Tankers explosion scene on Kara Bridge along Lagos- Ibadan Expressway on Sunday, June 21, 2020 (NAN photo)

By Yemi Adeleye

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced diversion of traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, following an explosion involving four trailers on Sunday morning at Kara Bridge.

The Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, made the announcement in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

Following the unfortunate crash that involved three fuel tankers and one other trailer that were engulfed in an inferno in the early hours of the day, FRSC operatives immediately mobilised and invited fire servicemen to extinguish the fire.

The situation, expectedly, impaired traffic situation around the scene of the fire outbreak and beyond.

This affected motorists, especially those driving out of Lagos.

To cushion the effect on the road users, FRSC temporarily diverted traffic between New Garage and the end of Kara bridge to allow a counter-flow for Ibadan bound traffic to use a lane from the Lagos bound section of the expressway.

FRSC hereby admonished motorists using the temporary lane to obey instructions from traffic officials around the scene of the crash and urged them to drive with caution, Ogungbemide said.

According to him, while the burning fire is being extinguished and waiting to clear up the wreckages off the road, motorists who are not close to the scene are advised to explore alternative routes.

Those travelling from Ibadan may turn at Sagamu interchange and use Abeokuta to Lagos through Sango Otta, Abule Egba, Iyana-Ipaja.

People travelling out of Lagos may also use the above route and travellers from Lagos Island can explore Victoria Island, Ajah to Ijebu Ode to continue their journey.

However, motorists around Mowe, Ibafo entering into Lagos or vice-versa using the temporary lane should please drive with extreme caution.

The sector commander, who urged motorists to drive with care, said that FRSC wished everyone safe journeys to their various destinations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

One of scene of rainstorm destruction at Badariya area in Birnin Kebbi

By Muhammad Lawal

The Chairman, Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Dododo, has advised residents to plant trees in their houses to avert the menace of windstorm.

Dododo gave the advice while sympathising with victims of Friday windstorm during a visit to some affected areas in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some areas affected by the storm were Badariya area, Mobile Police Barrack, Bayan-Kara, parts of Gesse III and Bayan OANDO in Birnin Kebbi.

The report said that there was no lost of life during or after the incident.

Dododo said: This is a general appeal to all residents to endeavour to plant trees to protect their houses and the environment.

The state Ministry of Environment is distributing different varieties of tree seedlings free-of-charge and Gov. Atiku Bagudu is launching tree planting on annual basis.

These tree seedlings are distributed free and even if it is not free, in order to protect our houses and our environment, we should go and buy such trees for our own good.

If you are building a house, try to get some trees and plant so that before you finish the building those trees would have grown up.

Therefore, I am appealing to all including those affected by this disaster and those who are not, to go to the Ministry of Environment and collect these tree seedlings and plant them for the good of all.

Dododo said the incident was unfortunate, noting that most of the affected persons are low and middle income earners.

He said that some of the affected persons have just settled down after struggling from rented apartments to live in houses they could call their own.

Dododo urged traditional institutions in the affected areas to go house-to-house to ascertain the extend of damage in order to come up with list of the affected persons for possible assistance.

We want the traditional institutions to do this assignment holistically so that each and every person affected will benefit.

We want to know how many room(s) affected and how many people in each house so that we can come in formally and assist and this, we need urgently, he said.

On his part, the Chairman, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Council, Alhaji Aminu Ahmad, sympathised with the victims and prayed God to replace what was lost with something better.

He said the council was doing everything possible to have a genuine list of affected victims for onward submission to SEMA.

The chairman said that many of the victims are in dire need of assistance, hence the need for the Federal Government to come in and render assistance.

He also directed traditional institutions in the area to embark on house-to-house census to ascertain the level of damages and forward same to the council for proper action.

A cross-section of the victims appreciated the leaders for their separate visits, saying it is a show of concern.

One of the victims, Malam Aliyu Mohammed, said the rainstorm started on June 19 evening with strong wind which destroyed many houses and electric poles.

Malama Aisha Haruna said: It all started close to Magrib prayer time when rain was about to fall, wind was moving fast and strong, then we moved into our room with my children and we started praying.

After some time, the wind blew off our roof, pulled down the walls of the building which affected four rooms and destroyed some of our property.

We are using this medium to appeal for assistance from both government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and wealthy individuals to help us. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Tankers explosion scene on Kara Bridge along Lagos- Ibadan Expressway on Sunday, June 21, 2020 (NAN photo)

By Yemi Adeleye

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says rescue operations have so far recovered a burnt body beyond recognition at the scene of Sundays explosion, involving four vehicles along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that rescue operations were still ongoing at the scene of the accident involving three tankers and a truck.

Providing update at 9:00a.m., Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, FRSC Lagos State Sector Commander, said that two injured persons been moved to the hospital.

The inferno as a result of the explosion is almost getting to an end. The fire services are still here from Lagos and Ogun states.

So far, we have been able to move two casualties to the General Hospital Gbagada. One was burnt beyond recognition.

The accident involved three tankers and one truck. Two of the tankers carrying petrol, another carrying gas and an articulated truck, he said.

On the possible cause of the accident, Ogungbemide, who noted that investigation was still ongoing, said that observations revealed that one of the tankers lost control and rammed into others which resulted in the explosion.

It was a loss of control. One of the tankers that rammed into other vehicles either had break failure or got distracted. Investigation is still on, we cant just be accurate now, he said.

FRSC had earlier announced diversion of traffic on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, following the explosion to avert a chaotic traffic situation on the busiest highway. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mrs Brigitte Yerima, DG NICO

Rape
By Mustapha Sumaila
The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has concluded plans for a virtual conference to develop solutions against cases of rape in the country.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the institute, Mrs Bridget Yerima, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Yerima said the conference, which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 24, at 11:00 a.m would be held via the Zoom platform.

She said that the topic rape as an anti-culture in contemporary Nigeria would be discussed.

Yerima added that participants from Nigeria and other parts of the world would make contributions towards finding a lasting solution to tackle the incessant rape cases in the country.

NAN recalls that in the last few months, there had been reported cases of rape in different parts of the country, a development some Nigerians attributed to recent lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari had expressed sadness over the recent cases of rape in the country.

In his 2020 Democracy Day Speech, Buhari assured Nigerians of his administrations determination to fight gender-based violence in the country through available resources.

He said: Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this Nation and for this reason, this administration has continued to give them a place of pride in the affairs of our country, he said.

Source: NAN News

File Photo: Doctors,

By Abujah Racheal
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its indefinite strike which started on June 15.

This followed a meeting between the association and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in Abuja.

NARD President, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, announced this while addressing a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.

NEC has resolved to suspend the ongoing indefinite strike with effect from Monday June 22, 2020 by 8a.m., prompt.

The national officers shall continue negotiations with stakeholders and progress made shall be reviewed in four weeks during the next National Executive Council meeting in July 2020.

The decision to suspend the strike was taken in order to give the Federal and State Governments time to fulfill the outstanding demands following an appeal by the Speaker of House of Representative, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairman Nigeria Governors Forum and other stakeholder, Solomba said.

He acknowledged the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in some hospitals but said there were still need for sustained supplies.

The president also announced that the Medical Residency Training fund had been included in the revised 2020 budget through the intervention of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and would be implemented as soon as the budget was assented to by the President.

He, however, gave the Federal Government four weeks to make good its promises.

At the same time, we await the fulfillment of the promise made by the Nigeria Governors Forum to ensure same is done in all the states.

On the salary shortfall for 2014-2016, The Secretary to the Government of the federation has promised to intervene.

Government has shown commitment to secure group life insurance for health workers. That the disengaged resident doctors at Jos University Teaching Hospital have been reinstated, the Chief Medical Director has been directed to pay their withheld salaries and comply with the provisions of the Medical Residency.

On State Tertiary Health Institutions (STHIs), the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum Gov. Kayode Fayemi and the Director General Mr Asishana Okauru, appealed to be given time to discuss with other state Governors.

The governors are those of Kogi, Gombe, Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, Anabara, Abia and Imo for immediate pay parity with the corrected CONMESS of 2019 and that salary shortfalls due our members will be paid shortly.

NARD also met with Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state who also gave his words to favourably look into all challenges of our members in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso with a view to abiding by the international standard.

That the Executive Governors of Delta and Benue from reports by our members have been supportive although more needs to be done.

NEC observed that COVID-19 inducement allowance has only been paid to 11 federal health institutions and most state governments are yet to review the hazard allowance of health workers, he said.

Source: NAN News

Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation

By Yunus Yusuf
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has relocated its corporate headquarters from Lagos to Abuja.

Mr Khalid Emele, General Manager, Public Affairs of the agency, gave this hint in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

Emele said this was in compliance with the recent directive from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, asking all agencies in the sector to relocate operational headquarters to the nations capital.

This is in a bid to ensure efficient and effective coordination and enhanced service delivery between the ministry and its agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Aviation had, in a letter dated May 4, ordered all the agencies under it to relocate their operational headquarters to Abuja within 45 days.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu and other critical staff of the agency had since relocated to the new NAMA headquarters in Abuja.

This is in strict adherence to the ministrys directive while arrangements are being made for other strategic staff to follow suit in due course, Emele said.

He said that all enquiries and correspondences to NAMA should be channelled through the agencys corporate address at 6, Ogbia Close, Off Arochukwu Street, Garki 2, Abuja.

He said all NAMA social media handles had been adjusted to reflect this change.

Source: NAN News

Suicide Symbol

By Suleiman Shehu

A 40-year-old man, Lanre Kazeem, allegedly committed suicide at the early hours of Sunday by hanging himself in his house at Eyin Grammer area of Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the deceased was living in a rented house, and worked in a private palm kernel company around Soka Ibadan.

The incident took many residents of the area by surprise as they express sadness over the incident.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer,(PPRO),SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident to NAN Correspondent on Sunday.

Fadeyi said that the deceased hanged himself to death in his house and his corpse had been deposited at Adeoyo state Hospitas mortuary.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Sanyo division has visited the area to see what happened.

Investigation has commenced on the matter to know what actually happened,Fadeyi said.

Some residents of the area who spoke to NAN said that the deceased hailed from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and has no known relatives or friends all through his one year stay in the rented house.

They said that the deceased left no suicide note behind to explain the cause of his action and some of his neighbors claimed that the deceased has been sick for close to two weeks without any medical care.

Also speaking on the incident, the Chairman Eyin Grammar Landlords Association, Alhaji Lateef Adegoke said the incident was reported to him this morning and the police had visited taken the corpse to the mortuary.

Source: NAN News

By Habibu Harisu

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has begun a three-day free medical treatment to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other residents in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach is an annual event organised by NAF to assist less priviledged and other vulnerable persons to access free and quality medicals.

Launching the programme on Saturday in Sabon Birni, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state described the medical outreach as a commendable gesture by NAF.

Tambuwal, represented by Commissioner for Health, Sokoto state, Dr Ali Inname, commended the efforts and urged NAF to extend such gestures to other areas such as education, in view of the availability of diverse expertise in the service.

He said that the 2020 activity that targeted IDPs and others in hard-to-reach communities in the state was demonstration of concern over victims of security challenges.

The governor added that food items and other consumables were provided by the state government to be distributed to beneficiaries along with the treatments.

He lauded the existing cordial relations between the community, NAFofficials and other securityagencies and urged them to redouble efforts at safeguarding peoples lives and protecting Nigerias territorial integrity.

In his address, the Director, Medical Services in NAF Headquarters, Group Cpt. Ali Tanko saidthat the exercise was part of efforts of Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, aimed at enhancing community relations through the provision of humanitarian services.

Tanko said that similar outreaches had been conducted by NAF in the past, noting that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other auxiliary health workers, would provide services to beneficiaries free of charge in the exercise.

He added that drugs, eye glasses and other consumables would also be distributed to beneficiaries for free.

According to him, free test will also be conducted along with screening for eye ailments, hepatitis, malaria, diabetes and others.

Todays event signifies our commitment to improving our civil-military relationships. It is usually said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, Tanko said.

Speaking also, the Commander 119 Composite Group of Nigerian Air Force, Sokoto, Group Cpt. Garba Bello, said that the exercise would in no small way contribute to the health of the residents in the communities.

Bello said that the exercise comprised health screening including sugar and hepatitis tests to be done along with the general medical examinations.

Also, there will be distribution of mosquito nets as well as free eyeglasses and dental checks, he said.

The commander told the villagers that the health professionals at the event were ready to assist them with their health concerns.

According to him, those requiring further treatment such as surgeries, will be referred to nearby hospitals.

Earlier, the District Head of Sabon Birni, Alhaji Isa Muhammad, thanked the NAF for conducting the outreach in his community, noting that it would surely enhance peoples well-being.

Muhammad advised members of the community to take advantage of the outreach to access treatment, and stressed the need for the people to continue to live in harmony with security officials.

Some of the beneficiaries, Malam Jajujji Ibrahim, Iliyasu Suleiman and Yushau Lawalli, who spoke with NAN expressed happiness over the gesture.

The beneficiaries described the gesture as a lifeline to them, particularly because of the free medical items such as eye glasses and drugs.

Source: NAN News

The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), on Friday, June 19 neutralised three kidnappers during a commando operation at Quaan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau state.

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

Enenche said that the operation was in continuation of intensive clearance operations under Operation Accord aimed at curtailing the activities of bandits and other criminals in the North West and North Central region.

He said that the daring raid was sequel to technical and human intelligence on the activities of a notorious kidnap kingpin at Pialat Hotel in Kwa.

According to him, troops overwhelmed the suspects who opened fire on them, with superior fire power, neutralising 3 of them while others escaped with gun shot wounds.

Enenche added that the troops recovered one Barreta pistol, one single barrel gun, two fabricated pistols, four rounds of 9mm ammunition, three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, four cartridges, one motorcycle and one techno phone.

He further disclosed that the same troops in collaboration with local vigilante rescued one Salisu Abdullahi, a herder, who went missing while grazing around Bakin Rafi at Gidan Ado general area in Riyom Local Government Area.

According to him, troops arrested a suspected kidnapper, one Alhaji Idris around Hawan-Kibo general area also in Riyom Local Government Area.

He added that four other suspected kidnappers were apprehended in connection with the kidnap of one Mr Abdullahi Abdullahi at Kwahas-Lahir area in Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, all the suspects have been handed over to relevant civil authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

Additionally, as part of Operation Accord Civil-Military cooperation activities, Headquaters Operation Safe Haven distributed relief materials to residents of Daffo district and Kuba village in Barkin Ladi Local Govwenment Area.

This was aimed at cushioning the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Military High Command congratulates Operation Safe Haven for their commitment.

While the general public is requested to continue to provide timely and credible information to the Armed Forces of Nigeria, he said.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu

By Muhammad Lawal

Kebbi State Government has introduced e-learning for primary and integrated Quranic schools across the state to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Muhammadu Magawata-Aliero disclosed that the three months programme is supported by the ECA/UNICEF project under Sokoto Field Office.

While briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, he said that the distance e-learning programme would be aired by the state-owned Kebbi TV, Kebbi Radio as well as Vision FM, Equity Radio and Brinkles FM.

Magawata-Aliero said that the assigned media houses have carried out mass awareness prior to the commencement of the lessons in form of jingles free of charge to enlighten parents, guardians and the larger community on the importance of the programme.

The commissioner added that the lessons would be handled by personnel under the Teacher Development Team (TDT) drawn from the State and Local Government Education Authorities.

These personnel were professionally trained by the UNICEF in handling lessons on Literacy, Numeracy and Science.

Both primary school pupils and their Integrated Quranic School counterparts will be taught lessons on RANA, HASKE and ESSPIN lessons (Numeracy, Literacy and Science), he said.

The commissioner explained that monitoring mechanisms would be put in place to ensure effective implementation and wider coverage of the lessons.

Source: NAN News