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Tag: Nigeria News

  • NUATE commends airline for recalling 69 disengaged workers

    NUATE commends airline for recalling 69 disengaged workers

    The National Union of Air Transport Employees ( NUATE ) on Friday commended the management of Aero Contractors Limited for recalling 69 workers earlier declared redundant by the airline.

    Mr Olayinka Abioye, General Secretary, NUATE, made this known in Lagos that the unions in the aviation sector were impressed by the efforts of the Aero management to reposition the airline.

    Abioye confirmed that 41 of the recalled workers were members of NUATE while the others belonged to the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria ( ATSSSAN ) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers ( NAAPE ).

    He noted that the airline, under the management of Capt. Ado Sanusi, was being revived gradually after being taken over by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria ( AMCON ) due to its huge debt profile.

    According to him, when Sanusi came on board, over 600 Aero workers were declared redundant in March 2017 as a way of keeping the airline afloat, despite opposition from the unions.

    Abioye said the management had, however, continued to forge ahead, culminating in the recent successful conduct of C-Check on Boeing B737-500 at the airline’s maintenance facility at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

    He said that based on this, the management had started recalling some of the disengaged workers to the delight of the unions.

    “The management, in its wisdom and which we appreciate, have decided that those who are currently on contract will be reintegrated into the system as if they have never been declared redundant.

    “The second leg of that is that a sizeable number of those still outside will be recalled, and by March, another sizeable number will be recalled.

    “This tentatively means that over two-third of the disengaged workers would have been recalled into Aero, which is a good one for us,” Abioye said.

    He said the unions and the management would continue to work together as responsible social partners to stabilise and sustain Aero Contractors, so that the airline could reclaim its rightful place as the number one domestic airline.

    NAN

  • Nigerian gives birth inside plane en-route New York

    Nigerian gives birth inside plane en-route New York

    Toyin Ogundipe, 41, has given birth to a baby boy mid-air about 35,000 feet above sea level aboard an Air France flight.
    Toyin, a banker based in the UK, was delivered of the baby four hours away from her destination Paris-to-New York.

    A passenger, Dr. Sij Hemal, 27 year old, a second-year urology resident at Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urology and Kidney Institute, helped Ogundipe, deliver her baby on December, 17, 2017, according to clevelandclinic.org.

    The mother of two who lives in the UK had gone into labour a week earlier than her delivery date, and was in birth pains and having contractions about 10 minutes apart.

    “I was pretty tired from jet lag,” recalls Dr. Hemal, who a day earlier had attended his best friend’s wedding. “I thought I’d just have a drink and fall asleep. As it turned out, I’m glad I didn’t drink anything.”

    “Her contractions were about 10 minutes apart, so the pediatrician ( Dr. Susan Shepherd, of Senlis, France ) and I began to monitor her vital signs and keep her comfortable,” explains Hemal.

    They also suggested Toyin be moved to the roomier first-class section, which had very few passengers. “My ticket to first class!” he adds, with a laugh.

    While the flight’s air hostesses tended to Toyin’s traveling companion, her 4-year-old daughter, Amy, the doctors used instruments and supplies in the flight’s scanty medical kit to routinely check her vital signs, including blood pressure, oxygen rate and pulse. Very soon, however, their activities heightened.

    READ ALSO: Abike Dabiri hails Nigerian for returning N150m wrongfully sent into his account

    Within the course of an hour, Toyin’s contractions accelerated; they occurred seven, then five and finally two minutes apart. “That’s when we knew we were going to deliver on the plane,” Hemal recounts.

    Although his practice area is urology, Hemal delivered seven babies during medical school, never on the floor of a jetliner.

    “We are trained to stay calm and think clearly in emergency situations,” he adds.

    “I just tried to think ahead to what might go wrong, and come up with a creative solution.”

    Toyin recalls being rather composed throughout the delivery, thanks to the calm manner of the two doctors and the professional treatment they provided: “I was relaxed because I knew I was in safe hands.

    “They did everything a doctor or midwife would have done if I was in the labor room in the hospital. Even better, if you ask me.”

    After about 30 minutes of pushing, Toyin gave birth to a boy, whom she named Jake.

    Hemal safely removed the placenta, used a surgical clamp (and a shoestring) to tie off the umbilical cord, and then cut it off with a pair of scissors.

    Dr. Shepherd assessed Jake’s health, which appeared to be normal; soon, he began nursing on his mother.

    Upon arrival at JFK, Toyin, Jake and Amy were whisked away by ambulance to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, just four miles from the airport.

    Toyin was released later that day, and is recovering with her children at the home of friends in New Jersey.

    NAN

  • Boroffice welcomes Oke, others to APC

    Boroffice welcomes Oke, others to APC

    Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District has applauded the return of the former legal adviser of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke and his supporters to the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ondo State.

    Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN ), and a 2016 governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy ( AD ), defected to APC on Thursday in Akure with his supporters.

    Boroffice commendation is contained in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Fakuyi, on Friday in Akure.

    READ ALSO: I’m a loyal deputy, says Olusola

    “The senator is delighted to note that the laudable efforts of himself and other party leaders to woo politicians from other political parties to join the APC have started yielding positive results.

    “As a matter of fact, the wave of defection is currently blowing across Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos States,” it read.

    The statement added that in the weeks ahead, APC would receive more political gladiators into its fold.

    It urged the defectors to quickly perfect their membership registration in order to join hands with party leaders to build a united and formidable party in the state.

    NAN

  • Wande Coal, releases new video `Turkey Nla’

    Wande Coal, releases new video `Turkey Nla’

    Nigerian song writer and singer, Oluwatobi Ojosipe popularly known as Wande Coal has released a new music video titled `Turkey Nla’

    The former Mavins Records strong man took to his twitter handle @wandecoal on Thursday to announce to his fans the release of the video stating: “Turkey Nla video out now!!!’’
    The colourful three minutes and 57 seconds video features Olamide’s `shaku shaku’ dance in all forms.

    It was directed by a multi ward winning music video director, Olalekan Buhari popularly known as Unlimited L.A

    The ‘kick' and ‘Rotate’ hit maker got signed to Don Jazzy’s defunct Mo’Hit Records in 2006.

    READ ALSO:YouTube rewind: Top 10 comedy skits, music videos in 2017

    Wande Coal who is also a graduate of Curriculum Studies at the University of Lagos decided to pitched tent with Don Jazzy’ s Mavins Records after D’Banj and Don Jazzy went their separates ways in 2012. After a brief stay at Mavins Record, the multiple award winner also referred to as Black Diamond left in 2013 and established his own record label also named Black Diamond.

    In 2015, Wande Coal dropped his sophomore album titled Wanted under his Black Diamond Records.

    NAN

  • Edo LG polls: PDP may boycott polls

    Edo LG polls: PDP may boycott polls

    There are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) in Edo State might boycott the local elections in the state scheduled to hold on March 3rd.

    This is because the party is yet to begin sale of nomination forms to aspirants or fix a date for its party primaries.

    The PDP has also expressed its resolved to seek injunction from the court to stop the Edo State Electoral Independent Commission ( EDSIEC ) from further conduct of the polls.

    It called on members of EDSIEC headed by Prof. Stanley Orobator to disqualify themselves from conducting the polls.

    Speaking to newsmen after an enlarged meeting of the party in a Benin City, State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, said the party has resolved to critical issues of law regarding the proposed local government elections. 

    Chief Orbih urged its members seeking to contest the election either as a chairman of councillor to remain calm pending judicial proclamation on the party’s suit.

    Orbih said the party wants the court to determine whether the Edo State House of Asssembly can validly amend the Edo State Local Government Electoral Law to abridge the length of notice of polls stated in section 30(1) of the Electoral Act as amended having regard for paragraphs 11 and 12 of part II of the second schedule of the Nigeria Constitution.

    He said, “We also want the court to decide whether it is valid for the local government election to be conducted in Edo State without giving the PDP and other stakeholders the mandatory 90 days notice of polls stated in section 30(1) of the electoral act as amended.

    “Whether the amendment to the local government electoral act was done in violation of the mandatory of the rules of the Edo State House of Assembly on law making process in the House.

    “These issues are very critical. We have a responsibility to protect and save democracy. We must put to and end the impunity of the APC in Edo and at the federal level.”

    “We reject the composition of EDSIEC under the chairmanship of Prof. Stanley Orobator. They should disqualify themselves. Many of them are card carrying members of political parties. Our aspirants should remain calm while we are waiting for the decision of the judiciary.”

  • INEC Commissioner expresses concern over voters’ apathy at reruns

    INEC Commissioner expresses concern over voters’ apathy at reruns

    Dr Mohammed Lecky, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) National Commissioner for Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta, has expressed worries over the low turnout of voters in recent elections across the country.

    Lecky expressed the worries on Thursday in Calabar, after touring INEC facilities in Cross River.

    He told journalists that the INEC was not comfortable with the low turnout of voters in the recently concluded reruns, especially that of Anambra.

    He called on the electorate in Cross River to endeavor to vote at the 2019 general elections, adding “my major advice to them is to register and vote at elections.

    “The present INEC has ensured continuous voter registration across the country. So this is an opportunity for every eligible voter in the state to register and be ready to vote.

    “We are distressed that people are not coming out to vote as witnessed in the last rerun election in Anambra Central where we recorded just above nine per cent turnout.

    “If we want change we must change through voting. We need to own the electoral process,” he said.

    The national commissioner said INEC would meet some challenges it faced in the state, especially the inadequate infrastructure in the state capital and the local government areas.

    Lecky said that the commission would make the working environment conducive for the workers and added, “we will also do our best to motivate the staff ahead of the elections.”

    NAN

  • A’Ibom police nab 56 suspected kidnappers’ cultists within two weeks

    A’Ibom police nab 56 suspected kidnappers’ cultists within two weeks

    The Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested no fewer than 56 suspected kidnappers and cultists within the last two weeks of its operations aimed at ridding the state of violent crimes.

    Parading the suspects yesterday at the state police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo, the State Police Commissioner (CP), Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi said the arrest of the suspects was part of his war against criminals in the state.

    CP Ogunjemilusi, who said some of suspects include armed robbers, cultists and kidnappers, disclosed that some of them have already been charged to court while others are still being investigated.

    He said seven locally made pistols and two cut-to-size guns with six cartridges recovered. Also two cut-to-size locally made pump action with four rounds of cartridges recovered.

    The Commissioner further said that two locally made single-barrel and two locally double barrel pistols with eleven cartridges have also been recovered.

    “Six vehicles including Toyota 4 runner jeep, Toyota Matrix, three Toyota Camry, Hyundai Kia, Highlander (2003) model and assorted items used by cultists have also been recovered”, he said.

    Ogunjemilusi said since assumption of office on January 3, 2018, he studied the security architecture of the state and reposition it for effective service delivery.

    He disclosed that the State Police Command has commenced a full implementation of community based policing in the state.

    This, he said, aimed at strengthening the confidence in the Police for a better working relationship with members of the public “in a more friendly and accountable manner”.

    With the number of suspected criminals arrested so far, the Police boss noted that “strategies put in place in ensuring that crime rates in the State are brought to the barest minimum are yielding results.

    He lauded the government and people of the State for the support to the Police and security agencies towards reducing crime to barest minimum.

  • ‘Politicians have hijacked cattle herdsmen/farmers crisis’ – Miyetti Allah National President

    ‘Politicians have hijacked cattle herdsmen/farmers crisis’ – Miyetti Allah National President

    The National president of Miyetti Allah , Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural Association, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo, yesterday in Kano, raised the alarm that the cattle herdsmen/farmers  crisis, ravaging some parts of the country have been hijacked by politicians, who want to take the advantage to prosecute the 2019 campaign agenda.

    Badejo, who spoke to reporters in Kano, said the worrisome trend, over the rampant killings has now taken a frightening dimension in which the politicians are cashing in on to create a division in the minds of the people by branding the Fulani herdsmen as ‘killers’.

    According to him: ”politicians are interfering in the Fulani herdsmen/ farmers crisis. They are trying to create a division, as well as divide the minds of the people. Politicians are punishing farmers, including Fulani cattle herdsmen because they want to use the face-off as a basis for 2019 politics.”

    The Miyetti Allah national president, argued that fulani are peace loving people, who have a unique identity, different from other races, so for people to now label Fulani, of carrying AK 47 Assault rifles to kill is totally false, insisting that fulani worldwide are only engaged in cattle rearing and nothing else.

    ”They plan to create 5,000 hectares of land to be used as cattle colonies in some states. It is a welcome idea, but if the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom had agreed to create the proposed cattle colonies, rather than the grazing law he enacted, it would have not degenerated the current controversy but address the face-off.

    ”But this Ortom’s law is by no means favourable to the Fulani, that is why are vehemently opposed to it. So, the proposed colony will serve as an enduring solution to the lingering Fulani herdsmen/farmers crisis. And as such, we are in support of the Federal Government’s agenda to create the colonies.”

    The Miyetti Allah boss therefore called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to seize the opportunity of his relocation to Benue State to establish the truth, as to who is attacking who and at the close of the day, prosecute, whoever is found guilty,  insisting that the fulani have been and are still peace-loving people.

    However, he dismissed as false, insinuations that the Federal Government is grabbing the land to hand it over to the Fulani, saying: ”Only desperate politicians are opposed to the creation of cattle colonies for fulani herdsmen. These issues have been politicized.”

    In addition, he stated that anyone armed with AK 47 Assault rifle cannot be rearing cows, adding that such a person must be an armed robber from somewhere, disguising as a Fulani Herdsman and carrying weapons, as well as wearing Fulani attire to deceive the public.

    To this end, he said he is surprised about the rampant attacks occurring between farmers, communities and Fulani cattle herdsmen in Plateau and adjoining states, adding that if any fulani man invades somebody’s farm and steal, let the Fulani man be arrested and called to order rather than not only politicizing it but blowing it out of proportion.

  • $1.6bn crude oil fraud: EFCC’s failure to produce witness stalls Omokore ‘s trial

    $1.6bn crude oil fraud: EFCC’s failure to produce witness stalls Omokore ‘s trial

    The prosecution’s failure to produce its witness before the Federal High Court, Abuja impeded progress yesterday in the trial of businessman, Jide Omokore and others for alleged diversion of $1.6bn proceeds of sales of Federal Government’s crude oil.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) is prosecuting Omokore, his two companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – and others on a nine-count charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6bn believed to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

    Also named as defendants in the case are a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company ( NNPC ), Victor Briggs; a former Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production of the NNPC, Abiye Membere and a former Manager, Planning and Commercial of the NNPC, David Mbanefo.

     Former Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was also named in the case until late last year when the court struck out her name on the ground that she was listed as a defendant.

    On Wednesday, the 4th prosecution witness, a Senior Manager with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Adedayo Adesanmi confirmed that the bank froze the accounts owned by two of Omokore’s companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited – due to a worldwide freezing order.

    He said:“The bank got a worldwide freezing order. There were also negative press generated by the accounts and frequent invitation from security agencies because of the accounts.”

    The prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) was to call another witness yesterday when Jacobs expressed his regrets to the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, over the failure of two scheduled witnesses to attend court on Thursday.

    He said his two witnesses that were from Lagos, were unable to make it to court yesterday despite  earlier assurances that they will attend court.

    Jacobs said one of the two witnesses was an investigative officer in the case, but was recently transferred from Abuja to Lagos.

    The trail judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba was uncomfortable with the turn of event and the prosecution’s failure to produce its witness.

    The judge noted that the prosecution had been dilligent in its handling of the case, but insisted that it must continue with the case.

    The judge suggested standing down the case for the witnesses to arrive to allow for progress in the case.

    At that point defence lawyers, including R.A Rabana-Lawal (SAN), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN) and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) said Jacobs had explained his difficulty to them before the commencement of proceedings.

    In view of the non-aversion of the defence to an adjournment, Justice Dimgba  reluctantly adjourned to March 1 and 2.

  • Kaduna bans child fostering, adoption

    Kaduna bans child fostering, adoption

    Kaduna State Government has banned fostering and adoption of children due to abuses by orphanage homes in the state, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, has said.

    Baba said in an interview on Thursday in Kaduna that the government had discovered that some of the orphanages were conduits for trafficking and abuse of children.

    She said that the ban would remain in force until the government sanitise the system of adoption and fostering of children in the state.

    “When we came on board, we found out that people just turn their houses into orphanages and get these children, but won’t give them out for fostering or adoption.

    “Rather, they use them as a business to get donations and that is what they capitalise on to feed their own children.

    “We have also found out that children were being sold, so we felt that this is a very serious issue that needs our intervention.

    “We wrote to the governor seeking approval to stop fostering and adoption because we don’t know where the children are been taken to.

    “Some are being sold or trafficked, some are exposed to serious dangers; we even learnt that some of their organs are being sold.

    “So, for now we have stopped fostering and adoption.

    “We will seek justice for those children and some of those issues are already before the courts,’’ she said.

    The commissioner disclosed that in one of the cases, the ministry was dragged to court by a Ghanaian after it retrieved three children from him.

    “There is one Ghanaian man accused of buying three children in Zaria, we have collected these children from him but he took us to court and we are in court now.

    “The man is accused of buying the baby boy for N400, 000 and the baby girls for N350, 000.’’

    The commissioner explained that the ministry had drafted a regulatory framework to guide the operations of orphanages and as soon as it is ratified, the ban would be lifted.

    Baba said the ministry had undertaken the mapping of all orphanages in the state in conjunction with relevant government agencies.

    “As of now, we have the total number of orphanages in the state and their maps for easy tracking.’’

    On other activities, Baba said the ministry was battling with high number of teenage pregnancies and those who either sell off their babies or kill them after delivery.

    “We requested for shelter where we keep children on emergency or women that are bartered so as to undergo psycho-social and trauma counselling.’’

    According to her, the government will open a trauma centre in 2018 to offer 24-hour service to women and children.

    “We will have volunteer nurses and doctors, and also work with security agencies at the trauma centre.’’

    NAN