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As the crisis in Sudan rages on, the federal government has assured the safe evacuation of willing Nigerians following safety by Sudanese Government and safe passage of Nigerians by road.

Meanwhile Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, says the federal government is working assiduously to ensure the safe evacuation of Nigerians in Sudan.

Onyeama spoke during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday.

The minister said about 5,500 Nigerians are in Sudan and over 80 percent of them are students.

He said unlike other countries trying to evacuate their diplomatic staff first, Nigeria would want diplomatic staff to coordinate the evacuation of its citizens.

Speaking on the efforts made by the government, the minister said the major goal was to get the approval of the Sudanese government to undertake the long convoy and also provide security.

He said the Sudanese government has been reached for authorisation.

“We have been working round the clock for the last two days to try and get the Nigerians out. You know, first of all, of course, we have an embassy there. So that’s already a good thing,” Onyeama said.

We’ve told them to put up a platform, where all the Nigerians in Sudan can, you know, log into and information will be available and to coordinate the process. Obviously, what you need in a situation like this is a place where everybody can congregate before you start moving them out.

“The only viable way out is by road. And of course, it’s not safe. So we are going to require the government to provide some security and a safe corridor out.

And our situation is particularly challenging because the numbers are so great. Now, you know, we’ve heard that the US and some other European countries have started evacuating, but they’ve been evacuating the diplomatic staff. They haven’t been able to start evacuating their citizens there.

“We can’t evacuate all our diplomatic staff at the moment because they need to also coordinate the evacuation of all those students. So we’re going to also evacuate them.

“So essentially, where we are at the moment is trying to get the authorisation from the Sudanese government to undertake this long convoy journey and for them to provide some security.

“We don’t want to expose our citizens to that danger as well. So we’re doing everything we can to get the requisite approval from the Sudanese government at the very highest level.

“So we are not going to stop at that, we are going to keep on the options available to us. The Egyptian border is closed. Port Sudan is another place where we understand that some of the international diplomatic people have been congregating and the Ethiopian border.”

Violent clashes between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have killed over 400 people, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The crisis rocking the leadership of Labour party in Nigeria may soon be a thing of the past as the two faction led by Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa agreed to an out of court settlement on Thursday rising from a court sitting in Abuja.

Recall that seven members of the party’s National Working Committee has invaded the secretariat where they announced the appointment of the National Vice Chairman (South), Lamidi Bashir Apapa, as Acting National Chairman.

In his maiden address, Apapa said his appointment was part of the outcome of an emergency meeting of the NWC which was a sequel to the judgement of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

As a supervisory parent body, the NLC has continued to mediate between the two factions to find a lasting solution to the imbroglio and this mediation came to a head Thursday when the NLC General secretary Comrade Emma Ugboaja esq, led Nigerian workers in solidarity to the court hearing of the warring factions at the FCT High Court.

While addressing Nigerian workers and newsmen, he advocated for out-of-court settlement since it’s a family matter and his suggestion was affirmed by the aggrieved parties.

The factional Chairman, Lamidi Apapa was also present as he affirmed to the out-of-court reconciliation as opined by the General Secretary of the NLC.

Kenny Folarin, Abuja
 
In line with the mission to redefine hospitality in Africa through innovation and exceptional service, creating value for customers and other stakeholders, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the pride of Nigerian hospitality has challenged over 37 Hilton properties worldwide to win the Sales Team of the Year Global Award at the 2022 Commercial Services Summit Awards.
 
Despite the challenges posed post pandemic, the sales team at Transcorp Hilton Abuja has continued to exceed their targets and drive growth for the company.

Read Also: Transcorp Hilton Wins Intercontinental Awards, Bags 8 others at World Travel and World Luxury Awards

Their innovative strategies, unwavering determination, and strong work ethic have enabled them to consistently deliver outstanding results, even in the face of adversity.
 
Commenting on their achievement, Islam Elmaddah, Hotel Manager, Transcorp Hilton Abuja said, “The Sales team’s collaborative approach has been a key factor in their success.

Each member brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the table, and they work together seamlessly to achieve their goals. Whether it’s identifying new opportunities, negotiating deals, or providing exceptional customer service, the team operates with a shared sense of purpose and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

In addition to their impressive results, the Sales team has also demonstrated a deep commitment to the community through supporting local charities, mentoring aspiring sales professionals, and leading industry events to help advance the sales profession.”
 
“Our guests remain the greatest beneficiaries of these achievements as we are challenged to consistently exceed their expectations and deliver world class experiences to them” said Daniel F. Ekun, Director of Sales, Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

“No hotel can succeed without loyal guests so we deeply appreciate the patronage from our esteemed guests and are determined more than ever to exceed their expectations by providing exceptional services.”

Following the reopening of Nigeria’s border by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, there has been continuous smuggling of expired rice, hence the Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) has warned Nigerians about the dangers associated with the consumption of imported rice.

The Director-General of RIPAN, Andy Ekwelem, issued the warning on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the negative impact of reopening the Nigerian borders that were shut in 2019 on President Muhammadu Buhari’s orders.

Ekwelem said the volume of paddy rice produced by Nigerian farmers began to decline after the borders were reopened in 2022 and smuggling commenced again in earnest, causing a drop in the volume of paddy offtake by the rice processors and millers.

He said some of the rice smuggled into the country have expired, stressing that some have stayed for as long as five to ten years and are no longer healthy for human consumption but should be used as animal feed.

The DG said, “The smuggled rice is not healthy for consumption, the biggest challenges consumers have to this is the preservatives used in warehousing and storing of this rice in Benin Republic, Niger Republic, and Cameroon.

“This is because we have refused them to come into the country, so they will try storing them against weevils, these chemicals now affect the naturality of the product.

“Some of this rice has stayed five to ten years, which has scaled its duration period. But they will be rebranded and given to wholesalers at an appealing price and conditions for sale. Mind you this rice in question has turned to animal stock” he said.

Ekwelem further revealed that those patronizing foreign rice brands are empowering the employment sectors of the countries where they are produced.

He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian farmers produced as much as 8.2 million tons of paddy rice and another 8.4 million tons in 2021. He claimed that medium-size mills and the cottage mills scattered across the country are the single largest employers of labour in Nigeria that have provided jobs for over 13 million people.

According to Ekwelem, the employment cuts across direct staff, casual workers, haulage service providers, agrochemical and input suppliers, and millions of smallholder rural farmers who are made up of majorly youths and women.

He lamented that the number of people engaged by the rice mills has declined, and may worsen if the government does not intervene.

He urged the new administration to reposition the Nigeria Customs Services for effective manning of the borders and continue the laudable policies of the current administration.

In August 2019, Nigeria closed its land borders over the proliferation of illegally imported drugs, small arms, and agricultural products into Nigeria from neighboring West African countries.

Three years after, President Buhari approved reopening of the borders, including Seme in Lagos, Illela in Sokoto, Maigatari in Jigawa, Mfum in Cross River, Idiroko border post, Ogun state, Jibiya border post, Katsina, Kamba border post, Kebbi and Ikom border post, Cross River.

After two days of drama and suspense, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Adamawa State governorship election, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, has won his reelection bid.

Fintiri garnered 430,869 votes to defeat his closest challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aisha Ahmed Binani, who scored 398,788 votes.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Mohammed Mele, is expected to formally declare the incumbent Governor Fintiri, who was first elected governor in 2019, as winner of the election after the ongoing formalities.

Details Later…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed the collation of results for the Adamawa state governorship election, following the suspension of the exercise over the illegal declaration of results by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa Ari.

The collation centre re-opened on Tuesday amid heightened security at the Yola venue.

INEC Administrative Secretary in the state, Adamu Gujungu, who has been mandated to take the place of Ari was seen at the collation center while INEC National Commissioner for voter education, Festus Okoye, is also expected to monitor the exercise.

Results from the remaining 10 LGAs are expected to be announced and a winner declared for the keenly contested polls.

Earlier, the People’s Democratic Party called on the electoral umpire to immediately declare the winner of the polls to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the state.

Kenny Folarin, Abuja

Consolidating on the many nights mare by residents of Igbokoda with endless hope to have a feel of government presence, Igbokoda, administrative headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has been in total darkness for over 15 years.

While constant power supply remain a bedrock for development in any society, Igbokoda has not had a share of this despite her status as being home to notable sons and daughters in Nigeria, such as the current Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Olushola Oke former governorship aspirant of the APC in Ondo State Ilaje Local government Area of Ondo State, Favour Tomomewo, Nigerian politician at the State Houses of Assembly level and Abayomi Akinruntan a Nigerian politician at the State Houses of Assembly level who currently serves as the State Representatives representing Ilaje I constituency at the State Legislature and a host of others to mention but a few.

For residents of Igbokoda, the appointment of men and women into political offices would have been a sigh of relief to them having constant power supply, hence they supported them with all they could, but suddenly woke up to the reality of dashed hope.

The traditional ruler of Igbokoda community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Odidiomo Afolabi Oladimeji Ilarada I, Olu of Igbokoda in a interview with Nigerian Tribune lamented the power outage due to the cut off from the national grid which lasted for over 12 years with solutions not yet in sight despite promises by the regulatory agencies to ensure provision.

“We have been disconnected for 12 years! The law says if you are disconnected from the national grid for a particular period, you have the right to declare emergency on electricity, and added that if you declare emergency on electricity the community has the right to generate electricity for their own people. After waiting for 12 years, and after all efforts, we have made up our minds that our community will generate our own electricity. If it means using generators to supply electricity to our people, we will because the law allows it”.

“For eight years in my palace, I have been on generating sets. If I switch on electricity only at night, I spend N3,000 daily on fuelling and that does not include ironing my clothes and refrigeration etc. If I need to do those, I will need a minimum of N6,000 – 8,000 daily and this isn’t including cost or servicing and so on. N3,000 daily per month is about N90,000 per month on fuelling alone. Even if i pay BEDC N10,000 monthly i will still have a better electricity than what I’m currently having”.

Andrew Ikuesan, the Olubo of Obenla Kingdom, Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area, in a chat with ICIR also lamented the electricity challenge which has crippled commercial activities in the local government.

“The last time I set my eyes on light here was eight years ago. We don’t know where to go. I spend N75, 000 every month to power this palace. I don’t know what crime we committed here.”

Despite the cries of the residents of Igbokoda, government and most importantly sons and daughters of Igbokoda has neglected the town and residents and has continued living in their own luxuries.