Category: News

The Lagos State government will shut down the Third Mainland Bridge from midnight of Friday, February 26, till midnight of Saturday.

Transportation Commissioner Frederic Oladeinde announced this in a statement yesterday.

He said the total closure of the bridge is to enable the contractors move the equipment used during the repairs of the bridge and allow the Oworonshoki and Adeniji-bound lanes to open fully to traffic.

Dr. Oladeinde advised motorists approaching the bridge from Ogudu, Alapere and Gbagada to use Ikorodu Road, Jibowu and Yaba as alternative routes, while traffic from Lagos-Island, Iddo, Oyingbo, Adekunle and Yaba towards Iyana Oworonshoki are to use Herbert Macaulay Way, Jibowu and Ikorodu Road as alternative routes.

The commissioner assured the residents that traffic management personnel would be deployed in the affected routes to minimise and address any traffic impediment during the closure.

Praising Lagosians for their cooperation during the prolonged repairs of the bridge, Dr. Oladeinde stressed that the bridge is now safe for all to use.

An Owerri High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice E.F Njemanze, today 24/2/2021 granted an Order of Interim forfeiture against all the property illegally acquired by former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Ruling on an ex-parte application for an order for interim forfeiture, filed by L.M Alozie (SAN) on behalf of Imo State Government, Justice Njemanze granted the order as prayed. Some of the properties included in the order are: Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, Royal Palm Luxury Hotel,Akachi Road, Old Magistrates Ouarters, Orlu Road and many other property listed and recommended by Justice Duruoha-Igwe panel on illegally acquired landed property. The Judge Ordered the Applicant, to publish the list of properties in two national and local newspapers to enable anyone who wants to stop making the Order permanent, or who has any interest in any, to apply to the court, and show cause, why, the order will not be made permanent.

The seven personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who died in last Sunday’s plane crash in Abuja will be buried Thursday at the National Cemetery in Abuja.

A NAF Beechcraft KingAir BB305i aircraft crashed last Sunday afternoon due to an engine failure.

The victims are: Flight Lt. Haruna Gadzama (Captain), Flight Lt. Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot), Flying Officer Michael Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System [ATOS] Specialist) and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).

Others are: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist), Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist), and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Four female hawkers have been confirmed dead in an accident involving a truck on Upper Iweka Flyover in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Mr Andrew Kumapayi, the state Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the state capital, on Wednesday, said the accident occurred at 7:30am.

“The crash involved a blue Mercedes Benz truck with registration number XF259UNZ driven by an unidentified person.

“Eyewitness reports reaching us indicate that the truck driver had a disagreement with revenue collectors on Upper Iweka Flyover, and the truck rolled back and crushed four female hawkers along the road.
“The driver of the truck and his motor boy came out without injury.

“FRSC rescue team, along with some officers of the the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force, rushed the victims to Toronto Hospital in Onitsha and deposited their bodies at the morgue after doctors on duty confirmed their death,” he said.

The sector commander said that the driver of the truck had been handed over to the police for investigation.
While condoling with the families of the dead, he urged Nigerians to be mindful of the dangers associated with hawking near highways. (Daily Trust)

Obinna Uchendu

Abakaliki

The two communities of Effuim and Ezza Effuim yesterday renewed their commitment towards stopping all forms of reprisal attacks despite disagreement on boundary demarcation.

The two communities have been enmeshed in a bloody communal clash which has claimed many lives in the community.

Though the Ebonyi Governor, Chief David Umahi yesterday put the figures at 25, sources close to the community alleges that the figure might be higher.

The resolution to end all reprisal attacks followed a security meetings convened by the State Governor which lasted for two days in Abakaliki the state capital.

The Commissioner for Information, Barr Uchenna Orji in a statement said the stakeholders of Effium requested the state government to carry out land demarcation between them and Ezza Effium while the Ezza stakeholders demanded otherwise.

The Effium people said the demarcation would serve as a last resort in the attainment of a lasting peace in that community.

But the stakeholders of Ezza Effium requested that they be allowed to live together with the people of Effium as they had lived before the misunderstanding that reared its ugly head.

The two communities however renewed their commitment towards stopping all forms of violence.

The governor, however, gave the stakeholders from both communities two weeks to consult with their people, including, the youths and women, both those within and outside the state and come up with a consensus decision that will enable the state government take a decision that will bring lasting peace and stronger harmony among the people of Effium and Ezza Effium.

Mr. Orji said that the governor held separate meetings of key stakeholders from the Effium and Ezza Effium.

He later held a combined meeting of both parties with representatives of the state government, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Founding Fathers, Elders’ Council and leaders of Ezza nation who were observers in the meeting which held at the State Ecumenical Centre Abakaliki.

“The Governor who presided over the meeting appealed to the stakeholders of Effium and Ezza Effium to do everything possible to ensure that there is no more reprisal attack from any part of the community noting that government shall hold the stakeholders responsible if there is any further break down of law and order in that community.

Mr. Orji noted that, “The two sides of the dispute presented their positions on the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and their recommendations for immediate interventions and lasting peace”.

“The Governor directed them to go into a closed door meeting by themselves with a view to having a common ground in their recommendations and which they did with the supervision of representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria.

“As part of the outcome of their meeting, the stakeholders of Effium requested the state government to carry out land demarcation between them and Ezza Effium people as a last resort in the attainment of lasting peace in that community, while the stakeholders of Ezza Effium requested that they be allowed to live together with the people of Effium as they had lived before the misunderstanding that reared its ugly head.

“They however renewed their commitment towards stopping all forms of reprisal attacks forthwith and were bonded to keep the peace pending the final resolution of the matter”, he said.

At the end of the meeting, the governor further set up a committee made up of one representative from Effium and one from Ezza Effium with two representatives from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to supervise their consultation processes.

The two CAN representatives are Bishop Matthew Nkwoegu and Rev Dr. Scamb Nwokolo.

The Committee is to submit its report within 14 days.

Over 50,600 households are to benefit from the Presidential Solar Connections Initiative to increase Electricity Access in Ebonyi State.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Kelechi Igwe, disclosed this at a meeting with stakeholders at the Local Government and Community levels.

Dr Igwe said the purpose of the meeting is to carry relevant stakeholders along in the location and execution of the project.

“We believe this is the way to go. The essence of this meeting is for the Communities to take ownership of this project and we are giving each Community up to Saturday this week to designate a place where this solar electricity project will be sited in each of the communities,” he said.

He said solar is the cheapest source of energy hence the decision of Ebonyi State Government to key into the presidential solar connections Initiative, adding that it will be sustained since Nigeria is a tropical region where sunlight is free.

The state Actiing commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr Godwin Nwankwo, said the project is anchored through Central Bank of Nigeria, while Ebonyi State Government will guarantee the tender through service providers

He gave an assurance that the project when completed will be cheaper, reliable and uninterrupted as well as create jobs and provide revenue for Government.

“The State Government stands a chance of drawing down 1.2 billion Naira on the programme. This is not usual electricity supply, it is going to be none grid supply and is going to be solar powered,” he said.

Council Chairmen, coordinators of Development centres, Traditional Rulers and Town Union Presidents attended the meeting.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State through the GBURUS-CARE initiative team has commenced a home-to-home medical service for aged people in Enugu state.

The mobile Medical team led by Dr. Melchizedek C. Ani alongside two other medical doctors, four medical laboratory Scientists, four nurses and two pharmacists. visited Edem in Nsukka local government, on Saturday, 20th February, 2021.

The team moved from one home to another tending to the medical and health needs of aged persons and extending the love of the Executive Governor of Enugu state.

While the Nurses were responsible for checking the vital signs of the patients, the Medical laboratory scientists conducted tests such as Random Blood Sugar (RBS), Hepatitis B&C and Malaria Parasite using RDT.

The doctors would then consult and counsel the patient and thereafter prescribe medications that would then be dispensed to the patient/participants by the Pharmacist.

The medications were sorted to address recurrent health challenges of aged people such as Hypertension, High blood sugar, ulcer, arthritis, worm etc.

Patients were also provided with multivitamins that would help boost their immunity against diseases.

Patients, where necessary were also counseled and recommended for higher medical attention or medications.

The mission, even though rigorous proved to the aged people and others how much premium the governor of Enugu state places on the health of ndi Enugu.

Technical Assistant to the governor on Healthcare Sct. Darlington Ugwuegbe made it clear to the aged people that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s love for them is what has motivated him to deploy such number of Healthcare professionals to tend to their medical needs.

He added that the elders should always remember His Excellency in their everyday prayers.

The Bauchi State branch of the Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has threatened to stop its members from selling and supplying cattle to the South if the planned eviction of the Fulani herders by some governors comes into effect, Daily Trust reports.

MACBAN also threatened to drag the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to court if he fails to withdraw statements he made labelling Fulani herders.

The Bauchi Chairman of MACBAN, Abubakar Sadiq, at a press conference in Bauchi, told reporters that, “Unless he immediately withdraws his statement, we will be left with no option other than legal means to clear the name of Fulani as an ethnic group.”

He said the persecution being faced by Fulani herders started with Benue’s anti-open grazing law.

He explained that, “Although the law did not succeed, but it has created problems for the herders,” adding that, “People must be fair to the Fulani race; they should not be branded as criminals. Government at all levels should create a conducive atmosphere for the Fulani and others to do their legitimate businesses without molestation and castigation. We are all Nigerians and must be treated equally as such.”

It would be recalled that Governors Bala Mohammed and Samuel Ortom of Bauchi and Benue States respectively had been trading words over the right of herdsmen to carry AK-47 rifles.

While Bala said herders carried AK-47 to protect themselves, Ortom challenged his Bauchi counterpart for backing an “illegal” action.