TheNewsGuru

Tag: Abuja

  • FCTA uncovers company buying stolen manhole covers

    FCTA uncovers company buying stolen manhole covers

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has identified one iron smelting company as one of the alleged buyers of stolen manhole covers in Abuja.

    Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, to the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    Olayinka noted that some exhibits have been recovered from the company and were in the custody of the police.

    He added that further investigations were ongoing to determine the company and others’ involvement in the removal, purchase and melting of the manhole covers.

    He explained that some of the suspected manhole vandals detained by the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were helping with useful information.

    “The arrested persons are helping the security agencies with useful information about the buyers of the vandalised manhole covers and other infrastructure.”

    Olayinka disclosed that the replacement of the vandalised manhole covers had begun on Sunday as directed by the FCT minister.

    Recall that the Olayinka had on Sunday, expressed Wike’s displeasure over the removal of sewage manhole covers on highways.

    This, he said, was putting the lives of road users at risk. The minister had vowed that the FCT Administration would do everything necessary to bring the perpetrators to book.

  • DRTS sends message of caution to Abuja motorists

    DRTS sends message of caution to Abuja motorists

    The Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has warned motorists against speeding.

    DRTS Director, Abdulateef Bello, gave the warning in an interview on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He spoke against the backdrop of ongoing road construction projects in the territory.

    According to the DRTS boss, road accidents associated with speeding, drunkenness and other vices are common during the Yuletide.

    He noted that the Christmas and New Year holidays had often led to an influx of visitors from other States.

    Bello warned that it was important for such persons to drive with extreme caution as they might not be familiar with the FCT.

    “There are no excuses for driving with expired drivers licence or none at all, overloading and use of rickety vehicles that could be harmful to passengers,” he said.

    Bello added that operatives of the directorate had commenced road surveillance within the territory to ensure safety compliance by motorists.

  • BREAKING: Many feared dead at Holy Trinity Catholic church in Abuja

    BREAKING: Many feared dead at Holy Trinity Catholic church in Abuja

    Several people have reportedly lost their lives, with many more injured following a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) learnt that incident occurred on Saturday morning when residents scrambled to receive palliatives distributed by the church.

    According to reports, the religious body had organized the event to provide relief to struggling residents, however, things went a wire after residents mostly from Mpape, Gishiri Village, and other nearby settlements stormed the location amass seeking palliatives. 

    Eyewitnesses also claim the incident occurred between 7 am and 8 am when the huge crowd surged forward to receive the palliatives.

    TNG understands that the incident is coming days after a similar incident had occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s funfair resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children and left six others critically injured.

  • Rity and friends: A labour of love that’s changing lives in Abuja

    Rity and friends: A labour of love that’s changing lives in Abuja

    In a world where kindness and selflessness are often in short supply, Miss Ikenwa Charity Ogochukwu, popularly known as “Rity”, stands out as a beacon of hope and inspiration. As a journalist and ace media blogger, Rity’s meager resources would have dictated a more modest approach to life, but not for this extraordinary woman.

    For the past nine years, Rity has been dedicating her time, resources, and energy to bringing joy, hope, and help to financially disadvantaged children in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Despite limited financial means, Rity has consistently shown up for the children, sacrificing her own comfort and convenience to put smiles on their faces. Her labour of love, known as “Rity and Friends”, is a yearly event that features soft scholarships for quality education, financial support for parents, entertainment, and talent shows for kids, among others.

    The event has become a highly anticipated and cherished occasion for the children and their families, who look forward to it as a time of joy, laughter, and celebration.

    This year’s event, which was held at the Wumba District of the Apo, Lokogoma axis of the FCT, was a resounding success, with over 500 children in attendance. The event featured a range of activities, including quiz, presentations, and talent shows, which showcased the incredible talents and abilities of the children.

    For Rity, the joy and fulfillment she derives from seeing the children happy and fulfilled is what keeps her going. “It’s been interesting, fascinating for me, though, because a lot of people thinks aunty Rity is  a rich woman, you know? But I’m not, just that I do it because it gives me joy,” she said. “It’s not convenient, but I still do it because the joy in the faces of those children is my gain.

    “I find fulfilment doing this along with my friends who over the years shared in my vision and see this project as theirs as well. God bless them immensely, Amen”.

    Rity’s selflessness and dedication to the children have not gone unnoticed. The children, who affectionately call her “Aunty Rity”, adore her and look up to her as a role model. Nine-year-old Genevieve Eneji, who attended the event, expressed her profound joy and gratitude to “Aunty Rity” for bringing so much happiness and joy into her life. “I had so much fun! I wish Aunty Rity will come more often,” she said.

    As Rity and Friends continues to touch lives and bring hope to the less privileged, it is clear that Rity’s labor of love is a shining example of what it means to live a life of purpose, kindness, and compassion, despite limited resources. Her story is a testament to the fact that one person can make a difference, and that with determination, selflessness, and a willingness to sacrifice, even the most modest of means can be transformed into a force for good.

  • Just in: Military pensioners seal Finance Ministry in Abuja

    Just in: Military pensioners seal Finance Ministry in Abuja

    The Coalition of Military Pensioners have taken to the streets to protest outside the Federal Ministry of Finance, effectively shutting down operations at the ministry on Thursday morning.

    The protest is in response to the non-payment of the 20% to 28% salary increment owed to retired military personnel for the period spanning January to November 2024.

    The retirees, who have dedicated years of service to the nation, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s failure to meet its financial obligations towards them.

    Many of the pensioners, who rely on their monthly stipends for their livelihood, are now facing severe financial hardships due to the unfulfilled promises of salary adjustments.

    In the protest, the military retirees presented a clear set of demands that they say must be met to address their grievances.

    These demands include the immediate payment of palliatives intended to cover the period from October 2023 to November 2024. Additionally, the pensioners are calling for an increase in their pension by a fixed amount of N32,000.

    They also seek the full payment of the Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) in bulk, as well as a refund of the amounts that have been deducted from the pensions of soldiers who were medically boarded out of service.

    This protest marks a significant escalation in the ongoing struggle by retired military personnel to ensure that their rights and entitlements are recognized by the government.

    It highlights the growing frustration among former service members who feel that the government has neglected them, despite their contributions to national security and service to the country.

    The military pensioners are now demanding not just financial restitution, but also respect for their years of service and a fair acknowledgment of their entitlements. The outcome of this protest remains to be seen, but it is clear that the retirees are determined to stand firm in their fight for justice.

  • Fire guts popular Abuja estate market, millions destroyed

    Fire guts popular Abuja estate market, millions destroyed

    Property worth millions of naira was destroyed in a devastating fire outbreak at Trademore Estate, a popular neighborhood off the Umar Musa Yar’Adua/Airport Road in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG)  learnt  that a resident identified as Joe reported being alerted to the incident around 4 a.m.

     The cause of the fire remains unclear as of the filing of this report

    “We are not certain about the cause, but an electrical fault cannot be ruled out,” he said. “Efforts were made to contact both the Federal Fire Service and the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, but the situation was intense.”

    Joe added that residents eventually reached out to the fire service team at Dunamis Church, who arrived at the scene around 5 a.m.

    “After two hours of battling the blaze, personnel from the Federal Fire Service stations at EFCC and Sauka successfully extinguished the fire,” Joe later confirmed to Vanguard.

  • SAD! Fear engulfs Abuja as woman, her kids burnt to ashes

    SAD! Fear engulfs Abuja as woman, her kids burnt to ashes

    A terrific accident has claimed the lives of a middle-aged woman and her two children after the bus they were traveling in caught fire near Manderegi village, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

    The incident, which occurred on an 18-seater commuter bus with registration number BGT 996 LG, left 12 other passengers with severe burns.

    The bus was reportedly en route to Kogi State when it suddenly burst into flames.

    Eyewitnesses reported that the victims were trapped inside the vehicle and burnt beyond recognition.

    Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) later evacuated the remains of the deceased and transported the injured to a hospital in Abaji for treatment.

    Confirming the incident, the FCT Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Muta’ah Chorrie, attributed the tragedy to the driver’s negligence.

    According to Chorrie, the driver had stored a jerrican filled with fuel in the bus alongside passengers, which likely contributed to the fire.

    He said, “Let me tell you, this is what we have been saying that there is danger in carrying extra fuel with passengers while traveling. We have been sensitizing motorists on this but some defiant drivers still carry them.’’

  • UK, Italy, Turkey, Qatar-bound cocaine, meth consignments intercepted in Lagos, Abuja

    . .how NDLEA nabbed masterminds at MMIA, Abuja hotel; foils bid to smuggle opioids into Lagos from Ghana

    Attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who in series of intelligence led operations recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

    A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November 2024 while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November.

    The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama) to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy. He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business.

    Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday 15th November.

    Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34. Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.

    Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by operatives of a Special Operations Unit in NDLEA at his 9 Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

    In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos.

    The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

    The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana.
    In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state.

    While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday 14th November.

    A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday 13th November nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.
    In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday 14th November. A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

    With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

    These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.
    While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

  • NAFDAC busts fake alcohol factory in FCT

    NAFDAC busts fake alcohol factory in FCT

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday raided an illegal alcoholic drink factory in Lugbe axis of the FCT.

    The operation led to the confiscation of adulterated alcoholic beverages and the discovery of expired salt with altered expiry dates.

    During the enforcement operation, the agency intensified efforts to curb the circulation of substandard goods, counterfeits, and rebranded products.

    Mr Shaba Mohammed, Director of Investigation and Enforcement for NAFDAC’s Federal Task Force, told reporters that Lugbe has become a hub for producing and distributing substandard alcoholic beverages.

    He noted that imitation brands in the area now carry fake labels of popular alcoholic brands.

    Mohammed explained that the team found premises where counterfeit alcohol was being repackaged in used bottles with fake labels and altered expiration dates.

    “This is one of many recent operations in the FCT, the counterfeit products were manufactured in a residential apartment, using fake packaging materials, often over weekends.

    “NAFDAC has sealed the facility and summoned those responsible for further investigation.

    “We will remove the counterfeit products from the production site, and our Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate will sweep the market to clear out any remaining items”.

    Mr Tamanuwa Andrew, Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement for NAFDAC in Kaduna, reported similar findings in Wuse Market and Mararaba, a community bordering the FCT and Nasarawa.

    He noted an increase in unregistered herbal remedies and pharmaceutical products, stating that NAFDAC would intensify surveillance to protect public health.

    “As the festive season approaches, counterfeiters often exploit the increased demand to distribute harmful products, we are ramping up enforcement actions to prevent these activities.

    “We advise consumers to carefully check product labels before purchase, authentic products display a valid manufacturer’s address and clear labeling, unlike counterfeits that often use recycled bottles with incomplete or mismatched information”.

    He stated that penalties for those involved in producing counterfeit goods will be determined following further investigation.

  • AP Plaza in Abuja engulfed by fire

    AP Plaza in Abuja engulfed by fire

    Fire has gutted the popular AP Plaza in Wuse 2, Abuja, on Saturday causing serious damages to properties and raising safety concerns among residents and business owners in the area

    The inferno reportedly started around noon, sending smoke into the sky and drawing the attention of onlookers who watched helplessly as the flames spread

    At the time of filing this report, the actual cause of the fire remains sketchy, though investigations are expected to be underway.

    While the cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities have launched an investigation to determine what may have sparked the blaze.

    AP Plaza management has promised to work closely with investigators and the fire service to uncover the cause and provide updates to affected business owners and tenants.

    No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far, but officials have urged the public to avoid the area as firefighters work to extinguish the remaining flames and ensure the building’s structural integrity.

    AP Plaza, situated along the busy Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2, is a major shopping and business hub, housing numerous businesses and offices.