Category: Metro

Autonomy
By Esenvosa Izah
Lagos, June 29, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has called for financial, administrative and political autonomy for local governments.

The NULGE National President, Mr Ambali Olatunji, said in Lagos on Saturday that the autonomy was important for Nigeria to  grow its gross domestic product more and curb insecurity.

Olatunji spoke in an interview with the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Olatunji said: “We must make local governments to be financially, administratively and politically autonomous.

“We must consider community policing, so that there must be guarding at the community level.

“Our policing policy should not be reactionary, but  pre-emptive to be able to address insecurity.

“Our opinion is that the local government must be the platform for policing evolution in Nigeria.”

The labour leader also called on  the Federal Government to create a policy that would address unemployment at the local government level.

He called for revival of the vocational skills acquisition department of local governments.

According to him, this will ensure that women and youths in the rural communities are trained and empowered.

“The vocational skills acquisition department across local governments has been erased systematically, overtime.

“This level of government should be given adequate attention to address the needs of those in the rural settings.

“It will go a long way to improve  livelihoods and ensure a better Nigeria for everyone,“ Olatunji said. (NAN)
EEI/IGO
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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

One dies in Third Mainland Bridge accident

Accident

By Chiazo Ogbolu

Lagos, June 29, 2024 (NAN) One person was confirmed dead in an accident that occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos on Saturday morning.

The fatal accident involved a Mini Truck (MUS 489 XS) and a Toyota Camry (KRD 470 JD).

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident was caused by excessive speeding during a heavy downpour this morning,” the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said in a statement.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, in the statement signed by Mr Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, said that three others were rescued at the accident scene.

He said that operatives of LASTMA responded swiftly to the accident, which occured near the Unilag waterfront, heading towards the Iyana-Oworonsoki area of Lagos.

Giwa said that despite the government’s ongoing campaign to educate motorists about speed limits, drivers continued to flout the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

He urged both commercial bus drivers and private car owners to avoid exceeding speed limits on the Third Mainland Bridge and other roads throughout the state.

Giwa said that the deceased was promptly removed by State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) officials, while LASTMA cleared the accident vehicles to ensure smooth traffic flow on the bridge.

He extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasised the importance of road safety. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

CAN/YMU/SOA

Edited by Yakubu Uba/Oluwole Sogunle

NEMA receives 103 Nigerians deportees from Turkiye

NEMA

By Philomina Attah
Abuja, June 29, 2024 (NAN) A total of 103 Nigerians deported from the Republic of Turkiye back to Nigeria were received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other Stakeholders.

The deportees who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday at 7pm through the pilgrims wing of the airport were received by the Federal Government officials led by NEMA

A Southwind Airlines flight TCGRB conveyed the deportees from Turkiye to Nigeria.

Addressing the returnees, the Director General NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, admonished them to accept their experience in good faith and be law abiding.

The DG NEMA, who was represented by the Director, North Central Zone, Alhaji Bashir Garga, said the returnees were received with dignity to assuage their experience and assured the concerns of Federal Government over their plights.

Umar announced that a token of financial support had been provided to assist in their transportation to their various locations.

After being screened by officials of Port Health authority, profiling was done by NEMA and NCFRMI, they were cleared by NIS and were given transportation to aid their movement to their various destination.

Other stakeholders that joined to receive the deportees were officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Commission for Refugees Migrant and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMID), National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Other are the Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian (FAAN), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Others were officials of Port Health Authority and National Intelligence Agency. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
APA/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Sultanate

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Abuja, June 29, 2024 (NAN) The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has emphasised the need for the protection and preservation of the institution of the Sultanate in the country.

The National President of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Othman-Ngelzarma, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said that the institution of the Sultanate which dates over two hundred years, should not be toyed with by politicians who were supposed to be channeling their energy in promoting good governance.

Othman-Ngelzarma criticised the alleged subtle threats to emasculate the revered Sultan, who is the symbol of Islamic authority in Nigeria.

He  said, ” We believe protecting and preserving the institution of the Sultanate is a cardinal responsibility of every right thinking personality in the country.

” We call upon the Sokoto State Government,especially the legislature, to tread softly and do all that is necessary to preserve and protect the institution that represents an all important ideology that created it.

” Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is worried by the media reports alleging that the Sokoto Government intends to whittle down the powers of his Eminence the Sultan, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III.”

Othman-Ngelzarma said MACBAN stood firmly with the Sultan, adding, “because we believe he deserves better as he has shown capacity to uphold justice and equity in all his dealings.

” This is evident in his efforts in propagating religious and ethnic tolerance in Nigeria among diverse groups.

” His background as a military man, his resoluteness to speak the truth and his standing for the poor and underprivileged in spite of being an aristocrat makes him a model for leaders to emulate.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SSI/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

FAAN MD wants WILAT key into cargo of agriculture produce

Cargo

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Lagos, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has urged  Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT) to key into air cargo of agricultural produce.

Kuku made the call during a courtesy call  on her by a team from WILAT, on Friday in Lagos.

Kuku said that FAAN was putting a lot in place to ensure that  necessary infrastructure such as temperature-controlled systems and testing centres would be  in place at all airports in the country.

She said that the aim was  to grow the country’s economy through air cargo.

Buttressing the role of WILAT in empowering, mentoring and supporting women in the ecosystem, Kuku said that women should be part of the end-to-end value system.

“I do strongly believe that women in logistics and transport, both the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and WILAT, will play a critical role in this drive.

“This is an opportunity for women nationally to play a role from the end-to-end value system.

“This is an opportunity to look at your constituency to see how we can further execute the roadmap that we are working on in different states.

“From our end in aviation, for the airports in particular, we have made commitments around the necessary infrastructure, which would include things such as temperature-controlled facilities, and I am certain there are people or organisations that are part of the broader ecosystem for WILAT,” she said.

She advised WILAT to look for ways of collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

The managing director pledged FAAN’s support and collaborations.

Earlier, Mrs Folake Soji-George, the Global Vice Chairperson of WILAT, said that the group mentored students from the Faculty of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University.

Soji-George  praised FAAN for support so far but called for more.

Mrs Khadijat Seidu-Shabi, Chairperson, WILAT Nigeria,  congratulated  Kuku on her appointment.

She  disclosed that WILAT would decorate the FAAN MD with a role model award to encourage younger women in the ecosystem.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN) reports that a congratulatory letter, card, satch and badge were presented to the managing director during the visit. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

ITM/IGO

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Fire

By Philip Yatai

Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) says lack of access caused a delay in putting out the fire at the Karu old market in Abuja on Thursday.

The acting Director-General of the department, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Wenegieme underscored the need for access to market, public and private buildings by fire service personnel and trucks during fire outbreak for quick interventions to reduce losses.

She said that the fire started around 6:30 p.m. but was brought under control by the combined team of FEMD, FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service.

According to her, the efforts prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding houses.

She, however, explained that it was not the new Karu Market currently under construction that was engulfed by the fire, but an informal market and settlement behind the new market.

She said: “there are Fire Stations at two locations in Karu; we have the Karu Fire Station, and a Fire Station and firefighting truck in the new Karu Market under construction.

“Firefighting trucks arrived at the scene of the fire on time but could not get access to the market to put out the fire on time.

“We had to break walls to pass the firefighting water horses through, to be able to put out the fire,” the acting D-G said.

She added that goods worth millions of naira were lost, but no life was lost to the fire.

She further said that personnel of the Nigeria police, Nigeria army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were also on ground for crowd control.

Wenegieme thanked the Department of Engineering, Federal Capital Development Authority for activating Julius Berger Fire Service to provide the needed support.

She said that investigation was ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

FDY/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Boost

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government has reported significant boosts in the nation’s economy with the Excess Crude Account standing at 473.75 million dollars and Stabilisation Account at over N28.7 billion.

The Government also said that the nation’s Natural Resources fund stood at over N53.89  billion.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this at 142nd National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, presided over by its Chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja,

A statement on the NEC meeting was made available to newsmen by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media.

Nkwocha said ithe vice president linked the boost in Nigeria’s economic outlook to the financial prudence and transparency framework adopted by President Bola Tinubu.

In the statement, the vice president said: “At the helm of the nation’s affairs is a leader who always reminds us of the necessity of making the right calls to deliver on our promises to the nation.”

Shettima also  explained why Tinubu earned and deserves the title, Jagaban, conferred on him by the Emir of Borgu.

” The President is Jagaban (the front-row commander), he has a rare political virtue that has made him the unifying nub of the zeal to serve the country.

” We highlighted Nigeria’s improved credit outlook by Fitch Ratings, owing to Mr. President’s transparency and effective financial management to further the nation’s economic progress.

“Today, as we prepare for the agenda of the day, I am excited by the presence of His Excellency, President Tinubu, a reservoir of ideas, a visionary extraordinaire, as he guides us towards finding a common ground.

“Nobody can do so better than he does, and it is this rare political virtue that has made him the unifying nucleus of our aspirations to serve the nation. He is the Jagaban, the front-row commander, for a reason.”

Also in the statement, Nkwocha said that NEC ratified the nomination of six state governors as members of the Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

He said the governors, representing the six geopolitical zones, were from Borno, Katsina, Imo, Ekiti, Kwara, and Akwa Ibom States.

Nkwocha said NEC noted the importance of NDPHC to the country’s economic development in approving the nominations.

He said the meeting saw the presentation of key updates and recommendations from various ad hoc committees.

Notable among them was the Ad Hoc Committee on Flood, Erosion, Drought and Desertification (Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness and Response), presented by the Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi.

He said the flood committee called for the revitalisation of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and improved coordination between different levels of government.

Nkwocha said the council also resolved that the Vice-President, Ministers of Finance, Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources and Sanitation, and Budget and Economic Planning would meet on Monday to strategise on funding sources to mitigate the climate challenges facing the states.

He said the outcome of the meeting would be presented to the President on Tuesday.

Nkwocha said the Council, equally, Similarly, adopted the recommendations of the committee’s report on implementation and provision of funds to states and relevant MDAs to address the problems.

He added that Update from NEC Ad-Hoc Committee on Economic Affairs was presented by Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara.

The spokesperson said the council resolved that the committee should align its mandate with the National Economic Management Team to come up with robust solutions to the nation’s economic challenges.

According to him, the committee is working closely with states to address challenges related to foreign exchange loan facilities and fuel pricing.

He said the Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, chaired by Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo presented key recommendations as part of interim measures to improve security at oil and gas terminals and enhance regulatory oversight in the sector.

Nkwocha said Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo was co-opted into the committee as a subject matter expert and the committee was mandated to submit its final report to council within one month.

In a related development, Nkwocha said the council received an update on the on-going discussions regarding the establishment of state police, urging states to expedite their submissions on the matter.

In a move to bolster food security, he said the Vice-President announced the presidential approval for operationalizing the Presidential Food System Coordinating Unit.

He said the unit is charged with the responsibility of developing robust economic solutions for the country’s food system.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SSI/ROT

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Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi