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  • Many trapped, one missing as flood wrecks havoc in Ibadan

    A middle-aged man whose identity was still unknown was washed away on Thursday night by flood at Oluyole, in Ibadan South West Local Government area of Oyo state following a torrential downpour in the city.

    Many areas of the city were flooded, while scores of people were said to have been trapped when bridges and culverts were rendered impassable by the surging flood.

    A lot of roads, bridges, and culverts were damaged, while some people lost their personal belongings.

    Other areas that were affected by the flood are Alaro, Zartech, Oluyole extension, Idi-Ayunre, Olodo, New Garagge , parts of Gbekuba area, Apata, and Omi Adio , in Ido Local Government Area of the state.

    At Alaro, Zartech area of Oluyole extension, the only bridge that links the people to the city was completely submerged by water, while many residents were prevented from gaining access to their homes.

    The victim of about six hours rain was said to have been washed away by the flood when he attempted to cross a submerged bridge at the Sumal area of Oluyole Industrial extension .

    People were seen around the area early Thursday still searching for the victim, however, the water level was still on the high side, yet to subside.

    According to eyewitness account, efforts of rescuer were undermined by the heavy downpour, as sympathisers were prevented from searching for the victim due to the rising level of water.

    The state government has sympathised with the victims of the flood , and promised to do everything possible to mitigate such occurrence in the future.

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    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources , Hon. Kehinde Ayoola who spoke with The Nation yesterday on the flood disaster admitted that there were damages to bridges, culverts and roads by the flashes of flood on Wednesday , but said he was yet to receive report of the missing person.

    ” The area you just mentioned, the Alaro area, Oluyole extension area, yes, there were flashes of flood there and it also happened at Joyce B , at Olodo area of Egbeda, and at an area called Jenriyin , Kute community , in Lagelu Local Government Area. So, we have been there to make an on the spot assessment, and we have taken note of what to be done to the hydrological infrastructures there in those places .

    ” For example, culverts, bridges and water channels, we have taken note of what the government can do. And we have also appealed to our people that they should stop dropping refuse in waterways , we have also appealed to them not to wade through water floods and they should always evacuate anywhere when there is heavy rain and flood. The government is on top of the situation.

    ” There are damages to bridges, culverts and roads, fine, yes that is true, and water entered people’s homes, we sympathise with such people and we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure this doesn’t occur again, ” he stated.

  • Police arrest man for defiling neighbour’s six-year-old daughter

    The Police in Ogun State have arrested one Oluwole Bamidele (43) in Agoro area of Agbado for defiling six – year old daughter of his neighbour.

    Oluwole was said to have lured the victim into his room at noontime and raped her when her mother left home for her tailor’s shop.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who made this known in a release, stated that the arrest of the suspect followed a complaint by Ikechukwu Blessing Orji who reported at the Agbado police station that his daughter was defiled.

    Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) stated that Ikechukwu reported that while his wife went out to give cloth to her tailor at about 12:45 pm, the suspect who is a co-tenant in the same house lured his six-year-old daughter into his room and raped her.

    According to the victim’s father, the girl quickly informed her mother as soon as she returned.

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    The Police Spokesman in the state explained that the Divisional Police Officer for Agbado division, Aloko Amodu sent detectives to Kayode Street Agoro area of Agbado, the scene of crime, and arrested the suspect.

    The suspect, he stated further, initially denied committing the crime but when the victim was taken to the General hospital for medical examination, the medical report confirmed that she has been defiled and upon being confronted with medical report, he confessed committing the crime.

    The Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama has directed that the suspect should be transferred to the Anti-Human trafficking and child labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.

  • Nigerians react to sack of HoS Oyo-Ita

    Reactions have trailed the suspension of Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

    President Buhari reportedly suspended Oyo-Ita indefinitely, and has named Folashade Yemi-Esan as the acting head of service “with immediate effect”.

    Reacting, some Nigerians took to their social media and wondered why Buhari was yet to investigate other corrupt officials in his cabinet.

    Many fingered Abba-Kyari as the master mind behind the sack of Oyo-Ita.

    Below are some comments on twitter
    @UNCLE_AJALA
    Abba Kyari in the robe of Buhari sacks Head of Service, Oyo-Ita.

    Oyo Ita tendered resignation, Buhari rejected it, only for the same Buhari to sacked her few weeks after rejecting her resignation. This country ehn, the more you see, the less you know.

    @codshalom77

    Abba Kyari’s hands, legs, head and body are written all over the Sack of Oyo Ita Head of Service!

    Remember the 3 powerful persons in Aso Rock!

    @DemolaRewaju

    Once you fully perceive and decipher the role of Abba Kyari in the Buhari administration, it becomes easy to understand.

    Take this headline for instance: substitute “Buhari” with “Abba Kyari” then remember her quarrel with him and you’ll know why Oyo-Ita had it coming.

    @Camaradean, “this nextlevel go reach everybody..na turn by turn.. @Efcc should conclude there investigation on Oyo ita and publish all the fact findings. Because the 600mili naira found in one of her aide akant can’t be swept under the carpet.”

    @Zemojnr, “Wishing the new appointee all the best, was expecting Mrs. Winifred to have resign her appointment before now.”

    @Trufully83, “When they need you, they use you. When they are done with you, they dispose of you. A lesson to all the blind followers and cronies of @MBuhari and his AsoRock cabals from the south. If they want you out, they must give the dog a bad name to justify hanging him.”

    Read Also: Eight things you should know about Yemi-Esan new Head of Service

     

    @Ojoolajiga2, “It’s incredibly stunning. Appointing another Woman as Head of service. This has demonstrated our President love for equality. Gender balancing. Our President is not a racist.”

    @adeyanjubiodun, “Hopefully, Mrs. Oyo-Ita will have her day in court soon. Hopefully too, this change of guard will herald much anticipated civil service reforms.”

    @Temitope_Aa, “Dr Yemi-Esan surely deserves this appointment, albeit in acting capacity. So do some of the other Permsecs who’ve had their tenures extended. Somehow, PMB is showing that he has his ears to the ground. May the good Lord help them all to succeed in their endeavors, amen.”

    @Donteewrites, “EFCC that did not see Tinubu bullion vans wants to investigate Winifred Oyo?? Sad stuff.”

    @Ahmaduu, “Well done my president. This is how the administration shld be dealing with anyone with allegation of either misappropriation or indicted for wrong doing.”

    @WaleolaN, “Oyo ita wanted to resign but this man obviously wanted to be the one to sack her.
    If she’s guilty of the crime she’s been accused, then she deserves everything coming her way.
    This abuse of office by any form of corrupt act must stop pronto.”

    @Monsieurblack,”LOL. Dem don run Oyo Ita streets. Fun fact, EFCC will not publicly investigate any senior public officer unless the powers that be sanctioned by the powers that be.”

    @Ugochukwuanya, “Nothing will come out of this, this is just to justify Onoghen and Oyo Ita.”

  • Mother, two children die after ‘Amala’ meal

    A 45-year-old mother and her two children died on Saturday after consuming suspected poisonous yam flour in Odo-Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Areas of Ekiti State

    The eldest of the children was 14 while the younger one was 12.

    It was gathered that yam flour, which they consumed, was procured by the husband and prepared by the mother of two.

    All members of the family who ate the meal were found lifeless after dinner, except the father who is in a critical state at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti.

    A source, who craved anonymity, said two dogs, which reportedly ate crumbs of the food, were also found dead in the apartment.

    It was gathered that the neighbours, who were thrown into mourning after discovering the incident on Saturday, alerted the police.
    Lawmaker representing Ikole constituency II at the Ekiti State House of Assembly , Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, confirmed the tragedy to newsmen on Thursday in Ado Ekiti.
    Aribasoye had raised the issue at the plenary of the House where he called for sympathy and investigation into the matter.

    Recounting the sordid scenario to newsmen, he said: “A great tragedy occurred at Odo Ayedun Ekiti on Saturday. it was a mournful day for us as a family of three died mysteriously.

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    “ A mother and her two children all died after eating yam flour. The remote cause of the incident is still unknown as members of the community are still in shock.”
    Speaker of Ekiti Assembly Funminiyi Afuye sympathised with Aribasoye and the entire people of his constituency for the tragic incident.
    He, however, directed the House Committee on health to launch investigation into the matter with a view to unravelling the causes of the mysterious incident.

    When contacted, the police public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident.

    He said the police will join hands with other institutions to investigate the cause of the deaths.

  • Army dispels rumour on planned Maiduguri attacks

    The Army on Thursday urged members of the public to disregard rumours of impending attacks on Maiduguri and its environs by Boko Haram Terrorists, saying there is no cause for panic.

    The spokesman of operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command in the northeast, Col Ado Isa said in a statement that troops are on patrol and effectively in control of the situation.

    He dismissed as ill founded rumours of impending attacks within and outside the city, asserting that troops would take advantage of the super camp strategy to deal with the terrorists.

    Col Isa said:”Information circulating on social media revealed that some mischievous elements are insinuating and peddling rumours of ‘terrorists’ plan to execute deadly attacks on some selected populated areas and key facilities in Maiduguri town and neighboring areas in order to cause panic and inflict casualty on innocent Nigerians.

    “Headquarters Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, assures the public that necessary measures have been put in place to checkmate the purported evil plans of the criminals.

    “Accordingly, troops in the Theatre, have been committed to ensure movements and activities of the marauders are effectively thwarted.

    ” Troops are also in staging positions in line with the Super Camp Concept to destroy the bandits whenever they are seen.

    Read Also: Army begins Court Martial of Former GOC over missing N400m

    “Consequently, members of the public are urged to disregard the rumor of ‘deadly attacks’ on Maiduguri and environs.

    “The fake news is circulated by mischievous elements and other collaborators of the criminals with the aim to instil fear and panic in the minds of the people as well as to sabotage the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the struggle to end the menace.

    “Members of the public are therefore enjoined to disregard the alleged attacks on Maiduguri city and environs and go about their routine lawful businesses without fear or hindrance.

    “The public are also advised to be more vigilant and report unusual/suspicious presence or movements of persons especially at important public places like markets, schools, mosques and churches as well as venues for occasions to security agencies.”

  • Flooding: NERC orders three hydro power plants ‘must run’

    Following the forecast of the Nigerian Metrological Agency that there will be ravaging flooding resulting from long duration of rainfall this year, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday in its “must run” order, directed the three Hydroelectric Power Stations; Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, to as a matter of compulsion, operate their plants.

    The order, which The Nation obtained from the commission’s website on Thursday was titled: “Order on mandatory dispatch of hydro power plant in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.”

    The investors in the plants Mainstream Energy Solution Limited and North-South Power Limited have been underutilizing the entities owing to load rejection and low demand from the electricity distribution companies (DisCos). The DisCos, in turn, blame their decision on lack of a cost-effective tariff and the weakness of the transmission network in the industry.

    But the NERC on Thursday dropped the hint that a major consequence of the meteorological event on the operations of the three hydropower stations (i.e. Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro) has been high rate of reservoir fill-up which poses extreme environmental risks to lives/property downstream from the plants that could result in submerging entire villages along the riverbanks.

    Read Also: NERC yet to approve hike in electricity tariff

    The commission said that its attention had been drawn to rising cost of wholesale energy to the electricity distributors in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) that was blamed on generated and wheeled energy.

    The “increasing cost of wholesale energy to distribution licensees in NESI attributable to the generation mix of dispatched energy,” according to NERC.

    According to the order that the NERC chairman, Prof. James Momoh and its Commissioner, Licensing and Compliance, Dr. Dafe Akeneye issued, the “must- run” status of the three plants shall be enforced in line with their daily nomination.

    The commission assigned the System Operator (SO) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to ensure strict compliance with the terms in the order in the dispatch of power plants in the industry.

    In the event of any deviation or non-compliance with the terms of the order, the NERC mandated the SO to compulsorily submit detailed written justification to the Commission within 48 hours.

    The commission insisted that the order took effect from September 18, 2019.

    NERC said that : “(A). The 3 hydropower plants are hereby designated as “must-run” powerplants and shall be accorded high priority by the SO in the dispatch of grid connected power plants in Nigeria.

    B. The “must-run” status of these 3 hydropower plants shall be implemented in accordance with the daily nomination of these plants.

    C. The SO shall ensure strict compliance with the terms of this order in the dispatch of powerplants in NESI.

    D. The SO must submit detailed written justification to the Commission within 48 hours for any event of deviation/non-compliance with the terms of this order.

    E. This order takes effect from the 18th day of September 2019.”

    The order explained that the commission is required by section 32 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (“EPSRA”) to�a. create, promote and preserve efficient industry and market structures, and to ensure the optimal utilization of resources for the provision of electricity services.

    It added that NERC should ensure the safety, security, reliability, and quality of service in the production and delivery of electricity to consumers.

    According to the order, the commission is expected to establish or, as the case may be, approve appropriate operation codes and safety, security, reliability and quality standards.

    The order noted that Section 66 of EPSRA mandates the licensed System Operator (“50”) to carry out the activity of system operation, generation scheduling, commitment and dispatch in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (“NESI”).

    NERC recalled that the SO in execution of the statutory mandate in 2 above issued the following merit order for NESI on 21 July 2017 –

    Group 1: Hydro units (least cost) on free governor control and ancillary service.

    Group 2: Other units identified to be on free governor control.

    Group 3: Other units identified to be offering regulating reserve.

    Group 4: Other units offering spinning reserve (i.e. the power plants contracted for the ancillary service).

    Group 5: All plants dispatched subject to transmission constraints.

    Group 6: All plants providing voltage support above statutory limit.

    Group 7: All other power plants.

    The order reads in part : “The meteorological forecasts for 2019 indicated that there would be significant events of flooding across the country and these forecasts have been confirmed with the high incidents of heavy rainfall for long durations across the country.

    “A major consequence of this meteorological event on the operations of the 3 hydropower stations (i.e. Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro) has been high rate of reservoir fill-up which poses extreme environmental risks to lives/property downstream from the plants that could result in submerging entire villages along the riverbanks.

    “The attention of the Commission has also been drawn to the increasing cost of wholesale energy to distribution licensees in NESI attributable to the generation mix of dispatched energy.

    “The Commission notes that urgent regulatory intervention is required to address the issues identified above in the overall public interest of Nigerians in order to forestall preventable tragedies that could arise from the non-prioritised dispatch of the 3 hydropower stations.

    “The Commission notes further that the SO has been apprised of the national security implications of the non-prioritised dispatch of the 3 hydropower stations by other agencies of government.”

  • Cult clashes: Council boss imposes curfew on Delta communities

    Following incessant cult clashes Ekete and Ovwian commumities, Udu council area of Delta state, a dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on the flashpoint areas by the local government chairman, Mr. Jite Brown.

    In a statement signed by the council secretary, Elohor Awinoron, the curfew which took effect from Wednesday, September 18, lasts from 9pm to 6am.

    According to the statement, the decision was reached after deliberations with Divisional Police Officers and other security chiefs in the council.

    Suspected rival cult groups have recently turned some areas in the communities into a field for their criminal operations, reports say. Residents have been living in fear due to the killings, robberies and other assaults meted on victims.

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    Areas affected by the curfew are Ovwian town, Ekete Inland, Ekete Waterside, Owhase town, Express, Mofor and Orhuwhorun Junctions.

    The council chairman stated that the movement of commercial vehicles including tricycles and motorbikes, commonly referred to as Keke NAPEP and Okada, are also restricted.

    He said anyone found operating within the time of curfew will be impounded and the owner prosecuted.

    Brown further emphasized that security men have been put on red alert to enforce the curfew, urging people in the respective areas to adhere to the directive.

  • Drama as PDP BoT chair, scribe sing discordant tune over ‘report’

    It was all drama as the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jubril and its Secretary Senator Adolphus Wabara disagreed over the submission of an investigative report on Thursday.

    Briefing journalists shortly after a marathon meeting of the Board at the party’s Abuja secretariat, the two elderly chieftains contradicted each other on the status of a report of the committee that investigated.

    At issue was a report of a five-man committee set up by the BoT on July 9, to investigate why PDP members in the House of Representatives elected Mr Ndudi Elumelu as Minority Leader, against the party’s choice of Mr. Kingsley Chinda.

    Miffed by the Reps’ action, the leadership of the party had suspended Elumelu for one month.

    Besides Elumelu, others affected by the suspension order were Lynda Ikpeazu, Wole Oke, Anayo Edwin, Gideon Gwadi, Toby Okechukwu and Adekoya Abdul-Majid.

    The BoT investigation committee, chaired by a former Senate President, Dr Iyiorchia Ayu also had two other former Senate Presidents, Chief David Mark and Chief Adolphus Wabara as members.

    A former Deputy President of the Senate, Alhaji Ibahim Mantu was also a member while a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara served as secretary of the committee.

    However, Opara resigned from the committee before it concluded its assignment.

    During a question-and-answer session at the briefing, the BoT chair Jubril said the Board had received the Ayu committee report but had yet to submit same to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    Jubril said: “We have received the report from the Ayu committee but we have not submitted it to the NWC because we are still deliberating on it and we have not taken a decision on it yet.”

    But he was swiftly countered by BoT Secretary Wabara, who said that the Board had indeed submitted the report to the NWC.

    Wabara said: “We have considered the report and we have submitted the report on Elumelu to the NWC”.

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    This was followed by muffled disagreement between the two elderly party chieftains with the BoT chair raising objection to the Secretary’s statement even as the latter stood his ground.

    Their verbal exchange was in hushed tones but was audible enough for journalists to hear their voices.

    The disagreement dragged till the end of the media briefing, with the two Board members frowning and mumbling at each other as they left the venue and walked through the drizzling rain into their waiting cars.

    Curiously however, while the BoT meeting was still ongoing, the leadership of the party had issued a statement regarding the disputed report.

    The statement, signed by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the NWC had not received the said report from the BoT.

    The statement reads in full: “In the light of public enquiries and conflicting reports on the position of the leadership of our great party on issues related to the minority leadership of the House of Representatives;

    “The National Working Committee (NWC) hereby clarifies that it has not yet received any report from the Board of Trustees (BoT) concerning the outcome of the five-member committee it set up to intervene on the contentious matter.

    “Consequently, the NWC maintains that it has not taken any decision to review its subsisting stance on the minority leadership of the House of Representatives.

    “The NWC therefore urges critical stakeholders, party members and the general public to completely disregard any report to the contrary”.

  • Ondo PDP loses Woman Leader, 13 days after auto crash

    A woman leader in the Ondo state Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mrs Toyin Ajinde who was involved in a ghastly road crash with the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Nicholas Tofowomo penultimate weekend has been reported dead.

    She was said to have sustained serious injuries in the accident and had since been on admission in University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo.

    Sources said she underwent series of surgeries but unfortunately could not survive due to the degree of the injuries sustained in the accident.

    The PDP family was thrown into mourning on Thursday as news of her death filtered in.

    Members of the party were also in grief at the party Secretariat at Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital discussing Mrs. Ajinde’s death.

    Besides Mrs. Ajinde and Senator Tofomo, other people who were involved in the car crash were a 2020 governorship aspirant of the party, Banji Okunomo and Mrs. Yetunde Dada.

    It was reported that the car in which they were travelling crashed along Igbara-Oke near Akure while returning from Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The senator and others occupants of the vehicle were immediately rushed to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ondo by officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    According to a statement signed by PDP’s Director of Media & Publicity, Zadok Akintoye, Mrs. Ajinde was described as one of the party’s foremost women-leaders.

    The statement entitled: ‘Toyin Ajinde: An Unbeatable Loss’ reads in parts: “Our party expresses deep sadness at the news of the death of one of our foremost women-leaders, Mrs Toyin Ajinde.

    “Her demise, which was due to injuries sustained after a vehicular accident along Ilesha-Akure expressway, remains a loss that would be long felt by our party and citizens who met and benefitted from her magnanimity and good nature.

    “Toyin was a great mobilizer and dedicated party woman who blazed the trail for greater inclusion of women in politics and governance.”

    The party, however, pray that God would grant her husband and children the fortitude to bear the great loss.

  • Ex-senator didn’t defect from our party, says PDP

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that a former Senator, who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Nimi-Barigha Amange, did not defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Chairman of the PDP, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement on Thursday that Amange ceased to be a member of the PDP shortly before the last general election elections when he defected from the PDP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Cleopas explained that Amange defected from the PDP to the ADC to contest against the PDP when he failed to secure the Senatorial ticket of the party for Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

    Cleopas said that Amange’s claim that he defected from the PDP to the APC because of Governor’s Dickson’s style of leadership was unfortunate and a mischievous attempt to create a false Impression of an implosion in the party.

    He said: “There is a misleading report that Amange has defected from the PDP to the ADC. The fact is that Amange is not a member of our party. He defected from the PDP to the ADC, to contest against us in the February 16, 2019 National Assembly election and lost.

    Read Also: Ex-Bayelsa PDP senator joins APC

    “Sen. Amange is not a PDP leader and the public should discountenance this misleading claim. This unfortunate claim is part of a calculated attempt to create an erroneous impression of an implosion in a party that is stable.

    “The PDP in the state knows those who are genuine members. Amange is not one of us and he should desist from misinforming the public with the intent to cause mischief.”

    Cleopas said that the Bayelsa State Chapter of the PDP was too strong to be bothered by a false defection masterminded by people troubled by the strong internal cohesion within the party.

    Cleopas who debunked Amange’s accusation against the governor stressed that he had never seen a leader who had adopted a more consultative approach to the resolution of issues than Governor Dickson.

    He said that before his defection in January, Amange was the one producing the councilor from his ward.

    He added that the governor, who he wrongfully accused of dictatorial tendencies could not identify the PDP candidate for Nembe Local Government Area in the last local government chairmanship election, West Alalibo, until after the poll.

    Cleopas added Amange surreptitiously sponsored a candidate who lost to the PDP Candidate, Ms Dorcas Kuku, a daughter of PDP Board of Trustees member, Mrs Remi Kuku in his Ward in Nembe Local Government Area in the last election.

    He added that contrary to lies being peddled against Governor Dickson by Amange, the Vice Chairman òf Nembe Local Government Area, Alison Abel, was collectively nominated by the Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Amange and other stakeholders.