The federal government is advocating improved surgical procedures as part of efforts to improve the delivery of quality healthcare services in the country.

Health minister Ali Pate made the call at the annual meeting of the National Institute of Health Research Global Surgery Unit (NIHR GSU) on Tuesday in Lagos.

The NIHR GSU meeting is an international event that provides a platform for leading experts, researchers and practitioners in global surgery to discuss and chart ways for improved surgical care.

Mr Pate said improved surgical procedures would reposition the health sector of Nigeria to be efficient in its services.

He said the institute, through its various contributions in the medical sector, particularly as the platform for facilitating the largest collaboration in surgery across the globe, is critical to helping Nigeria attain the feat.

According to the minister, Nigeria, as a member of the global hub funded by the UK NIHR, has recorded giant strides in line with its objectives and has performed well as led by Ademuyiwa Adesoji.

He assured the institute of government’s support in its discharge of duties, saying President Bola Tinubu’s government prioritises research as critical to facilitating development in the healthcare industry.

Mohbad’s long-time partner, Omowunmi, is grieving.Twenty-seven-year-old Promise Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, died on Tuesday under controversial circumstances.

“Liam is just five months today. Where do I start from?” she wrote, sharing throwback photos of their time together on Instagram.

She reflected on the uniqueness of their love story, emphasising the hardships they endured to reach the point they did before Mohbad’s untimely demise.

“Our love story was a different one. We fought really hard to be here. Ahhhhh, I don’t wish this type of pain on anyone,” she said.Omowunmi lamented that she would now have to carry the load of two persons.

“We had so many pains. Two responsibilities have now become one. You were my ride or die. I tried my best to make you stay Ileriouluwa. Ahhhhh, I repeat, I don’t wish this type of pain on anyone,” said Mohbad’s baby mama.She added, “Somebody should help me. I can’t do this alone.”

“It was with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Promise Oladimeji Aloba PK/A Mohbad(Imole) today, the September 12th of September 2023,” said a statement posted on X.

It added, “Mohbad was a light until, the very end, and as we mourn the brightness he carried, the family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. Imole is finally at peace.”

Meanwhile, Rapper MI Abaga and Olamide, including Mohbad’s estranged boss Naira Marley, and others, have expressed their condolences.

The director-general of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Joseph Ari, has urged governors of the 19 northern states to prioritise youth development through skills acquisition programmes.

Mr Ari made the call on Tuesday in Dutse during the signing of a memorandum of understanding on youth empowerment training with the Jigawa government.

According to Mr Ari, the ITF and Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) must partner on youth training programmes to make them self-reliant and check restiveness and social vices in the region.

He, therefore, urged Governor Umar Namadi to champion the campaign at the forum.

“On my way here, the NNDC group managing director called me on how the NGF will come in so that we can take away poverty in northern states. This is glaring us in the face, and if nothing is done, we will be sitting on a time bomb. So, your Excellency, at your meeting (NGF), we appeal to you to see how we can come together to rescue the situation,” stated the ITF chief.

Mr Namadi promised to be the ITF’s ambassador at the NGF, adding that “it is high time that governors realised the role of the fund in dealing with social problems.”

Mr Namadi, who identified youth unemployment as one of his major problems, added that it was the government’s responsibility to take care of the youth.

“I think it is high time we as governors realised the importance of ITF in terms of dealing with social problems in Nigeria. And of the major problems I faced during my campaign was the number of youths that always came out to welcome us wherever we went,” said the Jigawa governor.

Mr Namadi added, “It gave me a lot of concern and sometimes trauma because these guys (youths), we must take care of them, and if we don’t do so then like you just said we’re sitting on time bomb. It has come as a responsibility for all of us to take care of our youths.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 13 states and 50 communities, mainly up North, will likely witness heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding between September 13 and 17.

NEMA Lagos territorial coordinator Ibrahim Farinloye disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

The states include Kano (Sumaila and Kunchi), Kebbi (Argungu), Katsina (Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, and Katsina), Niger (Kontagora, Mashegu, and New Bussa), Kwara (Kosubosu), Zamfara (Kaura Namoda and Shinkafi) and Bauchi (Bajoga, Darazo, Kirfi, Azare, Jama ‘are, Itas, Misau), Taraba (Bali, Donga, Lau, Serti, Mutum-Biyu, Yorro) and Borno (Briyel, Biu, Dikwa, Kukawa).

Others are Adamawa (Ganye, Mubi, Demsa, Jimeta, Mayo Belwa, Numan, Shelleng, Song), Yobe (Dapchi, Gashua, Geidam, Kanamma, Machina, Potiskum), Gombe (Nafada and Jigawa, with Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram, and Miga).

NEMA added that due to the rise in the water levels of Rivers Benue and Niger, nearby communities up to Bayelsa were advised to take precautionary measures in the coming days.

The Potato Farmers Association of Nigeria has faulted the federal ministry of agriculture and rural development for its exclusion in launching a five-year rolling plan on Irish potatoes.

POFAN national president Daniel Okafor expressed displeasure on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Okafor said despite the effort by POFAN to reposition potato status in the country, the ministry was yet to recognise its effort, adding that such an attitude was discouraging and unpleasant to members.

“It beats my imagination that all the efforts we made to reposition potato status, including running a training programme free in Plateau and other states, is not recognized. Not even POFAN chairman in Plateau was invited to the launch of the programme. POFAN is not contacted in any of the programmes across the states,” stated Mr Okafor.

He added, “Recall that it was our organisation that brought the issue of Irish potato in Plateau to the federal ministry of agriculture. We collaborated with the Netherlands and pursued it until they expressed interest. Who then are the farmers they discovered to work with.”

However, Mr Okafor said there seemed to be some undertones by excluding the association, adding that POFAN had played a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of Irish potatoes in the country.

“I am complaining because you know the role my organisation played. That’s what we get from these people after suffering for them with an open mind. It’s a disaster and a pity that POFAN was not carried along,” explained Mr Okafor.

“This is the same ministry we presented a proposal penultimate week in a meeting we had with them just before the launch.”

He accused the ministry of sidelining POFAN in its programme.

“We shall soon come out in a different way to protest it. It’s becoming unbecoming,” Mr Okafor stated.

Nigerian Afrobeats star Mohbad passed away on Tuesday, his associate and musician Olamide said in a statement.

Mohbad, aged only 27 with offstage name Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, first rose to prominence as part of Naira Marley’s “Marlian Records” label.

His tunes and unique style quickly garnered him a devoted following.

The cause and details surrounding his death have not been sufficiently understood at the time of filing this story. Notable among his chart-topping tracks are “Ponmo,” “Feel Good,” and the sensational “KPK (Ko Por Ke),” a collaboration with Rexxie. This particular track earned him three nominations at The Headies Awards in 2022, showcasing his undeniable talent.

However, just two years ago, Mohbad made a significant decision, parting ways with Marlian Records in 2022.

This decision came on the heels of a public dispute between Mohbad and his former label boss, Naira Marley.

The young artist accused Naira Marley of domestic violence, alleging that he had been physically assaulted on the orders of his former mentor.

This acrimonious split was precipitated by Mohbad’s choice to hire a different manager to oversee his music and business affairs.

The young artist’s journey was also marred by legal troubles. In February 2022, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Mohbad, along with fellow musician Zinoleesky and four others.

The arrest was made following the discovery of hard drugs, including MDMA and cannabis, in their residence in the upscale Lekki area of Lagos.

The arrest itself was surrounded by controversy, as viral videos on social media depicted NDLEA operatives forcefully entering the musicians’ home in the early hours of a Thursday morning.

Witnesses claimed that the arrest occurred without search warrants, and they alleged mistreatment of the Marlian singers during the operation.

Shocking scenes of NDLEA officers using clubs and firing warning shots into the air as they herded the musicians into waiting trucks were widely circulated.

No fewer than 5,200 people have been killed and 10,000 others currently missing in the floods caused by a huge storm that burst two dams in the North African country of Libya on Tuesday.

“Bodies are lying everywhere – in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings,” Hichem Abu Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation in the administration that controls the east, told Reuters by phone shortly after visiting Derna.

The disaster caused by Storm Daniel occurred in Derna, a coastal city in Eastern Libya of around 125,000 inhabitants on Tuesday – videos showed buildings and cars swept away and almost a quarter of the city erased.

The interior ministry of eastern Libya’s administration says the death toll could rise in the coming days as many are still unaccounted for. It admitted that aid agencies have so far provided lower figures.

“I am deeply concerned by the deadly flood emergency unfolding in Libya. Our thoughts are with the affected people. Emergency teams are being mobilized to help on the ground,” United Nations relief chief Martin Griffiths said via a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Meanwhile, aid has been arriving from Turkey, whose president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has voiced support and solidarity in the aftermath of the disaster.

Turkey sent three flights to Benghazi carting 168 rescuers, two search and rescue vehicles, and two rescue boats.

Alongside that, 170 tents, 600 blankets, 400 food boxes, 20 generators, 1,000 raincoats, 500 boots and 500 flashlights, will also be provided for Libya.

Divided across two lines with capitals of the two rival governments based in Tripoli and Sirte, respectively, they have both declared three days of mourning in a rare show of solidarity.

Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has urged Bulletin Construction Company to reconstruct the collapsed road at Afia Nsit community in Eket Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Uno Uno, the state’s commissioner for environment and mineral resources stated this when he spoke with newsmen in Eket, headquarters of Eket LGA on Tuesday.

The road collapsed on Sept. 8 due to erosion.

Mr Uno said the company had moved to the affected site and work had commenced work in earnest on the road.

“Following an order from the governor, the State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources has mobilised Bulletin Construction Company to move to the affected site to commence work on the Idung Eniang and Afia Nsit road in Eket,” Mr Uno said.

He said that a portion of Ediam and Afia Nsit road were washed off by erosion, thereby blocking off residents of Idung Eniang villages from gaining access to Eket main town.

The commissioner expressed appreciation to the council secretariat and residents of the affected communities for their conduct since the incident occurred.

“I thank Eket LG authorities for quick response and timely report of the incident,” he said.

Mr Uno said that the collapsed road was a major access to many other villages and towns within Eket LGA and as such, the collapse would affect economic and social activities within the affected communities.

Earlier, Richy Udoka, the chairman of Eket environmental protection and waste management committee thanked the state government for quick intervention.

Mr Udoka advised that a proper embankment be constructed along the waterways to avoid reoccurrence of the situation.

He observed that lack of embankment was a major cause of the water overflow.

He said that the flood was caused by some illegal waste collectors who did not want to use the government-approved dump site and decided to empty their waste into the waterways and drainages.

Mr Udoka warned both motorists and pedestrians to avoid the danger zones for now until the remedial work was completed.

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad have arrested a car wash attendant, identified as Mohammed, after he absconded with a Toyota Camry handed over to him for cleaning in Isheri, Lagos.

This was disclosed in a statement published on X by the Lagos State Police Command.

The statement signed by the Command’s Public Relation Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that Mohammed, who was employed three days before the incident, removed the number plate of the car and discarded all identities linking the car to its owner.

The statement added that the matter would be charged to court immediately investigation is concluded.

A 30-year-old man who specialises in snatching motorcycles has been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command.

The suspect, Bello Mohammed alias Faruk Manja, a resident of Bakaro Area of Bauchi metropolis and Kabiru Danfulani, now at large, have been carrying out their nefarious acts for over four years.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi state command, Ahmed Wakil, who stated this in a statement made available to journalists in the state, said the suspect confessed during interrogation that he and his partner (Danfulani) have stolen over 20 motorcycles over the period.

Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said that the two-man gang have been terrorising Yobe and Bauchi states.

He said that the suspects criminally conspired among themselves and broke into a resident of Old Airport Road, GRA, and stole his N640,000 worth of Honda Civic and a skeletal motorcycle.

According to him, luck ran out on them when the victim reported the incident to the Police and they immediately swung into action and arrested them while trying to escape with the stolen vehicle.

“The Command has arrested a two-man squad that specializes in snatching motorcycles and has been carrying out their nefarious activities for about four years within Bauchi and other neighbouring States.

“On August 24, 2023, at about 6.30 am, one Aliyu Muhammad Gidado, male, of old Airport Road GRA, Bauchi, reported at B’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Bauchi metropolis, that on the same date at about 4 am, he discovered that Bello Mohammed alias Faruk Manja, male (30) of Bakaro area of Bauchi and Kabiru Danfulani, a male of Muda Lawal Bauchi, now at large, criminally conspired among themselves and trespassed into his house and stole his motor-vehicle Honda Civic, golden colour with reg no. MSA-350-PD valued at N640,000;00, alongside a skeletal motorcycle green colour, with the value yet to be ascertained.

“On receipt of the report, a team of detectives led by the DPO B’ Division, CSP Holman Simon, swiftly swung into action and circulated the incident to various Police patrol teams/divisions within and outside the State.

“Subsequently, in their process to escape with the stolen vehicle along Maiduguri-Bauchi road, Police operatives drafted to Soro Division led by the DPO, Soro Division, SP Aliyu Goni, intercepted the motor vehicle and arrested one of the culprits.

“During interrogation, the first suspect voluntarily confessed to having been a motorcycle snatcher for about four years and approximately stole 20 Jincheng robber motorcycles and carried such menace in different areas of Bauchi and Yobe States respectively, while the second suspect is now at large,” he said.

He said that the stolen vehicle and the skeletal motorcycle have been recovered from the suspects while an investigation is in progress and efforts are being intensified to arrest the remaining fleeing accomplices, after which the suspects would be charged to court.

The former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has joined other eminent Nigerians to mourn the exit of the doyen of the Accounting profession, Pa Williams Akintola who died on Monday in Lagos at 104.

Amosun said he received with a deep sense of loss the news of the transition of Pa Akintola Williams, the first Chartered Accountant in Nigeria who he said was a father figure to him and would surely miss his words of advice and encouragement.

In a statement personally signed by Senator Amosun and made available to our Correspondent on Tuesday, the former governor said, “I commiserate with the Akintola Williams family, particularly the children and all of us in the Accounting profession on this great loss.

He was the doyen of the accountancy profession in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, who recorded many firsts; first Chartered Accountant, a pioneermember of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and its first president.

“He established the first indigenous firm of professional accountants in Nigeria – Akintola Williams & Co, which grew organically and through a merger to become the largest firm of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria. Papa was also a founding member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“Pa Akintola Williams was a beacon in the Accountancy profession and a true source of inspiration to many, including me.

He was a great achiever whose invaluable contributions and commitment to the growth of Accountancy in Nigeria and Africa are epochal and unquantifiable.

Papa was also known and respected for his passion for Music, Arts, the Environment, and Charitable causes.

“On a more personal note, I recall the invaluable support he gave to our administration between 2011 and 2019 and the good people of Ogun State by attending personally our annual budget presentation at the Ogun State House of Assembly.

He supported greatly the establishment of the Elderly Home Hostel in Abeokuta. I will miss his fatherly disposition towards me, and his words of advice, and encouragement.

“May the Almighty God grant the doyen of the accounting profession eternal rest, and give his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the entire Akintola Williams family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“Adieu to a great son of Ogun State, one of the progenitors of Ogun Standard”, the statement concluded.

President Bola Tinubu has called for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the recurring tragedy of fatal boat incidents across the nation.

This is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Tinubu said government agencies would be held accountable for any regulatory or safety lapses, urging that comprehensive safety measures and enforcement must be carried out on boating activities in the country.

The president directed various government agencies, including law enforcement, maritime safety and transportation safety authorities to collaborate in identifying the causes of these unfortunate and preventable disasters.

Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the recent boat mishaps in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger and Gurin village, in Fufore LGA of Adamawa.

“The President directs various government agencies, including law enforcement, maritime safety and transportation safety authorities to collaborate closely in identifying the root causes of these unfortunate and preventable disasters.

“President Tinubu underscores his commitment to holding government agencies accountable for any regulatory or safety lapses and further instructs a comprehensive review of safety measures and strict enforcement of existing laws on boating activities in the country,” Ngelale.

He expressed solidarity with the governments and people of Niger and Adamawa as they mobilized emergency response teams and volunteers to provide assistance to victims of the incidents.

Tinubu wished those injured in the incidences a most speedy recovery, assuring the affected families and communities of the government’s continued support in this trying period.

“The President assures the affected families and communities of the government’s continued support and his commitment to the prevention of such tragic incidents from occurring in the future,” the statement added.

A boat, on Monday, capsized in a river in Gurin of Fufore Local Government Area, Adamawa State with many people on board.

Similarly, 26 bodies were recovered while 44 are still missing after a boat capsized in a river between the Jebba and Kainji dams in Mokwa Local Government of Niger on Sunday.

Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales must appear in court on Friday in connection with the investigation into his forcible kiss on Jenni Hermoso’s lips after the Women’s World Cup final.

Rubiales has been summoned to appear before an examining magistrate “to be heard as an accused” and to respond to accusations of “sexual assault”, a Madrid court said in a statement Tuesday.

The 46-year-old kissed Hermoso following Spain’s triumph in Sydney on August 20, which she says was not consensual, while Rubiales insists it was.

Judge Francisco de Jorge of the National Court admitted a complaint against Rubiales on Monday filed by Spanish prosecutors last week regarding alleged “crimes of sexual assault and “coercion”.

Under a recent reform of the Spanish penal code, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault, a criminal category that groups together all types of sexual violence.

The penalties for a forced kiss can range from a fine to four years in prison, according to sources from the public prosecutors’ office.

Rubiales stepped down as the Spanish football federation’s president on Sunday but continued to defend himself over the kiss.

A loaded truck with goods believed to be bags of wheat has tumbled on Otedola Bridge, Ojodu Berger, Lagos State, following an accident, with some of its contents falling on the road underneath it.

While the tumbled truck blocked one lane of the bridge, the fallen goods blocked a lane of the road beneath the bridge.

The accident, which happened on Tuesday morning, led to a heavy gridlock inward the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Ojodu Berger.

Confirming the accident, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) disclosed that efforts are underway to evacuate the fallen truck from the road and recover its contents.

LASTMA on its X handle at 8:35 a.m. said: “A fatal accident involving an upturned loaded (wheat) truck that has taken a lane on Otedola bridge inw Ojodu Berger. Traffic is a bit slow coupled with the flooded portion of the bridge.

“Effort is on for the recovery of the contents and the truck from the road,” it added.

The Federal Government on Monday, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission delisted 37 more illegal loan apps.

With the development, the number of fully approved loan apps also grew to 164 from 154 as of its last updates obtained by The PUNCH from its website on Monday.

The number of loan apps with conditional approval declined to 38 from 40, and the number of apps on the commission’s watchlist grew to 56 from 20.

The PUNCH, on August 20, 2023, reports FCCPC has permanently delisted and begun the process of deleting at least two loan apps from the Google Play Store for harassing Nigerians.

On August 1, 2023, FCCPC requested Google remove illegal apps operating without regulatory approval or in violation of the Limited Interim Regulatory/Registration Framework and Guidelines for Digital Lending, 2022 (Guidelines), from its play store, The PUNCH reports.

See the list of 37 newly delisted loan apps below:

1. Swiftkash App

2. Hen Credit Loan App

3. Cash Door App

4. Joy Cash-Loan Up To 1,000,000 App

5. Eaglecash App

6. Luckyloan Personal Loan App

7. Getloan App

8. Easeloan Apps

9. Naira Naija

10. Cashlawn App

11. Easynaira App

12. Crediting App

13. Yoyi App

14. Nut Loan App

14. Cashpal App

15. Nairaeasy Gist Loan App

16. Camelloan App

17. Nairaloan App

18. Moneytreefinance Made Easy App

19. Cashme App

20. Secucash App

21. Creditbox App

22. Cashmama App

23. Crimson Credit App

24. Galaxy Credit App

25. Ease Cash App

26. Xcredit

27. Imoney

28. Naira Naija

29. Imoneyplus-Instant

30. Nairanaija-Instant

31. Nownowmoney

32. Naija Cash

33. Eagle Cash

34. Firstnell App

35. Flypay

36. Spark Credit

37. Luckyloan Personal Loan App

The Federal Government’s fiscal deficit hit N3.68tn in the first five months of 2023, a new report has revealed.

A report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the personal notes of the Monetary Policy Committee showed the committee was worried about rising low revenue amid high fiscal deficit.

The report quoted a members of the Monetary Policy Committee, Mike Obadan, as saying that the government needed to reform its expenditure to address the huge fiscal deficit.

Obadan, “The fiscal deficit of the country is a structural factor that has continued to drive inflation upwards. In the first five months of 2023, the Federal Government recorded a fiscal deficit of -N3.7tn and this has implications for inflation considering the monetary methods of financing it.”

He added, “However, deeper and broader reform of public expenditure is imperative. The new government needs to beam its searchlight on the structure of public expenditure with a view to eliminating unproductive and wasteful expenditures.

“This means that the government should carry out meaningful fiscal consolidation to complement the Central Bank’s tight monetary policy stance aimed at reining in the apparently stubborn inflation.”

According to the economic report for Q1, 2023 released by the CBN, in first quarter of 2023, “A decomposition of FGN spending showed that recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure, and transfers accounted for 84.6, 9.8 and 5.6 per cent, respectively.”

An MPC member, Omamegbe, Mo’, stated that, “The combination of declining revenues and increasing expenditures has led to a growing fiscal deficit, necessitating borrowing and potentially fuelling inflationary pressures.

“The underperformance of the oil sector, coupled with unsustainable fuel subsidies, further exacerbates the fiscal issues.”

The United Arab Emirates, on Monday, lifted its months-long visa ban on Nigerians.Consequently, Etihad and Emirates Airlines will resume flight operations in Nigeria immediately.

“President Bola Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers.

“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay,” the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed in a statement he signed Monday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu secures landmark deal with United Arab Emirates across sectors; visa ban on Nigerian travelers is lifted immediately.’

Monday’s resolution followed talks between Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu and his Emirati counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.It also comes nearly three weeks after the President expressed his willingness to personally intervene to end the nearly one-year ban.

“We are a family with the UAE; we only live in separate rooms but in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem and resolve it amicably. As you know, in every family, there are peculiarities.

“You can have an erring son or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues,” Tinubu told the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, at the State House on August 24, 2023.

It marked the first occasion in which Tinubu addressed the deadlock that led to the suspension of flights to Nigeria by Emirates, the UAE’s national carrier.In October 2022, the UAE banned nationals of about 20 African countries from entering its borders.

“This is to inform you that we will not be posting 30 days visa applications for these nationalities effective today, October 18, 2022,” the notice partly read.

Affected countries include Uganda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin, Ivory Coast, Congo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, and the Dominican Republic.

In a notice issued to trade partners, including travel agents, Emirati authorities demanded that all applications be rejected.

“Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or canceled,” said the notice. However, it does not affect persons holding diplomatic passports.Since the ban, the UAE and Nigeria have been locked in a diplomatic row over issues involving flight allocations and travel restrictions.

In February, former President Muhammadu Buhari appealed to Al Nahyan via telephone to lift the visa ban. However, the UAE authorities rejected the request.

Explaining the recent development, the President’s spokesman noted that the immediate restoration of flight activity through Emirates and Etihad Airlines and between the two countries does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government.

Reacting, an official of the aviation think-tank, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative, Olumide Ohunayo, said, “Congratulations that the President was able to get the visa ban lifted, and business can return fully among the two countries while we make efforts to repatriate airline funds.

It is good to see that Emirates and Etihad are returning, I just hope Nigerian airlines will have the same slots and frequencies in Dubai and not outside Dubai airports, under the principle of reciprocity.

Also, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Roland Iyayi, while reacting said, “If Air Peace starts flying into Dubai, Emirates will reduce their price because they know that its price will be lower and will want to match theirs, so they don’t lose most of their passengers.

So, there’s a possibility that fares will be reduced given the competition between Emirates and Air Peace which is indeed very good for the country.

Also speaking, a former Military Commandant at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Group Capt John Ojikutu (retd.), said, “It is not about Emirates and Etihad alone, it is about every other foreign airlines that operate to Nigeria and pay our aviation services providers in dollars.”

Residents of Oda Community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to the state government to expedite action on the construction of the community road.

The residents lamented the slowness in the construction of the road which was said to have started over two years ago during the first term of the present administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

It was gathered that the poor condition of the road also affects some communities such as Pelebe, Ilekun, Weliweli, Ijigba, and Aye communities among others.It was also gathered that though the state government has commenced the dualisation of a section of the road, more than five-kilometre stretch is still in poor shape.

A resident of the area, Mr Elijah Adesanya begged the state government to urgently fix the road, saying many vehicles, particularly cars always break down on the road due to the potholes that have taken over every portion of the road.

He said, “It is sad that we have found ourselves in this situation. The road is damaging our cars every day. In a week, you must visit a mechanic workshop twice to fix your car. We don’t know our offences in Oda that made government abandon us. I can’t imagine how we will be able to cope when schools resume.

“We are begging the governor to hear our cries and expedite action on the completion of the road. It is not easy for motorists here.”

Another resident, Mr Ayo Ajayi said it situation of the road was bad and needed the government urgent action on the ongoing road dualisation.

“We are begging the governor to please focus on Oda Road and lessen our sufferings. We are part of the state and attention should be given to Oda. For now, if they know that they can’t complete the road, they should fill the potholes and make it motorable.’’

However, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju said the government will attend to all ongoing projects, adding that no road will be abandoned by the Akeredolu-led government.

The police command in Lagos state has begun an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of a 22-year-old male tailoring apprentice, identified as Hakeem Mujib.

The police public relations officer in the State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Monday.

Mr Hundeyin said that the command got information about the incident on Sunday night, but no arrest had been made in connection with the incident.

He said that the command was on the trail of those suspected to be responsible for the death, assuring that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation.

There were different accounts of why the young man was allegedly beaten to death by some suspected tailors.

Some said that the apprentice was beaten to death over alleged theft, while others claimed he was killed for being a spy at the Obadina area of Lagos Island.

The apprentice was alleged to have gone to a two-storey building on Obadina Street, off Obe Street, Lagos Island, to rest with his friend called Kehinde around 2:00 a.m., while returning from an errand on which he was sent by his boss.

According to the account, he was mistakenly taken for a robbery spy and beaten to death by yet-to-be-identified persons before help could come.

The parliamentary election petitions tribunal has sacked Thaddeus Attah of the Labour Party as the winner of the House of Representatives election for Eti-Osa federal constituency.

Giving the judgment on Monday, the tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a supplementary election in 32 polling units within 90 days, as it agreed with Banky W and Obanikoro that elections did not hold in about 40 polling units.

INEC had declared that Mr Attah winner of the election with 24,075 votes, defeating Bankole Wellington, aka Banky W, of the Peoples Democratic Party who polled 18,666 votes and Babajide Obanikoro of the All Progressives Congress who scored 16,901 votes.

Banky W saw the tribunal ruling as a potential turnaround in his political career to be a federal lawmaker.In a brief post on his X handle on Monday, he tweeted, “It is possible. Still.”

The spokesperson for the Labour Party in Lagos, Olubunmi Adesanya, confirmed the decision of the tribunal to News Agency of Nigeria on Monday night.

She said, “So what happened was that two of the three judges ruled in favour of supplementary election taking place in some areas, while the third judge said the case should be dismissed.

“We’ll know what the party will do by tomorrow. We’ll await what our legal advisers tell us before we do anything.”