The U.S. government has warned the Syrian government not to execute its planned attack of rebels in the Southern part of the country following a “de-escalation zone” agreement signed by three countries.

It would be recalled that the U.S., Russia, and Jordan agreed last year on a “de-escalation zone” in southwestern Syria to freeze the lines of conflict.

In a statement released Friday, the State Department said it was concerned by reports that Assad’s forces were preparing for an operation near the Jordanian and Israeli borders.

The U.S. said it will take “firm and appropriate measures” to protect a cease-fire in southern Syria if President Bashar Assad’s forces attack rebels there.

The State Department further warned the Syrian government against “any actions that risk broadening the conflict.”

The U.S. and Israel are growing increasingly concerned about Iranian military activities in Syria in support of Assad.

Israel says it does not want Iranian forces massing close to the nearby occupied Golan Heights.

Source: NAN

At least 40 people have died in a road accident involving a passenger bus, a tractor and a beer truck in Northern Uganda, the country’s Red Cross said on Saturday.

The police had initially put the death toll at 19, but the Red Cross said on their official Twitter page that the accident had “claimed over 40 lives.’’

The accident occurred late on Friday near Kiryandongo, about 260 kilometers from Kampala, police spokesman Emilian Kayima said, adding that children were among the dead.

The bus “rammed into a tractor and hit it badly, rolled and hit another beer truck,’’ he said in a statement.

“Evacuation teams are working tirelessly to rescue the injured. Reinforcement is being organised to support the rescue services,’’ Kayima added, without saying how many were injured.

Bus accidents are common on Ugandan roads and are blamed on speeding, drunken driving and the poor mechanical condition of the vehicles.

Source: NAN

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pledged its commitment to end violence against children in Nigeria, as the country joins the world to mark the 2018 Children’s Day.

Mr Isiye Ndombi, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Children’s Day is commemorated on May 27, every year.

NAN reports that the theme of the celebration is: “Creating Safe Spaces for Children: Our Collective Responsibility.’’

Ndombi decried violence against children in the country and promised that the organisation was determined to mobilise the will and resources to tackle all forms of violence against children wherever it occurred.

The UNICEF deputy representative, however, described violence against children as pervasive, adding that it occurred in the home, school, work place and “online”.

According to him, perpetrators often include the very people children are expected to trust – parents, caregivers and other family members, friends, teachers and intimate partners.

“We are currently re-analysing the 2014 Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) findings to gain an even deeper understanding of the drivers of violence against children.

“We are also supporting our Government partners to launch our National Plan of Action to End VAC by 2030, alongside a national Social Norms Change Strategy.

“We are supporting the Government to track and monitor reported cases to end the menace,’’ she said.

Ndombi noted that violence against children affected them for life, saying that the marks were sometimes visible bruises and broken bones.

According to him, harm caused by violence on children also affects their mental and physical health and their ability to function in the world.

Speaking on the year’s theme, Ndombi said it provides an excellent opportunity to speak up on behalf of all the vulnerable children in the country.

He identified the efforts of the government to end violence against children to include the conduct of VAC survey in 2014.

The survey, according to him, provides the first national representative data on the prevalence of sexual, physical, and emotional violence among children in the country.

Ndombi identified Nigeria as the first country in the West African sub-region and the 9th worldwide to conduct VAC survey.

This, he said demonstrate the commitment of government to tackle the menace.

“The findings released at the end of 2015, highlighted that millions of Nigerian children are suffering from violence every year and most are suffering in silence.

“Six out of 10 children will suffer some form of emotional, physical or sexual violence before they reach the age of 18.

“Many of them encounter violence over and over; yet, less than five per cent of the children that seek help and receive support.

“This is a clear call for the government at all levels to act to end violence against children.

“In September 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari launched a Year of Action to End Violence Against Children and called on all Nigerians to join this battle.

“Buhari renewed his commitment in October 2016 by launching a long-term campaign, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, to End Violence Against Children by 2030,’’ he noted.

Source: NAN

A First class traditional ruler in Bayelsa State and Amananaowei of Amassoma, His Royal Highness Maj. Graham Naingba (retired), has raised the alarm that politicians are exploiting the crisis in the community to cause fresh tension over the 2019 general elections.

He, therefore, warned politicians against igniting fresh crisis that could deepen the unfortunate crisis which recently engulfed Amassoma, a host community to the Niger Delta University in Wilberforce Island.

Naingba specifically cautioned a popular Ijaw musician and lawyer against producing any music on the recent crisis involving the NDU and the Amassoma community.

The monarch in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by him, described the planned crisis as “condemnable and reprehensible.”

He said any further fresh crisis could negate ongoing efforts of the Bayelsa State government towards amicable resolution of the crisis.

According to him, governor Henry Seriake Dickson, has not only put adequate measures in place to address emergent issues but is also effectively resolving the crisis.

“Characters with dubious intent with the backing of politicians focused on 2019 elections should desist from exploiting the crisis to cause further division in Amassoma community.

“The platform of music should not be exploited to inflict pain and agony on the community because the conflict is already being resolved by the various authorities.

“It has come to the attention of the traditional institution and authorities of Amassoma that a popular musician, Chief Barrister Smooth, has released a musical record in the form of an inflammatory dirge on the recent crisis in our dear community, Amassoma.

“While we are not opposed to genuine efforts geared towards peace, security and prosperity of our town, the people òf Amassoma are not in support of the activities of the particular musician with the backing of politicians which are designed to inflame passions in the community.

“Politicians should leave Amassoma alone. The tendency to exploit a crisis situation to aggravate conflict cannot be the best way to show concern and love. This is unknown to the culture of our people.

“The Amassoma community finds this curious action as unpatriotic. Amassoma can do without these crocodile tears and detrimental sympathies. For the purpose of emphasis, we advise that nobody should compose a song to inflame tension and threaten public peace in our community.

“The Governor and the traditional authorities have not only put machinery in place to address the issue but are indeed resolving the crisis. Nobody should do anything that will inflame passion or acts that can lead to further unrest in our community. ”

The monarch said that for anyone to claim to love Amassoma more than the indigenes was the loudest way to express hypocrisy.
“Politicians should leave Amassoma alone. The tendency to exploit a crisis to deepen conflict cannot be the best way to show concern. Amassoma is beyond any individual,” he said.

Source: NAN

Real Madrid fans have returned 1,000 tickets for Saturdays Champions League final against Liverpool as spiralling accommodation and travel costs deter supporters from travelling to Kiev.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the tickets could not be resold to Liverpool fans for security reasons but they would instead be put on sale for local fans in the Ukrainian capital.

As anger mounts over the rocketing prices and cancelled bookings with some hotels charging up to 100 times their standard rates Liverpool said they had complained to the highest levels of European footballs governing body.

Ukrainian UEFA vice-president Grigoriy Surkis criticised the behaviour of hotel owners looking to make a quick buck for the clash between the two European giants, who have won the competition 17 times between them.

I am not disappointed, I am furious, he told AFP. I think it is a disgrace for the capital, where individual hotel owners did not give everyone a chance to come here by raising the prices not ten-fold, the way it happens in other cities, but nearly a hundredfold.

Around 1,000 Liverpool fans also face the prospect of being stranded in England after a number of charter flights were cancelled due to a disagreement between a travel company and aviation authorities in Kiev over the size of the aircraft.

Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said he was still hopeful a favourable solution can be reached to help those left behind.

However, Moore criticised the infrastructure in Kiev, which hosted the Euro 2012 final, as not fit for purpose.

They just dont have the airport infrastructure and the hotel capacity to cope with an event of this size and there isnt another major city within real hitting distance of it, he told the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

Its not only affected Liverpool fans but Real Madrid fans too. There will be lessons learned from this. Rest assured, Ive raised this at the highest levels of UEFA.

The decision to award the final to Kiev was made before Ceferins election as president in 2016 and the Slovenian has already reintroduced a tender process with evaluation reports on cities bidding for finals.

Istanbuls 76,000-capacity Ataturk Olympic Stadium was named as the host for the 2020 final on Thursday, while next seasons final will take place at Atletico Madrids Wanda Metropolitano.

Source: NAN

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday scolded the House of Representatives for unlawfully suspending former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin for 180 legislative days.

Jibrin was suspended in 2016 for alleging that the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and other principal officers of the House padded the 2016 budget with about N40 billion.

He then dragged the House, the speaker and the clerk of the House to court to challenge the suspension.

Justice John Tsoho, in his judgement, declared that the action of the House was unconstitutional. It was the second time, a judicial review of a National Assembly action was being thrown overboard as unconstitutional. Another Federal High Court in Abuja had overruled the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, by the Senate.

Justice Tsoho said it was necessary to admonish the House to perform its duties with the constitution in mind and avoid arbitrariness, bias and impartiality.

At this juncture, a general admonition is deemed necessary.

The House of Representatives should be the bastion of representative democracy in Nigeria and should thus hold as very dear, the tenets of democracy and stick tenaciously to same.

Democracy thrives on and is fuelled by the rule of law and not by the rule of force, arbitrariness or impunity.

The House should not desecrate itself by openly exhibiting lack of faith in the constitution and the rule of law to which it owes its very existence.

Drawing from a traditional adage, it is apt to state that any entity that challenges its soul to a fight is doomed and will fail, the judge said.

The judge nullified the suspension of the lawmaker and ordered the House of Representatives to pay all outstanding salaries and allowances that accrued to him while he was on suspension.

The suspension is null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.

According to Tsoho, the defendants by suspending Jibrin, violated his rights as enshrined in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He added that the defendants were biased when the principal officers who raised the allegation against Jibrin were part of the committee that investigated the matter.

The court maintained that it was wrong for the defendants to be judge in their own case.

The court further held that the House erred when it went ahead to suspend Jibrin, not minding the pendency of an action against it.

The court also held that according to the House standing rules, the House could not suspend Jibrin for more than 14 legislative days or 30 legislative days in more serious matters.

Source: NAN

The Federal High Court in Benin has ordered that the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, Chief Dan Orbih, be remanded in prison custody if he failed to perfect his bail.

The court had on Thursday granted the Orbih and Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the 2016 governorship candidate, bail in the sum of N10 million for alleged N700 million fraud.

Also granted bail in the same condition, were the former deputy governor, Mr Lucky Imasuen, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tony Azegnemi and Efe Anthony.

Justice P. Adjokwu ordered the defendants to produce a surety each in like sum.

The judge ordered that the sureties, who must not be below salary grade level 16, must also be house owners, with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) that should be deposited with the courts deputy registrar.

Adjokwu, who rejected the plea by defendants counsel, Mr Charles Edosomwan, ordered them to be remanded in prison until they met the bail conditions.

The Judge adjourned the case till July 4.

EFCC had arraigned the defendants on an eight-count charge of laundering the sum of N700 million.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants were arraigned for receiving N700 million prior to the 2015 general elections, from former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The money was part of the $115 million that Diezani pilfered from the treasury.

He said the offence contravened Section 15(2)(d)of the Money Laundering (Prohibited) Act 2011(as amended by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) punishable under section 15(3) of same Act. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa has praised Governor Nasir El-Rufai APCs panel on restructuring for doing a good job.

Dickson stressed that Nigeria was in dire need of devolution or restructuring in order to guarantee stability.

He stressed the need to expand the scope of consultation on the restructuring, saying that all parts of Nigeria needed to be carried along, especially the leadership of Northern Nigeria.

Dickson told journalists on Thursday after he updated President Muhammadu Buhari on security and socio-economic developments in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region.

Dickson, who held a closed door meeting with the President, said he stressed the need for change in approach to security management in the Niger Delta during the meeting.

The governor, who described his interaction with the president as fruitful, said the meeting also deliberated on the issue of devolution of power.

So, I thank the President for availing me the opportunity to share perspectives on very serious issues on security, stability and development of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

We talked about the need to revisit the Brass energy; we talked about the need for change in approach to security management in the Niger Delta; we talked about the challenges of stabilizing the Niger Delta and the need for federal support.

We talked about a whole range of other issues including what we think should be the final response to the ongoing debate about devolution and I believe that we had a very fruitful interaction, he said.

The governor reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to partner with the Federal Government and security agencies to advance and consolidate security of life and property in the region.

He said: Governors of the Niger Delta region are doing a lot and as governors we will continue to do our best, working with the security agencies, we should be apolitical in supporting constituted authorities in the states.

We expect that this interaction will yield positive results. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled its National Convention for Saturday, June 23, 2018.

The party gave the new date via its official twitter handle, @OfficialAPCNg on Thursday night.

The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi added that inauguration of new Party executives will subsequently hold on Monday, June 25, 2018.

The decision followed the Partys approval of a request by the National Convention Committee chaired by the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

Before now, the APC had settled for June 2 for its National Convention as contained in a notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but many stakeholders pushed for the new date in view of the ongoing Ramadan which will be concluded before June 23.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday alerted Vice President (VP) Yemi Osinbajo that his position as VP was being threatened by Nigerian women in politics.

The president stated this while reacting to a request by Nigerian women who asked for the slot of Vice President of Nigeria in subsequent elections in the country.

The women under the auspices of the Nigerian Female Parliamentarians made the request when they paid a courtesy call on Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The chairperson of organisation, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, who spoke on behalf the delegation, lamented that Nigerian women were being marginalised by their male counterparts in the nations body politics.

Since 1999 we only have one principal officer each in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

And in the State Houses of Assembly we have only just five per cent, women are five per cent of the total population of elected members of the State Houses of Assembly and we feel that this is not good enough for all the efforts we women had put in the development of this country particularly in politics.

We feel the trend now needs to be reversed and we feel you are the only one who can do it now.

The implementation strategy is simple. Any statement you make today is a policy statement and is a law.

Now your Excellency is twinning. Many African countries have imbibed that culture of twinning and is working in Rwanda, in South Africa is working and we believe it will work in Nigeria.

Where a man is a president we expect that the vice president should be a woman; where a man is speaker, we expect that the deputy speaker should be a woman and vice versa, she said.

Besides, Ativie called on the Buhari administration to invest more in womens participation in politics by creating an enabling environment for women to thrive and tackle perceived systematic and cultural hindrances to womens inclusion.

She commended the president for the recent approval given to the Inspector-General of Police to employ youths into the Nigeria Police Force and expressed the optimism that at least 35 per cent of the those to be recruited would be female police.

She also called on the president to urgently intervene in the protracted industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU).

She said: Indeed, this strike action bites harder on women and children who are the most vulnerable in our society.

We humbly appeal to Your Excellency to graciously look into the issues as the father of the nation in order for the health sector to bounce back and ameliorate the plight of the citizens.

Responding, Buhari noted the efforts of women in ensuring political stability in the country and for the support given to him during the 2015 presidential elections.

On their demands including the VP slot in future elections in the country, Buhari regretted that he was not as powerful as you think Im.

It is a pity the Vice President is not here. But I believe the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will tell him that his position is threatened, he jokingly told the visiting female parliamentarians.

Source: NAN