IBB Supports Saraki’s presidential ambition
It was cheering news for the Presidential ambition of former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki as former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida throws his weight and support for him as the rightful man to take over from President Muhamadu Buhari come 2023.
General Babangida was responding to request from a delegation of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ABS, National Campaign Advocacy Council led by its Chairman, Prof Hagher Iorwuese and Director- General, Chief Osaro Onaiwu who were at the Minna Hill top residence of the former military strongman to seek support for Saraki.
Babangida who did not hide his admiration for Saraki did not mince words, but equate Saraki to a Self Propelled(SP) artillery gun, an abbreviation for Senate President, whose credentials and personality speaks for him.
According to him, many aspirants have come and will come here. But a young man of his( Saraki) status who knows the country well should lead the country for maximum results.
Cancer Cases in Nigeria Hit 233,912 – Report
A new report by Giving Tide International has revealed that Nigeria currently has an estimated 233,911 cancer cases and registers 124,815 new cases yearly.
According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is one of the leading causes of death and an important barrier to increasing life expectancy in every nation.
A 2019 study showed that cancer leads to death before the age of 70 years in 112 of 183 countries. Unfortunately, 70% of these deaths occur in developing nations like Nigeria due to lack of access to optimal care.
The report warned that except resources are rightly placed to appropriately treat and manage the growing cases, the projected increase in cases will be followed by increase in mortality rates. To manage the menace of increased cancer cases in Nigeria, the organisation suggested that the country build a Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) that can optimally tackle all stages and types of cancer.
Gunmen Storms Residence Of Gusau University ASUU Chairman, Abducts His Family
At least six persons have been reportedly abducted, following an attack on the residence of the ASUU Chairman of the Federal University of Gusau (FUGUS), Abdurrahman Adamu.
A staff of the institution and close relative of the ASUU leader, who confirmed the incident, said the gunmen stormed Adamu’s residence in Damba Quarters, an outskirt of Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, in the early hours of Wednesday and abducted five persons in his home.
The source further disclosed that the ASUU chairman did not sleep in that house on Tuesday night, and as such, he was not present when the raid took place. The abducted victims include the ASUU Chairman’s younger brother, a niece, a nephew, and two of his wives’ younger sisters. The kidnappers also abducted a neighbor, who is also a staff in the bursary department of the university.
Police authorities in the state are yet to issue any statement on the incident.
2023: Wike clears the air, says he is not Atiku’s Running Mate
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has debunked reports that he will be the running mate of former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful for the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike spoke on Tuesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital, during a PDP stakeholders meeting.
The Governor stated that at the appropriate time, members of the party in the South will speak in one voice about their decision on the 2023 presidential election.
The Governor also advised PDP members struggling to be the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Rivers to be calm, as it was too early to start campaigning for the position.
Tanker Explodes On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Kills 2
At least two persons have died in a tanker explosion on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday morning.
The Sector Commander, Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ahmed Umar, said the accident occurred about 6.05 a.m. near CDK Company.
Umar said eight male adults, three vehicles, and a Bajaj motorcycle, were involved in the unfortunate incident. He said that two persons died, while six other persons came out unhurt from the accident.
According to him, excessive speeding on part of one of the truck drivers was the cause of the accident and explosion. He said that the inferno had been put off by firefighters and traffic has also been diverted to ease the free flow of traffic.
Nnamdi Kanu’s Co-Accused To Be Arraigned On Terrorism Charges
The Federal Government is set to arraign the four co-defendants of Nnamdi Kanu on terrorism charges this Wednesday morning. The arraignment is scheduled for the Federal High Court in Abuja, before Justice Binta Nyako.
Already, heavily armed operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have taken position in and around the court premises to ward off possible threat to peace.
At the time of this report, the four defendants Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudike, Benjamin Maduagwu and David Nwaurusi were already seated in the court room.
Meanwhile, both Justice Nyako and counsel to the Federal Government, Shuaib Magaji Labaran are yet to arrive the court.
Emirates To Resume Flight Operations In Nigeria
The Federal Government has given approval for Dubai-based Emirates Airlines to resume flight operations to Nigeria.
The Government also asked the authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to approve the request by Air Peace for the resumption of passenger flights effective March 1, 2022.
This was contained in a letter written by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and addressed to His Excellency, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaid, Director General, UAE General Civil Aviation Authority.
FirstNigeriaTv recalls that the UAE had restricted passengers travelling to the Middle East nation from Nigeria and 11 other African countries,following the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 late last year. Thus was only lifted on January 29, 2022.
Nollywood actor, Tafa Oloyede dies at 69
Nollywood actor, John Adewuni Adewoye, popularly known as Tafa Oloyede is dead. He was 69 years old.
Osun state Secretary of the Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria, Ademola Oyedokun broke the news of Tafa’s death on Tuesday.
Tafa, who hailed from Ede, died in his Osogbo home on Tuesday. Born on 19 November 1952, he would have clocked 70 this year.
He began acting in 1974 and had his tutelage under late Oyin Adejobi. He featured in many movies such as ‘Jaiyesimi’, ‘Ayanmo’, ‘Ekuro Oloja’, ‘Orogun’, ‘Akanji Oniposi.’ He is survived by wife and children.
Sanwo-Olu proposes Lekki Port as final solution to decongest Apapa
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Tuesday said that timely completion of Lekki Port would put an end to the intractable Apapa gridlock.
Sanwo-Olu said this at the Opening Ceremony of the Africa Business Convention, organised by Business Day Newspaper at Victoria Island. He said that the completion of Lekki Port would ease the congestion along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, the port access roads and Apapa environs.
The governor noted that several measures would be put in place to ensure that Apapa was decongested. The state government needed to change the officials regularly to ensure there was no compromise in services rendered.
Sanwo-Olu informed that government was committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to residents and had completed iconic projects within the state in the last two and half years.
N784.3m Debt: Court orders unfreezing Of Benue accounts
The Federal High Court Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the unfreezing of all accounts belonging to the Benue Government except one domiciled in Zenith bank.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order after adoption of Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) by lawyers representing parties in the suit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria is the claimant/applicant in the case, HPPS Multilinks Services Ltd and Benue Government are 1st and 2nd respondents. The MoU dated Jan. 25 and filed on Jan. 26 was adopted on Feb. 1.
Justice Ekwo subsequently ordered that Zenith bank with account No. 1013470079 designated as Benue Government Ecological Account remained frozen in the sum of the disputed debt vide interim order of the court pending the determination of the case. He, however, ordered the unfreezing of all Benue government accounts with Access Bank Plc, Citibank Nigeria Ltd, Ecobank Nigeria Ltd, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Heritage Bank Pic.
