News Agency of Nigeria
Zamfara: Our peace, reconciliation initiative, best way to address armed banditry
The Zamfara State government has described its peace and reconciliation initiative as the best way to address armed banditry in the state. This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, in Gusau on Sunday. He dismissed the allegation that the state government was giving more attention to bandits as a result of the peace process, saying this was unfounded and mere fabrications by mischief-makers. According to him, a lot has been achieved by security operatives in the fight against unrepentant bandits, who have continued to terrorise innocent citizens in the state and other parts of the north-western states. Bappa said, “The position of the Gov. Bello Matawalle-led administration is very clear, ...
Nigerian government completes plan to start work on Lagos-Badagry expressway
The lawmaker representing Badagry Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Babatunde Hunpe, on Sunday assured residents of the town that palliative work would soon start on the bad section of Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Hunpe made this known in an interview with newsmen in Badagry. He said that the Federal Government had completed plan to start another palliative work on the affected portions of the expressway. “It gladdens my heart to inform members of my constituency that plan is already in a very top gear to commence another palliative work on the affected portions. “This is to ease movement of our people who use this road on daily basis. “With the present deplorable state of the road, especially from Agbara-Okoafo-Mowo-Ibereko-Badagry Roundabout and some parts of Gbaji ...
Refugees Day: Don seeks global support for refugees, IDPs
University of Ilorin Dr Abiola Adimula of the University of Ilorin has advocated for greater global support for refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Adimula made the call on Saturday in a statement made available to newsmen to commemorate the 2020 World Refugees Day. She called on the Federal Government to take more proactive measures to provide good health facilities, welfare items and economic empowerment for IDPs. According to Adimula, every action counts in supporting stateless people and their hosts. “Everyone, including refugees, can contribute to the society and every action counts in the efforts to create a more just, inclusive and equal world. “Whoever you are,no matter where you come from, every one of us can make a difference. “Every action truly counts; do an action...
PDP formally receives Governor Obaseki into party
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday in Benin formally received the Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki into its fold, bringing to an end the widespread speculation of the governor’s defection. Newsmen report that the PDP Chairman in Edo, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, received Obaseki and his supporters into the party. Obaseki, who arrived at the PDP Secretariat at exactly 2.15 p.m. in company of his supporters, expressed joy over the reception accorded him by the party. The governor commended the PDP leadership in the state for its principles which had attracted him to join the party. He said that with the energy he witnessed in the party on arrival, Edo people would have more in terms of human and capital development. “The Tsunami in development and democratic practice both in party and governance ...
Court acquits man over prosecution’s inability to prove case of rape
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Igbosere High Court in Lagos on Friday discharged and acquitted one Niyi Oyelami charged with defiling a nine-year-old daughter of his neighbour. Oyelami was charged by Lagos State on a count charge of defiling a minor, to which he pleaded not guilty. Delivering the judgment during a virtual court proceedings, the judge found the defendant not guilty as charged. Justice Ipaye said that the testimony of the two prosecution witnesses failed to establish that the accused actually committed the offence. She said the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond every reasonable doubt. Ipaye said that the failure of the prosecution to provide eyewitnesses even the victim to give evidence as whether it was the defendant who actually ruptured the hymen was fatal to it...
Akwa Ibom governor appoints commissioner as chief of staff
Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has appointed Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, the state’s Commissioner of Works, as his Chief of Staff (CoF). Emmanuel had not appointed a chief of staff since he assumed office as governor in 2015. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, announced the appointment in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo on Friday. According to the commissioner, the appointment takes immediate effect. Udoh added that Inyang-eyen would continue to supervise the ministry of works until a new substantive commissioner was appointed. “We congratulate the commissioner for works on his new appointment and wish him success in the discharge of duties in his new office,” Udoh said. Newsmen report that Inyang-eyen, had been the commissioner for works since 2015 when Gov Emman...
Police confirm kidnap of four persons in Delta community
The Police in Delta on Saturday confirmed the kidnapping of four persons in Boji-Boji Owa community, Ika North East Local Government Area of the state. Command spokesperson, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, told newsmen in Asaba that the victims were reportedly abducted by gunmen. “The police got a report late on May 29, that gunmen abducted four persons yesterday in Boji-Boji Owa. “The case was reported late but, however, this morning our officers have mobilised and are on the trail of the kidnappers. “We are doing everything possible to rescue the victims,” Onovwakpoyeya said. Newsmen, however, gathered from community sources that the kidnappers were suspected invaders. A source in Boji-Boji Owa, who gave his name as Benjamin Okwudi, told newsmen on Saturday that cases of incessant abductions ha...
Lagos to decamp pipeline explosion victims from relief camp
The Lagos State Government says it set to decamp the Abule-Egba pipeline explosion victims from the Igando Relief camp on June 30. Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Saturday. Oke-Osanyintolu said the state government had been supporting the rehabilitation of victims since January when the explosion occurred. He said that the government would be closing the camp effective June 30. According to him, LASEMA had worked with multiple agencies to ensure the safety and security of the 300 victims, including 40 infants and 30 children in many ways. He said the government has been feeding and accommodating victims and providing transport and educational support for school-...
Nasarawa shuts Lafia mass-transit motor park
A Mobile Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa state on Saturday, shut down Lafia mass transit motor park for violating environmental sanitation laws. The court also directed operators of an illegal motor park, along the road leading to the palace of the Emir of Lafia to vacate within two weeks. Addressing the court, the prosecutor, Abubakar Mohammed, said that officials of the branch of the Union of Mass Transit and those of the illegal park were operating during the period stipulated for the observance of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state. Muhammed said that the offences violated Section 9(2), of the state Environmental Sanitation Laws, and urged the court to sanction the offenders accordingly, to serve as deterrent to others After listening to the submission of the p...
RTEAN commends Lagos governor on road reconstruction, virus response
File Photo The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Friday commended Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on how his administration had been reconstructing roads and combating COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Alhaji Mohammed Musa, RTEAN State Chairman, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, while speaking on Sanwo-Olu-led administration ‘s performance in his first year in office. Musa said: “We cannot forget that most roads were impassable when Sanwo-Olu assumed office as a result of the continuous rainfall which compounded hardships faced by motorists. “We can all see how the governor has put machinery in place to ensure continuous road repairs while construction work is ongoing in others. We must thank the governor for th...
Nigeria invites bid for monitoring of spending of Abacha loot
File Photo The Federal Ministry of Justice on Thursday opened technical bids for Consultancy Service to monitor the implementation of Abacha loot III. Newsmen that the Consultancy Service is to undertake the monitoring of the implementation of the tripartite agreement on the Sharing, Transfer, Disposition, Repatriation and Management of the Abacha Forfeited Assets. Mrs Ladidi Mohammed, Head, Asset Recovery and Management Unit, Ministry of justice declared open the bidding process. Mohammed said the process is in tandem with the Asset Return Agreement of Feb. 3 by the Nigeria government, the United States and the Bailiwick of Jersey. ‘`This Agreement is based on international law and cooperation measures that set out the procedures for the repatriation, transfer, disposition and management ...
Lagos partners Microsoft to train 18, 000 teachers – commissioner
Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, said the state government had partnered Microsoft to train 18, 000 teachers to enhance computer literacy towards achieving a world best teaching and learning practices. Adefisayo said this while discussing plans of the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for education on an online show, Covinspiration, moderated by Special Representative to the United Nations, and British Council Global Change-maker, Mr Dayo Israel. Newsmen report that the event was to keep the public abreast of the activities of administration in the last one year. The commissioner said: “This COVID-19 lockdown period avails us the opportunity to improve our teachers. For instance, we partnered with Microsoft and they are teaching 18,000 of our teachers ...
