The government of Bayelsa state has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on its waterways.

This is part of measures taken by the state government to curtail sea piracy, kidnappings and other criminal activities.

This was announced on Monday by the governor, Duoye Diri at the end of the 12th state security council meeting, held at government house, Yenagoa.

According to Diri, the curfew on water transportation, which takes immediate effect, is between 7 pm and 6 am.

The governor also announced a ban on the use of 200-hp speed boats.

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Also briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, Akpoebi Agberebi, special adviser on security matters to the governor, said, henceforth, no permit would be issued for the use of 200-hp engines.

He warned that violators would face the full wrath of the law.

He, however, said there will be concessions for emergency movement during the curfew hours.

He called on residents to report violators to the state security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo.

The governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged Muslims across Nigeria to pray diligently for the country’s unity and to make a stand against all types of violence.

The governor made the comment in a message of goodwill to Muslims around the country on the occasion of Eid el Maulud, which marks Prophet Mohammed’s birth (SAW).

Okowa particularly encouraged Muslims and other religious organizations to increase their prayers for required reforms in order to make Nigeria a better place.

In a statement released in Asaba on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Okowa noted that Nigeria is today beset by terrorism, banditry, abduction, aggravated robbery, herders-farmers clashes, and unrests, all of which have hampered the country’s progress and development.

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The statement reads: “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I extend our warmest wishes to Muslims celebrating Eid-el-Maulud in Delta, Nigeria and around the world.

“As a people with great religious beliefs, if we can imbibe and espouse the Holy Prophet’s teachings, our nation will ultimately benefit from it.

“Let us remember to pray fervently for our nation to achieve greater unity and rise against tendencies offensive to democratic tenets and wellbeing of the country and the people, irrespective of religion or place of origin.

“It is the time for a rebirth in the polity, and I urge all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands in that direction, especially in giving the country a new Constitution that will address all contending issues that are reflective of true democracy and federalism,”

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has cautioned Nigerians not to link their National Identification Numbers (NINs) to another person’s Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday by NCC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Adinde.

According to Adinde, the commission gave the warning during its third run Telecom Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR) programme, broadcast live on Human Rights Radio, 101.1 FM in Abuja recently.

NCC’s director of consumer affairs bureau, Efosa Idehen while speaking during the radio programme focused on ‘the Benefits of NIN-SIM Integration’ said telecom consumers should not allow another use their NINs to register on another person’s SIM.

Idehen said compliance would protect the owner of the NIN from any liabilities or negative consequences arising from the use of another person’s SIM.

“If the person, whose SIM is linked to your line use his own SIM to commit crimes or any form of atrocities, it is easy to be traced to you, and then, you will be dealt with because the SIM is linked to your NIN,” he said.

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The statement added that during the phone-in segment of the radio programme, consumers within Nigeria and in the diaspora, especially from the United Kingdom (UK), Russia and neighbouring countries like Ghana, among others, called and received clarifications on the ongoing NIN-SIM integration in Nigeria.

“Discussions largely focused on educating consumers on NIN and its purpose, process of obtaining NIN, why consumers are being asked to submit their NIN to their Mobile Network Service Providers, the benefits of NIN-SIM linkage, the relationship between NIN and Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, the step-by-step approach to linking NIN to SIM, and the role and uses of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) *346# in the NIN-SIM integration activities,” the statement reads.

The statement added that Efosa was joined in the studio by NCC’s director, public affairs, Ikechukwu Adinde, represented by Omoniyi Ibietan, assistant Director in the department and Nnenna Ukoha, deputy director, projects department of NCC.