Three persons died and many others were injured when a train hit a commercial bus at Pen Cinema railway crossing in Lagos State on Friday, authorities have confirmed.

An eyewitness, Mr Raji Oladimeji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the accident occurred when the bus driver was trying to make U-turn on the rail line.

We warned the driver not to make U-turn at that particular point when a train was approaching but he refused.

So, it was in the process of making the turn that the approaching train crushed the bus where people hanging on the train fell off andthree die instantly while other sustained various injuries, Oladimeji, electrician said.

He said some youths set the bus ablaze in anger while the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.

Mr Jerry Oche, the Lagos District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation, who confirmed the incident, said the accident happened at 9.30 a.m.

We were informed that a bus was trying to make a U-turn at the railway line this morning at Agege Pen Cinema area when a moving train crushed it in the process.

The police are on top of the incident bringing the situation to normalcy as youths went on rampage over the death of people who lost their lives in the accident.

The information given to us by the police was that a number of people hanging on the train were affected where two people died while many others sustained injuries, he said.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the Public Information Officer, National Emergency Management Authority, Lagos Office, said the injured had been taken to the hospital. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara has expressed grief over the death of former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, who died on Thursday.

Dogara, in a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, in Abuja on Friday, described the late Sardaunan Katsina as an illustrious Nigerian and eminent statesman.

He noted that the deceased served the country meritoriously and dutifully, both in his eventful career in the Nigeria police and in retirement.

This is indeed a huge loss, especially at this trying time of security challenges when the country is in dire need of professional advice and elderly guidance from people of the ex-IGPs calibre.

But we must take solace in the fact that the late Coomasie left a legacy of professionalism and selfless service to the country and humanity.

He will continue to be remembered for his outstanding courage, discipline and exemplary leadership, both in service as the police helmsman and in retirement.

My sincere condolences to his immediate family, the government and people of Katsina State over this great loss, he said.

Born on March 18, 1942, the late Coomasie had his education within and outside Nigeria, including the Detective Training College, Wakefield, UK and Washington DC, U.S.

Source: NAN

The 230 Nigerians stranded in Russia at the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Tournament are to be repatriated on Friday.

The Spokesperson in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Tope Elias-Fatile, said on Thursday in Abuja that the stranded Nigerians had been cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Abuja on Friday.

He said that the repatriation was sequel to the directive of President Muhmmadu Buhari that the stranded Nigerians in Russia be assisted back home with immediate effect.

According to him, the Ministry and Nigerian mission in Moscow in collaboration with the Ministry of Aviation have been monitoring the process of the evacuation.

”As at the last count, over 230 stranded Nigerians had been cleared to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Abuja.

”The aircraft would depart Domodedovo Airport in Moscow with the stranded Nigerians at 08.30 hours Friday, July, 20th and arrive Abuja at 16.00 hours same day,” he said.

He noted that over 150 stranded Nigerians were among the fans who travelled to the Russian Federation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament that besieged the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow on July 12th.

The fans according to him, were stranded after the events due to lack of funds for their upkeep as well as allegation that some airline travel agents cancelled return tickets of their customers without their knowledge.

”Consequently, the Mission submitted a formal complaint to host authorities against the airlines that brought the stranded Nigerians to the Russian Federation.

”The Mission also made arrangements for the feeding and accommodation of the stranded Nigerians in hostels around Moscow,” he said.
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He noted that President Mohammadu Buhari had on July 16 directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Aviation to evacuate the Nigerians to Abuja immediately.

Fatile said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to monitor the evacuation process and keep the public informed.

The Muhammadu Buhari administration has concluded arrangements to deploy 300,000 new beneficiaries in the second batch of its N-Power Volunteers Corp. The deployment will be effective from 1st August.

With 200,000 beneficiaries currently benefitting from the programme, this means that by August, 500,000 unemployed Nigerian graduates will be beneficiaries of the scheme, which is a crucial part of the administration’s National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP).

The N-Power Volunteer Corp scheme is designed to benefit all Nigerians irrespective of their backgrounds and is currently in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity.

“President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear that the SIP would be a major programme of the administration because he was concerned about poverty and unemployment,” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo once said.

In conjunction with all State N-Power partners, the new beneficiaries will be promptly deployed to their assigned Primary Places of Assignment (PPA) on or before the said date.

The final selection lists broken down in States/Local Government Area (LGA) for each of the (3) N-Power component would be circulated to all focal persons in the states and FCT by July 20, 2018.

All successfully deployed N-Power beneficiaries in the second batch will be engaged for two-years starting from August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2020.

In order to qualify for their first monthly payment stipend of N30,000 by August 31, 2018, all deployed volunteers are expected to upload on their N-Power portal page their stamped and signed confirmation of resumption on or before Friday, August 10, 2018.

Through the N-Power scheme, hundreds of thousands of young, unemployed Nigerian graduates have been empowered through training and skills acquisition in different areas of public services, including education (N-Teach), health (N-Health), agriculture (N-Agro), and building/construction (N-Build).

Each N-Power beneficiary learns entrepreneurial skills to enable him become a business person and become a professional on his own, while beneficiaries are given electronic devices to enhance their work and paid a N30,000 monthly.

State-based N-Power partners comprise, but are not limited to the following: N-Teach – State Universal Board for Education (SUBEB); State & Local Government Area (LGA) Offices for Adult Education Centres; State & LGA Offices for Nomadic Education; N-Agro – State & LGA Offices for Agriculture Development Programme (ADP); and N-Health – State & LGA Offices for Primary Health Care Board.

The Kogi State Police Command has summoned Senator Dino Melaye to report at the State Criminal and Investigation Department after his armed guards fired on a team of policemen on patrol duties in the state.

A police sergeant was the victim of the shooting, the police said and is recuperating in the hospital.

The Kogi Police Command asked Melaye to report at the SCIID office in the state capital, in the company of his armed guards, as investigation began on the shooting.

According to the police, their statement, signed by DSP William Ovye Aya, the PRO, was partly to refute Melaye’s allegation that he was shot at by the police.

On the contrary, the police said that Melaye’s guards opened fire first, with the police responding.

In posts on Instagram, Melaye did not mention any shooting incident. However, he claimed the police tried to block his convoy with a grader, parked on a bridge, while he was on his way to Yagba east to commission some projects. According to him, his convoy avoided the blockade.

In another Instagram post, the senator representing Kogi West said the state government barricaded the road to stop his movement.

It was on Twitter that the senator claimed an attempt was made on his life during the visit to his state.

He claimed over 20 bullets were fired at his jeep by a combination of policemen, men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the military.

”I thank God for spearing(sic) my life once again. Over 20 bullets holes on my jeep. Combination of police,SARS and military. God I thank you.

I thank God for spearing my life once again. Over 20 bullets holes on my jeep. Combination of police,SARS and military. God i thank you.

— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) 19 July 2018

The police statement reproduced below contradicted his account:

“Today, at about 1530hours, a team of policemen from the Command was on a routine Anti – Robbery/Kidnapping patrol along Aiyetoro Gbede – Mopa Road.

“During the patrol, and as it is often the practice, the team pinned down at a point at Iyah Gbede Junction, where they were observing the highway and occasionally conducting Stop and Search.

“It was in this process a long convoy of vehicles coming from Mopa towards Aiyetoro Gbede approached the Point. Officers of the Command at the Point flagged down the convoy. While the lead vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, which was later discovered to be conveying officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, stopped to introduce themselves, other vehicles in the convoy dangerously zoomed off without regards to the safety of the officers on ground.

“Surprisingly, some plain clothed armed men, occupying a white Toyota Hilux van, without registration number, without provocation fired gunshots at the officers of the Anti-Robbery /Kidnapping Patrol Team.

“One of the officers, a Sergeant, was hit by bullet on the right part of his chest as a result of which he sustained grievous injury.

“The Officer is currently lying critically ill in the hospital where he has undergone a live threatening surgery and currently recuperating.

“Expectedly, the policemen in self defence responded by firing back to repel the unexpected attack. Vehicles in the convoy nevertheless, drove away from the scene. It was not until the officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were questioned that it was realised that the convoy was that of Senator Dino Melaye.

“It is rather unfortunate that the Senator could after this dastardly act by his aides, be going around with armed men, unknown to the Command who could launch such a lethal attack on police officers in the course of their normal duty.

“It is more saddening that the Senator could turn around to issue misleading statements to cover up the heinous crime committed by his hired aides.

“While, the command has instituted a high powered investigation panel into the incident, Senator Melaye is hereby advised to report with people in his convoy to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lokoja to assist in the investigation.”

The Kingdom of eSwatini, former Swaziland and a small landlocked monarchy in southern Africa has received a loan of $44 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The country known for its wilderness reserves and festivals showcasing traditional Swazi culture was presented the money on Thursday.

The money which will be directed towards funding an agricultural project was presented by a delegation from EIB which was led by Head of Division Africa Public Sector Diederick Zambon.

It was received by Finance Minister Martin Dlamini at his offices.

Also to witness the presentation was Economic Planning and Development Minister Prince Hlangusemphi who said, this will finance the third phase of the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Project (LUSIP III).

The prince said this project will benefit about 2259 homesteads, 59 per cent of which are led by women by completion of an off-river storage reservoir to impound 155 million cubic metres of water harvested from wet season flood flows in the Usuthu River.

LUSIP is a poverty alleviation initiative situated in the Lowveld vegetation region of eSwatini.

It is project aims to benefit 4 600 households (34 000 people) through transforming subsistence farmers into commercial farmers of irrigated lands producing cash and food crops.

In its first phase, the project has constructed dams and a tertiary distribution system to irrigate the first 6 500 hectares.

In Phase II, the water delivery system was extended by 36km and there was construction of a tertiary distribution system to irrigate a further 5,000 hectares of crops.

Source:

Source: NAN

Kenya has resolved to increase by 50 per cent, its shareholding in Africa50, a continental initiative for funding infrastructure development.

President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya said the countrys shares has been increased to $100 million.

Kenya, which initially had a share capital of $50 million, is one of the founder investors in the venture fund which is supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

He made the announcement at the official opening of the 53rd shareholders meeting of Africa50 in Nairobi.

Kenyatta said that Kenya was pleased with the role the Fund was playing in the transformation of Africa.

Kenyatta noted that Kenya was particularly pleased that investments by Africa50 gave market rate returns.

I am pleased to announce that Kenya will double its investment in Africa50 to $100 million, said Kenyatta .

While praising the growing number of projects financed by Africa50 in Kenya, he underscored the importance of private sector in bridging investment gaps on the continent and challenged Africas private sector to set a good example by investing in Africa so that other investors from around the world can have the confidence to channel their funds to the continent.

Kenyatta observed that Africa50s vision is supportive of Kenyas Big Four development agenda which includes universal health care, food security, affordable housing and enhancing manufacturing to create more jobs.

He observed that infrastructure attracts investment and forms the backbone upon which his administrations Big Four Agenda will be achieved.

Infrastructure development is crucial because none of the Big Four will be achieved without proper infrastructure. It is a key enabler for development, said Kenyatta.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Africa50, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said Kenya has achieved tremendous infrastructure development under President Kenyatta.

Adesina, who is also the African Development Bank President, said Africa50 provides a new framework to address Africas development needs, adding that the continent has an infrastructure funding gap of as much as $108 billion.

Source:

Source: NAN

How to check your phone number on Airtel, MTN, Glo and 9mobile

Maybe you are yet to get familiar with your new line or you just forgot the number at some point in time, knowing the code to dial will be of great help to you at such critical time you need to give out your number.

These codes are particularly valuable when you are out of call credit [to flash the person asking for your number]

Airtel: Dial *121# and select the ‘Manage My Account’ option that shows up among the list of options. After this, select ‘My Number’ and you can have your number right before your view.

MTN: Dial *123# and click on the figure that corresponds with ‘Account Information’ option among the next prompt then ‘My Number’ option or just simply dial *663#.

GLO: Just simply dial and send *135*8# and your phone number will be displayed on the
screen.

9Mobile: Beholding your phone number on your (phone’s) screen is just as easy as dialing *248#.

The Senate on Thursday, mandated its Committee on Federal Character to investigate alleged lopsided appointments into Federal Government agencies.

The decision followed a Point of Order by the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, at plenary.

Ekweremadu alleged that appointments by the present administration were skewed in favour of a particular region of the country.

The point-of-order followed a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking Senates confirmation of appointment of Mr Tunde Lemo, as Chairman, Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and six members.

Lemo is a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Ekweremadu pointed out that some of the appointments by the administration were not in tune with the Federal Character principle.

He said that the Constitution provided composition of government or its agencies should reflect federal character principle so as to promote national unity.

He added that it should be done in a manner that avoided the predominance of persons from a few states or from few ethnic or sectional groups in the government or in any of its agencies.

In his contribution, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (PDP-Enugu) said that most appointments of the present government were lopsided.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, mandated the Committee on Federal Character to investigate the matter and report back on Tuesday.

Source: NAN

n what may appear like a tit for tat, Ekiti State Governor-elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi, says it will be irresponsible on his part not to probe the administration of the out-going governor of the state, Ayo Fayose.

Fayemi said this on Thursday when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

It would be recalled that Fayose, on assumption of office probed Fayemi’s administration.

According to him, his administration will examine what transpired in the last four years in Ekiti state including the failure of the Fayose-led administration to pay workers’ salaries.

“Well, l think we need to remove this election from personalities.

“This was an election that we fought on issues and it will be irresponsible on my part to come here and say that we will not examine what transpired in the last four years in the manner of government.

“What was received in Ekiti State and the expenditures in that period? Why were we not able to pay salaries in the state?

“These issues should be examined in the interest of good governance; it is not about probing Fayose or probing Eleka or probing anybody.

“It is about not repeating the mistakes of the past and giving our people good governance and how to do so will also involve looking at what transpired in the last four years,’’ he said.

On the allegation of vote-buying during the last Saturday’s Ekiti governorship election, Fayemi said no evidence to justify such an allegation.

He said: “I haven’t any substantive evidence of allegations of vote-buying and intimidation.

“In the place where l voted, there was no vote-buying anywhere. As far as our party is concerned, we did not engage in that, it is not our style.

“We won the election fair and square and it was an election that we fought on issues and not on the basis of any vote-buying.

“So, whoever has any evidence of that should present it to an independently verifiable audience,’’ he said.

Fayemi, a former Minister of Mines and Steel Development and former governor of the state, was on Sunday declared winner of the election by Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the Chief Returning Officer for the poll.

Olayinka, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, announced that Fayemi polled 197,459 votes to emerge winner, to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, who scored 178,121 votes.

Source: NAN