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The presidency has reacted to a recent report of President Bola Tinubu’s failure to preside over the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting since August.

According to presidential media aide, Abdullaziz Abdullaziz, President Tinubu has other priorities other than convening FEC meetings on a weekly basis.

“I think this is not an issue because there is no specific time for FEC meetings. Nobody said there are specific provisions for FEC meetings and every government can work out things that will suit it. The most important thing is that ministers are working,” Abdullaziz said.

“In fact, the president has a different idea of the functions of the FEC because what we have seen, which a lot of experts have criticized, is how FEC reacts to contract awarding, but that is not the principle of FEC.

“He (the president) will hold the FEC, but those policy advisory and supervision kinds of functions, not the traditional way of coming every week announcing contract awards.

“There is more to FEC than contract award and the most important thing is that cabinet is in check and minsters are busy working and there is a consultation with the president. So, lack of FEC meeting doesn’t stop anything,” he said.

Some motorists along the Mowe-Ibafo area have expressed concerns over the rising cases of corpses being dumped along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The motorists expressed fear of disease outbreak and the security threat that such recurring issue may pose to them.

On the Mountain Top University axis of the road observed that there was a corpse with burnt scars wrapped in a blue fabric and tied with rope dumped along the roadside.

It was also gathered that there was another corpse dumped opposite the university on Tuesday while there was a similar case recently.

A motorist who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity for fear of being interrogated by the police urged security agents to beam their searchlight on the area.

 “I think the corpse was dumped overnight but I cannot ascertain it because it was the odour oozing from that axis that attracted attention to it. It means that this place is not safe, especially at night,” he said.

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Another motorist who identified himself simply as Rasheed, noted that the decomposing corpse posed a threat to road users if not evacuated quickly.

 “The odour coming from the dead body is not good at all and it can cause health issues if not urgently taken away,” he said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, Omolola Odutola, advised residents to always report such incidents to the Divisional Police Officer in their area while noting that she had informed the nearest police point for necessary action.

“When they observe such a situation, they should report to the nearest police station. The police cannot act when they are not informed, so people should endeavour to always inform their DPO of such issues. The problem is that most times we may not be aware of a missing person unless their family comes to report such,” she said.

When contacted for possible action on evacuating the body, the Chairman, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Lanre Ogunsola, asked our correspondent to send a message but he had yet to respond to the message as of the time of filing this report.

Ahead of the November 11 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, some stakeholders in the State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have mocked the party’s governorship standard-bearer, Chief Timipre Sylva, for naming himself the Director General of the Campaign Council.

Reacting to the constitution and inauguration of the campaign council, the stakeholders and chieftains of the party under the auspices of Bayelsa APC Integrity Group, said the development has vindicated the group which had accused the party Sylva of running a one-man show in the party.

The reaction by the group is contained in a statement signed on Thursday by its coordinator, Chief Ebipadeowei Oyinkuro.

The group recalled that only a few years ago, APC was not only in the heart and mouth of the people of Bayelsa State but was also at the commanding height of goodwill in the State, regretting that weeks to the forthcoming election, all that had evaporated.

The statement read: “The party not only appears to be going into battle with its flanks wide open, but it is deep in tatters and also showing signs that it requires oxygen.

“Well-regarded and influential members of the party in the state who could rightly be described as the first and best 11 have all turned their backs against Chief Sylva.

Many other party stalwarts who never set out from the onset to be dissidents are also openly pitching their tent with the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Douye Diri.

“They are angry over the high-handedness of Chief Sylva and for conducting himself as if the APC in the state is his personal estate.

“His governorship ambition comes across to them like an entitled birthright. Nothing better tells the story other than the fact that Chief Sylva is both a Gubernatorial Candidate and Chairman of his own campaign.

“His cousin, Chief Dennis Otiotio, who is the state Chairman of the Party is Alternate-Chairman, while the running mate, Joshua Macaiver is the co-chairman. The majority of the rest of the campaign council are from Sylva’s circle.”

A Rivers’ woman identified as Hope Nwala is on the run after allegedly bathed her husband, Ekelediri Nwankwo Nwala with a hot groundnut oil over a minor disagreement.

The incident happened at Okehi community in Etche Local government Area of Rivers State.

According to reports, Mrs Hope Nwala poured the hot groundnut oil on her husband while he was asleep.

Blessing Okon: Homeless mother of one duped by housing agent is dead

It was gathered that the couple had been having some domestic squabbles before the tragic incident.

The victim, Mr. Nwankwo who is still battling for life said he told his wife’s younger sister to leave their house for dressing indecently, which his wife refused.

He added that while he went to sleep his wife attacked him and bathed him with hot oil.

“I had told my wife’s younger sister to leave my house because of the way she has started dressing, and the way she occupies my matrimonial bed even when I am around, no young guy will tolerate such behaviour, but my wife has refused the younger sister to leave the house.

“I also saw my wife alone with one tall black guy in the shop I rented for her, not that he is in for business, he followed my wife and sister here and there, with all these, I gave that her younger sister two thousand naira transport to go home so that I can actually understand what is going on in my house, but my wife got upset, while I went to bed to sleep, she used boiled groundnut oil on me, then start hitting me with harmer,” he said.

Although the State Police Command is yet to comment on the matter at press time, but we gathered, the incident has been reported to the Okehi Divisional Police Headquarters in Etche

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji–Ojo, on Wednesday reiterated the need for the Federal Fire Service (FFS) to undergo a transformative rebranding and expansion of its responsibilities.

He said this at the Commissioning of Firefighting Trucks and Ford Rapid Response Vehicles at the Federal Fire Service headquarters, Garki, Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo said once signed by the President Bola Tinubu, a proposed fire and rescue service bill will play a key role in Nigeria’s national development.

The proposed rebranding of the Fire Service as the Federal Fire and Rescue Service seeks a shift in focus towards comprehensive risk assessment and a commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

“The Federal Fire Service, very soon when the bill on fire and rescue service is assented, we will play a major role in our national development. For any country to attain its potential, the position of fire service cannot be taken for granted. I say this to the FFS, you are a sleeping giant. The time to wake up to your responsibility is now,” he said.

The minister added, “Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest economies. This means that for us as a people, we cannot continue to neglect the issue of fire service. My personal opinion, as well as my position as a minister of the interior, is that the fire service should be and will be a major employer in Nigeria.

“Beyond just considering our barriers, we need to realize that the ideas we possess transcend any obstacles we might encounter during our development. I said this when I visited the Fire Academy, it is time for the fire service to rise up to a higher responsibility.

“Your responsibility isn’t just about combating fire. Your duty includes forecasting danger, and we need to transition from an era of corrective activities to an era of a proactive approach, leading to preventive measures that can save us billions of lives.

“As your minister, I don’t want to just value the number of buildings saved from fire. Rather, I want to see the effectiveness of your preventive measures. Your responsibilities go beyond firefighting; they encompass rescue management. You are supposed to be, and must be, the first respondent during emergencies. Your responsibilities extend beyond fire management to protecting lives, and properties, and rescuing people during emergencies such as accidents, road traffic collisions, and even natural disasters. These remain part of your duty,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo added that the agency is expected to start collecting information, assessing risks, and protecting the health and safety of workers in their line of duties.

Five unnamed police officers in Lagos State have been summoned to the headquarters for alleged unprofessional conduct.

This was disclosed by the spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, on Wednesday.

An X (formerly Twitter) user, 99% Oppressed @PIDOMNIGERIA, had in a post alleged that a young man in a red Toyota Corolla was driving out of a filling station after buying fuel at Ijede Road in the Ikorodu area of the state on Wednesday when some police officers tried to double-cross him.

The poster alleged the police officers opened fire on the young man inside the filling station.

A video shared under the post showed that the red Corolla car had some of its parts damaged.

“This happened a few minutes ago, at Ijede Road Ikorodu Gbaga bus stop, at about 11:10 am,” 99% Oppressed said with an accompanying video.

“The young man in the red Corolla just bought fuel from the filling station and was driving out when this criminal police team tried to double cross him with their unmarked tinted glass Korope bus. He tried to reverse back out of fear, but the next thing they opened fire on him right inside the filling station.

“Even with a petrol tanker inside the station. The people around felt they had killed the driver so they trooped out to confront the police team in anger. The next thing the rogue police team bolted away when they saw the crowd, and realized they were being recorded.

“@BenHundeyin you must unmask these criminals and bring them to book. They wore face masks, caps, and glasses just to disguise themselves because they knew they were on illegal duty. The young man would just been wasted for nothing, because of their rascality if not for God. They destroyed his car and ran away.

“The entire area would have been on flames if the bullet had penetrated that fuel tanker.”

But reacting, Hundeyin said the officers had been identified and summoned to the headquarters for further investigation.

He, however, said that preliminary investigation suggests the driver of the car drove out of the filling station, driving against traffic when the policemen saw him and tried to stop him.

According to him, upon sighting the officers, the said driver reversed back into the filling station, adding that the scratches on the car as well as the cracks on the windscreen were allegedly a result of the Corolla hitting a parked trailer while in reverse.

“The five men led by an ASP, all serving at Area N, Ijede, have been identified and summoned to the headquarters for further investigation and necessary actions.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the driver of the red Corolla with registration number JJJ685GD headed out of the petrol station, driving against traffic. The policemen saw him and attempted to stop him. Upon sighting the officers, the Corolla driver drove in reverse back into the petrol station. All the scratches on the car and cracks on the windscreen allegedly emanated from the Corolla hitting the parked trailer while in reverse.

“The officers were confronted by an irate crowd as the incident escalated. In their bid to prevent further confrontation with the already charged crowd, they left the scene,” Hundeyin said via his X handle @BenHundeyin.

“A detailed investigation is being launched into the incident to ascertain the extent of unprofessionalism of the police officers. The driver of the vehicle and eyewitnesses are encouraged to give useful information, physically or electronically through our various channels.

“The public will be kept updated on the progress of the investigation,” he added.

The National Primary Health Care Department Agency (NPHCDA) says 20 persons have been confirmed dead of the 156 cases of Diphtheria in the State.

The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr Faisal Shuaib, who is also Co-Chair of the Federal Task Team on Diphtheria, made the disclosure during an assessment visit to Kaduna on Wednesday.

Shuaib said they were at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, to assess the situation of the diphtheria outbreak that affected part of the State.

According to Shuaib, Kaduna is ranked among the seven states with the highest number of diphtheria, saying that they were at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where mild to moderate cases are being attended to before being admitted to the infectious disease hospitals.

The Executive Director noted that since March, when the diphtheria outbreak was detected in Kaduna, 156 cases and about 20 deaths were recorded.

He said, “There is also a need for the media to step up in creating awareness and providing useful information to the public about the existence of the disease.”

He stressed the need for patients to be presented early, assuring that diphtheria is a preventable disease.

He said that about 80 per cent of those afflicted by the disease did not present themselves for vaccination.

He noted that vaccines were the most powerful tools against vaccine-preventable diseases.

While acknowledging the state government’s efforts in combating the disease, he encouraged the people to wear nose masks, especially when visiting health facilities.

He hailed the efforts of the Chief Medical Director of the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and the State’s Primary Health Care Board

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new and returning Chief Executives to fresh terms in office across multiple agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that the appointments were announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.

They are:

1. Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) – Aminu Maida
2. Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) – Nkechi Egerton-Idehen
3. Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) – Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi
4. National Commissioner/CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) – Dr. Vincent Olatunji
5. Postmaster General/CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) – Tola Odeyemi

Additionally, the president has approved the appointment of a new Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy, Idris Alubankudi.

The full statement reads:

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE COMMUNICATIONS, INNOVATION, AND DIGITAL ECONOMY SECTORS

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new and returning Chief Executives to fresh terms in office across multiple agencies under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy:

(1) EVC / CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) — Aminu Maida

(2) MD / CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) — Nkechi Egerton-Idehen

(3) DG / CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) — Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi

(4) National Commissioner / CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) — Dr. Vincent Olatunji

(5) Postmaster General / CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) — Tola Odeyemi

Furthermore, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s determination to maximally leverage on Nigeria’s proven technological and digital economic prowess to reposition the nation’s economy toward greater financial inclusion, the President has approved the appointment of a new Special Adviser to the President.

Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy — Idris Alubankudi

By this directive of the President, the above-mentioned appointments take immediate effect.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 11, 2023