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Edo election: Assassins storm Prince Odianosen Okojie house, Mercy Johnson’s husband

By
Joy Eniyeh McPhillips
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Gun men suspected to be hired assasins, stormed Prince Odianosen Okojie’s house, husband of Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson.

The incidence was disclosed on Friday, September 20, 2024, by Michael Ihaza, media aide to the politician.

According to Ihaza, the politician was attacked at his home by gunmen who disguised as police officers in a Lexus GX 470 carrying a Rivers State vehicle registration number – PHC 253 FF.

However, the assassination attempt was thwarted by security personnel attached to Okojie, who engaged the assailants.

It “was unsuccessful owing to the intervention of security personnel attached to the lawmaker”.

“The armed thugs who disguised as police officers along with two others, invaded the residence of Hon. Okojie, claimed to be on appointment and proceeded to the seating room.

“Following the intervention of the security personnel attached to the lawmaker, two of the armed thugs fled leaving behind the driver and another who are currently being interrogated by officers from the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Uromi.

“The suspects have so far made a confessional statement stating that they were sent on the mission by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Esan North East Local Government Area,” the statement read.

Prince Odianosen is a federal lawmaker representing the Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms submits report, proposes ranching and open grazing

By
Admin
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The Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms has submitted its report to President Ahmed Tinubu.

It proposed that ranching and open grazing should operate side by side as the most viable solution to the farmer-herder crisis in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Attahiru Jega, made this known on Thursday after the 23-member committee submitted a report to President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja.

Briefing State House correspondents, Jega said the committee, which was inaugurated on July 9, had been able to produce an inception report, which he said contained wide-ranging recommendations on the transformation of the livestock sector.

“The committee recommended that open grazing and ranching would coexist until enough awareness and adequate infrastructure were created for full adoption of ranching.

“We’ve also made recommendations in terms of how some of these challenges can be addressed,” he said.

He said the President had given his committee full support and encouragement to also drive the process of the implementation of the recommendations of the committee with the new ministry driving the process. The professor also said the committee provided detailed guidelines on the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

He emphasised the need for focused implementation of the recommendations and periodic review to see where there would be a need for repositioning or strengthening the focus and effort in the actualisation of the recommendations.

“We believe that our recommendations are quite comprehensive, and if we can meticulously implement them, no doubt, very soon we will begin to see its positive impact on our economy.

“Whether it is in terms of job creation or in terms of development of products and services, or even opening up opportunities for exports,” he added.

He said the report specifically contained recommendations on how to develop the value chain of the livestock sector to tap its potential to enhance economic growth and development.

He added that the recommendations included how to create jobs, and also ensure not only food, feed, and nutrition security, but also begin to export many of the products associated with the sector.

“We believe that there has been a neglect of this sector for a very long time.

“And we are happy that Mr. President has recognised the need to redress this neglect, and has invited us to contribute to finding ways and the means of unlocking the opportunities in this sector.

“So, I’m very pleased to say that today we presented an inception report to Mr. President. And it’s a document of about 152 pages divided into five sectors,” said Jega.

He said in the report, the committee addressed 12 terms of reference and developed 22 objectives of what the reform effort in the livestock sector should entail.

“We’ve been able to make specific recommendations on each of these areas.

“In addition to that, we were also able to identify achievable targeted indicators, about 3,146 of them.

“We believe that by pursuing these and actualising them, there is no doubt that within a reasonable time frame, a maximum period of 10 years, we would see remarkable improvements in virtually all aspects of the livestock sector,” Jega stated.

He said the recommendations of the committee included mitigation of the perennial conflicts associated with the activities of pastoralists and nomadic herders.

Tinubu plays down UNGA, Shettima to represent Nigerian

By
Banke Olarenwaju
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Vice President Shettima is to represent Nigeria at 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York as President Bola Tinubu says domestic issues needs urgent attention.

Consequently the President has directed the Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent Nigeria at the global summit which is scheduled to take place September 24-28, 2024.

The President’s Special Adviser on information and strategy Bayo Onanuga, released a statement saying that the president wants to focus his attention on pressing domestic issues, particularly in the aftermath of recent severe flooding.

President Tinubu, who returned from trips to China and the United Kingdom last Sunday, wants to address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” the statement reads.

Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, attend key events, and hold bilateral discussions during the week-long summit, which is .

The announcement also highlighted the president’s directive to limit Nigeria’s delegation to only essential personnel.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s chief of staff, noted that this move reflects the administration’s commitment to prudent resource management.

“Reducing the delegation is part of the administration’s commitment to ensure the prudent management of resources and reduce the cost of governance,” Gbajabiamila stated during a State House retreat.

Tinubu’s decision to prioritise domestic affairs over international engagements signals a focused approach towards addressing Nigeria’s internal challenges.

Unpaid allowances causes frustration amongst NIS recruits over unsettled allowances

By
Salma Bitrus
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Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has assured workers that it will clear all outstandings and allowances of newly enlisted personel.

The recruits are lamenting that the August 2023 batch have not received the payment of their six-month training allowances.

The recruits began their service last year and voiced frustration over the NIS’s failure to fulfill its financial obligations during their training.

In January 2023, the NIS announced recruitment opportunities, attracting thousands of applicants eager to join the law enforcement agency.

By August 2023, successful candidates were enlisted for a six-month short service programme, which required camping and rigorous training.

According to NIS spokesperson Kenneth Udo, the training aimed to mentally and physically prepare the recruits for the challenges of law enforcement, with the promise of a monthly allowance during their time in camp.

However, tensions escalated when several recruits contacted media organisations alleging that they had yet to receive the allowances promised for their time in camp.

One recruit based in Ogun State shared his frustration, noting that while they had started receiving their regular salary in March 2024, the six-month camp allowance remained unpaid.

“We believe after six months, they should be able to pay our salary. And for that six months, we’ll be on induction and training. After induction training for three months, and after that, we go for our normal training in our college, right?” the Ogun-based recruit explained.

Despite completing the induction and formal training phases, the personnel stressed that they had not received the camp allowance, which was meant to cover their entire training period.

“So, after our training and everything, we have not been paid since then. Until March of this year, they started paying our salary,” the recruit added.

Another recruit stationed in Abuja echoed similar concerns, confirming that the promised allowances had not been disbursed.

“When we were employed, we were meant to receive a training allowance for the first three months in camp and another three months allowance for the remainder of the training,” the Abuja recruit stated.

However, in NIS response to the growing controversy, its spokesperson Kenneth Udo acknowledged the issue but attributed the delay to backlogs inherited from the previous administration.

He assured that efforts were underway to rectify the situation, with the NIS Comptroller General (CG) personally involved in addressing the problem.

“Contrary to what you said about allowances, I don’t think it was allowances; it was actually their own salaries for those categories of officers. You know, it’s something we inherited from the past regime, and we are working assiduously.

“The CG is concerned and is working assiduously. As you speak, they are working with the Office of the Accountant General and Budget Office to rectify it, so it will be done soon,” Udo stated.

Udo further apologised for the inconvenience caused to the recruits and reaffirmed the NIS’s commitment to swiftly resolving the issue.

“We regret the inconveniences caused them, but the service, as in the CG, some intervening matter, we are working with the Office of Accountant General and the Budget Office to rectify it. They will receive their money soon,” he assured.

Despite these assurances, the personnel remain sceptical as they await the payment of their training allowances. While they have been informed that the matter is being addressed, the delay has frustrated many, especially amid Nigeria’s broader economic challenges.

As the NIS works to clear the backlog of unpaid allowances, the controversy reminds us of the systemic issues that can arise from administrative lapses, mainly when they affect those newly joining the civil service.

Whether the promised resolution will occur promptly remains to be seen, but the recruits wait patiently for now.

Tinubu travels to Maiduguri, condoles with flood victims

By
Banke Olarenwaju
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President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has taken a swift trip to Maiduguri, Borno State, to condole with the state and victims of the Alau Dam flood that wrecked havoc to lives and properties.

On his arrival approximately 3:15 pm, Tinubu was warmly welcomed by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.
During his visit, the President would meet with the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Garbai El-Kaneni, to pay his respects and discuss the region’s recovery efforts.

President Tinubu will also visit one of the relief camps housing displaced families and assess the situation before taking quick action to emiolorate their suffering.

“We stand with the people of Borno during this difficult time,” said a presidential official, emphasising the government’s commitment to providing relief to those affected by the disaster.

The visit comes amid the state government’s relentless efforts to manage the aftermath of the flood and restore normalcy, instilling hope in the residents.

The tragic flood on Monday, September 9, submerged almost half of Maiduguri, displacing thousands of residents.

The state government has responded by establishing 36 camps to shelter those affected.

Marketers accusses Dangote of inflating petrol prices exceeding cost of importation

By
Salli Raymomd
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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has accused Dangote Refinery of petroleum pricing increament eexceeding cost of importation of products.

They voiced their concerns over the pricing, saying that cost of product from the refinery should not be more than the cost of imported fuel.
IPMAN opined that selling Dangote products at a higher rate than imports rubbishes government’s goals of energy self-sufficiency and could affect the cost of goods and services in the market.

Appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme, John Kekeocha, IPMAN’s National Welfare Officer, spoke about the pricing issue. He challenged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to look into the complaint.

“If NNPC can sell Dangote products higher than imported products, then it doesn’t make sense. What is the celebration we are having all these while then?” Kekeocha questioned.

The controversy escalated when the NNPCL began distributing petrol from the Dangote Refinery, claiming it was purchased at N898 per litre.

Dangote Refinery has since denied the allegation. The spokesperson for Dangote Refinery, Anthony Chiejina, labelled the NNPCL’s claim as “misleading and mischievous.”

The spokesperson claimed that the refinery sold the product in dollars, yielding significant savings compared to imported fuel.

However, NNPCL has released a detailed breakdown of its pricing, showing that petrol from the Dangote Refinery was being sold for ₦950 per litre in Lagos and up to ₦1,019 per litre in Borno.

Costs of petroleum has triple since the subsidy was removed in May 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, claiming ending the subsidy regime for oil. The impact of the removal has seen cost of goods and services increasing over 350%, and still has not remedied the energy crisis the country is suffering from.

As Dangote refinery is expected to reach full capacity by the end of the year, IPMAN is of the opinion that competitive pricing that benefits the people should be government’s goal.

Zamfara boat mishap claim 30 lives, Lawal calls for rescue, relief efforts

By
Agency Report
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A boat carrying passengers across Bakin Kasuwa River of Uban Dawaki community, Zamfara state has claimed 40 lives.

The deaths was confirmed by the state government, saying the accident occured in Gummi Local Government Area of the state and rescue is still ongoing.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Idris, who confirmed the incident, said the governor described the incident as a monumental disaster.

“We received the tragic report of a boat accident in Bakin Kasuwa River in Uban Dawaki ward, Gummi Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of over 40 lives.

“The governor has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to embark on immediate rescue and recovery of the dead bodies.

“The governor also directed the agency to take immediate action to assess the extent of the accident and provide urgent assistance,” the statement said.

It added that the governor also directed the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters to provide immediate relief materials to the victims and their families.

“Governor Lawal also prays for the souls of the departed victims, grieved with their families, and assured of the state government’s commitment to prevent such occurrence in the future,” Idris added.

NAN recalls that a flood disaster recently destroyed over 2000 houses, several farmlands and farm produce valued at millions of naira in the same LGA.

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Ethiopian Airlines commences direct frlight from Addis Ababa to Conakry

By
Joy Eniyeh McPhillips
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Ethiopian Airlines has commenced flight to and from the capital of Guinea signaling a progress in intra continental travels.

This development is happening for the first time, that flights will operate non-stop between Addis Ababa and extend to the West African capital Conakry.

There will be at least three weekly nonstop flight services with the 787-8 Dreamliner starting November 30.

Due to the length of haul, travel time is estimated around 9 hrs 5 mins, the flights will arrive in Guinea in the afternoon and leave the next day in the morning.

The current rehabilitation of regional airports seems to be a prelude to a revival of air traffic in Guinea, and to soon cover neighbouring Liberia.

Given that the Star Alliance carrier flies to over 50 African cities, flights to the capital are back after last seeing Ethiopian in 2010. This means Ethiopian Airlines flights will no longer stop in Ouagadougou but switch to Monrovia instead.

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Tito, one of Jackson 5 brothers, dies at age 70

By
Banke Olarenwaju
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0

One of the Jackson five brothers, and youngrer brother to the the globally celebrated pop star, Micheal Jackson, Tito Jackson is dead.

The music star died at the age of 70 according to confirmation by Steve Manning, a long-time friend and former manager of the Jackson family. He said Tito Jackson died on Monday.

Tito played a key role in the rise of the Jackson 5 – performing alongside his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. The family musical group was formed in 1964. Their rise to fame and successful hit songs such as “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I Want You Back” sealed their position as world’s number 1 pop group.

The group sold over 150 million records globally and were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980, and later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

The news was also shared on Instagram by Tito’s three sons—Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson—who formed the R’n’B/pop trio 3T in the 1990s. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken,” they wrote. “Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.”

The Jacksons had made performing apearances recently – where Tito with Taryll, Jackie, and Marlon Jackson featured at the Fool in Love Festival at Hollywood Park Grounds in California on August 31.

Jackson 5 former drummer, Jonathan Moffett, wrote a tribute on his social media handle, expressing his grief over Tito’s passage: “There is great sadness in my heart tonight – I just found out that my brother in heart and spirit, Tito Jackson has passed. I’m stunned, devastated and speechless. I love you, Tito. My most sincere love & prayers for the entire Jackson family. I love you all VERY much.”

Tito Jackson was third in the line of Jackson siblings, with his younger sisters Janet and LaToya Jackson. Besides his success with the Jackson 5, Tito also enjoyed a solo career as a blues musician.

His 2016 successful solo performance hit “Get It Baby” saw him chart the Billboard and his passing marks the end of an era for the Jackson family and fans worldwide.

Tito will be fondly remebered for his musical contributions, enduring talent and rich memories that kept the Jackson 5 legacy alive.

Michaela Mabinty DePrince dies at 29

By
tvafrinet
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0

Michaela Mabinty DePrince, reknowned ballet dancer, who came to the United States as an orphan, in war-torn Sierra Leone and performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, has died, her family said in a statement. She was 29.

“Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours. She was an unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story,” her family said in a statement posted Friday on DePrince’s social media accounts. “From her early life in war-torn Africa, to stages and screens across the world, she achieved her dreams and so much more.”

A cause of death was not provided.

DePrince was adopted by an American couple and by age 17 she had been featured in a documentary film and had performed on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.”

After graduating from high school and the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, she became a principal dancer Dance Theatre of Harlem. She then went to the Netherlands, where she danced with the Dutch National Ballet. She later returned to the U.S. and joined the Boston Ballet in 2021.

“We’re sending our love and support to the family of Michaela Mabinty DePrince at this time of loss,” the Boston Ballet said in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday. “We were so fortunate to know her; she was a beautiful person, a wonderful dancer, and she will be greatly missed by us all.”

In her memoir, “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina,” she shared her journey from the orphanage to the stage. She also wrote a children’s book, Ballerina Dreams.

DePrince suffered from a skin pigmentation disorder that had her labeled “the devil’s child” at the orphanage.

“I lost both my parents, so I was there (the orphanage) for about a year and I wasn’t treated very well because I had vitiligo,” DePrince told the AP in a 2012 interview. “We were ranked as numbers and number 27 was the least favorite and that was my number, so I got the least amount of food, the least amount of clothes and whatnot.”

She told added that she remembered seeing a photo of an American ballet dancer on a magazine page that had blown against the gate of the orphanage during Sierra Leone’s civil war.

“All I remember is she looked really, really happy,” DePrince told the AP, adding that she wished “to become this exact person.”

She said she saw hope in that photo, “and I ripped the page out and I stuck it in my underwear because I didn’t have any place to put it,” she said.

Her passion helped inspire young Black dancers to pursue their dreams, her family said.

“We will miss her and her gorgeous smile forever and we know you will, too,” their statement said.

Her sister Mia Mabinty DePrince recalled in the statement that they slept on a shared mat in the orphanage and used to make up their own musical theater plays and ballets.

“When we got adopted, our parents quickly poured into our dreams and arose the beautiful, gracefully strong ballerina that so many of you knew her as today. She was an inspiration,” Mia DePrince wrote. “Whether she was leaping across the stage or getting on a plane and flying to third-world countries to provide orphans and children with dance classes, she was determined to conquer all her dreams in the arts and dance.”

She is survived by five sisters and two brothers. The family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations could be made to War Child, which is an organization that DePrince was involved with as a War Child Ambassador.

“This work meant the world to her, and your donations will directly help other children who grew up in an environment of armed conflict,” the family statement said.

AP

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