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NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS ( NSCDC ). LAGOS STATE COMMAND. PRESS RELEASE. 3RD NOVEMBER, 2023. NSCDC LAGOS STATE COMMAND FOILS ATTEMPT TO VANDALIZE NNPC PIPELINES IN ABORU, RECOVERS PRODUCT, KEGS AND IMPLEMENTS. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Lagos Sttae Command, upon receiving credible intelligence, from the community members of Oju - emi, off Ola mummy junction, Aboru, Agbado Oke - Odo Local Council Development Authority, moved, to foil attempt, by suspected, vandals, who intended, to  compromise the NNPC pipeline in the aforementioned, area. The dastardly, act of these unscrupulous elements was foiled, at exactly, 0530hrs, at the aforementioned, location, by the gallant and tactical operation of the anti - vandal unit of the command led, by Assistant Commandant of Corps Abdullahi Jubril Musa. The State Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Commandant of Corps Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, Mfr, fdc, in a bid to protect lives and critical national ...

Alleged N4.8bn Fraud : Court Issues Bench Warrant for Arrest of Cletus Ibeto Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, November 3, 2023, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a businessman; Chief Cletus Ibeto, for failing to appear in court for his arraignment over an alleged N4.8bn fraud. The Judge had, on October 5, 2023, adjourned till November 3, 2023, the arraignment of Ibeto alongside Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings on 10-count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretences, fraudulent conversion of property, criminal breach of trust, forgery and deception, following an application and appeal by his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN. Ikpeazu, while seeking an adjournment, had told the court that “the law is not a respecter of any person. I am of the firm view that this is a matter that can be resolved; and if given some time, it can be resolved.” The defence counsel further told the court that he had no medical ...

EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged Illegal dealings in Petroleum Products The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday November 2, 2023, arraigned  Morris Gbiki Karinane before Justice P .I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The defendant was arraigned on one -count charge bordering  on alleged illegal dealing in petroleum product without a requisite license.   The charge reads: "That you, Morris Gbiki Karinane on the 15th day of July, 2023, at Krakrama Waterways in Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority to deal in Petroleum Product, dealt in unspecified quantity of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO laden in a Wooden Boat and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(17)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Punishable Section 1(17)(b) of the same Act".  The defendants p...

  STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS REFORM AND REACTIVATION OF PRESIDENTIAL PROJECT DELIVERY TRACKER  President Bola Tinubu has directed the reactivation of the Presidential Delivery Tracker to empower Nigerians to track the implementation of projects across the country in real time. Speaking at the closing session of the three-day Cabinet Retreat, on Friday in Abuja, the President said that his determination to ensure the active and direct participation of citizens in governance is unwavering, noting that all Nigerians must be given the opportunity to track and report on the implementation of projects across the country. President Tinubu said he has asked his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to immediately reactivate the tracking system in a way that maximally leverages on cutting-edge digital innovation to provide real time oversight capability for the benefit of all Nigerians.  President Tinubu also redefined the pri...

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU MEETS FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY AS NIGERIA PREPARES FOR RETURN OF $150M ABACHA LOOT President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, expressed his appreciation to France for the return of $150 million stolen from Nigeria by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.    In addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme -- a Federal Government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries. The agreement was signed by Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria...

The Lagos State Government has announced the diversion of traffic between Costain and Alaka descent due to the need to carry out emergency repairs on some parts of the Eko Bridge. A statement signed by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi said these repairs are necessary to avoid the complete vandalisation and theft of the expansion joint as well as the replacement of missing parts and the recasting of the transition concrete around the expansion joint. According to him, the section of the Bridge will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m on Saturday, 4th November and will be reopened to traffic by 4 am on Monday 6th November, 2023, advising motorists plying the area to use the Costain Ramp to link Alaka through the Costain Roundabout during the period. While assuring that the bridge will be reopened as planned, Osiyemi added that adequate traffic and security personnel will be deployed to the construction zones and the alternative routes, urging motorists t...

 GOV SANWO-OLU INAUGURATES LAGOS INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, LIFC COUNCIL AT LAGOS HOUSE, IKEJA, ON FRIDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER 2023   Today, I inaugurated the Lagos International Financial Centre Council. This esteemed council has been entrusted with the crucial responsibility of aligning their efforts with the overarching objectives of the Centre.  Together, we aim to foster an environment that attracts and promotes investments in our vibrant city. By leveraging the expertise and vision of the Council, we are determined to propel Lagos into a global financial powerhouse, opening up new avenues of growth and prosperity for our citizens and businesses alike. Chairman, EnterpriseNGR, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede (left) and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the inauguration of the Lagos International Financial Centre Council at the EXCO Chamber, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, 03 November 2023.   l-r: Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-O...

UN: Nigeria Votes Against U.S. Economic Sanctions Imposed On Cuba November 3, 2023 Nigeria and 186 member states of the United Nations on Thursday voted by a large margin against the United States’ economic and trade embargo against Cuba, first imposed in 1960. One hundred eighty-seven states voted for the resolution put forward each year against the embargo, with only the U.S. and Israel voting against it and Ukraine abstaining. The resolution’s full title is the ‘Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba’. The UN General Assembly voiced concern that despite its resolutions dating back to 1992 (Resolution 47/19), “the economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba is still in place” and that “the adverse effects of such measures on the Cuban people and on Cuban nationals living in other countries.” It recalled measures adopted by then-U.S. President Barack Obama in 2015 and 2016 “to modify several a...

 BBNaija: It still hurts some housemates didn’t congratulate me – Ilebaye Winner of the Big Brother Naija All-Stars, Ilebaye Odiniya, has revealed that she is still pained that some of the co-housemates in the edition have not congratulated her for emerging as the winner of the reality TV show. Ilebaye made this known in a recent interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo. The 22-year-old said the failure of her fellow housemates to hail her achievement was a reminder of how she was betrayed at a younger age by her friends. She said the sad experience has adversely affected her in making friends, adding that how she was bullied in the house made her feel alone and abandoned. While explaining how she felt when some housemates refused to congratulate her, she recalled her bitter experience of loneliness while in the Big Brother house. “I am still hurt that I didn’t get congratulations from some of the housemates because I know that If I were in their shoes, I would be happy for ...

UEFA To Co-Organise Ballon d’Or From 2024 UEFA and the Amaury group, owner of L’Equipe and France Football magazine which created the Ballon d’Or, announced Friday they had signed a partnership to co-organise the awards ceremony starting next year. The Paris-based Amaury group will remain the owner of the Ballon d’Or and continue to oversee the vote, while UEFA will take charge of marketing commercial rights and help organise the annual awards gala. Two new prizes will be also awarded in 2024, for the men’s and women’s coach of the year. “We are very happy with this partnership to co-organise the Ballon d’Or ceremony,” said Jean-Etienne Amaury, managing director of the Amaury group. “It’s a trophy created in 1956 by France Football, the same year of the creation of the European Champions Clubs’ Cup, so there’s a common history between UEFA and the Ballon d’Or. “The ceremony has taken on a global scale over the past 15 years with worldwide media coverage,” he added. “So the partnership ...

 PRESS RELEASE IGP BIDS FAREWELL TO FRANK ODITA As Former Force PRO is Laid to Rest Today The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, on behalf of the entire Nigeria Police Force, mourns the loss of a dedicated and esteemed retired colleague, CP Frank Odita, a former Force Public Relations Officer who served in the revered office between 1990 and 1992. He noted that CP Odita had made indelible mark in the hearts of all who knew him, and in the annals of the NPF. CP Frank Odita's commitment and exemplary service during his tenure as the Force PRO earned him the respect and admiration of his peers, the media, and the public. He played a pivotal role in enhancing the image of the Nigeria Police Force and fostering better relations with the media and the community. The Inspector General of Police emphasized that his passing is a great loss to the NPF family, and his contributions to the Force will be remembered and cherished. As he is laid to rest today 3r...

Kaduna Pension Bureau Releases Over 1,000 Beneficiaries List Kaduna State Pension Bureau has released the list of 1,051 Beneficiaries for the payment of gratuity and death benefits for State and local government retirees in both the Defined Benefit Scheme DBS and Contributory Pension Scheme.  The Executive Secretary of the Bureau, Professor Salamatu Idris Isa stated this at a news briefing in Kaduna. Professor Salamatu who explained that, Sequel to the approval by Governor Uba Sani for the release of the sum of 3.1 billion Naira to the bureau for the payment, 873 of the beneficiaries are from both state and Local Government council retirees and families of deceased amounting to 2.6 billion Naira. She said the State had scheduled the list of 331 beneficiaries amounting to 1.2 Billion naira while Local Government has 542 beneficiaries amounting to 1.4billion Naira.  According to her, the sum of 500million Naira was allocated to beneficiaries in the Contributory Pension Scheme C...

Reps Committee Vows To Recover $20B Revenue From Oil Sector  House of Representatives committee on Petroleum Resources downstream has pledged to assist the Federal Government to recover over twenty Billion US dollars revenue from the sector.  The committee also said it will review the implementation of Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to remove bottlenecks and allay fears of stakeholders in the petroleum sector. The chairman of the committee Mr Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, who made the remark during the Innaugural meeting of the committee, said they  will legislate for energy security, professionalism in the petroleum sector, economic transformation, accountability, institutional reforms and revenue recovery and generation.  According to him, the House has received in plenary the NEITI report that have far reaching recommendations both in the downstream, upstream and midstream sector, especially the issue of over $8.5 billion unremitted royalties and other oil revenues and th...

Denial of Hajj Seat After Payment: Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Agency Warns Staff Against Act The Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, has warned staff of the agencyto decits of fraudulent activities such as deniel of hajj seat to any person that paid for the hajj fair.  The newly appointed Executive Chairman of the agency, Faruk Musa Inabo, gave the warning while addressing newmen at the agency's Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.  He lamented the situation where by a person will pay hajj fair in millions of naira at the local government Pilgrims office but later be denied of hajj seat and the money will not be repaid back to the person.  The Executive Chairman, therefore warned that, any staff of the agency found engaging in such fraudulent activities should consider himself dismissed from the service.  Musa Inabo, also called on the public and those intend to go for next years hajj exercise to pay their hajj fair within the next two weeks.  According to hi...

Ogun Commissioner Visits Woman Found With Dëäd Child, Promises To Support Family  The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Motunrayo Adeleye, has detailed how she and her team visited the home of a woman who was found with a dead child in the Abeokuta area of the state.  She shared details about the incident on her X page late Thursday.  Adeleye wrote, "Today, I received a call from #Letter_to_Jack concerning a distressing situation. A woman was found by the roadside, carrying her two-month-old child who was looking lifeless. My team and I immediately responded, but upon arrival, it was evident that the child had passed away.  "We then engaged with Mrs. Aminatu (the mother of the child), seeking to understand her circumstances. She led us to her family home, where we discovered her husband is blind, and the deceased child had been born prematurely with underlying health issues.  "Recognising the dire situation, we resolved to provide support.  "I inst...

Prostitution : Obinabo Rescues Two Underage Girls, 18 Others From Brothel At Oba The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare Mrs Ify Obinabo has rescued about twenty girls between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five at a brothel in Oba, Idemili South local government area of the state.  The raid was done in collaboration with the Anambra State Police Command following a tip off from a whistleblower. Two amongst the rescued girls are underage and the Commissioner has already taken them to hospital for medical examination and possible treatment. Before embarking on the raid, investigation was carried out by the ministry and it was discovered that the management of the hotel by name Top Ten hotels Oba trafficks girls from all parts of the country for Prostitution Purposes.   Speaking immediately after the raid, Hon Obinabo appreciated the efforts of the Nigerian Police Force, Anambra State Command in helping to rescue the girls and lamented that despite th...

SASA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FATAL MOB ACTION IN ONITSHA Government has noticed that some ill-informed social media commentators  have been maliciously trying to ascribe the Wednesday, 1st of November mob action at Bida Road, Onitsha which claimed the lives of two young men, to the newly inaugurated Special Anti-Touting Squad Anambra (SASA).  These accusations can best be described as calumnious, baseless and diametrically in contrast with the modus operandi of SASA. On the fateful day in question, at about 1:20 pm, two persons were mobbed at Bida Road in Onitsha. The victims were identified as  Monday alias Aka Odo and Ikechukwu. These two well-known criminals had escaped from a shanty behind Menax Hospital, Onitsha, that served as their hideout after it was earlier raided by SASA. The criminals used the hideout as a place of convergence from where they dispersed each day to commit diverse crimes and engage in violent extortion. While they fled, the two victims were a...