Global Naija Info

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday set up the state’s Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD) Fund with N500 million. Ambode spoke at a programme for the physically challenged with theme: “Celebrating Ability in Disability” at the Lagos House, to commemorate his first year in office. Ambode said that the aim of the Fund was to ensure level playing field for the physically challenged who were usually presumed not able to live normal lives. “This Fund is for the advancement of the course of persons living with disability. “I call on individuals, corporate organisations, Non-Governmental Agencies and other stakeholders to support the fund so that they can maximise the abilities in the disabilities of our fellow compatriots,” he said. The governor urged residents not to discriminate against them but to embrace them. “All they require is care, support and opportunities to live a fulfilled and productive life,” he said. He also said that one percent job vacancies in th

Gov Atiku Bagudu Kebbi State government on Sunday promised to revive the popular Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, last held seven years ago. Governor Atiku Bagudu made the pledge in Birnin Kebbi when he addressed a town hall meeting as part of activities marking his first year in office. He said a committee had been established to work out modalities for the organisation of the festival in 2017. Apart from fishing, the three-day festival also features cultural display, durbar, horse riding, and Camel race. It was last held in 2009.

Nigerian soldiers The Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Bauchi, says it has completed arrangements to host Combat Arms Training scheduled to hold from May 30 to June 4. A statement from Captain Victor Olukoya, the Corps Assistant Director in charge of Public Relations, made available in Bauchi on Sunday, indicates that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, will declare the training open. The training has as its theme, “Repositioning the Combat Arms to be Professionally Responsive in meeting the Constitutional roles of the Nigerian Army”. “The exercise is lined up with series of activities that will involve movement of troops, display of equipment and lectures. This will eventually culminate into firing of live weapons at the Victor Kure Armoured Range in Gaji village along Bauchi to Jos road.” It said. The Corps therefore urged members of the public not to panic upon hearing sounds of military equipment or noticing movement of troops during the period in question.

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) said 10 fake military pensioners had been arrested during the recently conducted verification exercise for retirees displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East. Chairman of the board, AVM Muhammad Dabo, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja. Dabo said the suspects were arrested at the venue of the exercise held in Yola, Adamawa, recently, with documents of some deceased military pensioners. He said the suspects had been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution. “We got information from various retirees that they were not able to attend the last verification exercise due to the situation as at that time. “Some of them relocated to Cameroon and other neighboring countries like Niger. “We have been able to verify those that are genuine among them but we also discovered some are fake. “Some of them are children of deceased retirees who came with the documents of dead pensioners and wanted to be

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta: Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has reiterated his commitment to transform the state in all aspects. The governor also called for continuous support for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration at the federal level and reminded the people that Mr President has promised, “to walk his talk, and together, we can make our country great again.” Amosun also charged the people to remain unwavering in their resolve to move Ogun State forward in the face of all challenges. He emphasised the effects of the dwindling allocation from the federation account, which according to him, “has continued to bite harder.” The governor stated this today in Abeokuta to mark the first anniversary of his second term in office. Amosun reminded the people that the present situation in the state is temporary, adding, “whatever the inconvenience we go through now in the course of fast-tracking our national development and the fulfilment of the Mission to Rebuild our de

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Nigerian Army said it has arrested 10 suspected members of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which had claimed responsibility for the destruction of oil and gas installations in the region. The Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Farouk Yahaya, who paraded the suspects on Sunday in Benin, Edo State, disclosed that‎ several items were recovered from the arrested suspects. The suspects were arrested Saturday morning in Oporaza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, following a cordon and search operation conducted in the community. Yahaya noted that there had been several cases of sabotage by suspected militants and vandals in Delta State since the start of the year, acknowledging also that there have been warnings and threats “to shut down all operations” in the Niger Delta. He gave the items recovered from the suspects to include 28 detonator

Nigerian Army The Nigerian Army says its troops on Sunday averted attacks on oil pipelines located at Gulobokri and Eweleso communities in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa. The acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman confirmed this in a statement issued in Abuja. Usman said the attack was averted by the troops on patrol of areas around Brass in Bayelsa. According to Usman, the patrol team has an encounter with some armed militants in two speed boats with intent to blow up Nigerian Agip Oil Company pipeline at Gulobokri. “In the early hours of today, May 29, troops of 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, carried out patrol within the general area of Gulobokri and Eweleso. ‘’This was around Brass area in Bayelsa State. “During the exercise, the troops encountered some armed militants who opened fire on the patrol team. “The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower and as a result, the suspected criminals sped

No fewer than six African designers have converged on Geneva to showcase the continent’s fashion style in colour display of ethnic fabrics. The event which was held under the platform of the 4th African Fashion Show Geneva (AFSG), saw presentations from Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Others are: Zimbabwe and South Africa with guest appearances from non-Africa nations of Russia, Brazil, Indonesia and France. In an interview with the Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Founder of the AFSG, Mrs Temitayo Omotola said that the show was aimed at correcting the stereotypes about Africa. She said the correction was being done by telling the story of the continent’s rich culture to the global community. “Africa is a beautiful, vibrant and dynamic continent with brilliant and creative minds. “ It goes beyond the usual stereotypes of conflict, diseases, hunger and poverty often recorded in the media,’’ she said. According to her, the AFSG is rooted in celebra

Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police Soldiers deployed to a checkpoint along Bauchi to Jos road have shot in error, a bus conveying policemen travelling from Taraba to Kaduna. Headquarters of the 33 Artillery Brigade in Bauchi confirmed the incident on Sunday, describing it as unfortunate. Maj. Joseph Afolasade, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 33 Artillery Brigade, said in a statement issued in Bauchi that the error was a result of the refusal of the driver of the bus to stop at the checkpoint for routine checks of occupants. “The Headquarters 33 Artillery Brigade wishes to inform the general public that on 28th May 2016, at about 2:14pm, the troops deployed at Panshanu check-point along Bauchi-Jos road, opened fire on a bus. “The bus drove dangerously through the checkpoint and refused to stop when flagged down on suspicion that it might be conveying terrorists or armed criminal elements, while approaching the check point. “Regrettably, one person died and 3 ot

File photo: People assess a wrecked car after Boko Haram strike The Nigerian Army on Sunday confirmed the killing of four persons after a tricycle stepped on an explosive in Biu, Borno State. Col. Sani Usman the Acting Army Director of Information disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri. “At about 8.15am today a tricycle, known as “Keke NAPEP” unknowingly stepped on an Improvise Explosive Device (IED), close to a military checkpoint on Biu-Damboa road. “Unfortunately, the IED exploded instantly killing four persons comprising a woman with her baby and two other male adults. “Three other persons were injured, including a soldier, and they were immediately evacuated to Biu General Hospital. “We regret to state that the injured soldier also died at the hospital,’’ Usman said. He said the area had been cordoned off and Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Buratai was mobilised to carry out further search of the area. Usman said preliminary

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state on Sunday disbursed N99 million to the families of the 114 pilgrims from the state who died in the Muna stampede, at Saudi Arabia, during the 2015 Hajj exercise. Each of the families was given N500,000 as a ”personal gift from the state government.” Tambuwal described the stampede an act of God that could not be prevented by any mortal. He called on the benefiting families not to regard the gesture as a compensation but a token to alleviate their suffering. The governor also admonished the people of the state and other Nigerians to continue to pray for the souls of the departed pilgrims.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday said that Lagos was marching on with progress, confidence and a clear vision in spite of the turmoil in global and the Nigerian economy. Ambode, who said this during his one year account of stewardship, added that his administration had employed creative and ingenious financial engineering to meet the economic challenges of the time. “We are all witnesses to the extreme economic difficulties being faced by the nation and Lagos is not immune. “God has been good and faithful to us. We have been prudent and encouraged transparency in the operations of government. “This has in turn enabled us to meet our obligations and promises to our people. “I am therefore bold to say that with your support and prayers, Lagos shall continue to prosper despite a difficult economic environment,’’ he said. Ambode said that the vision of his administration remained the same which was to make Lagos clean, secure and prosperous with a robust economy bui

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State The Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA) says it will soon commence the refund of N159 million to pilgrims who performed the 2015 Hajj. This is contained in a statement signed by the Media Assistant to the agency, Malam Faruku Umar, and issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday. The statement quoted the agency’s Director-General, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, as saying that the refund will be done in three categories. “The first category will be for those who performed the 2015 Hajj, while the second is for those who died in the Minna stampede. “The third category is for those who paid for the Hajj but could not perform the 2015 Hajj,” it added. The statement revealed that the refund was for some services not rendered during the pilgrimage like feeding, tent deposits and other services for those who performed the Hajj. They also include refund for return ticket, feeding and tent deposit for those who died in the Hajj stampede. However, the stat

Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President President Muhammadu Buhari will be represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at the 8th Summit of Heads of States of African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States holding in Papua New Guinea from May 30-June 1. Prof. Osinbajo will join leaders from 78 other countries to address the summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The summit will discuss the future of the ACP Group as a “revitalised cohesive force advocating the interests of its member states in the international arena.” A statement from the Secretariat of the organization added that discussions at the summit will also review recent key international developments, including Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, issues of migration, climate change and the fight against terrorism. One of the main objectives of the ACP group is the “sustainable development of its Member-States and their gradual integration into the global economy, which entails making povert

Niger Delta militants: now wearing fake military, police uniform The Federal Government and ex-militants have resolved to end the ongoing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region. ‎ Retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, disclosed this at the end of a meeting he convened in Benin. ‎Boro told newsmen that the pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta was reducing the economic fortune of the country and inflicting pains on Nigerians. ‎ He urged the agitators to dialogue with the relevant authorities over their grievances and shun destruction of oil installations.‎ ‎He assured that plans were in the pipeline to provide the ex-militants with welfare and a housing scheme in addition to the existing programme and projects.‎ Boroh stressed the need to find lasting solutions to the current situation in the region. ‎ “The common factor is security challenges we are facing in our areas, in our

Dr Thomas Adekoya-Cole A consultant orthopaedic surgeon, working with Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr Thomas Adekoya-Cole was killed this morning in his town near Itele,Ijebu-Ode Ogun state, moments after being abducted from his country home. He was gruesomely macheted to death. Dr Cole was said to have been killed by suspected sympathisers of a native doctor, said to have been killed by ‘area boys’ in Ijebu Ode, Saturday night during a ceremony. The police were called to arrest the suspected assassins, according to sources close to Cole’ Egbe Bobakeye Akile Ijebu. But this morning, the sympathisers of the native doctor converged at Cole’s home and first of all abducted him. Later he was found with machete wounds and rushed to Amazing Grace Hospital in Ijebu-Ode. The doctors there battled in vain to save him.

Tanko-Al-Makura, Governor Nasarawa Sate The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared that the just concluded Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency by-election inconclusive due to cancellation of votes as a result of over voting. The Constituency Returning Officer of the election, Dr Wilfred Uji of Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, made this known while announcing the outcome of the poll in Nasarawa, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state. Uji cited Section 53 of the Electoral Act which gives the commission the power to cancel election in polling units where there is over voting. “For Nasarawa/Toto federal constituency, we have a total number of 202,338 registered voters for the election out of which 76,475 were accredited and the total vote cast was 75,826 and we have 74,848 valid votes and the rejected votes stand at 978. “The cancelled votes taken from the vote cast stand at 39,150 and the four political parties that participated at the by-

•Bomb making devices seized from Boko Haram men in Kano The Borno State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) on Sunday discovered two bomb-making factories in Dikwa. The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure in an interview in Maiduguri. Abdullahi said that the factories were discovered during a patrol by men of the command in collaboration with the troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army. “In an effort to comply with the directives of the Ministerial Committee on Resettlement of Liberated Towns by the military, NSCDC had deployed its personnel to Dikwa and are working hand in hand with the military. “This collective effort has therefore, led to the discovery of two major bomb making factories in two abandoned houses. “Our Detection and Bomb Disposal Unit, Intelligence and Detective Operation Unit in collaboration with the troops of 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army have since neutralised some o

Here is the full text of the broadcast made by President Muhammadu Buhari made today to commemorate the first anniversary of his administration President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria My compatriots, It is one year today since our administration came into office. It has been a year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements. By age, instinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria. But I believe we can also learn from the obstacles we have overcome and the progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the plans that we have in place to put Nigeria back on the path of progress. We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best assures the active participation and actual benefit of the people. Despite the many years of hardship and disappointment the people of this nation have proved inherently good, industrious tolerant, patient and genero

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari in his commemorative first anniversary broadcast did not reveal the list of Nigeria’s treasury looters as promised weeks before. Instead, he spoke about ‘significant amount of assets being recovered”, and also hinted about the difficulties being encountered in recovering loot from the looters. “The processes of recovery can be tedious and time consuming”, he said of the efforts being made by government agencies. Notwithstanding the obstacles, he said ” a considerable portion of these ((looted assets) are at different stages of recovery in different jurisdictions. For Nigerians waiting to hear President Buhari reel out the list of looters and what they stole, President Buhari deferred the fulfilment of the expectation for another day. According to him, the full details of the status and categories of the assets will now be published by the Ministry of Information, headed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and updated periodic