Eight school children have survived a ghastly motor accident in Lokoja the Kogi State capital.
Eyewitness account told TVN that the children are pupils of Kingdom Heritage Nursery and Primary School Lokoja.
TVN gathered that the children were returning from school when the sad incident occurred on Thursday at the popular Lokongoma market in Lokoja.
It was further gathered that a heavy-duty truck carrying a container load fell on two small vehicles which trapped the Children.
Through the combined effort of the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies, the children were rescued.
The Kogi State Security Adviser Commodore Jerry Omodara Rtd. who was on ground to ensure the rescue of the school children confirmed this to our Correspondent on Thursday.
As of 5:17PM, efforts are still in place to ensure that the truck is evacuated from the road to ensure free flow of traffic.
BREAKING: 8 children rescued from ghastly accident in Kogi
BREAKING: 8 children rescued from ghastly accident in Kogi
INEC capable of conducting LG elections
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, has affirmed that the electoral body can conduct local government elections in the country if provided with the necessary resources.
He made this statement on Thursday when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees.
Responding to a question from members of the National Assembly joint panel on the commission’s stance regarding the Supreme Court verdict on financial autonomy for Local Government, Yakubu acknowledged calls for the unbundling of INEC or the creation of a new federal agency for conducting council polls.
However, he asserted that INEC, under his leadership, possesses the capacity, competence, human resources, and experience needed to conduct local government elections across Nigeria’s 774 councils.
He supported his position by citing the commission’s successes in the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and its frequent off-season and bye-elections.
Yakubu emphasised that INEC’s consistent conduct of federal and state elections is proof of its capability to manage council polls.
Yakubu stated, “So if this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission. Right now, we do national elections, state elections, and local government elections.”
He elaborated, “A national electoral commission may be expected to implement only the presidential and National Assembly elections.
“We also conduct governorship elections, state assembly elections, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory. Our track record proves that we can do it. In the Federal Capital Territory, there are six area councils, 62 wards, and councillorship elections.
“This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections regularly, without caretaker committees, ensuring stability and security of tenure. The recent amendment of the Electoral Act provides a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT.”
Yakubu noted that no single political party has won all the constituencies in the FCT, with the six chairmen evenly split between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
He highlighted that the FCT councils comprise urban and rural communities, demonstrating INEC’s adequate experience in conducting elections nationwide.
He further stated, “So in terms of capacity to do it, we can do it, we have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory.
”However, if the National Assembly decides to amend the constitution, we need to engage with the National Assembly for certain amendments to handle additional responsibilities. For instance, will the Federal Government fund the elections for state and local governments?
”Alternatively, there is a proposition for a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.
”Some argue against state electoral commissions conducting local government elections in the spirit of federalism but should improve their conduct.”
Yakubu reminded us that the current constitution creates both INEC and state-independent electoral commissions. Thus, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC.
He reaffirmed, “If that is done, can INEC cope? Yes, we can.”
He mentioned that INEC should not be unbundled beyond its electoral activities, suggesting that some responsibilities could be handled by other agencies, a point made by various committees since 2008, including the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission.
Yakubu assured the joint panel that the commission had made adequate arrangements for the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States.
He also noted that INEC had prepared budgets for outstanding by-elections in seven federal and state legislative constituencies.
Additionally, he explained that the agency’s 2024 Budget is being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance, with monthly releases of N23.3bn out of the N40bn appropriated for the year.
The According reports that the December 5, 1998, local government elections were conducted by INEC.
Ohanaeze President General, Iwuanyanwu, dies at 81
25th July 2024
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has died.
His passing was confirmed in a statement on Thursday by Jide Iwuanyanwu, the son of the late Chief Emmanuel.
More details later…
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Death toll in Lagos collapsed building rises to five
The death toll in the building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in the Maryland area of Lagos State has increased to five.
Three site workers were earlier confirmed dead when the building located at No. 13 Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, collapsed at about 4:00 a.m., on Thursday.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement in Ikeja.
He said five persons have also been rescued from the rubbles by emergency responders.
He said: “The first three victims that were rescued were taken to the Gbagada General Hospital.
“The other two victims who were rescued were ferried to the Trauma Centre at Gbagada after they were stabilised.
“In all, the five adult male victims who were recovered dead have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for further processing.
“A search and rescue operation is still ongoing to ground zero.”
The post Death toll in Lagos collapsed building rises to five appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
DSS warns against nationwide protest
The Department of State Services has warned the organisers of the planned nationwide protests against proceeding with them.
The service said it uncovered a plan by some criminal elements to hijack the protest and cause unrest in the country.
The military and police have also warned against the protest scheduled to be held from August 1 to 10 in response to the economic hardship experienced in the country.
The DSS, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, described the motive behind the protest as political.
Afunanya added that the plotters of the protest intended to use the violent outcome of the protest to smear the federal and sub-national governments.
He said, “The DSS has followed the discourse on planned protests in parts of the country in the coming weeks by persons and groups yet to identify themselves in public as leaders of the plot.
“While peaceful protest is a democratic right of citizens, the Service has confirmed a sinister plan by some elements to infiltrate the protest and use it to cause chaos and extreme violence in the land. It has also identified the reason behind the protest as political.
“The plotters desire to use the intended violent outcome to smear the federal and sub-national governments, make them unpopular, and pit them against the masses. The long-term objective is to achieve regime change, especially at the Centre.
“The Service has also identified, among others, the funding lines, sponsors, and collaborators of the plot. However, it does not think that aggression should be the first line of action in handling the emerging scenario.
“It has instead, variously applied non-kinetic and conflict resolution strategies, including moral suasion, stakeholder engagement, and other multi-track diplomatic shuttles, to dissuade the planners from actualising their undesirable objective.”
Afunanya warned the protesters to eschew any form of anarchy among others in the interest of peace.
He said, “Based on the foregoing, the Service wishes to warn all the protest groups to eschew any form of proposed rage, anarchy, and spoliation. While the different levels of Government have routinely explained their agenda to ameliorate alleged harsh economic conditions, the Service urges the prospective protesters to listen to the voice of reason and good conscience and patiently engage with the authorities in the interest of peace.
“This has become important given that violence begets the destruction of lives and property as well as serves as a distraction to governance. The agitators are encouraged to use ample ways available to them to channel their grievances without resorting to violence.”
He also called on all citizens to turn down the invitation to participate in any form of violence.
Afunanya said, “The Service calls on people of goodwill, leaders of thought, captains of industry, labour unions, student associations, youth leaders, civil society, clergy, NGOs, women’s groups, civil servants, and politicians to shun any invitation to participate in any orchestrated violence, deliberately designed to cause disaffection in the country.
“Similarly, parents, guardians, and heads of traditional and academic institutions are urged to advise their children, wards, subjects, and students not to take part in the planned protest. Let us all join hands to build a nation without rancour, bitterness, or stained banners.
“The Service will work with other sister security and law enforcement agencies to maintain peace. It will, where necessary, apply all legitimate methods to achieve this.”
INEC has capacity to conduct LG elections – Mahmoud Yakubu
Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on financial autonomy for local government councils in the country, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, on Thursday declared that the electoral body has the capacity to conduct elections for the third tier of government if provided with necessary resources.
Yakubu, who spoke when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral Committees in Abuja, maintained that the electoral umpire, under his leadership, has the capacity, competence, human resources and adequate experience to conduct local government elections across the 774 councils of the country.
He justified his position with the successes already recorded by the commission in the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, including frequent off-season and bye-elections conducted by the INEC.
The Chairman said the fact that the commission had been conducting elections at the federal and state levels over the years successfully was an indication that it has all it takes to conduct council polls.
He said: “So if this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Right now, we do national elections, we do state elections, we do local government elections.
“A national electoral commission may be expected to implement only the presidential and National Assembly. We also do governorship elections, we do state assembly elections, and we do area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Our track report actually proves that we can do it. Take the case of the Federal Capital Territory. I would like to say one or two things about the FTC local government elections.
“There are six area councils of the FCT. So there are six chairmen of area councils, and there are 62 wards in the FCT. Each ward has a councillor for the election of councils.
“This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections and it has resulted in the following.
“First, it is perhaps the only part of the country where local government elections are held regularly.
“Second, there has never been a caretaker committee for any Area Council in the FCT. INEC has been conducting the elections regularly.
“Thirdly, there is stability of tenure or security of tenure. It used to be three years, but in 2022, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to provide for a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT. So, they enjoy the security of tenure.
“No single political party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the FCT, not one.
“In fact, what is interesting now is that out of the six chairmen of the FCT, actually the council and the constituencies are evenly split between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party which won three councils each.”
Yakubu also noted that FCT councils are made up of urban and rural communities, an indication that it has adequate experience to do so in any part of the country.
“So, in terms of capacity to do it, we can do it, we have been doing it in the Federal Capital Territory.
“However, if the decision of the National Assembly is to amend the constitution. I need to put that responsibility back to you (that) we need an engagement with the National Assembly.
“There are certain special amendments that are to be done for us to be able to handle those additional responsibilities.
“For instance, will the Federal Government continue to fund the elections for the states and the local government will fund this?
“The second proposition we have had is that there should be a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.
“Sadly, there is another argument that does not want the state electoral commissions to conduct local government elections in the spirit of federalism, but they should find a way of ensuring that they improve on the conduct.
“Right now, the law has not been amended. The same constitution that creates INEC also creates the State Independent Electoral Commissions.
“So, it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC. If that is done, the question is can INEC cope? Yes, we can.
“We have said that we should not be unbundled beyond the conduct of electoral activities rather than elections. There are two activities we handle. That is what is called electoral activities, not necessarily related to elections.
“We believe that some of these responsibilities can be handled by other agencies. And this point has been made consistently since 2008 by committees established to reform our electoral processes beginning with the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission in 2008, that some responsibilities should be removed from the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
The chairman, while assuring the joint panel that INEC had made adequate arrangements to conduct the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo States, also said the commission had prepared budgets for the outstanding by-elections in about seven federal and state legislative constituencies.
Yakubu also explained to the federal lawmakers that the agency’s 2024 budget is currently being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance.
In terms of the performance of the N40 billion appropriated for the commission in the 2024 budget, he said the Ministry of Finance broke the INEC budget into 12 tranches.
“Every month they give us one-twelfth of the budget for the year. And for the last seven months, since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Finance has been releasing the sum of N23.3 billion to the Commission, which is one-twelfth of the 40 billion as of yesterday (July 24)
“The monthly releases to the Commission, this year, is now N23.3 billion out of 40 billion. That is 58.3%. What is outstanding is N16.6 billion amounted to 41.67% not released,” he stressed.
INEC has capacity to conduct LG elections – Mahmoud Yakubu
873 complete NYSC in Gombe, three abscond
A total of 873 Batch B stream II Corps members in Gombe State completed their one-year mandatory national youth service, while three absconded, and one received an extension of service.
The state coordinator, Chinwe Nwachuku disclosed this on Thursday at a low-key passing-out ceremony at the Gombe Zonal Office.
He said, “A total number of 873 deserving Corps Members were issued with certificates out of the 877 expected to have completed the national service but four fell short of the Byelaws hence, three abscondment cases for re-mobilisation and one extension of service were recorded.”
Nwachuku lauded the 873 corps members for their selfless service to their host communities, the state and the nation at large, urging them on self-discipline in their future endeavours.
She introduced a reward system to recognise outstanding Community Development Service leaders who have worked tirelessly to achieve the desired CDS goal hence, letters of commendation and cash awards were issued to the pioneer winners; Dr Inuwa Bazallahi Hassan GM/23B/1571 of Medical / Health Aids CDS group and Asiya Abdullahi Muhammad GM/23B/2624
Also, sample presentations of Certificates of National Service were presented to a few deserving Corps members at the occasion as well as commendation letters to Corps Liaison Officers of the LGAs for dedication to duty.
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August 1: Tinubu moves to avert nationwide protest, engages traditional rulers in Aso Rock
Moves to avert a planned protest over economic hardship being faced by citizens may have prompted a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and traditional rulers from across the country at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting is being held after the President’s meeting with the Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, also in the villa.
The monarchs, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, arrived at the Forecourt of the State House in a single bus which conveyed them for the meeting in the Presidential Villa.
No details could be confirmed before the commencement of the closed-door session, but multiple sources say that the meeting is in connection with the desperate moves by the administration to appease those planning to protest over the prevailing untoward situation in the country.
Recall that ahead of the August 1 hunger protests in Nigeria, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) had initiated consultations and instructed its 104 affiliated youth organisations to remain on standby.
NYCN in a statement said “We recognise the challenges faced by our country and the need for urgent action to address these issues. As we prepare to address the nation, we call on all stakeholders to support our efforts and to work together towards a better Nigeria.”
This is just as a group representing the Rebuild Arewa Initiative for Development (RAID) has warned against plans to stage a protest against President Bola Tinubu, urging those involved to refrain from taking actions that could destabilise the country.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, also joined President Tinubu at the meeting ostensibly to stem the planned protest.
Also seen among those called for the meeting were the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
More details later…
August 1: Tinubu moves to avert nationwide protest, engages traditional rulers in Aso Rock
Edo asks court to suspend judgment reinstating Shaibu
The Edo State Government and the state assembly have filed two separate applications before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja to suspend a judgement reinstating Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of the state, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The two applicants, in separate motions, challenged Shaibu’s reinstatement on the grounds of the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
While the Edo State Attorney General, on behalf of the state government, filed its motion on notice through its counsel Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), the House of Assembly filed theirs through their lawyer Ken Mozia (SAN).
Recall that Shaibu was impeached on April 8, 2024, following the adoption of the report of a seven-member investigative panel set up by the Chief Judge of Edo State, Daniel Okungbowa, which was headed by S. A. Omonuwa, a retired justice.
The reinstated deputy governor was impeached on the grounds of misconduct, perjury, and disclosure of government secrets. He, however, challenged his impeachment in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024.
On July 7, 2024, while delivering judgement in the suit, Justice Omotosho voided his impeachment and ordered his reinstatement to office because the House of Assembly failed to comply with due process in the impeachment.
Justice Omotosho also declared that the allegation on which the assembly based the impeachment proceedings was untenable in law and did not constitute gross misconduct.
At Thursday’s sitting, Justice Omotosho adjourned the hearing on the motion on notice till September 24.
The applicants, in their grounds of argument, said that given their dissatisfaction with the judgement that reinstated Shaibu as deputy governor, they filed an appeal against it via a notice of appeal dated July 18 and filed the same day.
“The said notice of appeal raises serious and arguable grounds.”
In the motion dated and filed on July 18, the AG sought two orders: “An order staying the execution of the judgement in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/478/2024 between RT. HON. COMRADE PHILIP SHAIBU v. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE AND 5 ORS delivered on the 17th day of July 2024, pending the determination of the appeal filed against the said judgement.”
He also sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents from giving effect to the July 17 judgement pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
“It raises the issue of the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court to entertain the subject matter of this suit,” they said.
They argued that their right of appeal would be stifled if the application was not granted.
The applicants said the smooth operation of the machinery of the state government would be impeded if Shaibu “is allowed to take over as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, having regard to his recent open declaration of support for the rival political party (The All Progressives Congress).”
“Monetary damages would be an adequate compensation to the 1st respondent (Shaibu) should it turn out that this application ought not to have been granted,” they argued, among other grounds.
Also in the motion dated and filed on July 18 by Mozia, the Edo lawmakers sought an order suspending the judgement and restraining Shaibu from parading himself or attending any official function as deputy governor pending the hearing and determination of their appeal.
Yoruba youths condemn planned protest, seek dialogue
The Coalition of Yoruba Youth leaders on Thursday called on organisers of the planned nationwide protest in August to shelve the idea and remain calm.
President-General of the coalition, Dr Tolani Hassan, said in a statement in Lagos that the apex umbrella body for all Yoruba youth associations and organisations had dissociated itself from the protest.
Hassan, who is also the National President, Yoruba Youths Association Worldwide , however, said that the coalition recognised the plight of Nigerians.
“The economy is unfriendly, the cost of living is outrageous and out of the reach of the common man.
“It is also true that the inflation rate is in the double digit and the unemployment rate in Nigeria is alarming.
“So many graduates are out there with no means of survival. The Federal Government has not employed people in the last couple of years.
“However, the leadership of Yoruba youth leaders do not want a repeat of the ENDSARS saga, hence, our call for protest cancellation and calm,” he said.
The president-general urged the organisers to rather employ other measures to make the government across levels understand the economic hardship in the land.
“There should be a more refined manner of getting our leaders to hear our plights other than protest.
“There are agitations and insecurity in every part of the country, any attempt to have a protest now may cause mayhem, which is not the solution to our pressing challenges.
“The apex body of the entire youths in Yoruba land expressly dissociates itself from the planned protest.
“We will defend the entire South-West against any form of destruction by disgruntled elements, who may want to cause havoc in the region, particularly, Lagos state,” Hassan said.
Similarly, Hassan stated that the need to embrace unity, pointing out that dialogue is the best way while consultation is a better approach.
He, however, pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to listen to the youth -“his children”, who were agitated.
“We love you Sir, Mr President, but we are hungry and unemployed,” the president-general said.
The youth leader advised Tinubu to directly interface with all the youth leaders in the various geo-political zones, saying the use of intermediaries would not bring results.
He called for a National Youth Summit, where all the various youth leaders would discuss with Mr President and address all the prevailing issues.
Stressing the coalition’s continued support for the President, Hassan urged the Federal Government to review both the monetary and fiscal policies, in the interest of the Nigerian masses.
He called for concerted effort by both the public and organised private sector to engage in massive employment generation and reduction of job losses.
“The economy should be friendly to both local and foreign investors. The power sector should be completely overhauled. This is the hub of the economy,” Hassan said.
He called for the review of educational curriculum from primary to tertiary level and inculcation of practical skills, including agriculture, to make Nigerian youths self-reliant.
The youth leader, who appreciated the inclusion of youths in the Federal cabinet, demanded for more, and urged the Federal Government to regularly engage the youth leadership of the various geo-political zones.
“35 per cent slots should be given to youths in the federal cabinet and federal boards appointment,” he said.
There have been reports that some Nigerians, under various bodies, are planning a nationwide protest from Aug.1 to Aug.10, over the rising cost of living and economic hardships.
(NAN)