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  • Many feared killed as passenger bus plunges into Ogun River

    A passenger bus reportedly plunged into River Ososa near Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State on Wednesday.

    Many people were feared killed in the accident, which was said to have occurred around 4.30 p.m.

    It was gathered that the bus, with yet-to-be-specified number of passengers, was travelling on the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway.

    The Nation reports the accident occurred barely a week after a non-academic staff bus of Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Ijebu-Ode, plunged into the same river.

    At the time of the report, divers and rescuers were still battling to save occupants of the vehicle, which was said to have lost control before flipping into the river.

    It was also gathered that the bus driver had attempted to overtake another vehicle on the road but suddenly had a bad tyre, causing it to fall into the river.

    Read Also: Six disasters to watch out for in the ‘ember months’

    Confirming the incident, the Ogun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said it was the result of speeding.

    Sector Commander Clement Oladele told The Nation that high water levels occasioned by Tuesday’s downpour made the rescue operation difficult.

    He said: “The FRSC rescue team moved in immediately to the scene for rescue operations. The team include FRSC professional divers who have dived into the river to conduct rescue operations underneath

    “The divers are still working hard to recover (bodies of the) passengers in the ill-fated vehicle, which is made more difficult by the risen level of the river caused by yesterday’s heavy rains, around Ijebu-Ode area.

    “The bus was travelling from the Sagamu end of the expressway towards Ijebu-Ode section.”

    Expressing worry over the incident, Oladele urged motorists to drive cautiously, especially around bridges, considering that the expressway was undergoing rehabilitation.

    “Motorists are, therefore, strongly advised to reduce speed when approaching bridges to prevent unpleasant situation such as this.

    “The rescue operations would not be called off till the vehicle and the occupants are brought out of the river.

    “I also appeal to RCC (the construction fiem working in the area) to ensure that the safety railings around the bridge and other bridges in that axis are quickly replaced. Illuminated warning signs should be provided around the bridge and the depression at the foot of the bridge quickly repaired to prevent reoccurrence,” he said.

  • Danish ‘double murder’ suspect opens defence Oct 25

    An Igbosere High Court in Lagos has adjourned till October 25 for a Danish

    man, Peter Nielsen, to open his defence to a double murder charge.

    Nielsen, 54, is standing trial for the April 5, 2018 death of his Nigerian singer wife, Zainab and their three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Petra.

    The Lagos State Government accused the Dane of smothering Zainab and Petra to death at about 3:45am at No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island Ikoyi.

    Nielsen was arraigned on June 13, 2018 on two counts of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    He denied the charge.

    Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey closed the government’s case on Friday, September 20.

    Justice Okikiolu Ighile fixed October 25 for trial to continue.

    Last Friday, defence counsel, Mr Olasupo Shasore SAN cross examined the

    prosecution’s ninth witness Dr. Idem Richard Somiari.

    Dr. Somiari stated that the defendant’s DNA was found in the apartment and on Zainab’s night gown, but neither on the body of his deceased daughter, nor in the kitchen where the bodies were discovered.

    The expert also stated that he found DNA of an unknown female in the kitchen.

    Read Also: 19-year-old remanded over ‘N550,000 theft’

    When confronted that the crime scene investigation and forensic DNA analysis was deliberately aimed at gathering evidence and arriving at results showing that the Defendant was guilty of the murder, Dr Somiari denied it.

    Somiari stated that the forensic DNA team took steps to prevent contamination of the crime scene by putting on gloves, shoe covers, and disposable laboratory coats.

    But when he was later shown photographs from his visit to the crime scene, he admitted that some members of the DNA team did not put on the protective gear.

    Dr Somiari was also unable to account for the number of people that had access to the crime scene in the period between the discovery of the bodies and the examination of the crime scene by forensic experts.

    The prosecution witness also informed the court that samples for DNA analysis were only taken from three occupants of the apartment; the defendant and the two deceased persons even though six people lived in the apartment at the time of the murder.

  • Why our service chiefs deserve national honour

    When recently, I heard a member of the Nigerian Senate asking what the Service Chiefs have done these years on ending Boko Haram,  I knew immediately that there is another set of people that have been ignored in our hall of fame. It became clear to me, our politicians will stop at nothing to glorify themselves over nothing,  but excitedly spite others.
    The Senator who asked the rhetorical question amazed me infinitely. If today, and under President Muhammadu Buhari, any Nigerian can claim even in satiric excitement or in mocking ambience not to understand or feel the impact of the Service Chiefs on insurgencies, it only exposes our hypocritical selves.
    And when I hear such obscenities from politicians, it baffles me on why these same persons have found themselves in leadership positions. A friend of mine, once told me   that when our politicains tell you to stand, make sure you sit down immediately. They are hostile to truth, but worship falsehood with reverence.  This is the extent Nigerians perceive the dishonesty in our politicians.
    Therefore, spreading mischief and malicious interpretations of our problems by these politicians would not obliterate the reality. We all know, truth is constant and sacrosanct. Only lies mutate in character severally within a day.
    The same Senator, I have no reason to doubt his dementia has forgotten that in the Three Arms Zone in Abuja where he attends parliamentary sessions, insurgents bombs exploded at Eagle Square when former President Goodluck Jonathan was the chief landlord of Aso Rock.
    And even the Louis Edet House, which houses the  Nigerian Police Headquarters also felt the heat of Boko Haram bombs. The bomb explosions at Nyanya bus station; Barnex Shopping Mall, the UN Building and hordes of other places within the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) undeniably expressed our national tragedy.
    That a serving Senator today does not know that no bomb has exploded anywhere in Abuja under the Buhari Presidency and deridingly questions what the Service Chiefs have done would not plunge me into a nightmare. He is merely voicing out his foolery, in a demeaning fashion.
    If we are held back by sentiment not to commend the Service Chiefs for taming insurgencies and insurrections in Nigeria,  we should rather be mute. But polluting the air with such malicious condemnations of the sacrifices they are making to give us peace and security is the height of idiocy.
    I feel the current Service Chiefs, especially the Chief of Army Staff ( COAS) and helmsman of the anti-insurgency operations in Nigeria, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai deserve national recognition with national honours. The Brazilian Government was not foolish to have conferred the highest military honour on Gen. Buratai for his contributions in decimating / defeating Boko Haram terrorism and therefore, scaling up world peace!
     I know some Nigerians as people who are never proud of hard working, selfless and patriotic leaders like Gen. Buratai and the others are just victims of a disfigured national pysche.
    So, for the records, and to those who are likely to be misled by the dishonest views of my Senator- friend, I wish to reply briefly by replaying the impact of Service Chiefs appointed in 2015 which he deliberately feigns ignorance.
    I want to be specific and would x-ray just the war against terrorism. Before the Buhari Presidency,  18 local governments in the Northeast were under the full control of Boko Haram. The  terror gang also had partial control of seven others. Terrorists deposed traditional and religious leaders, foisted their Jihadi flags and governed conquered territories on the dictates of Boko Haram’s weird doctrines, with headquarters in Gwoza.
    But Gen. Buratai ingeniously and courageously led Nigerian troops to reclaim all seized territories of the Nigerian state within one year! Nigerians only knew of Boko Haram’s abduction of the 276 Chibok schoolgirls. However, over 20, 000 Nigerians were held hostage in Boko Haram’s secret camps in the Northeast. The Army Chief led the assault which has freed over 17, 000 Boko Haram hostages in the last four years.
    Today, we are not under the phobia of a dreaded Sambisa forest. We are pleasantly talking about a demystified and dismantled Sambisa forest, an enclave now sprawling with games and hunting . I am still thinking of who some debased politicians in the country think has accomplished these feats, if not the Service Chiefs, with Gen. Buratai as the Chief Armour Bearer.
    Nigerians are no longer under the nightmare of the spell of Boko Haram, constantly visiting atrocities and horrendous attacks,  so recklessly on any part of the country as obtainable in the past. Of course, I won’t say, Boko Haram insurgency has completely ended, but it has been severely degraded and decapitated, to the extent that now insurgents only strike at obscure locations.  But our gallant soldiers are still on their trail in Clearance Operations. We cannot be this blind to reality!
    We can only appreciate Gen. Buratai if we know that he has been able to stop the massive recruitment of our sons and daughters into Boko Haram as footsoldiers.  It’s a difficult task, but he has done it. It means Gen. Buratai has confronted insurgency on all fronts- battlefield, cyberspace,  pyschological and ideological warfares.
    I am not wise, but I know when someone attempts to fool me. If at this point, some Nigerians still doubt what the incumbent Service Chiefs have done in combating terrorism, they could even query the day of their birth. Had other Service Chiefs did half of what current batch are doing now in finally routing out Boko Haram terrorism, Nigeria would have been a free nation by today.
    I feel these Service Chiefs deserve national honors. It’s the only way we can convince an inquisitive world about appreciating their service and sacrifices to our  fatherland in quelling terrorism.
    Onmeje wrote this piece from Bromley, London..

  • Nigerians not getting enough from security agencies, says Lawan

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said Nigerians are not getting the best from the security agencies due to the way their structures were designed.

    Lawan made the observation while contributing to a motion on renewed activities of armed robbers and kidnappers on the Lokoja-Abuja road, moved by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

    The Senate President said the time had come to ban the Army, the police and other paramilitary personnel from using railway services.

    He said they should instead ply the roads and clear them for other Nigerians to travel safely.

    According to him, there is urgent need to review the nation’s security architecture and allocate more funds for security in the national budgets.

    Read Also: Why Nigeria should celebrate, by Lawan, Gbajabiamila, Mustapha

    Lawan said: “The issue of kidnapping, banditry and other security challenges is affecting all of us. I also agree completely that we need to do something differently.

    “You recall that before we went on recess, we mentioned that we needed to go back to that report on the ad hoc committee set up to review the architecture of the security in Nigeria, which the Eighth Senate set up.

    “In addition to doing something, maybe by way of a public hearing to ensure that we review the security architecture and the structure of our agencies today, because of the way they are designed, I think we are not getting the best out of them and we cannot go on like this.

    “Maybe we would be a little more radical. We need to give the security agencies some more funds, but we should insist on accountability.

    “It is not enough to give them money; we must see how they utilise the money. We must insist on that, and if we do that, we must insist that uniform people must not join the train because they are the ones that are supposed to protect us.

    “The military, the police and para-military agencies should allow the ordinary people to use the train.

    “Let them ply the roads because that would clear the roads for other road users to go on the roads.

    “We have to take these measures and take some responsibilities and obligations.”

    Also, senators decried the renewed kidnappings on the Abuja-Lokoja road and other highways in the country.

    They urged security agencies to immediately tighten security on the roads.

    The senators also urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to further protect the lives of Nigerians on the Abuja-Lokoja expressway and other highways across the country.

    In his lead debate, Senator Melaye drew the Senate’s attention to repeated kidnappings on the Lokoja-Abuja highway in September.

    The Kogi senator urged his colleagues to note that the highway is the gateway to about nine states and the only road that joins the South and the North.

    He said: “Specifically, between Aseni and Omoko village on that expressway, on September 11, there was a very serious issue of kidnap where about eight people were abducted on that road.

    “As if that was not enough, on September 18 again, they came more vociferous and kidnaped 11 people and destroying property of motorists.

    “As if that was not enough, on September 24, the gang of armed robbers came there and killed eight Nigerians, including one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who was commuting on that road.

    “They killed eight people and kidnapped 18 people. My worry is that it happened on September 11 and there was no special security attention to it.

    “It happened again on September 18 and it was fully demonstrated again on September 24, where the lives of eight Nigerians were unceremoniously taken.

    “In a country where there is law and order; in a country where the poor and rich pay their taxes, Chapter 2 of the Constitution and Section 14(2b) is very clear. And what does that part of the constitution say? It says the primary responsibility of the government shall be the security and welfare of the people…”

    Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe and Danjuma Goje supported the motion.

  • Border closure: Customs rakes in N9.2billion in one day – Ali

    The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd) has declared the agency collected N9.2billion in one day as a result of the ongoing partial border closure exercise by the Federal Government.

    Ali, who was answering questions from members of the joint National Assembly Committee on Finance in Abuja, said the agency maintains an average revenue collection of N5billion to N6billion on a daily basis.

    The customs boss was at the National Assembly on the invitation of the National Assembly joint committee on Finance presently considering the 2020 – 2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) submitted to both chambers by President Muhammadu Buhari, last week.

    He said that most cargoes that used to berth in Benin Republic and later smuggle their goods into the country are now using Nigerian ports.

    Read Also: Customs boss lauds Ogun command over joint border security

    He said the agency’s revenue has not dropped but rather increased as the a result of the closure.

    Ali said: “When we closed the border my fear was that our revenue is going to drop. To be honest our revenue kept increasing.

    “There was a day in September that we collected N9.2billion in one day. It has never happened before.

    “This is after the closure of the border and since then, we have maintained an average of about N4.7billion to N5.8 billion on a daily basis which is far more than we used to collect.

    “What we have discovered is that most of those cargoes that used to go to Benin (Republic), shipped to Benin, continue and then discharged and smuggled into Nigeria, now that we have closed the border they are forced to bring their goods to either Apapa or Tin Can Island and we have to collect duty on them.

    “If that would continue to us it is a welcome situation. As a matter of fact to answer your question, our revenue has not reduced. As a matter of fact, it is increasing as a result of closing the border.”

    Ali also said that there has been a significant reduction in the amount of fuel supposedly consumed daily in Nigeria since the exercise began.

    “About 10.2million litres of fuel has now been cut down from what we have been assuming to have been consuming. This 10.2million litres of fuel is always going to across the border.

    “The issue here is that there is incentive because there is price differential. And that is why our people keep pushing this fuel. If you go to Ilaro today, the filling stations that are there…in Idiroko, there are over 50 tp 60 filling stations in one place and they are close to the border.

    “And what we have discovered is that they bring in fuel in the afternoon and in the night they siphon it. They do that everyday and this is why we keep saying we are consuming so many litres of fuel everyday.”

    The National Assembly has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, to appear before its joint committee tomorrow by 9am tomorrow (today).

    This was sequel to the fact that despite having been invited by the Committee, the CBN Governor neither sent a representative nor a letter to explain his absence.

    Babandede also did not heed the Committee’s invitation on Wednesday.

  • Apochi battles Pryor in Houston

    Efetobor ‘Nigerian Pitbull’ Apochi will climb back into the ring tomorrow at the Arena Theatre, Houston, Texas, USA as he takes on journeyman Larry Pryor.

    The 31 year-old Ughelli-born boxer is confident Pryor would not last more than four rounds in the scheduled eight-round bout.

    “This fight should be over by the 4th round. He is no match for my ferocity and punching power.

    “The fight will surely end early despite Pryor’s experience because the ‘Nigerian Pitbull’ plays rough,” Apochi told NationSport in a Facebook chat.

    An accomplished amateur in Nigeria where he captained the boxing team to a bronze-winning performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Apochi has knocked-out all his opponents in his Eight fights since turning professional in 2017.

    Apochi knocked out Earl Newman in the 7th round in his last fight in Biloxi, Mississippi in May.

    He is trained by the legendary Ronnie Shields who also trains heavyweight prospect Efe Ajagba.

    Pryor, 37, a Frederick, Maryland native, is looking to bounce back from a decision loss to Raphael Murphy in August. He has won 11 out of 32 fights since he began professional boxing in 2005 and has lost the remaining 22.

  • N2b ‘fraud’: EFCC grills Maina

    Former Chairman of the Pension Task Reform Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by the Department of State Services (DSS), it was learnt on Wednesday.

    He was arrested in Abuja on Monday by DSS operatives.

    Maina, who was looking pensive, was brought to the anti-graft agency about 5.30pm.

    The suspect was quizzed over alleged N2 billion biometrics contract.

    It was also learnt that Maina was interrogated over his choice assets in Kado Estate, Abuja, some properties in Kaduna and a large farm in Keffi, the Nasarawa State capital.

    A source, who spoke in confidence yesterday, said: “Maina, who we had earlier declared wanted, was brought to EFCC by the DSS a few hours ago. The security agency handed him over after the completion of its profiling on him.

    “You know Maina has been hiding in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and some neighbouring countries and there is need to de-brief him on certain security challenges associated with him.

    Read Also: N84.6m fraud: EFCC grills INEC accountant, three others

    “For instance, intelligence report indicated that Maina was asked how he always succeeded in sneaking in and out of the country and his connection with a safe house in Abuja.

    “But as soon as he was handed over to the EFCC, detectives isolated issues for him on the N2 billion biometrics contact. He was also asked to make statement on the funding of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team.

    “He has also been asked to explain how he came about choice assets in Abuja and Kaduna.

    “The investigation might also be extended to his activities as a former director in Customs, Immigration and Prisons Office (CIPPO), which he superintended with huge cash flow.”

    Replying a question, the EFCC source said: “He will soon be arraigned in court because we have already preferred charges against him.

    “As far back as July 21, 2015, Maina was arraigned at a Federal High Court on a 24-count charge with a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye, Osarenkhoe Afe and Fredrick Hamilton Global Services Limited.

    “He is expected to face trial for charges bordering on procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

    “What detectives are doing now is to obtain a statement from him on some findings about him before the court proceedings.”

    Asked of his status, the source added: “Maina was in pensive mood; he never expected that the law would catch up with him.”

    Also yesterday, Maina’s 20-year-old son Faisal, was alleged to have pulled a pistol on security operatives who arrested him and his father on Monday.

    DSS spokesman at the services national headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Peter Afunanya, made the allegation in a statement.

    The statement titled: “DSS arrests Abdul-Rasheed Maina”, said the combined DSS operation, on September 30, arrested Maina at the Pennsylvania Avenue Hotel in Abuja.

    It explained that the arrest followed a request by the EFCC to apprehend the suspect.

    The statement said: “Maina was arrested in company of his 20-year-old son, Faisal Abdul-Rasheed Maina, who unsuccessfully tried to resist the arrest.

    “The lad even pulled a pistol against the security agents involved in the operation. He was, however, disarmed and arrested. He is a final year student at the Canadian University of Dubai where he is studying Telecoms Engineering.

    “Items recovered from the suspects, include a pistol with live ammunition, a bullet-proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), a BMW saloon car, foreign currencies, a phantom 7 drone and sensitive documents.

    “The suspects and the recovered items will be handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and appropriate necessary actions.

    “It is instructive to note that the operation is as a result of a renewed interagency collaboration among security and law enforcement agencies.

    “The Service has always subscribed to such collaboration believed to be important in national security management and therefore, hopes to sustain the initiative in mitigating the current threats against public safety and national critical assets.”

    Maina, who was picked up by DSS operatives in a hotel in Abuja, had in 2017, been declared Maina wanted, following his refusal to honour the commission’s invitations.

    But in his bid to evade the long arm of the law, Maina, on September 5, 2018, in a suit  asked the court to decide whether the Commission can lawfully exercise powers of declaring him wanted, either on its official website or any other media platform, or ‘harass him.’

    But Justice Folasade Giwa Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court restrained the anti- graft commission from declaring Maina wanted.

    She also gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the EFCC and its affiliates or related bodies from further declaring Maina wanted in relation to the issue of the pension scam.

    The EFCC said the judgment must not be allowed to stand and headed to the Appeal Court.

  • Ajimobi done talking!

    Breaking news: Abiola Ajimobi, perhaps the most colourful — and most formidable — talker of his political generation, is done talking!

    Now howzat, to throw in that cricket-speak?  Would Oyo politics ever be the same, without the lean, mean, colourful and electric Ajimobi-jive?

    Is this some modern-day political Pauline conversation? Or some political end-time in Oyo State, where the Ajimobi sharp tongue had ruled the roost, these last eight years, where the man with class and dash held gubernatorial court; and would allow no one — not when he had his tongue! — to stand between him and the arduous task of building a modern Oyo State?

    Or just, the mood of Ecclesiastics 3 in the Bible, which pronounces a time for everything — in this case, for Ajimobi, a time to speak and a time to be mute?

    Changing times!  Changing fortunes!  Changing moods!

    Yet, you can’t be but be impressed by the context of the Ajimobi no-more-jiving declaration which, at least in Hardball’s opinion, suggests commendable statesmanship.

    On Sunday September 28, Ajimobi was among 95 honorees at the Catholic St. Mary’s Cathedral, Oke Padre, Ibadan.  Asked to assess Governor Seyi Makinde, his PDP successor, across party lines, the former governor said the virtual impossible: “Yes, I have done eight years of talking; now it is time for me to keep silent and allow the other man to do his job.”

    Wise, deep and statesmanlike — particularly as the Makinde camp appears never passing up an opportunity to rubbish the old czar, as part of its own power-entry strategy.   Ajimobi was indeed a flamboyant, no-nonsense gubernatorial czar, whose sharp tongue never suffered fools gladly.

    But perhaps Ajimobi himself was changing tack, a form of silence is golden — and damning — strategy: to confront all post-gubernatorial barbs with loud and deafening silence.

    Still, before the silent treatment (?), the old tiger appeared to have let go some valedictory, self-lifting music: “I feel really elated, I feel happy, very honoured,” he declared of the Catholic honour, “especially when you are being honoured by the people that we serve and the people that serve God.  When you are recognized by clerics, men of God, it is the best honour you can get.”

    Irrespective of whatever partisan foes’ yarn?  Why does this remind Hardball of King Sunny Ade’s Let Them Say musical hit?

    Still, a mute Ajimobi? Ajimobi done talking?  Hardball can’t quite wrap his hands around it!  The Oyo political tapestry would be all the poorer for it!  The most cutting — and caustic — tongue of his political generation is pushing his democratic right to be mute!

    But golden advice from Hardball: the Makinde camp had better not push their luck too far — or the cutting, raking tongue might just be back!

  • Lagos closes Costain Bridge

    The Lagos State government on Wednesday disclosed plans to shut down the Costain Roundabout inwards Funso Williams Avenue for three months, beginning from Thursday October 3.

    The closure, according to a statement, is to facilitate the completion of the ongoing construction of the bridge.

    The Federal Government had embarked on building a new flyover bridge to replace the existing one whose headroom had been inadequate for the speed train being proposed to connect Apapa ports for wet and cargo freight services.

    Government issued a travel advisory for commuters and motorists on the road, urging motorists coming from Funso Williams Avenue  enroute Apapa Road/Iganmu to Apapa to make use of Alaka to Eric Moore to Abebe Village (Nigerian Breweries) and continue the journey, while those heading to Lagos Island from Funso Williams can connect through Eko Bridge from Ijora Olopa or Apongbon.

    Read Also: Civil society groups protest at Lagos Assembly

    Those heading to Lagos Island from Orile can use Iganmu Road to connect Eko Bridge through Costain.

    Motorists coming from Lagos Island that have no business in Costain and its environs can make use of Eko Bridge to Funso Williams Avenue.

    Those foing Costain Roundabout,  Alaka, or Ebute Meta can take Apapa Road to Abule Nla Road to connect Funso Williams Avenue by Leadway Assurance building to continue their journey.

  • Buhari arrives in South Africa for talks

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday arrived at Waterloof Air Force Base, Pretoria, to begin a three-day official visit to South Africa.

    The President left the Presidential Villa, Abuja at about 1:30 p.m. for Pretoria via the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Buhari had earlier presided over the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before embarking on the trip.

    Read Also: 2020 Budget: Buhari to chair extra-ordinary FEC Saturday

    The visit is coming against the background of recent xenophobic attacks, the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians and the exchange of visits by special envoys of Presidents Buhari and Ramaphosa.

    The Nigerian leader will hold bilateral meeting with his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in Pretoria, to discuss the welfare of Nigerians.

    The two African leaders will also find common grounds for building harmonious relations among their respective citizens.

    Buhari will hold a town hall meeting with Nigerians living in the country to share in their experiences.

    An earlier statement on the trip issued by Malan Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesperson, said the Nigerian leader would use the opportunity to reassure Nigerians in South Africa of the Nigerian government’s commitment to working for the protection of their lives and property and promoting peaceful co-existence.

    The president is expected back in Abuja on Friday.