Nigerian tourism minister has been hospitalised in Abuja after suffering acute poisoning from unknown origins, Peoples Gazette was told, as her family members fear time was running against their efforts to save her life.

Lola Ade-John, 60, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of her poisoning, according to family sources familiar with her ordeal.

She has spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning, The Gazette heard.

Ms Ade-John, a career banker and tech investor, has been on a machine to aid her breathing, our sources said.

The specifics as to what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established by The Gazette.

The police and the State Security Service did not immediately return a request on whether or not any investigations had been opened into the matter.

Her worsening situation has further set the family against the government, with the permanent secretary of her ministry said to be in disagreement as to whether she should continue receiving treatment at a public hospital or be moved to a better-equipped private facility downtown.

The permanent secretary, Ngozi Onwudike, was said to have insisted that the minister should not be transferred because the FMC is a public hospital and its services wouldn’t attract substantial charges to the government, a position her family rebuffed. But they remained with her as they could not raise funds to move her to a private hospital, our sources said.

A phone number for the permanent secretary did not connect on Friday morning.

A spokesperson for the FMC did not immediately return a request seeking comments from The Gazette about Ms Ade-John’s condition.

Ms Ade-John was appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu in August. She was immediately touted as one of the few cabinet members appointed from outside the political beltway.

She was based in London for years before she was asked to return to the country to serve by the president.

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele says up-and-coming artistes should be well-informed before signing contracts with record labels.

Ms Akindele said this on the sidelines of the Prime Video five-part mini-series premiere titled ‘She Must Be Obeyed’, held at Filmhouse, IMAX Cinema, Lekki, Lagos.

The mini-series is about the lives of three successful music stars, their rivalry and backstabbing. The series premiered on Friday on Prime Video.

“It is extremely important for young and up-and-coming artistes to ensure that they study their contracts to know the details and what they are going through,” said Ms Akindele.

“We put out content that affects young artistes, and that is why we came up with this series so that when they watch it, they will learn a lot of things and be very careful.”

The Nollywood star added, “Young artistes need to be educated, and we need to organise a lot of seminars and workshops for them to know that they are important. The young talents are very hungry to be seen as they want to showcase their talent.

“But unfortunately, they don’t study their contracts, they don’t get a lawyer or families that are experienced to educate them. The series will teach them a lot of things that will help them grow and learn the basic things in the industry.”

She noted that the series centres on the competition in the entertainment industry.

“The main character, ’SHE’, is very condescending and a bully. Just like in every sector, you have bullies everywhere as long as there is hierarchy. You get to see competition, drama, fashion, and music and we had to showcase what young talents go through,” Ms Akindele explained.

She added, “The series is an eye-opener for everyone, and most importantly, it is very educative as well as entertaining. So, I encourage everyone to watch it.”

Stakeholders in the correctional sector have called on state governments to formulate and implement laws to aid in decongesting the prisons.

The stakeholders made the call at a National Dialogue on Enlisting State Corrections in Nigeria organised in collaboration between Hope Behind Bars Africa, USAID and Palladium in Abuja.

According to Funke Adeoye, executive director of Hope Behind Bars Africa, most criminal laws in Nigeria are state laws that create more offenders than congested prisons, making the federal government spend more to cater to inmates.

Ms Adeoye said the laws could be corrected when states are made to set up their facilities. She said most laws are similar to increased custodial measures, adding that the Nigerian Correctional Service Act creates room for alternatives to incarceration known as non-custodial sanctions.

“We have a large number of awaiting trial inmates in Nigeria. About 70 per cent of people in prison are awaiting trial and we also have a data that 90 per cent of people we find in our facilities are actually state offenders,” stated Ms Adeoye.

“That is because most of the criminal laws are state laws and so this is an issue that needs to be addressed because we cannot have the federal government just taking care or feeding people that are incarcerated, even though many of them are state offenders.”

She added, “I think there is also data to show that billions of Naira is being spent by the Federal Government on feeding these inmates. So we are hopeful that at the end of this conversation today, we will have a trajectory as to where to go in terms of the management of state corrections in Nigeria.”

Ms Adeoye said there were so many things that needed to be done concerning state laws, and conversations had started regarding looking at alternatives to incarceration.

She said that the administration of criminal justice also creates room for local and state sanctions, and it was important that states begin to include some of these sanctions in their laws.

The controller-general of corrections, Haliru Nababa, stated that the state attorneys general and commissioner for justice will have to step in to see how they can tackle this particular problem.

“If somebody has committed a crime and is taken into custody, let him be prosecuted urgently. If he is found guilty, let him be sentenced. If not, let him just be released.

However, if someone is accused of committing an offence and it is not established, let the prosecutor, the police, the state justice, the chief judge and the other stakeholders do the needful. For him now to stay long is what brings about this delay in dispensation of justice,” Mr Nababa said.

Lazarus Apir, advocacy manager of Strengthening Civic and Local Engagement (SCALE), a project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said having the correctional service on the exclusive list for a long time is a disadvantage.

“So with the amendment to the constitution, getting the states involved in correctional services is, of course, the way to go,” Mr Apir said.

“So we felt the need that this kind of conversation needs to happen because it’s new to the states.”

On Thursday, the Joint Task Force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) crushed more than 470 motorcycles impounded for operating illegally in Abuja.

The task force impounded the motorcycles during an operation from the Carwash Bus Stop, Lugbe, through Gosa, Bill Clinton Drive, Trademore Estate, Lugbe Junction and Kubwa.

Over 400 motorcycles were earlier impounded and crushed on August 31 during a similar operation for the same offence.

Obokutom Nyah, FCTA secretary (transportation secretariat) told journalists during the exercise that the decision to crush the motorcycles was in line with the provisions of the law.

Mr Nyah warned commercial motorcyclists to limit their operations to designated areas, stay clear of the city centre and stop constituting a security threat.

He explained that areas are designated for different kinds of vehicles, adding that commercial motorcycles are only allowed to operate in the suburbs.

“So, we encourage the operators to respect their boundaries because if you cross the line, you will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Also, Abdulateef Bello, the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services director, said the number of motorcycles operating within the city was outrageous.

Mr Bello said the task force would extend its operations to night hours, adding that currently, between 200 and 400 motorcycles are being impounded every week.

He added that the task force was considering arresting residents who patronise motorcycles as part of efforts to strengthen the level of enforcement.

He advised residents against patronising motorcycles but should learn to walk short distances for their safety.

The director further advised people investing in the commercial motorcycle business to rethink, stressing that the FCTA would invest its resources to curtail them.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has advised parents to live up to their responsibilities of raising their children well for the good of society.

The minister made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the inauguration of a document titled ‘Parenting for Peace (P4P): Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) Training of Trainers’ (ToT) guide’.

She said it was the duty of parents to mould the children from the age of six months to ensure they grow to be responsible citizens.

“I usually carried out drug tests on my children when they were growing. Parents should be ashamed of themselves when a child is going the wrong way,” said Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye.

The minister also advised that parents should be cautious about the behaviour they display before their children, saying, “Children learn very fast from the behaviours of their parents.”

She said the way a woman lives with her husband at home would determine how the children would grow to live.

David Gatare, chief of party of CIPP, said Mercy Corps was proud to work in crisis areas to cushion conflict and economic shocks while providing humanitarian assistance and building resilient communities.

Mr Garare said over three million people in the past five years had been impacted through the organisation’s peace-building, governance and conflict resolution initiatives, education, financial inclusion and environmental sustainability.

He added that the organisation was driven by the vision of a Nigeria where all citizens, including young women and men, are empowered, engaged, resilient and productive.

“At Mercy Corps, our work is on gender, peace and security; it focuses on addressing and mitigating gender dynamics that perpetuate and exacerbate conflict while including diverse groups and members of the society,” stated Mr Garare.

Blessing Amadi, the deputy chairwoman of the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, also said parents should create time for discussions with their children.

According to her, having time with the children, listening and giving them advice form part of good parenting, which parents should imbibe. She called on parents to apply disciplinary measures in their homes to teach the children how to be responsible and to know the consequences of all actions, whether good or bad.

Ms Amadi said that parents need to educate the children by getting involved in their assignments and guiding them to know the rudiments of education.

She also said parents should be concerned with the security of their children at home and in school and teach them the dangers of random movements without authorisation.

“The children should also be guided on the responsible use of technology devices,” she added.

Yobe says it has so far distributed food items to 137,000 households as palliatives to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Muhammad Goje, executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, told a news conference in Damaturu on Wednesday that rice, maize, pasta, and condiments were distributed to the beneficiaries.

He explained that the items were distributed to beneficiaries in Damaturu, Fine, Potiskum, Bade, Geidam and Jakusko local government areas.

Mr Goje said each household received between 20kg and 50kg of the grains, depending on size.

“Sixty-nine per cent of the beneficiaries got the items correctly while the remaining 31 per cent got theirs through clusters,” he said.

Mr Goje added that beneficiaries were identified by registration and recommendations by traditional leaders, places of worship, political parties, orphanages, and People with Disabilities, among others.

He assured that other vulnerable groups in the remaining 11 local government areas of the state would benefit from the items soon.

After a thorough investigation spanning more than 70 days, Private Travis King, a U.S. soldier who entered North Korea without authorisation, has been found guilty of illegal intrusion and is slated for deportation.

According to reports from North Korea’s state-run media on Wednesday, Mr Green crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the heavily fortified buffer dividing North and South Korea, on July 18.

Subsequent reports disclosed that Mr Green confessed to his unauthorised entry into North Korea, citing grievances related to perceived mistreatment, racial discrimination within the U.S. Army, and societal inequalities in the United States.

The agency said he “harboured ill feelings against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army and was disillusioned about the unequal U.S. society.”

The details and timeline of Mr King’s deportation plan from North Korea have not been disclosed, including whether he will be returned to South Korea via the DMZ, which he initially crossed to reach North Korea.

Colonel Isaac Taylor, a spokesperson for the U.S. military stationed in South Korea, emphasised, “Our priority is to bring Private King home, and we are working through all available channels to achieve that outcome.”

Notably, North Korea’s decision to expel an American soldier seeking asylum within its borders is not unusual. Analysts attribute North Korea’s often severe responses to perceived bullying and unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States.

Historically, North Korea has allowed American deserters to live within its territory.Mr King, 23, had been stationed in South Korea as a First Brigade Combat Team, First Armored Division member.

After his release in July from a South Korean detention facility, where he had been held on assault charges, he was accompanied by U.S. military personnel to Incheon International Airport, situated outside Seoul, to board a flight to the United States, where he was expected to face additional disciplinary action.

However, Mr King did not board the plane as scheduled. Instead, he embarked on a bus journey the following day to the border village of Panmunjom, located within the DMZ, which permits tourists to visit.

Mr Taylor explained that the soldier had “willfully and without authorisation crossed the Military Demarcation Line into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

In a statement issued last month, North Korea indicated Mr King’s desire to seek refuge in the isolated communist nation or potentially in a third country.

Mr Green marks the first publicly known case of an American held in North Korean custody since Bruce Byron Lowrance was detained for a month after illegally entering the country from China in 2018.

In previous instances, American civilians accused of illegally entering North Korea have faced prosecution, sentencing to hard labour, or occasionally, release and expulsion.

Robert Park, a Korean American missionary who crossed the border between China and North Korea in 2009, endured a 43-day captivity in the North before being deported to Beijing.

In a similar incident in 2013, Merrill Newman, an American retiree, was held for 42 days before being flown from Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, to Beijing.

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta has handed over two suspected oil thieves to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials for further interrogation.

The suspects were handed over to the NSCDC on Wednesday at the premises of the naval base in Warri.Solomon Paul, the executive officer of the NNS Delta, handed the suspects to the representatives of the NSCDC on behalf of the commander, NNS Delta, Chindo Yahaya.

Addressing journalists, Mr Yahaya said the suspects were apprehended on September 17 at the Asugbo Creek in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

He said the feat was made possible by the NNS Delta patrol team and staff of the Ocean Marine Solution (OMS), an accredited indigenous Nigerian maritime security solutions provider.

“The team searched the surrounding area and intercepted three persons in a canoe boat 20 metres away from the vandalised pipelines,“ he said.

The naval officer said the suspects attempted to escape but were intercepted and brought to the navy base, and after interrogation, they claimed to be fishermen.

He said fishing gear was not found with them, and neither did the patrol team observe fishing nets or hooks within the immediate environment they were apprehended.

Mr Yahaya added that the suspects could not explain why they attempted to escape and the whereabouts of their accomplice.

He said there was a need for a thorough investigation to ascertain those responsible for the illegal connection on the oil pipeline in Asugbo Creek for appropriate legal action.

Victor Igbinoba, divisional head officer, NSCDC in Warri South Local Government Area, received the suspects on behalf of the corps.

Mr Igbinoba promised that the suspects would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in line with the law.

Tanzania has culled millions of quelea birds to prevent them from destroying rice fields, using drones and planes to monitor commercial farms, the country’s plants and pesticides watchdog said Wednesday.

The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) which is also responsible for controlling desert locusts, killed five million quelea birds in the northern region of Manyara last week where about 1,000 acres of commercial crops were under threat.

“We killed swarms of five million destructive birds and now we are monitoring other zones,” Joseph Ndunguru, acting director general of TPHPA, told AFP by phone.

The tiny red-beaked birds, which move in large flocks, are notorious for ravaging crops, with invasions generally occurring during the onset of the dry season in September and October.

Ndunguru said the agency targeted the swarms with aerial spraying over a four-day period, killing them before they damaged the paddy fields in northern Tanzania.

Aerial surveillance is now under way in other regions, he added.

According to TPHPA, the birds are capable of destroying more than 50 tonnes of food crops in a single day.

Quelea birds are thought to be the most numerous bird species in the world, with governments across Africa initiating aerial and ground efforts to contain them in the past.

Nigeria has lost the joint bid with the Benin Republic to host the African Cup of Nations in 2027, as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are named joint hosts of the 2027 tournament, AFP reports.

This comes after the Minister of Sports Development Senator John Owan Enoh arrived in Egypt on Tuesday with representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation to bid to host AFCON in 2027.

It was reported that Nigeria’s only hosting of the AFCON was in 1980 when Christian Chukwu led the team to victory in front of enthusiastic home fans, including former President Shehu Shagari.

The joint hosting with Ghana ended in disappointment as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions claimed the trophy at the National Stadium in Lagos.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has joined in felicitating the Muslim faithful on the occasion of celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad.

In his Eid-El-Maulud message.Akpabio, on Wednesday, enjoined the Muslims to pray for the national leaders and the country itself.

Akpabio’s goodwill message was issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh.

“The occasion of the birthday of the Holy Prophet is a reminder to all adherents of the Islamic religion to rededicate themselves to prayerful support for those in authority and for the nation,” Akpabio said.

The senate president further charged the citizenry to focus on the positive atmosphere in the country, so as to achieve a collective goal of “renewed hope.”

“Even more, it is an opportunity for every one of us to devote ourselves to uncommon godly citizenship and love for one another. It is time for everyone whether Muslim or not to accentuate the positive ambience of our nationhood towards the collective goal of renewed hope for all,” the statement added.

He further advised the Muslims to emulate the positive marks on humanity that were left behind by the prophet.

The Abia State government has vowed to retrieve dilapidated Federal Government tourist centres in the state and turn them into profitable ventures.

The Senior Special Assistance to Governor Alex Otti, on Tourism and Entertainment, Martins Justice, said the move was geared towards revamping the state economy through tourism.

Justice who spoke on Wednesday in Umuahia, the state capital, said they intend to leverage the theme of the 2023 World Tourism Day which focused on green investments and tourism, to project the rich tourist and cultural potential of the state to the world.

He pointed out that tourism can boost the economy of the state, given its ability to promote the green economy and lifestyle of the residents of the state.

He said, “Governor Alex Otti is positioned to drive a regional and national tourism growth and is poised to strive to position Abia as a safe destination of choice for quality entertainment, leisure, and tourism, this little drops can already be seen in the lightning up of major Abia Cities within the past few weeks and remedial works on connecting roads within the cities, these efforts are to foster sense of security and a round the clock economic drive for the state.

“Upon resumption of office, I have taken the time to study and understand the key challenges of the tourism sector in Abia State, that also includes the dilapidated tourist sites, the existing capacity gaps within the sector, and challenges of hospitality institutions within the state, and we are jointly developing a blueprint for action in achieving the mandate of Dr. Alex Otti’s led administration drive for a more robust and inclusive economy.

“Tourism is not just about visiting new places; it’s about forging connections, understanding different cultures, and appreciating the incredible diversity of our world. It transcends borders and fosters a sense of unity among people.

“It has the power to break down stereotypes, promote tolerance, and build bridges of understanding. In a world where conflicts and divisions often dominate headlines, tourism becomes a force for peace and harmony.

“Yet, the impact of tourism extends far beyond cultural exchanges. It is a formidable driver of economic growth, providing livelihoods to millions of people around the globe.

“Small and large businesses, from local artisans to international hotel chains, rely on the tourism industry for their sustenance. As we emerge from the challenges posed by the global pandemic and insecurity, tourism can be a crucial catalyst for economic recovery and resilience,” he concluded.

A 46-year-old American, Gerardo Cabanillas, who spent nearly 30 years in prison for kidnap, robbery and rape since 1995, has been declared innocent and freed, prosecutors have announced.

He was convicted in 1996 and spent 28 years in prison after he confessed to being one of two armed men who approached a couple, forced the man out, and drove the woman to an abandoned house where both raped her.

Daily Mail reports that his case was reexamined by the Conviction Integrity Unit of the District Attorney’s office, after which a judge reversed his conviction, found him factually innocent and ordered his permanent release.

DNA testing on the rape kit, which the Innocence Project asked to be tested in 2019, showed that two other people committed the assault.

Also, victims of the attacks, who identified Cabanillas from photo lineups, later expressed doubts in court and said they were pressured into identifying him.

“Cabanillas, who was 18 years old at the time, was arrested a few days after the incident because he generally matched the description of the suspects,” the District Attorney, George Gascon said.

The DA said despite there being no physical evidence connecting Cabanillas to the crime, he was charged with 14 felony counts and would have spent the rest of his life in prison if not for the DNA evidence.

“He always maintained that on the date of his arrest, he was coerced by the investigating detective into giving a false confession with a promise that he would be released on probation.

“After a thorough review of all the evidence, including expert analysis of the purported confession and an interview with the sexual assault victim, we lost confident in the conviction in this case,” Gascon said.

“I extend my deepest apologies to Mr. Cabanillas for the miscarriage of justice and the failure of our criminal legal system,” the DA said after he was exonerated.

Operatives of the Enugu State Police command have rescued 12 kidnap victims and arrested 92 suspects for different crimes within one month.

The Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, disclosed this while speaking in Enugu on Tuesday, Vanguard reports.

Uzuegbu said the suspects were arrested for different crimes bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, rape, subversive criminal activities, conspiracy and other related crimes.

He made this known during his maiden press briefing while parading the suspects at the command headquarters.

The commissioner said that exhibits recovered from the suspects include four AK-47 rifles, 66 firearms of different calibres, 333 live ammunition of different calibres, 25 vehicles and several other incriminating items.

He said the command was working with the right policing strategies to tackle existing and emerging security challenges in the state, which he said was in line with the policing vision and mission of acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun that “there is no doubt that the task of effectively policing our society is daily becoming daunting.

However, I have since my assumption of duty, ensured that the right policing strategies are devised to tackle existing and emerging security challenges in the state.

These strategies are subsumed in my grassroots-driven, proactive, people-oriented and problem-solving policing thrust.

“These engagements, I must tell you have started paying off, as we are making remarkable progress in tackling violent crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery and the criminal activities of subversive criminals.

“It is a known fact that it is humanly impossible to totally eliminate crimes in human society. However, I want to assure the good people of Enugu State and visitors that we remain committed to ensuring that maximum security and tranquility are maintained in the state.

“I want to state without ambiguity that negative insinuations on the security situations in Enugu State are false and unfounded. I, therefore, make bold to say that the state remains peaceful and a safe haven for visitors and investors to come and meaningfully carry out their lawful businesses,” he said.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given $78 million as a training grant to 150 farmers in Bauchi State and the FCT to boost food security in Nigeria.

The beneficiaries are farmers of the Community Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria (COMAFAS).

Massandje Toure-Litse, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, made this known at the opening of a poultry training workshop for beneficiaries in Orozo, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Ms Toure-Litse said the grant would increase young people’s capacity to engage in agriculture value chains and food production.

She added that it would go toward training 150 youth in poultry and fisheries, adding that the two sub-sectors were the main driving force behind the sub-region’s economy and development.

She said ECOWAS has designed quality training modules and arranged to train 3,032 young people (30 per cent women and 70 per cent men).

Ms Toure-Litse said agricultural productivity and competitiveness in West Africa tended to positively impact the sub-region’s food security, economic development, and livelihoods.

According to her, the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy remains the guiding framework for the 15 bloc members as it prioritises agricultural productivity and competitiveness.

She added that there was a need for urgent intervention in gender participation in agriculture and youth employment, food chains, crops, forestry, livestock, and fisheries.

“It is anticipated that by 2030, at least 30 per cent of young people in the sub-region will be employed in the agriculture sector.

“This will amount to a 75 per cent reduction in youth under-employment in rural areas,’’ she said.

In his remarks, Austine Maduka, founder of COMAFAS, said despite the expansion of the poultry industry in Nigeria, it could only cater to 30 per cent of the needs of Nigerians.

Seventy-five of the 150 beneficiaries would be trained in poultry farming in the FCT, while the remaining 75 would be trained in fish farming in Bauchi.

The FCT beneficiaries were given 50 birds each, bags of poultry feeds and drugs as start-up capital.

India has called for reforms that will include representation of Africa in the UN Security Council to give voice to the continent.

Indian minister of external affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar made the call at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday in New York.

“We must address global challenges imbued with the conviction that we are one earth and one family, with one future,” Mr Jaishankar stated.

Mr Jaishankar recalled the recent G20 Summit and said India’s presidency focused on the key concerns of the many, not just the narrow interests of a few.

“At a time when East-West polarisation is so sharp and North-South divide so deep, the New Delhi Summit also affirms that diplomacy and dialogue are the only effective solutions,” explained the Indian minister.

“The international order is diverse, and we must cater for divergences if not differences.”

He added, “The days when a few nations set the agenda and expected others to fall in line are over.”

The minister noted outcomes from the summit, including an action plan for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), environmental initiatives, highlighting international financial institutions reform and the admission of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.

“By doing so, we gave voice to an entire continent which has long been its due,” Mr Jaishankar said, and in that context, urging reforms to the UN Security Council.

The Indian official said that days when a few nations set the global agenda and “expected others to fall in line” were over, noting that we often advocate promoting a rules-based order.

“From time to time, respect for the UN Charter is also invoked. But for all the talk, there are still a few nations who shape the agenda and seek to define the norms. This cannot go on indefinitely. Nor will it go unchallenged,” Mr Jaishankar stressed.

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has called on the federal government to find a lasting solution to the rising price of cooking gas in the country.

NALPGAM national president Abideen Olatunbosun stated this during the 36th annual general meeting of the association held in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Mr Olatunbosun said, “It is very vital for me to state that continuous increase in the price of gas in recent times stands as a big challenge to LPG marketers. The government needs to find ways to ensure the stability of gas prices as well as make gas available to common Nigerians.

“As a country, we need to improve on our gas utilisation level, and if we all adopt gas, it will save our forest and improve the quality of our lifestyle and the economy will grow.”

According to him, the gas price hike concerns all, calling for a collaborative effort between the government and the private sector to establish critical gas infrastructure.

The guest speaker, Sunday Isehunwa of the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Ibadan, said LPG offered a huge promise for increased domestic gas utilisation in Nigeria.

He said cooking gas also served as the country’s energy transition to net-zero carbon emission by 2060.

According to Isehunwa, there is a need for increased LPG supply to meet rising demand and curtail sharp practices by some operators.

“The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has been the major supplier of LPG. However, additional supplies are essential through functional refineries and adequate natural gas processing facilities. Removal of difficulties in importation when necessary is also essential for additional supplies,” said Mr Isehunwa.

He added, “Adequate infrastructure development is highly necessary to enhance access to LPG by rural communities. Accessibility will increase through increased economic empowerment of consumers and relatively low costs of products.”

Ogbugo Ukoha of the Nigerian Midstream And Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the recent deregulation policy would result in reflective petroleum products pricing.

Mr Ukoha, NMDPRA’s executive director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, noted that current data had shown that the domestic gas supply had overtaken the import supply.

Mr Ukoha said that necessary infrastructure investment must be put in place to address the challenges of the gas reserve to achieve smooth distribution of the product.

“Our focus is to make the necessary investment in gas infrastructure to increase LPG supply so as to force its price down for Nigerians,” said Mr Ukoha.

Police commissioner Augustina Ogbodo has urged the Muslim faithful to use the Eid-el-Maulud celebration to pray for sustainable peace and security in the nation.

Ms Ogbodo, in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki, said sustaining peace in the country was necessary to advance the nation’s socio-economic development efforts.

The police chief said the command had put in place necessary security measures to monitor the celebration across Ebonyi.

“We wish the peace-loving people of Ebonyi a peaceful and hitch-free Salah celebration,” said Ms Ogbodo.

She thanked Ebonyi residents for their continuous support and cooperation in ensuring security, pledging the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

Mr Ogbodo urged the residents to report any suspicious movement of persons or items to the nearest police station.

The police commissioner said the residents could also reach the command’s spokesperson on 08130826008 or its control room on 07064515001 for reports.

Several houses in Guatemala City were swept away by the strong current of a river following heavy rain, killing at least six people, authorities said on Tuesday.

Some 12 more people were missing, the National Emergency Management Agency of the Central American country (CONRED) said.

Earlier, the local fire brigade had said one of the victims was a five-year-old girl.

According to authorities, the Las Vacas River, which overflowed its banks, washed away at least six houses under the El Naranjo bridge in the early hours of Monday.

Rescue workers searched for the missing in the mud along a 15-kilometre stretch of the river, radio station Emisoras Unidas reported.

“After the tragedy in the settlement of Dios Es Fiel caused by flooding, I express my deep concern and solidarity with the affected families,” President Alejandro Giammattei said.

Mr Giammattei wrote this on social media platform X, adding that 94 rescue workers had been deployed.

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, with 18 million inhabitants.

Thunderstorms there often cause landslides and floods in the rainy season, with many fatalities.