News

NATIONAL NEWS 12-07-2021

1 year ago Editor

HIGHLIGHTS

EKWEREMADU CLAMOURS FOR RESTRUCTURING OF NIGERIA’S POLICING SYSTEM.
NAFDAC WARNS AGAINST USE OF DEADLY HAND SANITIZERS.
EMIR OF KAJURU ABDUCTORS DEMAND 200 MILLION NAIRA RANSOM.
REACTIONS OVER SOUND SULTAN’S DEATH SURGE.

ONDO/NPC

In preparation for the next census in Nigeria, the National Population Commission, NPC, Ondo state chapter, has kick-started plans to divide local government areas in the state using the Enumeration Area Demacation platform, EAD.

The state director of NPC, Olayemi Falusi, disclosed this while paying a courtesy visit to the palace of the Osemawe and paramount ruler of Ondo kingdom, his imperial majesty Oba Dr. Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo the third, CFR, to enlighten stakeholders in Ondo west of the requirement needed to make the proposed census successful.

While speaking, Falusi described the EAD exercise as a preparation stage for the census, adding that the exercise has been carried out in 16 local government areas of the state.

Also, the Federal Commmissioner of NPC in Ondo state, Prince Oladiran Iyantan, hinted that the data collated during the exercise will be used for development of the nation and other societal issues.

On his part, Chairman of Ondo west local government, Honourable Ebenezer Akinsulire, highlighted the plans his administration has put in place to support the population commission in having a successful exercise.

Commenting earlier, the Osemawe appealed to the people of Ondo west to assist coordinators of the exercise by providing details needed for the Enumeration Area Demacation, EAD, which will commence from July 25, 2021.

ONDO/PRESS RELEASE

Ondo state chapter of the League of Veteran Journalists of Nigeria has lauded the southern governors over the successful meeting held in Lagos, where crucial matters affecting the country were effectively discussed.

In a press release issued at the end of their monthly meeting held at the National Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Centre in Akure, the elder journalists stated that all decisions made by the southern governors were capable of ensuring the country’s unity.

In the release, Chairman of the league, Banji Asiwaju, and its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Yemi Adewetan, urged the federal government and the appropriate agencies affected to ensure implementation of the governors’ recommendations without delay.

Expressing concern over the complete breakdown of power in major cities of Ondo state, the league urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to look into the incessant power supply as well as the filthy situation in the state capital and the irregularity of workers’ salary which they say has become an eye-sore.

EKWEREMADU/INSECURITY

Nigeria’s policing system has failed to tackle the insecurity raging across the country.

A former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, made this known while speaking on the topic: “Nigerian state and the call for restructuring’’ at the opening of law week 2021 of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ikeja branch.

Reiterating to the inability of the current policing system to solve insecurity, Ekweremadu backed continuous calls for urgent decentralization of the police in the face of the rising wave of banditry and kidnapping across the country.

Reacting to recent agitations for rotational presidency, the former deputy senate president advocated amendment of the 1999 constitution to reflect a single-term rotational presidency of five or six years.

JEGA/ELECTRONIC VOTING

Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has joined growing controversies against the National Assembly’s screening of the Presidential Aide, Lauretta Onochie, as INEC’s national commissioner.

While featuring on a televised interview, Jega called on the assembly to apply the laws regarding the issue so as to avoid a situation whereby elections she participates in may be viewed as being biased.

One of the senior officials close to the senate panel that screened Onochie, had earlier revealed that the former presidential aide would know her fate on Tuesday, July 13, as the panel is expected to submit its report to the plenary.

Meanwhile, the former INEC boss described the 9th assembly’s decision to allow the commission to use electronic voting without the electronic transmission of results as counterproductive, insisting both must go hand in hand in bringing efficiency and transparency to the electoral system.

LAGOS/COVID-19

Lagos state government has harped on the need for Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, to prioritize every preventive measure reeled out to prevent further spread of covid-19.

Senior special assistant to the state governor on health matters, Oreoluwa Finih-Awokoya, stated this while reacting to recent reports that the state faces a potential third wave of coronavirus infections.

Awokoya therefore charged residents of the state to do all within their powers to abide by the covid-19 protocols so as to combat the deadly respiratory virus.

She further urged Nigerians to troop out enmasse to take the covid-19 vaccines, assuring that the respiratory virus can be defeated.

Governor Sanwo-olu had earlier alerted that the covid-19 cases is gradually increasing in Lagos state, warning of fines or even imprisonment for those who break rules to contain the virus.

NAFDAC/WARNIING

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has strictly cautioned Nigerians to be wary of certain hand sanitizers due to some non-acceptable ingredients used in preparing them.

NAFDAC’S director-general, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the warning is sequel to information received from the United States Food and Drug Agency, FDA, about the presence of methanol or wood alcohol in some sanitizers.

Prof. Adeyeye therefore charged Nigerians to desist from using such sanitizers due to their toxicity, stressing that methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers.

Methanol or wood alcohol is a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested and can be life-threatening with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, seizures, among others.

KADUNA/MONARCH

Abductors of the Emir of Kajuru, Alhassan Adamu, and 12 members of his family have demanded a ransom of 200 million naira to secure their release.

Spokesperson of the Kajuru emirate council, Dahiru Abubakar, made the disclosure while fielding questions from reporters.

Abubakar, who said the abductors assured the emirate that the kidnap victims are all in good condition, however urged the abductors to safely release the victims, particularly the 85-year-old monarch due to his fragile health condition.

Unknown bandits had kidnapped the monarch and 13 of his family members, including two of his grandchildren, on Sunday, July 11, in a late-night attack on Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state.

S’SULTAN/REACTIONS

Reactions from prominent Nigerians have continued to trail the demise of Multi-talented Singer, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as sound sultan, who passed on on Sunday, July 11, after a hard-fought battle with a rare kind of throat cancer.

In a condolence message sighted by newsmen, President Mohammadu Buhari lamented that sound sultan’s demise is not only a loss to the Nigerian music industry, but to the country as a whole.

Also, the Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, expressed shock and sadness over the untimely demise, describing it as a great loss not just to his family and the creative industry but to Nigeria as a whole.

Similarly, fellow musician, Ahmedu Obiabo, popularly known as Blackface expressed sadness over the artiste’s death, revealing that during his lifetime, he never drank or smoked, while innocent Idibia a.k.a 2face simply type “no”.

Meanwhile, the 44-year old deceased singer has been buried according to Islamic rites at a cemetery in New Jersey, United States, an event that was witnessed by his wife, family, colleagues and friends.

SPORTS

Vice president Yemi Osinbajo is appealing to the Nigerian team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to do their best as they represent the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians.

Osinbajo made the plea at the send-off ceremony for team Nigeria, formal handover of the Nigerian contingent to the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, and unveiling of the team’s official kit held at the state house conference hall, Abuja.

The vice president informed the athletes that their performance at the tournament would be an opportunity to immortalize themselves as each person participating in the games is opening a page in history for themselves and the entire nation.

Citing Chioma Ajunwa who won gold medal at the 1996 Olympics for long jump and became the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event, he implored the team to be motivated by the great exploits of such former Nigerian Olympians.