Category: General News

By Flowerbudnews

Enugu: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a road advisory to motorists and diverted traffic along Enugu–Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Expressway after a collapsed Flyover Bridge on the road.

One of the flyover bridges across Enugu–Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Expressway collapsed Monday morning. The incident happened at kilometer-one section of the Expressway between Naira Triangle and New Artisan Market axis of Enugu.

The Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Sokunbi Adeyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that he had dispatched the Corps’ officers and men to the incident spot to control and divert traffic.

Adeyemi said that incident happened at about 12:30p.m., adding that it took officials of FRSC only five minutes to rush to the scene of the incident.

He said that the incident was caused by natural disaster.

The sector commander said: “For safety, motorists and other road users should take alternative routes.

“Motorists coming from Port-Harcourt/Aba axis to Abakaliki are advised to take Bricks Estate Junction close to New Kenyetta Market (Army check-point) through Okpara Square to New Haven Junction by Otigba Roundabout – Ogui Roundabout- Abakpa Junction (by 82 Division) straight ahead to Abakaliki.

“Motorists from Abuja/Abakaliki to Aba/Port Harcourt, are advised to go through Abakpa Junction (82 Division) – New Haven Junction by Otigba Roundabout – Okpara Square and hit Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Expressway at New Kenyetta Market (Army check-point) to continue their journey to Aba/Port Harcourt”.

Reacting to the incident, the Police Command in Enugu State told NAN that it had effectively cordoned off the portion of the Collapsed Flyover Bridge of the Federal Highway.

The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed that no life was lost in the incident, adding that no one sustained any serious injury during the incident.

Ndukwe said that police operatives had joined in traffic control and diverting traffic to safe alternative routes within Enugu metropolis. (Flowerbudnews)

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, September 27, 2023, as a public holiday.

This is to mark the Eid-ul-Mawlid celebration and the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

The announcement was made in a statement on Monday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Oluwatoyin Akinlade.

She noted that the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, urged Nigerians to be tolerant.

The statement partly read, “The Minister congratulates all Muslim faithful both home and in the diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion.

“His admonition to Nigerians is to imbibe the spirit of love, patience, tolerance and

perseverance which are deep spiritual virtues that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) exemplified

“Tunji-Ojo also urged Nigerians, especially our youths, to embrace the virtues of hard work and peaceful disposition toward fellow humans, irrespective of faith, ideology, social class, and ethnicity, and join hands with President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its effort to build a progressive and enviable Nation that all citizens will be proud of.

She noted that the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, urged Nigerians to be tolerant

By Segun Giwa

The embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, says he has not been served any impeachment notice by the state House of Assembly.

Aiyedatiwa stated this in a statement he personally signed on Monday in Akure and made available to newsmen.

The Assembly had on Wednesday during a plenary session, directed the clerk of the House to write the deputy governor over allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him.

According to Aiyedatiwa, the statement was a response to a claim by Olatunji Oshati, Chairman, House Committee on Information, that he has been served an impeachment notice by the Assembly.

“I find it especially worrying that the spokesman of the House of Assembly would go on national television to speak on such matter without any evidence to show that such letter has been delivered to me.

“More disturbing is the fact that even when he was asked if the letter had been delivered, he gave no coherent answer.

“A sensitive constitutional matter of this nature; impeachment process should not be conducted on the pages of newspapers and television screens.

“In effect, I reiterate that if such letter of allegations of gross misconduct against me exists, I have not seen it and I have not been served.

“I, therefore, urge Mr speaker, The Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State and members of the public to take note,” he said.

The deputy governor concluded that he was “in the dark regarding any allegation” against him by the state House of Assembly.

NAN

The Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal on Monday struck out the Labour Party and its candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, from the petition

filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Olajide Adediran, against the recent governorship election in the state.

Jandor is challenging the return of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat in the March 18 Lagos State gubernatorial election.

At the proceeding, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Arum Ashom, said the court would deliver judgment first in the case of the PDP and its candidate before giving its judgment in the petition of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

While delivering the judgment, which was read by Justice Abdullahi, the tribunal first dwelt on the preliminary objections filed by the parties.

On whether the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, could be listed as a respondent in the petition, the Tribunal noted that the issue has been decided in a number of cases and went on to hold that a deputy governor and governor are not separate candidates and they are not required to pay a separate security deposit.

The PDP in the second objection, asked the tribunal to decide whether a person who lost an election could be joined as a respondent in an election petition, considering that Jandor had joined the candidate of the Labour Party Rhodes Vivour as a respondent in his petition.

The tribunal agreed that a petition is contemplated to be filed between the winner and the loser of an election and not between two persons who lost.

The tribunal then upheld the preliminary objection and subsequently struck out the name of Rhodes-Vivour from the petition filed by Jandor.

The court also removed from its records all exhibits tendered in evidence by Rhodes-Vivour in the petition filed by Jandor while holding that Rhodes-Vivour cannot subsequently go on to challenge any part of the judgment of the Jandor’s petition or else he becomes a meddlesome interloper.

Similarly, the court held that the Labour Party ought not to have made a respondent in Jandor and the PDP’s petition. The name of the party was subsequently struck out for being improperly joined. All evidence and exhibits concerning the party were also expunged from the tribunal’s records

By Ramatu Garba

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Usaini-Gumel, has called for the support of traditional and religious leaders to end the menace of Gender-based violence in the state.
Usaini-Gumel made the call while addressing youths of the Arewa Peace Ambassadors Forum (APAF), a youth and students’ movement, in Kano at the 2023 Peace conference in commemoration of International Day for Peace.
The conference with theme: “Gender-based Violence From Religious, Western and Cultural Perspectives” was organised by APAF.
Gumel expressed concern that gender-based violence was deeply rooted in the fabric of African society and increasingly affects many more individuals across religious, traditional and cultural backgrounds.

“In our quest for a more compassionate and just society, it is crucial to explore these issues through diverse lenses, including religious, traditional, and cultural perspectives.

“Gender-Based Violence is deeply rooted in the fabric of our society and increasingly affecting many more individuals across religious, traditional and cultural backgrounds.

” It is a pervasive issue that undermines the very essence of our humanity and keeps threatening the well-being and dignity of individuals,” he said.
According to him, traditional and religious leaders have a vital role to play in ensuring cultural, traditional beliefs and practices to sustain the incidence of domestic violence are jettisoned in their respective communities.
” By embracing the principles of respect, education, and empowerment, we can create a society where individuals of all genders can thrive.
“We must continue to address crime prevention, raise awareness, and provide comprehensive support to survivors to ensure their empowerment” Usaini-Gumel said
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CP received an excellence award for outstanding performance in Policing Kano State.
On his part, Sheikh Muhajjidina Sani-Kano, a Kano based Islamic cleric also got a special recognition award for Peace Icon due to his contributions to peace and humanitarian assistance.
He appealed to women to always dress modestly based on basic Islamic code of dressing to avoid being molested.
Sani-Kano also called on youths to always fear God and be ambassadors of peace.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of APAF, Alhaji Nura Ali-Abubakar, called on youths to go back to school and be advocate for world peace.
“Education promotes knowledge,skills and attitude to help people prevent conflict,resolve conflict peacefully or creat condition of peace” he said

Other award recipients are Amb. Surajo Dantata, Amb. Sunusi Musa and Abdul’aziz Umar-Ganduje among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

The Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN are protesting against the ban on RTEAN operations by the Lagos state government.

The Senate has urgently called for the rescue of the abducted female students of the Federal University in Gusau, Zamfara, by yet-to-be-identified bandits.

NAN reports that the police stated that on Friday, at about 02:50 hrs, suspected bandits, riding about 50 motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded three students’ rented apartments in Sabon Gida Village near the Federal University of Gusau, kidnapping an unspecified number of students.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Army, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

He emphasised that rescuing the innocent female students from the captivity of the bandits must be the topmost priority of the country now.

Yar’Adua decried the scourge of banditry and insurgency by criminal elements in the country, with the attendant abduction of law-abiding citizens being a serious dent in the image of the country and the collective conscience of Nigerians.

“This is a moment that demands swift and decisive action. We cannot underestimate the trauma and anguish that these young girls and their families are experiencing right now. It is our duty as leaders to prioritise their safety and well-being above all else,” he said.

He further mentioned that the Nigerian Army and other security agencies must be well-equipped and positioned to stop the menace that is already threatening the nation’s unity, peace, and progress.

“The recent kidnapping of more than 24 innocent school students of the Federal University of Gusau, Nigeria, particularly the young girls, is not just another unfortunate incident but a clear indication that the insecurity plaguing our country has reached alarming levels.

“We can no longer stand idle and allow our nation’s future to be continually threatened. I call upon all stakeholders in government, from the executive to the legislative and the judiciary, to immediately divert our attention to this heinous attack and ensure the safe rescue of our young daughters.

“Furthermore, let us use this unfortunate incident as a wake-up call; the Nigerian government must intensify its efforts in curbing the escalating insecurity that has permeated our land.

“We cannot continue to allow bandits, insurgents, and criminal elements to terrorise our communities, disrupt the education of our children, and instil fear in the hearts of law-abiding citizens