NPA deceiving Nigerians, says Lagos govt

Lagos State Government yesterday, described as act of deception and falsehood the response of the management of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to recent comments by Governor Babatunde Fashola on the persistent gridlock on the Oshodi- Apapa Expressway, which has continued to cripple vehicular movement and business activities in Apapa and its environs.

NPA, in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs department, Mr. Musa Illya, had identified Lagos State Government as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the port concessions in terms of the revenue collected from importers as wharf landing fees, and other businesses generated by the port activities among others.

Fashola, about three weeks ago visited Apapa and lampooned the management of NPA over its inefficiency in monitoring the handling of cargo operations at various terminals as well as poor implementation of concession policy of the ports.

But the state government through the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, urged members of the public to disregard the claim by the NPA spokesman, saying he was either selling lies or ignorant on the update of Apapa issues.

He said “Is either the proponent is under illusion to sell lies to the people or he is unaware of the issues surrounding Apapa regeneration plans between the Federal Government and the state government.

We met with Federal Government, FG, in 2011, 2012, with Minister of Works, where an agreement was reached. The state government has implemented over 75 percent of the deal while the FG has contributed nothing.”

”He can go and verify. There has been no commitment from the FG. Only last Thursday, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Works met again to review the situation and they agreed to mobilise a contractor to fix the failed portions of the road and up till now, nothing has been done on it.”

Source: vanguard news

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FG assures on prosecution of Boko Haram leaders

ABUJA— THE Federal Government disclosed, yesterday, that the suspected mastermind of the April 14 bombing of the Nyanya bus terminal in Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, who was extradited from Sudan, would soon face prosecution.

It also declared, yesterday, that it has the will, resources and strategies to win the war against Boko Haram and terrorism in the country, just as it admitted that controlling the problem of insurgency will take time.

These were disclosed yesterday by the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, at the commemoration of the 100 days of abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, when girls, women and youth staged a three day protest against Boko Haram and terrorism at the Unity Fountain.

According to her, government had procured new equipment and technology towards strengthening the capability and support for Nigerian military and security forces, adding that a recent delivery of such military equipment include highly sophisticated fighter helicopters with in built night vision technology.

Akinjide disclosed that with the arrests of Ogwuche, a Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Zakari, known as Chief Butcher and Boko Haram intelligence chief, Babuji, valuable intelligence have been received.

She said that at the end of the fight against insurgency, the country would come out stronger, united, and the dreams of the country would be realised.

Leaders of several NGOs and groups such as Kasuwa da Kasuwa, National Council of Women Societies, Gender Support for Women Emancipation Development, Lady Chy New World Order Foundation, Concerned Mothers Association of Nigeria and Hausa Community, National Association of Nigerian Students, among others, spoke at the event.

The women and youth of different backgrounds had gathered in their hundreds at the Unity Fountain to pray for the release of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted by insurgents 100 days ago.

The protesters who cut across faith, ethnicity and geography cried unto God to melt the stone hearts of Boko Haram leaders and sponsors to release the girls.

The girls were seized from their school in Chibok, Borno State, since April 14.

Prayers were said, while speeches were rendered in various Nigerian languages.

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Not again! Algerian plane with 116on board disappears from radar

Another day, another air disaster. This is beginning to get scary. An Air Algerie flight flying from Burkina Faso to Algeria with 116 people on board has dropped off radar.

Swift Air, the operators of the aircraft, say they lost contact with the flight 50 minutes after it took off this morning from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.$

It was supposed to have arrived at Algiers' Houari Boumediene Airport about four hours later but the plane has just disappeared.

"We have lost contact with the plane. At this moment, emergency services and our staff are working on finding out more on this situation." Swiftair said.

The plane, an MD-83, has 110 passengers on-board with 2 pilots and four crew members.

Air Algerie is Algeria's national airline. Update: The plane crashed in Niger...continue for details... It's been confirmed that the plane crashed near the capital of Niger, Niamey.

Flight AH5017 was reported to be flying through an area affected by violent storms.

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Impeachment: Ebonyi Assembly majority leader kidnapped

ABAKALIKI-UNKNOWN gunmen Thursday morning within Abakaliki metropolis kidnapped the majority leader of Ebony State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Nwali.

We learnt that the majority leader was kidnapped at his residence at Watchman street in Abakaliki The House member who represents Ikwo South state constituency is believed to be a strong supporter of the Speaker-elect, Hon. Helen Nwobasi.

At the time of filing this report, the whereabout of the lawmaker was still unknown. •Madam Speaker flanked by her men

However, a member representing Afikpo South East, Eni Uduma Chima confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, a source who pleaded anonymity said Nwali’s kidnap may not be unconnected with the crisis rocking the House of Assembly over the impeachment of the Former Speaker, Hon.

Chukwuma Nwazunku last Monday. More details later

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Asari Dokubo's take on yesterday 'sattack on General Buhari

Ex-Niger-Delta militant Asari Dokubo has shared his opinion on yesterday's attack on Gen. Buhari. He believes the former Head of State was attacked to cause calamity in Nigeria to push the military to take over from President Jonathan. See more tweets after the cut...

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Security man commits suicide atpopular fast food joint in Akute

One of the security men at a popular fast food joint in Alagbole, Akute, a Lagos/Ogun suburb committed suicide in the early hours of today, Wednesday July 23rd.

The security man whose name the company management chose not to disclose, hanged himself inside the kitchen of the fast food joint before it opened for business today.

The middle aged security man was said to have deleted all his phone contacts which made it difficult to contact his relatives.

His body was removed this afternoon around 3:10pm from the eatery and taken to the mortuary. Won't show you a pic of his body but there's a pic of his corpse being removed after the cut..

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Sokoto earmarks N 800 m to sponsor 420 students abroad-Official

The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Musa Maitafsir, said this in Sokoto when he spoke to 121 Masters’ Degrees students leaving for the Islamic University of Uganda.

He said that the money had been lodged in the account of the state scholarship board.

Maitafisr said that the money was for the payment of tuition and registration fees of the students and for their upkeep.

He said that over N350 million out of the amount was set aside for the training of 220 students in the Islamic University of Uganda.

According to him, “already, 99 students had finished their one- year post-graduate Diploma in Education in the same institution. “The 121 students leaving Sokoto for Uganda today will join the 99 already there for various Masters’ Degrees courses in the same Institution,” Maitafsir, added.

The chairman further said that the balance of N 450 million will be spent on the sponsorship of additional 200 under-graduate students in various Universities in Sudan, India, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai).

“Out of them, 160 are going to Sudan; 100 going to India, 40 will be going to Bangladesh and 60 to Dubai, UAE,” he said.

Maitafsir stated that the gesture was being pursued under the state government’s Teacher-Development Programme.

“The aim of the programme is to have good school administrators and teachers, and by extension, for Nigeria,’’ he said.
Maitafsir appealed to the students to be good Ambassadors of Sokoto state and Nigeria, generally.

He urged them to steer clear of all acts capable of tarnishing the image of the state and Nigeria.

Spokespersons of the students, Abubakar Magawata and Kabiru Surajo, commended the state government for the gesture.

They promised to be of good behaviour and face their studies squarely, saying, “We will not fail the people of the state and Nigerians.” (NAN)

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