PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

      Governor   Kayode Fayemi   embarked on a tour across the three senatorial districts on Thursday 10th October, to get stakeholders’ input to the 2020 budget preparation. The consultative meeting took place in Ikere, Ikole and Ado-Ekiti with representatives of various towns and villages across the 16 local government areas in attendance. The meeting was designed to commence the process of inclusive budget preparation for 2020 which was in line with the participatory budgeting model that was established during his first term in office as governor between 2010 and 2014. The governor had an interactive session with members of the communities and responded to the various suggestions made regarding their priority projects in the 2020 budget. Dr. Fayemi affirmed that the proposed budget would focus more on the rural areas thereby bringing proper development to the areas through tarring and rehabilitation of roads as well as improvement to the health, education, power sectors, a

     Rivers State Government and the management of Ethiopian Airlines have reached an agreement in principle for the operation of permanent international flights from the Port Harcourt International Airport, subject to the approval of the relevant federal authorities. The two parties reached the agreement at the Headquarters of Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa after a high-powered meeting attended by the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Dr Tewolde Gebremariam, the Chief Commercial Officer, Esayas Wolde Mariam, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Busera Awel, Managing Director, Sales International, Lemma Yadecha, Regional Director, Sales and Services , Western Africa, Mitiku Asrat and Manager, Group Alliance and Commercial Cooperation, Hewoel Lemma. Chief Commercial Officer, Esayas Wolde Mariam, in an address declared that Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to fly permanently from Port Harcourt International Airport subject to the approval of the Federal Authorities

      A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, presided over by Justice Fatun Riman, on Friday, October 11, 2019, remanded the duo of Victor Saviour Uko and Bassey Effiong Jackson in Uyo prison over land fraud. The Uyo Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned the defendants on a two-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N900,000.00. The defendants were arrested at Ikom Iman junction, Uyo, on Friday, October 4, 2019, following a petition dated July 18, 2019, from one Mfonobong Sunday Jim alleging that sometime in December, 2018, he was lured into purchasing a parcel of land situated at Ikot-Oku in Ikono village, Uyo, by the defendants and their cohorts who are currently at large namely; Daniel Udofia and Otu Saviour Uko. The petitioner alleged that during negotiations on the land, Victor had presented himself as the owner of the land while Udofia claimed to be the vill

       The EFCC, Benin Zonal Office on Friday, Octorber 11, 2019 secured six convictions before Justice E. Nwite of the Federal High Court Warri, Delta State. Four of the convicts who were arraigned separately on one count charge each are Paul Edorena, Friday Oghenero, Onoja Emmanuel and Charles Ehifuoma. They were arraigned for offences bordering on illegal operations on the Nigerian waters without due licences.More photos below.

      First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu at COWLSO’s Awareness Walk and visit to LASUTH, Ikeja on Saturday where the First Lady disclosed that plans are underway to launch Endowment Fund to defray the cost of pediatric surgeries for needy babies of Ayinke House of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.More photos below.

     Yesterday , a truck fully loaded with 45000 litres Petrol fell at the Otedola bridge. All emergency responders have been activated. Transloading of content is on going to prevent truck from exploding. Truck will be recovered from the road to ensure free flow of traffic.One more photo below.

      A building collapsed at 48, Orisha Water Front, Otun Araromi Street, Magodo Phase 1. The collapse building claimed four lives. The timely response of LASG Rescue Team prevented further loss of lives.According to another source,the four victims are a pregnant woman and her three children.More details later.

      Lagos State is ready to host participants and visitors coming for Under-20 Women World Cup that will be hosted by Nigeria in 2020, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu assured on Saturday. The Governor said the State has started to put all facilities required to host the sport fiesta in place ahead of its take off, noting that Lagos would do all within its capacity to give participants a comfort and make their experience rewarding. Sanwo-Olu spoke on Saturday while on inspection of the sporting facilities at the National Stadium in Surulere with the Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare. The Governor said: “Lagos is getting to a state of full preparedness for the Under-20 Women World Cup. We have started to put facilities in place for the event and we need to do more. Some are wondering if we have the capacity and willingness to do it. I said yes; it is for us to turn our talk into action by preparing the sport facilities to be used for the event within the State

      In continuation of the on-going intensive clearance operations against armed bandits in Zamfara state, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) have continued to record tremendous successes against the criminal elements/unrepentant bandits. Recall that on 3rd of October 2019, troops deployed at SUNKE in ANKA Local Government Area, troops came under unprovoked attack by armed bandits despite the ongoing peace process in the State. However, the gallant troops successfully repelled the attack, neutralized 19 bandits in the process. Unfortunately, 4 soldiers lost their lives during the encounter. As a result of the encounter, troops further commenced aggressive clearance operations nicknamed OP MUSHARE on the 6th of October 2019, with a view to apprehending the recalcitrant bandits. Consequently, between 6th and 7th of October 2019, within BAWA DAJI general area, 3 heavily fortified camps at GUBARAWA, BAWA DAJI and BAWA DAJI Forest were destroyed when the troops overpowered the b