The Federal Government has said that the Nigeria Air remains suspended.

During the ministerial press briefing in Abuja, marking President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo provided updates, confirming that the project remains suspended.

In 2023, the Ministry of Aviation, under Hadi Sirika, former minister, unveiled Nigeria Air three days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. https://punchng.com/sirika-under-fire-after-nigeria-airs-md-says-aircraft-hired/

The development had elicited concerns among stakeholders nationwide over the ownership arrangement which gave Ethiopian Airlines a 49 per cent equity stake.

The Federal Government had a 5 per cent equity, while a consortium of three Nigerian investors had 46 per cent.

Reacting to the deal in June 2023, the House of Representatives asked the Federal Government to suspend the operations of Nigeria Air, describing it as a fraud.

In August 2023, Keyamo announced that the national carrier project was suspended till further notice.

Keyamo said, “It remains suspended. It was never Air Nigeria. It was not Air Nigeria. That’s the truth. It was only painted Nigeria Air. It was Ethiopian Airlines trying to flag our flag.

“If it is so, why not allow our local plane to fly our flag? So nobody should dispute that it was Nigeria Air.

“Air Nigeria must be indigenous, must be wholly Nigerian, and must be for the full benefits of Nigeria, not that 50 per cent of the profit is for another country.”

Keyamo reiterated that the ownership structure of the suspended airline is not beneficial to the country.

“Nigeria Air must be indigenous, it must be only Nigeria or it must be for the full benefit of Nigeria.

“Not that 60 per cent of the profit is for another country. How does that benefit us? So It remains suspended,” he said.

A Nigerian-American man, Yomi Faparusi, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Congress to represent Tennessee’s 5th District in the upcoming elections.

The election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.

Faparusi shared his aspirations during a virtual meeting with reporters over the weekend.

He said his election victory will inspire future generations and serve as a unifying force for the country.

As a researcher, Faparusi stated that he is running for Congress because America is currently divided and weakened.

He emphasised that his victory would help unite Americans across various divides.

Highlighting the issue of hyperinflation, he noted the increasing difficulty for people to survive and the disappearing middle class, which threatens the American dream.

He stated, “America is so divided and weakened because politicians now run on divisive and wedge issues. Hence, I decided to run as a unifier, so that things could get done. I also hope my victory in November will inspire the next generation.”

“There is inflation, making it hard to make ends meet; the middle class is disappearing, and the American dream is threatened. I want to tackle inflation. I want to create an environment that is conducive to small businesses, the most important unit of job creation.

“Congress is in stalemate, and nothing is getting done. I will work across the aisle for the common good. Americans are tired of cyclical threats of government shutdowns. Immigration is in total disarray. Open borders are not a policy; it only makes it hard to have a comprehensive plan. Immigration is not only a social issue; it is a financial/economic issue: you don’t have papers; you can’t get a job.

He continued, “The reality is that most legislators would not entertain any immigration relief package unless the border is secure. Hence, we need to secure the border and get back with a bipartisan comprehensive immigration plan.

“I still have a political ideology. There is something called the advantage of incumbency, but incumbents lose, as I hope in November. The TN 5th district is ideologically diverse and it needs to be represented by someone who understands and appreciates this diversity. I will represent ALL the people, not just a partisan segment.”

He highlighted his experience as a business owner and negotiator, “I am a business owner and I know about job creation. Also, I have had to work with diverse stakeholders, hence I learned how to listen and be humble. These have allowed me to be a good negotiator in any forum. As an immigrant and now an immigration attorney, I know the practicalities of immigration,” he said.

Speaking on his agenda, he said, “My agenda is ‘I care’. I care about your concerns and I want to go to Washington to serve you. I hope that you will give me a chance to represent you, and I will always be answerable to you, my constituents. I will advocate for your concerns and needs without fear of retribution because I have placed the people above the party. In the end, everything will be okay.”

Born in the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Faparusi’s ancestral hometown is Ode-Ekiti, Gbonyin LGA, in Ekiti State.

He graduated as a medical doctor from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, where he was active in students’ union politics, serving as the Hall Chairman of Alexander Brown Hall.

Faparusi is a licensed physician and attorney based in Tennessee, focusing mostly on immigration law. He fled Nigeria during the Abacha regime to escape persecution for his involvement in agitating against military rule.

No fewer than 787 girls selected from Kwara Basic Schools on Monday received the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in Ilorin, the state capital.

The National Primary Health Care Development Agency in partnership with the Kwara State government on Monday flagged off the introduction of a free HPV vaccine against cervical cancer among school children in the state.

At the rollout of the HPV vaccine in Ilorin, the state capital, the executive director of the NPHCDA, Dr Muyi Aina, said that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally and the second most common cancer affecting women in Nigeria.

He said that a total of 787 schoolchildren were vaccinated at the flag-off.

Aina, who was represented by Sheu Hassan, said that the HPV vaccine is very important, adding that “it prevents the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and causes more than 95 per cent of cases of cervical cancer”.

He said that all eligible girls between the ages of 9-14 years across 193 wards in the 16 local government areas of Kwara State will be vaccinated against cervical cancer during the five days programme.

“I believe that together, we will achieve the goal of this exercise. At least 80% of eligible girls aged 9 to 14 years will be reached during the five-day intensification, after which the HPV vaccines will be accessed by our girls through routine immunization services in our PHC facilities.

“Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally and the second most common cancer affecting women in Nigeria. It is estimated that 604,000 cases with 342,000 deaths occurred globally in 2020, and an estimated 12,075 cases and 7,968 deaths were recorded in Nigeria”.

The NPHCDA boss, who said that the HPV vaccine is free, safe, and effective, urged stakeholders to mobilise family members, friends, and communities to ensure that all eligible girls get vaccinated.

“Let me thank and appreciate the Kwara State Government for its support in strengthening PHC in the state. I want to specially thank Her Excellency, Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq for her role in the fight against cervical cancer.

“HPV vaccines with corresponding devices and operational funds have been provided to the states to support this exercise. I must thank His Excellency, the governor of Kwara state, for his regular release of counterparts’ funds to support PHC activities, including the HPV introduction.

“Your support, that of the Governors Wives forum, wives of LGA chairmen, traditional/religious leaders, Civil Society Organizations, Women groups, media, and other relevant stakeholders remain paramount to the success of the HPVV introduction and other PHC activities.

“The NPHCDA remains committed to collaborating with the sub-national levels to strengthen routine immunisation and other PHC services for better health for all,” Aina added.

In her remarks, the wife of the Kwara State governor, Olufolake AbdulRazaq, assured of the efficacy of the vaccine, while she charged stakeholders to dispel negative rumours and misconceptions against the HPV vaccines.

“Today’s event set the tone for an ambitious, inclusive strategy to accelerate eliminating cervical cancer as a public health concern. Elimination is within the reach of all hence we in Kwara are committed to towing this path to ensure that we seize the opportunities that are within our reach now, so that our girls will live free of this disease.

“In complementing the efforts that culminated in incorporating the HPV vaccine into the National routine immunisation schedule and today’s rollout, however, I urge key stakeholders in respective communities to continue to amplify awareness and sensitization on the benefits of presenting eligible children for the vaccine.

“This no doubt will entail engagements with our communities, traditional and religious institutions to educate, inform, and dispel any misconceptions surrounding the HPV vaccine,” she added.

No fewer than 35 Palestinians have been killed and a dozen wounded following Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

The area of the attack was designated for the displaced, Palestinian health and civil emergency service officials said.

Confirming the attack, the Israeli military said its air force struck a Hamas compound in Rafah, adding that the strike was carried out with “precise ammunition and on the basis of precise intelligence.”

It said it took out Hamas’ chief of staff for the West Bank and another senior official behind deadly attacks on Israelis.

“The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited several civilians in the area were harmed. The incident is under review.”

The spokesman for the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza, Ashraf Al-Qidra, said 35 people were killed and dozens others, most of them women and children, were wounded in the attack.

The strike took place in Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah, where thousands of people were taking shelter after many fled the eastern areas of the city where Israeli forces began a ground offensive over two weeks ago.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said its field hospital in Rafah was receiving an influx of casualties, and that other hospitals also were taking in a large number of patients.

The police, on Saturday, said at least five miners have been confirmed dead during the collapse of an illegal gold mine in northern Kenya.

The collapse of the Hillo mine in Dabel area was attributed to a landslide.

Marsabit County Police Commander, Patrick Mwakio said the miners died on the spot after the debris covered them.

DAILY POST recalls that the Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, in March banned mining activities in the area after clashes led to the deaths of seven people.

The mining activities were also in violation of the law because no environmental impact assessment had been done and the tunnels were described as weak.

A driver of a Mercedes Benz Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, with two occupants were burnt to death after ramming into a stationary truck late Sunday night in Lagos.

The incident was said to have happened at Mandilas Bus Stop, Iyana Isolo, off Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

An eyewitness, Mr. Abdulfatai Wasiu, attributed the fatalities to over speeding on the part of the driver before colliding with the truck.

A male adult inside the car was severely burnt and died due to the impact of the collision.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Authourity, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, confirmed the incident.

“Upon arrival at the scene at 11:38pm, an accident involving a Mercedes Benz SUV with an unknown registration number and a truck conveying a 40 feet container was encountered.

“Preliminary investigation carried out upon arrival at the scene revealed that the SUV collided into the truck due to over speeding.

“The impact of this collision resulted in a fire outbreak from the car engine,” Oke-Osanyitolu narrated.

At least 15 people were killed as tornadoes and storms tore across central areas of the US, destroying homes and cutting power to hundreds of thousands.

Seven people were killed in northern Texas, five in Arkansas, two in Oklahoma and one in Kentucky. Scores more were injured, and almost 500,000 were without electricity across several states on Sunday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said more than a third of all counties in his state were now subject to a disaster declaration.

Sheriff Ray Sappington of Cook County, Texas, said the death toll there included two children aged two and five and three members of the same family.

“It’s just a trail of debris left,” said the sheriff of Valley View area, which was among those hardest hit by a powerful tornado.
“The devastation is pretty severe.”

Footage from the county showed a petrol station and rest stop almost completely destroyed, with twisted metal littered over damaged vehicles.

Twisters overturned lorries, shut a highway near Dallas and left tens of thousands of people without power throughout the region.

Lightning, thunder and heavy rain meanwhile forced the evacuation of around 125,000 spectators as Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 race was delayed by four hours.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, has warned that security operatives will not hesitate to enforce the law and maintain order in the state, amid the ongoing emirate tussle.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Government House, Kano, on Sunday night, Gumel revealed that “credible information” indicated miscreants are planning to unleash mayhem on key locations, including the House of Assembly.

He said this “has been verified by so many sources.”

“Anybody who wants to test the ground, the security has the capacity to deal with the miscreants. We have perfected plans to embark on serious patrols and detection on locations where we are informed the miscreants are hiding,” the CP said.

He also warned that different groups have been mobilised and paid to carry out attacks and disrupt peace, but that security operatives are ready to deal with them.

He added, “We are going to embark on a house-to-house search; anybody who feels he is stronger than the law should try it. Kano will remain safe and nobody can override the decision.

“The issue of chieftaincy affairs has been perfected by the executive arm of government. We are standing by the law and we are strictly going to enforce the existing law.”

The commissioner’s statement comes amid tensions surrounding the emirship tussle in the state after Aminu Ado-Bayero was dethroned on Thursday by the governor of the state, Abba Yusuf, and Muhammadu Sanusi II was reappointed as the 16th Emir of Kano on Friday.

The Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced the death of one of its pilgrims, Tawalkatu Busare Alako, from Jega Local Government Area.

Faruku Aliyu-Enabo, the board’s executive chairman, disclosed this in a statement in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.

He said the deceased died on Saturday after a brief illness, adding that her funeral prayer and burial took place at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram (Ka’aba) according to Islamic rites on the same day.

The chairman, on behalf of the Kebbi government, extended his heartfelt condolences to her immediate family, Kebbi pilgrims and the entire people of the state.

Mr Aliyu-Enabo prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannatul Firdaus.

A train heading to Abuja with passengers onboard got derailed in Jere, a village in Kaduna State, in the early hours of Sunday.

No death was recorded in the accident that saw three carriages of the train skid off the track.

The Nigerian Rail Corporation has yet to make an official statement on the accident. However, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed the incident in a statement.

NSIB said it was aware of the incident and that its men had been deployed to the accident scene.

“NSIB is aware of a derailment of an Abuja-bound train from Kaduna which occurred halfway into the journey at Jere,” the statement reads. ”A go team has been deployed to the site of the accident.”

Armed bandits have attacked an 18-passenger bus in Afin Akoko in the Akoko Northwest LGA of Ondo State, kidnapping four passengers, Peoples Gazette learnt.

The travellers en route to Irun through Imesi town, a border community with Ekiti and Ondo, were abducted at about 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The Gazette gathered that the victims were mostly residents of Irun and Ikare Akoko, who were returning home from an event.

A source told The Gazette on Sunday afternoon that the attack on the passenger bus was well coordinated by the bandits.

“The kidnappers waylaid the vehicle in a commando style, and some of the passengers who noticed them from afar had to force the driver to stop on motion before they escaped into the bush.

“But a few others could not escape as the armed men were already near; they took four of them away and shot directly at the vehicle,” he said.

Although the details about the kidnap case were still sketchy, it was learnt that joint security operatives have swung into action and are currently combing the bush for their release.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the spokesperson for the police in Ondo, could not be immediately reached for comments.

However, the Ondo commander of the Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, confirmed the kidnap case in a short release forwarded to The Gazette.

Mr Adeleye said officers from the local security outfit, in collaboration with the other security services, particularly the military, are now combing the bushes to rescue the abducted victims.

“The hoodlums could not kidnap the whole 18 passengers in the bus, and also some of them had to escape.

“But our men and soldiers from Ekiti are combing the forest, even though we had been able to rescue some of them yesterday night,” he said.

Burkina Faso’s military government has announced it will extend junta rule for another five years.
The country’s ruler, Capt Ibrahim Traoré, will also be able to contest the next presidential election, the state-owned broadcaster says.
When he seized power in a coup nearly two years ago, Capt Traore pledged to restore the civilian government by 1 July this year.
But Burkina Faso has now joined neighbouring Mali in extending military rule.
The move was announced on Saturday, after a national consultation meeting in the West African country’s capital city, Ouagadougou.
An amended charter, signed by Capt Traoré, states that the new 60-month transition period will take effect from 2 July this year.
“The elections marking the end of the transition may be organised before this deadline if the security situation so permits,” the Reuters news agency quoted the charter as saying.
Burkina Faso has been governed by the army since January 2022, when Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba seized power from President Roch Kaboré.
Col Damiba justified the coup by saying the previous government had failed to deal with growing militant Islamist violence.
Since 2015, jihadist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have waged a grinding insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
In September 2022, Capt Traoré ousted Col Damiba, arguing a second coup was necessary because Col Damiba was himself unable to tackle the insurgency.
Capt Traoré promised to improve the country’s dire security situation within “two to three months” and restore civilian rule within 21 months.
But since issuing the pledge, Capt Traoré has warned that elections are not “a priority” until territory is recaptured from jihadist forces so that all citizens of the country can vote.
Under the new charter, quotas will no longer be used to assign seats in the assembly to members of traditional parties, the AFP news agency reported.
Instead, “patriotism” will be the only criteria for selecting deputies.
The decisions made during Saturday’s national consultation happened swiftly. Local media reports indicated that political parties were absent at the start of the meeting.
International and human rights groups, including the European Union and UN, have accused Burkina Faso of serious human rights violations in its fight against Islamists, including the indiscriminate killings and forced disappearances of dozens of civilians.

Twelve people have been injured due to turbulence on a flight from Doha to Dublin.
The Boeing 787-9 dreamliner experienced turbulence while airborne over Turkey, the operator of Dublin Airport, the DAA, said.
Upon landing shortly before 13:00 local time, Qatar Airways flight QR017 was met by emergency services including airport police, ambulance and fire officers.
Six passengers and six crew members have reported injuries.
“The Dublin Airport team continues to provide full assistance on the ground to passengers and airline staff,” a DAA spokesperson said.
Operations at the airport are unaffected, the DAA added.
The National Ambulance Service said it received a pre-alert to attend the airport and is “currently on site facilitating and supporting the disembarkment of passengers”.

The Federal Ministry of Works has announced closure of the Oworo-bound section of the Third Mainland Bridge, from midnight of Saturday, May 25 until 6pm on Sunday, May 26.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, made the announcement in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

The controller said that the closure was to enable the ministry to carry out urgent repairs on the bridge.

Kesha, who regretted all inconveniences that the closure might cause motorists, advised them to use alternative routes

Six newborn babies have died after a fire tore through a children’s hospital in the Indian capital, with people charging into the blaze to rescue the infants, police said Sunday.

“All the 12 newborn babies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people,” senior police officer Surendra Choudhary said in a statement, but adding that when they reached medical attention, six were dead.

“Legal action is being taken against the owner of the hospital,” Choudhary said.

He did not give further details on how the children died.

In addition to the six who died, another baby among the 12 brought out of the suffocating fumes was dead before the fire began, Choudhary said, without elaborating further.

The fire broke out late Saturday in the New Born Baby Care hospital in Delhi’s Vivek Vihar area.

Delhi Fire Department Director Atul Garg said 14 fire trucks were sent to battle the blaze, he told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

“The fire spread too fast due to a blast in an oxygen cylinder,” he told PTI.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the situation “heartbreaking”.

“We all stand with those who lost their innocent children in this accident,” he said on social media.

“The causes of the incident are being investigated, and whoever is responsible for this negligence will not be spared.”

US golfer, Grayson Murray has passed away at the age of 30, according to an announcement from the PGA Tour.

Murray, a two-time PGA Tour winner, had withdrawn from the Charles Schwab Challenge on Friday due to illness after completing 16 holes in his second round.

“We are devastated and heartbroken to share that Grayson Murray passed away this morning,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Saturday.

“I am at a loss for words. The PGA Tour is a family, and losing a member of our family is profoundly painful. We mourn Grayson and extend our deepest sympathies to his loved ones.”

The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

The PGA Tour has stated that grief counsellors will be available for players at the event.

A rising star in golf, Murray had clinched three significant victories early in his career.

The reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, returned to the palace early Saturday.

A video circulating on social media reveals the moment Sanusi was driven back to the palace in a convoy.

He was reportedly accompanied by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam, and other government officials.

PUNCH Online reports that the state governor on Friday reappointed Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Sanusi, who had initially ruled as the 14th Emir, was dethroned in 2020 and replaced by the recently deposed 15th Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero when he had a fallout with the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje.

A car explosion killed one person in Damascus on Saturday, the official Syrian news agency SANA reported, without identifying the victim.

Security incidents, including blasts targeting military and civilian vehicles, occur intermittently in the capital of war-ravaged Syria.

Quoting a police official, SANA said “One person was killed when an explosive device exploded in their car in the Mazzeh district”. It did not provide any other details.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor with a network of sources on the ground, said three vehicles caught fire in the area.

The explosion comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, including the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Last month, an explosive device went off in a car in Mazzeh, an upscale neighbourhood of Damascus, without causing any casualties, SANA reported at the time.

Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in Syria since civil war broke out in 2011, targeting Iran-backed forces including Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement as well as Syrian army positions.

A deployment of soldiers has arrived at the mini-palace of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero following his dethronement by Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf on Thursday, DailyTrust reports.

Yusuf, while signing the repealed Kano Emirates Council Law, gave the deposed Emirs 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand them over.

According to Daily Trust, the other Emirs—Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero (Bichi), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa (Rano), Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar II (Karaye), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir (Gaya)—complied with the directive.

However, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero returned to Kano on Saturday.

His aircraft landed at the Aminu Kano International Airport at 4:30 am, where he was immediately greeted by supporters chanting a verse from Surah Al-Fatihah in the Holy Quran.

They chanted, “You (alone) we worship, and you (alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).”

While some others were saying, “God the Almighty will kill your enemies.”

He later observed Subhi (dawn prayer) at the airport before proceeding to the mini-palace in Nassarawa.

Reacting to Ado Bayero’s actions, Yusuf ordered his immediate arrest, accusing him of creating tension in the state.

Yusuf, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, claimed that Ado Bayero was smuggled into Kano in an attempt to return to the palace two days after his deposition forcefully.

It was observed that a team of soldiers moved into his palace at Nasarawa, where the 15th Emir is located, following the governor’s order.

Although security operatives accompanied Ado Bayero from the airport to the mini-palace, the reason for the additional troop deployment remains unclear.

The Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, accused the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, of facilitating the return of the dethroned Emir.

Gwarzo made the accusation in a short video interview at the Emir’s palace in Gidan Rumfa on Saturday.

He alleged that the NSA released two jets to bring Ado Bayero to Kano

He said, “The National Security Adviser gave two jets to bring the dethroned emir to Kano and to bring him to the place. We have not understood their intention.”

Earlier, Yusuf ordered the immediate arrest of Ado Bayero.

He said Bayero should be arrested for allegedly creating tension in the state.

The statement titled ‘Gov. Yusuf Orders Arrest of Deposed Emir of Kano Aminu Ado Bayero,’ read, “The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state.