Sahara Reporters Latest News Monday 14th October 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Monday 14th October 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 14/10/19

APC Condemns Attack On Oshiomole’s Benin Home

The All Progressives Congress has condemned the attack on the home of its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin, Edo State, on Saturday.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, to investigate the incident and prosecute the attackers.
Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, while also condemning the attack, said violence had no place in politics.

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Ondo Electricity Consumers Decry ‘Crazy Billing’

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Angry consumers in Ondo State have decried the ‘crazy electricity bills’ issued by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
The consumers, who are mainly residents of Ijoka, Sijuwade, Oke Aro, Isolo, Oke Ijebu, Ijapo, and Odopetu areas of Akure, lamented the epileptic supply of power and total darkness in their communities.
The consumers demanded for pre-paid meters to solve the lingering problem of estimated billing by BEDC officials.
Bamidele Ajakaiye, a consumer in Ijoka, lamented the frequent disconnection of residents from electricity, noting that the action was uncalled for.
“Few weeks ago, we could not sleep because armed robbers invaded our community, robbing residents of valuables.
“A week before the incident, the BEDC cut off our power supply, claiming that we did not pay bills and related charges.
“There was total darkness all over the place, if there was power supply the hoodlums could have been scared.”
Another resident, Mrs Iyabode Ikumapayi, who resides in Oke Ijebu, explained that the BEDC should issue pre-paid meters to all customers to avoid ‘crazy billing’.
“They are giving us estimated billing and yet they refused to give us power supply.
“They only give us electricity supply for four hours, yet they want us to start paying N7, 000 monthly.”
Abu Ejoor, Executive Director in Charge of Commercial at BEDC, said they were working to address these issues.

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Second Ebola Vaccine To Be Used In DR Congo Next Month

Doctors will use a second Ebola vaccine from November in three provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight the deadly virus, medical officials said on Sunday.
“It’s time to use the new Ad26-ZEBOV-GP vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s Belgian subsidiary,” said Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, who leads the national anti-Ebola operation in the DRC.
It will arrive in the city of Goma, in North Kivu province on October 18 and be used from the beginning of next month, he added.
DRC’s latest Ebola epidemic, which began in August 2018, has killed 2,144 people, making it the second deadliest outbreak of the virus, after the West Africa pandemic of 2014 to 2016.
Muyembe said the communes of Majingo and Kahembe had been selected to receive the vaccine as they were considered the epicentres of the epidemic.
“We will extend this vaccination to our small traders who often go to Rwanda to protect our neighbours,” he added.
“If it works well, we will expand vaccination in South Kivu and Ituri.”
DR Congo’s eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu sit on the borders with Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, according to the AFC.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Twelve Petrol Stations Sealed In Bayelsa Over Sharp Practices

The Department of Petroleum Resources has shut down 12 petrol stations in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for various sharp practices and expiration of their operational licenses.
The stations were sealed when officials of the DPR carried out routine surveillance exercise to determine the level of compliance of filling stations to existing regulations.
Some of the petrol outlets were accused of non-compliance to safety standards and under-dispensing of products to unsuspecting consumers.
DPR Manager of Operations, Ibinabo Jack, who led the exercise, said some of the stations were sealed for operating illegally following their inability to renew their licenses.
He said others failed to meet the expected safety standard, which he said was a compulsory requirement because it concerned human lives.
He said, “We found out that several outlets are actually under dispensing among which we placed seal on them and we also found out that some are not having valid licences and have been advised to initiate the process of renewal.
“DPR has its internal mechanism to check the operations of the retailing outlets, their appearances; what we call personal protective equipment, putting on coveralls and shoes that cover their toes and things like that.
“Any station that is sealed doesn’t just go free, there are penalties attached to it.
“For insurance, if a pump is under-dispensing, not just because they have to pay fine, we ensure that they reset their meters to dispense 10 litres to customers for 10 litres.”

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Nigerian Government Budgets N792m For Internet, Live TV On Presidential Jet

Around N792m has been set aside by the Nigerian Government for the upgrade and installation of live television and Internet service on one of the jets in the Presidential Air Fleets.
This is contained in the budget of the State House President Muhammadu Buhari presented to a joint session of the National Assembly last week.
The presidency also wants to carry out what it called compliance with mandatory upgrade and installation of Internet service on another aircraft, the G550 (5N-FGW) at the sum of N50m.
The elite presidential air unit is also proposed to buy three staff cars for N43m install a luggage conveyor belt truck for N20m, purchase fire fighting vehicle for N90m and construct an aircraft equipment shed for N25m, according to a report by The Nation.
In the next fiscal year, the PAF seeks to construct and furnish the fire bay for N75m; construct an armoury for N120m and an automated roller security system at PAF entrance for N83m.
Some Presidential jets will undergo overhaul of aircraft engines for N200m even as the PAF plans to refurbish and furnish the Presidential kitchen for N15m.

Corruption

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NIWA Pulls Down Iddo Waterfront Shanties, Clears Water Hyacinth Along Ikorodu Channel

National Inland Waterways Authority, Lagos Area Office, has pulled down shanties around Iddo waterfront to secure the area for navigation.
The development follows series of petitions and reports of unwholesome activities and presence of suspected pirates hiding in those places to attack residents and passengers.
Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Sarat Braimah, who led the clearing operation, disclosed that all waterfronts in the city where such habitations are found will be pulled down by the agency.
She said, “We want to change the narrative of engagement on our waterways and the era when people blame NIWA for not being proactive enough is over.
“Until people respect constituted authority on right of way on Lagos waters, we shall not let them sleep.”
On the emerging presence of water hyacinth, which has made navigation almost impossible along the Ikorodu water channel, Braimah said that personnel had been deployed to clear the menace and provide access to boat operators and movement of vessels to the Ikorodu Inland Port.

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E2%80%99s-instruction-kept-me-away-nigeria-says-aisha-buhari Doctor’s Instruction Kept Me Away From Nigeria, Says Aisha Buhari

Aisha Buhari

Ethiopian PM Bags Nobel Peace Prize, Buhari, What Legacy Will You Leave Behind? By Fredrick Nwabufo

Fredrick Nwabufo

One man can induce rippling change in a system. One man can stop illegal detention, arrests, and govern the impulse to clamp down on free speech and citizens’ rights. One man can rebuild relationships and cause harmony to exist among disparate peoples. That man is the president; if only he is willing.
In Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, the young, charismatic prime minister, has effectuated expansive reforms in the country. He brooks opposition and harbours no political prisoner.
In fact, one of his first assignments after becoming prime minister was to order the release of political prisoners. He appointed women to about 60 per cent of cabinet positions. And after decades of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, he made peace with the neighbouring country.
The Ethiopia-Eritrea hostility had seemed intractable and defied international interventions until Abiy’s rapprochement. It is for this lofty action including his peace initiatives in his country that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
One man can change the world.
But what can 78-year-old President Muhammadu Buhari glean from the leadership engineering of 43-year-old Abiy?
Buhari congratulated the Ethiopian Prime Minister on the global recognition. But has the President taken his time to study Abiy’s leadership style? Does he see his failures in the young leader?
“President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was declared winner of 2019 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in Oslo, Norway, saying it portends a good sign for the peace processes within countries, and across borders on African continent,” a statement issued by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, read.
“The President reiterates his belief that African development is strongly tied to peaceful co-existence, and deliberate efforts by governments and people to sustain harmony within and between countries, urging more concerted and collective partnership on peace in the continent. President Buhari prays that the global recognition will spur more interest on issues of peace in Africa and drive home the immeasurable benefits.”
I read the President’s statement and was stupefied by the hypocrisy it emits. In four and a half years, what has President Buhari done to foster unity among Nigerians? Nigerians have become perilously divided along ethnic and religious contours.
What has Buhari done to engender peaceful co-existence in the country? What has he done to protect citizens’ rights? Currently, he is holding political prisoners and he disobeys court orders flagrantly.
I have often wondered if the President is mindful of the sort of legacy he will leave behind. Does he want to be remembered as another General Sani Abacha? A dictator, violator of citizens’ rights and an oppressor? Is that how he wants to be remembered? Or does the President not think himself worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize?
As matter of fact, Buhari has confirmed every stereotype about himself. Before he became president, it was speculated he would become highhanded when he gets power despite his posturing as a “reformed democrat”. Truly, he has confirmed this fear.
At the constitutional term limits summit in Niamey, Niger Republic, where I was a participant, former President Goodluck Jonathan made a comment that reverberated with me. He said African leaders must look beyond ephemeral power; that one day they will leave office and what happens afterwards?
If Buhari is attuned to present-day realities, his legacy should matter to him. In three and a half years, he will leave office; his human rights records will certainly count against him. And those goading him on, on this path of repression, will not be there to face the opprobrium.
As I said in a previous article, history is unkind to ‘strong men’. If the strong man in Aso Villa cares; he should glean some lessons from the ashes of other strong men long gone.
@FredrickNwabufo

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Passenger Slumps, Dies At Lagos Airport

A passenger identified as Jude Oladapo on Saturday slumped and died at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
A source close to the terminal said that Oladapo slumped while undergoing boarding procedure at the airport.
Oladapo, according to his international passport, was 44 years old as at the time of the incident.
Spokesperson for police, MMIA Conmand, Mr Joseph Alabi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.
Alabi said the 44-year-old passenger was about boarding an Air France flight to Paris when he suddenly slumped after receiving news that his wife had passed away.
According to him, the incident happened about 5:30p.m and the deceased was confirmed dead by Dr Ajayi Olamide of the MMIA Medical Clinic.
Alabi added that Oladapo’s corpse had been deposited at the Air Force Hospital Mortuary inside the Lagos Airport.

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Update: N3.8m Ransom Paid To Free Six Kidnap Victims In Adamawa

The sum of N3.8m was paid to secure the release of six kidnap victims in Adamawa State, a family source, Dahiru Gurin, has confirmed.
Gurin informed SaharaReporters that, “The ransom was paid in three tranches of N800,000, N1.5m, N1m and N500,000.”
The kidnappers had initially demanded N10m ransom before they would release the victims.
SaharaReporters had reported last week that six young men, who led their cattle to grazing along Gurin-Fufore Road were kidnapped, leaving the cows wandering aimlessly.
Gurin Village under Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa is situated around the river separating Nigeria from Cameroon.

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