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  • Anthony Village: Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s aide addresses Lagos ‘snow’ incident

    Anthony Village: Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s aide addresses Lagos ‘snow’ incident

    There was panic among residents of Lagos State on Wednesday after an unknown chemical substance, looking like white foam or ‘snow’, was seen in Anthony Village area of the State.

    A Twitter user identified as @Tosin_Obembe1 shared a video of the foamy substance flowing through a neighbourhood in the area.

    He tweeted: “…this is some sort of Chemical reaction surging from the ground happening in Anthony Village. Please does anyone know what it is. If it is dangerous so everyone can stay clear of it”.

    He further tweeted: “Please can someone help to tag Lagos State environmental services if there is any. We trying not to have human contact with, but it is blocking every path in the Estate. This is Anthony Village”.

    Another Twitter user, probably a resident of the area as well, also shared a similar video of the unexplained white substance seen in the Anthony Village area.

    Meanwhile, responding to a video of the incident, Mr Gawat Jubril A., the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on New Media to Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of the State has addressed the incident.

    He doused the fear of residents, saying a tanker fell overnight in the area prompting emergency agencies in the State to introduce the substance to forestall fire outbreak in the area.

    “A tanker fell overnight and our emergency agencies poured the foam material to prevent combustion.. Nothing to be scared of… Lagos Safety Commission & LASEMA are on ground,” the Governor’s aide tweeted.

  • EFCC: Magu’s suspension sparks succession controversy

    EFCC: Magu’s suspension sparks succession controversy

    The suspension of Mr Ibrahim Magu as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked succession controversy, with CP Bala Ciroma tipped to succeed Magu.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Magu was on Tuesday afternoon suspended from heading the anti-corruption agency, coming a day after he was grilled by an inter-agency presidential panel chaired by former Justice Ayo Salami.

    The former EFCC acting chairman was alleged to have looted recovered loots and was also alleged to selling seized assets to associates, culminating to his suspension, with rumours emerging that Ciroma had succeeded him.

    However, Mr Mohammed Umar, the Director of Operations in the EFCC was said to have been handpicked to oversee the affairs of the agency in the absence of Magu, according to a disclosure made by a top official of the Commission.

    The top official, who asked not to be named, said Umar was chosen by the “EFCC’s hierarchy” following the reported suspension of Magu. The official, however, said that the Commission was yet to receive any official communication on the reported suspension.

    He, however, defended Magu, saying the allegations against him were not true, the travails emanated from complaints by the staff of the Commission over poor welfare and delay in promotion.

    “I can tell you that all the allegations against Magu are untrue. I see the whole situation as a power play. Preparations for the 2023 elections are another reason they want Magu out because he knows too much.

    “Another thing is the problem of staff welfare. Imagine somebody like me for close to 10 years, I have not gained any promotion. We are not happy about the news of his suspension, but I know that members of staff are not happy with him,” the official told NAN.

    Meanwhile, spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Dele Oyewale declined comments when contacted to confirm the latest development.

  • 2019 Batch “B” Stream 2 NYSC corps to pass out July 16

    2019 Batch “B” Stream 2 NYSC corps to pass out July 16

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says the passing-out of the 2019 Batch “B” Stream 2 corps members has been fixed nationwide for July 16.

    The NYSC disclosed this in a statement by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    ”Arising from the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic, and as a precautionary measure, the event will be low-key, with qualified corps members collecting their Certificates of National Service (CNS) at the Local Government level.

    “Accordingly, the distribution of the certificate of national service shall be staggered for a period of 10 days in the first instance, in keeping with the safety measures established by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),” the statement said.

    The statement quoted the Director-General of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, as giving kudos to the outgoing members for their service to the nation, and in particular for standing out to be counted in this time of national emergency.

    It said Ibrahim charged the corps members to remain steadfast in rendering service to the nation and humanity, even after they have concluded their national assignment, as that was the hallmark of the corps.

    The director-general also enjoined them to remain good ambassadors of the scheme in their future endeavours.

    “All corps members and NYSC stakeholders are advised to stay vigilant, in order to guard against the contraction of COVID-19.

    “Therefore, all must ensure strict observance of the safety protocols, predicated on consistent use of face masks, proper washing of hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, use of alcohol-based sanitiser, and observing social/physical distancing,” Ibrahim said.

  • COVID-19 patient gives birth in Ogun

    COVID-19 patient gives birth in Ogun

    A 28-year-old COVID-19 patient has successfully put to bed at the State Hospital, Ijaye in Abeokuta.
    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, confirmed this on Wednesday while congratulating the health workers who took delivery of the patient’s baby at the hospital.
    She said that a dedicated team of doctors, midwives and other health workers took the safe delivery of the mother, who was asymptomatic, in the early hours of Tuesday without putting their health and others at risk.
    She noted that the decision to celebrate the health workers was to appreciate their longstanding professional efforts towards containing further spread of the deadly virus.
    “Gov. Dapo Abiodun led-administration is indeed appreciative of the concerted efforts of healthcare professionals who have exemplified themselves over time and particularly towards containing the spread of the virus among the people.
    “Today, we are at the State Hospital to celebrate our doctors, midwives and others for taking delivery of a baby girl by an asymptomatic COVID-19 mother for this great feat.
    “It is very easy to criticise, but when some people do brave things such as this, all we need to do is to always appreciate them so they can be motivated to do much more whenever the need arises,” Coker said.
    The husband of the patient, who pleaded anonymity, appreciated God and the team of healthcare workers for the safe delivery of the newborn.
    “I strongly believe that COVID-19 exists; there is no doubt about it. I want to encourage people that whosoever that is found positive should not see it as a death sentence.
    “It is something that is treatable and for those that have proper immunity to fight it, would fight it and the person would be back to his normal self.
    “When I was told that my wife had the virus, I subjected her to self-isolation at home, which she did and hoping God to heal her outrightly,” he said.
    He advised the general public, particularly those that still do not believe that the virus exists, to strictly follow the laid down guidelines on COVID-19.
  • Griezmann intimidated by Messi – Friend

    Griezmann intimidated by Messi – Friend

    Friends believe Antoine Griezmann’s problems at Barcelona are due to him being intimidated by Lionel Messi.

    Griezmann has battled for consistency in his first season with Barca amid claims he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with his captain.

    However, friends say claims of tension between the pair are wrong and instead it’s more about Greizmann being starstruck.

    One source told France Football: “You put Antoine in front of (David) Beckham, (Cristiano) Ronaldo or Messi, and you have a kid.

    “He has enormous admiration for them. He does not know how to speak with Leo, he is very impressed. It makes him weird. He can laugh with him during a meal and the next day, not know how to talk to him about football on the field.

    “But he is 29 years old, is world champion and must know how to assert himself. He’s working on it.”

  • Lopsided appointments’ report unfounded, false – NPA

    Lopsided appointments’ report unfounded, false – NPA

    Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says allegations of lopsided appointments of General Managers supposedly to the North was unfounded and riddled with untruth.

    The General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of NPA, Mr Adams Jatto, made the denial in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.

    According to the him, appointment and promotion of General Managers and Assistant General Managers are routinely guided by vacancy, exigencies, seniority and competence.

    He added that such exercises are carried out through strict application of Federal Character Principle in order to ensure equity and even distribution of positions in the organisation.

    “General managers are usually appointed from the pool of Assistant General Managers who will ordinarily have been in the service of the authority for long enough to have acquired significant experience in every aspect of the NPA’s operations.

    “Records at the moment, show that while some zones may have fewer representation in General Managers cadre, they have higher representation in the two other most senior roles of Assistant General Manager and Principal Managers,” he said.

    Jatto presented the numbers of the general managers, assistant general managers and principal managers as follows: North-Central, 3, 6, and 36, respectively, totalling 45; North-East, 7, 10 and 27 respectively, totalling 44.

    He added that NorthWest has 5, 3 and 26, totalling 34; South East – 4, 10 and 36, totalling 50; South South – 1, 10 and 43, totalling 54; and South West- 2, 13 and 60, totaling 75.

    He also said that the overall total number of general managers was 22; assistant general managers, 52, and principal managers 228, all totalling 302.

    Jatto urged stakeholders and the general public to note that while the General Manager, Finance was from the South East, the NPA has no offices of General Manager, Seaview and General Manager Accounts, as being circulated.

    He also denied that some retired general managers had their tenures extended on contract in order to stop their “potential successors” from getting promoted.

    “The two cases that were mentioned, General Manager, Human Resources Mr Yahaya Bukar (Aug. 2018 – Aug 2020) and General Manager, Engineering, Engr Ahmed Rufai Mohammed (Feb 2020 – 2021) had their tenures legally extended.

    “This is for the specific reason of the completion of some of the very important projects that were started within the period of their services as general managers.

    “This situation also applied to the immediate past general manager, Finance, Mr Simeon Aniobi, whose tenure was extended between Oct 2017 and October 2019,” he said.

    He emphasised that the NPA management was always guided by principles of fairness, equity and laws of the country in all its operations.

  • COVID-19: Domestic flights resume at Lagos Airport

    COVID-19: Domestic flights resume at Lagos Airport

    Some domestic airlines on Wednesday resumed operations following three months of COVID-19 lockdown.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored resumption of the airlines at both GAT Alpha and MM2 terminals in Lagos, reports that few passengers were seen boarding, while social distancing and other precautionary measures were observed.

    NAN recalls that the Federal Government had directed the resumption of domestic flights on July 8, after the March 30 lockdown of the airlines.

    As at 6.30 a.m. on Wednesday, Arik Air passengers had started boarding for the first flight from Lagos to Abuja, scheduled to depart at 7 a.m.

    NAN also observed that passengers complied with the COVID-19 preventive screening measures before boarding, but stores within the airport were all locked.

    A check by NAN revealed that there had been a significant increase in airfares, as some airlines resumed operations (today) Wednesday.

    The airlines raised their fares in all classes of tickets for one-hour flights from Lagos to Abuja.

    Air Peace sold its Economy-Flexi Domestic plan for N33,001 for a one way Lagos-Abuja trip, while the business class ticket was sold for N80,000.

    Arik Air’s economy plan was sold for N29,189, while the business class was N78,532 for a one-way Lagos to Abuja trip.

    However, one of the airline official, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that prices of the tickets were driven by extra costs factored into the base fare.

    The source said that taxes and other fares increased by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) was also responsible for the hike in fares.

    Mr Adebanji Ola, the Public Relations and Communications Manager of Arik Air, commended government agencies for putting adequate measures in place for airlines to commence operations.

    Ola said that Arik Air commenced three daily flight operations from Lagos to Abuja, in the first phase of the aviation restart.

    According to him, it is a new beginning in the aviation sector and prays that the COVID-19 pandemic will be fully addressed in Nigeria.

    He said that “for us in Arik Air, protection of passengers and cabin crew remain paramount and we have put effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    “We commend government at all levels in ensuring effective synergy and support for the aviation sector toward combating the pandemic.”

    Some of the passengers who spoke to NAN commended the measures put in place by government at the airport to prevent the infection of COVID-19.

    Mr Kola Balogun, the Chairman of Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, who was boarding to fly with Arik Air, commended the managment of FAAN on the preventive measures put in place at the aiport.

    He said “I am highly impressed with the level of compliance and processes I am seeing here today.

    “I commend FAAN for making lives more comfortable and sticking to the social distancing methodology.

    “I urge the Federal Government to support the airlines’ operations through interventions for them to bounce back in business.”

    Mr Tayo Ojulari, an aviation stakeholder, said that he did not subscribe to leaving the centre seats in the aircraft as directed by government.

    “The cost of operations and FOREX is affecting airlines, reducing passengers capacity to 50 per cent, which is another economic implication for the airlines,” he said.

    The Director of Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of a Nigeria (FAAN), Retired Group Capt. Usman Sadiq, said that adequte security measures had been put in place at the airport.

    Sadiq said government had also increased the security manpower at the aiport for effective measures.

    “There is effective synergy between the various security agencies across airports in the country to tackle the numerous security breach incidents.

    “All security agencies are on ground to ensure law and order at the airports, and today, we can see that Nigerians are well behaved from what was demonstrated,” he said.

    He also expressed gratitude to the management team of FAAN for their support in carrying out their responsibilities.

    He added that “I am excited to add that the highest level of the authority’s management, an enviable leadership, commitment and support, has been displayed again and again in an unequivocal manner.

    “For this, we are grateful and rededicated to achieving the core mission of developing and profitably managing customer-oriented airport facilities for safe, secure and efficient carriage of passengers and goods at world- class standards of quality,” Sadiq said.

    However, security personnel at the MM2 terminal refused NAN correspondent into the terminal, claiming it was a management directive.

  • Chief of Staff burial will follow COVID-19 protocols – Kwara Govt

    Chief of Staff burial will follow COVID-19 protocols – Kwara Govt

    The Kwara Government on Wednesday said the burial of the late Kwara Chief of Staff, Alhaji Aminu Logun, would follow COVID-19 protocols.

    Dr Raji Razaq, Kwara Commissioner for Health said in a statement in Ilorin.

    The late Chief of Staff in his 70’s died on Tuesday as a result of complications form COVID-19.

    ”After due consultations, the family and the government of Kwara, hereby announce that a dignifying COVID-19 compliant burial (janazah) will be held in honour of Logun on Wednesday at his GRA home in Ilorin,” Razaq said.

    He said that the burial would be supervised by the team of the COVID-19 technical committee in accordance with extant protocols for Muslims.

    He noted that the burial prayers would be led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin and only selected family members, clerics appointed by the Emir of Ilorin, and few government officials would attend.

    The commissioner said that the ministry received with rude shock the sudden demise of Logun, on account of COVID-19 complications.

    He said that in line with the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, all persons who had contact with the late chief of staff in the last 14 days should proceed to the COVID-19 Infectious Disease Centre at Sobi, for immediate collection of their samples for test.

    “Such persons will thereafter, proceed to self-isolate until the result of their test is communicated to them.

    “We empathise with the governor of Kwara, the family of the late Chief of Staff and people of the state at this mourning period.

    “We further advise that friends, families and associates should mourn and pray for him from their respective abodes,” he said.

    Razaq said that members of the public should kindly respect the privacy of the family and all safety rules at this time and always.

  • Kanye West cuts ties with Trump, vows to win U.S. presidential race

    Kanye West cuts ties with Trump, vows to win U.S. presidential race

    Rapper Kanye West signalled that he no longer supported U.S. President Donald Trump and said he had entered the presidential race to win it, in an interview published on Wednesday.

    West, previously a vocal supporter of Trump, announced on Saturday that he would run for president in 2020.

    “I am taking the red hat off, with this interview,” West told Forbes, referring to Trump’s trademark red “Make America Great Again” baseball caps.

    “Like anything I’ve ever done in my life, I’m going to win,” he added.

    TNG reports West announced his intention to run for the post of president on Saturday in an apparent challenge to Trump and his presumptive Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

    “We must now realise the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States,” West wrote in a Twitter post, adding an American flag emoji and the hashtag. #2020VISION.

    https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/1279575273365594112

  • Fayose mocks Magu, urges security operatives to place him on watch-list

    Fayose mocks Magu, urges security operatives to place him on watch-list

    Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has reacted tot suspension acting chair of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, calling on the Federal government to place Magu on watch-list.

    Magu was suspended after facing a probe by a presidential panel for living above his means, fraternising with corrupt persons, diversion of recovered funds, insubordination, and many others.

    Fayose stated this on Tuesday via Twitter drawing the attention of the public to September 2018 when the EFCC directed that he (Fayose) should be placed on watch-list while still in office.

    He wrote, “Just as Magu directed that I be placed on ‘Watch-list’ even when I had immunity as a sitting gov, Magu too must be placed on watch-list so that he won’t run away,” Fayose wrote.

    “EFCC, DSS, Customs, Police, Immigration, Army, Navy, Air Force, others, over to you. What goes around comes around,” he added.