A joint army and local hunters’ operation foiled an attempt by suspected Boko Haram insurgents to again blow up electricity towers belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, near Damaturu, Yobe State’s capital.

Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters, Sector 2, Captain M.N. Shehu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.

On receipt of credible intelligence about the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, troops laid an ambush for the terrorists, he said.

“The terrorists abandoned a Toyota Corolla, 8 prepared Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), detonating cables, 2 damaged tyres, and well as trade test card and certificate after the troops brought a heavy volume of fire on them,” the army spokesman said.

According to him, the Commander, Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, Brigadier General M.C.E. Ejike, on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja and the theatre commander, Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, Maj Gen W. Shaibu, applauded the good people of Yobe State for providing timely and useful information that has enhanced operational success.

The acting commander urged the general public to remain vigilant and continue to provide useful information to security agencies in the state, as well as report any suspicious movement or persons around as timely as possible.

DAILY POST recalls that suspected vandals, believed to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group, from December 2023 to March 2024, have destroyed over eight electricity transmission towers belonging to TCN in Borno and Yobe states, causing hardship for residents.

The Traffic Monitoring and Investigation Unit, TMI, of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, said on Sunday it has impounded 22 vehicles for various traffic offences.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made this known while speaking with journalists in Lagos.

Osiyemi stated that the unit embarked on an enforcement drive, a broader initiative to ensure that road users comply with traffic rules and regulations in the state.

According to Osiyemi, the offences committed include unauthorised stopping on highways, illegal conversion of lay-bys and walkways into motor parks, indiscriminate parking and the use of lay-bys and walkways as showrooms by car dealers.

He noted that the enforcement drive took place in Ogba, Billings Way, Ikeja and Berger areas of the state, stressing that the enforcement is aimed at improving traffic management and road safety.

“The TMI in the ministry will continue to monitor and apprehend violators daily to maintain free flow of traffic and safeguard motorists,” he said.

He reiterated that the enforcement operations would target “both commercial and private vehicles that violate Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018.”

The transportation commissioner further commended the state task force for the feat recorded in enforcement against the illegal activities of transport operators.

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has received the interim report of the state’s development master plan.

He was presented the report over the weekend by the consulting firm assigned with the responsibility of developing the plan.

After listening to the consultants from the firm, Brudnell Consulting Limited, the governor urged them to expedite the completion of the development plan to enable his administration to begin the urbanisation process in Jalingo, the state capital.

Kefas, who also emphasised his administration’s unwavering commitment to the “Moving Forward” mantra, aimed at laying a solid foundation and establishing a blueprint for future administrations to build upon, expressed his appreciation for the interim report and assured the firm of the government’s full support.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the consulting firm, Alex, assured that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeline

He also announced that the firm has engaged with both local and international partners who, according to him, have indicated their interest in in

The Ebonyi State Government said plans are underway to float four aircraft with a capacity of over fifty passengers following the completion of the runway of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport.

The Commissioner for Aviation and Transport Technology, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu, made this known on Sunday while interacting with newsmen during the inspection of the project.

Obichukwu, who explained that the 3.1-metre runway has been completed and is currently being marked, added that the state government awaits the commissioning of the runway by President Bola Tinubu.

She said that the state government gave the project top priority and maintained that the runway was large enough for three flights to land on it at a time.

When asked if the state government intends to lease the prospective flights once they are launched, she explained: “We may go beyond Ibom Air; they started with leasing. We may not go into leasing. We want to have our own and may not go into CRJ. We want to have something bigger than CRJ, as CRJ may have about 30–40 people but we are going to have something bigger than CRJ that will accommodate about 60 passengers.

“We are going to equally have flights for cargo. This airport is for both humans and cargo. When I was in Addis Ababa, I saw the real cargo department, where they have all the warehouses: cassava, palm oil, yam, garri and all sorts. We’ll have it here to export our agricultural produce,” she said.

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, MEMAN, advised Nigerians on Sunday not to engage in panic buying of fuel.

MEMAN Executive Secretary, Mr Clement Isong, gave this advice in an interview with NAN due to the ongoing queues at filling stations across Lagos.

Isong explained that the shortfall of product in most stations was due to adverse weather and thunderstorms that delayed ship-to-ship (STS) trans-loading, berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, thereby disrupting station supply logistics.

He noted that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, had also warned that the loading of petrol should be avoided during rainstorms and lightning.

Isong emphasised that petroleum products are flammable and require transportation, dispensation, consumption and storage in strictly controlled and regulated manners.

“Any deviation from these regulations poses significant danger and risks, including fatalities. We wish to reiterate that there is no cause for alarm. We strongly urge Nigerians to avoid panic buying or stockpiling of petrol. This behaviour not only creates artificial scarcity but also poses a significant safety hazard,” Isong said.

An employee of KAM Steel Integrated Company, Yahaya Ibrahim, was confirmed dead after slipping under an engine roller at the company’s factory located along the Sagamu-Ogijo Expressway in Ogun State.

DAILY POST gathered that the incident occurred around 4:50 am on Sunday when the deceased was working at the company’s plant.

It was said that the victim was crushed to death by the roller despite the efforts of other staff members to save him.

The public relations officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident, said: “Our men on traffic inspection visited the scene when we received a distress call. It was an industrial accident. The body has been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital morgue in Sagamu.”

Ikouwem Udo Utin is set to make a sensational return to the Nigeria Premier Football League side Shooting Stars, according to reports.

The former Enyimba left-back featured for the Oluyole Warriors during the 2022–23 season.

Uti currently plays for Tunisian club AS Marsa.

He won the Young Player of the Season award in the Nigerian top-flight in 2018.

The Oluyole Warriors are reported to have open negotiations with the player.

The Ibadan warlords are reinforcing their team to push for a continental slot next season.

Shooting Stars finished in fourth place in the NPFL last season.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has announced that students from 36 state-owned tertiary institutions can now apply for its scheme, starting Sunday, July 7, 2024.

NELFUND disclosed this in a notice through its official X handle on Sunday.

The fund urged state-owned tertiary institutions to submit their complete student data to its Student Verification System.

According to the tweet: “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is pleased to announce that students enrolled in the following 36 state-owned tertiary institutions can now apply for student loans effective today, 7th July 2024.

“The management of these institutions has successfully submitted their student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).

“We urge all other state-owned tertiary institutions to submit their complete student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System timely to enable their students to benefit from the scheme.”

Eligible state-owned universities include Adamawa State University, Mubi; Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri; Borno State University; Mohammed Lawan College of Agriculture, Borno State; Edo State University, Uzairue; Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti; Gombe State University; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Imo State; Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo; Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria; Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano; Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina; Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management; Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero; Confluence University of Science and Technology, Kogi State; Lagos State University of Education; Lagos State University; Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun State; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Osun State University; University of Ilesa, Osun State; GTC, ARA Osun State; GTC, Gbongan Osun State;

GTC, Ijebu-Jesa Osun State; GTC, Ile-Ife Osun State; GTC, Inisa, Osun State; GTC, Iwo, Osun State; GTC, Osu, Osun State; GTC, Otan Ayegbaju, Osun State; Osun State College of Education, Ila -Orangun; Government Technical College, Ile-Ife; Osun State College of Technology; Taraba State University, Jalingo; Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State; and

Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.

NELFUND, which opened its portal for applications on May 24, 2024, recently approved the disbursement of N35 billion to 70,000 successful applicants from federal institutions.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has charged the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to focus on addressing the root cause of youth migration in the sub-region by understanding the factors responsible rather than dissipating energy and resources to halt the trend.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who spoke at the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja on Saturday, cited “Silas Adekunle, a 31-year-old robotic engineer, and Abigail Marshall Katung, the Mayor of Leeds,” as examples of successful Nigerians abroad.

She noted that Abigail Marshal Katung, who migrated to the UK, is now the Lord Mayor of Leeds, which is the United Kingdom’s second-largest city. She maintained that some young, ambitious Africans may need to leave their country in search of better opportunities that are unavailable in their homeland.

According to her: “Immigration isn’t all bad; however, the intent and context matter. I exist today because my father left the shores of Nigeria for Ukraine (then part of USSR) in search of greener pastures, both academically and economically.”

She further stated: “As a mother of eight, I struggle to encourage my children to return to Nigeria and contribute to the development of their home country. This personal experience makes me better understand why millions of young people in Nigeria and West Africa choose to migrate in pursuit of better jobs and financial prospects.”

Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said the legislative arm is considering passing a law to regulate alms-begging in the state.

Obasa said this in an interview with NAN on the sidelines of the launch of the Ibile Muslim Community Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation in Lagos.

He said that there was a need for such legislation.

The foundation was launched at a public presentation sponsored by Lotus Bank in Lagos.

It aims to empower less privileged Muslims and alleviate poverty by promoting Zakat, Sadaqah, and Waqf.

Obasa explained that the proposed law would empower the state government and foundations like the Ibile Muslim Community Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation to regulate aid soliciting.

According to him, the law will also ensure donations reach the needy without them having to beg on the streets.

He noted that the rising number of beggars in Lagos necessitated this regulation.

“We are looking at how we can manage such situations to stop beggars from parading the streets of Lagos begging for alms.

“Following such legislation, anyone caught begging on the streets or aiding such, particularly among children, would also be sanctioned according to the law,” Obasa said.