PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

      OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT   PRESS RELEASE The Federal Government is adopting short-term, mid-term and long-term measures, including improving infrastructure, towards resolving the Apapa gridlock and easing traffic around the area, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Saturday, when he went round the Apapa area in Lagos State to inspect progress of ongoing work to clear the gridlock. The Vice President visited different areas of Apapa, including the truck terminal near Ijora, the entrance to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Liverpool and Tin Can Island, as well as several road projects in the area to ascertain the level of work done by the Presidential Task Force saddled with the responsibility of clearing the area. Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Prof. Osinbajo, who was accompanied by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman, said a lot of work has been done so far

       The African Development Bank (AfDB) has expressed its readiness to provide technical and financial support for Ekiti State Government to upgrade its infrastructure, including fixing the Ado Ekiti- Akure road, which is currently in a terrible state. Other projects which the AfDB is willing to support are the Ekiti Airport, the Ekiti Knowledge zone (a smart city to promote knowledge economy) and the agriculture processing zone project, all geared towards improving infrastructure and socio– economic development of the state. These are some of the highlights of a high level meeting between the Ekiti State government team led by the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the AfDB President, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina at the organisation’s headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire at the weekend. The meeting which was attended by the top officials of the AfDB, including its Senior Vice President, Charles Boamah; three Vice Presidents, Celestine Monga, (VP and Chief Economist); Vivienne B

         The collapse of the distressed two-storeyed building located at No 35, Adesanya Street, off Ayoni Bus Stop in the Mafoluku area of Oshodi exactly at 9.45 a.m. today Sunday, caused panic among residents, as people still live in and around similar buildings already marked for demolition. Rescue workers and officials from the Lagos State government have, already moved into the site of the building to pull down the remaining structure.Also, injured victims have been moved to an undisclosed hospital, while the partially collapsed building is has been pulled down.  More details later and one more photo below.

      The attention of Headquarters Ground Training Command (HQ GTC) Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Enugu has been drawn to a story being circulated by some mischievous, misguided elements purporting that NAF helicopters were being used to “drop” weapons for Fulani herdsmen in the forest area of Akwuke Community in Enugu South Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State. The report alleged that helicopters had  been seen on several occasions flying at low level and landing in the forest area to “discharge their packages”. HQ GTC wishes to state that the report is deliberately misleading and obviously concocted by the writer to cause disaffection and incite negative, divisive emotions. It must be noted that the NAF has 2 helicopter training institutions under its purview, which have been operating in Enugu for several years. These are the International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS) and 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group (405 HCTG), whose training curricula include low level flying arou

       In its routine effort in providing and maintaining a secure, and steady passage of persons and goods as well as free vehicular movements along some notable roads/Main Supply Routes (MSR) in the North East, troops of 26 Brigade Garrison on patrol and escort duties of civilian merchants and commuters along Wala village and adjoining communities on Saturday, the 22nd of June 2019, had a fi erce encounter with desperate terrorists' ambush team desperately craving for food and other essentials. During the encounter, troops swiftly responded with heavy gunfire, thwarted the ambush, exterminated two terrorists and captured two AK 47 Rifles. Subsequently, intelligence revealed that the terrorists were informed by their informants of the troops movement in order to use the opportunity to grab foodstuff that they direly need for survival. In order to consolidate on the gains achieved from the ambush clearance, further exploitation of the general area and beyond was undertaken

      The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, wants all properties belonging to the State, which were forcefully taken over by the Federal Government to be returned. The monarch urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to use his position as the fourth citizen in the national leadership hierarchy to help Lagos retrieve the said properties. Oba Akiolu made the plea when the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led the Speaker on a courtesy visit to the monarch at the weekend with his deputy, Hon. Idris Wase. The monarch said he had “valid documents” to lay claims to the properties which he said were taken during the military era. He said some of the property were dated back to 19th century. He said: “We have a catalogue of requests from the Federal Government, from special status for the state to the return of all property belonging to Lagos government which were taken away by military fiat. We want the property to be returned to us".

       President Muhammadu Buhari commiserates with the government and people of Zamfara State on the recent infiltration of bandits, who killed several innocent citizens in Tsafe Local Government Area of the State. Condemning the incident, President Buhari describes the bandit attacks as callous and despicable, assuring the people of Zamfara and other Nigerians who have lost loved ones to viol ent attacks that the government, under his watch, will soon bring such dastardly acts to an end. Commending the new administration in the State for putting in new security measures to curtail the activities of criminals and bandits, the President urges them not to despair but to see the latest attack as a challenge to step up collective actions to rout the enemy, in partnership with the Federal government. While urging law enforcement agencies to take prompt and timely actions against the wicked attackers, President Buhari appeals to citizens to have faith in the security agencies by giv

     Nigerian Super Falcons players staged a sit-in protest last night, refusing to leave their hotel in France until all of their outstanding bonuses are paid, following the team's elimination from the Women's World Cup. The players told ESPN they are owed bonuses from two games, against Gambia and Senegal, from as far back as two years ago, amounting to 2 million Nigerian naira (about $5,600 U.S.), but they have been paid only half of that. They also say they are owed five days of daily allowance while at the World Cup. "They paid us 1 million [naira] and said that is all. We want them to pay the balance. Part of that money is from two years ago, the other is from three years ago. And they are also owing us five days' daily allowance here in France. Before the World Cup, we asked them for a meeting so that we could discuss our World Cup bonuses, like they did with the men's team last year. They ignored the letter and nobody said anything about it until no

      A video making waves online shows how a 15-year-old girl was married off to a 14-year-old boy in one of the south eastern states in Nigeria. According to reports, the 14-year-old boy was forced to marry a girl who is a year older than he is because he impregnated her. In the video making rounds online, the father of the bride gave her out to the young boy advising her to be careful as she is no longer in her father's house. The youngest couple's facial expression has sparked outrage on social media with some web users condemning the act in its entirety.