Category: General News

Tinubu condoles with minister over mother’s death

Condolences

By Salif Atojoko

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, over the passing of her mother, Hajiya Aisha Sulaiman-Danladi.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said this in a statement on Thursday.

“President Tinubu also commiserates with the Sulaiman-Danladi family, noting that losing a loved one, especially a beloved mother, is such a harrowing experience.

“The President urges the Minister to take solace in the eternal legacies of the deceased and honour her by immortalising her exemplary service and kindness to all,” said the statement.

The President prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and comfort for her family. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SA/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Panel  to conduct tests on structures near collapsed DMGS building

Tests

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, June 27, 2024 (NAN) A panel of inquiry is to conduct integrity and structural tests on buildings around the collapsed Dennis Memorial Grammar School centenary building in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The panel is charged with investigation of cases of collapsed buildings in the state.

The Chairman of the eight-man panel of inquiry, Mr Victor Meju, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

Meju,  also the Chairman of Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter,  said that preliminary findings showed that the five-storey centenary building collapsed due to a gap between the technical engineer and the engineering team.

He said the panel, which started sitting on Tuesday, had received testimonies from the various teams  involved in the construction process.

The chairman said the building engineer could not interpret the technical report on the soil which recommended raft foundation of ground beams.

According to the chairman, the building engineer did what he felt would be good.

“Again, we discovered that the consultant was working on pro bono which is unethical, because without collecting consultancy fee, you will not be able to give the job priority and professional attention which is what played out.

“The man who did the foundation was different from the man who did from the DPC to the last floor and there was a compromise of the quality control management at a time when they engaged daily pay workers due to lack of funds,” he said.

Meju said that structural and integrity tests would be conducted on buildings around the collapsed one  to ascertain their safety.

He said that the tests would be on soil, chemical composition of cement used, reinforcement rods and other relevant materials.  (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

APC/IGO

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

FG inaugurates task force on illegal private charter operations

Force

By Gabriel Agbeja

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja,  inaugurated a `Ministerial Task Force` on illegal private charter operations and related matters in the aviation industry.

Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said at the inauguration that the task -force would be engaged in taking inventory of all Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) holders and Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders.

According to him, the committee will among others determine why the practice of illegal charters by PNCF holders persists in the country in spite of regulatory controls.

”Call in all professional licenses of pilots and crew in the country and determine their authenticity and validity.

“Recommend to the minister,  any additional measures to be taken by regulatory agencies to stem the ugly tide. To recommend appropriate sanctions to be imposed by the regulatory agencies on defaulters.

“Recommend additional measures to further monitor  operations and activities of private aircraft in Nigeria and  any other terms of reference that may be determined by the minister as the Task Force continues its work,“ he said.

He added that members of the task force had been carefully selected from within the aviation industry and were people of high repute and integrity.

According to the minister, members of the Task Force include Capt. Ado Sanusi as Chairman; Capt. Roland lyayi  as Vice Chairman; Director of Air Transport, Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development as Secretary.

“Other members are -Theresa Babaoye (DATR-NCAA);One nominee from the National Security Adviser – Capt Daniel Quansah ; Capt. Patrick Ogunlowo ; Obafemi Bajomo (SA-HMA).

“This Task -Force is not only a response to the current challenges but also a proactive step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability and integrity of our aviation sector.

“We expect the Task-Force to work for three  months, except circumstances require some extension, “ he said.

Keyamo canvassed collective working diligently to restore confidence in the  aviation industry, eliminate illegal operations, and ensure that every flight in the  nation`s skies adhered to  highest standards of safety and legality.

He expressed optimism that such collective efforts would lead to a stronger, more secure, and prosperous aviation industry.

“ It has come to my attention, through a series of disturbing reports, that practice of illegal charter operations is thriving within the aviation industry, thereby undermining efforts of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other regulatory bodies.

“ These illicit activities have resulted in significant financial losses to the Federal Government and also have raised security and safety concerns as  operations of private aircraft owners have remained largely unchecked and unregulated.

“This has also resulted in using these private aircrafts for other illegal activities.”

He said the National Security Adviser wrote to alert the ministry last week of the spike in money laundering, drug-trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircrafts in the country.

“It appears that Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) operators have become increasingly emboldened, continuing their illegal operations with the assistance of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who collect tolls and list these illegal charters under their AOCs.

“Furthermore, we have received alarming reports that some crew members have not attended mandatory simulator trainings for nearly three years and are flying with fraudulently-obtained renewed licenses.

“Many of these individuals are operating planes registered under PNCF but are conducting illegal charter operations with impunity, “ he said.

“In light of these grave concerns and in alignment with two key objectives of our five-point agenda, I am compelled to take this decisive action, “ he said.

Keyamo reiterated his five -point agenda encapsulated as safety, infrastructure, support for local operators, human capacity development and revenue generation,“

Speaking, Capt. Ado Sanusi,  Chairman of the Ministerial Task Force, said the newly established  task force would effectively and efficiently achieve all statement objectives by its predetermined judicious performance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

FGA/CHOM/IAA

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Isaac Aregbesola

Tinubu tasks governors on food security

Task

By Salif Atojoko

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Tinubu has urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of citizens, stating that he is willing to provide the needed support to ensure that Nigerians are relieved of hardship.

The president, who spoke during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja, emphasised the urgency of boosting food production in the country.

He said the nation must boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy by creating opportunities in the real sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, as well as provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians.

Tinubu said that the Sokoto-Badagry Highway was a pivotal project as the states within the axis formed the food belt of the nation, and with Badagry being an important artery for food export.

“Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late.

“We are ready and able to support you in the form of the mechanisation of your agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.

“We are prepared to provide solar powered irrigation facilities to support our farmers across seasons, but we must now produce,” he said.

The president added that states must produce enough food for people to eat, and that this would require coordination and intentionality between members of the NEC.

“There is nothing we are doing that is more important than producing high-quality food for our people to consume, buy and sell.

“We create jobs in the production of it. And that is before we generate wealth by exporting the excess. It is not beyond us to achieve this for Nigerians.

“How much support do you need from me and in what form? I am prepared to provide it. But we must achieve the result. We must deliver on our targets at all levels.

“Please report back following your consultations and submit to my office within seven days,”  Tinubu said.

The president approved the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme to cover all geo-political zones in the country.

He said under the programme, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which would traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos, was prioritised.

Tinubu said other road infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is underway, and the Trans-Saharan Highway, which links Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, would also be prioritised.

The president also approved full counterpart financing for Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway; to traverse Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno.

He also approved  the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway; which would traverse Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.

Tinubu said, “The Sokoto-Badagry road project is specially prioritised for its importance as some of the states it will traverse are strategic to the agricultural sustainability of the nation.

“Within the Sokoto-Badagry Highway corridor, there are 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams spread across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over 1 million hectares of arable land.

“In addition, other items under the National Construction and Household Support Programme include one-off allocation to states and the Federal Capital Territory of N10 billion for the procurement of buses and CNG uplift programme.

”Others are: delivery of N50,000 uplift grant each to 100,000 families per state for three months, provision for labour unions and civil society organisations and deployment of N155 billion for the purchase and sale of assorted foodstuffs to be distributed across the nation.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SA/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Democracy

By Abujah Racheal

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The  Former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, says sustaining democracy in the country requires constant nurturing and vigilance.

Abubakar, who was represented by Gen. Adamu Jidda, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the second edition of ThisNigeria Newspaper Gold Prize and Annual Lecture Awards.

The theme of the lecture is “25 Years of Nigeria’s Unbroken Democracy – Prospects and Possibilities.”

He said that electoral integrity, human rights, economic development and social justice remained critical areas that demand the country’s collective attention and action.

He also said that nation’s democratic journey had not been without its trials.

“Democracy is an evolving process, and the past 25 years has taught the country that it requires constant nurturing and vigilance.

“We have faced political turbulence, economic fluctuation and social upheaval, yet through it all, the Nigerian spirit has remained indomitable.

“We have shown that in spite of our differences, we are united in our commitment to conducting elections that are inclusive, prosperous and democratic,” he said.

He stated further that the next 25 years and more would  certainly bring challenges and opportunities.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the foundations are built and strengthened that our democratic institutions are fortified.

“Let us take a moment to reflect on a remarkable journey Nigeria has undertaken over the past quarter of a century.

“In 1999, our nation embarked on the path of democratic governance, a path marked by aspirations, challenges and unwavering commitment to the principle of freedom justice and equality.

“Democracy as we all know is not a system of government, it is a testament to the will of the people, it represents our collective voice, our shared values and our common aspirations.

“For Nigeria, the past 25 years have been a testament to the resilience of our democratic institutions,” he said.

He said that the country must recognise the role of the media in the democratic journey.

He also noted that the press had been the watchdog of democracy, “holding leaders accountable, shedding light on issues that matter and providing a platform for diverse voices to be heard.

“ThisNigeria in particular, has been at the forefront of this endeavour, championing the cause of free and fair journalism.(NAN) www.nannews.ng)

AIR/KAY

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Democracy

By Abujah Racheal

Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesome Wike, has berated activists whose activities he describes as undermining the progress made so far in the 25 years of the country’s democracy.

Wike said this on Thursday in Abuja at the second edition of ThisNigeria Newspaper Gold Prize and Annual Lecture Awards.

He argued that in spite of the ongoing challenges, significant advancements had been achieved.

“Advancements such as improvements in infrastructure in the FCT and proactive efforts in the current administration to restore hope among citizens,” he said.

Wike stressed the need to recognise and build upon these successes to continue fostering national development.

In his keynote address, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome called for genuine democracy, effective governance, economic reform, youth engagement and social justice to ensure the country’s progress and unity.

He reflected on the significance of the 25-year milestone since the country returned to democracy in 1999.

He noted  that the generation born during this period had no experience of military juntas and repressive regimes.

He emphasised the need for youth involvement in governance, citing historical examples of young leaders in the country and other countries.

He also highlighted the potential of the nation’s youthful population and the importance of harnessing their energy for national development.

He called for a new constitution that would reflect the will of the people and for electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections.

He highlighted what he observed as underrepresentation of women in government and the need to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality

Sen. Shehu Sani, a former senator and an activist, reflected on the challenges faced by activists and leaders in the struggle for democracy and underscored  the sacrifices and injustices endured during those tumultuous times.

He highlighted the importance of perseverance and collaboration in striving for democratic ideals.

Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi of Mass Communication, Department, School of Postgraduates Studies, Baze University, said that democracy “requires constant effort and the  responsibility of  citizens is to work towards a better democratic system.

“American democracy, often seen as the bastion of democracy, has been around for centuries but still faces challenges.

“While it is one of the most functional and referenced democracies, it is not the best.

“Our election processes are marred by controversies and violence.

“We need to improve gender representation and ensure inclusivity in governance, reflecting the true nature of democracy.

“To strengthen our democracy, we need to focus on election integrity, credible leadership and systemic change.

“Corruption remains a persistent problem and our institutions are weak.

“We need a synergy to build a self-regulating democratic system, not give up and continually strive for more democracy”.

The publisher of ThisNigeria, Mr Eric Osagie, said that the 2024 edition celebrated and critically examine Nigeria’s quarter-century of uninterrupted democratic governance, discussing its prospects and possibilities.

Osagie said that the  Gold Prize Awards were presented to individuals who had demonstrated outstanding contributions to the nation’s democratic development.

“Our 2024 Awardees are persons who made the critical difference in the discharge of their duties with uncommon zeal and commitment to the common good of the citizens and the country,” he said.(NAN) www.nannews.ng)

AIR/KAY

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Drug

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 27, 2024 (NAN) Mr David Folaranmi, a repentant drug addict, has narrated his experience on drug addiction and how he was rescued from the social vice.

Folaranmi, who is the founder of David Folaranmi Foundation, narrated his experience during the foundation’s 6th Annual Symposium, on Drug Abuse, held at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) on Thursday.

The event held for the youth, was themed “Evidence Is Clear: Invest In Prevention”.

“I was once a drug addict. When I finished schooling in Nigeria, I went to the UK in 2010 and some of my friends introduced me to hard drugs.

“It became bad that I started selling my property including my car and started living on the streets in UK; it took up to seven years of moving from one place to the other but I was rescued and rehabilitated.

“When I got better in 2017, I started this foundation to save the youths from drug addiction,” Folaranmi said.

The founder called for increased campaign against drug abuse in the country particularly in the South East to discourage youths from consuming hard drugs.

“When I went for a programme and drug survey came out, and there was high prevalence cases in the Southeast, we decided to establish the foundation in Enugu,” he said.

Speaking on the theme, Folaranmi said the prevention should start from the family, where parents were expected to speak to their children on dangers of drug abuse.

According to him, communities, schools, media and religious leaders, also have roles to play in that regard.

Folaranmi explained that the symposium was also meant to remind the young people on the issue of drug abuse and its effects in the society, so they would not forget.

“So if we can teach them at school level on prevention, it will not exceed to their adulthood. We will train them on causes, risk factors, and preventive measures.

“As we train them, they will go out and train others,” he said.

He revealed that the foundation was borne out of the need to educate Nigerians against drug abuse, especially the young people.

Delivering a lecture on Drug Abuse, the Associate Dean, Student Affairs, UNEC, Prof. Philip Udoh, recalled that during his days in school, illicit drugs were not consumed, but were common among students.

While urging them to seek medical help, if affected by it, Udoh urged for total ban on sales of hard drugs from markets.

In a remark, Lt.Col. Adeyemi Abolade, the Commander, 82 Division Medical Services and Hospital, Enugu, commended the foundation for the programme, saying that drug abuse was a menace to the society.

He urged students to desist from it as  its prevention was cheap, but could cost a lot to treat.

A student, Miracle Oji, from Jesus Foundation School, Enugu, expressed happiness over the sensitisation, stressing that, “I have learnt a lot about drug abuse and how it affect our lives.

“I will take the message to my friends and other members of my community,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by many secondary schools from the state capital, representatives of security agencies and health officers among others.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AAE/ARIS/MNA

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Edited by Idowu Ariwodola/Maureen Atuonwu

Flooding

By Fabian Ekeruche

Lagos, June 27, 2024 (NAN)  The Lagos State Government says it will construct additional drainage collector on Agungi, Lekki, to tackle the perennial flooding in the area.

Mr Tokunbo Wahab, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, said this on Thursday during the on-the-spot assessment of the impact of Tuesday flooding around Agungi and its environs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wahab, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite,  Heads of Agencies and Directors in the Ministry also visited Freedom Park Road/Kusenla Junction and Alpha Beach Road in the Lekki area.

Wahab said  the Lagos State Government was committed to a flood-free Lagos by ensuring that residents do not have to panic whenever it rains.

He said the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) of the ministry were deployed at the peak of the rainfall to clear the debris in the collector at the  aforementioned areas to ensure free flow of water.

Wahab said that a minor encroachment was observed along Alfa Beach behind the James Hope University where a blockage was discovered.

He added that  full excavation would start on Saturday from Alpha Beach to Lekki Conservation Road.

Wahab stressed that the  construction of a new collector at Agungi Road was just one of the several which the LASG would construct to address perennial flooding issues in the identified areas.

“At  Agungi, we have agreed that the area needs a new collector that will take the water from the road into the lagoon; the collector they have there is too small to  serve the volume of storm water on the  Agungi Stretch,” Wahab said.

He said that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure would be invited to raise the level of the road after the construction of a new collector.
According to him, the flooding issue on System 156 (Up stream), Alpha Beach Road,  has been a recurring problem for a while.

He  said that the dredging of the channel would commenced immediately towards making the state flood free.

Wahab noted that people were discovered to have built to block System 156.

He emphasised that the state would not fold its hands and allow some people for the sake of profit making destroy public infrastructure  provided by individuals and government.

“Like we have always been saying, people built to block System 156 and some families on this  corridor also obliterated with developers to block System 156,” Wahab said.

The commissioner vowed that the state government would continue to ramp up enforcement operations across the state to reclaim setbacks and drainage alignments.

He appealed to residents to be whistle blowers for  government, adding that the  government cannot be everywhere.
“Things cannot stop over night and government agencies and ministries will join forces to put a stop to these actions by enforcing our laws,” Wahab said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
FBO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma