Gunmen kill 30 in Burkina Faso attack
Gunmen killed around 30 people at a livestock market in the eastern Burkina Faso town of Kompienbiga, local residents said Sunday, in an attack blamed by a security source on jihadists. The assailants “burst into the market riding motorbikes and started shooting, especially at people who were trying to flee”, one resident said, estimating the death toll at around 30 from the attack on Saturday. There were bodies in the market and others in the bush.”But he added: “More than 30 bodies were collected” after the attack. He said his brother was at the market at the time and he had had “no news” from him since. Unrest in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger killed around 4,000 people last year, according to UN figures.
Source:Punch
May 31, 2020 15:45 UTC
Imota rice mill ready by end of 2020 – LASG
The Lagos State Government, says its multi-billion Naira 32-metric tonnes per hour rice mill at Imota, will be completed and delivered on or before the end of the year. The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Gbolahan Lawal disclosed this on Sunday, while highlighting activities to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Gov. Lawal said that effective efforts had been put into backward integration along the rice value chain to ensure an adequate supply of paddy to the mill for smooth operations. “The Agric-YES is an initiative of the Lagos state government which targets to encourage youth and women who are interested in agriculture to embrace the sector. “One of its major objectives is to achieve a significant reduction in unemployment, create more jobs and wealth, and significantly enhance food security in Lagos state by the year 2023.
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2020 15:45 UTC
Senate refutes allegations of culpability in NDDC fraud
“The Senate is even more surprised considering the fact that the allegations are baseless and unsubstantiated. He said clearly there is no adverse relationship between the oversight function of the National Assembly and a forensic audit. Basiru said the National Assembly is committed to repositioning the NDDC to address the challenges of the Niger Delta through facilitating the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta. “The Senate and indeed the National Assembly is also committed to exercising its constitutional mandate and will not be cowed by spurious allegations of the likes of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh. The proper avenue to challenge the exercise of the power of the National Assembly is the court of law not spewing falsehood on pages of newspapers and electronic media.”
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2020 15:33 UTC
At 65, Customs boss, Hameed Ali takes new wife
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) over the weekend got married to a new bride, Hajiya Zainab Abdullahi in a wedding ceremony devoid of fanfare because of the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Hameed Ali’s first wife, Hajiya Hadiza Jummai Ali died in Abuja on October 29th, 2018 at the age of 53 years old. Hajiya Ali who was the first lady of Kaduna State when her husband served as a military administrator of the state from 1996 to 1998, left behind her husband, Hameed Ali and four children. Born 15 January 1955, the current Customs CG previously served as Military Governor of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998. After retirement, he became secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum – a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 15:22 UTC
Wase gives multi-million naira agricultural tractors, cars, motorcycles, others to constituents
Ahmed Idris Wase has doled out multi-million naira worth of pieces of equipment to his constituents including 4 tractors, 200 sets of Sewing machines, 200 sets of Grinding machines, 152 motorcycles, and 3 Galaxy cars. The Deputy Speaker who handed over the items to his Constituents in Bashar, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State at the weekend, also assured the Electorates of his continued support for the betterment of their lives. Wase said the gesture was part of efforts aimed at appreciating the people for their continued support and job creations to them. “We have given four tractors one each to the four districts that we have in the local government area. Those that got sewing machines, or grinding machines should also use it to earn a good living,” he said.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 14:37 UTC
Kogi state government accuses NCDC of unethical practice
The Kogi state government has said that the Nigeria center for Disease Control, (NCDC) in its desperation to record a Covid-19 case against the state violated its own guidelines and protocol for declaring a case. In a statement by Dr Saka Haruna Audu, Commissioner for Health Kogi State, on Sunday in Lokoja, said even when they claimed that the patient was COVID-19 positive, the patient was yet to be taken to an isolation center till date. He remained with his father in the Hospital running errands going even as far as Suleja, in Niger State. “We also wish to categorically state that though NCDC has consistently refused to support Kogi State in her fight against Covid-19, WHO had been part of our team till date. Though NCDC refused to follow their own protocols on visiting the State, WHO staff who travelled out of our State and returned have always obeyed the rule of self-isolation for 14 days.
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2020 14:26 UTC
My late friend bought guns for me, Bank robber confesses
He, however, pointed out that the deceased man was not aware of the banks’ operations but that he bought the guns for him to be used for other robbery operations and burglary. The deceased Olaoluwa died in the custody of the Inspector General of Police Special Tactical Squad in an incident that has become a subject of investigations to the police. Olatunbosun said “I met Olaoluwa around Queen Cinema area of Ekotedo in Ibadan, where I used to buy gas cooker accessories. We took the guns to our operations.”The suspect confessed that he used the guns to join other groups to the last February robbery in Ile Oluji. He ( Olaoluwa) was not aware of the bank robbery.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 14:15 UTC
Kwara slashes Right of Way for digital connection to N1 per km
Kwara slashes Right of Way for digital connection to N1 per kmGovernor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has directed that Right of Way (RoW) fee for telecommunications firms (telcos) should be slashed from N5,500 per linear metre to N1 per kilometre of fibre — the second-lowest in Nigeria after Kaduna. According to a statement by the state commissioner for Communications, Alhaji Murtala Olanrewaju, on Sunday, the reduction takes immediate effect. “Internet and broadband penetration have been known to have a direct correlation with economic development. “The National Economic Council (NEC) had recently resolved to encourage technological advancement as a way to fast track economic development in Nigeria. Politics determines the economic direction while the economy determines the strength of the polity.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 13:52 UTC
RRS arrests singer, Salawa Abeni’s blackmailer
After a technical diagnosis of the complaint, the Decoy Team narrowed down on the suspect a few days later. Sources close to the team disclosed that the suspect couldn’t be picked because of the prevalence of COVID 19. He added that after downloading the nude photographs of Salawa Abeni on his phone, he picked up her mobile number from her Instagram page. She was even cursing the blackmailer unknown to her that I was the brain behind it. Since then, I never mentioned it to anyone and called Madam Salawa Abeni about it again”, he disclosed.
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2020 13:41 UTC
How 7,276 patients contracted COVID-19 in Nigeria unknown – NCDC
Sodiq OyelekeThe source of contracting coronavirus in 7,276 cases in Nigeria is yet to be known, The PUNCH reports. This was contained in the COVID-19 Situation Report 92 of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control published on Sunday. In the report, it was stated that 62,583 samples have been tested for COVID-19 in Nigeria. “No new state recorded a confirmed COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours. The total number of states including FCT that have reported at least one confirmed case in Nigeria is still 36 (35 states + FCT).
Source:Punch
May 31, 2020 13:18 UTC
COVID-19: Benue Taskforce intercepts tanker with Northern youths, Motorcycles
Benue State Taskforce on COVID-19 on Sunday intercepted an oil tanker with Northern youths and 11 motorcycles found inside it. A member of the committee Bemgba Iortyom said that the tanker was intercepted at the Agan area along Laafia- Makurdi highway. The state COVID-19 member explained that the tanker which was not carrying any consignment of oil was found with 11 motorcycles strapped to its body while seven persons suspected to be known as almajarai were found stowed in its passenger hold. “Officials of the Taskforce, however, reminded him that he was acting in violation of the federal ban on interstate travel by conveying non-essential goods as well as illegal passengers. Iortyom said that the State chairman of the COVID-19 Committee who is also a deputy governor of the state, Benson Abounu thereafter ordered that the tanker and its illegal cargo be turned back to Nasarawa State where it came from.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 12:56 UTC
PDP sweeps LG election in Benue
Chairman, Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Terso Loko on Sunday declared the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State as the winner of the local government election held in the state last Saturday. Loko, while announcing the results said that PDP won in all the 23 local governments and the 276 council wards of the state. The Commission had earlier declared that five political parties would be participating in the election. The parties included; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Labor Party, African Action Congress, Social Democratic Party, SDP and Peoples Democratic Party. Meanwhile, the major opposition All Progressive Congress had on Friday announced that it would not participate in the election.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 12:56 UTC
FG begins 2020 systematic maintenance of all Lagos bridges
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Kayode Popoola, on Sunday said the government had begun “systematic maintenance of all bridges in Lagos’’ to ensure smooth rides and safety. “We have plans for maintenance of all bridges in Lagos state this year, our prayer is that the COVID-19 pandemic should come to an end so that we can swing into action. “There is going to be systematic maintenance, we will change the rubbers of the expansion joints and anyone that the metal is bad. “We say systematic because we cannot take all the bridges at once; for instance, we are to maintain Third Mainland Bridge, Marine Beach Bridge, Eko Bridge, Ijora 7Up Bridge, so, we are taking them one after another, ’’ he said. The controller appealed to Lagos residents to stop indiscriminate disposal of refuse in drains and open manholes to avert flooding.
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2020 12:45 UTC
Why identity of Abia Covid-19 patient was made public, by government
The Commissioner who explained this yesterday (Sunday) via a statement he sent to The Guardian added that doing so was to pictorially confirm he is in medical isolation and no longer constitutes a public health risk". Recall that the said Ononiwu was on Thursday declared wanted for reportedly bolting away from the Isolation facility. But the Commissioner on Saturday morning ( May 30th ) announced that he (Ononiwu) with his wife and other family members submitted selves for isolation and management. "We strongly urge our people to end stigmatization of COVID-19 patients as that act is mostly responsible for the fear to report suspected cases and accept test results. Most importantly, God is faithful to the good people of Abia State and will see us through this trying period and going forward".
Source:The Guardian
May 31, 2020 12:45 UTC
Kogi COVID-19 Saga: Okun Legislators commend Gov Bello
The forum of Okun Legislators at the Kogi State House of Assembly has commended the giant efforts of Governor Yahaya Bello in curtailing the spread of the deadly pandemic in the state. The forum said that the State Government has shown compassion and capacity by its early preparedness through the prompt establishment of COVID-19 State Squadron Chaired by Edward Onoja, Deputy Governor of Kogi State. They said the setting up of a world-class isolation centre with the procurement of WHO standard testing kits and other medical equipment coupled with the aggressive sensitization program geared towards creating awareness on preventive measures against the deadly pandemic by the people are quite laudable. The lawmakers said it is obvious that many members of the family of the index case including his son that has been with him for a long time have tested negative to the virus. Osinbajo Heads Use Of Toilet Campaign CommitteeVice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday inaugurated the Steering Committee of the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign,” which he leads as chairman.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
May 31, 2020 12:33 UTC