A staff of the communication department of Dangote Group and former energy editor with Guardian, Roseline Okere is dead.

Her death was confirmed on Monday by the editor of The Guardian newspaper, Femi Adekoya and the Chairman of the National Association of Energy Correspondents, Ugo Amadi.

Rosaline, who left the Guardian for Dangote more than six years ago died after burying her late mother, Madam Victoria Inegbonoise, in January 2023.

Speaking about her death, Amadi expressed shock over the news of her passing while commiserating with her husband and the entire family.

“A beautiful ROSE has gone to be with the Lord. What sad news! I just spoke with the husband to commiserate with the entire family. We will miss her”, Amadi said.

A 95-year-old Kenyan man on Sunday wedded his 90-year-old long-time sweetheart, six decades after they first met.

Ibrahim Mbogo was said to have walked down the aisle with Tabitha Wangui, his heartthrob, at a white wedding in a church on Sunday.

Mbogo said outside the church in Mukurweini, a town about a three-hour drive northeast of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, that they met and fell in love in 1960.

“We deliberated together and decided it would be great if we did a white wedding, we know in our Kikuyu custom that we are legally married, but since we are also Christians, we decided to do a church wedding,” he said.

The groom wore a smart grey suit and silver tie for their special day, while his new bride was dressed in a white hat with a cream brocade jacket over a white outfit.

Asked about their secret, the 90-year-old bride charged women to respect their husbands.

“You must respect your husbands, if you do that, then you will live as we have.

“Don’t do any wrong, and when you do, just apologize and seek forgiveness.”

Church service abruptly ended at the United Methodist Church in the Durumi area of the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday August 18, after congregants engaged in a serious fight.

Punch reports that the fight, which went on for hours, resulted in damage to some of the church’s property and required intervention from FCT command operatives to bring it under control.

Frantic efforts initially made by the police to stop the fight proved abortive until tear gas was released.

It was further gathered that the police locked the church, dismissed the members, and took some of the elders to the station for interrogation.

Narrating what transpired, a member of the church who spoke anonymously expressed displeasure over the conflict, saying that there had been a rift among the church elders concerning the decision to separate from their headquarters in the United States.

The member added that the conflict arose from the church headquarters legalizing practices that are foreign to Nigeria’s culture.

“Our headquarters is in America and they have legalised some practices that are not part of our culture. Some elders were of the view that we should pull out, and give the church another name. But another set of elders kicked against the move. This created a faction in the church. At a point, they wanted to go to court, but I cannot say why they did not end up going.

Today, while addressing the church during the service, our pastor announced that they would be heading to the court and expressed his wish that the church remain with the headquarters. That was what instigated the fight. I have never seen such a thing before in my life. The fight was so serious that when the police came they did not stop until they fired teargas. Some of the church elders were taken to the station for interrogation after the whole thing. “

Confirming the incident, theip FCT command police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, asked the church elders to visit his office on Monday, August 19.

Adeh said, “The CP has invited all the church elders to come to the command by 10 am tomorrow.“

An angry mob set a vehicle ablaze following a fatal accident involving the vehicle and a motorcycle on Akarigbo Road, Sabo, Sagamu, Ogun State, on Sunday, August 18.

The state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday when the driver of a Toyota vehicle with the number plate LND125VD lost control and collided with a Bajaj motorcycle, number plate FFF450VH, ridden by Friday Oni.

The force of the collision threw the commercial motorcyclist and a pedestrian into an open drainage.

The vehicle’s driver fled the scene afterwards.

The motorcyclist and the pedestrian sustained varying degrees of injury.

The unidentified pedestrian was later pronounced dead by a doctor at the hospital he was taken to.

Odutola said: “The driver of the vehicle was reportedly heading towards Kara, Sabo, Sagamu when he collided with the motorcycle rider, who simultaneously struck a pedestrian walking along the road before falling into a gutter.

“The pedestrian and the motorcycle rider, whose names are yet to be identified, were immediately rushed to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately, the pedestrian gave up the ghost at the hospital.

“The driver of the vehicle fled from the scene of the accident, but his truck was set ablaze by the irate youths, before the arrival of the policeman and other agencies who visited the scene of the accident.”

She added that the pedestrian’s body had been removed and taken to the OOUTH morgue, while the remains of the vehicle and the damaged motorcycle were recovered and transported to Sagamu for safekeeping and inspection.

A Vietnam-bound businessman, Paul Okwuy Mbadugha, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine.

The 54-year-old suspect was intercepted at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Monday 12th August 2024 during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha. After four days under excretion observation, Mbadugha excreted a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.710 kilograms.

In his confessional statement, Mbadugha claimed he’s a Lagos based businessman and was given the cocaine pellets to swallow by a friend at the Isolo area of the state for onward delivery in Vietnam for a fee of $2,000.

In the same vein, NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have intercepted a shipment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 800 grams concealed in noodles going to Congo. A follow up operation at the Alaba International market, Ojo area of Lagos led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Nnamani Sunday Sunny, who deals in GSM handsets.

Meanwhile, a large consignment of Loud imported from Canada have been recovered by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport. A suspect, Desalu Taophic Temitope, who arrived on board an Air France flight with six boxes was arrested by anti-narcotic officers during a joint examination by security agencies at the arrival hall.

A total of 65.80 kilograms of the psychoactive substance were recovered from four of the six suitcases. In his statement, Desalu said he and an accomplice currently at large were promised $10,000 upon successful delivery of the shipment in Lagos.

No less than Eight Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand Four Hundred (892,400) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth Six Billion Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N6,246,800,000.00) in street value were recovered from five containers by NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state during a joint examination of the containers with men of the Nigeria Customs and other port stakeholders on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th August 2024. The bottles of the opioid were packed in 5,337 cartons with a gross weight of 133,860 kilograms and shipped in five containers from India.

Kebbi State governor’s wife, Nafisa Idris, has distributed N4 million, bags of rice and fertiliser to 400 less privileged people in the state.

While distributing the cash and items in Gwadangwaji, Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, Mrs Idris, said the gesture was aimed at cushioning the effects of hardship experienced by the people in the state.

She said, “The donation was organised under my foundation, Nafisa Nasiru Charity Development Foundation. Over 400 less privileged people will benefit from N4 million cash and 300 bags of 10kg rice and 100 bags of fertiliser. The beneficiaries comprised 300 women and 100 youths; the women will receive N10,000 each and a bag of 10kg rice while each youth will get N10,000 cash and a bag of fertiliser.’’

She commended her husband, Governor Nasir Idris, for his support and contribution in actualising the aims and objectives of her project.

The governor’s wife, however, urged the beneficiaries to use the items for the benefit of their families.

Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Zayyyanu Aliyu, thanked the wife of the governor for the gesture.

He assured that they would use the items donated judiciously to help their families.

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday inaugurated the newly built Mushin Red Line flyover.

According to Mr Sanwo-Olu, the economic value of the Mushin and Onipanu area will experience a major turnaround with the inauguration of the rail infrastructure.

The Mushin flyover is the last of the five overpasses built along the Red Line corridor.

The project, undertaken by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, has brought traffic relief to motorists and commuters connecting Agege Motor Road from Onipanu.

It has solved congestion and delays associated with railway level crossing at the Ogunmokun axis.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said, “The Mushin overpass is strategically important for ease of movement and connectivity within Mushin and Onipanu communities, opening new routes to Agege Motor Road, Post Office Road, and Ogunmokun axis. This infrastructure has brought not only traffic improvement but also huge economic value to the area. With this new infrastructure, we have ensured there is minimal disruption on the Red Line corridor. For us, we have kept our promise to the citizens and made their lives better. The quality of infrastructure we have provided is about making the lives of our citizens better, improving their means of livelihood and quality of life.’’

The governor said that though houses were affected during the demolition of structures to give way for the bridge, all affected persons were duly compensated.

He stated, “We compensated everyone, that’s why there’s no disagreement whatsoever, and we are glad that everyone is thriving. We’re keeping our promises. The benefit is to our citizens. This is not a toll bridge. We work 24/7 in Lagos State. Thank you very much. It’s now my honour to declare open this overpass, Mushin Overpass, for the use and for the benefit of our citizens in Lagos and to the glory of God.

Mr Sanwo-Olu also said that a journey of 30 minutes can now be achieved in seven minutes thereby saving man hours and travel time.

He said, “It will save economic time, instead of going far to make a turn, time management is a valuable asset. This is not a bridge in which you need to pay anything. This is public goods in action by the government. This is public funds being put together by the government, and it enhances and improves the total quality of life for our citizens.”

He expressed gratitude to residents of the areas, as well as LAMATA, and the engineering company that did the job in good time.

Mr Sanwo-Olu described the success of the construction of the bridge as a testament to the promise made and delivered.

The Lagos Rail Mass Transit Red Line spans 37 kilometres from Agbado to Oyingbo.

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, applauded residents, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the state House of Assembly and the state government for their support and cooperation during the construction of the flyover pass bridge.

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, has commiserated with the victims of the recent flood disaster in the Gummi Local Government Area of the state and promised immediate support.

The flood was caused by a downpour in Gummi town and some communities, which resulted in the death of 10 people and the destruction of over 500 houses.

Gummi is one of the local government areas in the state announced by the National Emergency Management Agency to experience heavy flooding in the 2024 rainy season.

In a statement on Saturday by the Senior Special Assistant to Mr Lawal, Sulaiman Idris, it noted that the governor expressed deep concern and sympathy for the Gummi flood victims.

“I received sad news about the flooding in some parts of the Gummi local government area,” Mr Idris quoted Mr Lawal as saying.

The statement indicated, “The governor described the disaster as unfortunate and worrisome. I have been in contact with the relevant authorities, leaders, and elders in the local government since the unfortunate incident. I immediately sent a delegation from the Zamfara State Government to the local government to assess the situation and provide immediate relief support to the victims. My government is committed to taking all the necessary measures to prevent future occurrences of such sad incidents. All hands will be on deck to ensure that victims of the flooding receive the necessary support they may require.’’

A block of 39 open shops at the Kaura Modern Market in Abuja was completely destroyed by fire late Friday night, following an electrical spark that ignited a devastating blaze.

The fire, which began around 11 pm, raged for several hours before it was brought under control at approximately 2am on Saturday by a combined team of firefighters from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service (FFS).

According to MT Ibrahim, the spokesman for the FCT Fire Service, the fire was triggered by an electrical spark on a power changeover device installed in one of the shops.

The presence of a generator filled with petrol inside the shop where the fire originated exacerbated the situation, leading to a rapid spread of the flames.

Items lost in the fire included foodstuffs, generators, refrigerators, fruits, umbrellas, electrical appliances, household items, and parts of the market’s roof.

Engr. Adebayo Zacchaeus, the Acting Director of the FCT Fire Service, commended the firefighters for their swift and coordinated efforts in extinguishing the blaze.

The incident added to the growing concern over fire safety in markets across the country, particularly those with inadequate electrical installations and the improper storage of flammable materials.

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), on Sunday, said some retirees are still receiving N500 as a monthly pension in the country.

Alhassan Musa, the Secretary of the union in Kaduna State, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the condition of the returnees as “pathetic”.

He said that most of the affected retirees were in precarious conditions, adding that, “they sacrificed their lives and services for the nation.

“The worst affected are pensioners in most of the Southern and oil producing states in spite of getting fat allocations from the federation account.

“The condition of pensioners in some Northern states and the FCT are far better, as some of them received between N3,500 and N18,000 monthly pension”.

Musa, who is also the NUP scribe in charge of the 19 Northern states and the North-West, however, said that only retirees in Kaduna State were earning N30,000 minimum pension monthly.

The secretary recalled that the Kaduna state government in 2020 implemented N30,000 minimum pension during the administration of Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i.

He, therefore, advocated for a 50 per cent upward review of the minimum pension, to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the retirees.

This, he said, is necessary considering the socio-economic realities in the country.

“The union proposed a 50 per cent increment even under the defunct N30,000 national minimum wage.

“We are anticipating that the 50 per cent increment would be approved in line with the new N70,000 national minimum wage.

*Even under the Federal Government, some pensioners are receiving N10,000 minimum pension.

“We are hoping that the federal government will balance it up so that no pensioner will receive less than N70,000 as his/her monthly pension.

“Let pensioners also enjoy the same benefits the workers are enjoying.

“If a worker is receiving N70,000 minimum salary, so, let the pensioner enjoy the same,” he said, adding that the monthly minimum pension should be at par with the new national minimum wage.

Musa also urged Gov. Uba Sani to emulate El-Rufa’i by being the first governor to implement the N70,000 minimum pension.

He added that workers who retired under the contributory pension system were facing formidable challenges.

Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Saturday said the IgboMustGo agitation is a direct incitement of terrorism and genocide.

Ejimakor, however, noted that self-determination is not.

Posting on X, Ejimakor charged the Nigerian government to stop what he termed the unfair trial of Kanu.

He also called for the release of Kanu and all prisoners of conscience.

According to Ejimakor: “FACT: #IgboMustGo is a direct & clear incitement of terrorism & genocide. #SelfDetermination is not.

“Halt the #UnfairTrial and #FreeMNK & all prisoners of conscience. It’s simply the right thing to do & it’s long overdue. Vox Populi, Vox Dei.”

An X user had announced plans to force Igbos to exit Lagos State under the banner IgboMustGo.

The user claimed that a protest would be staged from August 20 to 30 to this effect.

But Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had condemned the planned protest while calling for unity.

The Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has ordered the arrest of a cleric, Venerable Oke Olarewaju, for committing contempt of court by failing to appear to defend himself against an alleged criminal offense.

According to the charge by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, Venerable Oke Olarewaju faces two counts of disobeying a lawful order issued by the Ekiti State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, which directed him to abate offensive odors and discomfort caused by the illegal rearing of a poultry farm within a residential area.

Additionally, Venerable Oke Olarewaju of All Saints Anglican Church, Off Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti, is alleged to have committed noise pollution and caused offensive odors from his poultry farm, which led to discomfort for residents of the area and posed a risk to public health.

The charge further states that the cleric committed an offense contrary to Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The presiding magistrate, Afunso Saka, after hearing the application from the complainant’s counsel, ordered that Venerable Oke be arrested and brought to court on the 20th of this month, which is the next sitting on the matter.

The Presidency is aware of failed attempts by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., to take over offshore assets of Nigeria through subterfuge.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, said Zhongshan misled the Judicial Court in Paris into attaching Nigeria’s presidential jets in its judgment against the Ogun State government.

He faulted the use of the presidential jets which were on routine maintenance in France.

According to him, the presidential jets are assets of a Sovereign entity protected by diplomatic immunity, which forbids any foreign court from issuing an order against them.

“We are convinced the Chinese company misled the Judicial Court of Paris regarding the use and nature of the assets it seeks to attach and did not fully disclose to the court as required by law,” he said.

He said the Federal Government was not under any contractual obligation with the Chinese company.

“The case in which Zhongshan is trying to use every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets is between the company and the Ogun State government.The Federal Government is fully aware of efforts being made by the Ogun State government to reach an amicable resolution on the matter,” said Mr Onanuga.

He said the company had no solid ground to demand restitution from the Ogun State government based on the facts regarding the 2007 contract between the company and the state government to manage a free-trade zone.

He said that when the contract with Ogun State was revoked in 2015, the company had only erected a perimeter fence on the land earmarked for a free trade zone.

According to him, while the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was working with the Ogun State government on an amicable resolution, Zhongshan obtained two orders from the Judicial Court of Paris.

He said the court orders were dated March 7, and August 12, but no notice was duly served on the Federal Government of Nigeria and Ogun State government.

“This arm-twisting tactic by the Chinese company is the latest in a long list of failed moves to attach Nigerian government-owned assets in foreign jurisdictions,” Mr said Onanuga.

He said unscrupulous and questionable individuals were falsely presenting themselves as investors with the sole objective of undercutting and scamming governments in Africa.

He said the same Chinese company had tried to enforce its questionable judgment in the UK and USA but failed.

He was emphatic that foreign companies were trying to defraud Nigeria with the collaboration of some bureaucrats.

“Zhongshan appeared to have sold the judgment they got to a venture capitalist seeking to make money by embarrassing the Federal Government and President Bola Tinubu. We want to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government is working with the Ogun government to discharge this frivolous order in Paris immediately. The Nigerian government will always work to protect our national assets from predators and shylocks who masquerade as investors,” said Mr Onanuga.

The contract between Ogun State and Zhongshan to manage a free-trade zone was executed in 2007.

The parties entered into a dispute in 2015, and arbitration began in 2016.

By 2019, the arbitration hearing had been concluded.

The Arbitral Panel awarded over 60 million dollars against the Federal Government of Nigeria, a co-defendant, when all Zhongshan had done was to build a perimeter fence around the free-trade zone.

Based on legal advice, the Ogun State government resolved to resist the enforcement of the award.

The resistance was successful in eight different jurisdictions. There are pending appeals against recognition orders issued in both the US and UK.

Ogun State also engaged Zhongshan in settlement discussions on reasonable terms.

The last meeting, held in September 2023 in London, was attended by several officials of Ogun, including Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

Zhongshan’s initial reasonable readiness to consider Ogun State’s offer was surprisingly reversed by the second day when it insisted on the government paying the full arbitration debt.

This led to a breakdown of the mediation, with parties agreeing to meet again in the first quarter of this year.

But Mr Onanuga said since then, Zhongshan has been evasive.

“Instead, it embarked on a series of enforcement proceedings, which the legal team appointed by the Federal Government and Ogun State successfully opposed. In cases similar to the present one, where Zhongshan obtained an ex-parte order, Ogun State successfully set aside the orders. Ogun State has not given up on a reasonable settlement option, with the most recent letter sent to Zhongshan last week. Zhongshan only responded after obtaining this latest illegal order,” said Mr Onanuga.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it had destroyed a road bridge of strategic importance in Russia on Saturday amid its offensive in the Kursk region.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk published a video on a Telegram channel showing the bombing of a bridge, in what experts say is likely to be genuine.

The video showed the structure over the Seim River in the Glushkovo district in ruins, destroying a crucial supply route for Russian troops.

Russia earlier reported that the bridge had been destroyed.

It had been shelled by Ukrainian forces for days during the incursion, which was launched on August 6.

Oleshchuk confirmed that the Air Force is actively participating in the combat operations of the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.

“Ukrainian pilots carry out precision strikes against enemy strongholds, against gatherings of equipment and against the enemy’s logistics centres and supply routes,” said the commander.

“Thanks to the pilots and everyone who supports the Air Force’s fight,” Oleshchuk added.

Ukraine’s unprecedented ground offensive in the Kursk area comes amid Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion, which was launched in February 2022.

Kiev is seeking to force Moscow into negotiations to end the war.

The Kursk governor, Alexey Smirnov, reported the destruction of the bridge on Friday.

Russian military bloggers said on Telegram the bridge was first shelled with the U.S.-made rockets and then destroyed by a strike with a glide bomb.

They also said two volunteers in a car had been killed while trying to bring people to safety during shelling earlier.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed Ukraine for using Western weapons to destroy civilian infrastructure in the Kursk region.

She vowed that those responsible for “this inhumane conduct” would be punished.

The death from an Israeli airstrike on an area in southern Lebanon has risen to 10, among them two children, the Lebanese Health Ministry and state-media said on Saturday.

The ministry said those killed were mostly Syrian nationals.

The raid hit a brick mill on the outskirts of the northern town of Al-Kafour in the Natabtiyeh district.

Earlier reports from the area said it was a residential building.

It said among the dead was the caretaker of the mill who is a Syrian national and his whole family.

Five others were injured in the Israeli strike, the ministry said in a statement, adding that some were in critical condition.

The Israeli army said the air force had attacked a Hezbollah militia weapons depot in the Nabataea area.

The military also struck with artillery to eliminate a threat in other areas of southern Lebanon, the army said.

The report that civilians were injured as a result of the strike was under review, the Israeli army said.

On Friday, at least one person was killed and another wounded in an Israeli strike that hit the village of Aitaroun in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement said that one of its fighters was killed, but did not say when or where.

The Israeli army said the place it hit in the Aitaroun area was a military structure in which Hezbollah terrorists were operating.

Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel have been engaged in daily firefights since the Gaza war began in October.

More than 120 civilians have been killed, most of them on the Lebanese side.

The federal government has unveiled the Customs, Excise Tariff Variation Order 2024 to boost food security and reduce inflation.

It announced this in a statement signed by a finance ministry spokesman, Mohammed Manga, on Thursday.

Finance minister Wale Edun signed the regulation to provide a framework for implementing the Customs, Excise Tariffs Order 2024.

“In a bid to tackle food price inflation and stimulate domestic agricultural growth, the Federal Government has introduced the regulation for implementation of the Customs, Excise Tariff, Etc. Variation Order 2024,” Mr Edun said.

According to the minister, the move aims to control and reduce food price inflation by waiving levies, duties, value-added taxes and tariffs payable on the importation of basic food items.

Mr Edun also mentioned that with these regulations, Nigeria was poised to witness a significant reduction in food price inflation, increased investment in the agricultural sector and enhanced food security.

The minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for economic growth, and this regulation was a testament to that commitment.

Mr Edun urged eligible companies to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the country’s food security and economic development.

Aviation workers are set to stage a nationwide strike on August 21, 2024, in protest against the Federal Government’s continued deduction of 50 per cent from the internally generated revenue of key aviation agencies.

But the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority called for caution, stating that embarking on strike in the sector would disrupt flight activities nationwide.

The unions made their decision known in a letter dated August 14, 2024, titled, “Save Aviation From Collapse”, and released to journalists on Thursday.

The affected agencies in the sector include the NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Meteorological Services Agency, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau.

“All workers of the NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, NiMet, NCAT, and NSIB, joined by the solidarity of all aviation workers, are hereby directed to embark on peaceful protests at all airports nationwide on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 to demand the discontinuation of deduction of 50 per cent from the internally generated revenue of the agencies mentioned above through exemption.

“All efforts on our part have failed to impress upon the Federal Government that all the agencies are cost recovery and not profit-making organisations. As such they cannot survive on half of their incomes under any model of administration or any other guise whatsoever,” the stated.

The unions warned that critical safety activities within these agencies were already being compromised due to the financial strain imposed by the deductions. They cautioned that they would not be held responsible if the aviation industry becomes dysfunctional due to these financial constraints.

“Information available to us indicates that some important safety critical activities of the agencies are grinding to a halt under the yoke of the deductions.

“It has therefore become incumbent on us as trade unions and workers in aviation to let the public and the government be aware that we shall bear no responsibility in the certain event that the industry becomes dysfunctional as a result of financial incapacity due to the deductions at source,” they stated.

In preparation for the protest, the unions have directed all state councils, women’s commissions, youth councils, and branches of their unions nationwide to fully mobilise and ensure widespread participation.

But the NCAA issued a warning that an upcoming strike could severely disrupt airport operations nationwide.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at NCAA, Michael Achimugu,spoke about the potential impact of the protest, highlighting the risks to operations if aviation service providers decide to go on strike.

“If service providers go on strike automatically our operations will be affected. Who will service the airlines in that place?” Achimugu said.

He also said the unions had provided ample notice of the protest and expressed hope that the aviation minister would engage in dialogue to address the unions’ concerns.

“I believe that they have given ample notice. And I’m sure that the minister would be in conversation. The essence of the strike is to disrupt activities,” he stated.

The Forum Secretary of the Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum, Nnadi Hector, said the protest is meant to bring the attention of the government to the detrimental effects these deductions have on the safety and functionality of the aviation industry.

“Several times we have met with the minister. It is not a protest against President Bola Tinubu. It is a protest to draw their attention. There is nothing like Nigerian aviation. Aviation is a global sector, and we have global standards that regulate us,” Hector said.

The Imo State Police Command has paraded a 23-year-old Elijah Chigemezu who specializes in snatching phones from unsuspecting victims at gunpoint.

Also arrested were 27-year-old John Chukwudi a native of Ntu in Ngor-Okpala LGA Imo State and one Chibeze Tasie, 32, who was arrested at Naze.

In a release from the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, he said that the arrest of the suspects was effected by the operatives of Nekede Divisional Headquarters through intelligence-led operation and painstaking investigation.

He also stated that the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects is a confirmation of the command’s resolve and unalloyed determination to bring crime to its minimum point in the state.

“One of the suspects, John Chukwudi, ‘m’, 27yrs, a native Ntu in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State was arrested on August 14, 2024 while on intelligence-led patrol with the local vigilantes, along Human Race Hospital Road, Nekede.

“Recovered from him include one locally made pistol and five rounds of live cartridges.

“On interrogation, he confessed to being a member of the black axe confraternity cult group and stated that the gun was given to him by a member of his syndicate, Ugochukwu Ndubuisi, aka Dimzi Gate, who is at large,” Okoye stated.

On the arrest of Elijah, who is a native of Ezzamgbo in Ebonyi State, the Police spokesperson stated that he was apprehended on August 11, 2024, along Cluster Road, Naze, in the very act of dispossessing a young man his phone and personal belongings at gunpoint and was arrested following a swift response to a distress call by police operatives in synergy with the military.

“Recovered from him is one locally made gun as he confessed to the crime upon interrogation,” he stated.

The arrest of Chibieze Tasie at No 1 Naze, according to Okoye, was effected following a thorough investigation into a reported case of motorcycle snatching in Nekede and upon interrogation, he confessed to having conspired with one Ndubisi, ‘m’ who is now at large to snatch motorcycles from unsuspecting motorcyclists in Nekede axis.