Nigeria Police Accuses Dino Of Cover Up, Asks To Report Himself And Others

By

-

20/07/2018

Sen. Dino-Melaye-2 — Senator Dino Melaye

The Kogi State Police Command has “advised ” Senator Dino Melaye to report to the Command along with his aides to assist in its Investigation.

Already, according to the Command, a high powered Panel has been instituted into the allegation of assassination attempt by the Senator.

A statement by the Kogi State Police Command Spokesman, DSP William Aya accused the Senator of issuing a misleading statement to cover up what it calls the heinous crime by his hired aides.

According to the Command, Senator Melaye came to the State with Armed men unknown to the Command to launch such a lethal attack on Police officers on their normal duty.

Below is the full text of the Command’s statement

The attention of Kogi State Police Command has been drawn to the allegation by Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the 8^th National Assembly that unknown gunmen in uniform fired gun shot at the vehicle today in Kogi State. The Command wish to correct this wrong and misleading impression coming from the Senator by putting the records straight.

Today, at about 1530hours, a team of policemen from the Command was on a routine Anti – Robbery/Kidnapping patrol along Aiyetoro Gbede – Mopa Road. During the patrol, and as it is often the practice, the team pinned down at a point at Iyah Gbede Junction, where they were observing the highway and occasionally conducting Stop and Search. It was in this process a long convoy of vehicles coming from Mopa towards Aiyetoro Gbede approached the Point. Officers of the Command at the Point flagged down the convoy. While the lead vehicle, a Toyota Hilux van, which was later discovered to be conveying officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, stopped to introduce themselves, other vehicles in the convoy dangerously zoomed off without regards to the safety of the officers on ground.

Surprisingly, some plain clotheed armed men, occupying a white Toyota Hilux van, without registration number, without provocation fired gunshots at the officers of the Anti-Robbery /Kidnapping Patrol Team. One of the officers, a Sergeant, was hit by bullet on the right part of his chest as a result of which he sustained grievous injury. The Officer is currently lying critically ill in the hospital where he has undergone a live threatening and currently recuperating. Expectedly, the policemen in self defense responded by firing back to repel the unexpected attack. Vehicles in the convoy nevertheless, drove away from the scene. It was not until the officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps were questioned that it was realized that the convoy was that of Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye.

It is rather unfortunate that the Senator could after this dastardly act by his aides, be going around with armed men, unknown to the Command who could launch such a lethal attack on police officers in the course of their normal duty. It is more saddening that the Senator could turn around to issue misleading statements to cover up the heinous crime committed by his hired aides.

While, the command has instituted a high powered investigation panel into the incident Distinguished Senator Melaye is hereby advised to report with people in his convoy to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lokoja to assist in the investigation.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/03/25/politics/nigerian-politics-dino-melaye-blames-gov-bello-for-travails-denies-fleeing-the-country/

Former Nigerian Leader IBB, Mourns Coomassie ,Katsina-Alu

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

IBB Babangida — Former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida

Former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has extended his condolences to the families of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomasie.

In a statement General Babangida said, “I received with shock the death of two eminent Personalities whom I knew closely and worked with during my administration”.

“I recall that, Ibrahim Coomasie as Police boss was always proactive and tackle seriously every situation capable of disrupting peace and threatening lives and property of citizens.”

“The former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu was a ‘Fearless Jurist’ and former respected Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Coomasie was ‘a man of diligence’.”

“Both great men served the nation diligently at turbulent period of our live to keep Nigeria safe. They will always be remembered for their service to this country.

“The death of former Chief Justice, Justice Katsina-Alu is a great loss to the nation because he was a man of impeccable character, courageous and fearless jury that served the nation with patriotic zeal”.

General Babangida, therefore prayed that God will grant them eternal rest and Consoling their respective families, governments and people of Benue and Katsina States over the loss.

“They were indeed men of diligence and uprightness. May their souls rest in perfect peace”.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2017/12/05/crime/nigerian-police-re-organizes-its-special-anti-robbery-squad/

Desert racing got more eyes than on road

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

            Phasellus ut turpis a erat condimentum efficitur. Donec finibus urna sit amet urna eleifend dignissim. Sed pellentesque augue nibh, sed accumsan sapien euismod sed. Aenean eget luctus turpis. In sed nisl lectus. Sed metus magna, imperdiet et consectetur eu, vestibulum viverra elit. Duis auctor varius dictum.

Ut interdum risus felis, eget rhoncus sem aliquam nec. Sed eu congue arcu. Duis ultricies orci nec diam malesuada accumsan. Aliquam pulvinar pulvinar orci, nec ornare ex efficitur ac. Proin quis laoreet quam. Praesent sagittis mollis turpis tempus sodales. Ut efficitur tortor nec condimentum ornare.

Aenean ornare nisl ut ante dictum imperdiet. Integer eleifend turpis at dui vestibulum, nec finibus ligula dapibus. Quisque semper tincidunt urna, vel viverra metus sodales ac. Integer rhoncus ullamcorper diam, ut posuere turpis. Proin justo tellus, sodales eget dolor ut, elementum efficitur erat. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Curabitur gravida erat leo, ac euismod metus placerat sit amet. Suspendisse turpis erat, rutrum vel porttitor vel, mattis nec nisl. In consectetur justo sit amet ligula aliquet luctus. Nulla lacinia odio eu diam euismod rutrum. Phasellus pretium libero in tellus commodo blandit. Etiam vitae purus sagittis, lobortis quam id, ultrices ante. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Maecenas aliquam erat quis erat malesuada luctus.

Etiam eget varius lorem. Morbi ac lectus mi. Vivamus consequat, urna vel porttitor porta, ipsum libero elementum risus, quis eleifend tortor sem interdum orci. Sed eget diam nec turpis iaculis tempor sed id neque. Praesent tincidunt dapibus mi eu sagittis. Nulla ac ante lectus. Maecenas ullamcorper eu ex in interdum. Aenean commodo neque ut orci venenatis varius. Curabitur viverra sed metus quis interdum.

Duis tristique, massa convallis imperdiet tincidunt, lorem sem rutrum nisi, vel commodo felis elit vitae tortor. Cras ipsum justo, tincidunt eu velit eu, convallis dignissim felis. Nam sodales, sapien eget pulvinar consequat, lectus odio dictum nisl, quis dictum lacus lorem a odio. Aliquam fringilla sagittis fermentum. Pellentesque facilisis, nisl pretium scelerisque dapibus, augue elit feugiat purus, ac egestas ex purus vel nulla. Nunc dictum fermentum urna a tempus. Cras sit amet massa ac tortor varius aliquet dignissim in mauris. Cras a elementum velit, et dictum erat. Proin at mauris ut ex gravida pulvinar vitae imperdiet ligula. Curabitur purus est, pellentesque sagittis dignissim id, suscipit porta sapien.

National Carrier: Nigerian Airlines Seek Level Playing Field For Private Operators

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

Airport Runway Take-Off — Plane Take-Off

Some domestic airline operators on Thursday urged the Federal Government to ensure a level playing field for them and the new national carrier.

The airlines spoke at the 22nd Annual Seminar and Award of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is “Financing Aviation Development Through Private Sector Partnership”.

The Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, said the airline was not afraid of the new national carrier, but maintained that all privileges given to it should be extended to other airlines.

“Government must do everything possible not to frustrate existing carriers because of private investment of the growing airlines in the country.

“This is because the creation of a level playing field remains critical to the sustenance of an effective aviation sector,” he noted.

Onyema said domestic carriers were still looking forward to seeing how the national carrier which was unveiled as “Nigeria Air” on Tuesday in Farnborough, London would operate.

He said the domestic airlines would only be opposed to Nigeria Air if it was being used to frustrate their own operations.

According to him, the modality to allocate routes for the new national carrier will have to be looked into except the government is indirectly trying to decimate existing operators.

In his remark, the Managing Director, Topbrass Airlines, Capt. Roland Iyayi, said government should do everything to make the new national carrier succeed by securing the right access to markets on its routes.

Iyayi, however, said the existing national carrier policies were a disservice to the survival of private carriers which were not protected by government despite their huge investments.

He said it was regrettable that Nigerian carriers were competing on capacity and not on routes.

Iyayi maintained that the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) needed to sit with the aviation minister to straighten the rough edges to enable a win- win for existing private sector carriers and the new national carrier.

In his remark, the Chairman, African Business Aircraft Association (AFBAA), Mr Nick Fadugba, canvassed partnership among carriers as a recipe for survival in an environment that was conducive when the operators were strong enough.

Fadugba raised posers why Nigerian carriers did not forge partnerships, which was key to success no matter the size of the carrier.

The aviation expert raised concerns why Nigerian carriers were not working together in areas of operations, training, spares and maintenance pooling.

While suggesting pooling of fleet, training of personnel, Fadugba said the sector had a long way to go until government introduces a more thorough approach to funding aviation.

He said there was a lot of uncertainty over the new national carrier because of the modality adopted for the project.

Fadugba said: “The government through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) already owns Aero and Arik airlines implying three airlines under the ownership of the government which has not happened in any country before.

“I am suggesting that the government should adopt the model adopted for aviation in Singapore and United Arab Emirates for the industry to make progress.

He said as a strategy for successful airlines in the country, hub airports and smart facilities were required to drive the development of aviation.

Fadugba said statistics from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) revealed that foreign carriers had control of majority of traffic in Nigeria which did not make strategic sense for any country serious about the business of aviation.

He said that Nigeria embraced Open Skies for aviation without considering the huge impact.

NAN reports that the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday unveiled the name of the new carrier as “Nigeria Air’’ with a logo encompassing the flowing green, white and green ribbon at the Farnborough Air Show in London.

The carrier, scheduled to begin operations by December, will replace the defunct Nigerian Airways which was liquidated in 2003 by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. (NAN)

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/06/30/news/conviction-of-british-based-nigerian-nurse-good-omen-against-trafficking-naptip/

Nigeria Unveils New National Carrier, Nigeria Air, Selects 81 Routes

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

Nigeria on Wednesday unveiled its new national carrier, Nigeria Air, and stated that the airline would commence operations in December.

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, unveiled the carrier at a press conference at the ongoing Air Show in Farnborough, London.

Sirika told Journalists at the show that, “we are finally on track to launching a new national flag carrier for our country, Nigeria Air. We are all fully committed to fulfilling the campaign promise made by our President, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2015. We are aiming to launch Nigeria Air by the end of this year.

“We obtained the Certificate of Compliance from the Nigerian Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission two weeks ago and can now go into the investor search. I am confident that we will have a well-run national flag carrier that is a global player, compliant with international safety standards and one which has the customer at its heart.

“We hope to establish an airline that communicates the essence of our beautiful country; an airline we can all be proud of.”

The ministry said the branding and naming of the new national carrier came after a social media campaign that was undertaken by the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation).

It said invited Nigerian youths were asked for their input in order to come up with a name for the new flag carrier, adding that the ministry’s Facebook page and website engaged over 400,000 people.

The ministry said extensive market research was carried out, which involved focus groups across the country, and over 100 interviews with aviation stakeholders and professionals, politicians as well as business owners.

It also stated that it was currently running an aviation road map that includes airport concession, aerotropolis, an aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul centre, agro allied terminals, the national carrier and an aircraft leasing company.

“The government will support the launch of the new flag carrier with viability gap funding in a public private partnership arrangement to deliver a national flag carrier guided by international standards,” the ministry added.

Sirika said the Federal Government had learnt a lot of lessons from the experience of the defunct Nigeria Airways, and was now determined not to repeat the mistakes that led to its demise.

Meanwhile, Sirika has stated that the Federal Government has selected 81 routes for the commencement of operation of Nigeria Air.

Speaking at the Farnborough Airshow in London following the unveiling of the new national carrier, the minister was quoted to have said that for a start, the airline would operate 40 domestic, regional and sub-regional and 41 international routes.

He added that the airline would operate on a Public-Private Partnership model, while investors and strategic partners would decide who would run it.

He said, “This airline is a business and not a social service. It is not intended to kill any airline in Nigeria but complement it and promote it. It must be done in the right way so that it will be here to stay.

“Government will not hold shares beyond five per cent at the topmost. This airline has the backing of the government. Government will come up with funding according to the business case that has been delivered to the government. We will engage the youth of Nigeria because we do believe in the ‘Not Too Young to Run’.

“We engaged them in the campaign to name this airline. We engaged 400,000 Nigerian youths to arrive at the name of the airline. All of their ideas were taken and digested and we came up with what is an average. The airline will take into cognizance the multicultural nature of the nation through its diversity. We want to use this airline to make a statement that yes, we can do it.”

The minister also said the government would fast-track the airline’s International Air Transport Association’s membership and safety audit.

An aviation expert, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (retd), however, stated that the Federal Government’s route plan was not properly thought out.

He said the routes were already saturated with the new airline’s competitors, adding that this might stifle its growth.

“Whoever is planning these routes for the new national carrier should go into records and see what happened along same routes between Nigeria Airways and KLM; Nigeria Airways and South Africa Airways and Nigeria and Virgin Atlantic. You cannot go into the same business with your competitor(s) as partners,” he said.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/07/17/news/ethiopian-e-visa-will-enhance-airlines-operations-in-africa-official/

Nigeria: Don’t Get Tired Of Meeting For Peace, Southern Kaduna Stakeholders Told

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

An NGO, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), on Thursday urged stakeholders in Southern Kaduna not to get tired of meeting to promote lasting peace in the area.

The Northern Coordinators of the Foundation, Rev. John Hayab and Sheik Haliru Maraya made the appeal at the stakeholders meeting of Southern Kaduna Peace and Reconciliation Committee held in Kachia, Kaduna State.

The meeting was organised by GPFN in conjunction with Kaduna State Peace Commission.

Major stakeholders at the meeting included the Christian Association of Nigeria, Jama’atul Nasril Islam, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Southern Kaduna People’s Union and Southern Kaduna Muslim Ummah Development Association, among others.

The coordinators said peace building is a continuous process, as such it is important to talk to all concerned stakeholders from time to time to achieve permanent solution.

“The meeting is a review of conflicts situations so as to find lasting solutions,” the coordinators said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Southern Kaduna Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Mr Solomon Musa, appealed to all stakeholders to drop their differences “so that peace can reign in our communities.”

Executive Vice Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, Mrs Priscilla Ankut, said peace building is for optimistic people, adding that “as optimistic people, we will continue to build bridges.”

Ankut said the commission would work with the Foundation in its efforts to contribute to the peace and stability of Southern Kaduna.

“For us at the Peace Commission, by participating in the meeting, we can solicit ideas, inputs and suggestions to help the Commission in implementing its mandate of ensuring peaceful co-existence in Kaduna State,” she added.

According to her, the Commission offers a coordinating platform of bringing all initiatives at play in the state by various stakeholders to achieve lasting peace through mutual respect and understanding.

“There are very many groups in the state that are well meaning and ready to contribute to the peace process in the state.

“The Commission came in to coordinate all these efforts and make sure we are all aligned to a strategic vision, which is to ensure peaceful coexistence, justice to all and for us all to embrace our diversity.”

The vice chairman stressed that the commission would not get tired of consultation, which she described as “fundamental to any peace process.”

“Fundamentally, speaking with people is important to peace building; we will continue to identify new actors and groups and engage them to find a permanent peace in the state,” Ankut said.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/06/29/news/nigeria-christian-body-alerts-government-on-alleged-plan-to-attack-southern-kaduna/

U.S. Varsities Award $5.3m Scholarships To 110 Nigerian Students

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

The U.S. Embassy in Abuja says over 110 Nigerian students have been awarded scholarships worth 5.3 million dollars (about N2 billion) by more than 15 leading U.S universities, starting in Fall 2018 Academic Calendar.

The embassy on Thursday in Abuja explained that the scholarship, which would afford both rich and poor students to study in various universities of their choices in U.S., was facilitated through Education USA Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Education USA centres in Nigeria provide accurate, comprehensive and current guidance on accredited U.S. colleges and universities to highly qualified students from both rich and poor families.

Through its cohort and opportunity programmes, the centres’ advisors identify academically talented students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and assist them in identifying appropriate U.S. institutions.

The advisors also advised them on how to strengthen their applications and provide guidance on accessing scholarship and financial aid.

The embassy added that some of the schools that offered the scholarship included Stanford University, Dartmouth University, Duke University, Tufts University, Bowdoin College, University of Rochester, and George Mason University.

Others are Arizona State University, Drexel University, Alcorn State University, Howard University, New York University, and Whitworth University amongst others.

According to the embassy, it is hosting a pre-departure orientation for the departing students on Friday July 20th.

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/07/03/news/only-1-of-nigerian-population-in-universities-nuc-boss-approves-the-75th-private-univ/

U.S. Energy Regulator Wants More Disclosure Of Cyber Attacks

By

Africaprimenews

-

20/07/2018

0

US Energy Commission — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Office

The U.S. government on Thursday asked power generators to disclose more information about cyber attacks amid growing concern that foreign hackers could disrupt the electric grid.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), an energy industry regulator, called for the power industry’s regulating body, the North American Electric Reliability Corp, to expand the rules.

These rules require reporting of cyber security incidents to include attempts that might facilitate future efforts to disrupt the grid.

FERC requested the increased disclosure after the administration of President Donald Trump blamed the Russian government in March for a campaign of cyber attacks stretching back at least two years that targeted the U.S. power grid.

That marked the first time the U. S. had publicly accused Moscow of hacking into American energy infrastructure.

“Cyber threats to the bulk power system are ever changing, and they are a matter that commands constant vigilance.

“Industry must be alert to developing an emerging threats, and a modified standard will improve awareness of existing and future cyber security threats,” government official said,

Current NERC rules only mandate reporting of cyber attacks if they compromise or disrupt “core activity” toward maintaining the reliability of the electric grid, according to 67-page FERC report .

That threshold “may understate the true scope of cyber-related threats” facing the industry, the report said.

NERC said on its website that it “appreciated FERC’s action and would continue working with FERC and stakeholders toward assuring the reliability of the North American bulk power system.”

Reuters/NAN

https://www.africaprimenews.com/2016/09/21/news/president-buhari-submits-nominees-for-board-of-ncc-nerc-for-confirmation/

Africa Prime News

Africa Prime News

Africa Prime News

Africa Prime News

Currency Exchange Rates

Africa Prime News

About us

Company

The latest

Subscribe