Home Blog Page 2568

Osinbajo departs for Niamey to represent Buhari at ECOWAS summit

-
0
Osinbajo departs for Niamey to represent Buhari at ECOWAS summit

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Friday depart Abuja for Niamey, Republic of Niger to represent President Muhammadu Buhari  where an Extraordinary ECOWAS summit is holding to review the ongoing situation in Guinea Bissau.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, in a tweet on his verified twitter handle @akandeoj, said:

“VP Osinbajo to represent President Buhari today in Niger where an Extraordinary ECOWAS summit is holding to review the ongoing situation in Guinea Bissau. He will depart Abuja this morning and return later today.”

There has been call for restraint and dialogue to end the latest political crisis in that West African country.

Guinea-Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz triggered the latest escalation in an ongoing power struggle with the ruling PAIGC (African Party of the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) party, of which he was once a member.

He recently sacked Prime Minister Aristides Gomes and named a replacement from a minority political party.

But Gomes has refused to step down, escalating tensions ahead of an already delayed presidential election scheduled for November 24.

The 15-nation West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, called Gomes’ firing “illegal.”

Pastor Joshua Iginla charges 50k for a session in his ‘Miracle Swimming Pool’

-
0
Pastor Joshua Iginla charges 50k for a session in his ‘Miracle Swimming Pool’

Pastor Joshua Iginla, the founder of Abuja based Champions Royal Assembly church has opened a miraculous swimming pool inside his church premises in Kubwa Abuja called “Pool Of Bethsaida” where he charges adherents to pay 50,000 naira for a swim session.

The Pool of Bethsaida is said to have healing powers to cure any sickness under the sun that includes Ebola and HIV/AIDS once you enter to swim.

Image may contain: pool

According to Kelvin who shared the news on Twitter:

“For those who are too poor to pay 50K, there is an anointed bottle water sourced from the “pool of Bethsheba.” It goes for 10K.

I am not sure it has as much healing power as paying 50K to submerge yourself in the pool itself.

I mean, you cannot cheat God. It issa Pay as you go” he concluded.

@MrOdanz Tweet

 

Angry mob attacks FCT ministerial task team in Nyanya

-
0
Angry mob attacks FCT ministerial task team in Nyanya

The Federal Capital Territory Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Control, was on Thursday attacked by an angry mob while evacuating an illegal tricycle (Keke NAPEP) park and mechanic workshop at the Nyanya bridge interchange.

The operation which was to rid the highway of distortions and environmental nuisances turned violent, when some of the affected people and sympathizers began throwing stones at the team including journalists covering the exercise.

The mob destroyed many operational vehicles of team and the windscreen of a car belonging to the Chairman of the task team.

Most of the people affected by the operation were the Keke NAPEP operators, technicians and petty traders, who allegedly turned the place into makeshift workshops, shopping centre and food courts.

Briefing newsmen after the exercise, the Chairman FCT task team, Mr Ikharo Attah, who described the incident as unfortunate, said his team would not be deterred by the attacked.

He said the FCT project was a responsibility that must be owned and key into by everyone, because FCT was very important to all Nigerians.

The Head of Operations, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello, assured that the cleared site would be handed over to Parks and Recreation Development of the FCT Administration, for maintenance.

Bello maintained that the AEPB would sustain the effort to ensure fully enforcement of law in the area.

Babatunde Fashola should apologise to Nigerians or resign

-
0
Babatunde Fashola should apologise to Nigerians or resign

By Noah McDickson

Recently, the honourable minister for works and housing, Babatunde Fashola made a shocking revelation when briefing press men.
Amongst other statements, he was quoted to have said that Nigeria roads are not as bad or poor as being portrayed.

It is at this juncture that I became convinced that the minister is not in touch with reality.
How can a man who hardly travel by road know the true state of Nigeria roads?

If he had exempted the Makurdi – Aliade – Otukpo – Enugu Federal road where he had been to, just last December to commission/flag up its construction, I wouldn’t have been so bothered but unfortunately, he didn’t.

His statement translate or implies that the Otukpo road is also not as bad or poor as we put it.
A road that is the worst in the country and has literally cut off otukpo from the entire country is not too bad in Hon. Fashola’s eye ?

He came there himself to see the poor condition of the road last year during the flag up for construction and up till date, no contractor has been seen at the site.
The road situation has worsen and all we hear daily is that contractors will soon be mobilizes to site.

The question now is how soon or when are we expecting the contractors to commence job at the site or until the IDOMA YOUTHS that have been agitating to shut down Otukpo with a massive protest commence action?
Infact FASHOLA should apologize to Idoma nation in particular.

If nothing is done between now and the next few days, am afraid, I won’t be able to stop the Youths from the proposed protest/actions.

Noah McDickson is a public affairs analyst, he writes from Abuja

Militants kill 37, injure dozens in Burkina Faso

-
0
Militants kill 37, injure dozens in Burkina Faso

Armed militants have reportedly killed 37 persons and left not less than 60 with degrees of injuries in a fresh attack after a vehicle conveying staffs of a Canadian mining firm was Ambushed at 40km, (24miles) away from the Eastern town of Boungou.

The fatal attack was launched on the convoy of a mining company by sophisticated militants while the military escort Vehicle was reportedly struck by an explosive device after which the gunmen opened up fire on five buses conveying workers of Canadian firm Semafo.

Reports from the local authorities have it that the attack on the company staff buses is the third deadliest attack recorded in 15 months.

The development is coming a day after the French government has deployed soldier to the area in an attempt to beep up security which has become a daily occurrence.

In a statement issued by the company, it said that efforts are been geared up in collaborations with other authorities to foster security and safety of employees, contractors and suppliers.

It said that the incidence has not affected its operations and that, the company has offered condolences the families of the unfortunate victims.

The names of the affected victims have however not been released.

Catholic church begins investigation after two nuns became pregnant while working in Africa

-
0
Catholic church begins investigation after two nuns became pregnant while working in Africa

The Catholic Church has launched an investigation after two missionary nuns became pregnant while working in Africa.

The two women, who belonged to separate religious orders in Sicily, are expecting children despite their vows of chastity.

One of them, a mother superior, found she was several weeks pregnant while the other woman discovered the news when she complained of stomach pain.

Both nuns are now facing an uncertain future in their profession and the scandal has caused ‘consternation’ among the clergy.

One of the women, aged 34, discovered her pregnancy when she went to hospital with stomach pain, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

Her religious order has not been identified, but reports say she belonged to a convent in Sicily’s Nebrodi mountains.

She has now moved to Palermo to prepare for the birth of her child.

The nun may now choose to give up her monastic life altogether and focus on raising her child, it is believed.

In a second case, a nun who was originally from Madagascar was discovered to be several weeks pregnant.

The nun was a mother superior – a senior monastic – and had been caring for the elderly at an institute in Ragusa.

She has already returned to her home country, according to reports, but the double scandal has caused concern among the church hierarchy.

‘There is consternation at this news,’ a church source in Rome, where the Catholic Church has its headquarters said.

‘It appears that both women were back in their home nations and obviously had some form of sexual encounter.

‘An investigation has been launched. They both breached strict rules of chastity but the welfare of their children is uppermost.’

Earlier this year Pope Francis admitted that many nuns had been sexually abused, calling it a ‘serious, grave problem’.

‘We have to fight this, and also the service of religious sisters: Please: Service yes, servitude no,’ he said on his papal plane in January.

Army vows to apprehend soldiers involved in extrajudicial killing

-
0
Army vows to apprehend soldiers involved in extrajudicial killing

The Nigerian Army has expressed shock over a video reportedly showing some of its personnel engaged in unprofessional torture and above all extra judicial killing of a suspected Boko Haram terrorist likely in the North East Theatre of Operation.

In a statement, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations Col Sagir Musa said:

”The Nigerian Army wishes to clearly and strongly condemn the action of those involved (whoever they may be) in the misconduct, and that the dastardly act is completely unacceptable, unethical and is against the cherished core values of the Nigerian Army especially that of respect for others and their fundamental rights.”

Col Musa added that the Nigerian Army training, Rules of Engagement and Standing Operating Procedures guiding the conduct of all her operations are unambiguous about human rights abuses and extra judicial actions including the rights of the arrested/captured terrorists/combatants.

He said troops in the various theaters of operations in Nigeria, have been consistently warned to desist from rights infractions of any form no matter the amount of desperation, anger or provocation.

”The Nigerian Army does not license, encourage or condone indiscipline, unprofessional conduct especially extra judicial execution of suspects or combatants.

”Where ever, such is noticed or reported, once it is confirmed, appropriate decisive sanction or punishment is usually immediately meted out to the perpetrators and this case would never be an exception.

Accordingly, on seeing the gory video, Nigerian Army has commenced thorough investigation to apprehend the culprits with the aim to deal with them in accordance with the extant military justice system. Members of the public will surely be informed of the results of the actions taken so far.

He assured that the Nigerian Army as a responsible and law abiding organization, will remain professional in the discharge of its constitutional roles and will continue to operate within the ambit of the law in line with the local and international best practices.

Boko Haram hibernating in only 3 locations -Ndume

-
0
Boko Haram hibernating in only 3 locations -Ndume

Chairman Senate Committee on Army Ali Ndume has said that the Boko elements in the northeast are only left in three locations.

Ndume, who spoke at the one- day Northeast Security Summit convened by the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, disclosed that the insurgents are hibernating in the Lake Chad fringes, the Mandara Mountains and the Sambisa Forests.

“We know that the key remaining location of the remaining insurgents is three, the Lake Chad fringes, the Mandara Mountains and the Sambisa Forest and with the current technology, the theatre commander said the last time that with three months they can finish this war,” Ndume said.

Ndume, one of the prominent senators from Borno who represented the Senate President Ahmed Lawan at the summit, also regretted the poor budgetary provisions for security.

He stated that the fight cannot be won with the conventional army tactics, meagre budgetary allocations and inadequate personnel by the army and the police in the country.

“The army is doing well but it’s not enough because we have not seeing the end of it. Let me say that we cannot fight a war on this vast land that we have with only 150, 000 soldiers.

”Right now, the population of the Nigerian Army is 150, 000 plus the 4,000 recently released which makes it 160,000 personal. We cannot fight this war with have less than 400, 000 police.

”We cannot also police with what is budgeted for this year with the police. The constitution say the security and welfare lives of the people is paramount. How can you therefore be have meagre budgetary allocation for the police and a meagre N100 billion for the military.”

Ndume also urged the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) headed by Alhaji Mohammed Alkali to expend its N35 billion budget before the end of the year, warning the commission will have to lose the money with the present TSA system of the Federal Government.

He called on the Commission to lease with Borno Government and spend the money on the displaced people that who want to return to their communities and also provide money for them to start a new life.

Nation.

Woman arrested for locking up minor in warehouse

-
0
Woman arrested for locking up minor in warehouse

The police have arrested a woman for locking up a 17-year-old girl in a warehouse at the Isheri area of Lagos State.

The girl, who identified herself as Blessing said she was locked up on Sunday morning after she decided to quit working for her as a domestic help.

Neighbours had attempted to force the gate open just before police officers arrived at the warehouse, but it was impossible.

She was, however, later rescued and taken away by the police while her boss, Mrs Mary Idowu was also arrested and taken away for further questioning.

This comes just weeks after Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command arrested a woman accused of locking her 10-year-old cousin in a dog kennel.

When questioned, the suspect (Onyinye) claimed to have locked up the boy for only a few hours before bringing him out, alleging that the victim had taken a hot drink in their refrigerator which caused him to start misbehaving.

She added that the boy smashed the side mirror of her vehicle with a stone, which made her detain him in the dog kennel.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Bala Elkana, said investigations revealed that the victim had lost his parents and was brought to Lagos in 2012 from Anambra State by Onyinye’s mother along with his two siblings.

He noted that the suspect and the boy were cousins, adding that her mother was the elder sister of the victim’s father.

The Command’s spokesman said the suspect would be charged to court, stressing that the police would continue to protect the rights of children and other vulnerable members of the society from all forms of violence and abuses.

Gunmen kill journalist reporting Ebola crisis in Congo

-
0
Gunmen kill journalist reporting Ebola crisis in Congo

By Michael Attah

The death of a journalist who has been raising awareness on the dreaded Ebola virus b in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been confirmed by local authorities.

Reports say the journalist identified as Papy Mumbere Mahamba was attacked by gunmen at his home in Lwebma, in the north-eastern province of Ituri.

According to a statement by the army in the DRC, the attackers who invaded Mahamba’s home also wounded his wife and burnt their house down.

The journalist according to reports had just finished anchoring an Ebola awareness programme on a community radio station when the attack took place.

Reacting, Prof Steve Ahuka, national co-ordinator of the fight against Ebola, confirmed the reports from the army that a “community worker” involved in the fight against Ebola had been killed.

The BBC World Service’s Africa editor Will Ross says over the past year there have been dozens of attacks on health centres and on people working to stop Ebola.

The violence is thought to be fuelled by the belief among many people that the virus is not real, which can lead to mistrust of those working in the sector.

1...2,5672,5682,569...2,799Page 2,568 of 2,799
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv