of no confidence on the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba.
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According to the Director-General Media, the report is
a blatant lie, and malicious, aimed at causing a sour relationship between the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
The Governor’s media aide also said, to further question the story, the Inspector-General of Police, delegated the Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, on an appreciation visit to the Governor, on how well he was received while in the state, arguing that, if there was a vote of no confidence, he would not have done so.
He added that the government is not holding the reporter accountable, but the organisation, saying from the reporter’s script at their disposal, he quoted the governor verbatim, discarding a case of misquoting or otherwise.
Labaran further said, it is left to the Governor to decide on what next line of action to take.
He, therefore, tasked journalists to always be objective in their reportage, and ensure they always uphold the ethics of the profession.
Similarly, the Katsina State Police Command, through a statement by the spokesman, Superintendent of Police, Gambo Isah, has described the publication as a false, fake, mischievous and calculated attempt, to put the image of the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
