Lots of shops have been destroyed in a fire outbreak at Apongbon Market in Eko Bridge, Lagos State on Wednesday morning.
The fire incident, which is currently raging, has caused a gridlock on the Eko bridge and also crippled commercial activities around the Lagos Island area of the state.
Though the cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, it was learned that goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.
According to a source, the incident happened around 7 am, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
But motorists have been urged to ply alternative routes following the reports of the fire which gutted some vehicles under the Eko Bridge.
“Traffic from Eko bridge has been re-routed to Ebute-Ero to link inner marina. Men of fire service and other security agencies are still on the ground. Therefore, CMS bridge and Eko bridge inward/outward Apongbon is close to traffic at the moment,” Lagos State Traffic Management Agency tweeted.
Police authorities in Lagos have warned personnel serving in the command against any form of extortion, human rights abuse, and incivility towards residents of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Abiodun Alabi, gave the warning on Tuesday during a familiarisation tour to Area G Headquarters in Ogba, and Area H Headquarters in Ogudu.
He stated that the Police High Command has provided several welfare packages for all cadre of personnel and worked hard to ensure salaries were upgraded.
Alabi stressed the need for personnel to reciprocate the gesture by effectively carrying out their duties in the most professional way.
He insisted that no policeman must request money for bail, saying, “If any of my officers ask you money for bail, report to the highest authorities.”
The police commissioner also warned police personnel against asking for frivolous documents from motorists. “Asking for car clearing documents is not your duty, leave it to customs.”
On the issue of tax deductions on salary, he explained that the government has agreed with the top echelon of the force that all forms of deductions from the police personnel should be stopped.
Alabi promised to address some of the challenges in some divisions under the command such as logistics, office space and accommodations, shortage of manpower, and working tools faced, by some divisions.
He commended the efforts of residents, especially the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Community Development Associations (CDAs), and the traditional institutions in supporting the command to achieve its set objectives.
The police commissioner also asked divisional police officers in the state to continue to strengthen such relationships which he described as livewire in information gathering and effective policing in their respective areas of coverage.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has again released additional 516.43 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit popularly referred to as petrol to Nigerians.
The release of the 516.43 million litres, which was done between March 14 and March 20 is in addition to the 1.82 billion litres distributed into the Nigerian market within a period of 28 days covering February 14 and March 13.
The release of the product is in line with the commitment of the NNPC management to address the supply gap being experienced in the distribution of petrol to Nigerians caused by several factors.
The NNPC had in recent times introduced several innovations to bring back normalcy in the supply of PMS.
The National Oil Company had last week advised about 48 retail stations to operate for 24 hours daily so as to increase the supply of petrol to Nigerians.
A breakdown of the 516.43 million litres showed that 80 per cent of all the evacuation took place at the top 30 high loading depots while the other loading depots evacuated less than 20 per cent.
It put the average daily evacuation during the week at 73.78 million litres.
The distribution is coming at a time when the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd have reached an understanding with oil marketers to resume loading and movement of Premium Motor Spirit from the depot.
The deal will bring to an end the transportation challenges being faced by oil marketers in the distribution of petroleum products across the country.
The understanding between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and the oil marketers followed the challenges being faced by some of them in the distribution of PMS as a result of the high diesel prices.
Crude oil is selling over $139 per barrel and as a deregulated product, when crude prices are high, diesel prices are expected to rise as well.
THE WHISTLER had reported that transportation cost had become too high for marketers because of high price of diesel which is not regulated.
Due to the unregulated nature of the price of diesel, the federal government does not subsidize the product, thereby making the price to be determined by the international market.
But in a bid to resolve the issue, the NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari issued a letter that the NNPC selling price to depot owners be adjusted downwards and the difference added to bridging cost paid to retailers.
In a tacit confirmation of the development, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners last Saturday called on its members to resume full lifting of petrol from the depots.
It said this followed the decision of the federal government to pay the 25 per cent increase in freight rate for petroleum products, which amounts to N11.87/litre, up from N9.5 per litre previously.
Some of the members have since suspended their services because of high cost of operation. Consequently, they demanded increased freight rate from the Federal Government.
NARTO National President, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, urged members of the association to resume full operation in order to alleviate the current petrol scarcity.
Othman assured the members that the association is working hard on how get Automative Gas Oil (AGO) diesel palliatives from the Federal Government.
A mother of five, Aisha Tijani, has been arrested by the operatives of the Ogun Police Command for allegedly setting her 10-year-old daughter ablaze.
The suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Mowe divisional headquarters by one Moroof Ayinde.
According to DailyTrust, fhe complainant told the Police that he lives in the same apartment with the suspect who allegedly set ablaze her daughter.
According to him, the woman was upset because the daughter took a phone she (the woman) had seized from one of her children from where she kept it and gave it back to the child, from whom, the phone was seized.
The Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi told newsmen in Abeokuta that following the report, the DPO Mowe division, CSP Folashade Tanaruno, quickly moved to the scene with the detectives and got the suspect arrested.
Oyeyemi said the victim, who had been badly burnt, was rushed to the nearest hospital from where she was referred to Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital for proper medical attention.
“On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to have been separated from the father of the children, explained to the police that she didn’t know what came over her when she was carrying out the wicked act,” he said.
Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to state criminal Investigation and Intelligence department for further investigation.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led government has cancelled the compulsory COVID-19 test for vaccinated travellers coming into Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known during a press briefing on Monday.
He pointed out that in-bound fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the country will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR COVID-19 Test.
Mustapaha stated that fully vaccinated passengers on arrival would undergo a rapid antigen test at the airport by the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC ), within the arrival hall of all the country’s point of entry and airports.
The PSC boss added that fully vaccinated passengers will not be charged for arrival rapid antigen tests at the airport.
The SGF revealed that the revised international travel protocols, would take effect on Monday, 4th April, 2022.
He said: “Passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated shall take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, or do a Day 2 and day 7 test on arrival. Such passengers will be expected to pay for their PCR tests through the travel platform.
“Rules that apply to fully vaccinated adults also apply to children aged 10 – 18 years; they will not be required to have pre-arrival PCR tests but will have a sample taken at the arrival hall but not charged.
“All passengers travelling out of Nigeria are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and to fully comply with COVID-19 protocols and requirements in their country of destination.”
The SGF said that the PSC continues to strongly recommend the use of face masks in enclosed environments, while n open spaced, the use of face masks was discretional.
Mustapha also said that the country still has the National Response in place as its continue to monitor global trends and adapt them with the situation in country.
He stressed that there had been a consistent decline in number of cases around the world but that does not give Nigerians the leverage to let their guards down yet because there were predictions of rebounds as Nigerians can see in China, South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, France, Hong Kong.
The Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on Tuesday set aside May 9, 10, and 11 for the prosecution of a prime suspect in the murder of 22-year-old Bamise Ayanwole.
It was gathered that the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, accused of killing Bamise, was arraigned on Tuesday morning before Justice Sherifat Sonaike on a four-count charge of conspiracy, murder, and two counts of rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nice’s arraignment followed a legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Jide Martins, recommending the prosecution of the 47-year-old.
Recall that Bamise went missing after boarding the BRT bus on February 26. She was said to have boarded the bus which was going to Oshodi at about 7pm at Chevron Bus-stop in Lekki.
Her lifeless body was discovered on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, on March 7, triggering public outrage.
Nigerian billionaire businessman, Obi Cubana, has signed a deal with musician, Habeeb Okikiola also called Portable, as the brand ambassador of his new herbal drink “Odogwu bitters”.
The deal which was signed on Monday was revealed by Portable.
Based on the disclosure made known in a video, the deal which endorses Portable as a brand ambassador is valued N50m.
But both parties did not disclose the tenure of the deal.
THE WHISTLER could not independently verify the terms of the deal as of the time of filing the report.
The deal has however generated reactions on micro-blogging site, Twitter.
A Twitter user with the handle @Tee_Classiquem1 said, “Portable just signed a deal worth N50m with Obi Cubana as an Ambassador for his new herbal drink Odogwu bitters. It’s safe to say being an idamu adugbo is really paying off for his brand.”
For @Nycewizy, he said, “Obi Cubana is smart. Man wants to break the context that Odogwu Bitters is an Eastern Drink for just the Igbos. Signed the rave of the moment Portable as a Brand Ambassador for a whooping N50m? Smart move.”
Also, @oba2312 tweeted, “Obi cubana smart guy pushing odogwu bitters to the trenches, portable is the right person!”
Similarly, @ManLikeIcey said, “Portable is the most loquacious artiste in the street right now, making him a brand ambassador for a gin is a very exceptional decision, he’ll make more than that N50m Obi Cubana gave him.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested one of its officers for allegedly videotaping the immediate-past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, while in custody of the anti-graft agency.
This came as the EFCC distanced itself from a viral video which showed Obiano sitting in an isolated area in the commission’s headquarters and interacting with an unidentified person.
The EFCC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday, said the “video is completely at variance with the established Standard Operating Procedure of the EFCC”.
Uwujaren added, “A discreet investigation ordered upon discovery of the leak has revealed the errant officer behind the odious act and he is currently being subjected to appropriate disciplinary action”.
Obiano had spent five days in EFCC’s custody after he was arrested for alleged mismanagement of funds to the tune of N42 billion, among other offences, while he was in office.
He was arrested on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a few hours after he handed over to his successor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
The anti-graft agency granted the ex-governor bail on Monday, but noted that he was yet to fulfil the conditions of his bail.
The Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi and his deputy, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe, are now banking on the Court of Appeal after the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday struck out their stay of execution application filed against their sacking by Justice Inyang Ekwo.
THE WHISTLER reported that the trial court had on March 8 ordered the removal of the duo over their defection to the All Progressive Congress despite winning the governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party platform.
Based on that, Umahi’s lawyers had filed an appeal before the appellate court while asking the same trial court to stay execution of its judgment.
Having filed an appeal, Umahi’s lawyers sought withdrawal of their application before the trial court.
The judge agreed with Umahi’s counsel by striking out the suit.
Recall that the governor had been ordered by a High court sitting in Ebonyi state to remain in office despite his sacking.
All parties are looking forward to the decision of the Appeal Court regarding his defection.
Terrorists on Sunday invaded Ganar Kiyawa village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State, killing no fewer than 24 people including the village head and other traditional title holders.
During the house-to-house attack which occurred on Sunday morning, the assailants pilfered valuable items and livestock belonging to the residents.
Some of the villagers who escaped the attack had fled into nearby bushes, sources told Premium Times.
Abdullahi Musa, a resident of Gana, not far from Ganar Kiyawa community, said, “All the shops were looted by the bandits while residents ran for their lives.”
Musa added, “We cannot say how many people were kidnapped so far but those who have been killed. The residents were able to gather 23 corpses for burial. Another corpse was also found after the initial 23. It could be more especially now that the residents are afraid to go deep into the bushes to look for their dead”.
Similarly, the youth leader in Bukkuyum LGA told the medium, “Yes, 24 people were killed by the bandits in yesterday’s attack. The village head and some other traditional rulers as well as residents were killed. They (bandits) have been trying to attack the community but because their main targets were not always sleeping in the town, they decided to come in the morning”.
Zamfara is one of the worse hit states that have been ravaged by terrorists in the North West. Residents are frequently killed and abducted for ransom. Their attackers are also said steal their livestock and impose taxes/levies on them, amongst others.
