#EndSARS protesters

By Mercy Osajiugo

The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has urged Nigerian youths to be patient with the Federal Government as their demands were being implemented by the government.

Abubakar made the call while commenting on the prevailing security situation arising from the #EndSARS protest in the country in Bida on Tuesday.

According to the monarch who is also the Chairman, Niger Council of Traditional Rulers, the initiators of the protests had good intentions, but it was eventually hijacked by the enemies of peace.

He admonished them not to allow egocentric, unpatriotic and disgruntled elements to use their initially peaceful protest to destablise the country.

People are free to protest; it is their democratic right but it should be a peaceful protest,he said.

They should not have allowed people with ulterior motives to hijack the protests. We do not have any other country than Nigeria,he said.

The Etsu Nupe urged youths to channel their energies towards positive things for the common good of the country.

The traditional ruler appealed to the youths to remain calm, law-abiding and give peace a chance, while government work out modalities for a way forward.

Government cannot make progress in an atmosphere of rancour, please give peace a chance.

I urge our youths to please leave the streets, sheathe their swords and monitor the responses from the government,he said.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his prompt and proactive response to the protests, saying that he was confident the country will soon come out of the current challenges.

Abubakar appealed to theadherents of the two major religions in the country, Islam and Christianity, to intensify fervent prayers for the return ofpermanent peace in Nigeria.

He maintained that, the current security challenges posed by the hoodlums that hijacked the good intention of the #EndSARS protesters would soon be overcome.

The traditional ruler urged religious leaders in the country to offer prayers for the Almighty God to provide solutions to the problems plaguing the country.

Prayers by our clerics at this pointin time will help our leaders and the security agents to overcome all these devilish acts that are bedeviling our country,he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. of Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal

By Habibu Harisu

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has denied hoarding COVID-19 palliatives meant for citizens amid coronavirus pandemic.

Tambuwal stated this on Tuesday while addressing stakeholders on governments effort to quell any instigations on the nationwide EndSARS protests.

He said the protests had eventually snowballed into ransacking of many warehouses suspected to be hoarding the COVID-19 palliative across some states in the country.

Sokoto state has no case of hoarded relief materials meant as COVID-19 palliative.

Thestate never recorded both the protest and the attendant mayhem, Tambuwal said.

According to him, the state has received two categories of COVID-19 palliative since the pandemic broke out.

There was one by Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which was a donation by an ensembles of philanthropists.

The distribution of this category was a bit delayed months ago because the donors wanted the donations to be pooled.

As soon as that was achieved, we distributed the materials under the supervision of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Alhaji Saidu Umar.

The other category were those items brought by the Federal Government through the office of the Minister of Disaster Management, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk.

The items were received on the Oct. 17, precisely nine days ago. The little delay we had in distributing the FG palliatives was as at the instance of various requests by the minister.

She needed to be personally around when the exercise started. She made the requests five times before turning up.

So, it is not our fault that the items are still being distributed as we speak. It was the minister who said we should wait until she comes. And that was what happened. Tambuwal explained.

The governor appealed to the beneficiaries to cooperate with the distributors at all levels for a seamless and successful hitch free exercise.

He commended the people of the state for maintaining peace amidst all that had happened in someparts of the country since the EndSARS protests began.

The governor further appealed to the citizens to continue to live in peace and harmony and respect the individual rights of each other.

Tambuwal lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for sending ministers to their respective states to meet with their governors to discuss the way forward in maintaining peace in the country, in the wake of the violence that had trailed the protests.

He said the Presidents gesture would in no small measure assist in maintaining peace and unity of the country, stressing that on its part the state government was working hand in hand with the federal government to maintain peace and harmony in the country.

He thanked the youth in the state for not involving themselves in the crises and assured of his administrations commitment to continue to execute various programmes on empowering youths.

Also, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, assured his continued fatherly role in preaching peace in the country.

Abubakar commended security agents in the state for efforts to maintain peace in the state.

Abubakar said the meeting was summoned in order to discuss the security issues confronting the nation.

The Sultan also thanked the Northern governors for the steps taken to maintain peace in their various states, urging youths not to harass anybody irrespective of their tribe or religion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi had earlier held a news conference and interactive sessions with community and religious leaders.

Dingyadi said the purpose of the meetings was to engage the people who meant well for the country in order to fashion out a way forward to ensure peace and security in the country.

The minister assured that messages received at the meeting bordering on peace, unity, progress and well-being of all Nigerians would be delivered to President Muhammad Buhari.

He said before the EndSARS protest, President Buhari had demonstrated his commitment to the reformation of the Nigerian Police, by enacting the 2019 Police Trust Fund.

He further said in addition, the president had signed into law the 2020 Police ACT and taken other measures to improve the services of police sector, some which hitherto neglect, had sparked the protests. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Petrol Queue

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Long queues are still being witnessed on Tuesday in most petrol stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A survey by a NAN correspondent showed that while some petrol stations were shutdown, others were dispensing with few of their nozzles.

Some of the stations not dispensing the commodity included Gegu Filling Station, AA Rano Oil, Mobil and Conoil, all located along the Kubwa expressway.

At Eterna Oil, Dan Oil, MRS and NNPC on the same axis, motorists were seen in queues, waiting for their turn to buy the product.

At the Central Business Disitrict, massive queues were seen at the Conoil and Total Fulling Stations opposite the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Towers.

Also, long queues were seen at the NNPC Mega and Eterna Filling Stations at the Wuse Zone 1 axis.

At Mbora District by Lifecamp and Idu industrial areas, minimal queues were seen at the AYA Ashafa Petrol Station, while in Lugbe, along the Airport Road, there were long queues at some of the petrol stations.

Some of the motorists told NAN that they had to store petrol in their cars and Jerry cans for future use, in case the queues persist.

One of them, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: We are in uncertain times in Nigeria; I want to fill up my car while I wait to see how things unfold.

Our leaders need to sit-up, we need good governance at all levels, he said.

Another motorist, who simply identified himself as Charles, stated that he was held in the traffic because of the fuel queues.

This is crazy; I have been in this traffic for almost an hour; and as you can see, everywhere is completely blocked.

I dont even understand why we are having this scarcity at this point in time, he said.

Meanwhile, the NNPC had cautioned motorists against panic buying of the commodity, assuring of normalcy in the supply of petroleum products.

Dr Kennie Obateru, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, said that the long queues currently being experienced were due to the curfew, imposed in some states over the #EndSARS protests.

He said that the curfew affected the free movement of vehicles for the supply of products, but assured of normalcy in a couple of days.

The disruptions and curtailment of free flow of vehicular movement occasioned by the #EndSARS protests, the attendant curfews, restrictions and vandalism affect the supply situation.

Normalcy is expected to return to the petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days.

There is no need for panic buying, be rest assured that supply will soon return to the entire country, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ganduje presents N147.9bn budget for 2021

By Bamalli Abas

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state on Tuesday, presented the 2021 budget of N147.9 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ganduje said that the budget tagged Budget for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development will focus on education and infrastructure development.

He said that N74 billion of the budget was for capital expenditure, representing 55.5 per cent, while N72.2 billion was for recurrent expenditure, representing over 40 per cent.

Ganduje said that the total recurrent revenue for the state for 2021 was estimated at N106 billion.

He said that the amount included N24 billion Internally Generated Revenue(IGR), N52 billion from federation account and N28 billion Value Added Tax (VAT).

According to Ganduje, over N37.8 billion, representing 25 per cent of the budget is allocated to the education sector, while N11.8 billion is allocated to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

He said N25.5 billion was allocated to the health sector, while the Ministry of Environment was allocated N1.1 billion.

We proposed N2.5 billion for the information sector, over N9 billion for water resources, N5.2 billion for judiciary, while religious affairs was allocated N557 billion.

The budget reflects our vision for diversification of sources of revenue with a view to laying solid foundation that will guide the administration to pursue its development objectives.

Also to enable us built on our operational principles, aspirations and priorities geared towards the continued leadership position of the state, he said.

Alhaji Abdulazeez Garba-Gafasa, Speaker of the house, promised that the lawmakers would speedily consider and pass the budget.

He, however, said that the lawmakers would properly scrutinise the budget and follow due process before its passage.

The speaker pledged that the house would continue to work together with the executive for the development of the state.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Illustration: Fuel attendant

By Nana Musa

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has warned motorists against panic buying of its products, assuring that there is enough fuel on ground.

Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, said that the long queues in some parts of Abuja were due to fear of attacks by hoodlums.

Yakubu told the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that, there is no fuel scarcity; just that some fuel station owners are scared of their property being damaged.

People should not fear and do panic buying as there is enough fuel on ground.

Yakubu also advised the masses to shun violence and embrace peace for a better economy.

NAN reports that most filling stations along the Kubwa expressway have long queues with motorists trying to buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chiazo Ogbolu

Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), on Tuesday suggested that port terminal operators should adopt the Nigerian Export Proceeds (NXP) number to smoothen export transaction.

Bello, speaking when he visited some port terminals in Lagos, said operators should take advantage of the 90-day transaction period offered by the Central Bank of Nigeria to enhance their operations.

Bello said he appreciated the terminal operators for the removal of demurrage charges on cargoes last week covering the period of the EndSARS protest.

The terminals visited are APM Terminal (APMT), Maersk Nigeria and the Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT).

We are visiting to see the challenges confronting terminal operators after the disruption of services. We also want to ensure that there are no spillover that will affect the economy as it will have adverse consequences.

Shippers were not able to remove their cargoes so there is need to think about it and come up with incentives so that they can do so, he said.

Bello added, to also aid transactions at the port, government is investing in infrastructure to tackle problems of transportation, institute an electronic call-up system and by March, 2021, link the terminals by rail.

He noted that the NSC, Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency are working to ensure tax incentives and for terminal operators to have 98 per cent independent power supply.

He urged the management of the Tincan Island Container Terminal to come up with solutions to ensure the decongestion of people operating at the port by ensuring that operations are done digitally.

Mr Yemi Adenaike, Customer Experience Manager, Maersk Nigeria, lamented their inability to validate the NXP numbers, urging the executive secretary to find a temporary solution until the portal is up and doing.

We anticipated the rush due to the disruption of last week and we have extended the dues of customers till the end of the month.

Due to our inability to validate the NXP number, we have stopped loading exports and this is not good as it will impact negativity on the terminal, road and others and so we seek your help, he said.

Also, Mr Greg Sipe, Operations Manager, TICT, said that they have sent notices on their removal of rent on cargoes for the said period.

He noted that they are having issues with customers as they do not want to patronise their online services, adding that the issue of taking peoples cargoes to bonded terminals has been addressed. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Senator

By Florence Onuegbu

South-West Senators on Tuesday visited the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to commiserate with him and Lagosians on the mayhem arising from the EndSARS protest.

Addressing the media, the lawmakers, led by Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, said that the Senate was pained by the level of damage and sued for peace for the progress of the state and the nation at large.

We are concerned about the gravity of the damage to life and property in Lagos and other places.

We are going to move a motion in the Senate to urge the Federal Government to come to the assistance of Lagos State because the burden of the damage will be too much for Lagos alone to bear, he said.

According to him, the Senate is in support of the demands of the youths and will do all within its power to actualise them.

We are working with government to ensure that those demands that require constitutional approval will be done by us expeditiously.

We are here today on a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, to solidarise with him and to commiserate with him on the recent experience of Lagos State.

We are indeed very unhappy that at this stage in our history, that this type of damage have been done to Lagos State.

We pray that this type of thing will not happen again. Those who are in governance and those who are out of governance, all have a role to play to ensure that this country moves forward.

We are aware of the role the media can play, and we want to plead with you that in the discharge of your duty, you put Nigerias unity first, Boroffice said.

The South-West Senators on the visit included Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North), Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central), Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo South), Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Adeola Solomon (Lagos West), and Amosun Ibikunle (Ogun Central).

Others were Odebiyi Tolulope (Ogun West), Bashiru Ajibola (Osun Central), Fadahunsi Adenigba (Osun East), Oriolowo Aderele (Osun West)and Folarin Teslim (Oyo Central),

Also on the courtesy visit were Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North), Balogun Kola (Oyo South), Adetunmbi Olubunmi (Ekiti North), Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti Central) and Olujimi Abiodun (Ekiti South). (NAN)

Source: NAN News

A teacher with his pupils in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is to fill staffing gaps at public schools by recruiting new teachers while intensifying daily assessments of teacher attendance amid faculty strikes.

The majority of teachers on strike have not been reporting for duty since schools opened for public examination classes on Sept. 28, demanding a review of their salaries.

Public Service Commission Secretary Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe on Sunday urged the striking teachers to go back to work as wage negotiations are underway under the National Joint Negotiating Council.

The negotiations will not be for teachers only but the whole civil service sector.

Other civil servants are going to work, so it is important for teachers unions to tell their members to be at work until finalization of the negotiations.

Taungana Ndoro , Communication and advocacy director at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said the government would assess staffing gaps and determine areas where additional educators are needed to cover the vacancies left by those not reporting for duty.

We seek to establish gaps in terms of human resources so that regulations such as social distancing can be properly implemented. However, in terms of preparations, schools are ready to open on Monday.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema said that schools would be equipped with the requisite personal protective equipment and that the safety of learners, teachers and support staff is guaranteed.

The teachers, who earn their salaries in local Zimbabwe dollars, want the government to pay them in U.S. dollars at a level of 520 U.S. dollars per month for the least paid worker.

The Zimbabwean government is currently paying its workers in local currency after the country in June 2019 discarded the use of U.S. dollar that had been in place since 2009, and re-introduced the Zimbabwe dollar.

Source: NAN News

Motorists driving pass the Admiralty Toll Gate, Lekki Phase 1 on Monday

By Esenvosa Izah

Normalcy has returned to the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos State, as commuters and residents now ply the road with little or no obstruction.

The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent reports that commuters were seen driving through the Admiralty and Ikoyi-Link Bridge Toll Gates to their various destinations.

NAN reports that protests over a now-disbanded police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), took over the area for about two weeks, with demonstrators using the social media hashtag #EndSars to rally crowds.

The protesters had blocked the toll gates, while protesting against police brutality and an end to such, calling on the government to accede to their demands.

However, on Oct. 20, the protesters were dispersed by alleged shootings that caused many injuries following a 24-hour curfew imposed by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the state.

Some residents, who spoke to NAN, expressed gladness that the crisis was over, calling on the state government to ensure safety of its citizenry.

They also called on the government to dialogue with the youth and give them the opportunity to thrive.

One of them, Mrs Theresa Benson, said: We hope incidence such as this protest that got so bad does not occur again.

We need peace and stability in our country, and that can be achieved through dialogue with the parties involved.

Another resident, Emmanuel Afiawari, advised youths to be educated and improve themselves on how to engage government meaningfully.

Afiawari said, The youth are our future, and they need to be given the opportunity to contribute their quotas to the development of our nation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

By Cecilia Ologunagba

The World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Office for Africa located in Brazzaville, Congo, says there are over 1.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent.

The UN health agency gave the update on its regional official Twitter account @WHOAFRO.

WHO stated on its dashboard that there were over 1.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent- with more than 1.3 million recoveries and 41,000 deaths cumulatively.

South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia were countries with highest number of reported cases.

According to the dashboard: South Africa reported 714,246 cases and 18, 944 deaths; Ethiopia 92,858 cases with 1,419 deaths, while Kenya had 48,790 reported cases and 896 deaths.

Meanwhile, Dr Belinda Herring, Virologist at WHO Africa Region Office, in a video spoke, about the deployment and rollout of the new COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests in Africa.

Rapid diagnostic tests are more efficient, affordable and easy to use and will be a game changer for testing and diagnostics in the region, she said.

According to her, countries will be able to increase the number of testing they do from hundreds to thousands.

Rapid test kits are cheaper and easier to use than the PCR, with rapid diagnosis test kits; you can get a result within an hour and you will be able to test more people.

WHO is going to support countries to procure and use the kits. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Long queues resurface at petrol stations in parts of Abuja

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Long queues have resurfaced in most filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most filling stations along the Kubwa Expressway were filled with motorists trying to buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

Some of the petrol stations that recorded the queues are Shema Filling Station, AA Ranonoil, Conoil, Mobil, Dan oil PLC and the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling stations, all located along the Kubwa expressway.

Some of the motorists who spoke to NAN said they just noticed the long queues and decided to top up.

Also speaking, a taxi driver who identified himself only as Moses, said he had to buy fuel to be able to do his businesses, in case there is scarcity.

I did not have in mind to buy petrol, but seeing queues in two filling stations and coming down, the same thing is happening. I have to do something.

I just have to buy now with the small money that I have, to get ready for Tuesdays work. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Petrol Queue

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian National Petroleum corporation (NNPC) has cautioned motorists not to engage in panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, assuring of normalcy in the supply of petroleum products.

Dr Kennie Obateru, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday added that the long queues currently being experienced were due to the curfew imposed in some states over the EndSARS protests.

Obateru said that the curfew affected the free movement of vehicles for the supply of products, but assured of normalcy in a couple of days.

The disruptions and curtailment of free flow of vehicular movement occasioned by the EndSARS protests, the attendant curfews, restrictions and vandalism affect the supply situation.

Normalcy is expected to return to the petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days.

There is no need for panic buying, be rest assured that supply will soon return to the entire country, he said.

Source: NAN News

#EndSARS protests: Police arrest 25 suspected looters in Kaduna

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 25 suspects for allegedly looting private and public property, as hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protests.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said this at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday.

He said that following the current trend of #EndSARS protests in the country and the subsequent hijacking of the protests by hoodlums, the state witnessed the looting and destruction of property.

He said consequently the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew to curb criminal activities of the miscreants.

Jalige said that with the responsibility of enforcing law and order placed on the police and other sister security agencies, the command went into action.

He said that in view of this, the command apprehended 25 suspectsfor alleged criminal conspiracy, vandalism and looting of public and private property.

Jalige listed some of the exhibitsrecovered from the suspects to include, three Toyota buses, one Mercedes Benz, one Golf car and one Toyota Camry.

He said that others include six Boxer motorcycles of which three were unregistered, six bed foams, one bundle of zinc, eight tricycles, 29 bags of grains and 32 pieces of plant fibre mosquito coils.

He noted that some medical items and drugs, including electrical gadgets, among others were recovered.

According to him, the police, alongside other security agencies, are still working to ensure that more offenders are arrested.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 25 suspects were immediately charged to court for prosecution

Source: NAN News

Buki Ponle, MD NAN chages youths to distance themselves from fake news

By Sylvester Thompson

Mr Buki Ponle, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has charged youths in the country to distance themselves from fake news and use their brains positively to contribute to nation building.

Ponle gave the charge on Monday when he received a delegation of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), which paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

According to him, fake news will not project the country in a positive light and is responsible for the destruction of many countries around the world.

He advised the visitors to make good use of information, communication and technology (ICT) to disseminate accurate information about the country.

Ponle, who emphasised the power of information technology, said it could also be used positively for self improvement, in terms of knowledge acquisition and a better projection of the country.

Lets eliminate fake news, use your brains to develop the country, he said.

He said that the Federal Government had recently demonstrated that the youth needed to be carried along by assenting to the five-point demand presented by the ENDSARS protesters.

The NAN MD assured that government also recognised that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow and today, because they form part of the development process.

As long as that is recognised, we will always task you to ensure that your future as leaders of the future is not destroyed now.

Do whatever you can to appease the youth who are not on the same page with you to do the needful, Ponle said.

Ponle told the delegation that Nigeria belongs to all and that the youth, especially, had the responsibility as future leaders to do the right thing, at the right time and place.

He also urged the NYCN to endeavour to represent what the country stands for, which is love and unity.

The managing director stated that to do this they needed to strive to remain as a single entity of one collective youth organisation because there is strength in unity.

Continue the process of forming yourselves into one single entity because united we stand, divided we fall.

Dont let any extraneous factors divide you because in unity you can achieve a lot, he noted.

He promised to partner the youth organisation in anything it intended to do and achieve for the betterment of its members and the society at large.

He said NAN was ready to promote whatever the organisation represents, as long as it would promote the country and enhance growth and development.

Earlier, Mr Ibrahim Omoba, Vice President of the NYCN and leader of the delegation, said the delegation came to identify itself as well as seek ways on how to partner the news organisation.

Omoba expressed dissatisfaction with the proliferation of fake news all over social media platforms across the country without consulting to find out the facts.

He said the NYCN is a unit of the National Youth Council (NYC), with the objective of reaching out to other youth groups in Nigeria in a spirit of synergy.

The high point of the visit was the presentation of Congratulation Credence to the MD of NAN, as well as his decoration with a medal and recognition as patron of the NYCN.

Source: NAN News

Rev Yakubu Pam

Jessica Onyegbula

Rev Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), has advised Nigerian Youths to embrace peace and dialogue, saying its time to cease fire.

Pam, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, said that all hands must be on deck to find a lasting solution to the problems facing the nation.

He said that the current situation in the country has made it compelling for people to work collectively towards building a better Nigeria, adding the youths have what it takes to be part of the journey to a greater Nigeria.

The NCPC boss pleaded with the Nigerian youths to exercise patience and trust President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his promise to address their five point demands.

Pam said that the wanton destruction of national assets and monuments by those who circumvented the peaceful protest left much to be desired.

According to him, the money which would have been used for infrastructural development would now be used to fix things destroyed by irate youths.

As an apostle of peace, which I have spent a large chunk of my life pursuing and building bridges, I make bold to say that without peace there cannot be any meaningful development.

I wish to express my heart felt commiseration on the death of innocent Nigerian youths who died in the struggle for better tomorrow.

I therefore wish to call on the organised Nigerian youths to embrace peace and dialogue as the only panacea for enduring resolution to their demands. The time to cease fire is now, he said.

We are not against lawful protest which is allowed in any modern democratic setting such as ours, Pam said.

Source: NAN News

Gunmen

Ibrahim Abdulazeez

The Chairman of Iganna Local Council Development Area of Oyo State, Mr Jacob Adeleke, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Mr Gbenga Fadeyi, made the disclosure in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Iseyin, on Monday.

He said the incident occurred late on Sunday.

I can confirm to you that the council boss was kidnapped along with his driver on Iseyin-Ado-Awaye road on his way to Ibadan.

Since then, we have deployed our men to comb the area to rescue him and arrest the perpetrators.

The command will ensure that the state is safe for all and sundry, Fadeyi assured. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ronaldinho tests positive for COVID-19

Former Brazil striker Ronaldinho Gaucho said on Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating.

The ex-FC Barcelona and Paris St-Germain (PSG) player was in Belo Horizonte, where he played for local side Atletico Mineiro, when he got his diagnosis.

I arrived in BH (Belo Horizonte) yesterday (Saturday) and I took the COVID test, I tested positive, I am good, asymptomatic so far, the two-times FIFA World Player of the year said in Sunday.

The former AC Milan, Flamengo and Gremio player said he would remain in a hotel until his condition improved.

The charismatic forward spent a month in a Paraguayan jail with his brother and business manager earlier this year, accused of entering country with a fake passport.

Source: NAN News

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara with the heads of security agencies at a meeting on Sunday in Ilorin

By AbdulFatai Beki/Olayinka Owolewa

The Kwara government has announced the relaxation of the 24 hours curfew imposed on residents of llorin following protests in some parts of the metropolis.

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Rafiu Ajakaye, relaxed the curfew from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

The governor said that the relaxation became imperative in view of the peace and harmony being recorded in the state.

Ajakaye said the decision was taken after a state security council meeting with heads of the security agencies in the state on Sunday.

A review of the situation in the Ilorin metropolis suggested a relative calm.

The meeting observed that the objective of the curfew has largely been achieved as the misguided elements who looted and vandalised public and private property have been pushed back and normalcy restored.

Consequently, the security council resolved to relax the curfew from 24 hours to between 6p.m. and 8 a.m. daily until further notice.

This means members of the public can move around between 8 a.m. and 6p.m. daily within the metropolis.

Even so, the government will continue to review the situation and take decisions that are in the best interest of the state, he said.

He said that security operatives were on ground to ensure law and order prevail in all parts of the metropolis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. AbdulRasaq had in a broadcast on Friday imposed 24 hours curfew on llorin after hoodlums looted and vandalised some private and public places in the metropolis.

Source: NAN News

Formula One: Hamilton overtakes Schumacher with record 92nd win

Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton became the most successful Formula One driver of all time in terms of race wins on Sunday.

He did so with a dominant 92nd career victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao.

The Mercedes driver, who took the chequered flag a huge 25.592 seconds ahead of second-placed team mate Valtteri Bottas, had equalled Ferrari great Michael Schumachers record 91 wins.

He achieved the feat at the previous race at the Nuerburgring.

Victory, along with a bonus point for fastest lap, stretched the Britons championship lead over Bottas to 77 points with five races remaining.

You are re-writing the history books, Mercedes told Hamilton over the team radio, with team boss Toto Wolff adding: Lewis, 92. 92.

I owe it all to these guys here and back at the factory, said Hamilton.

Its just been such a privilege working with them, added the Briton, who was joined on the podium by race engineer Peter Bono Bonnington.

Today was tough but it was all about temperatures.

Dutch youngster Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull at the Algarve circuit near Portimao that was hosting the countrys first grand prix in 24 years.

Hamilton lapped all but the three drivers behind him.

But it had not looked so simple at the start when he dropped to third from pole position on a lively opening lap with occasional rain complicating matters.

Bottas, who had gone ahead, was then passed on lap two by McLarens Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard had started seventh on the soft tyres, with the Mercedes pair struggling to get heat into the medium rubber.

Verstappen had meanwhile dropped to fifth after tangling with Racing Points Mexican Sergio Perez, who pitted and dropped to last but recovered to finish seventh.

Bottas retook the lead on lap six as the tyres fired up, with Hamilton moving up to second.

He stayed ahead until his team mate overtook him on lap 20 to lead for the first time since the opening lap.

Hamilton, whose father was at the circuit to see his triumph, reported cramp with seven laps to go but then proceeded to set a series of fastest laps.

I could never have dreamed of being where I am today, he said after his eighth win of the season and 71st since he joined Mercedes.

I didnt have a magic ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with great people, but here I am and what I can tell you is Im trying to make the most of it every single day.

Its going to take some time to sink in. I was still pushing flat out coming across the line.

Bottas said he just had no pace. I was pushing hard but couldnt go faster, complained the Finn.

Ferraris Charles Leclerc finished fourth with AlphaTauris Pierre Gasly fifth.

Sainz was sixth with Renaults Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo eighth and ninth.

Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel took the final point for Ferrari.

Lance Stroll, who missed the last race and then tested positive for COVID-19, was the only retirement of the afternoon with the team reporting floor damage.

The Canadian had already collected multiple penalties by then.

Source: NAN News

Troops hit bandits camps, eliminate scores in Kaduna

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Troops of Operation Thunder Strike have eliminated scores of bandits in land and air offensives on their camps at Yadi and Kufai Shantu in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Enenche said the operation was executed on Saturday following credible intelligence and series of aerial surveillance missions that led to the identification of the hideouts.

He said the hideouts were confirmed to belong to a notorious leader of the bandits.

According to him, the first wave of the air components strikes involved seven Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that undertook 12 missions in a total of 23 sorties.

He said the operation commenced at dawn and targeted a cluster of huts housing notorious armed bandits leader, named Buhari Halilu.

Enenche explained that the attack aircraft destroyed some of the target structures and neutralised several bandits.

He added that the second wave of attacks targeted bandits hideout at Kufai Shantu, aimed at incapacitating them to reduce resistance to the ground troops advance toward Yadi.

According to him, following the air fixing efforts at Kufai Shantu, the land forces, supported by an attack helicopter, successfully assaulted Halilus hideout at Yadi, clearing two of three objectives.

The ground troops subsequently fought through fierce resistance from bandits hiding under the foliage at the third objective and eventually overpowered the criminals, while eliminating several of them.

The Air Component provided effective support to the ground troops during all phases of the operation.

The Military High Command commends the Land and Air Components for their professionalism and urges them to remain resolute in the conduct of operations in order to eradicate all armed bandits.

Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria sincerely appreciates the continued support and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians, as it keeps up the tempo of operations to defeat all enemies of the nation, he said.

Source: NAN News