Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate Committee on Interior has excused the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) from the ongoing 2021 budget defence exercise owing to the current spate of violence in some parts of the country.

According to the panel, the decision is to allow the security agencies to attend to the current security challenges.

The development followed a motion by a member of the committee, Sen. George Sekibo (PDP-Rivers) during the defence.

He said that there should be no need to keep any of the security agencies at the National Assembly for too long at this time when their attentions are required on the streets.

The committee, chaired by Sen. Kashim Shettima, accepted the prayer and consequently asked the security agencies to lay their budget estimates and leave for their duty posts.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with newsmen, Shettima confirmed the receipt of the proposed 2021 budgets of both FFS and NSCDC.

He said that the panel would subject the documents to scrutiny and that even though there was the need for questions, he did not think it was appropriate to keep the security chiefs more than necessary.

Two paramilitary organisations, the Federal Fire Service and the NSCDC submitted their budgets for 2021 for scrutiny to the Senate Committee on Interior.

We have received their submissions and we will subject their submissions to microscopic scrutiny and when the need arises we will call them back to shed more light.

But in the light of the ongoing challenges and issues of the pandemic, we felt compelled not to dissipate their useful time and energy answering a lot of questions from us.

But right now, some of their organisations are under attack, some of their offices were burnt down.

How do you expect us to hold them to ransom here. There are no compelling issues to hold them longer than necessary, Shettima said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Amaju Pinnick, NFF President

By Victor Okoye

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Media Officers for the nations mens and womens senior national football teams.

A statement by NFFs Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, and made available to the the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, named the Media Officers as Babafemi Raji, for the Super Eagles, and Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, for the Super Falcons.

For the Super Eales, Raji takes over from Toyin Ibitoye who has been in the post for five-and-half years, while Tobe-Chukwu takes over from Jane Onyinye Nweze for the Falcons.

Olajire praised both Ibitoye and Nweze for the excellent services rendered to the teams and wished them good fortunes in their future endeavours. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Formula One: Hamilton overtakes Schumacher with record 92nd win

Nico Rosberg hailed Lewis Hamiltons record 92nd Formula One win and sporting longevity as a great achievement on Tuesday.

Rosberg added that the way the Briton was using his platform to raise awareness for global issues was just as impressive.

The 35-year-olds were team mates and fierce rivals at Mercedes from 2013 until the German won the 2016 title and immediately retired.

Rosberg was also team mate to Michael Schumacher, whose record Hamilton broke in Portugal last Sunday, at Mercedes from 2010 to 2012 after the Ferrari great had made a comeback.

I have huge respect for what hes managed to achieve, Rosberg told Reuters after a launch for the Extreme E off-road electric series that starts next year with both men entering teams.

One thing is being at the level that hes at, just a phenomenal driver, but then to stick in there and year-in year-out stay at that high level and be the guy to beat every year and still dominate, thats just so hard.

It surely will go down as one of the greatest sporting achievements in general, not only in Formula One, across all sports. I can just take my hat off to him.

Rosberg said he was also super-proud of having beaten someone destined to become the most successful Formula One driver of all time.

The German added that it was impossible to decide between Schumacher and Hamilton in terms of greatness and he would put them as equals.

At the same time I think its really cool how Lewis is using his platform and awareness to do good in the world.

Hes really looking forward, thinking about the future I also have huge respect for that, he added.

Amongst all this craziness of becoming the best of all time in Formula One, he still has capacity to think of the greater picture and that I respect maybe even more.

Formula Ones only Black driver, Hamilton has been campaigning for racial justice and wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt when taking a knee before races.

Last Sunday, in a television interview before the Portuguese Grand Prix, he wore a T-shirt protesting about police violence in Nigeria.

A vegan, he has spoken out for animal welfare, pushed for a more sustainable sport and set up a commission to make motorsport more diverse.

Extreme E, a series that aims to highlight the effects of climate change by racing in extreme environments, will be Hamiltons first venture as a team owner.

Rosberg said that, while neither man would be driving, they would still be fierce rivals but sharing a common sense of purpose.

I want to be in sustainable racing. I want to be in motorsport where the platform is being used to drive positive change, said the co-founder of the annual Greentech festival in Berlin.

That is the most important and crucial element for me, that were not just entertaining but were driving change.

Were using the platform to innovate technology, to raise awareness for example for climate change.

Its great to see Lewis following in my footsteps on the path to sustainability, which I have undertaken already since my retirement four years ago, added the German.

Rosberg said he and Hamilton, his team mate in karting when they were 13 years old, would be just as determined to win.

Thats the beauty of this. Our competitiveness here and our rivalry is actually the catalyst for positive change in this championship, he said.

We hope that, as a result of the fascinating racing and challenges and rivalries, we can raise the awareness even more and have even more impact.

Source: NAN News

A well equipped hospital

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has advised the Federal Government to work towards improving healthcare service delivery through improved funding, proper planning and execution of post COVID-19 action plan.

Dr Lekan Adelakun, the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos State Chapter of the guild said this in a statement on Tuesday.

Adelakun said the government must put in place structures to ensure improved healthcare service delivery for Nigerians in post COVID-19 period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of fear and anxiety and indeed, panic attacks in many cases.

It has changed substantially the way we live, relate, work and brought untold economic hardships globally, he said.

Adelakun said that the guild plans to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM), between Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 in Lagos.

He said, however, that the event will hold virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The theme is Post COVID Era; Economics and Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria.

He said that participants at the event will discuss the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on two key areas; economic and healthcare delivery and mental health system in Nigeria.

Adelakun said that the topics were carefully chosen to ensure robust deliberations at the event.

Members of the GMD are medical doctors who owned private hospitals and are Medical Directors of such hospitals. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Franca Ofili

The Federal Government is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure significant improvement in the countrys oncology practice.

Sen. Adeleke Mamora, the Minister of State for Health, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2020 International Cancer Week (ICW) with the theme: Cancer in Nigeria in the COVID-19 era and beyond.

He said that the event was meant to provide a platform for all stakeholders to create awareness and foster collaboration to fight cancer in the nation.

Cancer has gradually become a disease of public health concern as the incidence is now more than some infectious diseases including HIV and AIDs.

This underscores the increasing attention given to it. It has become imperative for all the stakeholders to jointly fight cancer in Nigeria, Mamora said.

He said the theme became necessary to address the challenges of cancer care which had been compounded by the pandemic of COVID-19 all over the world.

I must state here that the development of a National Hospice and Palliative Care Policy is a mission accomplished for me, he said.

Mr Elijah Elijah, the Secretary General of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), commended the effort of the government to massively fight the cancer pandemic.

He said it was very necessary for the country to invest in the right direction to ensure that cancer was properly addressed.

The ICW project should be sustained and well supported to triumph beyond all odds because it is a major hope reawakening for cancer patients and survivors including their relatives, Elijah said.

He said that the country needed to change the cancer narrative as such would save the country from the catastrophic effects of the disease.

Dr Minnie Oseji, the National President, Medical Womens Association of Nigeria (MWAN) said the body inaugurated a project on Womens Right to Health Information (WORTH) on cancer screening for early detection of cancer of the cervix.

Oseji said that the inauguration was part of the associations activities to commemorate cancer awareness month, adding that the target was to screen 6,000 women across the country over the next six months.

According to her, the association advocates that screening of cancer should not be opportunistic but mandatory.

Health personnel should by trained, cancer screening centres should be equipped and made accessible as well as affordable to women who need the service.

She said the association therefore called for the vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) to be incorporated into the National Programme for Immunisation schedule.

States should be supported to establish cancer registries and five-year survival rate of cancer patients should be used as an indicator for tracking progress in cancer control.

National and state Health Insurance Scheme should be incorporated for at least partial coverage for cancer treatment, Oseji said.

Source: NAN News

Prince Goddy Jeddy-Agba

By George Odok
The Minister of State for Power, Prince Goddy Jeddy-Agba, on Tuesday inspected some buildings and properties vandalised by hoodlums who hijacked the Endsars protest on Oct. 24 in Calabar.

The Minister visited the West African Examination Council office, which was burnt down including thousands of certificates that were yet to be collected.

He also inspected the Cross River Basin Development Authority office, the Nigeria Television Authority and the Federal Neoru-Psychiatric Hospital that was vandalised also.

Speaking, Jeddy-Agba expressed shocked at the level of destruction of the buildings, cars and equipments, saying that the act was not normal.

According to him, the destruction has kept staff of the affected establishment out from their offices, describing the situation as worrisome.

While addressing staff of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, Jeddy-Agba urged them to be united and forge ahead.

This place has been vandalised totally; nothing is left anymore. I sympathise with you and I want to assure you that I will relate this to the Federal Government, he said.

Earlier, while addressing youths of Ekorinim community, the Minister informed them that the government have heard their requests.

He said that the Federal Government had outlined various empowerment and productive schemes for the youths with a view to engage them meaningfully.

This time, the President will deal with the youths directly. The important things is for us to be together and united. All the things that have been destroyed needs huge money to be repaired and this is not goof enough.

From next month the Federal Government public works will commence and the targeted beneficiaries are the youths because the Federal Government is committed in solving the problems of the youths in this country.

I urge you to always channel your complaints appropriately without causing violence, he said

The Minister also visited the Rev. Fr. incharge of St. Charles Lwanga parish, Fr. Malachi Ephraim, to seeks collaboration with a view to foster peace in the state.

Source: NAN News

Chairperson of Women Intervention Group (WIG), Mary Manzo

A coalition of Women civil right groups, Women Intervention Group (WIG), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and all political actors in the country to urgently respond to all the requests of youths during the #EndSARS Protests.

WIGs Chairperson, Mary Manzo, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja called on the leaders to urgently expand resources in building a structure that would create an enabling environment for employment and to harness their potential for nations growth.

According to her, such enabling environment can be achieved through having the basic amenities that will foster development.

As mothers of the nation we pray that our leaders and children who are in various leadership positions within the country will lend us positive ears of reasoning as we jointly air our views and proffer solutions to the present day predicament we have found our nation in.

She said that the country was blessed with human and natural resources that could make it the industrial hub for many nations, but was plunged into a state of anarchy and pandemonium in recent days.

All that we are begging for is to give this group of people the opportunity to explore their great potential in a country that belongs to all of us, she said.

On her part, Sarah Obafemi, WIGs Southern coordinator, said it was unfortunate that some political appointees and elected persons did not express quality leadership style that could have cushioned the threat to our national unity.

More so, Hajia Umma Getso, WIGs Northern coordinator, raised concern about the activities of Boko Haram, bandits and herders who had crippled economic activities in the region.

The Nigerian youth over the years have not been given adequate opportunity as well as enabling environment to express their talents to the fullest.

The level of unemployment has skyrocketed, living millions of them without jobs.

The agitations from various quarters within the country have been on the front burner of stakeholders from the six geo political regions of the country.

The outcry for restructuring and good governance has been the centre of this agitation as many prominent Nigerians continue to pour in their displeasure with the abuse of federal character rules by the government, she said.

WIG, which is an initiative of the Mary-Elika Foundation, added that provision of basic amenities would go a long way in fostering development and dousing agitations.

Source: NAN News

FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu quits

FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned from the club on Tuesday.

His resignation has come ahead of a vote of no confidence that was due to be held next month after some 20,000 fans signed a petition demanding that he step down.

The rest of the board of directors also resigned.

Its a thought-out, serene, informed decision to resign, Bartomeu said in a televised speech.

Bartomeu, 57, has been facing growing resentment in the last year due to the clubs worsening finances and the teams decline on the pitch.

The decline came to a head with their 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in August.

He has been widely criticised after talisman forward Lionel Messi requested a transfer following the Champions League humiliation.

The embattled Bartomeu was then facing a vote of no confidence from the clubs socios.

He had tried to convince the Catalan government to scrap the censure vote due to the coronavirus pandemic but it would not budge.

Bartomeu called the governments decision irresponsible in his speech, while thanking the club and saying he could not have resigned earlier.

The easiest thing after the Champions (League defeat) was to resign, but one had to take decisions amid an unprecedented global crisis, he said.

Bartomeu added that later on, in the wake of the Messi spat, he could not let the club be run by external, temporary figures.

Who would have ensured that Messi stayed? Who would have hired a new coach? said Bartomeu, who took over at FC Barcelona from Sandro Rosell in 2014.

Messi handed Barca an official notice in August of his desire to terminate his contract before eventually deciding to stay for this season, the last on his current deal.

But this was because he did not want to face a legal battle with the club.

After rowing back on his decision to leave, the Argentine continued to attack Bartomeu in a September interview, when he described his stewardship of the club as a disaster.

He also criticised Barca for their treatment of Luis Suarez, who left the club for Atletico Madrid.

On the pitch, Barcas struggles have continued into the new campaign after they ended last season trophyless.

Having appointed their former player Ronald Koeman as manager in the close season, Barca have won only two of their opening five league games.

They lost 3-1 at home to rivals Real Madrid on Saturday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Disappointed Coleman

World 100 metres champion Christian Coleman will miss next years Tokyo Olympics after being banned for two years for breaching whereabouts rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said on Tuesday.

Coleman, who narrowly escaped a ban last year for missing three doping tests, was provisionally suspended by the AIU in June.

We regret to say that we do not think there is any mitigation which can fairly be relied upon to reduce the sanction from the two-year period, the AIU said in a statement on its website.

Unfortunately, we see this case as involving behaviour by the athlete as very careless at best and reckless at worst.

The American sprinter claimed at the time of his provisional suspension that anti-doping officials had not followed procedure when he missed them.

But this was after he went Christmas shopping on Dec. 9, 2019 at a time when he had said he would be at home.

Doping control officers testified before a disciplinary tribunal that they were present during the whole of the allotted hour of 7:15 pm to 8:15 pm on Dec. 9 in front of his house.

Coleman in turn testified he had arrived home from Christmas shopping shortly before the end of the one-hour period.

However, shopping receipts showed that Coleman had purchased 16 items from a Walmart Supercenter at 8:22 pm, the AIU said.

We do not accept the athletes evidence, the AIU added. It is obvious that in fact the athlete did not go home until after making his 8:22 pm purchase. We are comfortably satisfied that this is what happened.

At the time of his provisional suspension, Coleman had complained that the AIUs doping control officers had not called him on that night on Dec. 9.

The AIU said in its judgement that doping control officers were not required to phone athletes.

The AIU said Colemans ban would end on May 13, 2022 and that he could appeal the tribunals decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Three failures to properly file whereabouts information or being absent during the hour stated in a 12-month period can result in a one- or two-year suspension.

Coleman, also a silver medallist in the 100m and 4x100m relay at the 2017 worlds, escaped suspension last year.

This was when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), after receiving guidance from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on how to calculate the 12-month window for three missed tests, withdrew the charge.

The sprinter, who also helped the U.S. to 4x100m gold at the 2019 worlds in Doha, later demanded an apology from USADA.

But two of those misses have now combined with the latest failure to result in a ban.

The fact is that he had had the narrowest possible escape from a potential ban on this prior occasion, the AIU said.

It might be thought he would have learned from this experience in fact, that is not at all what happened. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Seye Oladejo

By Yemi Adeleye

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State on Tuesday took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for faulting Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olus projection of N1 trillion to restore property destroyed during #EndSARS protests.

The Lagos APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Seye Oladejo, called on the PDP to show empathy for the state against the backdrop of public and private property as well as businesses destroyed during the protest.

Oladejo described the period as an inappropriate and insensitive time to play politics with an incident that has thrown the state into mourning as a result of avoidable loss of lives and property.

We opine that the estimate could at the end of the day be found to be hasty and conservative with a careful consideration of the present cost of reconstruction, revamping and regeneration of these public utilities.

We find it distasteful that the opposition PDP would rather mindlessly condemn and contest a mere estimate to restore our state as soon as possible, Oladejo said.

He added that the PDP, after two terms in opposition, ought to have developed a template for responsible opposition.

Its also germane to gauge the mood of the people before mocking the dead and the wanton losses. Our people deserve emphathy and understanding from all and sundry, he said.

He explained that, as a responsible and responsive party, the APC commiserated with the people and government of the state over the arsons and massive destruction of government property and businesses that trailed the protests.

Oladejo said that while not preempting the findings of the commission of enquiry already set up the party condemned all acts of omission or commission that might have directly or indirectly contributed to the national tragedy.

We acknowledge the characteristic swift and decisive response of Gov. Sanwo-olu who continues to stand firm in the face of tremendous pressure to uphold his oath of office to protect the lives and property of all Lagosians.

The visits to the injured victims in various hospitals and the statewide tour to pacify the citizenry and access the extent of damage were, without any doubt, moves in the right direction.

The statewide tour enabled the state government to have an inventory of the monumental destruction which set our state back by decades, he said.

The spokesman also called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of Lagos State at this trying time to successfully re-build and restore the state in a record time.

He said that the party joined other well-meaning Nigerians on the need for state police to forestall such incidents in future.

Oladejo urged all Lagosians to rally round the government, embrace unconditional peace and commence the process of far reaching healing to make the state great again.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lagos PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary on Monday, faulted Sanwo-Olus claim that it would take N1 trillion to restore all property and facilities destroyed by hoodlums during the violence.

Source: NAN News

Liverpool overcome Midtjylland in UCL

Liverpool laboured to a 2-0 win over Denmarks Midtjylland on Tuesday tosecure a hard-fought UEFA Champions League Group D victory at Anfield.

Goals from Diogo Jota and a Mohamed Salah penalty kick secured victory for the 2018/2019 champions.

The win came at a cost, however, as Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp suffered another defensive blow.

Brazilian Fabinho who has been a cover for others in the central defence position limped off in the first half with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Fabinho had been deputising for central defender Virgil van Dijk, who is out with a long-term knee injury, and he was replaced by 19-year-old Rhys Williams.

It is exactly the last thing we needed, said Klopp, who added that the seriousness of the injury would not be known until after a scan.

He praised Williams for the composed way in which he coped with being thrown into the game.

Liverpool made a slow start and suffered an early scare when Anders Dreyer broke through the middle but shot straight at goalkeeper Alisson.

With Klopp having rested his usual front three and given starts to Jota, Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri, Liverpool struggled to break down the determined Danes.

The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when after a swift exchange with Shaqiri, Trent Alexander-Arnold crossed low to Jota who had a simple tap-in.

The goal was Liverpools 10,000th in all competitions.

Substitute Roberto Firmino should have settled the contest near the end, but blasted over the bar after more good work from Alexander-Arnold.

Then Dreyer had the best chance of the game when he jinked into space in the Liverpool penalty box but, with Alisson to beat, he could only find the side-netting.

Salah made sure of the win, in stoppage time, from the penalty kick spot, converting after he had been brought down by Paulinho inside the box.

Liverpool have the maximum six points from their opening two games while Midtjylland are yet to get off the mark.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika

By Naomi Sharang/Kingsley Okoye

The Federal Government says 10 new airports will be constructed across the country to boost civil aviation.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation for the 2021 budget defence by the ministry and its agencies.

Sirika said that the civil aviation had witnessed growth saying that the number of airports in the country had increased.

There are airports coming up in Benue, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Lafia, Damaturu, Anambra and so forth. All of these show that civil aviation is growing during this administration, he said.

Sirika said both the executive arm of government and the National Assembly had done justice to the civil aviation sector since 2015 when the current administration came on board through the development of a roadmap, which was being implemented.

So, we have about 10 new airports coming up; that is almost half the number of airports we used to have in Nigeria. We are adding 50 per cent of the number of airports, Sirika said.

He also noted that Kebbi, Osubi, Dutse, Jigawa airports were taken over by the Federal Government while the Gombe State Government had also written the federal authorities, asking it to take over the Gombe Airport.

Meanwhile, Sirika told newsmen after the budget defence that the national carrier, Nigeria Air, was part of the Aviation sector roadmap, which would be delivered before 2023.

We are on it. The transaction adviser has brought in the outline business case. It is being reviewed by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

Soon after it completion, it will go to the Federal Executive Council fir approved. We will not leave this government without having it in place, Sirika said.

On the need to site another airport in Lokoja, Kogi, as alternate to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, Sirika said, Lokoja is an important Northern town.

Lokoja is a cosmopolitan town, its a mini Nigeria and it is extremely very important in growth and development of our country.

We have a lot of agricultural activities around there. There is fishery, there is perishable item production and so on.

So sitting an airport there is quite apt. For me, it is something we should have done long ago for its importance, Sirika said.

On the issues of dilapidated equipment at some airports across the country, Sirika said it was a work in progress as the airports were being attended to one after the other based on priority.

We dont have the resources to take them all at once. We are attending to them according to their needs in terms of safety and security.

Certainly we are making Ilorin one of the best airports because in the first place it is an alternate for Lagos, Sirika said.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, said that observations were made by the committee on how to assist the aviation industry.

This is more importantly as the world grappled with global recession, aviation becomes a very important sector that requires the attention of any progressive government.

I am happy to see that there is an improvement in what is being proposed for 2021 compared with the outgoing year.

Aviation is important because when the economy is down for a developing nation as ours, it makes sense to focus on aviation in order to be able to accelerate socio-economic activities.

Aviation must be given serious attention and I am happy this government has responded to that, Adeyemi said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Oloniruha Emmanuel

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has congratulated Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on his reappointment as the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The CUPP in a statement issued by its Spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Tuesday in Abuja, described Yakubus reappointment as the only chance for him to set Nigeria electoral processes on the right path.

They also urged him to use this second term appointment, which is novel in the political history of Nigeria, to cleanse our electoral process and consolidate on the gains of Edo and Ondo elections.

The shifted elections earlier scheduled for Oct. 31, would be the first test of what this second term would be for.

Nigerians will expect nothing less than a very credible, free and fair 2023 general election from him, the statement said.

It alsocalled on the Nigerian Senate and opposition lawmakers to confirm the re-appointment of Yakubu.

According to the statement, Yakubus confirmation will allow him the needed neutrality to oversee the upcoming by-elections and adequate time to start the cleansing process for Nigerias electoral process.

It, however, said that the CUPP would be watching the INEC Chairman closely as he led the Commission into reforming Nigerias electoral process.

We will watch him as he carries through the introduction of electronic voting which the Commission has been test running over the years.

As the longest serving Chairman of INEC, we call on Prof. Yakubu to deploy all his now garnered experience in the last five years to hit the ground running knowing that there will be no third chance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS)

By Bukoka Adetoye

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) on Tuesday said it averted another fire explosion in Lagos.

According to a statement signed and released by Mr Dosumu Jamiu, the Head of Public Affairs Unit of LSFRS, the explosion was averted at Yerevan Petroleum Filling Station at 29, Ajayi Road, Eagle bus stop, Ogba, Ojodu LCDA, Lagos.

According to the statement, the Acting Head of the Service, Mrs Margret Adeseye, got a distress call at the early hours of Oct. 27, which prompted the service to swiftly mobilise to the scene for rescue operation.

On arrival, it was discovered that a 33,000-litre tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was discharging to the underground storage facility of the station when its rear tyre and 33KVA transformer installed at the entrance of the petrol station caught fire.

The fire was quickly doused to avert ripple effect of explosion and loss of lives and property.

Only one dispensing machine was partially affected, the statement said.

The statement quoted Adeseye as saying further that the fire emanated from the discharging valve of the tanker.

However, there was no injury or loss of life involved in the incident, the statement said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

#ENDSARS protesters

By Nicholas Obisike

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has constituted an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to look into the recent loss of lives during the EndSARS protest in Enugu.

This was contained in a statement from theSecretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, in Enugu on Tuesday.

According to the SSG, the panel will also look into other grievous bodily injuries to private citizens and security personnel.

The panel, he said, will also tasked to look into the related destruction of properties of private citizens and security infrastructure in the state.

Ortuanya said, The governor constituted the panel pursuant to Executive Order No. 04 of 2020, dated Oct. 27, 2020, made in the exercise of his powers under Section 4 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law Cap. 24 of the Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004, he said.

According to the SSG, the panel has 60 days to conclude and submit its report to the governor.

Its terms of reference includes identifying private persons and security personnel who lost their lives.

It will recommend compensation that may be paid to the victims families; to identify private persons and security personnel who sustained grievous bodily injuries and recommend compensation that may be paid to them.

To determine private properties and security infrastructure destroyed and recommend compensation or remedial measures.

And to make any other recommendations arising out of the evidences, considerations or findings of the administrative panel in relation to the matters set out which the panel might consider appropriate.

The SSG disclosed that membership of the panel, which will be inaugurated on Wednesday at the Government House, Enugu at 1:00 p.m., includes:Justice Fredrick Obieze (Rtd.), the Chairman; Mr Charles Abugu, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, as the Secretary, and Prof. Frank Ezugwu, the Provost, ESUTH College of Medicine as a member.

Other members are Prof. Agozie Ogbodo, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Godfrey Okoye University; His Royal Highness, Emmanuel Ugwu, the Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike, Enugu; Prof. Ngozi Ejionueme, the Head, Department of Marketing, ESUT, as a member.

Others are, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu State, and Chief Frank Maluze, Chartered Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

In addition are Comrade Modester Onwuha, the Vice President, Student Union Government, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, and Ben. Chinedu Oloko, a private legal practitioner, representing the youths. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerias Senate under Ahmed Lawan

By Kingsley Okoye

The Senate on Monday berated the Federal Ministry of Power over the non provision of budgetary allocation in the 2021 budget for the execution of the Mambila Power Project in Taraba state.

The Senators expressed their displeasure when the Minister of Power, Mamman Sale, appeared before the Senate Committee on Power for the 2021 budget defence session of the ministry and its agencies.

Sen. Shuaibu Lau, (PDP, Taraba), in his presentation, said the project may not see the light of the day, given the absence of commitment on the project by the ministry.

He said that his assessment of the Mambila project site indicates that there is no commitment on the part of the ministry to begin execution of the project.

There is no road to Mambila. You cant take any equipment to Mambila at the moment, there is no road to transport personnel to the place, so how will the project take off?.

There is a court case that has not been settled and the Chinese company cannot come with the court case still on.

We are just going round on one particular project for more then 20 years. We must be sincere with ourselves and tell ourselves the truth about the project.

Let us plan something and do the project accordingly as planned.

Sen. James Manager, (PDP-Delta) said that several power experts had noted that the Mambila project, if completed, will help salvage the power deficit in the country.

He, however, noted that no seriousness on execution of the project has been shown by the ministry from discussions so far.

Manager said he had thought that the minister would be desirous of completing the project, given the life time opportunity of being minister from that region.

He said that the project should have been a priority of the ministry before the Senate Committee on Power.

I get very frustrated, Mr Chairman, why are we like this.

Other senators that decried the absence of commitment on the execution of the project are Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe), Gabriel Suswan (PDP-Benue), Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), Adamu Alero (APC-Kebbi), among others.

Responding, the Minister of Power, Mamman Sale, said that since he assumed office, he had been doing his best to kick start the Mambila power project.

He, however, shocked the Senate Committee when he disclosed that prior to his assumption of office, there was nothing like Mambila project.

I am doing my best and I will continue to do my best. The counterpart funding that we had is 200 million dollars.

This money had been there, and I have been pressing for the release, so that we can move to site and start work.

It is with this money that we can clear the place, do the roads, do site clearance and begin the ground breaking.

This will show the whole world that we are ready, and that is when any investors that are ready to come will invest, that is what the Chinese are waiting for.

He, however affirmed that there was a lingering litigation, noting that he was still trying to convince President Muhammadu Buhari on the issues.

It is all our responsibility and that is why we are here in the Senate for budget defence to solve the problem. Once we succeed in taking up this project, it will be completed, he assured.

The Mambilla hydropower project has a generation capacity of 3,050 Mega Watt (MG) when completed.

The project is being undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Power with the help of a consortium of Chinese investors.

Chinese Export Import (Exim) Bank is funding 85 per cent of the estimated 5.8 billion-dollar project cost, while the remaining 15 per cent funding will come from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The project is estimated to cost 5.8 billion dollars and will generate up to 50,000 local jobs during the construction phase. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

PTF on COVID-19

By Abujah Racheal

The Federal Government says the risk of resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria is high due to the large gatherings of the #EndSARS protesters and the mayhem that followed.

Mr Boss Mustapha, Chairman of the, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 , made the disclosure at a joint national media briefing of the taskforce in Abuja on Monday.

Over the past two weeks, Nigerians have focused attention on two important issues

Namely, the protests by youths which has unfortunately metamorphosed into an unprecedented safety and security situation and COVID-19 developments in the country and around the world.

Both activities are critical to our nation because the security situation impacts negatively on our economy, social life, international reputation and ability to effectively coordinate the national response.

Also, the large gatherings witnessed during the protests and during the break-ins at various warehouses, homes and looting of stores put us at a great risk of resurgence of the virus, hesaid.

Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that the global pandemic situation had continued to escalate, with the cumulative number of infections crossing the 43 million mark.

In the last 20 hours, 4,498 deaths were reported from 96 countries and territories worldwide, with Europe (France, Italy, and UK) accounting for 30 per cent (1,358 deaths).

Africa has recorded a cumulative total case count of 1,727,887 including 41,323 deaths.

Nigeria maintains the 5th position in highest cumulative cases after South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Ethiopia, he said.

The SGF commended the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) for partnering with state governments in the distribution of palliatives to their people.

With the support of the federal government, CACOVID has been working with the states through the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to determine the quantum of their intervention, which was intended to be effective and equitable.

Of particular concern to the PTF is the issue of palliatives found and looted from various warehouses around the country. It is important to make the following clarifications.

That the federal government palliatives consisted largely of the 70MT of grains released from the Strategic Grain Reserves as well as rice secured from the Nigerian Customs Service.

The share for each state were handed over to the state governments for onward distribution to the citizens.

A number of indices were worked out for this purpose.

The national coordinator shall also provide further distinction and the modus operandi for the distribution of the palliatives donated to the states by the coalition, he said.

He urged all Nigerians to remain law abiding and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to restore normalcy in the country.

Humanity has been traumatised by COVID-19. Our nation is not experiencing a second wave, but has been impacted negatively by looting and arson, Mustapha said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Coronavirus update

made this known via its verified Website on Monday.

The centre also recorded two COVID-19-related deaths in the last 24 hours.

Source: NAN News

Buratai

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has warned that the army would not allow subversive and unscrupulous elements to destabilise the peace and stability of Nigeria.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said that Buratai made the remarks during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers, Commanding Officers and field commanders on Monday in Abuja.

Musa briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting at a news conference.

Buratai told the PSOs, GOCs and field commanders that there would be no room for disloyalty amongst all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

He directed that they must reiterate to all their subordinates that the army was determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria as the only panacea for development and progress.

According to him, the best system of governance was democracy and we must all ensure that Nigerias democracy remained stable and steady.

We will not allow any force, elements or destabilising agents in or outside our country to set our beloved country on fire.

We remain resolute in doing everything possible to ensure that subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of this great nation do not achieve their aims and objectives of destabilisation.

Buratai stated that the events of the past few days in the country had shown the determination of some unscrupulous individuals and groups to destabilise Nigeria by all means.

He said that those individuals, groups and other undesirable elements eventually hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protest marches that resulted to widespread violence, acts of wanton destruction and looting of public and private properties in many parts of the country.

These acts according to him, led to the imposition of curfew in several states of the federation.

The COAS added that the army had been aware from the onset of the #EndSARS protest about the grand design by the sponsors of the protests to draw it into the crisis.

He added that the plan was to embark on massive propaganda to discredit the military and the government, so as to set the people against the army once it was called out to aid civil authorities.

According to him, the army being aware of the plan was careful not to be dragged in, and issued the initial warning through a press release on Oct. 14 of its resolve to secure and safeguard a united Nigeria.

Now the detractors alongside their local and international collaborators have mischievously and deliberately misrepresented troops efforts to ensure compliance with the curfew imposed by legitimate civil authorities in Lagos and other states.

These agitators are falsely accusing the army of being responsible for the activities of the miscreants in spite of glaring evidence to the contrary.

They have continually threatened to report the army to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and also threatened various forms of sanctions against personnel and their families.

Thankfully, however, a large percentage of Nigerians and the international community have started seeing through the smokescreen of falsehood, and deliberate misrepresentation of facts being orchestrated by enemies of Nigeria and have retracted their earlier false publications, he said.

Buratai stressed that the army had continued to exercise restraint and fully abided by the internationally recognised rules of engagement as contained in its published Standard Operating Procedures for Internal Security Operations.

He said the processes were derived from the International Human Rights Laws in accordance with the international principles guiding the use of force.

The COAS, however, encouraged officers and soldiers not be afraid of the ICC for carrying out their legitimate duties as stated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other extant laws, rules and regulations of Nigeria.

He said they had every right under the constitution to carry out assigned and legitimate roles of maintaining law and order in aid of civil authorities and other security agencies.

He stressed that anyone who doubted their commitment to their constitutional responsibilities must be made to know that they remained committed, loyal and unwavering in ensuring the unity, stability and security of our dear country Nigeria.

He charged them to show the detractors and other elements of destabilisation that they are neither part of them nor in anyway supportive of their activities at all times.

He directed that any act of arson or attempt to kill or maim any military or security personnel and other law abiding civilians must be responded to quickly and decisively.

He charged them to fully cooperate with the police and other security agencies to ensure that they are in full compliance with imposed curfews and any other extant security instructions in force.

Buratai said the recent activities by unscrupulous elements had shown their desire to acquire arms and ammunition at all cost from security personnel.

He disclosed that no fewer than 10 AK-47 rifles have been lost to these miscreants in the past two weeks across the country with the attendant loss of lives of personnel.

The COAS, however, charged commanders to nip in the bud these emerging trends at all cost, and directed them to warn their troops on internal security or on guard duties outside the barracks to be at maximum alert at all times, and to also deal decisively with any attack on their duty locations.

According to him, there was no choice between a democratically united, strong and prosperous Nigeria and a nation disunited in a state of anarchy and retrogression.

We must all strive for a united, strong, stable and progressive Nigeria, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Rivers state House of Assembly

Ikuru Lizzy

Rivers State House of Assembly has reassured residents of peace and security following unrest witnessed in some states, in the aftermath of #EndSARS protest.

The house gave the assurance on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, at a news conference unanimously signed by lawmakers representing the 32 state constituencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Nysom Wike, had deployed some stringent measures to ensure peace in the state.

The measures ranged from imposition of curfew in some parts of the state to an official ban on activities of the Ingenious Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) group.

The house also restated support for state governments ban on IPOB in Rivers.

The resolve read by Speaker of the house, Mr Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani urged residents to remain calm as government was employing all legitimate steps to return normalcy to the state.

The lawmakers said that government took the steps as a result of deliberate breach of peace by hoodlums who took advantage of the #EndSARS protest to cause trouble in the state.

In line with our constitutional responsibility as enshrined in Section 4, sub-section 7 of the 1999 constitution as amended for peace and good governance in the state, we are poised to delivering on this mandate, the lawmakers resolved.

They said that while supporting all peaceful agitations and calls for disbandment of the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), destruction of lives and properties would not be acceptable.

We condemn in its entirety the violence that was orchestrated by members of the proscribed Ingenious Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and other miscreants during the protest.

This has led to loss of lives and property of the people and that of some security personnel in the state.

We advise those who have hijacked the #EndSARS protest to perpetrate crime, to desist from such act as it is capable of destroying national stability, the lawmakers said.

The house also assured some residents, especially those in Oyigbo local government area, a boarder community with Abia who allegedly fled the area for fear of continued crises of safety.

They condoled with families of victims of the protest and urged their respective constituents, especially the youth to maintain peace. (NAN)

Source: NAN News