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Abia APC seeks end to internal crisis

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Abia APC seeks end to internal crisis

The 24 All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2023 Abia State House of Assembly election have called on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the crisis in the party and put an end to its factionalisation in the state.

Out of the 24 candidates of the party in the election, only one of them won his election, due to what the candidates termed infighting in the party.

The only elected APC lawmaker in the state House of Assembly, Mr Anderson Akaliro, led the other candidates on a reconciliation mission to Abuja on Monday.

In a communique tagged, “Abia APC crisis peace initiative,” issued on Monday, Akaliro called on the national leadership of the party to, as a matter of urgency, convene a meeting and invite all leaders and stakeholders of the party to seek an end to the impasse.

The meeting, he said, should include the South-East zonal caucus, Abuja-based party gladiators, key stakeholders, the 2023 APC candidates to the Abia Assembly and House of Representatives and Senate, “with all sitting at a roundtable to get the commitment of the leaders and interest groups to a peace accord.”

The communiqué read in part, “We are calling on President Tinubu, the APC national leadership and the National Assembly members from Abia State and all individual factions to come together so that the factions within the ranks and files of the party would be dissolved into one indivisible unit.

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NCAA intervenes in radar coverage controversy

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NCAA intervenes in radar coverage controversy

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has called on the public to relax their nerves over claims that the Nigerian airspace is insecure due to lack of coverage by radar.

The controversy erupted over the weekend over a statement credited to the NCAA warning airline operators to refrain from flying into restricted areas after the office of the National Security Adviser wrote the aviation regulators reporting the illegal activities of the straying aircraft.

 The aircraft was, however, not mentioned.

The development sparked discussions in the aviation industry, fuelling insinuation that the aircraft strayed to the sky above the Presidential Villa over lack of radar coverage.

Regarding recent concerns about the efficacy of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria system, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency clarified that upgrades to software and modernisation efforts were underway to meet increasing demands for efficiency in air traffic management.

The airspace space management also refuted claims about inadequate welfare for Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers, asserting that NAMA prioritises competitive and sustainable welfare packages for its staff.

Speaking in a statement on Monday, the Acting Director General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, dismissed allegations of faulty or undercover radars.

The regulators noted that it aligned itself with the position of NAMA on the matter.

“NCAA firmly aligns with the statement from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on the total radar coverage of Nigeria. In furtherance to this, the NCAA investigated two recent cases of violations of the prohibited flight zones (DNP4) in Abuja and established that both violations comprised controlled flights in controlled airspace, but strayed into restricted airspace as a result of adverse weather.

“NCAA can also confirm that NAMA had complete radar footage of the two violations with full details of the identities of the aircraft and operators involved. This was only made possible due to functional primary and secondary surveillance radars in Abuja. Similar installations are in Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt,” it stated.

Najomo added, “As regards the improvement of Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, Nigeria’s radar coverage is being backed up with five additional MSSR stations at Obubbra, Ilorin, Talata Mafara, Maiduguri and Numan to augment the four existing radar centres to achieve total coverage of the country. This is also in line with the Honourable Minister’s five-point agenda on infrastructure and fully supported by the NCAA’s oversight in ensuring installed infrastructure continually delivers the desired output.”

Also commenting on the allegation of poor remuneration of the air traffic controllers, the NCAA spokesman confirmed the agency’s intervention in a faceoff between the ATCOs and NAMA on the need for improved remuneration and working conditions.

He said, “On the issue of the welfare of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOS), the NCAA had, only recently, intervened in a face-off between ATCOs and NAMA on the need for improved remuneration and working conditions for ATCOs. Expectedly, in aligning with the Honourable Minister’s five-point agenda on capacity development, the NCAA is extending this drive to other aviation professionals.”

Three face trial for alleged car battery theft in Enugu

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Three face trial for alleged car battery theft in Enugu

Three members of a car parts stealing syndicate arrested by operatives in the Awkunanaw Police Division of Enugu State will face trial upon the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.

This is according to a statement by the Enugu Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, on Monday.

Ndukwe, who identified the suspects as Eze Ebuka, Nnamdi Chukwuemeka and Friday Ilo, disclosed that they were arrested on June 7 at about 2 pm following a credible intelligence about their activities.

The PPRO noted that Ebuka and Chukwuemeka who had initially been arrested for the same offence, confessed to having stolen several vehicle batteries and sold them to Ilo who was also arrested by the police.

He said, “One Eze Ebuka, aged 24, Nnamdi Chukwuemeka, aged 21, and Friday Ilo, aged 31, all males, were arrested on June 7, 2024, around 2 pm, by police operatives serving in the Awkunanaw Division of the State Command.

“Their arrest followed the conduct of a covert operation by the operatives upon the receipt of complaints about the theft of several motor vehicle batteries at a construction site in Awkunanaw, Enugu.

“Eze Ebuka and Nnamdi Chukwuemeka, who were initially arrested in the act, upon interrogation confessed to having stolen many batteries, as alleged, and sold them to Friday Ilo, who was later arrested. 15 batteries, including those of articulated and other motor vehicles, and tricycles, were recovered from them.”

Ndukwe added that the trio of Ebuka, Chukwuemeka and Ilo would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of an ongoing investigation.

“The suspects will be arraigned and prosecuted once investigations are concluded.”

Stressing further, the PPRO noted that in another operation carried out by the command, a live pistol loaded with 36 rounds of ammunition was recovered in a bush at the Airport Corner area of Abakaliki in the state.

He noted that the gun was suspected to have been abandoned by criminals fleeing from police operatives.

In his words, “Police operatives serving in Emene Division of the Enugu State Command, working with law-abiding citizens, on June 16, 2024, around 7 pm, recovered a Beretta pistol with 36 rounds of .9 mm calibre ammunition in a bush at Airport Corner, by Old Abakaliki Road, Emene, Enugu.

“The exhibits are suspected to have been abandoned by criminal elements on the hot trail of the police operatives for allegations of armed robberies,” Ndukwe stated.

Senate to receive supplementary budget July

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Senate to receive supplementary budget July

The Senate has said President Bola Tinubu will send the 2024 Supplementary budget to the legislators for approval after resumption.

The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, informed The According that the N6.6tn supplementary budget, although still being computed by the executive, would be sent to the National Assembly after its July 2 resumption.

He said, “The budget would be sent any time we resume after the Sallah recess. I believe the bill and other important executive communication will be sent to the National Assembly when we resume in July.”

When asked about the budget size, considering that the minister said that the supplementary budget would fund part of the coastal road, he stated, “The budget size is N6.6tn.”

During his May 29 speech to the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives at the National Assembly complex, President Bola Tinubu said the government would soon present the supplementary budget for the 2024 fiscal year.

He said, “I will soon bring the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Bill; that is just for your information.”

Also, last week, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, at a joint briefing of the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs over the proposed Supplementary Appropriation Bill, revealed that the supplementary budget was still being prepared.

He noted that the supplementary budget would be spent on four identified transformational projects.

He said, “The supplementary budget that was announced, or rather was mentioned, came about when Mr President presented a memo to the Federal Executive Council.

“In the memo, he said that he inherited the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, which was domiciled in the National Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority.

“He has also identified transformational projects, including Lagos-Calabar, Coastal Road; proposed Sokoto-Badagri Road; completion of all ongoing railway projects, which we have not provided counterpart funding.”

He added that the Federal Government also planned to fund the rehabilitation and expansion of dams and irrigation schemes to support increased production within the economy, noting that more money would be spent to support CNG and LNG.

The minister further noted, “The three roads, dams and irrigation, and railways is what Mr President designated as the infrastructure, renewed health infrastructure priority items.

“So, that is what he directed that the ministry prepare supplementary appropriation Bill.

“We have not finished work on the bill, we have not submitted the supplementary appropriation draft to the Federal Executive Council yet.

“So many people have approached the ministry and indeed leadership of the National Assembly, as well as many members, asking about the renewed hope the supplementary appropriation.”

Single or double letters? Spelling practice for the season

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Single or double letters? Spelling practice for the season

Because we are in a holiday mood (not an holiday!), today’s lesson is going to be light. Just a little spelling drill, a bit of explanation and the class is over, so that everyone can go back to their pots of mutton. Well, no one should be scared by the weight of ‘mutton’. It refers to ram meat — the way beef is that of cows.  Particularly, we are revisiting some words with confusing single or double letters.

Tricky s-words

Among the most notorious of the terms under consideration are those with either single or double S. But firstly attempt the following questions:

  1. The teacher punished him because he … three words in his essay.

mispelt/ misspelt/ missspelt/ mispelled

  1. The … of her name has caused a big trouble.

   ommission/omission/ommision/omision

  1. Governor Sanwo-Olu will … the project tomorrow.

   commission/comission/commision/comision

  1. You are … me.

   emberrrassing/embarrassing/embarassing/embarrasing

  1. … is a state in the US.

   Misisipi/ Mississipi/Mississippi/Miissipi

The above shows that one must be very careful whenever handling many words with single or double s.  Have the consciousness that something may go wrong while writing. So, it’s not a bad idea to double-check.  Spelling misspell, misspelling or misspelt can be challenging because of prefixation. Just note that it has double ‘s’ — not one or three. It is the prefix, ‘mis-’, plus the root word, ‘spell’, just as ‘unnecessary’ is ‘un-’ plus necessary while ‘beginning’ is ‘begin’ plus the suffix, -ing.

The issue with ‘omission’ is that ‘commission’ has double M and double S. So, there is a tendency to generalise and burden ‘omission’ too with the twin M. ‘Omission’, however, commands only one M and double S. The analogy goes for ‘embarrassment’ and ‘harassment’.  For ‘Mississippi’, remember that names of certain cities, states or countries are peculiarly difficult to spell. Others of such include Illinois, Connecticut, Marseilles, Ottawa,  Johannesburg, Caribbean, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Mauritius, Philippines and Liechtenstein.

 Dropping letters

Some words are intriguing to spell because they drop letters when they change classes, that is, when they change from one part of speech to another. An example is ‘argue’ (a verb) which becomes ‘arguing’ (without  ‘e’,  even as a verb in the continuous tense) and ‘argument’ (as a noun). In other words, while you are free to write ‘They like to argue’, it is wrong to write ‘What are they argueing about?’ Nor should you write, ‘The arguement over the state of the car is strange.’ The correct spellings are argue,arguing and argument.

Now, identify the words correctly spelt among the options here:

The … exercise was very interesting.

   pronuncing/ pronunciation/pronounciation/pronounsiation

The judge said Otti was … elected.

   duelly/ dully/duly/duely

We need to improve on our … culture.

   maintain/maintenance/maintainance/maintaining

Government is worried at the …. of the practice even in France.

   prevailent/prevailence/prevailentt/prevalence

FG denies spending N1.5bn on hotels for ILO delegates

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FG denies spending N1.5bn on hotels for ILO delegates

The Presidency has faulted viral reports that the Federal Government sponsored 289 delegates to the just concluded International Labour Organisation conference that held in Geneva, Switzerland.

It also refuted the claim that N1.5bn was spent on hotel accommodation and other logistics for the delegates.

The rebuttal was made by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in an interview with The According on Monday.

“Why not analyse the list and tell us how many of the delegates were specifically sponsored by the government? Of course, one can see that NECA officials, labour delegates and other private persons were on that list.

“A lot of people came there on their own. That should tell you that it was not all of them that were sponsored by the FG,” Onanuga said.

The social media was awash days ago with reports that Nigeria had the highest number of delegates at the ILO conference.

A list published on the website of the ILO also confirmed that the country had the largest delegation among the 187 countries represented at the event.

Brazil and Argentina emerged second and third behind Nigeria with 191 and 156 delegates respectively.

The Nigerian contingent comprised the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Olabode Agoro, Lagos Head of Service; permanent secretaries, several top shots from the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association as well as officials from Chevron, TotalEnergies and representatives of other private bodies.

In the category of workers’ delegates, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero; the President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, and scores of labour leaders were listed.

The document also listed 116 others under the worker’s delegates, while two were identified as ‘persons accompanying the minister.’

Speaking with The According, Onanuga stated that it would be unfair for anybody to label the Federal Government as being the sponsor of the entire 289 delegates.

Police begin search as gunmen abduct Anambra Catholic priest

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Police begin search as gunmen abduct Anambra Catholic priest

Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have kidnapped an Anambra State-based priest of the Catholic Church, Reverend Father Christian Ike.

Ike was said to have been whisked away by the assailants alongside one other person, on Sunday, along Amagu junction, Ndiokpaleke in Ajali community in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

The reason for the incident has yet to be ascertained, but eyewitnesses in the area said the priest was returning alongside some other persons from an early morning Mass at the St. Michael Catholic Church, when the vehicle he was moving in, was double-crossed by the assailants.

This is just as the Anambra State Police Command spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development, said the police had begun a search for the victims by deploying their intelligence and operational assets for their possible rescue unhurt.

The eyewitnesses in the area said, “The priest and some other persons were returning from St. Michael Catholic Church, where they attended a morning service.

“On getting to the Amagu Junction, their vehicle was double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles. While two other persons escaped the scene, the assailants took away the priest and one other person, including some personal belongings of the occupants in the vehicle.”

The Diocese of Ekwulobia confirmed the abduction in a letter from the Diocesan Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo, calling for prayers for the safe release of the kidnapped individuals.

The letter partly read, “Dear Brothers and Sisters, call for prayers. Kidnap case, Rev. Fr. Christian Ike. Please pray for the release of Rev. Fr. Christian Ike and Mr Ogbonnia Anike, who were kidnapped this morning around 9:45am as they were returning from Mass in an outstation of St. Matthew’s Parish, Ajalli, Orumba North L.G.A.”

This will be the second incident in two months as another priest, Reverend Father Basil Gbuzuo, was kidnapped near Onitsha, on May 15, by unknown gunmen.

Gbuzuo was later released some weeks later after some undisclosed amount of money was paid to his captors.

Reacting further, the police spokesperson said the command heard about the incident and immediately deployed their intelligence and operational assets to the area.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command received the information of the abduction of Rev Father Christian Ike and has deployed its intelligence and operational assets of the command for possible rescue unhurt.

“Eyewitness account revealed by 10:30am on 16/6/2024, the priest and two others were returning from St. Michael Catholic Church, Ndiokpaleke, where they attended a morning service, along the Amagu Junction, they were double-crossed by armed men operating in three vehicles. While the other two escaped the scene, the criminals took away the priest and some personal belongings of the occupants in the vehicle.

“To this end, the command has activated its intelligence and operational assets for possible arrest of the assailants and rescue unhurt of the priest.”

He added that further developments shall be communicated as they unfold.

MTU emerges first among Nigerian varsities on world ranking

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MTU emerges first among Nigerian varsities on world ranking

Mountain Top University, Ogun State has emerged first in Sustainable Development Goal four, quality education in Nigeria according to the 2024 World University ranking by Times Higher Education.

Times Higher Education, the topmost global university ranking body, assesses institutions by identifying and celebrating universities that excel across multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A statement by MTU said that the institution also took second place in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), fifth place in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and fourth place overall in the Impact Rankings.

It read, “It is an impressive performance in the 2024 THE Impact Rankings is a testament to its dedication to creating a positive impact on society. Here’s how its achievements make the university unique:

“Mountain Top University’s first place in SDG 4 (Quality Education) in Nigeria demonstrates its commitment to providing exceptional education, setting a high standard for others to follow.

“Holistic Impact; with top rankings in multiple SDGs (2, 3, 4, and 17), Mountain Top University showcases its comprehensive approach to addressing various sustainable development goals, making it a model for interdisciplinary impact.

“Healthcare and Well-being; Its second place in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) highlights the university’s significant contributions to healthcare and well-being initiatives, improving lives and communities.’’

“ The 5th place in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) demonstrates Mountain Top University’s success in forging effective global partnerships, amplifying its impact and influence.

-“Overall Excellence; achieving 4th place overall in the Impact Rankings is a remarkable feat, solidifying Mountain Top University’s position as a leader in social impact and sustainability.”

It added that these achievements made Mountain Top University a beacon of excellence in Nigeria and globally, attracting students, partners, and collaborators seeking a like-minded community dedicated to creating a better world.

Soldiers arrest six bandits, recover rustled cows in Plateau

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Soldiers arrest six bandits, recover rustled cows in Plateau

A special task force, Operation Safe Haven, has arrested six suspected bandits and recovered weapons and 47 rustled cows in Manguna, the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Commander of OPSH, Maj. Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, disclosed this at the Eid-el-Kabir luncheon, organised for troops of the operation on Monday in Jos.

Abubakar, who doubles as the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba, near Jos, said the feat followed intensified operations by personnel of the operation.

“As part of our resolve to completely eradicate banditry and criminal elements and ensure a successful farming season and security of lives and property, our intensified operations continue to yield results.

“This has led to the recovery of different calibres of arms and ammunition in different parts of Plateau.

“Specifically on June 10, OPSH tactical team raided a suspected criminal hideout at Manguna village in Bokkos Local Government Area and, during the operation, troops recovered one G3 rifle, two revolver rifles and one magazine with rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“We also recovered a quiver with 20 arrows and 47 herds of cattle, while a total of six bandits and cattle rustlers were captured with the rifles and ammunition,” he said.

The commander further stated that the troops also raided the Pandam forest in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of the state and recovered various weapons and ammunition.

“Similarly on June 12, troops, acting on credible intelligence, conducted clearance operations at suspected bandits’ hideouts at Pandam forest in Qua’an Pan.

“During the operation, troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, two AK-47 magazines and 13 rounds of 7.62mm special.

“Troops are currently sustaining operations in the area to intercept and neutralise the fleeing terrorists,” he added.

Abubakar said the troops also arrested 29 suspected members of a cult group known as Sara-suka, with fabricated rifles, pistols and other assorted dangerous weapons recovered in Jos.

The commander, who thanked the personnel for their efforts, assured residents of the state of the operation’s readiness to secure their lives and property.

Ex-tutor arrested for allegedly defiling 13-year-old pupil

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Ex-tutor arrested for allegedly defiling 13-year-old pupil

The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Femi Onayemi for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl (name withheld) in the Obada-Oko area of the state.

According to information exclusively provided to According METRO by a police source in the state command on Sunday, the suspect had earlier been hired by the girl’s parents to tutor her at their home in the community in 2023.

According Metro also gathered from the state command that the suspect had also been attending the same church with the survivor before the crime was committed.

Our correspondent learnt that the survivor’s parents were shocked when the suspect scaled the fence of their home to gain access to the 13-year-old’s room and commit the heinous crime.

The spokesperson for the state command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and stated that Onayemi had been arrested.

She said, “The parents of the minor approached our division at Obada Oko on June 12, 2024, to report the incident. The suspect was employed in 2023 to help the survivor with her studies at home.

“However, on June 9, 2024, the suspect was caught committing the crime after he had jumped over the fence of the house. Our men swung into action immediately after the matter was reported.

“The suspect was also believed to be attending the same church that the survivor attends every Sunday. He confessed to the crime after we arrested him.”

In September 2023, Punch Metro reported a similar incident involving a 43-year-old teacher, Joshua Olufemi, from the Heritage Group of Schools in Ofada Town, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, who allegedly assaulted a 13-year-old male pupil.

Olufemi was believed to have been allegedly having carnal knowledge of the minor through the pupil’s anus no fewer than six times at different times inside his room before his arrest.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from According.

Contact: [email protected]

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