Over 90 persons have been declared dead in a petrol tanker explosion along Hadeija Road, Jigawa state.
The dead are mainly villagers from nearby communities who swooped on the scene of the accident to scoope fuel from the marooned tanker.
Further details later..
Protesting workers have shutdown the nation’s premier Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO), Benue State.
As of press time, neither students nor workers are allowed into the main campus of the university by the protesters who are mainly security personnel.
A member of staff who spoke to Nigerian Anchor on condition of anonymity explained that the protest is over non-payment of their salaries.
Explaining further, the staff said the university is currently on autopilot as neither the Vice Chancellor, Professor Innocent Ujah nor any of his deputies is on campus to address the protesting workers.
Further details to follow shortly…
Faisal Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, the eldest son of former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has died following a tragic auto accident.
A source close to the family, who requested anonymity, confirmed the incident, revealing that the accident occurred on Saturday evening along the Kaduna-Zaria expressway.
“The accident happened along the Kaduna-Zaria highway this evening. Faisal was rushed to an undisclosed hospital, where he was declared dead. His father was at the hospital, and the body has been taken home for burial arrangements,” the source said.
Faisal, a trained engineer, began his education at Kaduna International School before proceeding to Adesoye College in Offa, Kwara State, for his secondary education.
He later attended the University of Greenwich, London, where he obtained his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He had also enrolled for a PhD at the same institution.
At the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Senator Makarfi, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party for comments were unsuccessful.
In a move aimed at alleviating poverty and enhancing economic stability, Nigeria’s government has introduced a cash transfer programme to assist 20 million low-income individuals.
Finance Minister Wale Edun revealed this development at the Nigeria Economic Summit, emphasizing the government’s efforts to allocate its improved revenue toward social welfare programs.
The initiative targets the most vulnerable, covering around 60% of the nation’s poorest citizens.
Currently, the programme supports four million households, which equates to approximately 20 million people.
The plan includes an expansion phase that seeks to reach 15 million households nationwide.
The government’s revenue for the first half of 2024 saw a remarkable rise to ₦9.1 trillion, a considerable increase from the ₦4.06 trillion collected during the same period in 2023.
This surge has enabled the administration to invest heavily in social programs that address the cost of living and other economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
Edun also discussed the broader fiscal reform plan, which involves utilizing technology to enhance tax collection and ensure compliance from various government entities.
This approach has facilitated an increase in domestic resource mobilization, allowing the government to allocate more funds toward social initiatives.
The programme’s expansion is in line with the government’s focus on developing sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, oil, and housing. The aim is to curb inflation, improve food production, and make essential goods more affordable.
The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians through targeted economic interventions and sectoral development.
A loud explosion occurred at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Rivers State, causing widespread destruction.
The incident took place along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, just hours before the scheduled Local Government Council elections.
Dynamites were reportedly used in the attack, which severely damaged the secretariat’s structure, pulling down the gate and destroying doors, windows, and other property.
The blast caused panic in the surrounding area as residents fled for safety.
Further updates on the situation are expected.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a total of 120 long range missiles into Tel Aviv, Israel, with a few hitting targets while many were intercepted by Israeli anti missile system.
It has been long speculated that the latest reckless onslaught of Israeli attack on multiple countries in the Middle East would lead to this escalaltion.
Israel has expanded its massive war on Gaza to Labanon, Syria and Yemen.
The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has announced plans to mobilize Nigerians for a peaceful protest on October 1st, 2024.
The group, through its Director of Public Communications, Hussaini Shuaibu, made this declaration in a statement released in Kaduna on Monday.
According to Shuaibu, the protest aims to hold the government accountable for the ongoing economic challenges facing the nation, particularly in northern Nigeria, where the impact has been most severe.
He stressed that the protest is grounded in the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens, citing sections 38 to 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees free association, the expression of views, and the right to peaceful mobilization.
Shuaibu said despite the government’s promise to address the concerns raised by protesters during the August 2024 demonstrations, the issues remain unresolved and have worsened in some cases two months later.
“The government promised to address the issues raised during the protests, but instead of progress, the situation has worsened,” Shuaibu said.
He added that the NYCN feels compelled to act, particularly because northern Nigeria has been the hardest hit by these economic and political crises.
“As such, we are mobilising and sensitising the people to come out and continue to protest peacefully, the unbearable hardship until the government agrees to act responsibly and respond to the issues promptly and decisively,” Shuaibu said.
The Independence Day protest, according to the NYCN, is not just a symbolic action but a necessary step to “prick the conscience” of Nigerian leaders.
“Since the government seems overwhelmed by these responsibilities, it is our duty to ensure we have a better Nigeria that we all can be proud of,” Shuaibu concluded.
The likelihood of breakdown of order heightens following reports that Philip Shaibu is plotting to resume office as Deputy Governor.
The Edo House of Assembly had impeached Shaibu at the height of his rift with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
However, he challenged the impeachment in court, saying the lawmakers did not give him fair hearing.
A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice J. K. Omotosho had annulled the impeachment and ordered reinstatement of Shaibu, but the government failed to comply with the order, saying it had filed a stay of execution.
When the Government House area was visited, on Monday morning, visitors and civil servants were seen trekking long distances to their destinations after parking their vehicles by the road side
Also, it was observed that only security vehicles had unhindered access to Osadebe Avenue.
A civil servant who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they were surprised to see heavy security in and around the government.
Recall that on Sunday, Crusoe Osagie, spokesman to Obaseki, had in a statement alleged that Shaibu had perfected plans to invade the Government House to enforce his “purported” reinstatement despite the fact that a stay of execution appeal had been filed.
Osagie had called on the Inspector General of Police and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on Shaibu to refrain from his “devious plot as it is a clear recipe for chaos”.
“We want to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police to the intelligence we have gathered regarding a planned move by Shaibu to forcefully enter the Edo State Government House to purportedly enforce the ruling of Justice J. K. Omotosho.”
“The stay of execution is still pending at the court of appeal and we appeal to the Inspector General of Police to ensure that 0 state does not descend to anarchy because of the ambition of one man. The last time Shaibu attempted to do this, it led to the death of a police officer. We believe that is one death too many and it is only wise for us to prevent a repeat of such,” he said.
Responding, Shaibu’s spokesperson, Mr.Ebomhiana Musa, denied the allegation, saying the reality is yet to dawn on Obaseki that they had been rejected by Edo people.
“We want to put it clearly here that, unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, Philip Shaibu is a peace loving man, who firmly believes in the rule of law and would not want to shed innocent blood for whatever reason.
“As it is today, in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the good people of Edo State and Nigerians, Philip Shaibu is the de jure and de facto Deputy Governor of Edo State. We need not fight or struggle for that which God has given us”, he said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of seven executive directors for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
This was made known in a statement released on Friday and signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
They are:
1. Ayo Adewuyi — Reappointed Executive Director, News.
2. Bar. Ibrahim Aliyu — Executive Director, Special Duties – Legal Practitioner
3. Malam Muhammed Fatuhu Mustapha — Executive Director, Administration and Training
4. Mrs Apinke Effiong — Executive Director, Finance. An expert in financial marketing with treasury, management accounting and reporting skills.
5. Mrs Tari Taylaur– Executive Director, Programme. An audio/visual creator, producer and showrunner.
6. Mr Sadique Musa Omeiza – Executive Director, Engineering
7. Mrs Oluwakemi Fashina – Executive Director, Marketing. An integrated marketing communications professional and chartered marketer
