President Bola Tinubu’s government says it has attracted a $3 billion investment pledge from Indian investors to boost the steel industry in Nigeria.

Abdullahi Haruna, spokesman for the steel development minister, Shauib Audu, announced this on Wednesday.

The president made the commitment during the Nigeria-India economic roundtable in India.

“In a historic move that promises to bolster Nigeria’s steel industry, President Tinubu has successfully attracted a monumental $3 billion investment pledge from Indian investors. This achievement was met with applause and commendation from the minister,” the statement explained.

It added, “Jindal Steel and Power Limited, one of India’s foremost private steel producers, made this momentous commitment to invest $3 billion in iron ore processing and steel development in Nigeria. The announcement came after extensive discussions between the president and the leadership of Jindal Steel and Power Limited on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, India.”

The minister said the development was a game-changer that would revitalise and transform the nation’s steel industry. Mr Audu lauded Mr Tinubu for his efforts in attracting investment for Nigeria’s steel sector.

“Furthermore, this news comes on a day when the presidential tribunal upheld the election of the president. As the country eagerly anticipates the positive impact of this massive investment, it marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic development,” said Mr Audu.

Atiku Abubakar has made known his intention to appeal the judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, which on Wednesday struck out his petitions against President Bola Tinubu, according to court filings seen by Peoples Gazette.

Mr Abubakar, who contested the February 25 polls under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asked the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago for an expedited issuance of the order of rights to discovery of Mr Tinubu’s Chicago State University records so that he could use them to file his appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria within the next 21 days, according to filing first obtained by The Gazette.

“At the outset, Abubakar must inform this Court that the Nigerian Court of Appeals reportedly issued a ruling today (September 6, 2023), finding in favour of Tinubu and against Abubakar. Abubakar now has 21 days—until September 27, 2023—to file his appeal of that ruling to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which Applicant intends to do,” the Nigerian politician told the U.S. court in a September 6, 2023, filing.

“Time is therefore of the essence and Abubakar respectfully asks this Court for an expedited ruling and order, so that if this Court grants the discovery requested, Abubakar can receive the documents and take the Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU before September 27,” his lawyers, led by Angela Liu, said.

The filing came as part of his response to Mr Tinubu’s claim that the discovery from Chicago State University (CSU) was too late to be useful in the case challenging his election victory in Nigeria.

The submission marked the first indication that Mr Abubakar would appeal the judgement, which came on Wednesday night (Nigerian time) by a panel of five appellate justices.

But Mr Abubakar was hopeful that the documents would prove useful at the nation’s Supreme Court, where his appeal must be filed within 21 days from when the tribunal gave its ruling.

Mr Abubakar’s attorneys, however, noted that the “Nigerian Court of Appeals’ decision in no way changes this Court’s analysis underSection 1782.”

Section 1782 is the statute that allows the release of documents and evidence domiciled in the U.S. for use in a foreign proceeding.

Hollywood actor, Al Pacino, 83, and girlfriend Noor Alfallah, 29, have separated just months after welcoming their first child together, Daily Mail reports.

Alfallah, who gave birth to their son, Roman Alfallah Pacino, in June, also filed for custody.

Alfallah, according to the report, petitioned for full custody of their son with “reasonable visitation” rights to Al Pacino.

The duo were first romantically linked in 2022, they, however, made their relationship public in April 2023.

45-year-old man identified as Rex Kondwani, has hanged himself in Thyolo District in Malawi, after his wife gave a church K12,000 which they earned from gardening work. 

Masambanjati police officer in-charge, senior superintendent, George Kaleso, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, said the incident happened at Muwalo village, Traditional Authority Changata in the district.

Kaleso said the couple was engaged to do gardening piecework and was paid K12,000 which was kept by the wife.

“Yesterday, when Mr. Kondwani asked for his share, the wife told him she had donated the money to their local church,” he said.

This led to an argument between the couple. The man was later found hanging from the roof of the church where the money was donated.

Suicide cases have been on the rise in Malawi with 256 cases recorded in the fist half of this year.

A 100-level student of the Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Atanda Modupe Deborah, has been found d£ad two days after she went missing.

It was gathered that the student of Nursing Department, stream A, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, went missing after she went to study in the class on Monday night, September 4, 2023.

Her roommates declared her missing when she did not return from the night reading. 

Her body was found buried in a shallow grave behind her faculty with her eyes plucked out on Wednesday, September 6.

Reacting to this incident in a statement on Wednesday evening, the Registrar of the University, Mufutau Ibrahim, ordered all students to vacate the campuses. 

The university management stated further that the armed security personnel have been quickly deployed for patrol, surveillance and security purposes, and that several arrests have been made.

“The University Management has received a report on the case of Ms Modupe Deborah Atanda who was reported missing as at Wednesday, 6th September 2023; and Management is saddened at the current turn of events,” the statement read. 

“It is pertinent to promptly inform the entire University community that immediate steps have been taken in this regard, as all National Security Personnel have been drafted to handle the situation. As a matter of fact, several arrests have been made of suspects.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Lagos State has scored President Bola Tinubu 98 per cent in providing the right leadership in his first 100 days in office.

Femi Olaniyi, the Lagos State SDP chairman, gave the score in an interview on Wednesday in Lagos.

“We can see all measures and initiatives by Tinubu to bring Nigeria on track,” said Mr Olaniyi, a former Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) chairman in Lagos.

“He has accomplished a lot and has scored up to 98 per cent out of 100 per cent in my grading,” Olaniyi.”

Mr Tinubu, sworn in as Nigeria’s president on May 29, marked his 100 days in office on Tuesday.Mr Olaniyi, the zonal secretary of SDP South-West, told journalists that the president had initiated various reforms and initiatives to turn the country around.

The SDP chairman, however, advised all Mr Tinubu’s cabinet members to move with speed to further brighten the hope of Nigerians in the administration through people-oriented policies.

“I only pray each of the ministers and other members of the cabinet discharge their duties accordingly and make the President and Nigerians proud.

“The ministers in various ministries must work hard to turn around the nation,” he said.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says at least 35,000 people have been killed since the inception of the insurgency in the North-East in 2009 to August 2023.

Elsie Mills-Tetty, UNHCR’s head of the Adamawa office, disclosed this at a training for military personnel on human rights, humanitarian principles and civilian protection in Yola on Wednesday.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organised the training in collaboration with UNHCR.

Ms Mills-Tetty, represented by Umar Abdullahi, assistant project officer, said this was according to the “Global Centre for Responsibility to Protect” report of August 2023.

According to her, the implication of these acts to the economic and social development of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Nigeria at large can never be overemphasised.

She added that in 2022, the NHRC reported investigating human rights complaints and assisting victims in seeking redress.

Ms Mills-Tetty said: “Cumulatively, the commission received 2.314 complaints. Adamawa had 65,456 complaints, approximately three per cent of the total complaints from the 36 states.

“The 2022 NHRC report also indicated that incidences of Insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, farmers/herders clashes and attacks by gunmen continued to increase with the attendant number of internally displaced persons who face enormous human rights violations.”

She called on the participants to take advantage of the training to boost their knowledge of human rights in their duties.

In his address, Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary, NHRC, said the training was to mainstream human rights into the counter-insurgency efforts of the Nigerian troops in the North-East.

Mr Ojukwu, represented by his special assistant, Benedict Agu, commended the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies for performing exceedingly well in containing insurgency.

“The insurgents live within us, and there is hardly a clearly drawn battle line between the insurgents and the civilian population,” he said.

Governor Umaru Bago of Niger has approved two trucks of 50kg bags of rice for the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chapter as palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Mr Bago announced this during the reception to celebrate the newly constructed office of the deputy governor, Yakubu Garba, in Minna.

He disclosed that the initial N110 million approved for NLC was for their logistics to monitor the distribution process of the palliatives across the 274 wards of the state.

“Labour, we have given you work to go round and supervise the palliatives’ distribution, but for the labour union, we have not given you palliatives.

“We only gave you logistics to go round and supervise distribution; now, as a government, we will give you two trucks of 50kg for distribution,” he said.

Mr Bago added that the money was for the NLC members to effectively monitor the distribution process to ensure the palliatives get to everyone.

The governor advised the union to shelve its two-day warning strike and congratulated the deputy governor on his new office.

In his remarks, Mr Garba appreciated the governor for a cordial working relationship and pledged to discharge his responsibility for the progress and development of the state.

The Presidential Election Petition Court has struck out the testimonies of 10 of the 13 witnesses Peter Obi and the Labour Party called to defend their petition challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

The tribunal ruled that the petitioner’s request for an extension of time to subpoena 10 additional witnesses was not originally part of the petition.

The court held that this was a new issue introduced into the petition, and the respondents could not respond to it again.

The court held that it was an attempt to amend the petition beyond the legally allowed 21 days.

The court dismissed all the testimonies from the witnesses and struck out all documents they tendered from the court records.

The court held that their witness statements were filed in violation of section 4 (5) (b) of the constitution and were incompetent.

Mr Obi and the Labour Party’s petition will be decided by the testimony of only three witnesses.

The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the failure of the mass transit scheme in Nigeria has summoned the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, over the scheme’s failure.

Others summoned include the Minister of Trade and Investment, the Accountant-General for the Federation, and the head of service for the federation.

Rep. Victor Ogene, the committee chairman, issued the summons in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the committee invited the ministers and others to supply the requisite information about previous mass transit schemes regarding disbursement.

Mr Ogene said the committee had yet to get the document required, saying that in response to that, the agencies were invited to appear before the committee on September 11 and 12 at 11:00 a.m.

“Additionally, the clerk of this committee is to invite the managing director of the Infrastructure Bank to appear on the same day and time,” he stated.

The chairman also asked the National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Road Transport Employers of Nigeria to appear before it.

He, however, warned those concerned not to treat the invitation with levity, adding that failure to come would incur the wrath of the lawmakers, thereby invoking their legislative power.

“Let me warn that this invitation is not frivolous; this is an invitation extended to them by the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And if, for any reason, any of them fail to honour this invitation, we shall invoke the full power of this committee as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” he said.

The Abuja Investment Company Limited and the National Union of Road Transport Workers had earlier appeared before the committee.

They both suggested how to stop the recurring failure of the scheme.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday warned motorists plying the Lagos-Badagry expressway against overloading and speeding during the ember months.

Williams Manga, Badagry unit commander, FRSC, gave the warning at a sensitisation programme organised for table water truck drivers.

Mr Manga attributed major road crashes to speed limit violations and overloading, urging drivers to respect the obligation of human life by obeying traffic rules.

“Do not overload your water trucks with goods and passengers; it is dangerous,” he advised.

Mr Manga appealed to “pure water” truck drivers to undergo the proper process of acquiring genuine driver’s licences to avoid being arrested on the roads.

He urged the drivers to avoid using expired or fairly used tyres on their vehicles because it could lead to road crashes.

The Lagos State Chapter of the Labour Party has urged the judges sitting at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja to deliver judgment with utmost fairness as they set to deliver judgment today, Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

It said that it was an enormous responsibility for the judges and they should deliver justice in the interest of all Nigerians who have entrusted them with their destinies to decide on the true outcome of the February 25, 2023, presidential election, adding that they (judges) should not bow to pressure or intimidation from any external bodies.

The spokesperson for the party, Olubunmi Odusanya, stated in a statement issued on Tuesday evening that the party also celebrated the victories of their candidates for the National Assembly, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Wande George, whose elections into the Oshodi-Isolo II and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies respectively, were upheld by a National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Ikeja, Lagos.

Odusanya commended the judges, saying it was a symbol that “Nigeria, can still be salvaged with the right people in the right institutions of the state.’’

The statement partly read,

“In view of the above, we at the Labour Party Lagos State urge the Judges at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT in Abuja to toe the line of their colleagues in Lagos as they set to deliver judgement on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

“This is an enormous responsibility in their hands and we urge them to deliver justice in the interest of Nigeria, not self. We want the Tribunal Judges to realise that the destinies of over two hundred million are in their hands. This is the time to put Nigeria in her rightful place in the committee of nations.

“A position denied the Country by the acts of misgovernance and maladministration inflicted on us by brigandage and charlatans posing as leaders in the time past. We urge the Judges not to succumb to any form of pressure or intimidation from any quarter.

“Nigeria is bigger than all of us and our allegiance should be to the nation, not self. The time to take back Nigeria is now.

In like manner, we implore all Labour Party members and supporters and indeed all ObiDients to remain optimistic that our Principal, Peter Obi will be given his clear mandate as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria tomorrow September 6 2023.

This will be a definitive move to take back our Country and steer it back on the right track of greatness. It is the only leadership that will birth a New Nigeria.

“Furthermore, Labour Party Lagos State received with rude shock and sadness the judgements delivered by the National and State Assembly Petition petition Tribunal wherein in our sitting House of Representatives Member for Ojo Federal Constituency was sacked and the plea of our Lagos Central Senatorial candidate’s were thrown out based on matters we feel are pre-election issues.

We thank God that the Tribunal is not the final court of arbitration in these matters. Labour Party will appeal the said judgements.

“We, at Labour Party are also in solidarity with our indefatigable and ebullient Governorship candidate of Lagos state, Architect Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, whose victory at the Tribunal the Party expects when judgement is delivered in the petition.

We reiterate our hope, trust and confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary for a truly strong democracy that will usher in the new Nigeria we all hope for and desire. May God help us to do right.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s (today) presidential petition judgement delivery, heavy security presence had been observed at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, dark spots and some other flash points in Abuja on Tuesday.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by other members of the panel-Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed will deliver the judgment.

Meanwhile, the expectations of the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, and President Tinubu, which remained higher as they anticipated the verdict.

In light of this, a number of armed riot policemen, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security operatives in plainclothes had been deployed at strategic locations in the Federal Capital Territory in a bid to prevent a breach of law and order that might arise after the judgment.

Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress across the 20 local government areas of Ogun State, on Tuesday, said the suspended Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Mr. Wale Adedayo was only out to derail the administration of the Governor Dapo Abiodun with his unfounded zero allocation to the local governments in the state.

The APC Chairmen, during a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the government of Ogun State, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi in his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said they have independently taken steps to investigate all the claims made by Adedayo and discovered that he was playing to the gallery and being mischievous.

Speaking on behalf of the group, APC Chairman for Abeokuta South, who is also the Chairman of the body, Mr. Henry Fagbenro said the facts and figures showing the disbursement of allocations to local governments in the State in the last four years negate the claims of the suspended chairman.

“We suspect that Adedayo does not mean well for the state and to us, his plan is to derail this present administration which is already on course,” he said.

Fagbenro noted that the party chairmen, as stakeholders, decided to investigate the truth behind the whole saga but were embarrassed that what was in the media was basically false and misleading.

He said,

“SSG sir if you care to know when we heard all these fake stories being circulated, we were worried not because we were oblivious of the inclusiveness of the governor in ensuring that he carried all stakeholders along being a stickler to rules and regulations but because we felt the claimant being a chairman, cannot say what is not true at his level.

“Albeit, we were taken aback having found out the truth by ourselves and we dissociate ourselves completely from his incendiary and ignoble actions,”Fagbenro added that contrary to Adedayo’s claims that LGs received zero allocations, the state government augments the allocation almost on a daily basis, while also earmarking funds for them to be able to carry out capital projects.

In his response, Talabi commended the party chairmen for taking the initiative to independently investigate the allegation as major stakeholders in the state, describing the step as one taken in the right direction.

He said the administration of the governor has genuinely demonstrated inclusiveness and transparency for all to see knowing fully well that the government did not have much credibility with the people before the present government came on board.

The state scribe noted that the governor was really baffled by the claims of Adedayo, knowing that his administration gives hundreds of millions almost on a monthly basis to shore up their allocation so as to fulfil their statutory obligations.

Talabi noted that N1.8 billion has been given to the 20 local governments to undertake infrastructural projects with close supervision of the state to ensure they are not concentrated in one area.”

So, the governor felt his magnanimity was being taken for granted with all these fallacies. I urge you all to go out there to educate our people whom he may have dissuaded because I know that truth is sacred and will always prevail.

“This administration is open and transparent like no other and I think maybe, this our passion to ensure that our people are actively involved in the day-to-day running of government is being taken for granted, but the governor has affirmed that he will continue to do what is right,” the SSG said.

Meanwhile, all efforts made to get Adedayo’s response were not successful as he did not pick up his call or respond to the message sent to his WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.

Recall that last week, Adedayo, who was released from the DSS custody, in Abeokuta after spending three days had written a letter to a former governor in the state, Chief Olusegun, Osoba, alleging among other things that the state governor, Abiodun, had hijacked LG funds to the tune ofN10.8bn, while also forwarding a petition to the anti-graft agencies over the same allegations.

Adedayo was detained by the DSS on Friday, September 1, 2023, following his suspension by a quorum of councillors.

Speaking to The Punch after his release in Abeokuta, Adedayo said the DSS summoned him following a petition written against him that he was making inciting comments that could jeopardise public peace.

He, has, however, vowed to continue to challenge his ‘illegal suspension’, saying he remained unshaken over his travails so far.

The Abia Government has denied a report on the sack of 10,000 civil servants in the state, describing it as fake and unfounded.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia on Wednesday.

“The report on the sack of Abia workers by Gov. Alex Otti is fake and unfounded,” he said.

Kanu said that the state government introduced certain measures to address the issue of ghost workers, adding that in line with its agenda to sanitise the civil service, removed names of ghost workers from the payroll of government.

“Some workers whose names were thrown up during the verification embarked upon by the government as illegally employed were affected too.

“This group comprises those who were illegally employed from December up until March and April this year,” Kanu said.

He said some of the civil servants that fall into this category had their appointment letters backdated.

“The employment of these individuals can be best described as surreptitious and a bait used to pile underserved pressure on the present administration and no responsible government would allow such a situation to continue,” he said.

Kanu also said that there were no waivers applied for the employment of workers from December to April.

According to him, there are established processes for the employment of workers in the Civil Service in Abia State.

He said that due process was not followed with regard to employment and urged the people of Abia, to disregard the fake story about the alleged sack of 10,000 workers.

Kanu said that the commitment of the state government to the welfare of the workers, both those working now and the retirees, remains unwavering.

He also reiterated the resolve of the government to pay all salaries and pension arrears.

The turnover of foreign exchange on the FMDQ hit N22.98tn ($44bn) in the period between January and July 2023.

This was revealed in the August edition of the FMDQ Spotlight, a monthly publication by the exchange.

FMDQ is now the only recognised forex market following harmonisation of the foreign exchange rates by the Central Bank of Nigeria in June.

In the newsletter, the exchange revealed that for the 141 business days within the period under review, the average daily turnover stood at N866.21bn ($1.67bn).

The average year-to-date for naira was N519.35 per dollar.

Commenting on the turnover, the exchange said, “The total turnover for the January – July 2023 period amounted to N122.14trillion.

Meanwhile, the Naira strengthened by 0.39 per cent on the Investor & Exporter window on Tuesday to N744.97 per dollar, from N747.87 per dollar at the close of trading on Monday.

The daily turnover on Monday was $74.64.

At the parallel market, two Bureau De Change operators on Lagos Island, on Tuesday, said they sold the American dollar at N925 and bought N920 per dollar.

The Bishop of Anglican Communion Diocese of Makurdi, Rt. Revd. Nathan Inyom, on Tuesday, expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in fighting corruption in the Church and nation.

The Bishop made this known when he led a delegation to visit the Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC.

According to a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Inyom expressed concern over the way and manner employed by people to oversee church resources.

The cleric highlighted the issue of corruption within the church and expressed the Anglican Communion’s commitment to working with the Commission to combat the problem.

He said, “We are here to interact with you, seeking ways of collaboration in terms of trying to understand the workings of the Commission better. How it can relate with the church, especially in terms of handling issues of sharp practices that result in malpractices and misappropriation.”

According to the cleric, the church itself is grappling with the menace of corruption within its fold.

“One of my greatest frustrations in ministry, as a minister of God, is that those whom we employ to assist us in overseeing resources end up defrauding the church, carting away huge sums of money meant for the development of the Church,” he added.

Nathan said the Anglicans have utmost respect for the pivotal role played by the commission in safeguarding the financial integrity of the nation.

The cleric urged the EFCC to increase efforts in raising public awareness about the growing issue of economic and financial crimes.

The Zonal Commander of ACE 1, Friday Ebelo, expressed gratitude to the Bishop for his visit.

He sought the advice and prayers of the clergy in order for the country to prevail over the plague of corruption, economic and financial crimes.

The police command in Ogun on Tuesday said it had arrested two security men for allegedly shooting a man in the eye as a result of a misunderstanding in Sango-Ota area of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen in Sango-Ota, said the suspects were arrested on Sept. 2.

According to her, the unfortunate incident happened when a case of attempted murder was reported in Sango-Ota.

She explained that one Abiodun Fatai reported that his younger brother, Ramon Rasaq was involved in an altercation with security men on their street.

Mr Fatai said a quarrel ensued when Mr Rasaq opened the gate himself as the two security men, Michael Adelayo and Ganiyu Saka, were not at their security post at the time his brother (Rasaq) got to the gate, making his way into the street.

This led to a quarrel, and during the ensuing scuffle, one of the security men, Mr Saka shot Mr Rasaq in the eye.

“Following the incident, the victim was rushed to a traditional healer who successfully removed seven pellets from his right eye.

“The CSP Saleh Dahiru, the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), Sango Ota, provided the necessary medical forms for Rasaq to be transferred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

“At the hospital, he received immediate medical attention to stabilise his condition, but unfortunately he lost his right eye. The doctor on duty assured that Rasaq was currently responding positively to treatment,” said Ms Odutola.

The PPRO said the commissioner of police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, had directed that the suspects be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Indian government is considering renaming the country as Bharat, an official has said.

The Narendra Modi-led government is to bring the resolution for changing the country’s name at the special session of the parliament.

The session is scheduled to be held from September 18 – 22.

“The entire country is demanding that we should use the word ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India’, MP Harnath Singh Yadav said.Mr Yadav explained that the word ‘India’ is an abuse given to the country by the British.

“Whereas the word ‘Bharat’ is a symbol of our culture. There should be a change in our constitution and the word ‘Bharat’ should be added to it.”

The move is seen as a response to a recent bloc of opposition alliance calling itself the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The proposed name, ‘Bharat’, gained ground after images of the official invite to the G20 Heads of State and ministers for a dinner being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu came to the fore.

The invite shows it was from “the President of Bharat.”

Earlier invitations had the heading President of the Republic of India.But Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh has hit out at Mr Modi for calling for the change of the country’s name as an assault on the constitution.

“Mr Modi can continue to distort history and divide India, that is Bharat, that is a Union of States. But we will not be deterred.

“After all, what is the objective of INDIA parties? It is BHARAT—Bring Harmony, Amity, Reconciliation And Trust. Judega BHARAT, Jeetega INDIA!”, Mr Ramesh said.

Two persons were confirmed dead while eight others sustained injuries in an accident involving a Toyota Hiace bus and a truck around Christopher University on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Florence Okpe, spokesperson, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday.

Ms Okpe noted that the incident occurred at 11:30 a.m. and it involved a Toyota Hiace, marked GAS 937 XA, and a moving truck.

She noted that FRSC operatives Mowe unit command in conjunction with Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) carried out rescue operation.

She explained that 10 persons were involved which comprised seven males and three females.

Ms Okpe stated that eight persons, which involved six males and two females were injured, while one male and one female were recorded dead from the crash.

“The fatal crash was caused by excessive speed and wrongful overtaking on the part of the Toyota driver and then rammed into a moving truck,” she said.

Ms Okpe noted that the injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe while the corpses were deposited at Idera Mutuary, Sagamu.

The FRSC spokesperson quoted the sector commander, Anthony Uga, to have cautioned motorists on excessive speed and poor judgement on overtaking.

The Ondo state government has inaugurated palliative committees in the 18 local government areas of the state for effective distribution of food items procured to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

The state government also announced Sept. 12 as the date for commencement of the distribution of the food items to beneficiaries.

Ondo state acting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, while inaugurating the local government palliative committees in Akure on Tuesday, urged the members to be equitable and transparent in distributing the palliatives at the grassroots level.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said the inauguration of the palliative committees at the local government areas was aimed at involving stakeholders at the third-tier level in the distribution of food items to the people at the grassroots.

“Government is aware of the pain caused by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“Let me assure you that distribution of the palliatives at the local government level will be thorough and transparent,” he said.

Mr Aiyedatiwa urged members of the committee to hold meetings and plan the scheduled date to ensure effective distribution of the food items to the concerned people.

The chairman of the Ondo state palliative committee, Wale Akinterinwa, said so far, 9,600 bags of rice had been received from the federal government with some addition from the state government that would be distributed to the vulnerable.

Mr Akinterinwa said the distribution would be done in phases to accommodate others who would not have benefitted after the scheduled date.

He also said that the food items were meant for all ethnic groups resident in the state and the poorest of the poor.Also, the chairman palliative media sub-committee, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said distribution of the palliatives would begin on Sept. 12.

Ms Bamidele-Olateju, who is also the state Commissioner for Information, said that more advocacy would be done through the media to inform the public about the distribution of the palliatives at the local government level.

She said that arrangements had been made for shuttle buses to convey students to and from schools once they resume the 2023/2024 academic session from Sept. 18 to Dec. 31.

The commissioner said that the state government was committed to ensuring transparent distribution of the food items, urging stakeholders to cooperate to build peoples’ confidence in the process.

The local government palliative committee comprises members of the state executive council, members of the state House of Assembly, representatives of security agencies, chairmen of the 18 council areas, and traditional leaders.

Others are; the Christian Association of Nigeria at the local level, the Muslim community, two notable community leaders, civil society organisations and a local government official to serve as secretary.