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Osun: NANS Southwest Demands Alalade’s Court Arraignment Within 24 Hours or Immediate Release

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Osun: NANS Southwest Demands Alalade’s Court Arraignment Within 24 Hours or Immediate Release

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone has given the Osun State Police Command a 24-hour ultimatum to either charge Comrade Bukola Felix Alalade, popularly known as Machiavelli, to court or release him.

The demand was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the Zone’s Coordinator, Comrade Josiah Adeyemo; General Secretary, Comrade Babatunde Ojetola; and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Timothy Olugbemi, and sent to Daily Sun on Tuesday.

NANS said it noted the police statement on the arrest and continued detention of Alalade, a former NANS JCC Osun PRO and alumnus of the University of Ilesa.

According to the student body, his wife said police operatives arrived at their residence at about 1:00 a.m., allegedly forced their way in and took him away.

He was first traced to the Area Command in Ilesa before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo.

The police alleged that Alalade was connected to a violent incident during a political procession and claimed video evidence exists.

“Our position is straightforward: If such evidence exists, place it before a competent court and prosecute him according to law,” NANS stated.

The zone said during engagements at the command, “No such material was presented to me. The mere existence of an allegation cannot become a substitute for judicial scrutiny or an excuse for prolonged detention.”

NANS said it acknowledges the police responsibility to investigate crime, but will not accept “a situation where allegation gradually becomes punishment through continued detention without the intervention of a court.”

Read Also: Ebelechukwu International School Nkpor Triumphs at National Competition, Eyes African Stage

“An allegation is not a conviction. An investigation is not a sentence,” the statement said.

The body called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu to take interest in the matter and ensure the Osun Command acts “strictly within the law, professionally and without political influence,” especially with Osun approaching a sensitive election.

It stressed that its intervention has nothing to do with Alalade’s employment or political association.

“He is one of us… Our concern is that a recognised student leader must enjoy the same due process guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen.”

NANS’ position, according to the statement: “Within the next 24 hours, either bring Comrade Alalade Bukola Felix ‘Machiavelli’ before a competent court and place the allegations and available evidence before the judiciary, or release him in accordance with the law.”

The students also called on the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, and senior officers overseeing election security to demonstrate fairness and professionalism.

The zone warned that “Should this situation continue without lawful judicial intervention or satisfactory resolution, NANS will consult its structures and commence lawful, peaceful and organised mass action to demand respect for due process and the fundamental rights of one of our own.”

“We remain non-partisan. We will neither defend wrongdoing nor obstruct a legitimate criminal investigation. But neither will we sit idle while political tension becomes an excuse for the rights of student leaders to be disregarded,” the statement further reads.

Ebelechukwu International School Nkpor Triumphs at National Competition, Eyes African Stage

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Ebelechukwu International School Nkpor Triumphs at National Competition, Eyes African Stage

Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools, Nkpor in Idemili-North Local Government Area of Anambra State has taken the world by storm following her sterling performance at a national quiz competition held in Lagos State recently.

The school, which has been in operation for over a decade now, has continued to stand out amongst schools in Anambra State, winning statewide competitions and gathering more momentum as a trailblazer in the state education sector.

Director and proprietor of Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools, Akuzor village in Nkpor community, Chief Timothy Ebelechukwu Chukwukelu, who told the story of how Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools was birthed at a brief reception ceremony for the contingent held at the school’s newest two-storey building extension, said the school began with a vision to provide qualitative education for every strata of society, especially for the children of the poorest of the poor.

Before his inroad into the education sector, Chief Timothy Ebelechukwu Chukwukelu recalled with hindsight his philanthropic gestures across Nkpor community where he singlehandedly provided borehole water facilities in villages, towns and churches regardless of denominations.

According to him, 191 schools participated in the national competition and in the end, Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools emerged Second Runner-up, noting that it was indeed a great feat for the school, for Nkpor community, for Idemili-North LGA, for Anambra state and for the nation at large.

The Director, who disclosed that it was the first time the school would be involved in such a high-profile competition, noted that the victory was a product of hard work, resilience and team spirit, adding that the students and their teachers really worked assiduously to win the national recognition for Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools.

Principal of the junior section of Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools Campus 3 Umunya Oyi Local Government Area and coordinator of the competition, Mr. Roland Nwekeson, said the students were trained properly for the competition and at the end of the programme, they were amongst the best three schools at the national spelling competition out of 191 schools across the country, adding that the future of the school is bright because the next target, according to him, is to conquer the African continent and the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, the team leader of the student contingent to the national spelling competition in Lagos State, Miss Chikamso Genevieve Ngwu, an SS2 student of Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools, described the competition as exceptional, as it was different from the inter-campuses, local and state competitions the school had previously attended.

She said this time the school participated in a competition where they had the privilege to meet and compete with brilliant students from different states of the federation. Miss Ngwu confessed that the three-day competition was very taxing, but they eventually made it to the top through hard work, commitment, God’s grace, preparations, and prayers.

For Mr. Ausca Atiata, who is the principal of Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools Campus 1, the school is passionate about raising a total child. Atiata stated that the school has always been successful in all the competitions it has attended in the past, noting that their success stories have been built on the foundations of hard work, passion, and commitment.

According to him, any child registered at Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools is well taken care of in terms of education, moral standards, and otherwise. He therefore disclosed that when the school team went for the preliminaries at Obosi, they were victorious and thereafter proceeded to Lagos State for the national encounter, where they were subjected to various rigorous stages of the competition and thereafter won in flying colours out of 191 schools across Nigeria.

Mr. Atiata, who expressed optimism that Ebelechukwu International Group of Schools would replicate her national honour at African school quiz competitions, said the school is poised for global recognition because it is seriously committed and passionate about raising world-class scholars for the international market.

Funke Akindele Announces Release Date for New Movie The Four: No One Fights Alone

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Funke Akindele Announces Release Date for New Movie The Four: No One Fights Alone

Having conquered the box office with her record-breaking runs, celebrated filmmaker, actress and producer Funke Akindele is preparing to release her next feature film later this year. The movie, The Four: No One Fights Alone, will hit cinemas worldwide on December 11. The announcement is the next chapter for one of the most commercially successful filmmakers in Africa, produced by Funke Akindele Network (FAAN TV) and exclusively distributed by FilmOne Entertainment.

The Four is a powerful, emotionally charged drama celebrating friendship, motherhood, resilience and the extraordinary strength of ordinary women. The Four unfolds between the picturesque Odu community and the vibrant pulse of the city. The film is about Esosa and three women fiercely loyal to her and their fight for the future of a young man they love that puts their courage, faith and loyalty to the test in unimaginable ways. Like all other Akindele films that have continually challenged the limits of Nigerian cinema, The Four celebrates the country’s vibrant cultural identity thru music, fashion, language, tradition and breathtaking cinematography; weaving authentic storytelling around hope, sacrifice, and the enduring power of unity.

The film has a star-studded cast featuring Funke Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Ali Nuhu, Uzor Arukwe, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Antar Laniyan, and Wunmi Toriola. It also features award-winning singer Waje, Afrobeats star Shoday and entertainment personalities Samuel Banks, Kolapo Omotosho and Ayomide Iwasokun.
“Audiences have grown with us over the years, and they expect stories that entertain while reflecting who we are,” said The Four’s writer, director and producer Funke Akindele. “With this film, we’re examining the relationships that help us grow, challenge us and stay with us. “I think audiences will see themselves in this story.”

Akindele, one of the key forces in African cinema, has directed and produced a series of record-breaking theatrical releases such as Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Battle on Buka Street, A Tribe Called Judah, Everybody Loves Jenifa and Behind The Scenes, among others. Her movies have continuously rewritten the Nigerian box-office history, establishing her as the highest-grossing filmmaker in the country and one of the continent’s most influential creative voices.

Customs Seizes Contraband Worth N3.24 Billion in Lagos

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Customs Seizes Contraband Worth N3.24 Billion in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, has intercepted 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.24 billion and recovered N728.98 million in lost revenue.

The seizures were the result of intelligence-led operations, improved risk profiling, rigorous compliance checks and targeted enforcement actions against suspicious and fraudulent declarations.

The Unit said the seizures were of a wide variety of prohibited and controlled items including 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis (Sativa) weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg; 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg; 240,000 tablets of Tramadol and 12,000 tablets of Hypnox.

Other items intercepted included 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg; 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, equivalent to 24,100 liters; 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil containing four five-liter units each; 686 cartons of foreign poultry products; 414 bales of used clothing; and 2,947 used tires, among others.

Reacting to the seizures and revenue recovery, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, Customs Area Controller, FOU Zone A, said the development was a major accomplishment recorded by the Unit in its bid to protect government revenue and safeguard the nation’s economic interests.

He said the Unit will continue to detect and recover revenue lost thru under-declaration, false declaration, undervaluation and other forms of customs fraud.

The Comptroller advised importers, exporters and licensed customs agents to strictly adhere to the extant customs laws and regulations.

Read Also: Nigerian Stock Market Surpasses Historic N160 Trillion Mark Amid Sustained Investor Interest

“The Customs Service continues to be dedicated to facilitating legitimate trade and establishing a fair and predictable trading environment for compliant businesses,” he said.

Aliyu, however, warned that the Unit would continue its zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling, revenue evasion and other activities that threaten Nigeria’s economic interests.

Intercepting foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, poultry products, foreign-used vehicles, used clothing and other prohibited goods will help protect local industries, support domestic production, strengthen food security and protect legitimate government revenue, the Comptroller said.

The seizure of illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products is an important intervention in protecting public health by preventing the circulation of substances capable of harming citizens and undermining the wellbeing of young Nigerians, said Comptroller Aliyu.

“The recovery of elephant tusks highlights the Service’s role in combating illegal wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species,” he added.

The Comptroller attributed the successes recorded by the Unit to improved intelligence gathering, successful risk profiling, intelligence fusion, inter-agency collaboration and the cooperation of stakeholders and members of the public.

Nigerian Stock Market Surpasses Historic N160 Trillion Mark Amid Sustained Investor Interest

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Nigerian Stock Market Surpasses Historic N160 Trillion Mark Amid Sustained Investor Interest

The Nigerian stock kicked off the week on a positive note as renewed buying interest in Airtel Africa Plc, others pushed the market market capitalization above historic N160trillion mark.

The stock price of Airtel Africa went up by 8.59 per cent and the market capitalization value appreciated by N1.91 trillion or 1.2 per cent to close at N160.422 trillion compared with N158.513 trillion it opened for trading.

However, Airtel Africa’s single gain of 8.59 per cent saw its market capitalization at N23.7 trillion as of August 10, 2026 closing of trading activities on NGX, emerging as the most capitalized stock on NGX.

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) All-Share Index (ASI) appreciated by 2,956.15 basis points or 1.20 per cent to close at 248,529.75 basis points from 245,573.60 basis points recorded at the close of trading last week.

This brings the NGX ASI in its year-to-date (YTD) return improved to 59.71per cent, from 57.81per cent in the previous week.

The market was negative with 36 decliners and 23 advancers. Fortis Global Insurance gained 10 per cent to close at N2.86, per share. Chams Holding Company came next with a gain of 9.80 per cent to close at N4.48, while NAHCO increased by 9.29 per cent to close at N153.00, per share.

Airtel Africa gained 8.59 percent to close at N6,300.00, and Sovereign Trust Insurance rose 6.59 percent to close at N1.78, per share.

In the meantime, AVA Capital topped the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N9.90, per share. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) dropped 9.92 per cent to close at N64.95, while Caverton Offshore Support Group fell 9.09 per cent to close at N5.00, per share.

Ikeja Hotel lost 8.41 per cent to close at N43.00, while FTN Cocoa Processors shed 8.37 per cent to close at N8.10, per share.

Read Also: UBA Partners Mikano Motors to Offer New Vehicles With 30% Down Payment

The total volume fell by 25.11 per cent to 1.137 billion units, valued at N27.017 billion, and exchanged in 59,185 deals. The activity chart was led by transactions in the shares of Consolidated Hallmark Holdings with 354.069 million shares worth N1.534 billion. Fortis Global Insurance followed with 307.343 million units worth N818.333 million, while Access Holdings traded 48.075 million units valued at N1.369 billion.

Chams Holding Company traded 37.371 million shares worth N163.296 million, while First Holdco traded 35.755 million shares worth N5.118 billion.

Going forward, the market is expected to continue its bullish trend as investors sentiment is turning positive, but residual profit-taking may slow down the pace of any recovery, Cowry Assets Management Limited said.

UBA Partners Mikano Motors to Offer New Vehicles With 30% Down Payment

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UBA Partners Mikano Motors to Offer New Vehicles With 30% Down Payment

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is collaborating with Mikano Motors to launch a new vehicle financing scheme that will enable Nigerians acquire brand new vehicles with an initial deposit of 30 percent, while the bank will finance the remaining 70 percent.

The initiative tagged, “Drive Your Dream Today” was unveiled on Monday at the Mikano Motors showroom, Victoria Island, Lagos as the two companies want to make vehicle ownership more accessible thru structured consumer credit.

Under the arrangement, eligible customers will pay 30 per cent of the cost of their vehicle of choice, while UBA will finance the balance. The loan is to be repaid over a period of 36 months at an interest rate of 23 per cent.

The scheme is targeted at both the salaried and self employed Nigerians. UBA also said individuals without a fixed monthly income can participate, on meeting the bank’s eligibility conditions.

The initiative is expected to provide an alternative for prospective vehicle buyers who might not be able to afford the entire cost of a new vehicle upfront, while allowing them to pay off the cost over a period of three years.

“The partnership was born out of the need to make vehicle ownership more accessible to hardworking Nigerians,” said UBA’s Group Executive Director-designate, Personal and Business Banking, Chidi Okpala.

“ Owning a car should be within the reach of hardworking Nigerians, and this partnership makes it far more achievable,” Okpala said.

Read Also: Indonesia Deploys Aircraft to Battle Worsening Forest Fires

Customers will only pay 30 per cent of the vehicle’s value, while UBA will finance the remaining 70 per cent to be repaid over three years, he said.

Okpala said the initiative was part of the bank’s broader effort to deepen access to credit and encourage Nigerians to embrace responsible borrowing as a way of solving major financial needs.

UBA’s Group Head, Consumer Lending, Frank Okoh explained that the financing process has been deliberately simplified for customers with varying income profiles.

“We have made entry simple and the terms clear whether you are on a salary or running your own business,” said Okoh.

He said prospective customers would first undergo an eligibility check which could be done at any UBA branch or thru email.

After the customer is approved, the applicant can obtain a proforma invoice from Mikano Motors for the vehicle of his choice and continue with the financing process.

The extension of the scheme to cater for self-employed customers and Nigerians without a regular monthly salary increases the potential reach of the scheme especially for Nigerians who have an income pattern that does not fit the conventional monthly salary structure that some of the lending arrangements require

Mikano Motors said the partnership with UBA is expected to improve access to the range of its vehicles and also enable customers to enjoy the company’s after-sales support.

“The goal of Mikano Motors is not to sell vehicles but to give our customers a complete ownership experience,” said Tarek Mostafa, general manager, Mikano Motors.

Mostafa said: “Mikano Motors was established to offer Nigerians a high-end ownership experience from the showroom to years down the road.

He said the company’s after sales services include providing genuine spare parts, maintenance and servicing support throughout the country.

Mostafa stated that the partnership with UBA would give more Nigerians access to Mikano vehicles and the support services that accompany ownership.

“Partnering with UBA allows more customers to experience that, and we are proud to build deep relationships with a bank that shares our commitment to service,” he added.

The vehicle financing scheme is in line with UBA’s drive to expand consumer lending and develop financial products that enable people to meet big-ticket purchase needs without paying the full amount upfront, the bank said.

The deal comes amid rising interest in vehicle finance as consumers and companies look for ways to cope with the rising cost of new cars.

The Drive Your Dream Today scheme allows eligible customers to own a brand new Mikano Motors vehicle thru a structured repayment plan that combines a 30 percent down payment with bank financing for the remaining 70 percent.

According to the bank, interested customers can start the process by checking their eligibility with UBA, before selecting their desired vehicle and getting the required proforma invoice from Mikano Motors.

Indonesia Deploys Aircraft to Battle Worsening Forest Fires

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Indonesia Deploys Aircraft to Battle Worsening Forest Fires

Indonesia has stepped up efforts to put out forest and land fires in six priority provinces, sending aircraft to conduct cloud-seeding operations as authorities try to bring rain and limit haze blanketing the region.

El Niño is strengthening, bringing a longer and harsher dry season this year for the country, increasing the risk of drought, wildfires and worsening air pollution.

Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry data showed 107,465 hectares of land burned between January and June, a 110 per cent increase from the same period in 2023 when the last significant impact of El Niño was felt in the country.

“We are on alert because the weather conditions really make it possible for these fires to become larger,” Chief Security Minister Djamari Chaniago told reporters Monday.

Read Also: Davido Backs Adeleke, Fires Back at APC: ‘You Can’t Stop God’s Project’

“Indications pointed to the El Nino having reached its peak in Indonesia,” Djamari said.

The government has determined six priority provinces for fire control efforts, namely Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Sumatra Island, and West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan on Borneo.

There were also reports of fires in other parts of the country, including Java, Papua and Nusa Tenggara .

The city’s mayor said that in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, classes for all students have been shifted online due to deteriorating air quality caused by haze.

Authorities had deployed 43 helicopters and 15 fixed-wing aircraft to combat the fires, Djamari said.

Cloud seeding operations have also been carried out using salt flares to induce rain. However, he noted that efforts had been hampered by a shortage of rain-bearing clouds.

We therefore watch the weather very closely, even the smallest changes in it. “When there’s a good chance of getting rain clouds, we do cloud-seeding operations right away,” he said.

And the haze’s effects have crossed Indonesia’s borders. Air quality readings of 11 locations in Malaysia’s Sarawak State, which shares Borneo island with Indonesia, were unhealthy on Tuesday, the country’s environmental department said.

The state education department of Sarawak told schools to stop outdoor activities when the temperature was too high or the air quality index was above 100.

A fire at Mount Bromo National Park in East Java Province that destroyed at least 899 hectares on Java Island had been mostly put out, local disaster mitigation agency Chief Gatot Soebroto said.

Some 150 personnel remained deployed on Tuesday to tackle the remaining blaze, which was still burning across at least two hectares.

Davido Backs Adeleke, Fires Back at APC: ‘You Can’t Stop God’s Project’

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Davido Backs Adeleke, Fires Back at APC: ‘You Can’t Stop God’s Project’

Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has blasted the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as attempts to frustrate development in Osun State.

Davido said this on Monday in reaction to the massive turnout at the inauguration of the Lagere Flyover in Ile-Ife by his uncle, the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke.

The singer, who has been a vocal supporter of the governor and his administration, posted videos from the inauguration on his X account, along with comments praising the project and the crowd that attended the event.

Davido, reacting to a video showing the crowd that gathered for the event, wrote, “Jesus, see Ile-Ife crowd!! For @AAdeleke_01!!!! That’s a deal! “You can’t stop God’s project!”

In another post, the singer criticized the APC, asking why the party would allegedly oppose projects in the state.

“APC is just backwards,” he wrote. Why would they do anything to stop progress?” Thot y’all were progressives??

Read Also: Rivers Cult Clash: Gunshots Reported at Ignatius Ajuru University

He also appeared to poke fun at the influencers and supporters at the event, writing, “Belt to ass this weekend!!!! Nah. Pay 100,000 influencers if you want. Dem come for free hotel and food.”
The posts followed the inauguration of the Lagere Flyover and the dualization of the Mayfair Roundabout–Palace Junction Road in Ile-Ife by Adeleke.

One of the major infrastructure projects of the Adeleke administration in the ancient city is the Lagere Flyover, located at the busy Lagere Junction.

Adeleke flagged off the project in May 2024 to ease traffic congestion around the Lagere area, a major commercial and transport hub linking several parts of Ile-Ife.

The project, which involves the flyover and associated road expansion and dualization works, has been quoted to cost about N14.9bn.

The road corridor connects the Lagere area toward Iremo Road and the axis leading to the Ooni of Ife’s Palace. The wider project is expected to ease traffic flow and connectivity within the city.

A large crowd of residents, supporters and other stakeholders graced the inauguration, with clips of the event widely shared on social media.

Davido’s comments come just days before the Osun State governorship election on August 15, in which Adeleke is seeking re-election.

Rivers Cult Clash: Gunshots Reported at Ignatius Ajuru University

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Rivers Cult Clash: Gunshots Reported at Ignatius Ajuru University

Suspected rival cultists went on rampage at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, exchanging gunfire on Monday.

It was gathered that the clash was between two rival cult groups identified as Vikings and Clansmen confraternities in a battle for supremacy.

While the immediate cause of the clash could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the violence between the rival groups erupted during the ongoing Students’ Union Government Week of the university.

No casualty was recorded but a viral video of the incident making rounds on social media showed students scampering for safety as gunshots rented the air.

Academic activities were suspended thereafter and most students left campus or stayed in classrooms and hostels to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

A Port Harcourt-based rights activist, Charles Jaja, who commented on the incident, said the clash showed that the management of the institution had lost control of the campus of the state-owned institution.

Jaja, who said such development was unacceptable, especially in a university, called on the university authorities to brace up to the challenge of rampaging cultists in the school.

“The gunshot yesterday at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education is a sad reminder of what a university ought not to be and I think the school management has lost control of its campus,” he said.

“There must be a conscious effort on their (management’s) part to do things differently. And I think they should understudy what was done at the Rivers State University (sister institution) under the watch of Prof. Barineme Fakae as Vise Chancellor then.

His model was simple. All that was needed to push cultism to the barest minimum was just enforcement of rules and intelligence driven security and swift sanctions and that gave birth to the peace on the campus.

“This is what I am advocating because at a time a university which is supposed to be a place for character building, research and learning has now become a theater for cultism and violence. This is not okay.”

Also speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday morning, another rights activist and National Coordinator, Center for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro, expressed concern over repeated cult clashes in the school.

The latest clash, Wiro said, was an embarrassment to the institution and the state government.

There have been some incidents of cult clashes reported in and around the university in the last one year before the latest incident on Monday.

Read Also: Industrial Action: NCAA Urges Aviation Unions to Suspend Strike Threat

“Such repeated incidents suggest that the security arrangements in the institution may not be adequate. It will also erode confidence of parents on the security architecture of the University and many parents may not wish their children to be admitted in the University.

“I use this medium to call on the Rivers State Governor who is the visitor to the institution to invite the leadership of the University with a view to discussing ways of enhancing security in and out of the institution,” he said.

Spokesman for the state police vommand, Blessing Agabe, told Tuesday morning that it was a clash between rival gangs in the campus.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agabe dismissed claims that the gunshots heard during the clash were not fired by operatives, insisting that men of the command promptly responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene, restoring calm.

“It was a fight between two cult groups,” she said. Police responded quickly and arrived on the scene in good time and managed to bring the situation under control, saying investigation is ongoing.

“Police did not fire any shots, as the officers only took necessary proactive steps to contain and arrest the situation. No one was killed. “But members of the groups fled the scene, and investigation is underway to identify and arrest those involved.”

Industrial Action: NCAA Urges Aviation Unions to Suspend Strike Threat

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Industrial Action: NCAA Urges Aviation Unions to Suspend Strike Threat

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on aviation unions to suspend their current industrial action and embrace dialog, adding that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, is working to resolve the issues.

The NCAA said it was aware of the action by the unions and its impact on passengers and other stakeholders in a statement on Tuesday by its Director General Capt. Chris Najomo.

Earlier reports had it that the crux of the dispute which led to the industrial action was the failure by some airlines to remit the 5 per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC).

Airlines are mandated by law to collect the statutory levy on each passenger ticket and remit it to the NCAA, which then shares the revenue among regulatory and safety agencies including NCAA, NAMA and NiMet. ebeb

Union leaders under the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employes (NUATE) say several indigenous carriers have amassed billions of naira in unremitted TSC deductions which they say has robbed aviation agencies of operational liquidity.

The unions issued a final seven-day ultimatum on July 28, after a 14-day notice period expired, warning of ground disruptions and service stoppages if the debts were not cleared.

This newspaper also reported that NUATE and ATSSSAN grounded the operations of Air Peace in Abuja and Lagos in the early hours of Tuesday over allegations of preventing workers from unionizing and non-remittance of ticket sales charges owed to the NCAA.

The unions, led by the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), said they were forced to picket the airline after a warning issued on August 4, when the unions announced a notice of picketing and said they were ready to strike “at any time without further notice.”

NCAA, in its statement, said the matter would have been discussed at a meeting convened by the Aviation minister last week but the meeting could not hold as the airline operators did not turn up for the meeting.

The NCAA urged the unions “to put their swords away and exercise restraint until the return” of the minister, who they said has been actively working to resolve the issues.

The NCAA told travelers flight safety has not been compromised and the authority still carries out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.

We urge all sides to engage in dialog and cooperation. “We are confident the issue will be resolved shortly and that normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” the statement continues.

The NCAA also expressed regret over the inconvenience to passengers and thanked them for their patience and understanding.

Meanwhile, the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) had kicked against any disruption of service, noting that airlines have no direct transactional relationship with the unions on TSC and that the action is based on misinformation.

AON added that soaring aviation fuel costs and various levies have put local carriers under severe financial pressure.

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