The headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission located in Maitama, Abuja, has been gutted by fire.
The fire is said to have engulfed the last floor of the seven storey building, destroying valuables and other items.
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, firefighters have arrived the scene to put out the inferno.
This is a developing story, Details shortly
By Bukola Olasanmi
The Philip Agbese Foundation, PAF has provided succour to the sons and daughters of Agila land in Benue state to enable them pull through during the covid 19 pandemic.
The Assistant Coordinator (General Services) of the PAF, Engineer Gideon Unazi in a statement issued titled,” Covid-19 pandemic and our stand”, said following the outbreak of the pandemic, this is not the best time for rhetorics but genuine actions that will ease off the socio-economic pains on families directly or indirectly affected most especially the Agilaland.
He said, “We at the Philip Agbese Foundation strongly believe that government alone, in this traumatizing period cannot do everything for the citizens and the more reason why in our own little ways must support the people either back in the village or those residing in towns and cities to make ends meet for themselves and families.
“It is part of this effort that we make this humble donation of just 100bags of rice and very laughable number of cartons of “Turkey Oil” to those in Apa- London, Agboge- Ogbilolo and the New Jerusalem City making Agila District to support whatever the Federal, State, LG, elected, appointed stakeholders and well spirited individuals will be doing to help those at home.
“We have also raised the sum of One Million Naira Only and will be sending N10, 000 each to Agila sons and daughters in parts of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State that might have fallen on hard times during this period of the Lockdown to help them push to the next level.
“It is to be noted that this fund is not for lazy individuals or known cultists with deviant behaviour in any of these cities as it is against our cherished tradition in Agila.
“Those genuinely interested should drop their account details with Hon. Williams Ochonu and will be alerted accordingly.
“Please give a helping hand to someone around you, no matter how small and the Almighty God will reward you abundantly” he said.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, has confirmed the result of his second test for Coronavirus.
Babandede, who tested positive to the virus earlier, confirmed on Tuesday that he has tested negative twice to the virus after self-isolating.
In statement, NIS spokesperson, Sunday James, said that news of Babandede testing negative twice after self-isolation came as a great relief.
He said, “The CGI in an overwhelming appreciation took cognisance of the prayers and supplication of everyone for him.
“Most importantly government, Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ekeoma Ehuriah, members of the international community who stood by the Service during this trying times.
“He prays for the recovery of others, and for God’s intervention for the world and Nigeria in this battle against Covid-19.”
The Nigeria Police Special Tactical Squad (STS) has smashed a two-man car stealing gang led by a 34 year old Bashir Isiaku, notorious for stealing cars from the car park of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
The arrest of Bashir, a graduate of one of the Federal Polytechnics, came after painstaking efforts and investigations by operatives of the STS to hunt down the criminals. Bashir and his accomplice, Aminu Yakubu specialized in using customized master key, crafted out of screwdriver to open and start vehicles.
In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer DCP Frank Mba daid, Police investigations show that their choices of cars are ones without special security features such as pedal or steering locks.
A total of twenty-one (21) vehicles have so far been recovered from the hoodlums and their criminal receivers.
The following criminal receivers have also been arrested: in Funtua – Rilwanu Garba, Ibrahim Hassan, Kabiru Aliyu, Sikiru Danjuma, Bashir Abba; in Sokoto – Dodo Danbello, Mudeen Adelera, Nasiru Bello, Hassan Bawa; in Kucheri – Magazine Garba; in Tsafe – Yushehu Abdullahi; in Gusau – Abdurazaq Adekoya; and in Marafa – Kabiru Aliyu.
The recovered vehicles comprise 2 Opel Vectra, 1 Toyota Camry, 1 Honda CRV, 2 Toyota Carina E, 7 Golf-3, 1 Toyota Corolla, 6 Honda Civic and 1 Toyota Avensis.
The suspects claimed that they found it easy to steal in JUTH due to the lax security at JUTH premises. Police investigations reveal that their choice cars are Toyota products, Honda products, and Volkswagen especially the Golf brand because these brand of cars are in high demand by criminal receivers, either in whole or in parts across the country and other neighboring countries.
Consequently, the policr has called on members of the public whose cars were stolen between January 2019 and March 2020, within the premises of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) to come forward for possible identification and recovery.
DCP Mba further urgrd Nigerians to equally take extra measures to secure their cars by utilizing special security features such as steering or pedal locks, tracking systems, while encouraging institutions and organizations to enhance security and access control within their premises to minimize the possibility of theft and other mischief by criminals.
In another development, a 28 year old female armourer, Fatima Garba has been arrested alongside her gang of kidnappers and armed robbers, notorious for attacking innocent Nigerians around Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna and Niger States. As an armourer, Fatima was responsible for ensuring the safety of the weapons used by the gang whenever not in use.
Fatima, who confessed of being the gang’s armourer for over a year, claimed to receive a handsome reward each time the weapons were returned to her after each operation. She acknowledged knowing that the arms which she usually kept in a neatly dug hole in her compound were used for robberies, kidnapping and other criminal purposes.
Investigations show that Fatima, who is a trader and single mother of two was recruited by her boyfriend Abubakar Usman.
Other members of the gang include: Samaila Usman ‘m’ aged 28, Mohammed Ibrahim ‘m’ aged 30, Mohammed Agali ‘m’ aged 22, Dahiru Bello ‘m’ aged 33, Shamsu Mohammed ‘m’ aged 30, Mohammed Usman ‘m’ aged 37, Umar Abdullahi ‘m’ 33, Buhari Abubakar ‘m’ aged 33 and Abubakar Garba ‘m’ aged 37.
Since they began operations, the gang is estimated to have made over twelve million naira from their various criminal escapades.
Recovered from the gang are:
– 5 AK47 rifles
– 1 G3 rifle
– 1 Berretta pistol
– 1476 rounds of ammunition
– 36 rounds of G3 ammunition
– 6 AK47 magazines
– 1 operational vehicle
– 8 mobile phones
– Box containing operational tools
All the suspects will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has assured Nigerians of the continued commitment of the Force to the protection of lives and property and rid the country of crime and criminality especially during this lockdown period.
By Bukola Olasanmi
Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s extension of the current lockdown in Lagos, Ogun States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Abuja for another 14days effective from 11:59 Monday 13 April, 2020; the Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered Commanding Officers across the country to step up ongoing enforcement on restrictions and social distance amongst vehicle occupants and carry out the Presidential directives holistically by impounding at sight any vehicle found violating the orders.
According to Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Public Education Officer, the Corps Marshal’s directive is to reiterate the commitment of the Federal Riad Safety Corps towards sustaining existing collaborations with the Federal and State Governments in the fight against the ravaging Coronavirus, and further ensure that the order on restrictions are diligently and effectively enforced with all sense of professionalism, civility and resilience.
He added that the alarming upsurge in deaths and spread of the virus across the globe which the Federal Government is working round the clock to subdue in Nigeria, is not an operation the Corps is ready to treat with kids gloves. As such, the Corps Marshal’s order to Commanding Officers is to ensure the full utilisation of the work force through effective deployment of personnel to arrest without hesitation, any motorist who contravenes the National Order on Stay at Home.
Expectedly, Oyeyemi also ordered that except the vehicles and the occupants are accredited essential workers with proof of identification, Commanding Officers must ensure that the vehicles are impounded and the occupants handed over to the Police for prosecution in the Court of Law for contravening the Presidential Order on restrictions, social distance and stay at home.
While warning citizens to comply with the restriction order or face the wrath of the law, Oyeyemi also advised essential workers who might be tempted to compromise with the social distance directives in vehicles to restrain from such as the Virus dies not discriminate nor spare anybody irrespective of class or profession.
Concerned Professionals’ Congress (CPC) has expressed support to ongoing advanced plans by the Defence Headquarters under the Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin to recall retired military medical personnel to complement those in active service to aid
civil authority in flattening the COVID-19 curve across the country.
The retired military personnel comprise doctors, nurses, virologists,
pharmacists, epidemiologists, psychologists, laboratory scientists and
other categories of heath care-givers.
There were hints last night that the
processes of their preliminary training and immediate deployment in batches were being finalised at the appropriate levels.
The group, in a statement jointly issued in Abuja at the weekend by its Chief Media Strategist, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa and the Northern Regional
Rapporteur, Kasim Baba Kasim, described the move as a great dimension to ongoing efforts at various levels to mitigate the effects of the virus as well as curb the spread of the global pandemic in the country.
It will be recalled that the
Coordinator of the newly-created Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Maj. General John Enenche, last
week at a press briefing announced the decision by the military high
command to recall the retired medical personnel to complement those in
active service in furtherance of the CDS’ vision as part of the military’s statutory mandate to defend the nation against external aggression which COVID-19 represented.
The move, Maj Gen. Enenche emphasized, was to provide immediate aid
to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) such as deploying
military personnel and transporting emergency cases and medical
supplies by land, maritime and air including supplies donated by Jack Ma
Foundation and other medicaments by donors.
Already, 80 Armed Forces Medical personnel have been trained and
deployed to various centres comprising 21 medical facilities spread across the country and designated for the isolation and treatment of confirmed
COVID-19 patients such as the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Navy Town, Ojo in Lagos, Nigerian Navy Hospital in Warri, the Nigerian Navy
Medical Centre, Borokiri Port Harcourt and Nigeria Navy Logistics School Medical Centre, Owerrinta.
The group, while noting with delight that the armed forces have activated
its Disaster Response Units for the security management of emergencies
in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA), said that the latest moves by the military leadership were in tandem with spirited efforts being made by other armed forces around the world to rise to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
For example, the United States military, acting on the orders of President
Donald Trump as its Commander-in-Chief, has deployed over 1,000
military personnel to New York City, the current epicentre of the
coronavirus in that country.
The group expressed satisfaction with efforts taken so far by the Armed Forces to provide necessary support to civil authorities currently
dispensing medical care to confirmed COVID-19 patients at the various
isolation and treatment centres across the country.
The group contended that the efforts of the Armed Forces at providing aid to civil authorities in the on-going Federal Government’s aggressive fight to curb the spread of the disease as well as flatten the curve were in line with Section 217 (2) c of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which empowers the military to act in aid of civil authority.
‘’Currently, Nigerian Air Force is operating at full capacity, its Liquefied
Oxygen (LOX) Plant at the 103 Strike Group (103 STG) at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Yola. The plant is on 24-hours operation to ensure
uninterrupted production of pure Liquefied Oxygen which is being
gasified and stored in cylinders for immediate supply to isolation centres and designated hospitals as will be directed’’, Nwankpa said.
The group restated its confidence in the ability and tenacity of the
Nigerian military under the CDS, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and
the service chiefs and heads of other security and intelligence agencies to evolve pragmatic strategies aimed at cushioning the effects of the pandemic on the Nigerian people as well as tackle and mitigate threats to national security, stability, peace and unity.
The group urged Nigerians to see the patriotic and innovative efforts of the nation’s high military command as another call to duty and reciprocate by lending their support by volunteering useful, credible and timely information to the military, security and intelligence agencies to
enable them to adequately curb threats to the general wellbeing of the Nigerian people.
The group particularly commended President Muhammadu Buhari for
demonstrating confidence in the ability of the service chiefs to deliver on their mandate, describing the initiative as a paradigm shift and watershed in the strategic communication agenda of the Armed Forces of Nigeria
under the visionary leadership of the CDS.
‘’We are currently fighting terrorism and insurgency in the Northeast
banditry; kidnapping and cattle rustling in the Northwest; banditry,
herders/farmers’ clashes and communal clashes by some militias in the
North Central-Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba; and banditry, communal clashes and herders/farmers’ conflicts on the Plateau.
‘’In the South-South, we are combating cultism, piracy, kidnapping, oil
theft, pipeline vandalism, and other crimes, ritual killings while there are
kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, etc, in the Southwest. These are rapidly- changing internal security challenges that are being successfully tackled by our forces.
We need the maximum support of all Nigerians to our military’’, Nwankpa said.
AKURE—GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, yesterday, vowed to defeat the consensus candidate that emerged from the Unity Forum.
No fewer than 12 aspirants in the team are jostling to unseat Akeredolu in the party’s foremost scheduled for July this year.
A committee set up to display the 12 aspirants has picked a consensus candidate who will be introduced with the aid of the chief of the group, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.
Speaking via his Information and Orientation Commissioner, Donald Ojogo in Akure, the governor denied sponsoring the disaster presently rocking the Unity Forum.
He said: “I am prepared to go into party primary with any of them. Remember that I defeated all of them before. So, this will no longer be an exception.
“Governor Akeredolu is greater targeted on turning in proper governance to the human beings and making ready for the essential alternatively than dissipating electricity making an attempt to create troubles in the Unity Forum.
“He is a flesh presser that does no longer undermine absolutely everyone however enable matters to take a herbal course.
“The lesson from what is taking place in the Unity Forum is that there is a restrict to the pace of lie. Every lie has an expiry date. The restriction of each and every lie is truth and conscience.
“There is none amongst these governorship aspirants that the governor had now not had a private stumble upon with in phrases of conflicting relationship however they will usually come collectively as leaders of the birthday celebration and they will settle.
“We have an Olusola Oke there; we have Ife Oyedele, Segun Abraham. Who, amongst them, will now make himself on hand to be used?
“In any case, they all understand that the most sudden man or woman to strike a deal inside that manner is Akeredolu due to the fact he won’t have time for that.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the bank does not charge any fee on the COVID-19 loan application as claimed in false reports circulated on social media.
The CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
Okorafor explained that procedures for accessing the N50 billion Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) stimulus package for households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises affected by the pandemic were clearly spelled out.
“The attention of CBN has again been drawn to false reports on the social media circles, those loan seekers and owners of small scale businesses who apply for loans provided to cushion the effects of COVID-19 are required to pay a certain amount as application processing fees.
“Members of the public, particularly, households and owners of small scale businesses are therefore advised to disregard any message requiring them to pay any amount to process their applications.
“Prospective applicants are advised to approach NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank or the CBN branch nearest to them for clarification on the procedure for accessing any of the bank’s related loans.
“Any observed irregularities should be reported to the Consumer Protection department of the CBN via cpd@cbn.gov.ng or call 07002255226” he stated.
THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, yesterday, suspended its former chairman, Mr. Adebayo Dayo, over alleged anti-party activities.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Oyejide Sunkanmi, the party cited the refusal of Bayo Dayo to attend the party’s meeting despite being notified.
The statement reads: “At a meeting of the Ogun State Working Committee, OGSWC, of the PDP held at the State PDP Headquarters in Abeokuta on the 26th of March, 2020, attended by officers listed in the schedule hereto with their signatures affixed, concerning allegations of anti-party activities against Engr. Adebayo Dayo (erstwhile State Chairman), it was resolved as follows:
“Notwithstanding the refusal of Engr. Adebayo Dayo to attend this meeting after being duly notified of the convening of the meeting by 2/3 of the members of the OGSWC of our great party drawn from the three Senatorial districts, the PDP OGSWC, hereby, resolves to send its complaints of anti- party activities against Engr. Adebayo Dayo to the National Executive Committee of the party for disciplinary measures to be considered.
“Engr. Adebayo Dayo is hereby suspended for a period of one month from the date hereof in the first instance and thereafter until the National Executive Committee takes a decision regarding the allegations made by the PDP OGSWC against him.
“The State Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Samson Kayode Bamgbose, is hereby authorised to act as State Chairman till the election of and handover to new officers of the Party at State level as scheduled.”
The resolution was signed by 10 members of the 14-member State Working Committee, who are more than the quorum required to pass any resolution.
***Hosts Troops to Easter Luncheon
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has assured troops He assured the troops of his unflinching support and that of the Federal Government of Nigeria to crush insurgency in the shortest possible time.
Gen Buratai was speaking at a Special Easter luncheon with troops of Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE (TC OPLD) on Monday, at the Army Special Super Camp Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Army Chief directed troops to demonstrate more commitment and determination to ensure the speedy defeat of terrorism in Nigeria.
Gen Buratai extended his appreciation and commendation and that of the President, Commander – In – Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari for their sacrifices and uncommon commitments in the collective efforts to end Boko Haram/ISWAP’s terrorism.
He said – “Let me assure you of our total support to bring Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorism to an end. As you can see, we have started getting some consignments of our needs, what we want from you is total loyalty to the Nation, the President, C-In-C and to ensure destruction of terrorism in our country very soon.
”I assure you I will be with you until substantial progress has been made in this regard”.
The event was led by the COAS who was accompanied by the Chief of Training and Operations Army Maj Gen EO Udoh, Corps Commander Engineers Maj Gen JS Malu, Theatre Commander Theatre Command OPLD Maj Gen F Yahaya, Commander Sector 2 Brig Gen LA Araba, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers and large number of gallant and resilient troops of TC OPLD.
High point of the luncheon witnessed Gen Buratai taking time to serve some soldiers, interacted with officers and men during the morale boosting event.
Troops were highly elated for the caring/inspiring leadership of the COAS.
Consequently, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations in a statement Monday evening cautioned media houses against sensational reportage of military activities as they are capable of misleading the general public.