Friday
NAHCON mourns President of Hajj operators
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed shock over the death of Alhaji Salihu Butu, Acting President, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON). NAHCON Executive Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said this in a statement by the commission’s Head, Public Affairs, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Friday in Abuja. Hassan said that the deceased demonstrated admirable leadership qualities during his life time, adding that NAHCON benefitted much from his wealth of experience. “Butu was always supportive of NAHCON’s policies that were in the best interest of the pilgrims, the nation and tour operators,” he said. The NAHCON boss said that the deceased would be remembered as an astute Hajj manager, who earned numerous awards in the course of his career. ” It is with hea...
Ondo governor approves second term inauguration committee
Ahead of his inauguration for the second term in office, Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Friday approved the setting up of a 25-member committee. The composition of the Committee which includes the deputy governor-elect, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as Chairman and Mr Kunle Adebayo as its Secretary. Other members of the committee include Tayo Oluwatuyi, Chief Olugbenga Ale, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo and Wale Akinterinwa, including Donald Ojogo, Femi Agagu, Mrs Lola Fagbemi, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu, Dr (Mrs) Olawumi Ilawole and Mr Boye Oyewumi. Also, Toluwani Borokini, Chief Bukola Adetula, Jimi Odimayo, Mrs Renike Witherspoon, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, Olutayo Babalola, Alex Oladimeji, Tosin Ogunbodede, Olayato Aribo, Gbenga Omole, Revd. R.O.A Agboola, Alhaji Khaleel Fawehinmi, and Alhaji Jim...
Liberia launches new national carrier ‘Lone Star Air’
Liberian President George Weah on Friday inaugurated a new national carrier for the West African country, named Lone Star Air, about 30 years after the country’s previous airline went bust. Speaking at a ceremony at Liberia’s international airport, near the capital Monrovia, Weah said the new airline would “connect our country to our region and to the world”. “It is my dream, my hope and my ambition that we will very soon see Lone Star Air, the wings of Liberia, flying our flag in international skies, shining so brightly,” said the footballer-turned-president. Liberia’s flag bears resemblance to the flag of the United States but features one star instead of 50. The country was founded in the 19th century with US support as a home for freed American slaves, whose descendants have a long his...
#EndSARS: Lagos government directs MDAs to forward list of destroyed properties
Sequel to the recent unrest in Lagos State which resulted in wanton destruction to some government properties, items, and valuables, the state government on Friday directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to send the list of all affected properties, items and other valuables in their domain. It would be recalled that the peaceful #EndSARS protests in the state had turned violence following the shooting by military men, resulting in hoodlums vandalizing government and private properties across the state. The State Head of Service (HoS), Mr Muri Okunola, gave this directive in a circular with Ref. No: CIR/HoS/20/Vol.1/114, dated 30th October 2020, titled: ‘Processing of Indemnity for State Property Damaged in the course of the recent civil unrest,’ saying the directive was to...
FANA: Ethiopia proposes holding postponed vote in May or June 2021
Ethiopian authorities have proposed holding a postponed election in May or June 2021, state-affiliated broadcaster FANA said on Friday, setting the stage for a test of support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s sweeping economic and political reforms. The government postponed a parliamentary election scheduled for August this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The country’s election board, which FANA said had proposed the move, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Next year’s vote will be a litmus test for Abiy, who after decades of repression introduced sweeping economic and political reforms that helped win him the Nobel Prize last year. But the new freedoms also fuelled long-suppressed demands for more regional autonomy, rights and resources. Last month Ethiopia’s northern...
Security operatives begin house-to-house search to recover looted items in Cross River
Following Governor Ben Ayade’s order for Search of the looted items & Police Inspector General’s order for all police units to put an end to looting/destruction of lives & property and restore peace & order, the security operatives in Calabar, Cross River State on Monday began a house-to-house search for the looted items. You would recall that between Friday and Saturday last week, hoodlums and looters broke into over 35 government and private properties, looted several items and set some buildings ablaze. An eyewitness revealed that the search began at Anantigha, Calabar South local government area of the state and the security operatives were seen in two truckloads, Searching for looted items. He said “Some unknown looters returned looted items (Chair, Laptop & Television...
England Women cancel Germany friendly after positive test
England Women have cancelled Tuesday’s friendly in Germany following a positive coronavirus test. The fixture, which was due to take place behind closed doors at the Brita-Arena in Wiesbaden, was to be England’s first competitive fixture since the SheBelieves Cup in March. Phil Neville and the squad met up for a training camp at St George’s Park this week are were set to fly to Germany on Sunday but those plans have been shelved at the last minute. As hosts of the delayed 2021 European Championships, which will now take place in July 2022, England have not had any qualifying games to play. England have been set a target of winning the World Cup or European Championship by 2024 and have been keen to return to competitive action. Neville’s side disappointed at the SheBelieves Cup earlier thi...
Luis Arce secures big victory in Bolivia election
The result, which was a vindication to Evo Morales’s MAS party, also gave majorities in both houses of Congress. Leftist leader Luis Arce has won a smashing victory in Bolivia’s presidential election, a final official vote count released on Friday shows, providing vindication for the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party of overthrown President Evo Morales. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal announced Arce won 55 percent of the votes against six rivals on the ballot, easily avoiding the need for a runoff. The runner-up was centrist former President Carlos Mesa with just less than 29 percent. Conservative Luis Fernando Camacho, one of the leaders of the protest movement that helped drive Morales out of the country a year ago, received only 14 percent of the vote. MAS also won majorities in bot...
#EndSARS: Cross River governor declares 24-hour curfew
Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state starting from 6pm on Friday. According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the governor, Christian Ita, the curfew followed “the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums.” “Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it,” the governor warned. Hoodlums looted the state government’s warehouse on Bishop Moinagh Avenue on Friday. They carted away bags of rice, garri, cartons of noodles among other commodities. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should ...
#EndSARS: Let those who lost relatives at Lekki toll plaza speak up – Omotola
Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has asked families who lost their relatives during the Lekki tollgate incident to speak up. The actress disclosed this on Friday as she took to her Twitter account to enjoin Nigerians to desist from sensationalizing the story if there were no deaths. She said: “It is a Crime of Human Rights to shoot someone not pointing a gun at you or running from you.” “Now that the whirlwind is settling, let’s see clearly and sieve the facts from the sensation. “Remember that the Main Reason is to Stop Police Brutality in Nigeria and we still demand to know who ordered the Terror on Peaceful protesters while there’s Still No known arrests of killer MIU. “Who sent the Military and started the VIOLENCE and HOOLIGANISM. “We Demand to know who brought touts...
#EndSARS: Nollywood actress urges Feminist Coalition not to stop accepting donations
Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, has enjoined the Feminist Coalition not to stop receiving donations supporting the #EndSARS protesters. Recall that the group, which has been providing administrative support and fundraising for the group had said it would no longer accept donations for the campaign, which seeks an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the police’s tactical special units – SARS and SWAT. Their decision followed President Buhari’s Thursday night’s national broadcast which asked protesters to get off the streets as violence and anarchy reigned. However, in her reaction to the development, Genevieve disclosed that it is important that the donation continues so that it could meet with the financial demands of some of the protesters. She also lamented that citizens c...
#EndSARS: Over 17 police stations burnt in Lagos – official
The police in Lagos, on Friday, warned that the burning of several police stations across the state will lead to retrogression and a waste of money that could have been deployed to other projects. The police spokesperson in the state, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. “The implication of this is that money that has been set aside to do other projects and develop certain areas will have to be channeled into repairing these damaged stations.” He said that over 17 police formations across the state have been totally or partially razed by fire, set on them by thugs who infiltrated the #EndSARS protesters. “Also, it will make our work harder now because we will have to enhance our patrols in order to cover more grassroots areas that are normally covered ...
