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Lagos Assembly Approves Sanwo-Olu’s N18bn loan request

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved a request by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a loan of N18,225,336,103.89 from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning.

The loan is meant to ensure speedy completion of projects like the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The approval was granted at a sitting presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, after a report on the loan request was laid and presented by the chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Rotimi Olowo.

Giving further information on the report, Hon. Olowo told his colleagues that the loan facility comes with an interest rate of five percent in the first two years and nine percent in subsequent years, with a two-year moratorium.

Many of the lawmakers who contributed to the debate supported that the facility be approved as it would further help the State sustain its mega-city status.

They commended the State Government for its proactiveness, saying that the loan will bring immense infrastructural benefits to Lagos.

They further said that the loan was favourable considering the conditions that come with it.

In his contribution, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Setonji David, noted that the loan has a single-digit interest rate with a repayment period of 30 years.

He said the project for which the loan was being sought would drive sustainable economic growth and development in the State.

Speaker Obasa, after a voice vote of the lawmakers in support of the approval, directed the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to send a clean copy of the approval to the Governor.

Meanwhile, Speaker Obasa has described Nigeria as a blessed nation loved by God in a message released by his media office in commemoration of the 2021 Christmas celebration.

Dr. Obasa urged Christians and other Nigerians to continue to replicate this love from God in their daily activities as love is what the country needs at this phase of its journey to greatness.

“Jesus Christ, the celebrated face of the Christians around the world, preached and taught love as one of the greatest commandments from God.

“If we think deeply, we will understand that love is an ultimate solution to the many challenges facing mankind.

“All the commandments that God handed man can be summarised into the need to love Him and love our neighbours.

“There is, therefore, no gainsaying that if we maintain our resolve, individually and collectively, to love one another as emphasised by Jesus, the world would be a better place,” the Speaker said.

While urging Christians not to relent in their prayers for Nigeria, he advised Lagosians and other citizens of the country to ensure a peaceful celebration, remain conscious of their environment and continue to adhere to COVID-19 rules.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“We Are Probing A Possible Hacking Of Queen Naomi’s IG Page” – Ooni Of Ife Media Director

It’s no longer news that Queen Naomi who has a one-year-old child with Ooni Of Ife, King Ogunwusi took to her social media account on Instagram to announce that she shouldn’t longer be considered as a Queen in the palace of Ooni.

She added that she is no longer a slave to perfection and she has endured a lot until this moment but it seems that this will not be the end of it as Ooni Of Ife Media Director, Moses Olafare debunks the rumors.

As reported by Punch Newspaper News Outlet a few minutes ago, Moses Olafare revealed that Queen Naomi and the Ooni Of Ife slept together as couples on Wednesday night and they are currently investigating a possible hacking of Queen Naomi Instagram account.

Buhari’s Christmas bonus for Police, by Femi Adesina

They were born just like any other person. They have fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, wives, children, just like the next man or woman. They pound their beats, in thunder, lightning or rain. The sun beats them till their eyes almost pop out of the sockets. But we accord them no respect, we esteem them as men of sorrow, acquainted with grief. They are policemen, and must be treated like something the cat dragged in, article of no commercial value.

During the EndSARS protests of October 2020, see what happened to our cops: 39 were killed, with one roasted and eaten, 210 injured, their stations and barracks worth N11.6 billion were burnt, along with 198 police vehicles, 9 Armoured Personnel Cars. Also razed were Police Communication Equipment worth N5.8 billion, and 422 exhibit vehicles valued at N5.5 billion.

The police were the main reason the protests took place in the first instance, but then, do you first annihilate an institution that needs reforms? They had their excesses, but is decapitation the cure for headache?

President Muhammadu Buhari in the wake of the EndSARS protests promised to reform the police, including looking into their welfare and enhancing their status. It is now promise made, and promise kept, as the Federal Executive Council unfolded a new deal for the police. It is like a Christmas bonus, which came at the end of the year.

Following the promise of the President in 2020, probe panels were instituted by states to look into the excesses of the police, and recommend sanctions and compensations where necessary, while a stakeholders committee was also set up to look into the welfare of the police.

See the parlous conditions of members of an institution we gave arms and ammunition to, and we asked to protect us.

*At least 1,898 personnel were not paid outstanding insurance benefits for the period of 2013 to 2020.

*Death benefits were not paid to families of 5,472 personnel, who died on active duty between 2013 and 2021.

*Financial claims amounted to N1,128, 174, 150.00 in respect of the 1,898 uninsured personnel.

Read Also: We’re not all gloom and doom, are we?, by Femi Adesina

*Death benefits amounted to N13,127,197,269.48, while burial expenses amounted to N1,234,520.000.00, for personnel who died between 2012 and 2021.

A working group set up at the instance of President Buhari, came up with recommendations, which have now been approved by the Federal Executive Council. They include:

*The release of over one billion, one hundred and twenty-eight million for the payment of outstanding benefits to 1,898 personnel for the period 2013 to 2020.

*The release of over 13 billion for the payment of outstanding death benefits.

*Tax waiver in the sum of over N18 billion per annum for all junior personnel in order to increase their take-home emoluments.

*Increase of rent subsidy from 15-20% to 40% of the Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS).

*Payment of additional 6% shift duty allowance.

*Payment of 20% of COMPOSS as peculiar allowance to boost morale and take-home pay of the police.

All these, and more, are to take effect from the 2022 appropriation act, thus improving the welfare of our police personnel.

Will it automatically translate to better behavior, and elimination of bribery and corruption? Not by the waving of a wand. But it would signpost the beginning of caring for the police. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

History will record President Buhari as the man who began to take practical steps in repositioning the welfare of the police. They would no longer be regarded as scum, and would earn respect from a society that loves to look down on them. I tell you, this President cares.

*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

Pen for Hire! OSMOSERVE Rubbishes Blogger’s Attempt To Tarnish Company, MD’s Reputation

Necessity is the regular excuse of rapscallions. It is the mephistophelean plea used to legitimize devilish deeds, like the willful maligning of upright men by a hack writer, like Jackson Ude, the owner of Pointblankblog.com

Ude recently embarked on a mission to malign patriotic and industrious businessman, Scott Tommey, whose exploits in the business sector have become a source of worry and sleepless nights to Ude and perhaps, his sponsors.

Ude in a manner unbecoming of a journalist launched an attack against the businessman, writing to harass the latter with trumped-up allegations fed to him by his malefic cohorts.

In the performance of his hatchet work, he contacted the illustrious businessman, quoting slanted facts and outright lies, in the purported discharge of his journalistic role.

But since he has deemed it fit to whore himself out to corrupt and faceless elements with destructive intent, the Media Consultant to Osmoserve Global Limited, Obafemi Ajayi, has slammed the controversy-prone blogger, over his story in which he imputed wrong and malicious motives into the business transactions of the Managing Director, Scott Tommey.

In the latest tirade tweeted by one Jackson Ude, whose stock-in-trade has been to fabricate utter falsehood, and disseminate same via multiple social media platforms, the pen-for-hire writer alluded that Scott Tommey is fronting for the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Godswill Akpabio.

In all ramifications, Tommey possesses home-grown intelligence that complements his sophistication. A shrewd manager of resources and a billionaire with benevolent mien, Tommey’s journey to the summit of entrepreneurial success is strewn with tales of struggles, determination and destiny.

Tommey has done extraordinarily well to have built a world class multi-billion business enterprise in the mould of Osmoserve, whose specialty has brought physical infrastructural transformation to the Niger-Delta region. In his bid to play down his ingenuity and business savvy, Ajayi attributes Osmoserve’s climb to the pinnacle of entrepreneurial success to sheer determination, providence and God’s grace. He is not anybody’s bagman.

Debunking the story as utter lies, Prince Obafemi Ajayi, considers “very laughable the fact that Ude and his sponsors, as well as those mischievously escalating the fake news, were so blinded by mischief and pull-him-down syndrome that they could see the clear holes in their fabrication. Mr Scott Tommey is well respected businessman and he is not Akpabio or anyone’s front. The assertion is not true”.

Ajayi explained that Jackson Ude “is in the trade of tarnishing Nigerian brands with unsubstantiated contents. He pointed to the petition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the Inspector-General Police, demanding a thorough investigation of the blogger after publishing malicious story, in which he alleged that the suspended acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, facing a presidential probe, told the investigative panel that he gave N4bn to Osinbajo. Not only has Magu debunked the claim; the panel has also released statement putting a lie to Ude’s allegation.

“This is calling on unsuspecting public to be wary of Ude’s shenanigans, as we also wish to sound a note of warning to all those who have made it their pastime to sponsor malicious write-ups, tweets and online publications against Osmoserve Global and our MD, that their day of reckoning is not far away,” Ajayi expressed.

“We have put our legal team on notice to deal with such malicious write-ups. We also urge the general public to kindly disregard the Ude mischievous tweets and similar others, for what they are: blatantly false and malicious,” he advised.

NOUN matriculates 72 Kuje inmates

The (NOUN) on Thursday matriculated 72 inmates of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja to study various courses.

The Vice-Chancellor, NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, urged the students to make use of their study materials judiciously.

The VC who was represented by the National Coordinator, Special Studies, NOUN, Mrs Modupe Adesina, described the collaboration between NOUN and NCoS as very smooth.

According to him, NOUN remains the largest in Africa, and the only accredited single-mode Open and Distance Learning Institution in Nigeria.

“We have 12 study centres that are for inmates. We have 970 students from Correctional centres nationwide and we have graduated 42 inmates across the nation since 2012.

“We have five people enrolled for PhD programmes and still counting. We produced the best graduating students in 2014 in Enugu.

“And when you look at their results, they have been very studious, very eager to graduate with the best result,” he said.

Peters urged the public to encourage the federal government by employing the graduated inmates in the society to help them keep up with their lives outside the Correctional Centres.

He said the efforts of the government should be embraced as the inmates were fully sponsored to acquire the certificates from the University.

“The efforts of the government and the university should be encouraged. This is not a joke.

“The environment and society at large should embrace students coming from NOUN, particularly inmates from correctional centres.

“If they are out, that means they have most likely been reformed. Education goes a lot to open their mind and make them what the society requires.

“A lot of them are gifted, they have gone beyond going to school, they have acquired several skills and not in any way lesser than anyone out there,” he said.

The VC expressed the determination of the university toward ensuring that the newly admitted students were provided with an excellent learning environment with a view to making their study rewarding and satisfactory.

He urged them to desist from all forms of anomalies such as cultism, sexual harassment among others that exist in the conventional university, saying that NOUN was not a regular University.

The FCT Controller, NCoS, Ahmed Musa, said the NCoS had continued to deliver on this mandate through a plethora of academic and vocational skills acquisition, as well as psycho-social support programmes for inmates.

Musa said the significance of the occasion could not be overemphasised as it underscored the very core of the mandate of the NCoS.

This he said were to reform and rehabilitate those in its care and subsequently reintegrate them into the society.

According to him, it is worthy of note that changing the behaviour and orientation of persons in conflict with the law and putting them on the right path is no mean task.

“The Kuje Custodial Centre has always been outstanding in academic exploits.

“Since the command embraced education as a foremost means of reformation in 2010, the centre has recorded over 850 students who have sat for their WAEC and NECO exams.

“Over 750 inmates passing outstandingly with over five credits, which include maths and English.

“With the advent of the National Open University, the centre has registered over a hundred students and also graduated about 10 BSc and one Master’s degree student,” he said.

Musa urged the matriculating students as well as the returning students not to let the service down and to be outstanding in their chosen academic fields.

He noted that the command had also extended this opportunity to the Suleja Custodial Centre, adding that the centre had about 32 inmates who were presently sitting for their WAEC and NECO exams.

“I, therefore, implore all those matriculating today and, indeed, other inmates, to take advantage of this golden opportunity to add value to their lives.

“Like I always say, incarceration is not the end of one’s life you can gain the time while you serve the term,” he advised.

The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Mr Francis Enobore, urged the matriculating students to focus on their studies to enable them go farther in life.

“I also want to assure you all that the necessary support you need will be duly provided by the service,” he said.

BREAKING: Boko Haram fires rockets at Ngomari airport area as Buhari visits Borno

Boko Haram insurgents have fired rockets at Ngomari Airport area in Maiduguri, Borno State, as President Muhammadu Buhari visits the state capital today.

POLITICS NIGERIA learnt that that one of the missiles landed at Ajilari Cross area. Another landed near Maiduguri airport where there is a military base.

Per a source, one person died at Ngomari, while several others sustained injuries at Ajilari area.

Recall that earlier this month, Boko Haram attacked the same area with mortar bombs. The explosives landed on several houses around the vicinity causing extensive damage.

The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum visited the scene at the time, calling on the military to wake up to its duties just as he said he was setting up a committee to assess the damages.

BREAKING! Olori Naomi Silekunola Divorces Ooni Of Ife

Olori Silekunola Naomi, the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Thursday announced that “I shall no longer be referred to as wife to the Ooni of Ife or as Queen of Ile-Ife”.

Olori Naomi took to her Facebook page to make the announcement.

She explained that she tried to make her marriage work and smiled through the struggle, but realised that she had just one assignment which is her son.

This is coming as Ooni was widely reported in July to have secretly welcomed a new baby with another woman.

Read Olori Naomi’s full post below: “I bless the Lord almighty for His faithfulness in the last 3years of my marriage. In life’s journey, it isn’t how far. Still, how well, indeed though satan should buffet if trials should come, I have this blessed assurance controlling all situations and saying to me it is well with my soul. Certainly, it is well. I made my journey into the ancient throne of Ife with faith in my heart and love for the keeper of it.

Few impressions I would love to correct. If anyone knows otherwise, they are free to come up with facts. Let it be known that this decision to move on did not come because his majesty is married to another queen. As many would love to assume, throughout our life as a couple, I was the only married wife to him. There were side attractions, but it was never an issue.

I never approached him with any revelation of any sort, as many believed he contacted me first and made his proposal known several months later.

The marriage was not an arranged one, as many have misconstrued. I never knew the prophetess said to have introduced me to him. Instead, he introduced her to me after I agreed to marry him. I was only being polite out of respect for him.

I have never been pregnant all my life before Tadenikawo; my son is my first ever pregnancy with medical reports to back it up

The girl who is said to be my daughter is my niece

I did my best to endure and make it work; many times, I smiled through the struggle, but I have finally realised I had just one assignment, my son, and when God is done, He is done. He chose Saul to be king, and when He was done, He told the prophet Samuel I have moved on. Religion was never an issue between us; please refer to my interview on News Central TV. Instead, His Majesty has a picture he would love the world to see and perceive him as and another one which is his true self.

Today I announce the beginning of a new dawn and the close of a chapter. Today, I am a mother to God’s unique gift. I am no longer a slave to my thoughts of perfection. I, at this moment, announce that I shall no longer be referred to as wife to the Ooni of Ife or as Queen of Ile-Ife but as the Queen of the people and mother of my adorable Prince.to be cont.”

Our Friend Who Came To Learn ‘Yahoo’ Died After We Took ‘Colorado’, Suspects Tell Police

Four suspected Yahoo Boys have told the Ogun State police that one of their friends, Uzoma Alexander, who came to learn about Internet fraud from them died after taking ‘Colorado’.

Colorado is a cocktail of psychotropic drug currently trending among Nigeria’s young drug users especially teenagers.

The Police Public Relations Officers in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, in a.dtatement on Wednesday said the

suspects: Babatunde Owoseni; Azeez Oyebanji aka Biggy; Ayobami Adesina and Sulaiman Balogun, confessed that they all took the substance.

He said they also.told the police that the body of Alexander was later dumped on the overhead bridge

The PPRO stated that the suspects were arrested following a report lodged at Adigbe Divisional Police Headquarters by the mother of the victim, Mrs Ogechi Alexander, who reported that her 20-year-old son left home on November 20, and did not returned.

She further said her son told her that he was going to visit some of his friends whom she did not know.

The police stated that a case of missing person was subsequently incidented at the police station.

Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, directed that the case be transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation when the boy could still not be found after some days.

He said intelligence officers swung into action after this and eventually arrested the four persons.

The police said further, “At the SCIID, the DSP Nurudeen AbdulGafar-led Modus Operandi Section, embarked on intelligence and technical investigation which led to the identification of one Babatunde Owoseni as the person who was last seen with the victim, and he was promptly arrested.

“The said Babatunde later led policemen to arrest his co accomplices namely, Azeez Oyebanji aka Biggy, Ayobami Adesina and Balogun Sulaiman.

“On interrogation, they confessed that the victim came to their house to learn about Internet fraud, and after eating food, they all took a substance known as ‘Colorado’ which made them to fall asleep.

“They confessed further that when they woke up at about 8pm, they met the victim on the ground and had already vomited all over his body. When they tried to carry him, they discovered that he was no longer breathing.

“At that point, Azeez Oyebanji aka Biggy from whom they bought the drug was invited, and he advised that they should throw the corpse away.

“It was then that Ayomide and Gafar arranged for an Uber driver to come and when the driver came, Ayomide collected the vehicle from him and used it to carry the corpse to the top of Kuto Overhead Bridge where it was dumped.

“The corpse was later removed by the state health workers and buried as unknown corpse.”

The PPRO added that preliminary investigation revealed that there was a mark of violence on the head of the deceased as shown in the picture taken by the health workers before it was buried.

He also stated that the commissioner of police had ordered the investigating team to expedite action on the investigation and charge the case to court as soon as possible.

Bandits Dare El-Rufai, Kidnap 70 Traders After Gov Asked Buhari To ‘Kill, Send Them To God’

Barely 24 hours after Governor Nasir El-Rufai sought aggressive presidential intervention against bandits operating in Kaduna State, the terrorists have reportedly kidnapped about 70 traders who were travelling along the Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road in the state.

Following the killing of about 40 people after bandits invaded three communities in Giwa Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, Governor El-Rufai met with President Buhari on Tuesday to brief him about the situation and seek the Federal Government’s help to stop the terrorists.

He had told State House correspondents after the meeting: “…there is nothing like repentant terrorists (bandits). The only repentant bandit is the one that is dead. Our intention in the state is to kill them (bandits/terrorists), let them go and see God.”

But in a daring attack, the bandits reportedly kidnapped seventy traders said to be heading to Kano on Wednesday.

The Punch reports that the traders were travelling in a convoy of about 20 vehicles and with police escorts.

The police escorts were nowhere to be found when the bandits struck, said the report which also quoted eyewitnesses as saying the victims were whisked away into the forests.

Bandits have continued to terrorize travellers along the Kaduna road by abducting and some times killing travellers along the popular highway.

Sharia Police to grill the parents of Miss Nigeria 2021 winner over her ‘illegal’ participation in the pageant

Commander of Islamic police known as Hisbah in Kano State, Sheik Harun Ibn Sina, has said the outfit would quiz parents of winner of Miss Nigeria beauty contest, Shatu Garko, over her participation in the beauty pagent.

The 18-year-old beat 18 others to win the 44th edition of the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant that took place on 17 December 2021 and she was the first woman in Hijab to win the competition.

Hisbah said the reason for inviting the parents of the lady for questioning was to let them know that it is unislamic for their daughter to partake in any beauty contest.

“We (Hisbah) have confirmed that Shatu Garko is a Muslim from Kano State and her parents are from Garko Local Government Area. Kano is a Sharia state and this is why we will not allow the matter to go like that. We will invite the parents to warn them about the actions of their daughter and the fact dat what she did was illegal in Islam in case they don’t know so that she will not continue that path and also stop other girls copying her.” he told BBC News Pidgin.