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  • RTEAN dissolves Lagos excos, sets up caretaker committee

    The National leadership of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has dissolved the Lagos state chapter of the Association and put in place a 23- man caretaker committee.

    National President of the Association, Comrade Osakpanwan Eriyo and Comrade Yusuf Adeniyi said Alhaji Suleiman Onabanjo is to head the caretaker committee while Akhigbe Augustine will serve as Secretary in a statement.

    The statement said that the dissolution followed the expiration of the five year tenure of the executive.

    It reads:”We want to use this opportunity to congratulate the outgoing executive of RTEAN, Lagos State for successful completion of their tenure in office.

    “I thank the chairman and the members of the outgoing executive for keeping with the tenets of the association during their tenure and more Importantly, the Almighty God for his grace and mercy for preserving our lives and for us to see this day.

    “It will be recalled that the outgoing executive of Lagos State Branch of RTEAN was inaugurated in the year 2014 and in line with Article 9 (a) and (c) of RTEAN Constitution which provides that an executive member of RTEAN shall hold office for a period of 5 years (60 calendar months). The tenure of this outgoing executive have elapsed.

    “Upon the expiration of their tenure in office, the present Lagos State Executive Council of RTEAN stands dissolved in accordance with Articie 9(e) and (i) of the RTEAN Constitution.

    READ ALSO: RTEAN to partner with EFCC in fight against corruption

    “‘Based on the powers vested me as the Executive National President of R.T EA.N hereby dissolve the Lagos State Executive Branch of RTEAN, their tenure in office having expired. Consequently, I hereby inaugurate the care-taker committee to hold office and manage same from now to the time a new executive of Lagos State Branch of R.T.E.A.N. emerge.

    “In line with Article 6 (20) (h) and (i) of the constitution of R.T.E.A.N, I hereby appoint the following persons as members of Lagos State Caretaker Committee.”

    Members of the caretaker committee include Alhaji Suleman Onabanjo (Chairman), Seriki Isiaka Ayobanji (Deputy Chairman), Akhigbe Augustine (Secretary), Alhaji Segun Jolaosho (Treasurer) and Afam Anere (Public Relations Officer).

    Comrade Henry Ejiofor, Alhaji Jire Oyebode, Abdulraman Onikejipa, Samson Deen Ajala Kaosara, Alhaji Abu Seriki, Pius Uhunamure, Seyi Bamigbose, Taofeek Ajayi, Adewale Tajudeen, Babatunde Olufemi, Olusegun Gboyega, Tope Akinfaderin, Sogunro Kehide, Augustine Aiwansoba, Yomi Afinni, Rotimi Okunowo, Victor Ehimare and Mohammed Abubakar are to serve as Member

  • Biafra: Kanu leads delegation to UN on Tuesday

    Leader of the proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will on Tuesday lead a delegation to the UN office in Geneva, Switzerland.

    The Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful who disclosed this on Sunday in a statement, however said the details of these meetings would not be made public.

    The statement partly reads: “Going by the relentless engagement of the international community by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) consider it imperative to inform the great people of Biafra, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that in keeping with the promise of our leader during his last outing at the EU, he will be leading a delegation to the UN office in Geneva Switzerland on Tuesday 18th September 2019.

    “As usual details of these meetings will not be subject to public disclosure as we are well aware of the lengths the corrupt, fraudulent and election stealing cabal will go to hamstring and frustrate our efforts.

    “Not many people know that Nigerian Ambassador to the EU personally rang Seb Dance the Member of European Parliament that invited our leader to the EU, to try bullying him into cancelling the event.

    “Anytime we make public our critical diplomatic engagements, the corrupt Nigerian Government has used their considerable wealth and clout of sovereignty to cajole, buy-off, bribe, intimidate and threaten their business interests in Africa.

    “Nigeria it must be said, sent two female diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to observe our leader’s presentation at the European Parliament.

    “Our leader even walked across to these diplomats after the event to thank them for coming.

    “Any Nigerian or agent of Nigeria that wants to know the outcome of the Brussels outing should ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after all two of their diplomats were there to hear our leader speak.

    According to the statement, Kanu, would during the trip, engage in a series of meetings and would for the first time officially present to various UN agencies and bodies a catalogue of serial killings, abductions, massacre and ongoing reign of terror in Nigeria against Biafrans.

    READ ALSO: The Fall of Nnamdi Kanu, Season 4

    “It is our stated intention to bring the human tragedy that Nigeria has become to the attention of the civilised world.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and possible misrepresentation or interpretation, our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his team will appear before the great men and women of the world at the UN headquarters in Geneva and not the General Assembly in New York as being speculated in some quarters.

    “Our demand for the recognition of the right of Biafrans to self-determination and the need for urgent intervention of the civilised world in order to avert looming catastrophe will continue to gather momentum.”

    While calling on Biafrans living in Switzerland and other European countries to come out to support its leader and his team on the landmark occassion, the group restated its resolve never to stop until Biafra was restored.

    “It should be recalled that our leader explicitly stated during his visit to EU Parliament that our next move will be to the UN and after that Washington DC. Today we are glad to say the UN visit is set and in the coming weeks, we will be in Washington DC.

    “IPOB is fighting very strongly on all diplomatic and legal fronts to ensure that the right of Biafrans and other trapped ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to self-determination is upheld. We will not leave any stone unturned in our quest to accomplish this.” the statement added.

  • Southeast Govs shun PDP meeting in Anambra.

    The four Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the southeast failed to attend the zonal meeting of the party on Sunday in Anambra State.

    None of Governors Emeka Ihedioha of Imo, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu states attended the meeting.

    The southeast meeting of the party however attracted the zonal Chairman of PDP, Austine Umahi From Ebonyi and the Governorship hopefuls for Anambra 2021.

    Leading the pack of the governorship aspirants were Dr Obiora Okonkwo, Sen Uche Ekwunife and Hon Chris Azubuogu among others.

    The aspirants vowed to work together to ensure victory in the 2021 governorship election to make the entire zone a PDP controlled zone.

    They also promised that they would not allow the party to be hijacked by money bags or its ticket bought, during the election.

    Addressing the members, the zonal chairman, Mr Austin Umahi, warned interested aspirants to rather resort to hard work than hoping to hijack the party.

    According to him: “We’re happy that Anambra PDP today is one family. There is no faction in the party in the state today, and I want to assure you that under my watch, no one man can hijack this party.

    “My wish is that under my watch, Anambra will join PDP. I am not in doubt that you have the capacity to do this. You have people in Anambra who are capable, and the party in the state also has the resources.

    READ ALSO: Southeast govs write Buhari over Enugu airport closure, herdsmen

    “When we started working to win Imo State, I was always going to the state on a weekly basis, and it was like a joke, but today Imo is a PDP state. We hope that Anambra will be the fifth PDP state in the south east, and when I am handing over, I will do so with happiness.”

    Hon Ndubuisi Nwobu, Anambra state Chairman of PDP, said the party would not do any form of merchandising in the forthcoming election.

    He urged those who had interest in contesting the governorship election to go and seek the support of the people and not hope that they could induce the party to hand them the ticket on a platter of gold.

    Nwobu said: “Our zonal chairman, may I tell you that Anambra PDP is very easy people to govern. I found this out since I became the state chairman of the party”

    “All you need to cage an Anambra man is to keep telling him the truth. As elections approach, I want to say that there will not be any form of merchandising during this election. The primary election of the party would be very transparent”

  • Nigeria domestic gas utilisation hits 78,000MT in July

    The Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Abdulkadiri Saidu, has stated that domestic gas utilisation hit 78,000 metric tonnes in July this year.

    He said in a statement the country has recorded steady growth in Domestic LPG Utilisation.

    He noted that the efforts of government, industry Operators and Regulators in deepening LPG Penetration is paying off as the nation continues to record rapid growth in the Utilisation of LPG in the country.

    The Executive Secretary added that “while domestic utilization ranged between Forty thousand (40,000) MT and Fifty-four thousand (54, 000) MT from January to April 2018, July 2019 monthly utilization hit Seventy-eight (78,000) MT.

    “This figure is expected to increase in the months ahead as some of government and industry initiatives take root.

    READ ALSO: WAGP’s unmet regional gas demand hits 700mmscf/d

    Correspondingly, there has been a steady decrease in Kerosene utilization within the same period indicating that Nigerians are increasingly finding value in the switch to LPG from House Hold kerosene for cooking and other domestic purposes.

    “The rapid growth in LPG utilization is in fulfillment of the vision of the Government on deepening LPG utilization in the country as encapsulated in the National Gas Policy 2017.”

    The Executive Secretary assured Nigerians that government, regulators, operators and other stakeholders will remain focused on the formulation and implementation of a stream of policies that will see to the actualisation of the 5 Million Metric Tons cumulative target by the year 2022.

  • FUOYE killings: NANS arrives Ekiti

    Officials of The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have arrived Ado-Ekiti for mass action over the killing of two students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).

    The arrival, which was in defiance of a police warning to stay away, was posted on the twitter handle of NANS @nansnig on Sunday.

    NANS said its officials and other students from across the country would visit the management of FUOYE, families of the deceased students, traditional rulers of each community they visit, injured students at the hospital, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Ekiti State Government, State Security Service and the State Police Command.

    The police spokesperson, Mr Caleb Ikechukwu, responded by condemning the movement of NANS into Ekiti State and accused the student leaders of inciting violence in the “peaceful state.”

    He alleged that some of the student leaders were “not currently students of any higher institution of learning in Ekiti State.”

    READ ALSO: FUOYE killings: NANS demands Judicial Panel of Enquiry

    NANS delegation include its President Comrade Bamidele Danielson; Secretary Comrade Yusuf Farouk; FUOYE Students Union President Comrade Oluwaseun Awodola and other stakeholders.

  • I paid N127, 000 to join the Police- suspected impersonator

    A suspected Police Corporal impersonator, Samuel Ogabiadu, has narrated how he paid N127,000 to an unidentified Assistant Superintendent of Police to facilitate his employment with the Force.

    He spoke after operatives from the FCT police command arrested him in Gwarinpa area of Abuja after he failed to prove his identity as a police officer.

    Ogabiadu told our correspondent: “I am a security personnel in My project security outfit.

    “I was coming from my duty post around 2am and I was intercepted by policemen. When they intercepted me, I introduced myself to them as a policeman who was coming back from duty.

    “I showed them my Police warrant ID card as a Corporal. I told them I was a policeman because they had already seen an ID card which had my passport on it.

    “It all started in 2014 when a man told me he was an ASP. I usually meet him in Nyanya at the barracks. He told me he wanted help me to join the police since I was interested in it.

    “I paid him N127, 000 to join the police and I thought the man was genuine though I have never seen him in police uniform. I always see him wear black on black.

    “We met four times and during those meetings, he will call some people and ask: “That thing I did for you, did it work?” and the people will respond yes. After they leave, he will now tell me that he helped them get recruitment and even promotion into the Force.

    “With the nature of conversation he had with them, I thought he was real. He gave me my ID card and promised to come later with my uniform and other kits.”

    The suspect continued: “He also told me that the Nigeria Police Force have already made bus available that would convey us to Osun state where I have been posted to.

    “He later gave me uniform and asked me to wear it and he snapped me.

    “After three days of snapping me, he invited me and gave me the ID card but he collected the uniform from me. He also told me we would be going to Osun state the following day.

    “On the day we were to depart to Osun, I called him and he refused to pick. When he eventually picked, he told me that I was very stupid and unserious that I was late to the departure venue.

    “He said if I was a serious person, I would meet them in Osun state. I took the next available bus to Osun but I did not see him.”

    READ ALSO: Police nab impersonators of Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    He also told The Nation that he has passion for uniform works though he had tried couple of times without success.

    “I would love to join the police because I love the uniform. I made attempts to join in the past but it was not fruitful. I also tried to join the Army but I was not recruited.

    “When the policemen stopped me, one of them asked for my number and the unit I belong to but I did not know the response to give because the man did not sensitize me on what to say.”

    Narrating how he was arrested, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Sunday Babaji said: “On 30th August 2029 at about 0200hrs, Police operatives on patrol at Gwarimpa arrested one Samuel Ogabaidu for impersonating to be a police officer.

    “The suspect who was arrested while driving against traffic introduced himself to the patrol team as a Police Corporal. However, when questioned he confessed that he was not a Police.”

    The DCP further said the Command was yet to ascertain his mission and also unravel the source of the security gadgets found in his possession which include one jack knife, a fake Police warrant card, improvised bullet proof vest, some security gadgets and accoutrement..

    The Police said he will be arraigned in court after conclusion of investigation.

  • I’ve passed through turbulent times since becoming Governor – Abiodun

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun on Sunday declared that he had experienced one of the most turbulent times since becoming Governor.

    Abiodun said his victory (in the March 9 governorship election in Ogun state) had been contested in many courts, stressing that the Saturday validation of it by the Tribunal is further affirmation that with God nothing shall be impossible.

    The Governor made this known while speaking with reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after emerging from the opening ceremony of the second plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference at the Sacred Heart College, Okelewo, Abeokuta.

    In attendance at the conference were Governors Kayode Fayemi(Ekiti); Simon Lalong(Plateau); Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi; Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Pauline Tallen; Osun Deputy Governor Gboyega Alabi; Prof. Pat Utomi, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong and Pharm. Jimi Agbaje – all practicing Catholics.

    Abiodun, who was reacting to his victory at the Tribunal, noted that he has experienced one of the most turbulent periods any governor could have had, saying he went through nine pre – election cases in addition to being at the Tribunal.

    READ ALSO: Tribunal labels Akinlade’s petition ‘lazy, hollow’, affirms Abiodun as Ogun gov

    He said: “My first reaction to give glory to Almighty God. And to say that this is further affirmation that indeed with God nothing shall be impossible.

    “This victory is for Ogun State people who have entrusted me with this mandate. It has been contested in so many courts.
    “I have gone through probably one of the most turbulent periods any governor could have gone through. I went through several pre – election cases, about eight or nine and also this tribunal.

    “God has continued to remain God, this mandate is a divine mandate and I believe that is obvious to all. This is a decision of the people of Ogun state and that was further ratified by the people yesterday.

    “Unfortunately, I was away in Burkina Faso yesterday, but I was being informed about what was going back home and I was told it was a detailed judgment.

    “I am thankful to the judiciary, the Ogun people and my team of lawyers who are very learned and I am thankful to my party that has stood by me during this period. They are very discipline, very resilient, supportive and I could not have opted to be in another party apart from APC.

    “It is not because I am the best in the state, but, I am special. God has just given me the assignment to lead Ogun state at this point in time. I have pledged I will do so with all God has given me.”

  • ETTU Champions League: Quadri bows to Assar in Germany

    In less than two weeks after Aruna Quadri ended the dream of retaining the men’s singles by Egypt’s Omar Assar at the 2019 African Games, the Egyptian has avenged the defeat with a 3-1 win over the Nigerian at the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) Champions League at the weekend.

    Playing away to Borussia Dusseldorf in the first round of the ETTU Champions League, Quadri led Sporting of Portugal to the German city of Dusseldorf but the Nigeria Open champion could not save his team from losing 1-3.

    Portuguese international – Diogo Carvalho gave Sporting a perfect lead after upsetting German legend Timo Boll in the opener with a 3-1 (11:9, 9:11, 9:11, 12:14) win, but it was the battle between the best ranked African players, Omar ASSAR (world no. 44) and Quadri (no. 19) that tilted the game in favour of the home team with the Egyptian winning 3-1 (7:11, 11:6, 11:8, 11:6),

    Swedish star, Anton Kallberg gave Dusseldorf a 2-1 lead with a 3-0 (11:4, 11:2, 0:0) win against Sporting’s Francisco Silva in the third encounter, while Boll finished up the game for the home team with a 3-0 (11:3, 12:10, 12:10) win over Quadri to give the former champion a 3-1 win.

    READ ALSO: ETTU Champions League: Quadri, Assar rekindle rivalry in Germany

    Also in Group D, French champion Hennebont beat Croatian STK Starr 3-1 away.

    Belgian Cedric Nuytinck prevailed against both, Chinese-born duo of Qiu Liang and Sun Chia-Hung to provide two points for Hennebont in Group D. French team defeated STK Starr Croatia 3:1, in spite of losing opening encounter, when Sun Chia-Hung beat Fan Sheng Peng. Hennebont’s newcomer Samuel Walker added third point for the guests as he overcame Ronald Redjep in straight games.

    Reigning champion Russia’s Fakel Gazprom Orenburg beat France’s Angers TT 3:0 in the opening round, playing on home ground with its powerful line-up which has Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, and Belarus’ Vladimir Samsonov.

  • Xenophobia- Another 320 Nigerians return from South Africa Tuesday

    Barring any hitch, another set of 320 Nigerians trapped in xenophobic attacks will arrive the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Tuesday September 17, 2019, The Nation has learnt.

    Towards a successful air lift, a Boeing 777 – 300 belonging to Air Peace and its crew will depart Lagos in the early hours for Oliver Tambo International Airport.

    This will be the second batch Nigerians to be evacuated after 187 Nigerians arrived Lagos last week.

    Confirming this on phone, Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, said the airline was working with the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa, who confirmed the on going profiling of Nigerians billed to return home.

    Onyema said the airline is fully mobilised for the operation, saying efforts are on to deploy a bigger aircraft with capacity for 367 passengers to bring home Nigerians who are willing.

    He said the High Commission has prepared over 350 Nigerians for the flight, hoping that the sour experience of flying an aircraft half full, as it experienced last week is not favourable to the airline.

    Onyema said the carrier would be willing to deploy a bigger aircraft – with capacity to air lift over 367 passengers, if it is sure that the affected Nigerians would scale the relevant immigration and other hurdles set by South African authorities.

    According to him: “Air Peace is fully mobilised for the next batch of evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa.

    We did not suspend flights, we only waited for the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to prepare the next batch. The whole idea is not fly a half full aircraft, which would make us incur more costs and other logistics.

    READ ALSO: First batch of Nigerians to return from South Africa on Wednesday – NEMA

    “We are fully set for Tuesday, our aircraft and crew will leave about four o clock and get to South Africa about Nine o clock for the operations. We hope about 350 Nigerians are ready, so that we fly enough passengers not to leave the aircraft empty.

    “As an airline we are ready to bring back from South Africa all Nigerians willing to return. We , however, thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to carry out this national service. The president did not play politics with this matter.”

    Meanwhile, bookings on South African Airways has reduced significantly, since xenophobic attacks spiked in the country.
    Checks with travel agencies in Nigeria revealed that the airline has suffered drastic reduction on flight bookings since the attacked reached its peak.

  • Two corpses discovered in Sapele, Ughelli

    Residents of Sapele and Ughelli on Saturday, woke up to find the corpses of two men with one identified as Godwin Iwere, reportedly murdered over a land dispute.

    Iwere, found around Awolowo Extension by New Road, Sapele, was said to be an indigene of Koko, Warri North council area of Delta state, who resided in Sapele.

    He was found bare chested.

    The other corpse, The Nation gathered was found just before 2nd Amekpa Junction, along the Ughelli Section of the East-West Road, had slumped while working.

    Witnesses said he was headed towards the Amekpa Junction when the tragedy occurred.

    READ ALSO: Lawmaker seeks reconstruction of Warri-Sapele-Benin Expressway

    The dead man, dressed in a red T-shirt and pair of trousers was still lying on the ground about midday Saturday, a witness stated.

    He was clutching a black nylon bag and was observed to be swelling.

    It was further gathered that about 7pm on Friday, the deceased was still breathing when a team of policemen arrived the scene.

    They were said to have continued on their operations, leaving the man to his fate.

    The Nation, however learned on Sunday that the corpses had been evacuated.

    Commissioner of Police, Adeyinka Adeleke, could not confirm the deaths when reached for comments.