ACRJ Bombardier aircraft in the fleet of ValueJets Airlines yesterday slipped on the taxiway after it landed safely and was cleared off the runway of the Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State.
According to the carrier, the minor incident was due to the aircraft encountering a slip due to algae on the taxiway.
This made it difficult for the aircraft to stay in the centre lane of the facility while taxiing.
Algae in the aviation industry are patches of weeds on the runway.
A statement by the airline said the pilot of the aircraft, Captain Stanley Balami, reported that the incident occurred around 3.30 p.m at the international wing of the airport.
No damage was done to the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BXR, and passengers on board expressed gratitude to the pilot for landing safely.
The carrier said: “ValueJet remains a safe airline and all the airline’s operations are normal without glitch.”
Accident investigation and regulatory authorities are yet to comment on the incident.
At the weekend, an Aero Contractors Boeing 737 had its nose wheel stuck in the grass after landing on the runway of the Abuja Airport.
The aircraft’s fuselage blocked the runway of Abuja Airport, forcing the authorities to temporarily shut down the facilities.
The development affected many airline operators, forcing them to divert flights into other airports.
A few weeks ago, an HS125 aircraft belonging to Flint Aero with the Minister of Power and other passengers on board crashed-landed at the Ibadan Airport.
The accident was attributed to poor landing and air navigation facilities, including non- functional Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Ibadan Airport.
Besides Aero Contractors aircraft, which lost its nose wheel on the runway of Abuja Airport, an Embraer 145 aircraft belonging to United Nigeria Airlines on September 8, 2023 overshot the 18 Left runway of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) in Lagos by over 200 metres.
Though no harm befell the passengers and crew members on board, personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aerodrome Fire Fighting and Safety Rescue Unit evacuated them from the aircraft.
The Embraer jet NUA 0518 flight was from Owerri into Lagos Airport.
Sources at the airport confirmed that the overshooting of the aircraft may have been occasioned by the downpour, which, in aviation parlance, is described as aquaplaning or hydroplaning.
But experts in the sector have expressed worry over the spate of minor and major incidents involving local carriers.
They say the pattern of aircraft either overshooting or skidding off runway is becoming alarming.
Strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have destroyed six illegal refining sites and five Cotonou boats at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri in Rivers State.
The strikes were parts of efforts by the military’s efforts to combat oil theft and checkmate the activities of economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta.
NAF’s spokesperson Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
He said the strikes were carried out on Sunday after the NAF received intelligence about the presence of three Illegal Refining Sites (IRS) and two Cotonou boats siphoning crude oil from the pipelines at Cawthorne Channel and Alakri
Gabkwet said: “Similar strikes were also carried out at Krakama in Rivers State, on the same day, on three Cotonou boats sighted conveying suspected illegal refined products. “NAF aircraft equally struck some sites at Dariama village in Rivers State, following intelligence report of illegal refining activities near the location. On arrival, three IRS with tanks, pipes and pumping machines as well as Cotonou Boats loaded with suspected illegally refined products were sighted, engaged and subsequently destroyed.”
According to the NAF’s spokesperson, the intensified air operations were proactive measures to safeguard the economic interests of the nation and deter criminals involved in oil theft.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliates yesterday made good their threat to embark on an indefinite nationwide industrial action to protest the brutalisation of NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State. This was after they called the bluff of the National Industrial Court (NIC) which restrained them from going ahead with the strike. Our Correspondents, who monitored compliance in all the states, report that there was partial observance of the directive to stay off work.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), including their affiliates, yesterday commenced a nationwide industrial action to protest the manhandling of the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by hoodlums in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on November 1.
Although, the strike action by organised labour came despite a restraining order by the National Industrial Court (NIC), there was partial compliance across the country.
The Nation correspondents, who moved round the country to monitor compliance to the nationwide strike, reported mixed a compliance rate by workers and residents in some states.
For instance, while some of them shunned the strike and went about their normal social and economic activities, others complied with the NLC and TUC directive.
For instance, while there was partial compliance by workers in Lagos State, the compliance was total in Adamawa State; the strike also paralyzed commercial and office activities in Edo State.
In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, checks by The Nation showed there was partial compliance as workers joined the strike on Tuesday.
For instance, members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) shut down the Tin-Can Island Port, Apapa, in compliance with the strike action.
The MWUN protesters, led by their President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, were seen at the Apapa Port and later at Tin-Can Port, with a large number of workers monitoring compliance to the NLC’S directive
However, the maritime workers’ grouse was not so much the brutalization of the NLC President, Ajaero.
Instead, they told The Nation, that the Federal Government’s continued refusal to implement agreements, non-payment of backlog of salaries, pensions, discriminatory payment of salaries and non-compliance to national minimum wage were responsible for the strike action.
This was contained in a statement issued by the head of Media, MWUN, Comrade John Ikemefuna.
Based on this, Port workers prevented operators and users from accessing the port facilities, thereby disrupting economic and commercial activities at the ports.
Findings also revealed that workers at the first deep seaport in the country joined the strike action directed by labour unions. The gates leading to the headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Marina, Lagos, were also under ock and key by the unionists. Port users were seen loitering around the ports and there was heavy presence of police officers.
However, business activities at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were not affected. Members of staff of the agency were in the office to carry out their official responsibilities.
No cargo-laden truck was seen either going into the ports or exiting the ports in Lagos. Visits by The Nation to ascertain the level of compliance with the directive also showed that some banks in Lagos were open for normal business operations.
Also, the industrial action order did not have a major effect at the Lagos State Secretariat where workers were seen going about their regular businesses.
Schools in Egbeda, Mushin, Ikotun, Ikeja, Agege, and Ketu, among others, carried out their academic exercises.
NLC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Lagos chapter, Adejumo Ismail, who spoke to The Nation on the development, admitted that the partial compliance was as a result of ‘late notice’.
According to him, there has been ‘substantial’ compliance with the strike directive so far. Ismail, however, assured of full compliance in the state on Wednesday, based on the ‘level of mobilisation and sensitisation’ of their members.
“We have been to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Radio Lagos, Eko FM, Alausa Secretariat, Coca Cola, Airport Hotel, Cadbury, along Jakande Agidingbi.
“We’ve monitored so many areas today. Some of our officers at Victoria Island are complying substantially. All the government agencies there are shut down, under lock and key.
“The teachers have joined today, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) too have joined. All the unions in the tertiary institutions have joined in solidarity.
“Banks, you know they are into two unions, they have their CP and NUBIFIE. But the two leaderships have already complied with us to join the action.
“Due to the late notice, they have all agreed that tomorrow (i.e. today) they will be at home in compliance with the directive,” Ismail said.
Business as usual in National Assembly, Abuja
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria on Tuesday blocked entrance into the National Assembly (NASS) in compliance with the NLC directive.
Both the main gate and the Annex gate into the NASS were locked by officials of the Union, making it difficult for workers who came to work to access their complex.
However, legislative activities went on unhindered in the House of Representatives while all scheduled committee meetings went on as planned.
The National Assembly was its usual self by midday, which was a clear indication that the gates were later thrown open, even as the Union leaders vowed to shut all gates leading to the complex by 4.00am on Wednesday.
Lawmakers and management staff were forced to use the gate leading to the Presidential Villa to access the complex.
But members of staff who came to work complained of not being informed by the leadership of the Union about the strike only to come to work and be told that they cannot gain access because of the strike.
The situation led to massive traffic jams around the entrances as people who were driving were forced to park outside and walk into the complex.
However legislative activities carried on as usual as the House of Representatives led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas unveiled the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House, while plenary followed soon after.
Partial compliance in Ondo, Ogun
Organised labour in Ondo State joined the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike. A press statement jointly signed by NLC Chairman, Comade victor Amoko and the TUC Chairman, Comrade Clement Fatuase, urged workers in the state to comply with the strike directive appropriately.
Ondo Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Ademola Olapade, said the strike was basically on the attack on the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero, and non-implementation of some agreements reached with the Federal Government in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal.
The statement, however, said Ondo organised labour was not against the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, but to protest against impunity in the country. It called on all affiliate executives to ensure strict compliance with the directive of the national body until the matter was resolved.
However, Monday’s strike action was partially successful in Ondo. State Government employees reported for duties even as bank workers were at their duty post. Public schools were opened for academic activities. Some pupils were later asked to go home.
It was also partial compliance in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Public secondary and primary schools in the state opened for learning and teaching on Tuesday. However, activities were totally shut down at the courts in the state.
Checks by The Nation at Abeokuta Grammar School Idi – Aba, Kuti Memorial School, Isabo, and few others in Abeokuta, revealed the teachers and learners were in their various classrooms for morning lessons.
The Ogun State chairman of TUC, Akeem Lasisi, told The Nation that the directive given was that there should be compliance by all, but stressed that instruction would soon be passed to the affected schools to comply.
However, activities at State Judiciary were completely paralysed on Tuesday as the judiciary workers locked the gates to the courts in compliance with the NLC and TUC directive.
A lady stenographer/typist whose stand is located beside the Isabo Magistrate Court complained that the strike had affected her daily business and that of her colleagues.
The lady, who does not want her name in print, said nobody has brought affidavit materials to her for typing since morning as no judicial worker was on duty to process and stamp them after the typing.
“The strike is punishing us, no business today and I pray it does not last. We don’t even understand why the people are on strike,” she said.
Low compliance in Ibadan
Normal activities went on in most parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday despite the call for strike by the two labour unions.
The State secretariat was opened for activities. Aside from workers who reported for duties, those who have business dealings within the Secretariat complex were also seen going about their normal activities.
Most offices remain open as workers and members of staff were seen at their duty posts across various ministries and departments.
But the State Assembly Complex remained shut. Parliamentary workers in the state have been on strike which has entered its third week.
The workers were sighted sitting under a canopy in front of the Assembly complex gate which had remained the meeting points of the workers in the last few weeks.
Most Federal Government organisations, ministries and parastatals in the state also opened for business activities.
The main entrance gate of the University College Hospital (UCH) was opened but the second gate was not. Medical officers were also seen attending to ptients.
The Federal Secretariat was also opened with activities ongoing at all the departments and agencies housed at the Secretariat, Ikolaba.
Convocation activities also went on the University of Ibadan but lecturers were not seen taking classes. Most offices were under lock and keys. Banks were also busy with operations across the capital city.
Workers shun strike in Enugu; compliance in Anambra
The call for withdrawal of services by the NLC and TUC was defied by all government workers and commercial banks in Enugu, on Tuesday.
Our correspondent, who went round the metropolis, observed that banks were rendering services to their customers.
It was also observed that workers of all government agencies, schools and the judiciary came to work early in the morning and continued till normal dismissal time.
At the government revenue office along Zik Avenue, Enugu, our correspondent observed that workers were in their various offices while a bank along Agbani Road was also rendering services to its customers.
Similarly, both private and government schools also failed to observe the strike as teachers were seen teaching their students and pupils.
A civil servant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the leadership of both NLC and TUC over the non- compliance, saying they failed to act when the ovation was high.
It was also observed that there were heavy vehicular activities in the major roads while the markets were opened for businesses.
However, Chairman, NLC, Anambra State, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, said workers in the State had already joined the strike as directed by the national body. He said defaulters of the directives would be dealt with accordingly.
“We’ve joined the strike. We’ve directed our members to stay away from their offices and work places till further notice.
“There won’t be any street protests. We’re only withdrawing our services as directed by the national body,” he said.
When contacted, Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Aburime, promised to react later when a text message was sent to him. But five hours later he was called, his phone rang out, neither did he return the calls.
Flip-flop in Kwara
The nationwide strike started on a flip-flop note in Kwara State. Pupils of public schools reported in the morning in their respective schools for the business of the day only to be told to go back to their houses.
It was gathered that their teachers in the state had joined the strike. It was also observed that some Federal workers as at the time of filing this report had not joined the action.
A staff of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CPC) told our correspondent that the commission workers had not joined the strike.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Steel Development, Zainab Gimba, yesterday frowned at the poor account submissions by the ministry and agencies under the committee’s purview.
Speaking during this year’s budget appraisal meeting with the Ministry of Steel Development and related agencies, the committee chairperson chided the agencies for failing to present their submissions.
She said the perusal of the documents the ministry and agencies submitted showed that there was a basic and vital omission of a common factor of failure to obtain valid bank statements from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to produce standard bank reconciliation statements.
“This omission calls for a credibility question on the resultant financial statements from such a weak accounting system…”
Efficient accounting system and effective internal control system are comforts that ensure compliance to laws, rules, regulations and standard that support discharge of quality oversight function. We shall maintain uncompromising guidance towards achieving results. This is the essence of oversight in parliamentary representation.
“It may interest you to note that it has been observed that the ministry and agencies are obscured to have access to bank transactions, activity on the IPPIS platform.
“Notwithstanding, there is access to GIFMIS transactions listing, which is a database managed by Accountant General and it’s not the bank statement. Bank statements should come from the database managed by CBN. The GIFMIS transaction listing doesn’t suffice as a bank statement.
“The required bank statement should be a complete ledger in columnar format, showing transaction dates, descriptions, particularly debit, credit and balance.
“It is obvious there exists a knowledge gap concerning proper understanding of the digital accounting environment and processes. Hence, you could operate comfortably without having access to your bank statement to execute periodic bank reconciliation statements,” Gimba said.
The former vice president raised the alarm when he hosted the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) in Abuja.
He urged opposition parties to rise to the challenges of democratic survival
Atiku said: “You have come here today to say that we should cooperate to promote democracy.
“But the truth of the matter is that our democracy is fast becoming a one-party system; and, of course, you know that when we have a one party system, we should just forget about democracy.”
Atiku charged IPAC, led by its national president, Yabagi Sani, to ensure the unity of opposition parties and create a more formidable front that will unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
He said: “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn.”
Atiku chided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting the worst ever general election in the country.
He said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission conducted the worst general election in the country.
“Recently again in the off-season election in three states, INEC doubled down on its disregard for the tenets of our democracy.
“We all can see how INEC declared a result in Kogi State where the total number of votes cast is higher than the total number of accredited voters in one local government.
“We cannot have a healthy democracy in an environment where all INEC does is to deliver the ruling party at all cost.
“Until our elections pass the test of transparency through electronic voting, it will be difficult for INEC to regain its credibility, and our democracy will be the first casualty of such a situation.”
Sani said the group had come to pay courtesy visit to Atiku because the former Vice President is a true democrat and a political leader who treads the path of detribalisation and politics without violence.
He said despite the shortcomings associated with elections, democracy remains the best form of government.
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole has explained what accounted for the re-election of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma in the November 11 off-cycle election.
He said the performance of the governor endeared him to the hearts of the electorate who returned at the poll.
“The people chose based on the performance of the governor in the last four years,” Oshiomhole told State House reporters in Abuja yesterday after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to him, most analysis of how the people made choices in the inner recesses of the states, especially in the media, were based on wrong indices, which did not represent the realities of the voters across the states.
Oshiomhole said: “Particularly for Imo State, there have been a lot of forces working to undermine security in the state, and they’ve resorted to measures that are adding tension in Imo and some people even want to plunge the state into darkness, believing that when it is dark, the people cannot vote.
“But, my take away from the Imo election is that these forgotten majority of people who are voiceless, who can’t even have access to you, have the power of the ballot.
“That it is not what sponsored commentators say on television or sponsored writers write in newspapers that will inform their judgment, their judgments will be formed by what they have seen the governor doing, and those aspect of what the governor is doing that touch them.
“For example, when the governor constructs a road to the village, a village that was not accessible before and you tell those villagers that the governor is bad. They’ll say ‘he may be bad for you o, but he’s good for me’.
“When I saw the governor commissioning a very modern hospital in a remote area and you go on television to say ‘that Governor Hope is a bad man,’they’ll say ‘he’s bad to you, but he gave us hospital. We are going to give him our votes’.
“For me, that is the beauty of democracy and it also put on notice, commentators that they shouldn’t sit in the comfort of state capitals and comment almost with managerial confidence about the goings on in the state when they have never even visited that state.
“The worst mistake you can make is to rely on sampling people in Abuja whom we call ward 17. They don’t exist in the states but they are very vocal. They are the ones you will find being hosted by TV anchors, but those voiceless guys, they are potent.
“They are actually the ones that vote, while the commentators asking whether people have started fighting? I think that what has happened in Imo shows that this democracy cannot be arrested by urban elites.”
The Super Eagles camp in Uyo has taken shape as all the 23 invited players have all landed in Uyo ahead of tomorrow’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Crocodiles of Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi, Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Joe Aribo and Bright Osayi Samuel were among the last batch of players received at the Victor Attah International Airport by members of the Akwa Ibom State Football Normalization Committee and taken to the team’s camp at Four Point by Sheraton Hotel in Ikot Ekpene.
The new arrivals completed the list of the 23 players invited for the double header against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in Rwanda on Sunday.
Others in the camp are Bendel Insurance goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie who was drafted in to replace Maduka Okoye who opted out of the upcoming international fixtures.
The team had their first training session yesterday at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Meanwhile, A 33-man Crocodiles of Lesotho contingent , making up of 23 players and nine officials, have arrived Uyo ahead of tomorrow’s tie against the Super Eagles.
The team handled by Coach Leslie Notsi was received by members of the Akwa Ibom State Football Normalization Committee at the Victor Attah International Airport and taken to their Ibom Hotel and Resorts camp.
The encounter against Lesotho will take place on the main turf of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo tomorrow by 5pm.
Five-time winner and Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and four other members of the national women’s team, have been shortlisted among 30 players listed for the preliminary nominees of the CAF Female Player of the Year by the continental football ruling body.
CAF yesterday unveiled the preliminary nominees for the various women’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023 with Barcelona striker Oshoala, Atletico Madrid’s Ajibade and Paris FC goalie Nnadozie making the cut.
Other Super Falcons players that made the list of nominees include Christy Ucheibe (Benfica), Osinachi Ohale (Alaves/Pachuca), Toni Payne (Sevilla) and Uchenna Kanu (Tigres/Racing Louisville).
Also, Falconets’ stars Deborah Abiodun (Pittsburg Panthers) and Esther Opeyemi Ajakaye (Delta Queens) have been listed among the 10 nominees for the Young Player of the Year.
Super Falcons’ coach Randy Waldrum has been nominated for the coach of the year while Nigeria’s Super Falcons was also nominated for the National Team of the Year.
A distinguished panel made up of CAF Technical Experts, Legends, and selected media representatives selected the nominees, taking into consideration their performances at all levels from December 2022 to November 2023.
Just as in the men’s category, the best women’s goalkeeper will be rewarded for the first time to celebrate the heroic efforts of the shot-stoppers and Super Falcons’ Nnadozie topping the list of the 10 players nominated for the first-ever CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
In the other categories, 30 players will vie for the prestigious Player of the Year, which Nigeria’s Oshoala claimed for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday told the Senate that lack of patronage for its auctioned frequencies was responsible for its failure to meet this year’s revenue target.
The commission’s Director of Financial Services, Yakubu Gontor, said this when he appeared before the Joint Senate Committee perusing the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) submitted to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Finance.
Gontor said as at September, the commission had earned N199.8 billion out of its N387.4 billion revenue projection for 2023.
The financial director explained that two frequencies, 600 megahertz (MHz) and 35 megahertz (MHz) were made available for auction but there was no patronage for any of them.
He said the development significantly affected the revenue generation drive of the commission this year.
Gontor said: “Our revenue projection from spectrum fee was N387.4 billion. But we ended up earning N199.8 billion as at September 2023, which is a significant difference from the projected revenue.
“We hope to earn more between now and in December. But we may not be able to meet the budgetary projection.
“This is because frequencies are usually sold through auctions and there are some frequencies that were earmarked for auction during the year.
“However, the auction did not attract the expected patronage. Those frequencies had been reserved for subsequent auctions.”
Also, the Senate Joint Committee yesterday threatened to introduce a Bill to fully privatise the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) for optimal performances.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance who also chaired the MTEF-FSP joint panel, Sani Musa, stated this when the Postmaster General of the Federation, Tola Odeyemi, appeared before the joint panel to defend her agency’s budget proposal for next year.
Odeyemi apparently angered the senators when she said her agency projected N18 billion as personnel cost for its 16,000 workers across the country.
Musa wondered why NIPOST, whose presence could hardly be felt anywhere in the country, could increase its personnel cost from N13 billion in 2023 to N18 billion for 2024.
The explanation of the Postmaster General that the increment was as a result of the recent hike in personnel cost by Federal Government to its workers did not assuage the mood of the panel chairman.
A member of the joint panel, Ireti Kingibe, attempted to defend the continued existence of NIPOST as a partially funded agency of the Federal Government, claiming that every nation deserves their own vibrant postal agency.
But another member of the panel, Osita Izunaso, disagreed with Kingibe’s submission.
Ruling on the matter, Musa asked the NIPOST boss to forward to the committee details of her business plan to reposition the agency to a vibrant revenue-generating agency.
He said: “NIPOST should have been fully privatised before now because nobody is feeling its impact anywhere in the country.
“We are ready to recommend to the Senate in plenary full privatisation of the NIPOST except the Postmaster General convinces us otherwise.
“The CEO of NIPOST should forward to the secretariat of our committee details of her business model on how the agency would be generating adequate revenues for the country through creative ideas.
“Failure to do this would leave the Senate with no other option than to recommend the full privatisation of NIPOST.”
The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), an initiative of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N427,250,000 to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen heroes of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The financial support was shared at N250,000 to each of the affected families.
The support is part of the social investment programme of the RHI, which has been designed to advance the welfare of vulnerable groups in the country.
Presenting the relief package to the beneficiaries drawn from across the country, the First Lady said the path of the widows of gallant soldiers must have been filled with uncertainties.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by her spokesperson Busola Kukoyi said Senator Tinubu noted that the sacrifices of the fallen breadwinners must be rewarded with adequate welfare.
Expressing hope that the intervention would offer some measure of relief to the beneficiaries, the First Lady urged other stakeholders to also lend a helping hand to the dependents of fallen soldiers.
“Under the Social Investment Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), we are here to empower 1,709 widows with N250,000 each. This will enable you to recapitalise an existing business or start a business of your choice to enable you care for your families.
“We recognise that widows are not victims; they are survivors. You have shown extraordinary courage in the face of adversity, and we are here to offer a helping hand as you chart a new path forward. Some of you have been widows for some time while some of you have just been widowed. We hope that the older widows will give emotional support to the younger ones,” she said.
In a goodwill message, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, expressed appreciation to Senator Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Initiative for the kind gesture.
He said it showed that the First Lady prioritised the welfare of widows.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Danladi Salisu, the CDS noted that the financial support had brought renewed hope to the families of the fallen heroes, which would consequently boost the morale of serving members of the Armed Forces.
President of Defence and Police Officers Wives Association and wife of the CDS, Oghogho Musa, who received the donation on behalf of the beneficiaries, described the gesture as a much-needed relief for the affected families.
Beneficiaries were drawn from the Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), the Nigerian Navy Officers Wives Association (NOWA), the Nigerian Navy Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) and the Defence Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA).
