The federal government has approved N13.3 billion for the take-off of community policing nationwide.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who presided over the meeting in which the approval was made, said the decision was taken after a report by the adhoc committee on security and policing headed by Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, was submitted to the Council.

Osinbajo further directed  the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and two of his colleagues to meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to coordinate the proper utilisation of the fund.

A statement released by Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande read; 

 “Accordingly, the committee would be meeting further as the need arises to update the council on the progress being made to address insecurity and criminality in the country.

“Council was informed that the president has approved a sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of community policing in the country.

“The VP then asked that a small team comprising the NGF chair, two additional governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police should meet to ensure that the federal government’s funding is well utilised.”

Among the recommendations made to the council was; 

“States and FCT should engage the services of the respected community influencers such as the heads of ‘area boys,’ market women, and villagers in disseminating the same message to the grassroots using different modes/media that are common to such people and could easily attract their attention.”

Source: Hajia R.

The trial of the owner and driver of the truck carrying an unlatched container that fell and crushed two workers of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Chidinma Ajoku, and her colleague, Chima Nnaekpe, and one other person, commenced at the Lagos State High Court on Thursday, August 20.

Chidinma and Chima boarded a commercial bus back home after the close of work on July 26. Sadly, the container on a truck fell on the commercial bus they boarded and crushed them to death. The bus driver also died in the accident.

At the first sitting which was on Thursday August 20, the state Attorney General of Lagos state, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), amended the charges against the two defendants to 7 counts as against the earlier 3 counts filed against them. In the amended charge, the truck owner and the driver are facing 6 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of liability for the safety of vehicles which caused the deaths of Chidinma Ajoku, Nnaekpe Victor, and Daniel Okwuoge.

Onigbanjo called the first prosecution witness, a Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) officer, Hamed Baruwa, who told the court that investigations conducted by his team showed that the truck which caused the accident had no roadworthiness.

”Following directives from my boss, Akin George Fashola, I proceeded on August 6, to Ilasamaja Police station, where I met DSP Oluwasola Omololu and he took me to the place they parked the vehicle at Balex Bus stop.

When I got there with my team, I saw the Volkswagen commercial bus that had been compressed because of the container that fell on it.

I asked for the truck and the DSP took me to the place where it is parked. It was a 20 feet container. I noticed that the truck is not road worthy, the front and back fender were not there, the rear lights and backlights were not there, and the shaft of the vehicle had pulled out” Baruwa stated.

The witness said he then went back to the scene of the accident to take a look at the road. He found out that the road has no pothole inward Mile 2. After his investigations, he took photographs of his observations. When he got back to his office, the Vehicle Inspection Officer said he logged the registration number of the truck, SGM 715 XA, into their detective machine database and discovered that the vehicle license had expired since 2018.

One of the counts against the defendants reads

“Sodiq Okanlawon, on July 26, at about 4: 30pm, at Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Ilasamaja, did drive his articulated vehicle with reg no. SGM 715 XA, recklessly without latching the container thereon and caused the container to fall and caused the deaths of Nnaekpe Victor, Chidinma Ajoku and Daniel Okwuoge.”

Another count states that Wasiu Lekan, failed, neglected and refused to ensure that his articulated vehicle with reg no. SGM 715 XA, was roadworthy, which caused the death of the three persons.

The two defendants were also accused of liability for the safety of vehicles, by failing to obtain valid vehicle license, hackney permit and insurance certificate of their vehicle, in conformity with the conditions and standard of commercial vehicles in Lagos State.

The driver and owner of the container pleaded not guilty to all 7 counts.

The presiding judge, Justice Mobolanle Okikiolu-Ighile, adjourned the case till August 26, for the continuation of trial.

Source: Murtala D.

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the death of three soldiers in a clash with insurgents in Kukawa town of Borno State.

Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche disclosed that 8 terrorists were killed in the clash which also left two other soldiers injured.

Eneche maintained that the attack by the terrorists was a deliberate attempt to reverse the milestone achievements recorded regarding IDPs in the areas of peace-building, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement efforts by the Borno state government, and further affirmed that the situation in Kukawa was calm with troops in full control.

The statement read; 

“During the incident, eight Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised and unconfirmed number escaped with gun shots wounds. “Unfortunately, three soldiers were fatally wounded and later gave up the ghost at the military medical reception station at kukawa military location. 

“The Nigerian Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that there is no going back in its struggle to see to the rebuilding and resettlement efforts for the displaced people.

“The futile attempt by the terrorists to thwart it only spurred the gallant troops for more decisive action”

The Defence Spokesperson asked residents of Kukawa to go about their normal lawful businesses without any hindrance and also enjoined them to always avail the troops and other security agencies of credible information about the terrorists and any suspicious persons accordingly.

Source: Murtala D.

The Nigerian embassy in Canada has been shut down following an attack launched against its staff. 

The comission in a statement shared on its official website, said it had devised a system in which citizens with emergency cases were attended to strictly by appointment that allowed a limited number of people into the chancery at a time, in compliance with the laid-down rules of physical distancing.

Recounting how a female staff member was allegedly held hostage and subjected to physical abuse, the commission accused citizens of showing up without an appointment, acting in an unruly manner and disturbing the peace at the chancery.

The statement read; 

THE HIGH COMMISSION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN CANADA WISHES TO INFORM NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES IN CANADA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE MISSION REMAINS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THE SPECIAL INTERVENTION ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY EMERGENCY CASES WERE BEING HANDLED ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS IS HEREBY SUSPENDED.

WE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING PERTINENT FACTS:

1. DIRECTIVES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA AND PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO INFORMED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, INDICATED A NEED TO CLOSE THE MISSION TO THE PUBLIC AND WORK FROM HOME WHICH IS HOW MANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE PRESENTLY OPERATING.

2. THE MISSION REALIZED THAT A NUMBER OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE COMPELLING PASSPORT RENEWAL REQUESTS AND WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST SUCH INDIVIDUALS IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

3. WE DEVISED A SYSTEM IN WHICH CITIZENS WITH EMERGENCY CASES WERE BEING ATTENDED TO STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ON DESIGNATED DAYS OF THE WEEK. THIS ENABLED US TO ADMIT A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE INTO THE CHANCERY AT A TIME AND OBSERVE THE LAID DOWN RULES OF PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

4. OUR CITIZENS FOR SOME REASON CHOSE TO ABUSE THIS SYSTEM, THEY WOULD SHOW UP AT THE CHANCERY WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND INSIST ON BEING ATTENDED TO EVEN ON DAYS WHEN WE WERE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL.

5. ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS PEOPLE SEEKING PASSPORT RENEWAL CAME TO THE CHANCERY WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT AND ACTED IN A MOST UNRULY MANNER, DISTURBING THE PEACE AND ACTING IN AN ABUSIVE MANNER, BANGING WINDOWS ETC.

6. MATTERS CAME TO A HEAD ON FRIDAY AUGUST 14, 2020 WHEN A GROUP SHOWED UP AT THE HIGH COMMISSION AND REFUSED TO ALLOW THE EMBASSY STAFF MEMBERS TO ATTEND TO THOSE WHO HAD APPOINTMENTS. THEY INSISTED THAT WE HAD TO ATTEND TO EVERYBODY WHO SHOWED UP. THEY WENT AS FAR AS HOLDING A FEMALE STAFF MEMBER WHO WENT TO ADDRESS THEM HOSTAGE FOR OVER TWENTY MINUTES AND SUBJECTED HER TO PHYSICAL ABUSE.

7. THIS KIND OF CONDUCT IS CONSIDERED UNNECESSARILY HOSTILE AND TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND NO EMBASSY WOULD TOLERATE CONDUCT THAT PUTS THE LIVES OF ITS STAFF MEMBERS AT RISK.

8. WE ARE CLOSING DOWN THE EMBASSY AND WE SHALL BE CONSIDERING WAYS TO MAKE OUR PREMISES MORE SECURE AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO UNRULY BEHAVIOUR AND VIOLENT MOB ACTION.

9. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE AIR SPACE OUR ABILITY TO BRING MUCH NEEDED PASSPORT BOOKLETS INTO THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN IMPAIRED. THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WE INTEND TO FOCUS ON.

10. OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH IMMIGRATION REFUGEES AND CITIZENSHIP CANADA HAS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING CONCERNING INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO RENEW WORK AND STUDY PERMITS:

a. APPLICATIONS FOR RENEWALS SHOULD BE MADE ONLINE

b. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME APPLICANTS WOULD BE ASKED TO SUBMIT APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION

c. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALID PASSPORT WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU MAY ASK FOR A 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD WHICH WOULD BE GRANTED

d. NIGERIAN CITIZENS WHOSE STUDY OR WORK PERMITS HAVE EXPIRED SINCE MARCH 2020 AND WHO DO NOT HAVE A VALID PASSPORT HAVE A GRACE PERIOD THAT LASTS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST 2020. BY THIS TIME WE EXPECT TO HAVE RESOLVED SOME OF THE CHALLENGING ISSUES THAT COVID-19 HAS CREATED.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE IRCC WEBSITE (LINK BELOW) FOR PERIODIC UPDATES:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for international students

PLEASE NOTE THAT ANYONE WHO SHOWS UP IN PERSON TO THE HIGH COMMISSION WOULD NOT BE ATTENDED TO, AS WE ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AT THIS TIME.

Source: Murtala D.

Suspected Boko Haram members have attacked Magumeri community in Borno State, destroying the only functional telecommunications mast, a hospital recently equipped by the Borno State Government and other facilities.

According to reports, the insurgents invaded the community at about 4pm on Monday, August 17, shooting sporadically. The military airstrike engaged the sect members in a gun battle but it did not deter the sect members who destroyed anything in sight. A woman was reportedly killed in the crossfire while several other persons sustained injuries.

Magumer which has witnessed a series of Boko Haram attacks, is about 40km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital.

See more photos from the attack below

Source: Murtala D.

Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello has disclosed that the Chinese mining company operating in the nation’s capital has no lease to mine gold. 

In a meeting with the minister of water resources Suleiman Adamu on Tuesday August 18, Bello who confirmed that Hongao Mining Company Limited acted against Nigeria’s mining policy also disclosed that they polluted the only water source for at least six communities in Karshi area of the FCT. 

A physio-chemical analysis carried out on the stream by the FCT water board, revealed that the water had high levels of turbidity, nitrate and iron and may need further treatment. 

In a statement released by spokesman of the ministry of water resources Kenechukwu Offie, Bello was quoted saying; 

 “The company undertaking the mining activities in Kutasa Community was not granted lease to mine gold in that Community”.

It was further gathered that Adamu has directed officials of the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) to investigate the matter. 

The statement added; 

“The outcome of the investigation revealed that ‘Gold’ mining activities was taking place in that Community. 

“Engr. Adamu said that the report from Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission indicated ‘a red flag’ to us that must not be allowed to fly further.

“Engr. Adamu, therefore, reiterated that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, will not allow the experience of Niger State where people died of lead poisoning to repeat itself in FCT.

“The FCT Minister corroborated the Hon. Minister of Water Resources’s position that their various reports would need to be harmonised into a working document before they take up the matter with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development.”

Source: Murtala D.

Some Ghanaian policemen have been spotted in a viral video harassing and forcefully shutting a shop belonging to a Nigerian businessman in Accra, capital of the West African country. 

The Nigerian businessman who challenged the officials clearly stated that he has paid both his company tax and all other necessary fees even before registering his business. He went ahead to show off the documents which backed his claim and also asked the policemen to provide evidence of non-payment of tax by him.

The businessman who criticized the policemen for treating their fellow Africans so unfairly, said he is being harassed over the non-payment of $1 million as tax to the Ghanian government.

In the video obtained by PR Nigeria, he was heard saying; 

“I have been doing business in Ghana since 2007, and I have not defaulted in paying my tax. I have the necessary papers to back up my claim. You guys are only closing our shops because of the $1 million you ask us to pay. Where do you want us to get the $1 million”.

This is coming after the president of Nigerian Traders Union in Ghana, Chukwuemeka Nnaji decried the closure of shops owned by Nigerians by Ghanaian authorities. 

Asides revealing that Ghanaian authorities demanded cash payment of one million dollars for their shops to be reopened, it was further learnt that they were asked to employ a minimum of 25 skilled Ghanaian workers and must not trade in commodities that Ghanaian traders have applied to trade in. 

Source: Kingsley Uzoka

King of Bahrain arrived Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, with his eight-foot Robot Bodyguard known as Titan.

Robot Titan, it was gathered, can speak 6 languages. It can also sing and dance and entertain its audience.

It can rescue the king literally carry him from mobs and can also physically fight, chase, shoot.

Titan is armed with an electric teaser, an undisclosed 360 degrees camera system secondary to a set of infrared cameras.

It also has three hidden machine guns with enough ammunition to fight 1050 men and a laser guided sniper machine gun. Related Posts

The Robot, which cost about US$7.4 million, also carries the medications and water.

See video here:

Source: Jide N.