Nigeria’s meteorological agency, NiMet, says residents of the FCT, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states should prepare for moderate to heavy rainfall within the next three days.
The agency also forecast similar weather conditions for Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, the FCT, Nassarawa, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi State from Wednesday morning to Friday evening, Most parts of the northwest are expected to experience light rainfall.
“As a result of the expected moderate to heavy rainfall in the next three days, there are chances of flash flooding of roads and low-lying settlements,” the agency said.
It added that “there could be disruption of traffic due to flooded or closed roads, reduction in visibility, likely damage to mud houses and possible disruption in flight operations.”
Mr Babatola Adeniyi AFOLABI, the Aide De Camp (ADC) to a former Governor of Ondo State, late Dr Olusegun Agagu has been promoted to the prestigious rank of Commissioner of Police in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Mr AFOLABI enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in the year 1990.
He is among the Twenty-Three Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) recently elevated to the prestigious rank of Commissioners of Police by the police Service Commission (PSC).
Afolabi, a graduate of Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Lagos, also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.
After serving as ADC to the late Agagu, CP Afolabi B.A functioned in many capacities within the force having proven to be hardworking, diligent and highly professional.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has asked Facebook and other social media platforms to stop allowing the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to use their platforms to incite violence and instigate ethnic hatred in Nigeria.
The Minister made the demand in Abuja on Tuesday at a meeting with a team from Facebook.
He said since IPOB had been proscribed and classified as a terrorist organization, Facebook has no justification for yielding its platform to the organization to further its campaign of hate and destabilization of the country.
“I have called this meeting to enable us to discuss the increasing use of Facebook by separatists and anarchists, especially those of them based outside the country, to instigate violence and ethnic hatred in Nigeria.
“For whatever reason, they seem to have now chosen Facebook as their platform of choice. And their tools include disinformation, incendiary statements and hate speech. They use Facebook broadcasts to reach their followers, who are in thousands. They tag those opposed to their violent ways as ‘saboteurs’ who must be attacked, maimed and killed. They use both English and their local language as it suits them,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
He said the actions of the proscribed group have real-life implications, adding: ”By purveying hate and inciting violence, people are getting killed while private and public property are being attacked and destroyed. Security agencies and other symbols of government are their choice targets.”
The Minister said despite the numerous complaints to Facebook on the activities of IPOB, nothing has been done by the company to curtail the group’s excesses on the social media platform.
“Our social media people have been monitoring these separatists, anarchists and purveyors of hate, and have been reporting their atrocious actions to Facebook, but all they get are default responses that their complaints have been received and are being looked into. Most often than not, nothing is done about such complaints. The truth is that whatever Facebook is doing to check these people is mere tokenism and is totally ineffective,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the government would be monitoring Facebook and other platforms closely in the days ahead to ensure compliance with the demand, as it steps up the campaign for the responsible use of social media.
“We have always advocated a responsible use of social media, and consistently called on all stakeholders to join us in achieving this. Some have tagged our efforts as an attempt to stifle social media. They are wrong, because we have no intention of preventing Nigerians from using social media responsibly. All we have been advocating is a responsible use of social media,” he said.
The leader of the Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihad (JAS), popularly known as the Boko Haram terrorist group, Alhaji Ari-Difinoma, has reportedly surrendered to the Nigerian Army.
The radical preacher surrendered to the troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama, Operation Hadin Kai after he was forced out of his hideout following sustained bombardment by troops of Operation Hadin Kai.
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has dismissed allegations made against him by the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole had accused Governor Fayemi who is a presidential aspirant in the APC of asking him (Oshiomhole) to rig an election in his favour.
But Governor Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, rubbished the allegation.
The statement read in part, “The allegation, which was made on national television, is not only false, puerile and laughable, it is a figment of the imagination of the former APC Chairman as Governor Fayemi has never asked Oshiomhole to rig an election for him or any other person and never had any reason to ask for such.
“Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard the allegations by Comrade Oshiomhole, who apparently is still experiencing a post-traumatic stress disorder on account of his removal as Chairman of APC.”
Stressing that he had no reason to approach Oshiomhole for favours for any election, the statement said “Governor Fayemi has a stellar track record of being a consummate democrat even in difficult times”.
“Many Nigerians can easily recall his historic concession speech in 2014 in an election that was clearly lost to electoral sleight of hand at the behest of the then People’s Democratic Party (PDP)–led Federal Government,” the statement added.
“Others will also recall how he spent years in court patiently pursuing the retrieval of his stolen mandate between 2007 and 2010. He has demonstrated nothing but decency, decorum and fidelity to the rule of law in all his years in politics and public office.”
He called on the former APC chairman to back his claim with evidence.
“We challenge Mr Oshiomhole to provide the public with independently verifiable evidence of his unsubstantiated claims, if true,” he said.
The president of African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina has declined the invitation to run for Nigeria’s presidency.
Adesina in a letter of appreciation, commended those who contributed to purchase the nomination form under the All Progressives Congress APC for the honor.
He therefore said his present engagement and the fact that he remains committed to see Africa growing won’t make him accept such offer.
