President Bola Tinubu has said the commonality of cultures, history and demographics of Nigeria and Benin Republic will be explored to the advantage of citizens.

Speaking on Tuesday as Special Guest at the 63rd Independence anniversary of Republic of Benin in Cotonou, President Tinubu, who was invited by the President of the neighboring country, Patrice Talon, noted that the proximity of the two countries, and similarity in economy, and outlook on development, makes it compulsory to collectively pursue same goal of growth, and elevating the populace, particularly the youths.

“Nigeria and Benin Republic are conjoined twins. We are joined from one stomach. In every aspect, we are one and we share much in common,’’ he said, during an interaction with journalists.

The President said the vision of political and economic stability of Nigeria and Benin can only be realized by working together, assuring that the partnership will be strengthened and upscaled at various levels.

President Tinubu thanked Talon for the honour, and for also inviting six Nigerian governors, who graced the occasion.

The governors are: Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oyo, Seyi Makinde; Kwara, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq; Kebbi, Nasir Idris, and Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago.

In his remarks, President Talon said the historic invitation of having another leader at the country’s independence celebration was to show high regard for President Tinubu, following his track record of providing leadership in Nigeria, and the West Coast.

“I want to really appreciate President Tinubu for honoring our invitation to participate in our 63rd anniversary. It is not a normal practice to invite a foreign leader for independence celebration, but this signals the constructive and positive relationship we have enjoyed, and more benefits to come,’’ the Beninese leader added.

Apart from the shared border, President Talon noted that Nigeria and Benin have stayed together over many years as a family, and the good relationship should be encouraged among citizens.

President Tinubu had since returned to Nigeria after the Independence event.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has visited the Oba Akran area of Ikeja in the state, where a helicopter crashed.

The helicopter crash occurred on Tuesday afternoon near a United Bank for Africa branch in Ikeja.

Police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirming the incident via his Twitter handle, Tuesday, disclosed that the pilot and co-pilot of the helicopter had been evacuated from the crash site and taken to a hospital.

The Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency is evacuating the crash scene right now.

Emergency responders on Tuesday rescued two persons from the helicopter that crashed into a building at Oba Akran Road, Ikeja.

According to a witness, the incident happened at about 3.30 p.m.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, territorial coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the incident to newsmen in Lagos.

Mr Farinloye said that the occupants of the helicopter included two crew members and two white men.

Meanwhile, the responders said they would provide further information on the incident.

The Police in Lagos on Tuesday arraigned two men — Ismail Hassan, 49, and Robert Peter, 39 — for the alleged theft of 238 litres of diesel worth N248,200.

The men, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

They, however, pleaded not guilty before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants conspired to steal the diesel on July 3 at noon.

Ms Ikhayere said that the diesel belonged to Biswal Company Ltd.

She said that the offences were punishable under Sections 411 and 287 (5)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The magistrate, Lateef Owolabi, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000 each, with two sureties who must be gainfully employed and provide evidence of three years’ tax payment.

He adjourned the case until August 14 for mention.

The police in Lagos on Tuesday arraigned a 37-year-old man, Bolaji Amusan, who allegedly stole N16,500.

The defendant, whose address was not provided, is charged with conspiracy and stealing before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp Esther Adesulu, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on July 9 at Aspamda Market in Ojo.

Ms Adesulu alleged that the defendant conspired with others at large to steal the sum from the complainant, Anwalu Ibrahim.

She told the court the defendant was apprehended after the theft, but his accomplices escaped.

According to her, the offences contravene the provisions of Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, D. S. Odukoya, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case until August 17 for trial.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has donated 50,000 doses of anthrax vaccines to the Lagos State government in the fight against the disease.

On Tuesday, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the ministry embarked on a three-day sensitisation visit to the state Ministry of Agriculture to prevent the spread of the disease.

The team paid a courtesy visit to the ministry’s permanent secretary and the cattle market and abattoir in the Oko-oba Agege area of Lagos.

The representative of the permanent secretary of FMARD, Ernest Umakhihe, and deputy director, AbdulKareem Durosinlorun, said the sensitisation and donation of the vaccines was part of the ministry’s efforts to contain the disease outbreak.

“We have also provided 50,000 free dosages of the anthrax vaccine to the state in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA) of the United Nations,” said Mr Durosinlorun.

Stating that the abattoir and cattle market was one of the biggest markets in the state, he emphasised the need for merchants and butchers to identify the symptoms of the disease.

In her response, Ibironke Emokpae, permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, appreciated FMARD’s support in curbing the spread of the anthrax disease.

“Vaccinations have begun in the state, and we have set up surveillance and biosecurity at point of entries of abattoirs in Lagos to detect any ailing animal,” Ms Emokpae said.

Otto Muhinda, the Nigeria Country Team Leader, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, also commended the government for creating awareness of the disease and prevention.

“We look forward to continuing the monitoring in other states; we need to sensitise more stakeholders on national level for a national strategy to stop the spread of the disease.

“We are satisfied with what the government is doing,” Mr Muhinda said.

In reaction, Abdullahi Lalega, the chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Association, Oko-oba/Agege cattle market, said the merchants and butchers were ready to cooperate with the government in the fight against the disease.

Emeka Asiegbu of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) said all hands are on deck in continuous enlightenment against Anthrax disease.

About 100 micro businesses operating around Ukwu-Orji, Ekwulobia Street and the Ministry of Land area around the Anambra Government House have been displaced.

The displacement followed a clampdown by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), which worked under the protection of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Kiosks, containers and makeshift shops built on setbacks between buildings and the road and did not cover or extend beyond the drainage were demolished.

Some residents said Monday that the ACTDA personnel demolished the structures and the goods inside.

“I am deeply pained that my stay in Awka for over 20 years and the business that sustains my family has been ruined by this government,” lamented a pay-TV maintenance operator identified as Sonjay, who operated in a container.

Another resident, Ifeoma, who said she had lived in the area for over 25 years when it was still a forest, regretted that the Anambra government evicted them without notice.

Ms Ifeoma said shops were scarce because of the buildings in the area and that the available ones were unaffordable to medium-scale business operators.

“It is sad we supported this government because the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) assured us that they represent the interest of the masses but see how they have rendered us useless.

We needed at least one month’s notice if they must sack us, but, as you can see, they came suddenly with their caterpillar and destroyed our containers and goods. What we have is what we quickly rescued,” she said.

John Olanye, also a resident, said, “These petty businesses have been of immense help to the people living in the area. Apart from making money to sustain their families, they have been part of the development of the area. I have known some of them for about 15 years.”

Mr Olanye added,

“They have the family they are feeding, but now, they have lost their sources of livelihood, and crime will likely increase. We had expected that this government would bring public primary and secondary schools, which had eluded us for decades, instead of destroying our businesses.”

Ossy Onuko, ACTDA managing director, whose agency carried out the demolition, did not immediately respond to a request seeking comments on the development.

However, information commissioner Paul Nwosu said the action was in line with the urban renewal policy of the Anambra government aimed at evolving a healthy and green environment.

Mr Nwosu said it was not true that traders were given only 24-hour notice before the demolition.

“They were given prior statutory notice. It’s not true that it was 24 hours’ notice. Victims will always lament to whip up sentiment,” he said.

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso has asked for Governor Seyi Makinde’s urgent intervention to halt the hospital’s decline.

The association, through its president Sope Orugun, and general secretary Nnara Stanley said Mr Makinde urgently needs to address the challenges bedevilling the tertiary hospital.

In a statement, Messrs Orugun and Stanley listed some of the hospital’s challenges as a shortage of manpower, poor remuneration, brain drain, poor infrastructure, and poor financial investment.

“This hospital’s founding fathers had committed huge funds to infrastructural development towards achieving their vision. But, sadly, successive governments have abandoned the investment with little or no financial commitment to the improvement of the hospital’s fortune,” said the statement, noting that the shortage of hands and the japa syndrome plaguing the nation have caused poor remuneration and excessive workload, resulting in the loss of many categories of health workers.

The association pointed out that all federal and state government-owned tertiary hospitals in the South-West had begun paying into the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) except Oyo and Ondo.

“Most recently, Benue, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, and Nasarawa states have either given approval for payment or effected the same. Sadly, most of these states started negotiations regarding the MRTF long after Oyo state. MRTF is similar to the fund paid to other workers to cater for their on-the-job training,” the resident doctors said.

They added,

“Oyo state, which ought to set the pace, has, however, lagged far behind in the adoption and domiciliation of the MRTF in spite of all efforts from ARD LTH Ogbomoso since 2021.”

The association stated that it was shocking that the Oyo government pays its health workers less than N5,000 monthly hazard allowance.

“In addition to this, the CONMESS being paid now in the state was last reviewed in 2009, which contravened the agreement of a review every five years. This salary structure is already due for a second review,” the residents lamented.

“The state government needs to understand the seriousness with which the ‘push-factors’ for brain drain need to be addressed if the tide must be turned.”

Mr Makinde had, in August 2020, promised to pay the fund currently enjoyed by resident doctors in federal tertiary health institutions, said the statement but failed.

“Owing to this failed promise, our members have frequently resorted to borrowing money in order to go for these updates and examinations while not leaving their other responsibilities to families and society unattended to,” noted the doctors.

The ARD noted that it had in 2020 presented Mr Makinde with a plaque of honour for his prompt intervention in the rot he met in the hospital when he assumed office.

“Now, we still have a similar trust in his capability to address the matters raised with the seriousness and promptness they deserve,” the association said.

The Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA) has decried the low patronage of customers, saying customers now prefer staying with their relatives due to the new accommodation rates set due to fuel subsidy removal.

The president of HOFA, Funmi Kazeem, said this on Monday in an interview in Abuja.

Ms Kazeem said the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government had caused hotel owners to increase their accommodation rates.

She appealed to the government to review taxes downward for the country’s hospitality industry’s survival.

According to her, patronage of hotel accommodations has declined because most customers now prefer staying at relatives’ or friends’ houses when they come to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“As the fuel subsidy removal was announced, we did not have an option but to jack up our rate; even when we decided to increase our rate, our old guests did not agree to pay the new rate.’’

She said the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which provides electricity, has also come up with a high tariff.

“We wrote to them that if they do this, they are giving us reason to look for alternative means of getting power; we are already looking for the opportunity of having solar energy.

“When we complain, they give excuses; I just pray our country will be better. These had affected their businesses,” Ms Kazeem said.

The president added that HOFA needed the government’s intervention to slow down most of its taxes as it struggled to recover from all the losses recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What we expect the government to do is create an enabling environment for the hospitality industry to grow and develop,’’ she said.

The Supreme Court has confirmed the death of one of its judges, Justice Centus Nweze.

This is contained in a statement issued by Festus Akande, the apex court spokesman, on Monday.Mr Nweze was said to have died on Sunday after a brief illness at 64.

With his demise, the South-East has no justice at the Supreme Court.Mr Nweze, a native of Obollo, Udenu LGA in Enugu, was born on September 25, 1958.A Roman Catholic, he married Justice Ugonne Jacinta Nweze of the Enugu judiciary.

He had five children and a grandchild.

He attended St John Cross Seminary, Nsukka, from 1972 to 1977, emerging with a Distinction in the West African School Certificate Examination [WASCE].

Between 1979 and 1983, he was an undergraduate student at the University of Nigeria, Enugu.In 1983, he represented the Faculty of Law, and all Nigerian law faculties, at the Phillip Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington DC, as the chief oralist. Upon his graduation in 1983, [LL. B. (Hons) (Nig.)], he proceeded to the Nigeria Law School from 1983 to 1984, where he obtained the qualifying Certificate, [BL].

He did his NYSC between 1984 and 1985 in Bauchi.Subsequently, he returned to the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, between 1993 and 1995, where he studied for and obtained the Master of Laws Certificate [LL. M]. Between 1997 and 2001, he studied for and achieved a doctorate at the same university.

Having practised at the Bar from 1985 to 1995, he was elevated to the high court Bench of Enugu State in November 1995.

While on the Bench, he served as chairman of the second robbery and firearms tribunal, Enugu, 1996 to 1998; chairman of the robbery and firearms tribunal, Nsukka, 1998 to 1999; member of the Ondo LG election petition tribunal, 1999; chairman of the Ogun governorship and legislative election petition tribunal, 1999; administrative judge at the Nsukka Judicial Division, Enugu in 2001.

He was appointed a justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria on February 15, 2008, and served until October 2014, when he was finally elevated to Nigeria’s apex court as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on October 29, 2014.

He was on the Bench of the Supreme Court from October 2014 until his demise. Mr Nweze served in various capacities in extrajudicial vocational activities.

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets says it will probe alleged sales of two training helicopters by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna.

Ademorin Kuye, the committee chairman, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday. The chairman said the committee’s attention was drawn to the development through media reports on Sunday on the purported sale of 2 Bell 206L-3 helicopters.

He said the helicopters were public assets acquired for training pilots by the NCAT for N1.2 billion.

“The sale of the helicopters under the pretext of underutilisation by the authorities of the college of aviation in March 2023 has now become a symptom of the worrying trend of asset stripping,” stated Mr Kuye.

According to him, this cut across all sectors of the economy by all MDAs toward the twilight of the last administration.

“This is in spite of the offer of Nigerian Navy to acquire same and possibly use to address the security challenge facing the country in the area of oil pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft,” added the legislator.

Mr Kuye said the committee equally felt the assets could have been converted to the use of Nigerian Police to fight banditry and insurgency in the country.

He said the urgency in the sales and concession of public assets at the twilight of the last administration called for suspicion since the supposed approval was gotten from that administration.

The lawmaker added that it was only right that the new administration is allowed to be part of the completion of the sale process if there were no hidden agenda.

He said the committee would investigate the sale of those important training national assets to ensure that due process was followed and that the country was not shortchanged in the deal.

About four persons died, while 10 others were injured in a crash involving two vehicles on Gumel-Kano road in Jigawa.

Ibrahim Gambo, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) spokesman in Jigawa, confirmed the crash on Monday.

It happened at about 12:25 a.m. when a bus had a head-on collision with another vehicle at Achauya village in Gumel local council.

“A commercial bus (Sharon) with registration number GML 260 XX carrying passengers was involved in a collision with a truck with registration number GUS 648 XA coming from the opposite direction,” stated Mr Gambo.

“It could be attributed to speed violations and loss of control. Fourteen persons, consisting of 11 males and three females, were involved in the crash.”

The FRSC official explained that four male passengers were certified dead by a medical doctor at a hospital in the area while seven males and three females were receiving treatment.

He advised motorists to shun night journeys and respect traffic rules to ensure safety on the road.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it thwarted attempt by a drug suspect, Igboma Ifeanyi, to export quantities of loud, a variant of cannabis, tramadol and rohypnol.

NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.He said the illicit drugs weighing 7.8kg were concealed in 66 bottles of skin lightening lotion.

Mr Babafemi said the suspect was arrested by the operatives while preparing to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Muscat, Oman at the Lagos airport.

Also, another suspect, Ekpenisi Wisdom was arrested while trying to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Oman with 6.00kg skunk hidden in a bag of foodstuff.

“A follow-up operation led to the arrest of a staff of Toprano Hotel, Ikeja, Ibigbami Temitope Oluwatobi, who was fingered in the drug trafficking scheme.

“A consignment of 5.70kg codeine syrup going to the United Kingdom was also on Thursday July 27 seized from a 51-year-old widow, Adewunmi Atinuke by NDLEA operatives at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA Ikeja,” he said.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives attached to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NACHO) export shed of the MMIA intercepted a cargo going to Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr Babafemi said a search of the consignment revealed that several quantities of MDMA (ecstasy) popularly known as ‘molly’ and rohypnol were concealed in a bag consisting of foodstuff.

He said the NDLEA operatives arrested an agent, Onydem Chinwe, who presented it for export.

Another consignment of 8.5kg skunk was concealed in a vehicle engine block going to Dubai, UAE was intercepted by the NDLEA operatives.

Mr Babafemi said the consignment was intercepted on July 18 by the officers of the directorate of operations and general investigation (DOGI) attached to courier companies in Lagos.

The police command in Anambra has confirmed the release of a popular Police, Chukwudozie Nwangwu, popularly known as “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki”, by his abductors.

The police public relations officer in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed Mr Nwangwu’s release on Saturday.

Mr Ikenga noted that the native doctor, kidnapped at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, in Oba in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra, was released by his abductors in the early hours of Saturday.

According to Mr Ikenga, the abductors had contacted friends and relatives, demanding N300 million.

“I also have information that they have not paid and that he has been released by his abductors. We are making efforts to get information about what happened”, he said.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Friday said a combined patrol team had arrested three persons suspected to be cable thieves around its training school in Lagos.

Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, the spokesperson for FAAN, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

He said the patrol team comprises officers from Aviation Security’s Crime Investigation and Intelligence (CII) Unit and the Joint Military Task Force (JMTF).

The spokesman said two of the suspects were caught at about 3:52 a.m. while digging and cutting electric cables connecting the MMA Powerhouse (International Wing) to the Domestic Terminal (MMA).

He said the third suspect, who served as a link between the two other suspects and buyers at Arena Market, Oshodi, was apprehended at exactly 5:56 a.m.

“He was arrested at Hajj & Cargo Terminal following confessions made by the two other suspects.

“Ongoing investigation revealed that one of the suspects was convicted and sentenced to 28 days imprisonment for a similar offence sometime in April 2022,” he said.

Mr Yakubu-Funtua said the suspects were being interrogated by officials of FAAN AVSEC, after which they would be handed over to the Police for prosecution.

He assured the general public of FAAN’s commitment to core values of safety, security and comfort.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that economic growth in Nigeria in 2023 and 2024 is projected to decline gradually due to security issues in the oil sector.

This is contained in the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update Report for July 2023: “Near-Term Resilience, Persistent Challenges”, released earlier this week.

The report showed that economic growth in Nigeria is projected at 3.2 per cent in 2023 and decline to 3.0 in 2024.

It said global growth is projected to fall from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 3.0 per cent in both 2023 and 2024.

The report said though the forecast for 2023 was modestly higher than predicted in the April 2023 WEO, it remained weak by historical standards.

“Compared with projections in the April 2023 WEO, growth has been upgraded by 0.2 percentage points for 2023, with no change for 2024.

“The forecast for 2023–24 remains well below the historical (2000–19) annual average of 3.8 per cent.

“It is also below the historical average across broad income groups, in overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as per capita GDP terms,” it said.

The report said advanced economies continued to drive the decline in growth from 2022 to 2023, with weaker manufacturing and idiosyncratic factors offsetting stronger services activity.

“For advanced economies, the growth slowdown projected for 2023 remained significant, from 2.7 per cent in 2022 to 1.5 per cent in 2023.

“About 93 per cent of advanced economies are projected to have lower growth in 2023, and growth in 2024 among this group of economies is projected to remain at 1.4 per cent,” the global financial body said.

The report said in emerging markets and developing economies, the growth outlook was broadly stable for 2023 and 2024, although with notable shifts across regions.

The report showed growth in sub-Saharan Africa is projected to decline to 3.5 per cent in 2023 before picking up to 4.1 per cent in 2024.

The report said Global headline inflation was expected to fall from 8.7 per cent in 2022 to 6.8 per cent in 2023 and 5.2 per cent in 2024.

“Underlying (core) inflation is projected to decline more gradually, and forecasts for inflation in 2024 have been revised upward.

It said inflation could remain high and even rise if further shocks occur, including those from an intensification of the war in Ukraine and extreme weather-related events, triggering more restrictive monetary policy.

The report said financial sector turbulence could resume as markets adjust to further policy tightening by central banks.

It, however, said on the upside inflation could fall faster than expected, reducing the need for tight monetary policy, and domestic demand could again prove more resilient.

More than 2000 Federal Fire Service employees have been paid outstanding salary and promotion arrears.

On Wednesday, a statement by the fire service’s spokesman, Abraham Paul, said the payment was a fulfilment of the commitment of the controller-general, Jaji AbudulGaniyu, to improve workers’ welfare.

The statement said the payment was from 2016 to date, and the arrears ranged from one month to one year.

“During the celebration of his 100 days in office, the controller-general promised to prioritise the settlement of all pending arrears and enhance the welfare of the staff. Demonstrating his unwavering commitment, he has now successfully followed through on this promise, ensuring that all arrears payments are made to the deserving officers,” the statement explained.

It stated that the payment signified the value placed on the workers’ efforts by the leadership and reinforced the importance of recognising and rewarding employees for their hard work and commitment.

The statement said the controller-general’s proactive approach towards improving staff welfare extended beyond the settlement of arrear payments, adding that since the assumption of duty, he had implemented various measures to enhance the overall well-being of personnel.

The statement said the settlement of the outstanding arrears of the affected officers was not just a fulfilment of a promise but a testament to his vision for the service.

It explained that prioritising employees’ welfare and recognising their contributions was a way of fostering a culture of appreciation, motivation and excellence within the service.

The Kwara House of Assembly has called on the state government to be proactive in curbing illegal mining activities.

This is sequel to a motion on notice, captioned ‘Need to Control Prevalence of Illegal Miners in the State’, raised by Saidu Baba (APC/Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena) during Wednesday’s plenary.

Mr Baba expressed displeasure that the presence of mineral deposits in Baruten, Kaiama and Ifelodun local councils has attracted illegal mining aliens.

He said the presence of illegal miners in any part of the state always comes with attendant security implications, such as drug dealing and consumption, rape, kidnapping and other nefarious activities that are inimical to peaceful coexistence.In their contributions, other lawmakers expressed concern over illegal miners’ activities, saying they constitute a loss of revenue to the government and environmental hazards to Kwara residents.

Reading the resolutions, Speaker Yakubu Salihu urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to charge security agencies to be proactive in ending illegal aliens found in Kwara.”

They should also tackle the menace usually associated with the presence of illegal miners, especially kidnapping, so that normalcy is restored in all affected parts of the state,” stated the Kwara parliament.

It added,

“We urge the governor to strengthen and equip the state Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) to enable it to discharge its functions effectively and efficiently towards revenue generation and curbing criminal activities.”

The lawmakers’ resolution added, ”We urge the governor to collaborate with traditional community and religious leaders on the advocacy for safe and secure society through early reportage of strange movements of people at mineral resources sites within their domains.”

The assembly also received a petition on a land scandal titled ‘Offa Local Government TIC Fraudulent Land Scandal and Untold Silence of the People’ by the lawmaker representing Kaiama-Kemaji-Wajibe constituency, Abdullahi Danbaba.

Mr Danbaba said the people of Offa inaugurated a civil society organisation, Nigeria Citizens Action Group, to put up a petition over the land scandal in Offa.He urged the parliament to look into the petition to get to the root of the matter.

The speaker, after that, referred the petition to the housing and urban development committees to investigate the issue and report back in two weeks.

The police command in Plateau has arrested a graduate with four locally-fabricated rifles and 40mm ammunition.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, stated this while parading the suspect and some others on Wednesday in Jos while on a stop-and-search operation on Jos-Pankshin road.

Mr Onyeka said that upon handing over the suspect, the police commenced investigations, adding that in the process, four locally-fabricated rifles were recovered from his house.

He said the command also arrested some other suspects over alleged kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, and cult activities.

The suspect, however, told journalists that he manufactured the rifles for his personal use.

I’m a hunter, and I give herbal medicine to people. Because I visit the bush regularly, I produced the guns for my hunting and self-protection,” he said.

The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH), on Wednesday, joined their counterparts nationwide by declaring an indefinite strike.

Mubarak Ijaiya, the president of the ARD-UITH branch, who confirmed this to journalists in Ilorin, explained that the action was in compliance with instructions from the national secretariat of the association.

According to him, the industrial action is caused by the disagreement between the association and the federal government on salary and welfare matters.

Mr Ijaiya said the association demands that the government addresses all its six-point demands.

The demands included the immediate payment of the reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for the year 2023 as contained in the approved 2023 budget in line with various agreements reached with the government, the president stated.

He observed that the agreement was for the government to pay all outstanding arrears owed to members, including the hazard allowance and the skipping arrears from 2014 to 2016.

Mr Ijaiya decried the massive low manpower shortage across teaching hospitals, saying that there is a need for implementation of the guidelines on one-for-one replacement of clinical staff.

He urged the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to discontinue the downgrading of the membership certificate issued by the West African Postgraduate Medical and Surgical colleges.

The ARD-UITH president lamented the hike in transportation members face, saying that they spend about N100,000 a month on transportation to their workplaces.

According to him, the economic situation has become unbearable for members. He advised the government at all tiers to prioritise the health sector.