TheNewsGuru

Tag: Abuja

  • BREAKING: Tears, emotions as Senator Wakil is buried in Abuja [Photos]

    The senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Ali Wakil has been buried, hours after his death was announced in Abuja.

    Wakil’s death reportedly occurred around 9:00 a.m. at his residence in Abuja. He was 58.

    The late senator was buried a Gudu District Cemetery in Abuja around 2:00 p.m. after Islamic rites were performed on his remains at the National Mosque.

    He was not physically ill prior to his death. He was said to be preparing to leave for a wedding in Yola when he suddenly slumped and was pronounced dead on the spot.

    His two wives and sons and daughters survived him.

    A retired customs comptroller, Mr. Wakil was first elected to the Senate for the Bauchi South Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

    He joined the Nigerian Customs Service after graduating from Bayero University, Kano.

    Tributes are already pouring in from some of his colleagues.

    President Muhammadu Buhari described his death as “an incalculable loss to Nigeria’s democracy whose dedication to duty was remarkable and worthy of emulation.”

    “The passion for duty was one of the finest qualities of late Senator Wakil,” the president said.

    “He was a principled, focused and resourceful parliamentarian who identified with the ordinary people,” said former Senate President David Mark in a statement. “He fought for the welfare of citizens without compromise.”

    “He practiced inclusive politics that provided the greatest benefit to the largest number of his constituents,” Mr. Mark added according to the statement signed by his media adviser, Paul Mumeh. “He always craved for fairness, justice and national unity. ”

    The late Wakil, as the chairman of Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation, sponsored several initiatives targeted at addressing acute poverty across the country.

    He also worked closely with Borno senator, Ali Ndume, to pass a bill establishing the North East Development Commission.

    Amongst those present at the mosque programme were Senate President Bukola Saraki, Dino Melaye, Godswill Akpabio and Rotimi Amaechi, the transport minister.

  • Sad! Abuja Pastor’s wife dies during intense worship

    The Standpoint Church Abuja lost one of her vibrant members during an intense praise and worship on the 4th of March 2018.

     

    According to reports, Omamen Iyawe, the wife of Pastor Idahosa Iyawe, Assistant Pastor of The StandPoint Church, passed on. She was said to have died during church service.

     

    The 29-year-old mom was totally and extremely lost in worship, lifted up her hands and was called to a higher place of praise and worship.

     

    The church released an official statement about her death on their official Instagram page.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BgEQaiPnB7X/?taken-by=standpointabj

     

    It reads: “The StandPoint Church, together with the families of the Iyawe’s and Obaseki’s, soberly announce to the public the passing of Mrs. Omamen Iyawe, a profoundly treasured mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. Oma, the wife of Pastor Idahosa Iyawe, Assistant Pastor of The StandPoint Church.

    She was called to glory on the 4th of March 2018. It was a glorious exit. As Oma, deeply and intensely lost in worship , lifted up her hands, she was called to a higher place of praise and worship.

    Oma was a beautiful soul, an admirable shining example, and a source of inspiration to many people in and outside The StandPoint Church.

    Oma will surely and terribly be missed by many. We cry and we grieve, but we also rejoice in this glorious translation because we know that Omamen Iyawe is not in our past, but alive in our future. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died, so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died”. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NLT)

    At this time, let us keep the family in our prayers. We all should be strong and strengthen each other in faith.

     

  • Boko Haram: Buhari receives rescued lecturers, police officers’ wives in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and police officers’ wives who were abducted by Boko Haram last year.

    He received them at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    The rescued persons had been under the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja where they were examined by a team of doctors and psychologists.

    The rescued lecturers were abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Magumeri, Borno, while the police officers’ wives were kidnapped in a raid by the militant group on a military/police convoy on Damboa road, near Maiduguri, in June 2017.

    Their release after series of negotiations, according to an earlier statement issued by a presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, in line with presidential directives.

  • Just in: IBB, Jonathan absent at Buhari’s Council of State meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari is, at present, presiding over a meeting of the Council of State.

    Former leaders absent are Ibrahim Badamasi Babamgida, Goodluck Jonathan, Shehu Shagari and Earnest Shomekan are absent.

    Although, all living past Presidents and Heads of Government are members of the Council, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Shehu Shagari and former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida are absent.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), are however attending the meeting which is the third of such under Buhari.

    The meeting, which began at 11:05am, is also being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Gowon and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais, said the opening prayer.

    Before the meeting started, President Buhari had gone round the Council Chambers to shake hands with his visitors.

    The governors in attendance are those of Sokoto, Delta, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abia, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Plateau, Kano, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ekiti, Zamfara, Ogun, Niger and Ebonyi States.

    Former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi and Aloma Muktar are also in attendance.

    A one-minute silence was observed in honour of the late former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Mustapha

  • Panic as Abuja-Frankfurt flight drops 5,000 feet

    There was commotion amongst passenger on a Frankfurt-bound flight on Sunday when the airplane suddenly came down midair from 35,000 feet to 5,000 feet.

    According to a report by Premium Times, the LH595 flight, operated by Lufthansa airline, left Nigeria’s capital Abuja for Frankfurt, Germany, at about 11.15 pm.

    Trouble started shortly after takeoff when the plane suddenly descended as though it was about to crash, throwing the entire passengers into despair.

    A passenger who spoke under the condition of anonymity said the aircraft crew, however, declined to make a stop at a nearby airport in spite of pleas from passengers.

    The passenger explained that when the incident occurred about a few minutes past one hour into the flight, many passengers fell down, others were injured and many had some of their valuables fall from where they had them placed.

    The passenger recounted that due to the fear, they could not be served food and drinks neither could the crew members attend to other welfare concerns.

    The airline, he said, claimed the incident was due to a combination of bad weather and faulty engine, adding that it was not caused by human error.

    Upon arrival in Germany, there were ambulances and fire fighters waiting to attend to the aircraft and its passengers who, according to our source, had become “almost dead”.

    Efforts to speak to the management of the airline proved abortive Tuesday morning.

  • IDPs in FCT want to return home

    Victims of Boko Haram attacks camped in Abuja have appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts to make their places safe so they can return to their homes from their temporary abodes.

    Mr Philemon Emmanuel, the leader of the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) in Kuchigoro, Abuja, made the appeal when officials of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons visited the facility.

    The officials had gone to the camp and others in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to deliver food and non-food items, empowerment and educational materials to the victims.

    Emmanuel, said “we do appreciate all the efforts to make the camps comfortable for us through the donations and several visits by concerned people from within and outside the country,

    “We have been missing home and we will want to beg that government should intensify efforts toward making our places safe so we can return home.

    “We have been shown that humanity cares for us through the regular gifts we get here but we have been disconnected from our roots and majority of us here will want to return to our ancestral lands because there is no place like home. ”

    He also appealed to those coming with gifts to the camp to pay more attention to the medical needs of the victims.

    Emmanuel said “among the several gifts we have gotten on this camp is the medical clinic donated by the German Government but there are no drugs in the clinic.

    “We have a nurse who has volunteered to render free services to us here but there are no drugs for treating our simple medical challenges that come up from time to time.

    “Having stayed out here without any gainful employment over the years, we want to appeal to government and those who can assist us to consider us for employment opportunities so that we can return to normal family lives.

    “We have graduates among us who were engaged in some professional duties before the killers came to ravage our lands and turned us to a people who depend on others to survive.

    “If such people are employed, we will surely have less tension on the camp.”

    Earlier, Hajia Sadiya Farouk, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, promised that the Federal Government would continue to partner donor agencies and individuals to help the victims.

    “Our concern for the provision of durable solutions is to bring to an end those activities that can temporarily or permanently bring about displacement,’’ Farouk aid.

    She said government would assist displaced persons to return to their homes “when it becomes possible and safe’’, reintegrate them in host communities and resettle or relocate them in safer areas.

    Farouk had led the delegation to make similar donations at the Wasa and Durumi camps in FCT.

     

  • NAPTIP seals baby factory in Abuja

    The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it had sealed an illegal maternity and baby factory in Nyanya, Abuja.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the NAPTIP spokesman, Mr Josiah Emerole, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

    Emerole said that the acclaimed Chief Medical Director of the baby factory was arrested few weeks back by NAPTIP for allegedly swindling several women who were in dare need of babies.

    He said that the sealing of the illegal medical outfit, Akuchi Herbal Concept, located on Old road, around Pure Water area, New Nyanyan, Abuja, was part of the ongoing investigation into the case.

    According to him, the case had already generated public concern among Nigerians especially relations of the victims.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the operatives of NAPTIP last week arrested a 38-year-old herbalist, (names withheld) for allegedly deceiving women into thinking they are pregnant and thereafter giving other people’s babies to them having collected lots of money.

    The suspect, who is from Enugu State is the owner of Akuchi Herbal Concept, located at New Nyanya, Abuja, was arrested after weeks of diligent surveillance by combined team of Officers of the agency and those of the Department of State Services.

    The spokesman said that the latest operation was coordinated by the Director, Investigation and Monitoring Department, Mr Greg Esele on the directive of the Director – General, Ms Julie Okah- Donli.

    He said the agency recovered local herbs used by the suspect to stimulate ovulation for women, some soaked black-coloured leaves and concoction, among others.

    Emerole explained that contrary to the suspect’s claim as displayed on the signpost, the Clinic was virtually empty thereby raising question on how the women were able to believe his claims.

    The spokesman quoted the director general of NAPTIP as saying, investigation was ongoing to determine the level of crime allegedly committed by the suspect.

    “Investigation is ongoing to clearly establish level of the unwholesome activities of the suspect and we are not leaving any stone unturned in getting to the roots of the crime.

    “This is also in line with our determination to ensure that Nigerians are not exploited in any way, ” she said.

     

  • Tragedy as Finance Director dies during Badminton competition in Abuja

    Vice President of the Wembley Badminton Club, Mr Abdulyekin Sanchi, slumped and died while taking part in a badminton tournament in Abuja on Saturday.

    The late Sanchi was until his death the Director of Finance, Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

    The former head of finance, Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), was rushed to a nearby hospital just about 100km from the tournament venue where he was pronounced dead at around 9:30 pm on Saturday.

    Other members of the badminton club said the late Sanchi was hale and hearty before his untimely demise.

    President of the club, Mr Terzungwe Uwua said Sanchi’s death was a shock to Wembley Badminton Club.

    “His death came to us as a huge shock. He was a motivator to younger members and a gentleman to the core.

    “As the vice president of the club, he dedicated resources and time to mentor young badminton players.”

    The deceased has since been buried according to Islamic rites at his hometown, Sanchi-Zuru, Kebbi State.

  • Herdsmen, farmers crisis: Osinbajo, governors, security chiefs meet in Abuja

    Herdsmen, farmers crisis: Osinbajo, governors, security chiefs meet in Abuja

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday met with seven state governors to discuss finding long lasting solutions to the recurring herdsmen/farmers clashes in the country.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, chairman if the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Zamfara state governor, Abdulaziz Yari said the meeting is a fallout of a committee put in place by the National Economic Council, NEC, during its last meeting.

    The Thursday meeting was held inside the conference hall of the vice president at Aso Rock villa, Abuja.

    “This committee is a NEC committee established by the Vice President so that this issue of herdsmen/farmers clashes will be put to rest,” Mr. Yari said.

    Mr. Yari said the farmers/ herders issue is a long standing problem in some states such as Zamfara since 2007.

    He said most governors “have been battling with it.”

    “Now the states and federal government under the leadership of the Vice President, agreed to have a small committee at NEC so that the situation will not get out of hand, so that it won’t be looked at as an ethnicity crisis or religious crisis,” he said.

    Mr. Yari told reporters that Thursday’s meeting set up a subcommittee headed by governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, while Plateau and Adamawa governors are members.

    He also said ”more persons will be brought to join the committee from other hotspot states – Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Zamfara, where there is crisis so that they can interface with the Miyetti Allah and other groups to see how we can reduce this to the barest minimum.”

    Speaking further, Mr. Yari said he cannot say if the problem would be solved immediately because “some of them have taken this as a money-making venture, some are criminals who hide under this to perpetrate this act.

    “As government we have to take all the measures despite the fact that the Army, Police, all the security agents are on the field at the respective places, yet, we have to form this committee to interface with those actors so that this matter can be reduced to the barest minimum and possibly wiped off,” he added.

     

  • JUST IN: Obasanjo absent as Coalition for Nigeria Movement launches in Abuja

    …Donald Duke, Olagunsoye Oyinlola in attendance

    Former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has made true his intention to launch a political movement.

    The political movement named Coalition for Nigeria Movement, is launching today (Wednesday) at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

    Recall that the former Nigerian leader had suggested the formation of the movement in his recent critical special statement on President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    The former president had argued in the statement that the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party were incapable of repositioning Nigeria, having lost the confidence of the electorate.

    Mr. Obasanjo is not present at the ongoing launch in Abuja, but two former PDP governors, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Donald Duke, were in attendance.

    Mr. Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State, said the movement is not yet a political party.

    If and when we come to an agreement that we must metaphose into a political party, then we will, Mr. Oyinlola said.

    “We’re not a political party, at least, for now,” he said.

    He acknowledged that for the movement to make electoral impact in the manner described by Mr. Obasanjo in his letter, its proponents would need to follow the Constitution and register it as a political party.

    “We recognise the facts that by the dictates of the Constitution, you can only contest on the platform of a political party,” said Mr. Oyinlola, who was the national secretary of the PDP before joining the APC in 2014 after his controversial removal from his position in the then-ruling party.

    Mr. Oyinlola also responded to critics who see the movement as an attempt to legitimise the legacy of Mr. Obasanjo who governed as a democratically elected president between 1999-2007.

    “To say that we are legitimising OBJ’s legacy is a bit off the mark,” he said.

    Mr. Oyinlola said the leaders of the movement are not necessarily eyeing political offices to benefit themselves, saying their aim is to help leave a better tomorrow for the younger generation.

    The leaders of the movement said Nigerians have been through a lot in the hands of the political elite and canvassed a fresh alternative for citizens by 2019.

     

    More details later…