Fifty miners have been reportedly feared trapped at a mining site in Niger state. The incident occurred after a torrential rainfall on Sunday in Galkogo community in Shiroro local government area of the state.

Our Correspondent reliably gathered that the site belongs to “African Minerals and Logistics Limited.”

An impeccable source told our Correspondent that one person has already been confirmed dead while six others are also confirmed to have heard various degrees of injuries.

Meanwhile, an excavator has already been sent to the area for rescue operations.

President Bola Tinubu has named the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) as Professor Wole Soyinka Highway based on the recommendation of the FCT administration.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the special adviser to the President on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In naming the road after the distinguished playwright, poet and novelist who clocks 90 on 13 July, President Tinubu said Soyinka was the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize.

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu said yesterday that the completion of critical infrastructure projects across Nigeria by his administration was a clear example of what the country was capable of achieving when its leaders decide to work together towards a common goal, irrespective of political divide and personal interest. 

Accordingly, he noted that the commissioning of the expanded outer southern expressway, OSEX, completed by the FCT administration, was  a testament to the power of collaboration and partnership that goes beyond political and other affiliations.

The President stated this  at the presidential commissioning ceremony of the full-scope development of OSEX from Villa roundabout to Ring road 1 (RR1) in Abuja. 

Tinubu, who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that the expanded outer southern expressway held profound significance for the FCT, its residents and visitors.

“The completion of this project is not only a piece of engineering but a testament to the power of collaboration and partnership.

‘’It is a shining example of what we can accomplish when we work together towards a common goal, transcending political divide and personal interest for the greater good of our nation,” he declared.

“I thank the Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, and his team for quickening development and giving the residents of Abuja renewed hope,” he stated, reaffirming his administration’s dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians,” he added.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has urged Nigerians experiencing hard times to call on God for help.

Adeboye stated this at RCCG headquarters in Ebute-Metta on Sunday during the June thanksgiving service with the theme, ‘Lifter Up of My Head’. 

He said, “If you need provision, if things are hard and I know things are hard for quite a few of us, call on the one whose name is Jehovah El-Shaddai, the God who is more than enough.

“Call on Him – the one who is more than enough and He will meet your needs…He has many ways, depending on what is your need. 

“When all ways are blocked, call on Him who is called the way when you don’t even know what’s going on.”

The organized labour had embarked on the strike to push for an improvement in the minimum wage of workers.

While the organized labour is proposing N494,000 as new minimum wage, the Nigerian government is insisting on paying N60,000.

In a last minute move to stop the strike, leaders of the National Assembly and organized labour met yesterday.

The meeting, however, ended in a deadlock as the organized labour insisted on the commencement of the strike.

Speaking after the meeting, TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo said the organized labour will never call off the strike without consulting its members. 

“It is difficult and infact impossible for us as labour leaders, to call off the strike here. We need to communicate with our various organs , meaning that, the industrial action starts on Monday as planned,” he said.

The police in Abuja have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the transfer of about N1 billion by a bureau de change operator in Abuja, Shamsudeen Ahmed through three banks to suspected criminals, who reportedly offered to sell $1 million from Dubai to him and the mysterious disappearance of the huge sum of money.

It was learned that detectives are looking into the involvement of a third-generation bank (name withheld) in the illegal transfer of the money after the suspects provided account details of four banks where the complainant paid in the money only to later discover that the suspects conspired to defraud.

In a petition written on behalf of the complainant by Anthony Odule, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the complainant alleged that on December 8, 2023, he was contacted by the suspects, Gambo Dahiru, Ibrahim Mohammed, Shaibu Mohammed and Francis Azubuike aka Frank, who deceived him to believe that there was a genuine $1 million for sale from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which he innocently indicated interest.

The bank transfers

According to the petition, “Our client stated that the suspects provided the following account details: Account Name: Usman Global Investment Limited; Account number: 5400393231, domicile in (a new generation bank), Account name; Yadiz Oil and Gas Plc Nigeria Limited; Account Number 1014396770, domicile in (another new generation bank) and Account Name: M. Technology Red Set; Account number – 5404168804, where the complainant paid in N830 million, N330 million and N10 million, respectively.

“Our client stated that upon preliminary investigation, it was found that the suspects conspired among themselves to defraud our client of his hard-earned money as they do not have dollars anywhere to give to our client but have shared the money amongst themselves.

“What is worrisome to our client is that he borrowed part of the money he sent to the suspects and his conspirators, which non-payment will greatly affect his reputation negatively.”

It was gathered that immediately the complainant suspected foul play, he sent letters to all the banks where the money was sent, notifying them of the development and appealing that they stop the payment of the money and refund it to him.

However, according to the complainant, “One of the banks promptly refunded part of the money without delay but the third generation bank refused to send my money back to me. They claimed that the owner of the accounts said they gave me a value for the money which is not true.

“If they insist on telling that lie, why did the bank not ask for evidence? I asked the bank to return my money or freeze the account where the money was paid but they have not done anything. They have all the power to stop this fraud but they failed to do it.”

Police sources said detectives would soon invite some officials of the bank for questioning over the case while six of the suspected fraudsters have been arrested and they refunded some amount of the money.

However, the money paid through the third-generation bank is yet to be recovered.

Nigeria can meet local refining demands by unlocking idle brownfields - Company CEO
Efforts made to contact the third-generation bank failed as calls made to their Corporate Affairs Manager were not responded to.

A Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abubakar Mohammed Guri, the DC in office of COMPOL MOPOL, Force Headquarters, Abuja on Monday 3rd June, reportedly slumped and gave up the ghost.

Sources said the late DCP who was in his uniform, slumped on his seat in his office and was quickly taken to the Clinic inside Police headquarters for medical assistance, where he was confirmed dead.

 No official reasons have been adduced for the death of the officer who was said to have looked hale and hearty and exchanged pleasantries with officers and staff of the Mopol department when he reported for duty

However, a source who spoke in confidence, opined that the senior officer’s sudden collapse and death may not be unconnected with heart failure noting that in recent times, many police officers out of fatigue have suffered the same fate, because they work round the clock, even at night, without rest

Nothing was heard from the office of the Force Public Relations Officer regarding the late officer.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has authorized and published the list of 10,000 applicants who have successfully been recruited into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Naija News reports that the Commission received the report of the Police Recruitment Board on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

A total of 9,000 applicants were approved for General Duty positions, while 1,000 were recruited for the Specialists cadre.

The PSC stated that to ensure fairness and justice in the recruitment process, they collaborated with relevant stakeholders, including the Nigeria Police Force, the National Assembly, and the Federal Character Commission.

In a statement released on Tuesday by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC confirmed equitable distribution of successful candidates across all 774 local government areas in the country.

He said: “This stage held in the 36 states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory between Monday, 8th to Monday 29th January 2024.

“The Commission, after the physical and credentials screening, shortlisted 171,956 applicants who met the requirements for the Computer Based Tests (CBT) conducted by the Joint Admission and Martriculation Board, JAMB an organisation renowed for its expertise in Computer based tests.

“15,447 General duty applicants who did well in the CBT were further invited for medical screening to determine their health status. The 55,645 Specialists who were shortlisted from the Physical and credentials screening were subjected to practical tests and later medical screening. Each stage of the Recruitment process was carried out with a high level of scrutiny and care .

“A total of 10000 applicants made up of 9000 General Duty and 1000 Specialists were recommended for final selection.

“The selection of specialists were done in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force on the need assessment ensuring capability and balance of geographical representation.”

The statement said candidates are invited to check the status of their application through the Police Service Commission dedicated Web page which can be accessed on computers and mobile devices on www.policeservicecommission.cloud.

For any complaints or inquiries, applicants are advised to contact the PSC recruitment help desk through WhatsApp at 08094767777 and 09031318499.

Airline activities have fully resumed at the Murtala Muhammad Airport’s local wing in Lagos.

Naija News reports that this follows the suspension of the nationwide industrial strike by the organized labour group.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced on Tuesday (today) the suspension of the strike that began on Monday.

The strike resulted in the halt of all flight activities throughout the nation as the aviation unions participated in the walkout.

Nonetheless, airlines have begun to resume their services after losing a full day by grounding their planes.

According to Daily Trust, reporters who visited the MMA2 on Tuesday by 11:00 am, observed that numerous passengers were waiting at the entrance for the Labor Union to cancel the strike.

However, with the strike put on hold for a week, flight operations are slowly picking up.

As of the moment this report was written, a ValueJet flight to Abuja was preparing to take off, and another was scheduled for Port Harcourt.

It was further observed that the airport was relatively quiet after the strike was called off, but there are signs that operations are starting to get back to normal.

In a separate statement, the General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Comrade Ocheme Aba, confirmed the end of the labour strike, saying all members have been mobilized back to their offices.

“Due to the agreement with the presidency, the strike will be relaxed for one week starting from now to enable the tripartite committee concluded deliberations on the minimum wage negotiation so, flight operations will resume now, have resumed actually because all the blockages have been removed,” he said.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has acknowledged Muhammadu Sanusi II as the rightful ruler of the Kano emirate amidst the ongoing power struggle for the throne.

Besides the recognition from all district heads in Kano’s 44 local government areas, council chairmen, commissioners, and prominent Kano and Nigerian citizens, the NBA has also affirmed Sanusi’s status as the 16th Emir of Kano by inviting him to their ongoing annual conference in Kano.

The conference, held at Amani Event Centre in Kano, was attended by notable figures including the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki, and other legal luminaries.

This event marks the first annual NBA conference for the entire northern region.

In light of the event’s significance, the NBA extended an official invitation to Emir Sanusi, requesting his presence, royal blessing, and an address to the attendees.

Emir Sanusi, speaking at the NBA conference through his representative Mahe Bashir Wali (the Walin Kano), warmly welcomed the participants and highlighted Kano’s long, enviable history as a cultural and commercial nerve center of the northern region.

The monarch stated that the conference’s theme, ‘Administration of Justice in Nigeria: Challenges and Reforms,’ was apt, emphasizing that peace, a prerequisite for progress and development, can only be achieved through justice in the land.

State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf saw the conference as a good opportunity to challenge NBA members on the conflicting court orders regarding the Kano emirate tussle, emphasizing that the case is purely a state affair.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Bappa Bichi, the governor urged legal practitioners at the conference to tell their clients the truth about bad cases, even if it is bitter, rather than satisfying them by pursuing actions outside the ambit of the law.

To tackle the challenges facing the administration of justice in Nigeria, the Governor emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and implementing comprehensive judicial reforms.

Barrister O.M. Femi, speaking on the emirate tussle, noted that while the NBA is aware of the situation, it’s crucial for the court to decide to prevent further grievances among involved parties, setting a precedent for future cases.

He emphasized that the current Emir of Kano is His Royal Majesty Muhammadu Sanusi II, evident from his representation at the ongoing NBA annual conference, which signifies the recognition accorded to him by legal practitioners.

Barr Femi said “The NBA is not unaware of what is happening, but it is good that the court is to decide, so that non of the parties involved would be aggrieved again. The ruling will set a precedence for lawyers and judges on such matters.

“However, you don’t need to be told or to wear binoculars to see that His Royal Majesty Muhammadu Sanusi II is the current Emir of Kano.

“Nothing explains this fact more than what could be deduced from the ongoing NBA’s annual conference attended by Muhammadu Sanusi II by proxy. The recognition accorded him by the legal practitioners of our land tells it all.”

The Organised Labour has suspended its nationwide strike for five days to allow uninterrupted meetings with the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage.

This new development was disclosed to Vanguard by a top source among the labour union leaders under the condition of anonymity.

Previously reported on the new resolutions regarding the minimum wage after Labour leaders met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and other government officials on Monday night. During the meeting, Akume confirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to paying more than N60,000 as the minimum wage.

He also assured that no worker would face repercussions for participating in the strike and that the tripartite committee would convene daily for the next week to finalize the new minimum wage.

Following the scheduled 10 a.m. meeting with the FG Tripartite Committee today (Tuesday), Labour decided to suspend the strike. Consequently, all government and private offices are expected to reopen and operate as usual.

This development marks a critical step towards resolving the minimum wage issue, ensuring that the tripartite committee can work towards an agreeable National Minimum Wage without further disruptions.