Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has found lone, again.
His new woman is Miss Ezenwa Chika Nerita who was crowned as Queen of Aso International 2019/2020.
This comes a few months after he parted ways with the mother of his four sons, Precious Chikwendu.
Nerita was also present two days ago at the birthday celebration of his triplets.
President Mohammadu Buharu has appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
Major General Yahaya replaces late Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash last Friday, a press statement by the acting Director Defence Infrmation Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu has revealed on Thursday.
The statement further read, “Prior to his appointment Major General Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East code named Operation HADIN KAI.
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) has asked its members to increase the prices of bread and other items by 30 percent due to the rise of economic inflation across the country.
The association’s stakeholders explained that the sudden increase in bread prices is due to the high cost of production and commodities such as sugar, yeast, and flour.
The directive was part of the resolution reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association held in Abuja.
National President of AMBCN, Masur Umar, acknowledged that there will be a 30 percent increase in the prices of bread in the coming days.
“After considering the impact of the skyrocketed prices of baking ingredients/materials, for the survival of our noble business, which is presently bleeding, the association came to the conclusion to adjust our prices by 30 percent,” the statement reads.
While Christians dominate the southern part, the Hausa and Fulani dominate the northern part. Speaking during the presentation and defence of their memos at the Senate Ad-hoc Committee and the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution at the State House, Kawo, both sides that had been torn by incessant communal and religious clashes for decades, said creating new states from the present Kaduna State would go a long way in curbing the bloody violence that seem to defy every solution.
The President of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Jonathan Asake, who defended the memo of Southern Kaduna people, said: “The wish of Southern Kaduna is to have a brand new constitution, not an amended one. But in the absence of that, we are here to make our inputs as a people who have suffered suppression and oppression for a long time.
“Southern Kaduna is made up of 67 ethnic nationalities spread in 13 of the state’s 23 local councils. It has a landmass of 26,000km2 with an estimated population of 5.1 million. We are endowed with an educated population and with abundant natural resources. Our land size is greater than that of Kano State, which has 44 local councils.”
According to him, the people want the amendment of Section 8 of the Constitution, which makes it almost impossible for the creation of a new state.
“We have been demanding a state of our own for over 30 years and Gurara State was among the 18 states proposed in the 2014 Confab report. We demand the creation of Gurara State after the amendment. This will help in solving the incessant conflicts between our people and the other divide,” he said.
The northern group, under the aegis of Kaduna Development Elders Initiatives, also submitted a memo signed by the senators representing Kaduna North and Central as well as all the Reps and House of Assembly members from the Kaduna North.
Defending the memo, Abdulkadir Ahmed said: “We are canvassing for the creation of New Kaduna State and we want the constitution amended to make this possible.”
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaiya from Kano State, who represented the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, in his opening remarks, assured all that each of the memos would be well looked into and submitted to the National Assembly for further action. Many groups and individuals also submitted memos as the sitting continues till Friday.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has added his voice to the current debate over the ban on open grazing in the southern part of the country.
Masari, who spoke during a media chat in his office on Tuesday as part of the events marking the second year of the second term in office said open grazing is “unislamic”.
The governor underscored the need to provide necessary infrastructure that would prevent herders from moving from one location to the other in search of water and fodder.
“Why should herders from Katsina move? It is essential for two things: water and fodder. If we provide it, then why should they move? This roaming about for us is unislamic and is not the best. And it is part of the problem we are having today. I don’t support that we should continue with the way open grazing is,” he said.
Masari said he was in total support of the devolution of powers from the federal government to the state, stressing that that ultimately means restructuring.
The governor said the federal government should have a benchmark and people should not operate beyond that benchmark, adding that while Lagos State generates over N400bn, Katsina State is just generating N2bn.
“So, I expect that if we devolve properly or restructure, I expect even the Governor of Kano to earn more than myself. So, my councillor should earn reflective of the economy of my state. So, this issue people are talking of devolution, we heard it before in the first republic. We have been too centralised. I don’t think anybody still needs that we should allow that forever,” Masari said.
It was learnt that a heavily loaded boat heading to a village in Niger State from Kebbi in North-West capsized....
A total of 154 persons are still missing following Wednesday’s boat mishap in Kebbi State, relevant authorities said Wednesday.
It was learnt that a heavily loaded boat heading to a village in Niger State from Kebbi in North-West capsized.
There are fears that many of the victims would not be removed from the river alive considering the low pace of rescue efforts occasioned by poor equipment.
The incident occurred in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State at about 10am.
Apart from the people onboard, the wooden boat was said to be carrying bags of sand for gold miners, motorcycles and other equipment as the locals were heading for a local market.
Sources said that while authorities were using out-dated equipment to bring out those trapped under the water, many local divers were using crude methods to search for the missing passengers including men, women and children.
The Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Yauri, Kebbi State, Mr Yusuf Birma, confirmed the incident adding that it was caused by overloading and weak boat.
He said that four people had been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 people are still missing and that rescue operation was still ongoing.
“The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State from Kebbi and the incident happened just a few hours into their trip.
“We are still rescuing the victims and the mishap occurred as a result of overloading. The boat does not have the capacity to carry 180 passengers.156 people are still missing and they are believed to be underwater,” he said.
Rickety boats responsible
Speaking further on the cause of the mishap, Birma said that most of the boats being used by locals across riverine states were old.
He said in the latest incident, the overloaded and old boat hit a log while sailing.
“The boat involved is a wooden boat which is old and very weak but these people will not listen when we speak to them to reduce the number of passengers they carry,” he said.
The chairman of Ngaski LGA, Abdullahi Buhari Warra, described the accident as fatal and pitiful.
He said five people including two women, two men and a girl have been buried.
According to him, those in the boat included artisanal gold miners, traders and some Nigerien nationals. He said more corpses were expected to be recovered today.
“As I am speaking to you now, there are many people in the river who are yet to be rescued…there is no hope of getting them alive,” he told one of our correspondents.
In fact, many people have died and nobody can precisely know their number.
“We are able to rescue only 22 people who have been rushed to the Warra General Hospital for medical attention.
“In fact, we went to the main river in Wara town where there were people crying when they came out of the water. Someone who came out of the boat said there were many small children who drowned because there was no one to rescue them.
“Someone people from Zamfara State told me that there were eight members of the same family and they all drowned,” he said.
He, however, said it was not the fault of the Kebbi authorities for overloading the ship and accused the people of refusing to wear life jackets.
“We are currently providing seven boats to the navy and other rescue workers to search for corpses and some survivors,” he said.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency also confirmed the incident adding that it didn’t happen in their state.
It’s devastating – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari last night described the incident as devastating.
President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, condoled the families of those affected by the tragedy.
The President extended his gratitude to all those involved in the rescue efforts and wished those injured from the accident quick recovery as the efforts to recover more survivors continued.
First responders evacuating dead bodies after a boat capsized yesterday in Kebbi
Recurrent mishaps
Daily Trust recalled that early this month, 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in central Niger State.
The boat ferrying local traders split into two after hitting a log during a storm as they were returning from a local market, according to emergency officials.
The incident happened in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, said the occupants of the boat were 100 passengers coming from Tija village of Munya Local Government Area of the state.
He said 65 people survived, 28 corpses recovered by local divers while seven people are still missing.
A 34-year-old man, Okpegboro Avwerosuo, from Ughelli North Ugherue in Delta State has been arrested by Bayelsa State Police Command for allegedly butchering his roommate and putting his body into a sack bag before hiding it in the nearby bush.
The incident which was said to have happened over the weekend at Sagbama community, the headquarter of Sagbama Local Government Area was kept secret until the youths of the community discovered the decomposed body of the deceased in the bush on Monday.
Though the police authorities in Bayelsa State have confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect, the suspected killer has refused to disclose the identity of his late roommate.
Several people in the community claimed that the suspect might have killed his roommate for ritual purposes but found it difficult to move the butchered body due to the heavy presence of vigilant youths of the community.
The vigilant youths of the community who discovered the decomposed body of the deceased in the bush on Monday quickly alerted men of the Nigeria Police, Sagbama Division, a situation that led to the arrest of the suspect who was living in Sagbama Federated Community.
The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, while confirming the incident, said: “The suspect is detained at SCID for further investigation.”
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has acquired the service of a new American lobbying firm to garner the support of the U.S. government for its secession bid.
A report by Premium Times said the one-year deal would cost Kanu and IPOB $750,000, which is over N300m at the current official exchange rate of N410 to $1.
The report said the deal was signed in February with Kanu’s signature for the service of BW Global Group (BWGG LLC), co-owned by Jeffrey Birrel and Alan White, registered in Washington D.C.
It added that the agreement took effect from March 1, 2021, months after an earlier deal with a U.S.-based lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs LLC, expired.
“The details of the deals were sourced from the contractors’ registration statements and agreements filed at the Foreign Agents Registration Unit of the U.S Department of Justice.”
“The filings by BW Global Group (BWGG) after negotiations were concluded in February show that the firm was engaged by Mr Kanu to undertake “political activities” in the U.S. on behalf of IPOB.”
“The activities include engaging the U.S. government, Congress and the Department of State, (the equivalent of Foreign Affairs Ministries in Nigeria and other countries) and engaging policymakers on behalf of IPOB.”
“The registrant (BWGG) expects to advocate on behalf of IPOB within the US Government (including the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of State) and otherwise engage policymakers and opinion leaders.”
The agreement, signed on February 24, 2021, by Mr Kanu, another representative of IPOB, Rita Eze, and a co-owner of BWGG, Mr White.
“BWGG shall provide the IPOB with services relating to the promotion of human rights and democracy and shall otherwise act as an advocate for the indigenous people of Biafra,” the document reads in part.
It added that BWGG “may also undertake other similar services that might be referred to BWGG from the IPOB from time to time by mutual agreement.”
Sunday Dare, Minister of Youths and Sports Development, has kicked against the bill seeking to scrap the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
The bill sponsored by Awaji Abiante, a lawmaker from Rivers State had last week, passed through second reading at the green chamber.
The lawmaker seeks to use the bill to amend section 315 (1)(a) of the 1999 constitution.
Abiante said NYSC should be scrapped because the scheme has failed to address the essence of its establishment.
Also, there have been agitations from Nigerians, seeking to scrap NYSC due to insecurity across the country.
However, Dare in a post on his official Twitter page said NYSC is one of the greatest tools for National development for Nigerian youths.
He further stated that dynamic reforms and initiatives towards the current realities are ongoing, adding that the Buhari-led government is committed to sustaining the scheme.
He tweeted, ”The NYSC scheme remains one of the greatest tools for National development for our youth.
”The commitment of the government to sustaining the NYSC scheme remains. Dynamic Reforms and Initiatives towards current realities are ongoing. Nigeria will stand with her youth.”
The new wife of Churchill Olakunle, Rosy Meurer has reacted to the post of Tonto Dikeh allegedly throwing shades at her ex-husband Churchill Olakunle.
Recall Tonto Dikeh took to her page to share a controversial post that was an indirect shade to her former husband.
Her post attracted several reactions from people and has also attracted a reaction from her rival and present wife of Churchill, Rosy.
Tonto Dikeh took to her page and wrote, “DEAR WOMAN/MAN IF an EX IS STILL YOUR TYPE, then you have FAILED…Wahalai ooo wrong
Dear Women/MEN, we Level Up not To Go back to Our Vomits. #GROWTH IS VERY NECESSARY IN ALL ACCEPT OF OUR LIFE
#BYALLMEANSGROW
Rosy has reacted to Tonto Dikeh’s shade. She wrote on her Instagram story,
“we dey recycle ourselves. Only few be tear rubber. I chop your own you chop another LIVE”.
Socialite, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chiefpriest, says the terrorist att@ck that occured in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Are...
