President Bola Tinubu is currently hosting a Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa.
At the meeting, the service chiefs and Inspector General of Police, among others, will brief the President on the security situation in the country.
The meeting which started at 2:00 pm has in attendance the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, National Security Adviser to the President, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, the Comptroller Generals of Custom and Immigration, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President.
Earlier, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was abruptly cancelled.
The crucial meeting was set to take place in the Council Chamber, following President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast on Sunday which attempted to address the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests.
No reason was given for the cancellation.
BREAKING: Tinubu hosts Security Council meeting at Presidential Villa
BREAKING: Tinubu hosts Security Council meeting at Presidential Villa
Kaduna imposes 24-hour curfew in rioting cities
The Kaduna State Security Council, led by Governor Uba Sani, has immediately imposed a 24-hour curfew on the metropolitan cities of Kaduna and Zaria and their environs.
This decision followed a review of the security situation in the state, which revealed that the ongoing protests have been hijacked by criminal elements engaging in looting and the destruction of private and public property.
In a statement on Monday, the overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, advised citizens to remain indoors while security forces work to maintain safety and security.
He said the curfew would be reviewed as necessary.
The government urged citizens to cooperate with the security forces and report suspicious activities.
Details shortly…
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Bangladesh’s army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman takes charge after PM’s ouster
Bangladesh army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman spent nearly four decades rising to the top of the military and said on Monday he was “taking full responsibility” after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and fled.
Bedecked with medal ribbons on his green fatigues and wearing a four-star general’s cap, Waker said 76-year-old Hasina had quit and that the army would “form an interim government”.
“I give you my word that all the injustices will be addressed,” the career infantry officer said in a broadcast to the nation on state television, although it was not immediately clear if he would head the new government.
“The country has suffered a lot, the economy has been hit, many people have been killed — it is time to stop the violence.”
The mild-looking, bespectacled officer was appointed as chief of army staff, the military’s top job, only in June. Hasina had trusted him because he was a distant relative.
The experienced soldier has served as a UN peacekeeper as well as in Hasina’s office.
His father-in-law was army chief during the first of Hasina’s five terms as prime minister from 1996-2001.
The military declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest and installed a caretaker government for two years.
Hasina then ruled Bangladesh from 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition.
‘Forge a beautiful future’
As protesters stormed Hasina’s palace on Monday and she fled by helicopter, Waker said he would speak to the president to form a government.
He vowed that the new authorities would “prosecute all murders” following weeks of deadly protests.
The army was deployed on the streets to crush the protests last month but shifted on Sunday and in several instances allowed demonstrations to go on.
Waker said he had held talks with the main opposition parties and civil society members, although not with Hasina’s Awami League.
“All of us together will forge a beautiful future. If we work together, we can achieve a favourable outcome,” he said.
The Bangladesh Military Academy graduate, who served two tours as a UN peacekeeper in Angola and Liberia, called for the weeks of protests to stop.
At least 300 people were killed in the unrest.
“If the situation gets better, there is no need for emergency,” he said.
Waker appealed to the university students who first launched protests in early July to support the army. The protests were initially against government hiring rules but spiralled into demands for Hasina to leave office.
“Now the task of the students is to keep calm and help us,” he said.
Waker, who Bangladeshi media say is aged 57 or 58, also received officer training in Britain.
Married with two daughters, he holds master’s degrees in defence studies from Bangladesh’s National University and King’s College London.
He was commissioned in 1985, also serving as an instructor at the Army’s College for Infantry and Tactics and at Bangladesh’s Institute for Peace Support Operations.
AFP
Tinubu postpones FEC meeting, hosts security chiefs Monday
This week’s Federal Executive Council meeting has been postponed to an undisclosed date.
Our correspondent, who was at the Council Chamber at the scheduled time, observed that although some ministers were seated, President Bola Tinubu, his Vice President Kashim Shettima, his Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, were yet to arrive.
At about 12:15 pm, some ministers began packing their memos and walking to the exit.
One of the ministers, who spoke to The According on condition of anonymity, said Monday’s meeting had been shifted to a soon-to-be-disclosed date.
“It is no longer holding today. But you know, the council meets on Mondays only when there are issues to discuss,” the minister said.
However, the cabinet member declined to give reasons for the postponement.
Nonetheless, Presidency sources who confided in our correspondent said the first notice of the meeting was disseminated on Sunday night but was postponed hours before noon.
However, some ministers did not receive the postponement notice on time.
“The ministers were not even supposed to come here because the meeting has been postponed. But it appears they got the notice very late.
“The meeting itself was impromptu because the notice came out last night,” said one source who asked to remain anonymous.
Another source who works closely with the President confirmed that President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Service Chiefs at 2:00 pm to discuss the nationwide protests, among other matters.
“Yes, FEC was postponed, but there will be a security meeting at 2:00 pm,” the source said, glancing at a wristwatch.
Reports indicate that Nigerians, mostly youths, are regrouping across the country for the fifth day of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
President Tinubu had on Sunday called for dialogue and an immediate end to the nationwide protests that have rocked the nation since Thursday.
Tinubu said his administration is ready to listen to and address the protesters’ concerns, affirming that he has heard their calls “loud and clear”.
However, protesters have continued their demonstrations in major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Kaduna.
JUST IN: Court nullifies sale of Nigeria Air
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday nullified the sale of Nigeria Air Limited to the Ethiopian Airlines.
Details later…
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China leads, as USA, France, others battle for 2024 Olympics medals
The 2024 Olympic Games have become a battleground for sporting supremacy, with China currently leading the 2024 Olympics medals table.
As of 1 pm on Monday, August 5, the People’s Republic of China has amassed an impressive total of 50 medals, including 21 gold, 17 silver, and 12 bronze.
Hot on China’s heels is the United States of America, which has accumulated the highest total medal count of 72. However, the U.S. trails in gold medals with 19, complemented by 27 silver and 26 bronze.
France, the host nation, is making a strong showing on home soil, currently holding the third position with a total of 44 medals. The French team has secured 12 gold, 14 silver, and 18 bronze medals, demonstrating a competitive spirit across various events.
Australia and the Republic of Korea round out the top five, with 31 and 26 medals respectively. Australia has matched France’s gold medal count with 12, while Korea has claimed 11 golds.
Other notable performances include Great Britain in sixth place with 38 total medals, and Japan in seventh with 25 medals.
European powerhouses Italy, Netherlands, and Germany complete the top ten 2024 Olympics medals table, showcasing the global nature of Olympic competition.
According Online highlights the current top 20 as of 1 pm, Monday, August 5.
Format: Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1. People’s Republic of China 21 17 12 50
2. United States of America 19 27 26 72
3. France 12 14 18 44
4. Australia 12 11 8 31
5. Republic of Korea 11 8 7 26
6. Great Britain 10 12 16 38
7. Japan 9 5 11 25
8. Italy 8 10 6 24
9. Netherlands 6 5 4 15
10. Germany 6 5 2 13
11. Canada 5 4 8 17
12. Hungary 3 3 2 8
13. Romania 3 3 1 7
14. Ireland 3 0 3 6
15. New Zealand 2 4 1 7
16. Sweden 2 3 2 7
17. Ukraine 2 2 3 7
18. Croatia 2 1 1 4
19. Belgium 2 0 3 5
20. Hong Kong, China 2 0 2 4
Protest: Northern elites, appointees in Tinubu’s govt should rise up – Bwala
Amid the ongoing nationwide protests against economic hardship and hunger, former lawmaker Daniel Bwala has called for the intervention of northern elders, elites and appointees in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Bwala said they should rise up and engage with the teeming young population in the north.
According to him, it’s their duty to tell the youths what Tinubu is doing in addressing hunger and hardship.
“It is time for all the northern elders, elites and appointees from the northern extraction in this administration of @officialABAT, or northern friends of this administration to rise up and engage with our teeming young population in the north and lay out to them what President Tinubu is doing in addressing hunger and hardship,” Bwala posted on X.
Protest: Northern elites, appointees in Tinubu’s govt should rise up – Bwala
Lagos firm sues Wike N200m over revocation of Abuja Zoological Garden land
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has been dragged before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory over an alleged unlawful revocation of a parcel of land earmarked for establishment of Zoological Garden in Abuja.
Wike is sued alongside the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and a private company, Praco International Limited, as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively in the suit marked FCT/HC/GAR/CV/422/2024.
A Lagos based company, Micro Investment Limited, instituted the suit in which it is challenging the proprietary or otherwise of the revocation of its land and re-allocation of the same land to another private firm in an alleged gross violations of Section 28 of the Land Use Act 2004.
In the suit filed on its behalf by an Abuja based legal practitioner, Isiaka Kadiri of Reuben Atabo, SAN, law firm, Micro Investment Limited claimed that the land known as plot 582 located at Kukwuaba District was allocated to it on October 5, 1997, by the FCT Minister and FCDA.
Upon payment of all mandatory fees, the plaintiff claimed that Right of Occupancy (R of O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) were issued to it on March 25, 1998, via C of O number FCT)/ABU/MISC;15004 with file number MISC 15004.
However, between 2005 and 2007 while Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai became the FCT Minister, the aggrieved plaintiff asserted that it received an instruction that all land title holders in the FCT should submit their respective documents for re-certification and issuance of new ones.
It claimed that it promptly complied with the directive and received acknowledgement on July 26, 2006, and had since been in possession of the land.
Trouble was however said to have erupted on May 25, 2023, when a purported withdrawal notice on the land was issued to it based on a purported court judgment in a suit marked FCT/ABU/CV/812/2022 between Praco Nig. Ltd and Mohammed Musa Bello.
The land was said to have been allocated to Praco Nigeria Ltd on July 7, 2023 with file number MISC 148056 while the plaintiff became aware of the alleged unlawful act vide a letter dated July 7, 2023 from the FCT Department of Land Administration.
The plaintiff queried the allocation of the land to another private company, insisting that such revocation can only be legally and lawfully carried out by the defendants on grounds of overriding public interest.
It therefore prayed the court to void and set aside the purported revocation of its land and re-allocation of same to Praco Nigeria Ltd for a private use instead of public use as stipulated by law.
The plaintiff also sought an order of the court that its title be declared valid, lawful and legitimate and that it has exclusive rights to use and occupy the land.
Besides, the Lagos firm also prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents and privies from tampering with or interfering with its ownership of the land.
Similarly, the plaintiff asked the court to order the three defendants to jointly pay it N200 million as general damages for the alleged unlawful acts carried out against it.
No date has been fixed for hearing and determination of the suit.
Lagos firm sues Wike N200m over revocation of Abuja Zoological Garden land
Court halts sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines
A Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Monday, nullified the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.
The court declared null and void the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airline, after determining the issues in the suit.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ordered that the Federal Government’s plans to establish the national carrier, Nigeria Air, should be halted.
The judgment was delivered in favour of the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria and five other aviation industry stakeholders.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs except for the request for N2 billion in damages.
The plaintiffs in the case include the Registered Trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Limited.
The defendants are Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; the Federal Ministry of Aviation, and the former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
The plaintiffs sought an order to nullify the entire bidding and selection process for the Nigeria Air project, as well as the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the defendants.
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Why Nigerian govt resorted to food importation – Agric minister
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said on Sunday the Federal Government resorted to importation of food items due to the lean production season.
The minister, who featured in Channels Television’s programme, Sunday Politics in Abuja, assured Nigerians that food inflation would soon be a thing of the past.
He stressed that Nigeria would experience a bumper harvest soon.
“We’re expecting a bumper harvest,” Kyari said.
The minister also explained that the Importation of food items was a result of the cyclical issue in farming season.
READ ALSO:Appeal Court dismisses Kyari’s move to quash drug charge
He pointed out that the lean season was the reason the federal government resorted to importation of specific food items to reduce the impact of these low-yield crops and high prices of staple food in the market.
“The season that we find ourselves now is a cyclical issue that you have in agriculture. This is what you call the lean season and this is between June, July and August before the next harvest.
“That is why Mr. President has decided to import rice, maize, wheat and other staple foods. As soon as all the fiscal issues have been worked out and the ministry of finance and customs have issued out the fiscal aspect of it,” Kyari stated.
By: Babajide Okeowo
The post Why Nigerian govt resorted to food importation – Agric minister appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.