The Plateau State House of Assembly has promised to make new laws that would address the menace of building collapse in the state.
The state government confirmed 22 deaths and 154 injuries at the Saint Academy, Jos school building collapse that took place on Friday morning.
NAN reports that the Assembly Speaker, Gabriel Dewan, stated this when he led lawmakers to the scene and the hospitals, where the injured were receiving treatment.
Dewan, who spoke through the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mr Mathew Kwarpo, stated that there would be serious legislation concerning buildings in the state.
According to the speaker, a committee would be set up to liaise with relevant professionals, especially the Nigerian Institute of Builders, to conduct integrity tests on most of the buildings in the state.
He said the move was not meant to witch-hunt anybody but to avoid ugly incidents like the school building collapse.
“It is quite unfortunate what we have observed here.
“We are led by the Speaker, Gabriel Dewan, who was on a national assignment on behalf of the state but had to cut short because of the sad incident.
“We are here with the committee that has oversight when it comes to the issue of buildings and housing. The Education Committee Chairman is here with us, alongside other fellow lawmakers.
“As representatives of the Plateau people, we are here to see what happened, and we have seen that the situation is very bad.
“There are preliminary investigations that are ongoing to ascertain what led to the building’s collapse. The result of the investigation would help us make laws to prevent such ugly occurrences in the future,” he said.
Plateau Assembly promises new laws to address building collapses
Plateau Assembly promises new laws to address building collapses
Tinubu appoints Tosin Adeyanju to Head National Lottery Trust Fund
President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of Mr Tosin Adeyanju as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF.
A statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu’s Aide on Media and Publicity noted that Mr Adeyanju is an accomplished administrator and good governance advocate.
He said the President expects the new Chief Executive Officer to ensure transparency and efficiency in the operations of the agency to actualize the objective of the NLTF as a driver of good causes in Nigeria.
Tinubu appoints Tosin Adeyanju to Head National Lottery Trust Fund
Tinubu appoints Adeyanju National Lottery Trust Fund boss
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Tosin Adeyanju as the new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement he issued on Saturday titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund.’
Adeyanju succeeds Bello Maigari, who former President Muhammadu Buhari reappointed in March 2023.
The President described Adeyanju as “an accomplished administrator, and good governance advocate.”
Tinubu said he expects the new Chief Executive Officer to “ensure transparency and efficiency in the operations of the agency to actualize the objective of the NLTF as a driver of good causes in Nigeria.”
The National Lottery Trust Fund was established under section 35 of the National Lottery Act 2005 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate national development.
With three years of experience, Stephen, The According correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons
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FG probes Plateau school building collapse
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has directed an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the collapse of the Saint Academy School building in Jos, Plateau State, which occurred on Friday, July 12, 2024.
The minister described the incident as “unacceptable” and “totally unacceptable” and promised that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
He noted this in a statement shared with journalists on Saturday in Abuja.
Over 40 students have been rescued from the rubble, with many still hospitalised.
The minister expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished those in the hospital a speedy recovery.
The minister noted that building collapse is preventable and that the ministry is committed to ensuring that building standards and regulations are enforced in the country.
He highlighted the strong warnings issued to developers of ongoing projects and the control and monitoring mechanisms set up by the ministry.
“We will not relent in this commitment to ensure that Nigerians can sleep in their homes, work at their various places of business, or even learn in their schools with peace of mind knowing that the building will not collapse on them,” he said.
The minister assured all that the probe would not go the same way as others in the past, where nobody was prosecuted for wrongdoing.
He vowed that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
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Political parties tackle KWASIEC over high charges for Kwara LG poll
Political parties have criticised the high charges imposed on their candidates by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission for the September 21, 2024, local government council elections in the state.
Punch correspondent gathered that KWASIEC asked each party chairmanship aspirant to pay the sum of N350,000 for the form and another N350,000 as tax, making a total of N700,000, while each councillorship aspirant is to obtain the form for the election at N100,000 and pays a tax of N168,000 making a total of N268,000.
The charges, according to KWASIEC, should be paid to the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) by the aspirants.
The Kwara State chapter of the Labour Party described the demand for nomination fees from aspirants by KWASIEC as unconstitutional and a means of depriving other political parties of participating in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
The party’s state Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oladejo, in his reaction, noted that it was not the duty of the electoral umpire to determine the fees for nomination forms for any political party urging it not to deviate from its constitutional right of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
Oladejo said, “It is glaring that KWASIEC is playing the drum as it has been beaten by her custodian, who is trying to stop another political party from participating in the election.”
The Party urged KWASIEC and its officials to take a cue from its Oyo State counterpart that just conducted LGA elections in which no candidate paid any money to the state electoral body while the state government also supported all political parties that participated in the elections financially for logistics.
He said, “The nomination fees would scare people off from contesting in the election, advising it to operate under the electoral act just like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC.)
“It is the responsibility of each party to fix the price for a nomination form, just the way each party was allowed to conduct a free and fair primary for local government elections”, the party explained.
The Youth Leader of the state branch of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ayinla Luqman, said that the fees charged to the aspirants by KWASIEC were to screen out the aspirants from the local government elections in the state.
Luqman, who said that the NNPP has enough support in the state to win local Council elections, stated that “we have people that are sympathetic to our party to make us win elections in some local Councils, but KWASIEC is using the fees to screen us out of the election.”
However, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, deputy chairman of the All Progressives Congress, who also doubles as the chairman of the ruling party Election Committee said that KWASIEC must have its reasons for fixing the form fees for the candidates.
Samari, who said that the officials of the Electoral body are professionals in their own field of specialisation, stated that “they must have been working according to the guidelines of the Commission on the local government election.
But the state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party, which is the main opposition party in the state condemned the exorbitant charge placed on the aspirants for the local government Elections by KWASIEC.
Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Olusegun Adewara, said, “The high fees charged on the aspirants is condemnable by our party, it is undemocratic. Most of our candidates can’t afford it. It is a ploy to screen out our candidates who are very popular in their respective local government areas out of the election.
Adewara said that PDP in the state had completed all payments for KWASIEC nomination forms for all its chairmanship and Councillorship candidates across the state.
He said, “The payment of twenty-four million, nine hundred thousand naira (N24,900,000) was made to the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), and receipts of payments have been issued to the party’s leadership. They have now proceeded to the KWASIEC office to obtain forms on behalf of all our candidates.
“The PDP noted that, although, by the judgment of Honorable Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, KWASIEC has acted outside the law in imposing fees on its nomination forms, the party remains committed to the forthcoming local government elections in its bid to rescue the people of Kwara from the current hardship and misgovernance.
“In our effort to rescue the people of Kwara from the hardship and misgovernance imposed by the Abdulrahman-led government, we have chosen to endure and comply with their rules to ensure we do not disappoint the people of Kwara, who have long yearned for this election”, he said in a statement.
In his reaction to the allegations, KWASIEC chairman, Mohammed Okanla, said that the fees of N350,000 and N100,000 charged the aspirants for forms were arrived at after extensive consultations with all the existing registered Political parties in the state.
“KWASIEC held an interface with all the political parties, and the form fees were charged based on their suggestions. We also considered the fees charged by the Electoral bodies in other states, including Borno, Bayelsa, Yobe, Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos, to determine the fees we charged for the forms.
Okanla also absolved the Electoral body of attempting to screen out candidates from the local government elections adding that “all necessary information such as Election guidelines and timetable were given to officials of all the political parties during the interface with the political parties.”
“The allegation that we didn’t provide them needed information on the election is a great lie because we personally supplied them with the election guidelines and timetable during the interface with all the political parties”, he said.
The chairman also denied allegations made by some political parties that KWASIEC was broke as the state government has not given it funds to execute the local government election saying that the Electoral body was an agency of government which draws its allocation from the budget.
Slain Lagos alleged kidnapper, Henry Odenigbo not our member – AMPRAC
The Association of Movie Practitioners, AMPRAC, on Saturday, denied claims that suspected kidnapper, Henry Odenigbo, who was shot dead by police operatives in Lagos on July 4, was a registered member of the association.
The President of AMPRAC, Ifeanyi Azodo gave the disclaimer while speaking to journalists in Enugu.
He said that the suspect was not connected to the association in any way.
Recall that the late Henry Odenigbo, who was identified as a Nollywood actor and a movie producer, lost his life alongside six others who had planned to kidnap a businessman in Lagos.
It was learnt that police operatives, acting on intelligence, ambushed the kidnappers, killing seven of them, including Onuigbo while two members of the syndicate escaped.
Reacting to the incident, Azodo said that checks on AMPRAC’s data base showed that the suspected kidnapper was never a member of the association, adding that people of questionable character were never admitted into the association.
He said: “Attention of all executives, members and fans of our noble and very reputable Nollywood guild, the Association of Movie Practitioners (AMPRAC) was drawn to the rude shock of a very false claim being laid on AMPRAC. One slain suspected kidnapper/armed robber, Prince Henry Odenigbo was said to be a member of AMPRAC. This is very untrue.
“When the news came up, I consulted the AMPRAC chairman of Rivers State. He went through his records and the guys name was not there. I also went through the records that we normally send to the census board, that is our data base and checked and his name was not there.
“So I don’t know why somebody will be saying that. It is untrue, it is unfounded. He was never a member of AMPRAC.
“Also before one becomes a member, we must have to screen the person to make sure that such a person has that reputation to be a member or to carry our ID card. Prince Henry Odenigbo is not known to our association.
“We have the evidence and will willingly furnish you with the data base of AMPRAC Rivers State, where he was said to have been registered. We don’t have such a name and will never have.
“It is our priority to investigate characters that come for registration auditions. We do this as basic steps to ensure that we don’t select criminals.
“We do this before any registration exercise so as to avoid dents on our image.
“This is because we realize our position as role models in the society. We never had such a fellow in our midst and we don’t have such a name in our records,” he said.
Slain Lagos alleged kidnapper, Henry Odenigbo not our member – AMPRAC
Low turnout, late arrival of materials mar Delta LG election
The local government election in Delta State on Saturday was marred by low turnout of voters in the various polling units and wards.
Our correspondent, while monitoring the election in Asaba, the state capital, and its environs, observed that there was low turnout in Asaba, Okpanam, Ibusa and other communities.
According Online observed that there was a heavy presence of security personnel at various polling units and wards visited even as vehicular movement was restricted.
At Uzoigwe RAC centre (DISEC ward 11 and 20), it was observed that voting materials arrived at about 10.30 am for onward distribution to polling units.
At Ward 13 Units 3, 30 and others in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, materials arrived at exactly 11 am while voting commenced immediately with a low turn out of voters.
A Peoples Democratic Party agent at Ward 13, Unit 30 who did want his name mentioned attributed the low turnout to the experience of the 2023 general election.
“The last general election has discouraged the people to come out and cast their vote, that’s why we are recording low numbers,” he said.
Also speaking at Asagba Primary School Ward 18 Unit 2, the IPAC Chairman, Delta State and Election Observer, Mr Henry Eze, commended the presence of security agencies at the polling units.
He said, “The whole process was very peaceful, there is no shooting, snatching box or one thing or the other.
“I also want to thank the security agencies, they were fully on the ground at the wards and units level. CP promised us and they lived up to our expectations.
“Low turnout is normal in every election, and don’t forget that there was rain early in the morning. So, it is impressive in all.”
Jos School Collapse: Wife of President Tinubu, Oluremi mourns
Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed shock over the Jos school collapse that claimed the lives of many students and staff.
In a statement on Saturday, she noted that it was very sad to lose children with promising futures.
She condoled with Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State and the families of the victims, praying that God comforts them for their irreparable loss.
The First Lady said her heartfelt condolences go to the Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Muftwang, the bereaved families, and the entire people of Plateau State.
She said, “It is disheartening to lose these children with a promising future. Words are not enough to console you, but I pray that God comforts you all and grants you the strength to bear the devastating loss.”
“May the souls of these our precious ones rest in perfect peace. Amen,” she prayed.
Jos School Collapse: Wife of President Tinubu, Oluremi mourns
Udom’s kinsmen slam Akpabio on claims about past gov’s achievements
Ex-governor Udom Emmanuel’s kinsmen under the auspices of Onna Unity Forum, have expressed disappointment over what it called a ‘deliberate and unconscionable’ falsehood being spread by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, against the person of the immediate past governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Akpabio had, while responding to Senator Ekong Sampson’s contributions to the bill for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre at Iket and Ikot-Ekpene reportedly said Emmanuel left no imprint in his Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District and even in Eket Senatorial Districts.
“I gave you a governor who did nothing in Ikot-Ekpene, Akpabio was reported to have said in a viral video.
Reacting in a statement by its chairman, Efiok Bassey and Secretary, Edet Edet on Saturday, the forum said it felt a sense of obligation to set the records straight, as unchallenged falsehood could be misconstrued as truth, by those with limited knowledge.
The statement reads in part, “Forum is deeply disturbed by the deliberate and unconscionable falsehood and the twisting of facts by Senator Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Nigerian 10th Senate against the person of the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel.
“While we are reluctant to join issues with Akpabio in his unguarded vituperations and claims that though he made Udom Emmanuel Governor he did nothing during his eight-year tenure in the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District (Senator Akpabio’s senatorial district), we feel a sense of obligation to set the records straight as unchallenged falsehood could be misconstrued as truth by those with limited knowledge.
“We are however, tempted to apologise to Nigerians for the several goofs of the Senate President, including this infantile attempt to unmindfully tarbrush and bring to opprobrium Mr Emmanuel, who had exited office over a year ago at the expiration of his 8 years tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom state”.
On Akpabio’s claim that Udom Emmanuel did nothing in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, the Forum stated, “On Akpabio’s claim that Udom Emmanuel administration did nothing in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district that he Akpabio is representing in the senate, It is essential to address these baseless falsehoods and highlight the tangible developments and achievements of Governor Emmanuel’s administration in that Senatorial district.
“How could Senator Akpabio have forgotten that Governor Emmanuel completed the 27km Uyo-Ikot Ekpene Road project which was commissioned by the President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan? The fact remains that this road was abandoned at less than 20% completion by Akpabio’s administration despite a reported full release of over N74 billion contract sum for the project.
“It is unfortunate that Senator Akpabio has also forgotten that, despite his premature commissioning of an uncompleted structure as Sheraton by Four Points Hotel after over 25 Billion was said to have been expended before 2015, it was Governor Emmanuel who ensured that the structure was completed and made functional and functional as a Hotel. Today, it stands as a testament to his commitment to infrastructural development, often being used for significant events, including those hosted by Senator Akpabio himself.
“It is also a verifiable fact, that at least 3 General Hospitals in Ikono, Ikot Ekpene and Oruk anam were completely reconstructed and equipped all in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district by Governor Emmanuel.
Speaking further, the forum went ahead to list out projects carried out by Udom Emmanuel.
“Additionally, Udom administration initiated and constructed a 14.1km Odorikpe-Ikpe ikot Nkon- Obotmme -Arochukwu road in Ini local government area; a 6.4km Nto Edino-EkwereAzu with 2 no. Bridges in Obot AkaraLGA, a 23km Ikot Ekaide-Ikot Okoro- Ikot Ibritam road in Oruk Anam LGA; an 18.95km Ikot Ibritam-Ekeffe- Ikot Akpan Afaha road with a bridge in Oruk Anam; construction of 2.6km Urban roads in Abak LGA.
“Others include construction of a 4.6km School of Arts and Science road, Nung Ukim, Ikono Local Government, a 5.1km internal road in Akwa Ibom state University campus in Obio Akpa, Orukanam, a 15.13km Ikot Esu- Otomo- Azumini road in Ika LGA; a 18.97km Abak 10 – Nko-Otoro- Manta road, in Abak and the construction and building of Model Girls Science School in Abak among others.
“We are constrained to hold that it appears, the Senate President may have lost touch with development in Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial district since he is mostly concentrating on politics at the National level.”
While acknowledging Akpabio’s role in Emmanuel’s governorship election win, the forum noted that it was not enough for the Senate President’s display of pettiness.
“It is crucial to acknowledge that no individual can singularly take credit for making Udom Emmanuel Governor. It was through the collective will of the people of Akwa Ibom State, and ultimately, divine providence, that Udom Emmanuel was elected. Senator Akpabio played a role as a vessel in this process, but it is God who ordains leaders. As responsible members of the public, we are cognizant of Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s steadfast commitment to maintaining his dignity amidst unwarranted attacks from Senator Akpabio.
“Mr Emmanuel’s exemplary display of discipline and tolerance, hallmarks of his governance from 2015 to 2023, stands in stark contrast to Senator Akpabio’s divisive rhetoric. It is regrettable that Senator Akpabio, who has the potential to be a unifying figure for our nation, has instead chosen to engage in baseless criticism against a man who has maintained his dignity in the face of continuous attacks. At a national platform where unity and development should be prioritized, Senator Akpabio’s actions seem misplaced and counterproductive.
“Should he choose to wield his authority judiciously, Senator Akpabio could significantly contribute to our nation’s unity and economic prosperity. Nigerians are poised to judge him not by his verbal assaults on a fellow statesman, but by the tangible impacts he can make during his tenure.
“We, therefore, align with the position of Coalition for Parliamentary Democracy that Senator Akpabio should seek tutorial lessons from the former occupants of the exalted office of the Senate President and stop using the position to engage in mundane personal fuss with perceived political enemies”.
PWDs lament late arrival of voting materials
Persons with Disabilities have lamented the late arrival of voting materials for the ongoing local government election at the various polling units in Asaba, Delta State.
The Oshimili South Chairman, PWD, Mr Steven Ofoeli, said his members come to exercise their rights but are yet to see materials.
He said, “We have been here as we were educated by TAF Africa to exercise our rights, materials have not come to our polling unit at the summit road as at 11 am. Maybe because of the early morning rain.”
However, a Non-Governmental Organisation, TAF Africa said it deployed 75 observers to monitor Local Government elections.
The Founder of TAF Africa, Mr Jake Epelle, stated that the observers are currently deployed to the 25 local government areas of the state.
He said, “Our team is committed to meticulously monitoring the election, with a primary focus on how it affects the disability community. We aim to assess the accessibility of polling stations, the implementation of assisted voting, and the overall experience of voters with disabilities.
“We deployed 75 trained observers across the 25 Local Government Areas in Delta state, ensuring comprehensive coverage of three observers per local government area.
“Our work extends beyond mere observation; we actively engage with stakeholders, educate voters with disabilities about their rights, and advocate for positive changes to enhance the inclusivity of the electoral and political process.”
Epelle urged PWDs to exercise their rights to vote and participate actively in the electoral process, calling on them to report any issues or challenges faced at the polling units.
Also, the TAF Programme Manager, Adeolu Kilanko added that in its commitment to leverage technology and data-driven approaches for election observation, the organisation has significantly upgraded their election observer App.
He noted that the innovative tool will empower its observers to transmit information swiftly and efficiently in real-time to its election hub.
Meanwhile, when our correspondent visited the Uzoigwe RAC centre (DISEC wards 11 and 20), observed that the voting materials arrived at about 10:30 am for onward distribution to polling units.