Category: General News

By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo:  Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has felicitated predecessor,and Minister of Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, on his 69th birth anniversary.

Adeleke, in his congratulatory message on Friday in Osogbo, prayed God to grant the minister more blessed years on earth.

“It is my pleasure to congratulate my dear big brother on the occasion of his birthday. I thank God for granting my predecessor another blessed year.

“On behalf of the people and government of Osun state, I convey our heartfelt good wishes.

” Where ever my brother is, he should please enjoy his day”, he said.(NAN) / Flowerbudnews

There are indications that Nigerians will experience nationwide blackout and fuel scarcity in the coming days as the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NUPENG, have commenced mobilization in compliance with the planned indefinite strike declared by organized labour unions.

Dominic Igwebike, NUEE’s acting general secretary, urged members to stop work from the early hours of Tuesday.

The NUEE’s call on its members to join the planned indefinite strike comes on the heels of a similar call by NUPENG on its members to withdraw their services, raising fears of possible fuel scarcity across the country.

The development comes as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, declared an indefinite nationwide strike to pressure the government to address the hardships associated with the removal of fuel subsidy.

The NUEE members’ strike could throw the country into darkness, given the workers’ critical roles in electricity distribution in the country.

DAILY POST recalls that the country experienced a total blackout during the NLC two-day warning strike on September 5th and 6th.

On Tuesday, the TUC and the NLC announced the decision to embark on an indefinite strike from 3 October over the prevailing hardship due to the removal of subsidy on petrol.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST reports that, in a last minute move to avert the indefinite strike, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Bako Lalong, on Friday invited organized labour for talk

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has cancelled the celebration of Independence Day slated for Sunday.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on Friday in Osogbo, the governor urged the people of the state to pray for the peace and prosperity of the country.

Let us use Independence Day to meditate and pray on the state of our nation.

“Our people are passing through tough times. It is time to take stock and seek divine intervention and guidance in the affairs of our nation.

“I greet Osun people and Nigerians in general as the independence day knocks at our doors.

” Here in Osun, we will celebrate with meditation and prayers,” he said

By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia:   The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abia Sector Command, has launched this year’s “Ember” months campaign against overloading and speed before and during the Yuletide.

In a speech at the event in Umuahia, the South-East Zonal Commander of the corps, RS9HQ, Mr Ocheja Ameh, said that the campaign would focus on encouraging road users to observe safety measures.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the campaign is “Speed thrills but kills: Drive responsibly and avoid overloading”.

Ameh said: “The focus of our campaign this year is against overloading, failure to install speed limiting device by commercial vehicles, dangerous driving, lane indiscipline and absence of wipers.

“Also, vehicles that are abusing the use of several lights in the night, other than the factory-fitted ones and use of phone, while driving, amongst others.

“I want to assure you that this year’s campaign will be more vigorous than that of last year, because we want to start early for best results.”

He thanked the government and stakeholders for their support to FRSC programmes, adding that the corps was poised to intensify it’s campaign against violation of safety rules by road users.

The Acting Sector Commander, Mrs Bridget Asekhauno, said that the campaign was targeted at recording minimal road crashes, zero fatalities and free flow of traffic during the Yuletide and going forward.

Asekhauno said that in order to achieve its goal, the command had deployed personnel, operational vehicles and ambulances in all the strategic roads across the state as well as made provision for mobile courts.

She urged drivers to install speed limiting device, use safe tyres in their vehicles and avoid overloading their vehicles with humans and animals, amongst other infractions.

She also said that the command would not hesitate to prosecute violators of any road safety rules and urged road users to cooperate with FRSC personnel deployed in various locations in the state.

In a speech, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia said that the FRSC core mandate of minimising road crashes and fatalities was in line with Abia Government’s agenda to achieve effective traffic management in the state.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Transport, Mr Sunny Onwuma, described road safety as a shared responsibility, which makes it important for all drivers to drive safely to save lives.

Otti urged road users to obey traffic rules and regulations to enable them to arrive at their different destinations, safely.

Earlier, the State Chairman, Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, Mr Amobi Ohaeri, commended the corps for embarking on a campaign to encourage safe driving.

Ohaeri said that the effort would greatly help to improve the orientation of road users, especially commercial drivers, in driving responsibly and appealed to FRSC to conduct regular enlightenment programmes, particularly in motor parks.

“This campaign should go beyond Ember months.

“Take it to churches, mosques, town hall meetings, because drivers belong to all these places and do consider starting a road safety club for drivers to further drive the message home,” he said.

Also, the State Coordinator of FRSC Special Marshal, Chief Jerry Onyemachi, commended FRSC and the security agencies for their collaborative effort toward keeping the roads safe.

Onyemachi called on the people of Abia to be law-abiding and adhere to the safety measures outlined by FRSC. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

INA/USO

Kogi Govt To Establish Oil Producing Area Development Commission.

This is one of the decisions the exco reached ,according to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Onogwu Mohammed, in a statement in Lokoja.

The minister for works, Dave Umahi has offered apology to civil servants after locking them out of the gate for coming late to work.

There was protest by the workers yesterday following the decision of the minister to lock them out.

In turn, they also locked the minister in his office in order to show their grievances.

The workers were all chanting ‘Umahi must go’ during the protest yesterday as they were surprised at the development.

However, the governor has addressed the workers and explained the reason for his decision. He asked for forgiveness and requested for partnership.

‘’Nobody locked the gate, we needed to get your attention. I came here on 22nd of august with two agenda. One is the welfare of the workers and number to is discipline.”

There was going to be a holiday on Tuesday and to demonstrate my welfare agenda, I gave on my own N15 million to workers in this ministry.”

Since 22nd Of August, I will come to work and see workers coming to work by 1pm, just a week ago I called all the directors for discipline. I ask for files and they say the staff isn’t yet around. “

I offered that workers should come to work by 9 o clock, they are all here. I can’t do without you and you can’t do without me.”

“I came to work by 9:30 today and needed some files but not 5% of the workers were around.”

“If you were offended this morning, I offer apology to you.”

watch Video Below;

Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate closure of Ladipo Market, Mushin, over alleged environmental infractions including, reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non payment of waste bills, among others.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who ordered the closure in the early hours Friday, said the market would remain closed until the mandatory conditions of redress were met by traders and market stakeholders, adding that it was part of ongoing efforts at instilling compliance in markets around the state.

Speaking on the development, Wahab underscored the critical importance of environmental hygiene in markets, noting that, “It is imperative that markets in the state adhere strictly to environmental laws and regulations put in place for the well-being of residents.

The closure of Ladipo market serves as a stern reminder that no entity, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law.”

Wahab stated that the state government was fully committed to collaborating with market stakeholders, to facilitate necessary adjustments and improvements, to enable them meet required environmental standards, adding that the market would not be reopened for business until set standards were met.

The commissioner said, “Ladipo Market, a prominent hub for automotive spare parts and related services, has been a focal point for environmental concerns due to various activities that contravene established regulations. Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA’s intervention is a significant step towards rectifying these issues and bringing the market to compliance.”

In his reaction, the Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that the closure was expected to allow for a thorough assessment of the environmental impact of the market’s activities and the implementation of necessary remedial measures, serving as a clear signal that LAWMA would not hesitate to take decisive actions, where and when environmental laws were flouted.

According to him, “As Lagos State continues to grow and develop, it is imperative that economic activities are conducted in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally responsible. LAWMA’s recent actions demonstrate the authority’s commitment to this cause.

“The offensive against environmental infractions will continue till sanity is restored in our markets, while the next stop will be illegal markets.”

The closure of Ladipo Market followed similar action taken against Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, Oke-Odo Markets, and some sections of Tejuosho Market, for serial infractions.

The decision to shut down those markets underscored the state government’s unwavering commitment to the restoration of environmental sanity in the state,” Gbadegesin stressed.

For waste management related issues, the commissioner urged residents to call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 617 and 07080601020

Nigeria’s Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, has been hospitalised in Abuja after allegedly suffering acute poisoning from unknown origins. “Her family members fear time was running against their efforts to save her life,” according to Peoples Gazette, which broke the news this Friday morning, September 29, 2023.

“Lola Ade-John, 60, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of her poisoning, according to family sources familiar with her ordeal. She has spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning,” the portal said, adding:

“Ms Ade-John, a career banker and tech investor, has been on a machine to aid her breathing, our sources said. The specifics as to what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established”.

The Gazette said the police and the Department of Security Service did not immediately return a request on whether or not any investigations had been opened into the matter.

It further said: “Her worsening situation has further set the family against the government, with the permanent secretary of her ministry said to be in disagreement as to whether she should continue receiving treatment at a public hospital or be moved to a better-equipped private facility downtown.

“The permanent secretary, Ngozi Onwudike, was said to have insisted that the minister should not be transferred because the FMC is a public hospital and its services wouldn’t attract substantial charges to the government, a position her family rebuffed. But they remained with her as they could not raise funds to move her to a private hospital, our sources said. A phone number for the permanent secretary did not connect on Friday morning.

“A spokesperson for the FMC did not immediately return a request seeking comments from The Gazette about Ms Ade-John’s condition.

“Ms Ade-John was appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu in August. She was immediately touted as one of the few cabinet members appointed from outside the political beltway. She was based in London for years before she was asked to return to the country to serve by the president.”