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An apartment in Surulere, which supposedly belongs to Governor Babajide’s Sanwo-Olu’s mother, has been set on fire.
An eyewitnesses confirmed that the mother of the governor was removed from the house before the fire started.
This occurred after security operatives opened fire on unarmed #EndSARS protesters at Lekki Toll gate.
The Plateau state government has declared 24 hours curfew in Jos south and Jos north local government areas over violence.
Governor Lalong said he was forced to declare the curfew after “hoodlums attacked and molested innocent citizens who are going about their normal businesses.” He further revealed that this led to the death of 3 persons.
The Governor said;
“Government is left with no choice than to impose a curfew to stop further loss of lives and properties.
“By this directive, all forms of protests are hereby banned in the two Local Governments Areas of Jos North and Jos South.”
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Since the devastating flood has made the Eastern flank of the state via Ganaja–Lokoja roads impassable for motorists and pedestrians over a month ago, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole on Tuesday in Lokoja called on the State Government to rehabilitate State roads damaged by flood and erosion.
The Speaker made the call following a motion of urgent public importance as it affects deplorable conditions of roads in the state capital and local areas moved by the member representing Idah Constituency at plenary.
Kolawole directed the House Committee on Works to invite the Commissioner for Works and Urban Development, Abubakar Ohere to brief it on the poor state of roads owned by the State Government.
He said the Zone Eight Crusher road is currently in bad state while the road in front of the Confluence Stadium has been cut off.
While moving the motion earlier, the Member representing Idah Constituency, Alhaji Suleiman Atajachi said the Idah township roads especially the Igala-Ogba road has been affected by erosion.
According to him, the Idah Township road is important to socio economic development of the people of Idah and the entire Igala Kingdom.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Dekina-Okura constituency, Paul Enema said the motion was timely and advised that the Ganaja Road be considered for reconstruction.
Kogi Assembly Frowns At Deplorable Conditions Of Roads In Kogi
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Since the devastating flood has made the Eastern flank of the state via Ganaja–Lokoja roads impassable for motorists and pedestrians over a month ago, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole on Tuesday in Lokoja called on the State Government to rehabilitate State roads damaged by flood and erosion.
The Speaker made the call following a motion of urgent public importance as it affects deplorable conditions of roads in the state capital and local areas moved by the member representing Idah Constituency at plenary.
Kolawole directed the House Committee on Works to invite the Commissioner for Works and Urban Development, Abubakar Ohere to brief it on the poor state of roads owned by the State Government.
He said the Zone Eight Crusher road is currently in bad state while the road in front of the Confluence Stadium has been cut off.
While moving the motion earlier, the Member representing Idah Constituency, Alhaji Suleiman Atajachi said the Idah township roads especially the Igala-Ogba road has been affected by erosion.
According to him, the Idah Township road is important to socio economic development of the people of Idah and the entire Igala Kingdom.
Seconding the motion, the member representing Dekina-Okura constituency, Paul Enema said the motion was timely and advised that the Ganaja Road be considered for reconstruction.
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives strongly condemns the Tuesday killing of peaceful and unarmed protesters by suspected security operatives at Lekki Toll Gate and other parts of the country.
The lawmakers, in a statement signed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on Wednesday, said that “such wicked act of extra-judicial killing of defenseless citizens, by suspected agents of the state, cannot be justified or condoned under any rule or guise whatsoever”.
“As lawmakers and representatives of the people, we cannot accept this gruesome execution of our young ones in their own country by security operatives. Life is sacred and no one has the right to terminate the life of another just because he has the apparatus of state power.
“Such brazen brutally and defilement of right to life, which is at the center of the on-going protests across the nation, underscores the demand for an immediate and total overhaul of our nation’s security architecture.
“We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of officers involved in the Lekki killing as well as the withdrawal of soldiers from engaging protesters”, the lawmakers stated.
The caucus also restated its call on President Buhari to urgently rejig the nation’s security architecture through extensive reforms and urgent replacing of the service chiefs with more competent and professional hands to assist in effectively handling of the security challenges confronting the nation.
The caucus commiserates with the families of the victims of this heinous act and assured of immediate legislative actions that will ensure that justice is served.
Signed:
Hon. Ndudi Elumelu
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
By He Yin
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at a grand gathering celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in south China’s Guangdong province on October 14. His remarkshave attracted wide attention from the international community.
While interpreting theglobal significance of China’s determination to promote reform and opening-up ata higher starting point, international observers saidthe Chinese leader once again emphasized the importance of reform and opening-up in Shenzhen, the forefrontof China’s reform and opening up, and acknowledged the positive role of thepolicy in promoting the rapid development of China’s economy.
Shenzhen is the epitome of China’s reform and opening-up and the city will innovate and advance reform more boldly in the future, they said, noting that China’s continuous efforts to advancereform and opening-up will inject positive energy into global economic growth.
China unswervingly follows a win-win strategy of opening-up, through which the country can draw strength from the world and better benefit the world with its development, Xi noted.
China, as a major developing country with 1.4 billion people, a 900-million-strong labor force and 120 million market entities, welcomes the participation of more countries in the world in its reform and opening-up as well as theforming ofa new pattern featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.
As theCOVID-19pandemichas not yet been effectively brought under control across the world,and the world economy is suffering from the worst recession since the World War II, China’s efforts topromote reform and opening-up ata higher starting pointhave injected strong impetus into global economic recovery.
The fact that China’s economy has bucked the trendof a global recession and secured impressive performance has fully demonstrated the country’s confidencein advancingreform and opening-up ata higher starting point as well as the certainty that China’s development means greaterbenefits to the rest of the world.
The latest statisticssuggest that China’s economy expanded 4.9 percent yearonyear in the third quarter and that the country’s economic growth of the first three quarters shifted from negative to positive.
China’s economy is moving fasterback on track,pointed out the international community.
China was pulling up the global numbers, said Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of International Monetary Fund (IMF).
China’s growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a positive impulse for the world economy, noted IMF Managing Director KristalinaGeorgieva.
China became a vital refuge for many of them (U.S. companies) as China’s rebounding consumer economy helped offset the damage from tumbling sales back home, according to an article published on The Wall Street Journal.
Those who recognize the trend are wise and those who ride the trend will win.
International economic connectivity and exchanges are still the objective requirements of world economic development.
Standing on the right side of history, China has kept up with the times, deepened reform on all fronts and expanded all-around opening up.
With lower overall tariffs, shorter negative lists for foreign investment, easier market access, more transparent market rules, and a more attractive business environment, the country has closely connected its domestic market, the largest one in the world, with the global market, realizing a virtuous circle and mutual promotion between the domestic market and global market at a larger scale and with greater efficiency and stronger dynamismwhileopening up vastdevelopment opportunities for itself and variouscountries in the world.
With practical efforts to promotehigher-level opening-up, China has won universal recognition and trust from the international community.
Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that China’s restrictions on foreign investment have declined rapidly since 2013, and the decline is one of the sharpest among major economies.
China has made great achievements in optimizing business environment, said a report released by the World Bank.
Nearly 70 percent of the interviewed U.S. companies are optimistic about the business prospects of the Chinese market in the next five years, according to a survey carried out by the U.S.-China Business Council.
The Chinese market is highly attractive to most European Union (EU)companies in China, and over 60 percent of the respondents believe that China is still one of their top three investment destinations, said a report jointly released by the EU Chamber of Commerce in China and Roland Berger, a leading global consultancy.
In the first seven months of this year, the total volume of foreign trade between the 27 EU member states and China reached 328.7 billion euros(about $389.48 billion), an increase of about 2.6 percent yearonyear, suggested data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU.The result made China become the largest trading partner of EU for the first time.
Facts have proved that China’s continuously increasing attractiveness of “bringing in” and competitiveness of “going global”are strong driving forces for win-win cooperation with countries in the world.
China’s reform and opening-up meets its people’s aspiration for development, innovation and a better life. It also meets the global trend toward development, cooperation and peace.
By joining hands with various countries in the world to build a community with shared future for mankind, China is trying to blaze a trail for peaceful, open, cooperative, and common development that will lead the world to a better future.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had denied ordering the killing of #EndSARS protesters as he visited some victims of Lekki toll gate shooting.
Sharing photos from his visit to the hospitals where some victims of the shootings are being treated, the Lagos state Governor described it as “toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make notes in our history”.
He insisted that the decision to impose curfew was borne out of concern for innocent protesters and the entire citizenry, as it will be foolhardy for a leader to try to protect his citizens and still turn around to put their lives at risk.
Sanwo-Olu who disclosed that this is not time to trade blames, further disclosed that there are 10 patients at the General Hospital in Lagos Island, 11 at Reddington hospital and 4 at Vedic hospital with mild to moderate levels of injuries. He further revealed that while 2 are receiving intensive medical care, 3 patients have been discharged. He also promised to take care of the medical bills of victims of the shootings.
He wrote;
This may be the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make notes in our history, but we will face it.
As a Father and Governor, I watched in anguish the unacceptable event that occurred last night at the Lekki tollgate.
The decision to impose curfew was borne out of concern for innocent protesters and the entire citizenry of our dear state. It will be foolhardy for a leader to try to protect his citizens and still turn around to put their lives at risk.
However, this is not the time to trade blames. We will take it in our stride and move.
I paid a visit to all the victims of the unfortunate shooting incident at the various hospitals where they are being urgently attended to.
There are currently 10 patients at the General Hospital in Lagos Island, 11 at Reddington hospital and 4 at Vedic hospital with mild to moderate levels of injuries, while 2 are receiving intensive medical care. And 3 patients have been discharged.
I implored the attending doctors to give them the best care, while we cover all their medical bills.
We are working with the Federal Govt to harmonize and stabilize all security operations while prioritizing the lives of the residents we swore to protect and serve.
I would also be giving a statewide address in a few hours.
We will come out stronger.
Also engaging some Nigerians in the comment section of the Instagram post, Sanwo-Olu denied ordering the shooting.
See the exchange below;
The Nigerian Army says it has arrested the soldier who recorded a video begging his colleagues not to shoot at #EndSARS protesters
The soldier now identified as Lance Corporal Harrison Friday, wore a hood in a video he made in which he begged his colleagues not to shoot at end SARS protesters even if they were sent to do so.
In a post shared on its Twitter handle this morning October 21, the Nigerian Army says Harrison carried out ‘cybercrime’ and that he has now been arrested.
Nigerian Army has denied shooting protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday night.
Daybreak had reported that hours after the declaration of a 24-hour curfew in the state, military personnel opened fire on protesters at Lekki tollgate.
During the incident, some protesters were allegedly killed and injured after the Military opened fire on them.
But Reacting, the Army in a statement on its Twitter handle, said its soldiers were not at the scene.
It also denied seizing corpses of victims of the attack
It tweeted, ”Fake news, no soldiers were at the scene.”
The Department of State Services (DSS) has debunked the rumour circulating on social media that its personnel are aiding pro-SARS supporters and thugs to attack #ENDSARS protesters in Abuja.
The security agency asserted that none of its personnel has, so far, been identified to be involved in the alleged acts.
The Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Tuesday, said part of the untruth being spewed to the public was that some of its officials attached to certain VIPs aided thugs in this regard.
Afunanya described the allegations levelled against DSS as untrue, which can only be taken as false narratives designed to cast it in the bad image, as well as inflame the protests.
“The Service is a responsible professional Organization and will endeavour to remain so at all times,” he said.
According to the service, “It begs the question to conclude that SUVs and persons dressed in suits and sighted in conflict environments are of the DSS. Fact is that no staff of the DSS will engage in acts as the ones being peddled by these rumour mongers and hate speakers.
“It, therefore, wishes to state that the allegations levelled against it are not true and can only be taken as false narratives designed to cast it in the bad image as well as inflame the protests.”
“Consequently, the public is enjoined to disregard the falsehood emanating from sections of the social and mainstream media, subversive groups and interests. The Service uses this opportunity to call on citizens to eschew bitterness, remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies and indeed, the Government for lasting peace and public safety,” he said.
The military has been asked to immediately release the identity of soldiers that carried out the shooting of protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos State on Tuesday night.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) made the call while condemning the shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers in Lekki
President of NBA, Olumide Akpata, in a statement, faulted the incident.
We had earlier reported that End SARS protesters at the Lekki ground came under heavy fire by the military on Tuesday.
Bullets fired by security operatives hit some persons and at least two persons have been confirmed killed by the police and many injured
Voices in a viral footage blamed the shootings on soldiers.
“The Military High command is hereby requested to immediately identify and name the officers involved in this gross professional misconduct for immediate prosecution and dismissal in line with extant laws,” Akpata said.
“The NBA shall immediately commence legal proceedings at all relevant fora– both locally and internationally – against the Nigerian Military and other relevant authorities, on behalf of the families of the victims, for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and the infringement of the fundamental rights (including the right to life) of the affected citizens.”.
Akpata pointed out that even if the protesters were in breach of the Lagos government’s curfew, such a misdemeanor did not warrant the use of live ammunition by the military.
“The NBA believes that the current situation in the country calls for dynamic leadership and, as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, invites the President of Nigeria and others in authority to show uncommon leadership in saving the situation, instead of deploying troops against defenceless citizens whom they swore an oath to protect,” the NBA president said.
