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Nigeria’s Adekuoroye crashes out of Olympics wrestling

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Nigeria’s Adekuoroye crashes out of Olympics wrestling

Nigeria on Thursday lost its third entry in the six-athlete wrestling team when one of its brightest medal hopes Odunayo Adekuoroye lost 8-10 to China’s Hong Kexin.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Adekuoroye could not stand up to Hong in the women’s freestyle 57-kilogramme event of the 2024 Olympic Games wrestling competition.

In the quarter-final match at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, both wrestlers were even by the end of the bout’s first period despite the Nigerian’s early lead.

But Hong pulled away in the second period, scoring technical points freely as she headed into the semi-finals.

NAN reports that Adekuoroye had earlier in the day in the first round overcame Algerian Chaimaa Aouissi who got injured.

(NAN)

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Many feared dead as boat sinks in Bayelsa %

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Many feared dead as boat sinks in Bayelsa %

Many persons are believed to have died as fire burnt and sank a boat, Godbless Dickson, between Ekeni and Ukubie communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State at about 5.30am on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Bayelsa State Chapter, Ipigansi Ogoniba, said on Thursday that the boat was carrying about 64 persons at the time of the incident, but several persons swam to safety.

Ogoniba said it would be difficult to state the exact number of those who died or survived until much later when he receives reports from boats and local divers engaged in ongoing rescue efforts.

The Yenagoa bound boat usually carried traders who ply their wares from one riverine market to the other and returned to Yenagoa in time for Monday and Thursday, the market days of the Swali Ultra Modern Market.

It is not immediately clear what caused the incident, but it is believed that it started from improper handling of petrol close to the onboard engine.

Ogoniba said, “If anybody says that 18 or 20 persons died, they will be lying because we cannot say for now how many people died or survived.

“The boat carries about 64 persons including load like garri, beans and rice. It moves from community to community where the traders sell their goods and returns on Sunday or Wednesday to meet the market here.

On the return journey, it carries people from town to town; many people join the local boat because it is cheap compared to a speedboat where you pay N12,000 from Ezetu to Yenagoa.

In her reaction, Chairperson of Association of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Nigeria, Bayelsa State, Odede Denikpete Tina, blamed the incident on the refusal of boat operators in the state to observe safety regulations such as putting on of life jackets.

Odede also pleased with the state government to make more effort in connecting more riverine communities by road to minimise the need for water transport.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said the local boat was travelling from Ekeni to Yenagoa when the incident took place claiming about 20 lives.

Mohammed said rescue efforts were ongoing at the scene of the incident.

Ex-senator urges Nigerian billionaires to invest in education, industry

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Ex-senator urges Nigerian billionaires to invest in education, industry

A former Ondo State senator, Ayo Akinyelure, has called on Nigerian billionaires to invest in industries within their respective states, aiming to create employment opportunities for the country’s youth.

Akinyelure, who represented Ondo Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2019 to 2023, emphasised that such investments could significantly reduce the likelihood of youth-led protests against the government.

In a statement released on Thursday, the former lawmaker urged President Bola Tinubu to introduce a bill in the National Assembly that would require billionaires to establish industries in their home states.

Akinyelure highlighted the importance of following the example set by industrialist Aliko Dangote, who has established numerous factories across Nigeria, employing thousands of citizens.

“Would the situation be like this if a minimum of 10 billionaires in each state of the federation invest in agriculture or industry that can employ an average of 5,000 to 10,000 graduates from the labour market? This is doable; they all became billionaires from our collective national resources endowed by God to our country,” Akinyelure stated.

He further urged the government to consider mandating that billionaires who have benefited from government patronage reinvest a portion of their wealth back into the country, particularly in sectors like power and industry.

“Let our President come up with Executive bills that will enable known Nigerian billionaires to invest in the power and industrial sectors of our economy to the benefit of all,” he added.

Akinyelure also expressed concern over the transfer of wealth out of Nigeria, often due to fears of corruption investigations.

He suggested that instead of chasing billionaires with anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, the government should incentivise them to establish industries in their local communities, thus addressing unemployment and boosting local economies.

Reflecting on the ongoing protests, the ex-senator urged demonstrators to engage in dialogue with the government, expressing confidence in Tinubu’s ability to address the nation’s challenges.

“We should remember that no one is an island and no one can boast of perfection. President Bola Tinubu is not God; he is a human being like any one of us. We all democratically elected him as our President, and we should exercise patience,” Akinyelure stated.

He added the importance of peace and constructive dialogue, warning that continued protests could lead to chaos and undermine the nation’s progress.

Fire engulfs Mobil fuel station in Lagos

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Fire engulfs Mobil fuel station in Lagos

A fire broke out at a Mobil fuel station located near Airport Hotel on Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday.

The incident occurred around 10:49am, during a peak period of fuel sales, causing chaos and destruction.

A video shared by X user Dubem, who identifies as #Dub3m__ showed the fuel station engulfed in flames, with the caption: “Mobil filling station, near Lagos Airport Hotel on Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ikeja on fire right now. #LAG_FireService you are needed asap.”

Emergency services, including ambulances, have been deployed to the scene to attend to victims and contain the situation.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Click the link below to watch the video:

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Sex workers decry low patronage in Kano

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Sex workers decry low patronage in Kano

Commercial sex workers in Kano have appealed to organisers of the nationwide hunger protests to engage the Federal Government in dialogue.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the protests had crippled social-economic activities, leaving them without customers and struggling to survive.

Monica James, who operates on France Road, said that dialogue was the only option to address the grievances of the protesters.

“I have not eaten for two days because of the curfew; our customers are nowhere to be found,” she said.

She urged the organisers to shelve their protests and negotiate with the government to end the demonstrations.

Deborah Iliya, a sex worker on Yoruba Road, who reechoed James’ sentiments, described the situation as horrible, as she has not been able to find customers.

Hannatu Ibrahim, of Weather head area, also called for an end to the protests, joining the growing calls for a return of normalcy.

Caroline James, a sex worker operating from a brothel on Enugu street in Sabon Gari, said that the infiltration of hoodlums and subsequent violence “spoilt our business.”

She said that she had booked clients who were willing to pay between N30, 000 and N40,000, but they were unable to keep their appointments due to the tension and curfew.

A sex worker, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that some of her colleagues were forced to share rooms due to the lack of customers during the protest.

She appealed to the authorities to relax the curfew, stating that it had severely impacted their ability to conduct business.

Moses John, a bar attendant, told NAN that the curfew had severely impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, with hotels and bars hardly selling due to the absence of customers.

Kenneth John, a dealer in Esi Ewu ( goat head) on Aitken Road, told NAN that the curfew had negatively impacted business activities in Sabon Gari, lamenting that he had lost several heads of goats due to lack of power supply.

(NAN)

Amnesty International denounces raid on NLC headquarters

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Amnesty International denounces raid on NLC headquarters

Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International, has condemned the invasion of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday night.
Sanusi issued a statement on Thursday describing the raid as a “sinister and calculated attack” aimed at intimidating the labor union.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the brazen invasion of the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress by a contingent of armed security personnel. The chilling raid last night appears to be part of a sinister and calculated attack designed to intimidate the labour union,” he said.
Read also: Gov Abiodun orders refund of recruitment fees to applicants amid economic hardship
During the raid, security personnel ransacked the NLC bookshop, seizing materials they claimed were used to incite and organize recent protests. Sanusi expressed grave concern for the safety of NLC officials, asserting, “We are deeply concerned about the safety of NLC officials. Under international human rights law and standards, trade unions cannot be targeted for their participating activities.”
Amnesty International stressed Nigeria’s obligation to uphold and protect trade union rights under international human rights law. “Under international human rights law, Nigeria has an obligation not only to respect the rights of trade unions but also to protect these rights from abuse,” Sanusi added.
The raid has raised concerns about a potential crackdown on labor activism in Nigeria. The NLC, which has led recent protests against government policies, views the raid as an attempt to suppress its voice.
The post Amnesty International denounces raid on NLC headquarters appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

We didn’t carry out any operation at NLC office – DSS

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We didn’t carry out any operation at NLC office – DSS

The Department of State Services, DSS, has denied playing a role in the reported raid of the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
DSS specifically said that it did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja.
“Please kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja,” DSS posted on its official X handle on Thursday.
TVN reports that the NLC had raised the alarm over the reported invasion of its office by security agents.
The union in a statement signed by Comrade Benson Upah, Head, Media and Public Relations, and shared on its official X handle on Wednesday, claimed that a troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House in the Central Business District, Abuja.
Labour also called for the immediate withdrawal of Federal Government armed security agents from its office.
Reacting to the development, Senator Shehu Sani, a former lawmaker, declared the invasion of the NLC headquarters as needless, unconscionable and condemnable.
We didn’t carry out any operation at NLC office – DSS

Police arrest 277 suspected looters in Jigawa

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Police arrest 277 suspected looters in Jigawa

The Jigawa State Police Command, on Thursday, said it has arrested not less than 277 suspected looters.

While giving an update on the ongoing hunger protest, the command’s spokesman, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, disclosed that 13 additional suspects were arrested on Wednesday.

He explained that the arrests were carried out in Gumel, Roni, and Birnin Kudu Local Government Areas respectively.

He added that some items were recovered from the looters.

He listed the recovered items to include, “316 bales of mosquito nets, 114 bags of fertilizer, one motorcycle, seven solar panels, 6½ bags of hibiscus flower (zobo), two bags of guinea corn, 19 office chairs, and nine plastic chairs”

Other recovered items include, “five cushion chairs, two standing fans, five ceiling fans, two refrigerators, four doors, 10 iron drawers, two fire extinguishers, two printers, two CPUs, and one stabilizer.”

Shiisu emphasised that at the moment, the state remains calm.

Gov Abiodun orders refund of recruitment fees to applicants amid economic hardship

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Gov Abiodun orders refund of recruitment fees to applicants amid economic hardship

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has instructed the chairman of the state Civil Service Commission to refund all administrative fees related to the ongoing recruitment into the state’s civil service.
The Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, announced the directive in a statement issued Thursday in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Read also: CBN probes allegations of wrongdoing against EcoBank
Governor Abiodun has ordered the Civil Service Commission to return all administrative fees, which have traditionally been charged for decades. “These fees are charged by the Civil Service Commission on behalf of third-party independent examiners who administer and supervise the Computer Based Test (CBT),” the statement noted.
Acknowledging the current economic challenges, the government emphasized that the recruitment exercise’s ultimate goal is to reduce citizen suffering and create jobs. “This necessitates the directives to immediately refund fees paid along with a waiver for any new applications,” the statement added.
The post Gov Abiodun orders refund of recruitment fees to applicants amid economic hardship appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Katsina Govt clears air on N15.4bn received from World Bank

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Katsina Govt clears air on N15.4bn received from World Bank

The Katsina State Government has clarified that the N15.4 billion the state received was a reimbursement from the World Bank through the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for the COVID-19 project (NG-CARES).
The Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Bello Kagara, who clarified on Thursday in Katsina, said the money was not a relief fund.
The commissioner said that the NG-CARES) programme was an emergency initiative designed to support budgeted programmes and interventions at the state level.
He said It targets existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) affected by the economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“NG-CARES is a Programme for Results (PforR) intervention, where States and FCT invest their resources, and produce results in line with the agreed protocols and guidelines.
“After that, he said, states would be reimbursed by the Federal Government after an Independent Verification Exercise,” he said.
The commissioner said that the state invested a huge amount of money into the programme in 2023, which led to “this significant return on investment.”
Kagara noted that the programme was in its third circle of implementation where the state earned N25.7 billion, and was reimbursed N15.4 billion out of the amount, representing 60 per cent of the earnings.
He said that the programme has three result areas where the successes were recorded in the state.
The commissioner listed the areas to include: the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), FADAMA and Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA).
According to him, in 2023, under the CSDA, livelihood support and micro projects across nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, among others, were given to a large number of beneficiaries.
He added that the FADAMA component supported thousands of farmers with agricultural inputs/services to boost agricultural productivity and guarantee food security.
The commissioner stated that through the KASEDA, thousands of firms got operational support grants, while others received ICT enhancement tools to enhance their business in the state.
He, therefore, said that the state would increase its investments in those areas to earn more returns.
Katsina Govt clears air on N15.4bn received from World Bank

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