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South Korea will work with Nigeria on security in the Gulf of Guinea

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South Korea has stated that she is willing to work with Nigeria to ensure the security of the Gulf of Guinea.

During a visit to Nigeria, Mr. Choi Jong Kun, the Republic of Korea’s 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his country’s interest.

He also expressed his country’s willingness to assist future leaders in Nigeria with training through people-to-people exchanges.

Kun made the revelations during a press conference with a select group of journalists in Abuja.

He lamented the unpalatable media coverage of the activities in the Gulf of Guinea.

Kun, who was in Nigeria for a one-day official visit and met with government officials including Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Zubairu Dada, said Korea was interested in expanding bilateral relations with Nigeria.

In terms of the economy, he stated that Nigeria provides South Korea with a large market, as Nigeria accounts for more than half of South Korea’s foreign construction sales in Africa.

He also stated that Korea was interested in construction because Nigeria is heavily involved in infrastructure projects, and that Korean construction companies with good and reliable builders would be well-positioned to benefit.

Kun went on to say that the current volume of trade between the two countries, which is around 400 to 500 million dollars, needed to be increased.

He went on to say that the second area of concern for South Korea and Nigeria was transnational security, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.

He stated that when it comes to the word “Nigeria” in Korea, Koreans have a very positive association with the country.

Kun revealed that Nigeria also meant a lot of mysterious things from Africa, but that Nigerians have recently been hijacking a lot of ships in the Gulf of Guinea.

He explained that the situation in Nigeria had received a lot of negative press coverage in the South Korean press.

“As a result, we want to work with the Nigerian government to secure our fishing industry in the Gulf of Guinea. That is exactly what we will do,” Kun stated.
The third area of cooperation, according to Kun, is cultural exchanges such as people-to-people exchanges, which will include financing and educational exchanges between Korean and Nigerian universities.

“Nigeria provides Korean and East Asian people with a very meaningful African culture. As a result, the two are now collaborating. “As a hi-tech nation, we are also willing to provide training assistance to future leaders of this country, that is, people-to-people exchanges,” Kun added.

Read Also:  Buhari pays tribute to Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, the former First Lady of Nigeria

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, Kun stated that the Republic of Korea had handled the situation successfully.
He claimed that, with a population of 53 million people, the country’s confirmed cases were small in comparison to other countries with similar populations.

Buhari pays tribute to Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, the former First Lady of Nigeria

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On the death of Chief Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, wife of the first military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his condolences to the Aguiyi-Ironsi family, as well as the government and people of Abia State.
Lady Victoria’s incredible strength and exceptional courage during one of the darkest periods in Nigeria’s history, according to the President’s Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, portrayed her as a mother of the nation, God-fearing, and a foremost woman of valour.

He said the former First Lady will be remembered for laying the groundwork for women’s leadership in the executive branch and as a founding member of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association, where she passionately championed the welfare and well-being of military officers’ families.

Read Also:  Can Secondus Survive Wike’s Arsenal’s Onslaught in the PDP Crisis

The President acknowledged that Lady Victoria never stopped working for the greater good of Nigeria, as well as for peace, stability, healing, and reconciliation in the country, 55 years after General Aguiyi-death. Ironsi’s
President Buhari expressed his sincere hope that Lady Victoria’s contributions to the country would not be in vain, and he joined all Nigerians in praying for the souls of the departed and comfort for those in mourning.

We Were Denied Entry, So We Forced Our Way In, EFCC Responds To Dorathy’s Charges

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The EFCC has confirmed that its operatives broke into Dorathy Bachor’s home following her outburst on her Instagram page about how EFCC officials allegedly broke into her house, claiming they were looking for a suspected internet fraudster.

The EFCC said in a statement on Monday that its agents broke into the house because the residents refused to open the door.

”The Commission can confirm that on Monday, August 23, 2021, operatives from the Commission’s Lagos Command, acting on verified intelligence, executed a Search Warrant at a block of flats located in the Lekki area of Lagos, during which nine internet fraud suspects were arrested,” the statement read.

One of the flats in the building happened to be Ms. Bachor’s. EFCC agents had knocked on her door, identifying themselves as members of the Commission on a mission to carry out a search warrant. Bachor’s sister, however, refused them entry for several minutes. The operatives had no choice but to force their way in, lest suspects flee or vital evidence be destroyed.

”It is critical to emphasize that law-abiding citizens have no reason to refuse to comply with a validly obtained Search Warrant. Ms. Bachor was not present during the operation, contrary to social media reports, and the anti-EFCC stories about her emerging half-naked and other fantastical details appear to have been made up to fit the pattern she and other internet-fueled celebrities so desperately want to push about the EFCC.

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”It is important to emphasize that nine alleged internet fraud suspects were apprehended in the block of flats where Ms. Bachor’s apartment is located,” according to the statement.

Can Secondus Survive Wike’s Arsenal’s Onslaught in the PDP Crisis

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Those who sought power by riding the tiger’s back ended up on the inside.” — Former President of the United States, John F. Kennedy

Prince Uche Secondus and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state were best friends prior to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention in December 2017. Secondus usually resumes at the Rivers State Government House in the morning, following the governor to all his outings, and then retires to his home at night, according to those familiar with the duo’s relationship.

Unbeknownst to many, Secondus was desperate for Wike’s support in his bid to become the PDP’s national chairman. To many, there was nothing wrong with that because Secondus had also used his influence as the PDP’s Deputy National Chairman and then Acting National Chairman to help Wike achieve his dream of becoming Rivers state governor, despite stiff opposition from the APC led by Rotimi Amaechi, Wike’s predecessor who is now the Minister of Transportation.
Secondus, who took over as acting national chairman of the PDP in May 2015 after Adamu Mu’azu resigned, believes that having risen to the highest position in the party, he has the necessary experience to stabilize the party, which is still reeling from its defeat to the APC. He was said to have informed Governor Wike of his ambitions, and the governor backed him completely. After allocating the position of national chairman to the South, it was widely assumed that the South-West would be the next to claim it. However, the region’s leaders aided Secondus and his supporters by failing to produce a consensus candidate and refusing to step down for one another.

The entire South-West PDP was in disarray just days before the convention, while the South-South, led by Wike, rallied behind Secondus. Wike received support from some Northern governors, who asked their delegates to vote en masse for him, thanks to Wike’s efforts. The Chairman of the electoral committee and former Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswam, announced at the conclusion of the convention held at Eagles Square Abuja that Secondus had received 2,000 votes out of a total vote tally of 2,296, making him the chairman. Prof. Tunde Adeniran, the former Minister of Education, received 231 votes, while Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the former Chairman of the AIT, received 66 votes.

The Origins of Conflict

Trouble began to appear as soon as Secondus was elected as the PDP’s national chairman. Secondus understood the power he wields as the party’s number one man, and he believed that as the party’s national chairman, he could no longer be subjected to the whims and caprices of Governor Wike, who is now one of his members. On the other hand, the governor, who has a domineering personality, believed that by installing the national chairman, he would be able to exert unrestricted control over him and force him to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.

Read Also:  Fuel prices remain unchanged until the FG and labor reach an agreement – PPPRA

Secondus, a smart and experienced politician who understood the man he was dealing with, quickly wormed his way into the hearts of many stakeholders in the party, particularly in the north. When Governor Wike came to dethrone him the same way he installed him, this proved to be a wise move because the majority of them rallied around him.

Ugwuanyi evacuates 135 Enugu students from UNIJOS during the Jos crisis

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Following the recent crisis in Jos, Plateau State capital, the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has safely evacuated 135 indigenes of the state who are students at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) from the school to their respective homes and destinations.

According to a statement issued by Hon. Chidi Ilogebe, Special Adviser to Gov. Ugwuanyi on Students Affairs, 37 evacuated students returned safely to Enugu yesterday, 28 were transported to Abuja to rejoin their loved ones, and others were taken to their various homes within Plateau and surrounding areas based on their requests, all amid tight security.

Following the Jos crisis, Gov. Ugwuanyi directed his Special Assistant on Students Affairs, Hon. Ilogebe, to take immediate steps to ensure that Enugu students at UNIJOS were evacuated to their various states of residence for safety reasons.
Hon. Ilogede said he led a delegation to receive students from UNIJOS who returned to Enugu at about 10 p.m. yesterday, describing Gov. Ugwuanyi as a “welfarist and proactive leader.”

One of the UNIJOS students who returned to Enugu State, Anthony Chinedu Onah, a 200-level History and International Studies student, expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for his proactiveness, concern, and commitment to the welfare, safety, and security of all indigenes of the state, regardless of where they live.

Onah revealed that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s proactive action prompted other governors in the South East to dispatch rescue teams to UNIJOS to evacuate their citizens.

“We express our gratitude to our Governor (Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi) and his SA (on Students Affairs) for their support and prompt action, which not only assisted us in evacuating, but also encouraged other states to do so. UNIJOS is proud of you (Ugwuanyi) for the fatherly role you played,” he said.

Read Also:  My election triumphs in court was miracles says Akeredolu

Olivia Nebeokike, a 300-level Marketing student, also spoke up, expressing her surprise at the governor’s gesture, stating that they couldn’t believe their state government would come looking for them at a time when they were in distress.

My election triumphs in court was miracles says Akeredolu

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Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, has hailed his successes in court, from the Election Petition Tribunal to the Supreme Court, as one of many God-given miracles in his life.

From the tribunal to the apex court, Akeredolu, the All Progressive Congress’s governorship candidate, defeated Mr Eyitayo Jegede, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate.

The governor said he owed his win at the apex court to God Almighty alone while speaking at a special thanksgiving ceremony held at the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew’s Anglican Communion in Imola, Owo, his hometown, on Sunday.

“Now is the most essential time to thank God,” he continued. Nobody except God could have made it happen. We prevailed before the Tribunal, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court as well. Thanking God is a good thing.”

He praised his legal staff for their efforts and promised to continue his development projects around the state.

Read Also:  Fuel prices remain unchanged until the FG and labor reach an agreement – PPPRA

Bishop Stephen Fagbemi of the Owo Anglican Diocese remarked in his sermon that only God can save individuals in any condition.

“Who can be against us if God is on our side?” All technicalities are dwarfed by God. Mr. Governor and Mr. Chancellor, I’m not sure how you earned this undeserved favor, but I do know that God has made a covenant of compassion and mercy with your family. The cleric remarked, “But for God, this judgment may have gone the other way.”

Are you in agreement? Nigeria Is Becoming A ‘Cow Republic Under Presidency – Ortom

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to review grazing reserves in 25 states in the country has been criticised by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

This was said in a statement signed by Terver Akase, the governor’s chief press secretary, on Friday.

Governor Ortom stated that the decision appeared to be the President’s attempt to turn Nigeria into a “cow republic.”

“We were shocked and disappointed to read a statement from the Presidency indicating that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved recommendations from a committee to review 368 grazing sites across 25 states in the country “with dispatch,” to determine the levels of encroachment,” the statement read in part.

“In a country where insecurity is at an all-time high, with hundreds of people killed by armed herders, bandits, and other terrorists, the Presidency is only concerned about the safety of animals and is using all government machinery and arsenals to impose grazing reserves and cattle routes on Nigerians. This is inexcusable!” he exclaimed.

The governor went on to accuse the Buhari administration of “turning a blind eye to the inconceivable amounts of livestock incursion on Nigerians’ lands.”

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“Mr. President has never spoken out against herdsmen’s actions or the attacks they perpetrate on innocent people. The only time the President is heard discussing the herders’ atrocities is when he defends them. The Presidency has made it apparent that it wants to plunge the country into an avoidable crisis. Otherwise, what justifies President Buhari’s insistence on the establishment of grazing reserves across the country when Nigerians have openly defied the program and embraced ranching instead of open grazing?”

 

 Bayelsa SSG pays ransom as kidnappers release their own mother 34 days later

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After 32 days in prison, Betinah Benson, mother of Bayelsa state government secretary Kombowei Benson, has regained her freedom.
The 80-year-old grandmother was kidnapped from her home in Ekeki, Yenagoa, the state capital, on July 20.

On Sunday, the Bayelsa commissioner of police, Echeng Echeng, confirmed her release at the SSG’s mansion.

According to the commissioner, she was released as a result of police pressure.

“Our message to individuals who are participating in such horrible acts is that it is a crime, and you will be arrested no matter how involved you are,” Echeng stated.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping, according to NAN.

The SSG said the kidnappers were given a “token present of N4 million and two android phones” in exchange for his mother’s release.

The kidnappers had previously wanted a ransom of N500 million, according to the SSG.
“Mama has returned to the house, and I want to thank God and the state security team,” he stated.

“I am overjoyed that my mother has returned. They will not believe me if I tell them the ransom was not paid.

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“I refused to pay N500 million when they wanted it. I handed them a token to allow Mama to return home, even though I said I wouldn’t pay.”

Fuel prices remain unchanged until the FG and labor reach an agreement – PPPRA

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The Petroleum Industry Act, according to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, foreshadowed the complete liberalization of the downstream oil sector.

It was quick to point out, however, that the negotiations between the Federal Government and labor would minimize the impact of the subsidy elimination on the sector’s full deregulation.

Abdulkadir Saidu, the PPPRA’s Executive Secretary, claimed in an Abuja statement that the price of gasoline will be reduced in such a way that it would not create hardship to consumers.

“There is no doubt that the PIA signifies the beginning of comprehensive deregulation of the downstream sector,” he said.

“However, it is important to highlight that the PIA does not immediately result in a rise in the price of PMS.

“Until negotiations with organized labor, which will produce a workable framework that minimizes the impact of a market-based pricing strategy on the masses, are concluded, the current price will remain.”

The PIA, according to Saidu, established a legal, governance, regulatory, and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry, host community development, and other associated problems.

He claimed that the Act represented the start of a new era in the oil and gas industry’s growth and development.
“Keeping the promise of creating an environment with a transparent, clear, and rigorous legal and regulatory system will undoubtedly open up new vistas in the oil and gas business, as well as the Nigerian economy,” Saidu said.

He noted that, among other benefits, implementing the PIA will provide a more consistent level of operations and less burdensome regulatory oversight of the business.

“The PPPRA commends the Federal Government in particular for taking the bold step of resolving long-standing issues such as the issue of overlapping functions in the sector’s regulation,” he said.

Read Also:  Investors Will Be Attracted By New Petroleum Industry Law – Minister

The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, as well as the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, were established to clearly define the roles of industry operators and regulators, according to Saidu.

BREAKING: Ex-Nigeria’s First Lady Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi dies at 98

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Victoria Nwanyiocha Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria’s former First Lady, has died.

According to a close family ally, she died about 5.00 a.m. on Monday, the same day her friend and age mate, Chief Adanma Okpara, the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, died.

She was the widow of Gen. Johnson Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, the first Nigerian military head of state, who was assassinated in Ibadan by Murtala Mohammed in a countercoup.

On November 21, 1923, he was born. From 16 January 1966 to 29 July 1996, Lady Ironsi served as Nigeria’s second First Lady.

As a 16-year-old student at Holy Rosary Convent School in Okigwe, she married Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi in 1953.

When she was visited at her home in Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, her son, Amb Thomson Aguiyi-Ironsi, was not present; however, when contacted by phone, he just indicated he will speak with her shortly.

Read Also:  INEC Confirms Date For Final Candidate List In Anambra Election

Adanma Okpara was born in June 1924, while Lady Aguiyi-Ironsi was born in November 1923.

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