Encomium
- APC WELCOMES BUHARI BACK TO NIGERIA
The All Progressives Congress has also joined the list of those sending goodwill messages to the President Muhammadu Buhari who left the country over 100 days ago and arrived in Nigeria on Saturday from his medical vacation in London.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the Party was grateful to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo for his competent leadership in the absence of President Buhari and commends him for his effort to unite the country and drive the recovery of the national economy. In unison they pray for his speedy recovery and strength to continue his good work.
- PRESIDENT BUHARI ADDRESSES NIGERIANS AFTER MEDICAL VACATION
President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation for the first time on Monday after his arrival from medical vacation on Saturday.
The President acknowledged all Nigerians for their prayers and support during his absence. He furthermore addressed the issue of quit notice where he said every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.
However, he charged the Security Agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax. Finally, he restated that he remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained.
- TWO KILLED, THREE INJURED ALONG DAMATURU-BIU ROAD
Two persons have been confirmed dead while three others were injured in an explosion along the Damaturu-Biu Road in Yobe state yesterday (Sunday, August 20, 2017).
It was disclosed that explosive devices were planted along the road by Boko Haram terrorist group. The commuters took off from Damaturu to Biu located some 121 Kilometers away from the Yobe state capital when they encountered the terrorists halfway into the journey. The three injured were rushed to the Damaturu specialists’ hospital by security forces on patrol along the road this morning.
A hospital source at the accident and emergency ward of the Damaturu specialists’ hospital who confirmed the incident said the three have been treated and referred to the Federal Medical Centre Gombe.
- GUNMEN KILL GOVERNOR ORTOM’S AIDE, INJURE WIFE
Benue state Police say they are working to determine the motive for the killing of Governor Samuel Ortom’s aide on Economy and Investment. Tavershima Adyorough was shot early Sunday morning at his residence in Makurdi, the state capital alongside his wife was also shot but she is being treated in hospital.
Benue Police commissioner, Bashir Makama confirmed that an investigation has started into the incident and Adyorough’s phones are being analysed for relevant information.
This is the fourth killing of an elder statesman or top government official in Benue since Ortom became governor in 2015.
- FG, STATE AGREE ON SPECIAL COURTS FOR HATE SPEECHES, OTHERS
The Federal and state governments have agreed to set up special courts for the purposes of prosecuting conveyors of hate speeches as well as suspected terrorists and kidnappers .
According to a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the decision was reached at a one-day National Security Retreat organised by the National Economic Council on Thursday which was chaired by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and has the 36 governors, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria as members.
Akande said the retreat discussed concerns about the delay in the nation’s criminal justice system and NEC members concluded that prompt action by law enforcement agencies was imperative.
Akande said the issues about funding of security agencies and provision of equipment also featured in the discussion while NEC members agreed that funding was essential.
Despite the security challenges in parts of the country, the Vice-President was also quoted as commending the nation’s security agencies.
- ASUU ZONAL LEADERS TO DISCUSS FG’S OFFERS TODAY
The Academic Staff Union of Universities will meet on Monday (today) to find lasting solutions on the offers made by the Federal Government last Thursday in Abuja. It was gathered on Sunday that the union would meet at zonal levels nationwide where the members would conclude whether to accept the offers made to them before a final decision is taken.
The Federal Government had during the meeting with the ASUU leadership in Abuja offered to pay N 23 billion and a monthly payment of N1.5 billion pending the outcome of the forensic audit being carried out by the Ministry of Finance .
The government team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment , Dr. Chris Ngige, was said to have rejected the union’s demand for exemption of universities from the Treasury Single Account .
- DANGOTE’S DRIVER ARRAIGNED FOR STEALING N25M TRUCK
The police have arraigned a 35-year-old driver with Dangote Group Plc, Haruna Bello, before an lkeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a truck belonging to the company.
The police said Haruna who worked with the Dangote Sugar Factory in the Apapa area of Lagos made away with the truck on May 18, 2017, while driving the truck to Cotonu, Benin Republic, when he was arrested by customs officers in Badagry .
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Donjor Perezi, said the offence was punishable under Section 287( 7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State , 2015. Although he pleaded not guilty to the charge, the case was adjourned till September 25 , 2017, while the Magistrate, Mrs. O. A. Olayinka, granted him bail in the sum of N 1. 5 million, with two sureties each in like sum.
- OGUN RESIDENTS PROTEST AGAINST IBEDC’S ESTIMATED BILLING
Residents of Lafenwa-Ayetoro-Itele in Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of Ogun State, have staged a protest under the coverage of Electricity Consumers Mega Forum to reject estimated billing from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
They are calling on the federal and state governments to intervene as they alleged that officials of the IBEDC have been collecting money from them without supplying electricity.
They wondered why they have to pay a company that has refused to give them prepaid meters and have been collecting money from them without proper breakdown and transparency. They however call on IBEDC to listen to their pleas and find a lasting solution.
- SMUGGLERS OF IMPORTED SNAKES DISAPPEAR FROM CUSTODY
Suspected smugglers of imported snakes identified as Julius Novigana and Victor Agbor, who were handed over to officials of the NAQS on July 26 by the Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone, Cross River and Akwa Ibom Commands, Nanbyen Burromvyat, following their interception of consignments containing 140 different species of snakes and 660 other animals imported into Nigeria from Cameroon have disappeared from the custody of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services in Cross River State.
The Cross River State Director in charge of the NAQS, Sunday Ukut, on Friday told the Minister of State for the Environment, Ibrahim Jubril, that the two suspects had disappeared. The minister, who showed surprise at the disclosure, said he was not happy with the agency’s poor handling of the case, charged them to see that all efforts are being put in place to track them back.
- NIGERIA GOVERNMENT GIVES DEADLINE FOR RELOCATION OF ONITSHA DRUG MARKET
Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewale, has given December 31, 2018 as deadline for relocation of Onitsha drug market to Coordinated Warehouse Centre (CWC) in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. He made the disclosure over the weekend when he visited the CWC site. The minister insisted that there would be no open drug market in the country by January 1, 2019.
He urged the leadership of the market, led by Uchenna Eze to immediately commence the construction at Oba to meet the deadline, saying no other place would be allowed for the CWC in the state.
Adewale said the federal government approved Onitsha, Aba, Lagos and Kano for the CWC to checkmate and monitor the influx of fake, counterfeit and adulterated drugs into the country.
