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Hajj 2023: Ummah Leadership Forum Lauds NAHCON, Calls For Prayers, Support
By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.
As the airlifts of Nigerian States pilgrims to Saudi Arabia getting towards an end, a group of Islamic scholars under the umbrella of the Ummah leadership forum has expressed its support and commendation to all hajj stakeholders currently working rounds the clock to facilitate the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 hajj exercise.
The leadership of the group who are currently in Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj said “Nigerians need to appreciate the sleepless nights and hectic nature of transporting over 95,000 people from their homes to another country.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the forum, Alh Sulaiman Yahaya and Secretary Abdullateef Olawale praised NAHCON for its “ability to adapt and surmount the many unforeseen challenges that come along with this year’s airlifts.
Though, there are complaints of delays in airlifting in some states leading to disappointments in the minds of the intending pilgrims.
The leadership of the forum who are currently in Saudi Arabia said “We arrived here through the second flight from FCT and to be fair, NAHCON staff here have been up and doing and a lot of pilgrims have expressed their appreciation.
For example, the commission along with other stakeholders were able to find workable solutions to the closure of Sudan airspace – an unforeseen challenge that propped up less than two weeks before the commencements of airlifts of Nigeria pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Secondly, we also learned from the Media recently that NAHCON faced a lot of administrative bottlenecks in funding the air carriers that manifestly limit the ability and capacity of airliners during this period.
Remember that the initial date set for the commencement of airlifts was changed due to the inability of the airlines and NAHCON to agree on the “exact cost of air tickets” Which also derailed the airlifts process.
While we acknowledge the pains of pilgrims whose flights were delayed, we should also understand that the process of a mass evacuation of pilgrims is tedious and appreciates the efforts of the commissions and other stakeholders.
The Statement said “Hajj airlifts is the only exercise in the world that involves transporting hundreds of thousands of people within a stipulated time.
Each country participating in hajj airlifts has its peculiar challenges because of the nature of the operations.
June 19, 2023
Court Admits Evidence Showing That INEC Server Had No Glitches On Election Day
A report from a subpoenaed witness who identified herself as an employee of Amazon Web Services Incorporated, USA, has been admitted as evidence by the presidential tribunal.
The witness who gave her name as Claretta Ogar, disclosed that she is a cloud engineer and architect.
The report provided details of the health status of the cloud services offered to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) digital backbone for the presidential election.
The report revealed that there was no glitch that could have affected the e-transmission of results on February 25, 2023, when the presidential election was held.
The document totaling six copies was admitted by the court amid objections by INEC, Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC. The cross-examination of the witness is scheduled for Tuesday 20th June.
June 19, 2023
Breaking: Tinubu dissolves Boards of MDAs
President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate dissolution of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies in the exercise of its Constitutional Powers and in the Public interest.
Willie Bassey, Director, Information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the dissolution does not, however, affect Boards, Commissions and Councils listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 153 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The statement added that “ In view of this development and until such a time new boards are constituted, the Chief Executive Officers of the Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-Owned Companies are directed to refer matters requiring the attention of their Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries of their respective supervisory Ministries and Offices.
The statement said the Permanent Secretaries are directed, also, to route such correspondences to Mr President through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“Consequently, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are to ensure compliance to the provision of this directive which took effect from Friday 16th June, 2023.
“Permanent Secretaries are particularly directed to inform the Chief Executive Officers of the affected Agencies under the supervision of their respective Ministries/Offices for immediate compliance”
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June 19, 2023
10th Assembly: Lawmaker Empowers Constituents, Facilitates Medical Equipment to PHCs
Member, House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, on Sunday, distributed cash grants aimed at economically empowering about 40 members of her constituency.
The grants were given after the constituents completed a 3-day training with the support of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Speaking in Ibadan, Akande-Sadipe said the training was aimed at economic empowerment of her constituents.
Akande-Sadipe added that the gesture was in fulfillment of her campaign promises made to the people, that her second term will engage them into more economic opportunities.
Mrs. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, the former Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, also called on the government to provide soft loans for the people as a way of empowering them economically and reducing poverty in the country.
“Today 40 members of my constituency were cleared for cash grants after participating in the ‘Business Entrepreneurship and development’ capacity development program”, Akande-Sadipe said.
“I urge the participants to use the knowledge garnered during this training to be self-reliant and to improve their standard of living,” she said.
Akande-Sadipe said in addition to today’s gesture which earmarks the beginning of her participation in the 10th National Assembly, she has successfully trained thousands of youths in different skills.
She said the past training programs have enabled many to become self-reliant, and have contributed their quota to the development of Oluyole constituency.
On selection criteria of beneficiaries, she said her constituency office threw it open to residents of Oluyole by reaching out to community leaders, as well as religious leaders.
The lawmaker who is representing Oluyole Federal Constituency on a 2nd term mandate, also facilitated medical equipment to Primary Health Centers, in the Constituency.
This, according to her, is part of her bid to elevate the standard of healthcare delivery across her constituency.
She said the intervention came against the backdrop of the growing demands for equitable access to quality health services in the rural areas of Oluyole.
Hon. Akande-Sadipe however, assured members of Oluyole Federal Constituency of continued excellent representation in the 10th Assembly.
Speaking earlier during a Thanksgiving service to commemorate her inauguration as member of the 10th Assembly, the Superintendent, Christ Apostolic Church, Temitope Zonal Headquarters, Pastor Richard Akinlayo Adepoju applauded Akande-Sadipe’s unapologetic love for Oluyole, which is hinged on godliness and honesty.
He commended her for touching every community in her constituency positively, calling for its sustenance as she begins her journey through the 10th Assembly.
The State Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Mr. Tajudeen Olanite, called on residents of Oluyole to continue to support Akande-Sadipe, for more dividends of democracy.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Adewale Egbedun, thanked the lawmaker for the gesture and assured her of their support at all times.
Witnesses at the event include Clerics, party stalwarts, community leaders, family members and friends of the lawmaker.
June 19, 2023
Business Tycoon,Mangal Rejoiced With Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto Over Successful Inauguration
By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto
One of the renowned business moguls in Nigeria, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Max Air Ltd has congratulated the Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto over his successful inauguration.
Mangal, has on Sunday described Ahmed Aliyu as a loyal, trusted and dedicated son.
The statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senator Wamakko,Bashar Abubakar further said Mangal told the Governor that he came to Sokoto purposely “to rejoice with him even as he described the election of Ahmed Aliyu as a good omen for the people of the State and Nigeria in general”.
Responding, Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, thanked the August visitor for the show of love and a concerned as a reliable father
He described Mangal as an age-long friend to the APC leader in the State, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sarkin Yamman Sokoto.
Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto pledged to continue to be a loyal son, with a listening ear to his leaders at all times for the overall development of the State as a whole.
He thanked Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal for the visit and wished him the best in all his affairs.
Alhaji Mangal was accompanied on the visit by a veteran journalist, Umar Faruk Musa and Alhaji Aliyu Katsina.
The visit was conducted at the residence of the APC leader in the State Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko at Gawon Nama Sokoto.
Sen. Wamakko was physically present to receive the visitor during the epochal visit.
June 19, 2023
Arrest and Detention of Two Police Officers in Rivers State for Extortion.
Two Police Officers Arrested in Rivers State for Alleged Extortion
The Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State has taken action by arresting two of its personnel who have been accused of extorting citizens. The officers were apprehended after a complaint was lodged by a young man who claimed to have been a victim of their alleged extortion.
Two Police Officers Arrested for Extortion in Rivers State as Twitter Complaint Surfaces
Following a complaint made by a young man on Twitter, where he tagged the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Adejobi Olumuyiwa, the Rivers State Police Command has arrested two of its personnel over allegations of extortion. The young man expressed his frustration with ongoing incidents of extortion and harassment in the state, despite previous warnings from the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.
In response to the Twitter complaint, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of the accused police officers. It was revealed that the arrested officers were assigned to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Rivers State Police Command.
Lagos Police Spokesperson Addresses Harassment Incident
In a separate incident in the Ishashi area of Lagos, known for cult activities, the Lagos Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, responded to a video shared by a Twitter user identified as Partron. The video depicted police officers harassing a young Nigerian on the streets of Lagos, allegedly because he refused to surrender his phone.
Hundeyin explained that the officers’ decision to search the young men and discovering illicit drugs warranted further investigation due to the association between cultists and drug use. He also referred to the video depicting the harassment of the young man as malicious in nature.
Justifying why the young man was stopped from making a call, Hundeyin said the police officers were only trying to stop the destruction of evidence as the young man could have alerted his ‘gang members.’
He also accused the young man of resisting arrest.
He wrote: “Your narrative is wrong and misleading. It is a fact that Ishashi is one of the hotbeds of cultism in Lagos State. It is equally a known fact that these cultists engage in heavy drug abuse. So doing a random search of three young men moving together and finding hard drugs them would definitely call for a closer look.
”Yes, he was being prevented from making a call. No one attempted to collect his phone. This is not the norm in all cases. This particular case borders on a felony, cultism. Freshly arrested suspects in cases as sensitive as cultism will not be allowed to make calls IMMEDIATELY so that they don’t alert their gang members to destroy evidence and bolt.
”Calls can later be made after the initial documentation and in the presence of the IPO. This was a clear case of resisting arrest, and nothing about phone.
“Resorting to theatrics and false accusations along sensitive issues of phone searching will not deter @LagosPoliceNG from carrying out its mandate. Doing malicious video recordings will equally not cow the police into docility.”
June 19, 2023
UNILAG Student Activist Graduates after Seven Years of Rustication
Mr. Olorunfemi Adeyeye, a student activist who was rusticated by the University of Lagos in 2016 for organizing and leading a mass protest against inadequate infrastructure on campus, has finally graduated after seven years.
Adeyeye, who was reinstated in 2022, completed his studies in the Department of Building. He, along with other student activists, was suspended for participating in protests on April 6 and 8, 2016, which resulted in the closure of the university and the subsequent indefinite suspension of the University of Lagos Students Union.
Additionally, Adeyeye faced allegations of criticizing the institution’s leadership in a Facebook article titled “The Senate of the University of Lagos; a conglomeration of academic ignorami” for their alleged failure to handle situations as “democrats.”
Sharing his graduation pictures on his Facebook page on Monday, Adeyeye, seen standing at attention, wore a white shirt with the inscription, “It needed attention, and I gave it fully. To continue the big things. Grateful.”
During his period of suspension, UNILAG authorities also accused Adeyeye of leading a group called the “Save UNILAG Coalition,” which included members from the National Association of Nigerian Students. They allegedly disrupted the activities of the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs on March 31, 2016.
In a statement, the university stated that Adeyeye and other student leaders were not victimized solely for their involvement in the campus protests but were found to have violated certain regulations outlined in the university’s 2015-2016 student information handbook.
Adeyeye denied the allegations, stating that he and other student leaders were invited to a panel known as the “Special Senate Disciplinary Committee on Recent Students’ Protest.” He claimed that the resolution of the university Senate regarding his rustication was undemocratic.
“It was disheartening that the university made such a statement. It is untrue. I and other student leaders were invited to a panel called the ‘Special Senate Disciplinary Committee on Recent Students’ Protest.’ Everything I wrote in the article I posted on my Facebook page pointed to the fact that the Senate’s decision was not reached through a democratic process, especially for the student leaders involved in the protest. From the day I was admitted to the university until the day I was rusticated, there was no regulation in the university’s student handbook that stated ‘unauthorized use of the university name, logo, etc., in a manner that would bring the university into disrepute’,” said Mr. Adeyeye.
June 19, 2023
Concerns Raised over Removal of Enugu Monument by Activist
Obiora Omeje, a human rights activist based in Abuja, known as “Zigma,” has voiced his concerns about the dismantled statue of the Iva Valley Coal Miners Massacre in New Market, Enugu State.
The statue was originally erected to honor the memory of 49 coal miners who were shot and killed while protesting for better wages in 1949.
Zigma expressed his disappointment at the prolonged delay in reinstalling the statue after the completion of road rehabilitation.
Speaking on Monday, the Enugu-born activist stated, “That monument has become an iconic symbol of the Coal City of Enugu. When it was removed, various rumors circulated about its intentions until we witnessed the ongoing rehabilitation in the area. I believe they have finished their work and should now bring back the monument. Permanently removing it would be a disservice to our visual history.”
Omeje emphasized that besides their aesthetic and historical significance, such monuments often serve as popular landmarks that aid visitors in navigating the city.
He also pointed out that the New Market area, being an important entry point into the city, requires significant attention to enhance its appearance and ensure smooth traffic flow.
Omeje stressed that the government should handle the area appropriately to prevent it from becoming congested, as it has been in the past.
While advocating for the reopening of the gate, he suggested that only pedestrians should have access, and vehicular traffic should be prohibited. This measure aims to prevent overcrowding around the Coal Miners Massacre Monument Roundabout.
“It would also alleviate the congestion on the Iva Valley road, which has been a nightmare for residents of the suburb,” he added.
June 19, 2023
Super Eagles’ 3-2 Victory Over Sierra Leone in AFCON 2023 Qualifier Well-Deserved, Says Peseiro
José Santos Peseiro, the coach of the Super Eagles, expressed his belief that his team deserved the win against Sierra Leone in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier held on Sunday.
The Super Eagles, who have won the African title three times, left Monrovia, Liberia with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Sierra Leone.
In his post-match comments, Peseiro acknowledged the intensity of the game, stating, “It was a very challenging match, but my players never surrendered. They fought until the final whistle. During the first half, we created numerous scoring opportunities, but managed to convert only two of them into goals.”
Peseiro further emphasized the team’s worthiness of the victory, acknowledging the difficulty of the match and praising the opposing team. He asserted, “We truly deserved to come out on top. Despite the tough and high-quality performance from both sides, our team demonstrated its superiority in the group. We executed a fantastic job against a formidable opponent. I am delighted with the performance of my players, and I congratulate them on their achievement.”
June 19, 2023
Gunmen Raids Kaduna Community, Kill Traditional Title Holder, Sons
Unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed a traditional title holder, the Ardo of Birni and Kewaye of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji Shuabu Mohammed and his four sons.
The incident occurred on Saturday night at about 10pm on Saturday, June 17, 2023, in Dorayi village, Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the bandits numbering five also rustled 100 cows belonging to the deceased.
The wife of the deceased, Malama Halima Shuaibu, told newsmen after the funeral of the victims that the bandits shot her husband in the head.
“Ardo was brought out of his bedroom and shot twice in his head, and he died instantly,” she narrated.
“The bandits went from room to room in the compound and killed my four children who are married with children.
“The victims are Adamu Shuaibu, Musa Shuaibu, Abubakar Shuaibu and Ibrahim Haruna.
“After attacking the compound, they also went away with over 100 of our cows,” she said.
The only survivor of the attack among the Ardo’s children, Abdurrahman Shuaibu, said the bandits shot two other people on their way out of the village.
June 19, 2023