The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kogi State

  • Gunmen abduct saw millers in Ondo, demand N5m ransom

    Residents of Akunu in Akoko Northeast local government of Ondo state were in confusion on Tuesday as two prominent saw millers who have their factories at Ikakumo-Akoko were reportedly abducted by gunmen between Akunu and Ayere in kogi state.

    According to eyewitnesses,Mrs kudi Obayan and Engr Bello Micheal, the victims were three in a Honda Accord car they were travelling when the gunmen waylaid them and took two of the occupants to the bush.

    The other one was said to have been spared in order to report the development to their families for ransom.

    A farmer who was working in his farm during the abduction said he heard the booming of guns along the road in their attempt to seize the two victims.

    It was learnt their vehicle was abandoned on the road, while the third person with the victims narrated his ordeal.

    Police in Akunu said the spot where the kidnappers struck fell within Kogi state territory.

    Soldiers at the military checkpoint in the vicinity, vigilantes and local hunters combed the forest to arrest the gunmen and rescue the victims.

    The kidnappers according to a source, have demanded N5m as ransom for the release of their captives.

    It would be recalled that two persons travelling along Ayere Akunu-Auga-Ise road were kidnapped within the last one week.

    Residents urged the police to increase security network in all border towns of Ondo state.

  • 2019: INEC concludes distribution of sensitive materials in Kogi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Lokoja, Kogi, says it has concluded the distribution of sensitive materials for the Presidential and National Assembly elections to all the 21 local government areas of the state.

    The Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the Office, Alhaji Ahmed Biambo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lokoja that the distribution of the materials started at about 2 p.m. on Feb. 14 and ended in the early hours of Friday.

    He said that the materials had safely reached the various local government headquarters from where they would be distributed to the 239 wards in the state.

    Read Also: 1. 7 million PVCs collected in Taraba – INEC

    Biambo said that the problem of mixed up and shortage of some materials identified in the course of the distribution had been resolved, saying that all categories of electoral officers had also been dispatched to the various duty posts

    He expressed the commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair and credible elections and urged the electorate to come out and vote for candidates of their choice, announcing that “there are 1,646,350 registered voters in the state.”

    Meanwhile, Lokoja, the state capital has virtually become empty as many residents, including workers in private and public sectors left the city for their various communities to go and participate in the Feb. 16 elections.

    A NAN correspondent observed that many motor parks in the city were flooded by travellers, who board vehicles to their various destinations.

    Nigerians will go to the polls on Saturday to vote in the Presidential, House of Representatives and Senate elections.

    NAN

  • Why Osinbajo’s chopper crash-landed, by AIB report

    THE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released the report of the helicopter crash involving Agusta Westland W 139 Caverton Helicopters, which flew Vice President to Kabba in Kogi State.

    It attributed the February 2, 2019, crash of the chopper marked with registration number 5N – CML to effects of a brownout generated during its landing in a dry dusty environment.

    It said Caverton should have carried out risk assessment test at the Kaaba Stadium before the flight.

    Read also: Fears over Obasanjo’s link with foreign poll observers

    Brown out in aviation parlance means a condition generated during landing in a sandy and dusty environment.

    The chopper accident operated by Caverton Helicopter occurred at Kaaba Stadium in Kogi State. It flew Osinbajo, his entourage and three crew members.

    The chopper was manufactured in 2012.

    AIB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru , at a media briefing at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, said though the investigation into the crash is ongoing, it has , however, issued two safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the operator, Caverton Helicopters Limited.

    Olateru said the NCAA should issue advisory circular to helicopter operators on the effects of brown out and how to mitigate its effects.

    The second safety recommendation, Olateru said, is for Caverton Helicopters to carry out proper risk analysis and assessment before operating flights into unapproved landing pad.

    He said the final report on the accident will be released in few months.

  • Osinbajo: Landing in dusty environment caused chopper’s crash – AIB

    ……Attributes crash to effects of landing in dusty environment

     

    The Accident Investigation Bureau ( AIB ) on Wednesday released the report of the helicopter crash involving Agusta Westland W 139 Caverton Helicopters which flew Vice President to Kabba in Kogi State.

    The AIB attributed the February 2, 2019 crash of the Chopper marked with registration number 5N – CML to effects of a brown out generated during its landing in a dry dusty environment.

    It said Caverton should have carried out risk assessment test at the Kaaba stadium before the flight.

    Brown out in aviation par lance means a condition generated during landing in a sandy, dusty environment.

    The chopper operated by Caverton Helicopter occurred at Kaaba Stadium in Kogi State. It flew Osinbajo his entourage and three crew members.

    The chopper was manufactured in 2012.

    Speaking at a briefing at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, AIB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru said though the investigation into the crash is ongoing, it has however issued two safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the operator : Caverton Helicopters Limited.

    Olateru said the NCAA should issue advisory circular to helicopter operators on the effects of brown out and how to mitigate its effects.

    The second safety recommendation, Olateru said is for Caverton Helicopters to carry out proper risk analysis and assessment before operating flights into unapproved landing pad.

    He said the final report on the accident will be released in few months.

  • Kogi gov’s wife, three aides survive auto crash

    The wife of the Kogi State governor, Mrs. Amina Bello and three of her aides on Saturday survived a car crash on the Obajana-Kabba road.

    They were on their way to a women’s rally organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Isanlu in the state, according to Mr. Onogwu Muhammed, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Muhammed named the aides as Mrs. Kelechi Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Women and Children to the Governor; Mrs. Ejura Edward, SSA on Women Affairs and Mrs. Adesoro Olamide, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor’s wife.

    Read Also: Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, others get new CPs

    Government said the accident occurred close to Oshokoshoko village.

    It expressed appreciation to “God once again, that all those involved are in perfect condition.”

    But it said the Mrs.Bello’s door-to-door campaign would continue in Kogi west senatorial district.

    The accident occurred a week after a helicopter conveying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some of his aides crashed in the same local government area

     

  • I had premonition of my son’s crash, says VP Osinbajo’s mum

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s mother, Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo was full of praise to God when her son visited her on Thursday at the family house in Somolu, Lagos.

    It was their first meeting after the Vice President’s helicopter crashed in Kabba, Kogi State last Saturday.

    Excited by the visit, Mrs. Osinbajo said: “I am overwhelmed with this visit and I must thank God for everything that He is doing in my life.”

    She added: “Do you know that on Thursday (January 31) I was busy thanking God I didn’t know what was going to happen on Saturday when my son’s helicopter crashed in Kogi.

    Read Also: Osinbajo calls for unity ahead of elections

    “I have been praising God and I told my people I wanted to praise God on that Thursday until evening of that day not knowing that something would happen on Saturday to my son.

    “That gift was given to me by Jesus Christ that I should be praising him that I should be praising Him and that I will never be sorrowful. That was what God told me”.

    On the performance of Buhari/Osinbajo administration, she said: “They have tried. If anybody says they have not done anything such a person is not in this world.

    “What Buhari/Osinbajo did in three and a half years, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) couldn’t do it in16 years.

    “We are praising God and we shall praise Him after the elections, she added.

  • Buhari greets Ohinoyi of Ebiraland at 90

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Ibrahim on the occasion of his 90th birthday celebration.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, joined family members, the good people of Ebiraland in Kogi State and other well-wishers in thanking the Almighty God for preserving the life of the eminent traditional ruler with good health, courage and passion to lead his subjects and community since he ascended the throne of his ancestors in 1997.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo under divine protection, says APC

    On the auspicious occasion, the President extolled the nonagenarian’s numerous contributions to national peace and stability, wise counsels to political office holders and constant show of concern and love to the less privileged in the society.

    He prayed Almighty God to preserve the life of his good friend and royal father to continue serving his community, the nation and humanity.

  • How Pastor Adeboye prayed for me before chopper crash – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed how the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, prayed for him night before the Saturday chopper crash in Kogi State.

    He made the revelation on Sunday while giving testimony at the RCCG, City of Grace, Lokoja, Kogi State.

    According to a statement issued on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said “On Friday, we went to (RCCG) camp; usually, I attend our Holy Ghost service. We came in very late from Akwa Ibom State. In fact, we arrived just in time for the grace at the end of the service.

    “Thereafter, our daddy in the Lord, (G.O) Pastor Adeboye, wanted to speak to me. He asked me how things were going on, the campaign activities and all that, and I explained everything; what I was doing on the campaign trail and all of that, some of the challenges.

    “He then said, I am going to pray for you. He said a prayer that turned out to be very interesting because usually, as you know, he doesn’t pray for long.

    “He said “Lord God Almighty, I want you to protect this man,” He said it three times and paused, then he continued. “You know how very dear he is to my heart. I want you to protect him.” I found it very funny that he repeated it several times and then he prayed for favour and other things.

    “So, when the crash happened, immediately it dawned on me that the Lord God had led him to say that very special prayer. And the Lord God Almighty delivered us in accordance with His word that, “even when 10,000 fall by our side, no harm whatsoever will come near us.”

    “I just want to thank the Almighty God for His grace and mercy that has been so abundant in my life and in all of our lives who are here,” he added.

    Earlier, the Vice President had called up members of his entourage who were with him in the Chopper and who were in the church to join him at the altar.

    They included Labour Minister of State, Stephen Ocheni; and Mr. Femi Osinbajo, VP’S elder brother. He also called the names of Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser; and Ambassador Abdullahi Gwary, SSA Foreign Affairs/Protocol – although both of them were not in the service.

    Read Also; Osinbajo: we can’t thank God enough for our lives

    Others are Mr. Laolu Akande, the VP’s Spokesman; Dr Biodun Adelowo, Personal Physician; Mr. Doyin Adetuberu, Security Officer; and Ayoola Oladunni, ADC).

    “This is my older brother, the same father, same mother. Our father passed on long ago, but our mother is alive. If both of us had lost our lives on the same day, that would have been an absolute tragedy, but God saved that from happening.

    “We are truly grateful to the Almighty God and we bless the name of the Lord. And for all of you who are rejoicing with us today, your homes will be filled with rejoicing. You will not know tragedy, you will not know harm, all the days of your lives will be filled with rejoicing,” he said.

  • Video: Osinbajo survives helicopter crash

    A Presidential Fleet helicopter has crashed near Kabba in Kogi state.

    An impeccable Presidency source told The Nation that the helicopter was conveying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “The Vice President and his brother were among the occupants of the helicopter.

    “It is a six seater helicopter and there was no casualty; everyone aboard survived.

    “There is no indication of sabotage or anything extra-ordinary this far.

    “The exact cause of the accident will be determined by experts in due course but it is important at this stage to know that there was no casualty,” the Presidency official stated.

    In a tweet Laolu Akande, the media aide to the VP “VP Osinbajo’s Chopper crash lands in Kabba, but he and the entire crew safe. He is continuing with his engagements and plans for the day in Kogi State.”

  • MTN protests Kogi shutdown of facilities

    MTN Nigeria has expressed grave concern over the arbitrary shutdown of its base transmitting facilities by the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), over allegations that it has not met its tax obligations to the government.

    The state government is demanding for immediate payment of social service contribution levy, employee development levy and annual rent for Right-of-Way (RoW) on fibre optics cable.

    MTN’s Corporate Relations Executive, Tobechukwu Okigbo, said the Taxes and Levies Act which introduces the Social Service Contribution and Economic Development levies mandates the Joint Tax Board (JTB) to recommend chargeable fees which will be subject to the Minister of Finance’s approval.

    He said:“To the best of our knowledge, the Minister of Finance’s recommendation as provided in the Act is yet to be issued, and as such, it is unclear if the imposition of the fee by the Kogi State government is on solid legal footing. As a responsible corporate citizen, we accord the highest priority to our sub-national tax commitments. We wish to state that we have met in full all our tax obligations to the Kogi State government and are not in arrears.

     “On request, we have furnished the KGIRS on multiple occasions with documentary evidence proving our full compliance with extant state laws on the matter. At this stage, the demands of the KGIRS, if honoured, amounts to multiple taxation and the arbitrary shut down of our base transceiver stations and harassment of our partners will stand in the way of a reasonable resolution.”

    MTN regrets the disruption of services to its customers in Kogi and some neighbouring states and remains fully committed to working with the Kogi State government and the relevant regulatory authorities in reaching a timely and lasting solution.