The local government Chairman of Obingwa LGA of Abia State, Eric Egwuibe, has paid the medical bills of a truck driver who was allegedly beaten and injured by members of a task force along Aba-Ikot Ekpene road.

The payment of the medical bill, it was gathered, was to assuage the drivers who blocked one lane of the federal road for many hours, in protest over the alleged attack on their colleague by members of the task force.

It was also gathered that the driver was injured when the task force operatives were trying to force the drivers to comply with the government-approved hours for movement of trucks on the road.

The local government chairman who addressed the drivers at Lagu Onicha Ngwa, advised them to always apply peace and dialogue in presenting their complaints.

Egwuibe, who admonished the truck drivers against resorting to protests or blocking the road, said that such actions result to loss of important business hours and traffic congestion.

He noted that the administration of Governor Alex Otti has been accommodating to all law abiding people living in the state, irrespective of their state of origin, and thanked God that no life was lost during the protest.

He promised that their complaints and requests will be looked into.

Earlier, the truck drivers said that they blocked one lane of the road to protest against alleged harassment by members of the task force and also to draw government’s attention to their wish to be allowed to move in the day hours.

The truck driver including, Sunday Oseni and Monday Amaechi, said that they are restricted from moving at some hours during the day, even though they regularly obtain their daily tickets.

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, FEMD, has called on residents of the FCT living by riverbanks and waterways to relocate to higher grounds to avoid loss of lives and property in the advent of floods.

The acting Director-General of the department, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

This followed the confirmation by the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, on the country’s fast-rising water levels across rivers and lagoons.

Wenegieme said that NIWA particularly advised boat operators and passengers to take note of the rising tides and ensure strict adherence to safety regulations on the inland waterways and compulsory use of life jackets always.

She further warned of a likelihood of heavy rainfall that might lead to flooding through some states across the country from July 6 to July 10, 2024, and urged residents to take precaution.

The acting D-G said that the flood prediction by the National Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) Centre, Federal Ministry of Environment, shows that the states neighbouring the Federal Capital Territory were among the likely states to be affected.

She said that the prediction specifically showed that Zaria, Jaji and Saminaka in Kaduna State; Ado in Nasarawa and Ibaji in Kogi State might experience heavy rainfall that could lead to flood within the period.

Following the flood prediction, Wenegieme said that FCT might experience river flooding from its surrounding states – Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa.

She urged resident to heed to FEMD early warning and take proactive steps to avoid being caught up by the likely flood.

Wenegieme also advised motorists against driving through flooding water during rainfall.

She, therefore, urged residents to call the department’s 112 emergency toll-free number in the advent of emergency.

Troops of Nigerian Army deployed for counter terrorism operations in Yobe State, in collaboration with local hunters’ group, have thwarted an attempt by ISWAP/ Boko Haram terrorists to destroy high tension electric pylons near Kasesa village, on the outskirts of Damaturu town.

This was disclosed in a statement on the Nigerian Army’s social media platforms on Sunday.

According to the statement, the troops, acting on credible intelligence, laid ambush for the terrorists and intercepted them while en route to the pylons in a suspicious vehicle.

The statement said a fierce firefight ensued, as the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their vehicle and flee with gunshot wounds.

“Upon searching the vehicle, the troops discovered 8 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with detonating cords, along with a trade test card belonging to one Emmanuel Adamu.”

The statement noted that the “quick and decisive action” of the troops and hunters prevented a potential catastrophe and safeguarded the electricity infrastructure in the region.

Yobe State Government has declared Monday 8th July, 2024, as work-free day to mark the Islamic New Year 1446 After Hijrah.

This is contained in a statement issued by the State Head of Service, Hamidu M. Alhaji, which indicated that the public holiday will afford civil servants the opportunity to pray for peace and bumper harvest.

DAILY POST reported that the Sultan of Sokoto and President General Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, had declared Sunday 7th of July, 2024, as the first day of Muharram, the first month in the new Islamic year 1446 After Hijrah.

The Sultan facilitated with Nigerian muslims on the new year and urged them to continue to pray for peace, progress and development of the country.

Five time Olympian, Offiong Edem has lamented that her home government, Cross River, has never recognized her Olympic successes.

She also lamented that successive administrations in the state have not supported her efforts to boost table tennis in the state, despite her investments.

She spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the 4th edition of a two-day mini-table tennis tournament for children from South South and South East regions of Nigeria organised by Offiong Edem Foundation.

According to her, although she paid a visit to the state Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, to brief him about the mini tournament, the government has not recognized her accomplishments in the game of table tennis.

Offiong said, “The commissioner for sports came yesterday during the opening ceremony to welcome the kids for the 4th edition but I am not happy that my state government has not noticed my efforts let alone support my training sessions for different tennis championships or showed appreciation to me for qualifying for the 5th time for the Olympic Games.”

Chairman of Canaan Club of Calabar and Cross River representative on the board of NDDC, Otuekong Orok Duke commended Offiong, saying she had brought honour to the state.

Duke said, “We’re very proud of the many international laurels won by Offiong such that she has again qualified for the Olympics for the 5th time.

“Last week she captained the Canaan Club to represent Nigeria at the African Club Championship in Benghazi, Libya, where we returned with Silver trophy.”

Chairman of Table Tennis Association in the South South, Ama-Ebi Ebikpolade, said the feat attained by Offiong has made her a role model in the zone.

Gunmen on Saturday abducted a chief priestess simply identified as Mrs Kuku and 11 others in Egbo community, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident occurred at about 4: pmm, DAILY POST can report.

It was learnt that the priestess and her followers were under the bridge between Egbo and Ekrokpe communities carrying out sacrifices to her river goddess when the gunmen struck. She and about five of her followers/worshippers were taken away.

Prior to the abduction of the priest, five other persons had also been kidnapped by the gunmen who came in through the bush.

The gunmen also escaped through the bush, it was gathered.

In a telephone chat with Our Correspondent on Sunday afternoon, Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the matter has not been reported.

He promised to find out and get back to our correspondent.

A former presidential spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, says the leadership crisis bedeviling Rivers State is a total misfortune.

Okupe, who was a Director-General of the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Campaign Council, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos, stressing that the problem requires a political solution.

Rivers State has been engulfed in a crisis over a power tussle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The rift has polarised the State House of Assembly with lawmakers loyal to both political gladiators electing different Speakers to lead the House.

Reacting, however, Okupe said the crisis in the state was caused by disregard for rules and laws.

The former presidential spokesperson said while the judiciary could help to put things right, the best way to end the festering crisis is to proffer a political solution.

“That is a total misfortune, and the real issue, if we look at it properly, is that we do not obey our laws. if only we obey our laws, this situation cannot surface at all.

“The courts have to help, the judiciary must be consistent, fair and judge according to law not any other sentiment.

“Let us all obey our laws and our rules and let the court adjudicate according to the law and anybody who flouts the law should pay for it.

“The way things are going in Rivers right now is dangerous, but a political solution is what I will suggest, as a very experienced politician,” he said.

While stressing the need for a political solution, Okupe said politics is about interest and that the crisis would end if the interests of the disagreeing parties are discussed and reconciled.

“In all my years of politics, I have never seen anything in this world that a political solution cannot resolve in all political disagreements.

“Politics is about interest- What is the interest of A and what is the interest of B and how can we marry them? That’s is all,” he added.

The fragile peace in the nation’s public universities may once again crumble as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Associated Institutions, NASU, have mobilised their members to stage a national protest on July 18, 2024.

Already the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU has directed each branch of both unions to stage local protests in their campuses on July 9th.

Recall that SSANU and NASU leaderships have been battling the Federal Government to pay their four months salary arrears owed them when they joined an indefinite strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in the year 2022.

While the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave a directive that the affected staff be paid their salaries, SSANU and NASU members are yet to receive theirs several months after the directive was issued.

Only recently both unions threatened to embark on strike if nothing is done to address their demand, the Federal Government in an attempt to avert the strike, invited them for a meeting with the Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir.

A joint notice for members to proceed on the protest, issued by General Secretary of NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi and President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim on Sunday, stated, “the National body of the Joint Action Committee (JAC)of NASU and SSANU met on Thursday, 4th July 2024 to appraise and take position on the current situation in respect of the withheld (4) four months’ salaries and other grievances of our members in University and Inter-University Centres.

“The National JAC on invitation met with the Honourable Minister of Education; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; other top officials of the Ministry and National Universities Commission (NUC).

“Unfortunately, the engagement with the Minister of Education did not show any convincing commitment to the payment of the withheld salaries and resolutions of other pending grievances of JAC of the two unions.

“It is also disheartening that the JAC was also at the Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment and as usual, the Honourable Minister of State was not on seat to receive us, as we were informed that she had an urgent call from the villa.

“The Permanent Secretary who stood in for her could not make any commitment on the issues raised.

”In view of this disappointment and failure of the government to address grievances of NASU and SSANU, JAC has decided on a series of Industrial actions which include the following.

“All branches of NASU and SSANU should mandatorily hold a general meeting on Monday, 8th July, 2024 to sensitize members on the insensitivity of the government to our plights.

“A one-day protest should be held on Tuesday, 9th July 2024 at each branch simultaneously. Every branch should ensure that all members fully participate in the protest.

“A national protest will be held in Abuja on Thursday, 18th July 2024 after which JAC will meet to announce a date when the strike action will commence. Further information will be communicated appropriately”.

Manchester United midfielder, Donny van De Beek’s possible new club has been revealed.

The Dutchman will complete his transfer away from Man United and to Spanish club Girona “early next week”, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man United will receive just under €1 million, £850,000, in an initial fee for the 27-year-old.

The Premier League club will then get up to €4-5m (£3.4m-4.2m) based on the player’s appearances and other add-ons.

Van de Beek joined Man United from Ajax in 2020.

He spent loans at Everton and Frankfurt in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Following the outbreak of cholera in the country, the Ogun State government has threatened to close down any market found guilty of improper waste disposal and dirty environment.

Special Adviser to the Government who doubles as the Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority OGWAMA, Abayomi Hunye made the threat during a meeting with executives and members of the Ogun State Association of Market Men and Women in Abeokuta.

Hunye stated that to combat the cholera outbreak, proper waste disposal and general cleanliness of markets must be considered.

He maintained that improper waste disposal in marketplaces breeds flies, rodents, and vectors that infest goods sold to the general public thereby causing residents to contract unwanted diseases.

Hunye explained that waste occasionally clogs drainage channels leading to unnecessary erosion and air pollution, advising traders to make use of the waste PSP operators provided by the government.

“In Ogun state, the government has provided big waste collection bins in most of the markets with some serviced by Waste PSP Operators, so the traders in various markets have no reason not to properly dispose of their waste”

“However some of the traders with their market leaders looking away, dump their waste in their immediate surroundings especially on drainage channels in front of their shops or stalls thereby blocking them which will lead to unnecessary erosion when it rains and create offensive odour in the market space”

“To make matters worse, some markets create illegal dump-sites within their space, especially at the back which have become a haven for rodents, vectors and flies which feeds and perch on their commodities that they sell to the public”

“These illegal dumpsites aside from aiding the spread of diseases also lead to fire outbreaks in markets notably that of Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta months back. So the state government will not allow such issues to happen in any of its markets hence the need for proper waste disposal as any market found flouting this directive will be shut” he said.

He urged the market men and women to instil the spirit of proper waste disposal in their respective markets and work with the Ogun State Waste Management Authority.