Hot News Naija: April 2016

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Four weeks before graduation, Nigerian medical student goes missing in Chicago

Although Ambrose Monye has booked the ticket for his graduation ceremony scheduled for May, Monye might not be attending his ceremony except he shows up sometime soon.

The 28-year-old medical student has been declared missing since April 21 when he was last seen in the area of Jackson Park Hospital in Chicago where he’s doing a two-year clinical rotation.

He often goes to coffee shops in the Hyde Park neighbourhood and the John Crerar Library, Chicago police said.

Monye is a student at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico and is in Chicago for a two-year clinical rotation at Jackson Park Hospital, ABC Chicago station WLS-TV reports.

Photonews: Gov. Aregbesola Turns State Capital To Beauty Arena

The beautification of the second phase of Freedom Park at Railway Station, Osogbo as a recreational center has become a reality under the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Below are pictures from the beautiful location:

Tragedy was averted late on Friday when Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, survived an attempt on his life by suspected herdsmen along Benin-Ekpoma road in Edo State. Cardinal Onaiyekan was attacked on his way from the 10 years anniversary celebration of the enthronement of Dr. Augustin Akubueze as a bishop and the 10 years anniversary celebration of the Diocese Uromi.

Recounting their ordeal, the driver to Onaiyekan, who simply identified himself as Segun blamed the attack on herdsmen. He said: “We left Benin for Uromi and at about 5:00 p.m. on the fateful day, I think very close to Ehor, I saw a big pothole and decided to slow down the vehicle. I would have passed the spot with speed but because the Cardinal was sleeping, I decided to slow down the vehicle so that he won’t wake up. Suddenly, I saw three men come out of the palm tree plantation by the roadside and started shooting at the vehicle.

WELCOME TO MAY, OUR MONTH OF PROGRESS - PASTOR E.O. ABINA

PROPHETIC DECLARATION FROM THE GOFAMINT GENERAL OVERSEER, Pastor (Dr) E. O. Abina FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

WELCOME TO MAY, OUR MONTH OF PROGRESS!

“You have dwelt long enough at this mountain…See I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers…” (Deut.1:6b, 8a) NOTICE: God did not create you to be stagnant or a mediocre in your career.

As from this month:

· You will make progress
· In your ministry you will make progress
· In your business you will make progress
· In your academic pursuit you will make progress
· The embargo of stagnancy is lifted from your head

The Secretary General of the United Nations, the Hon. Ban Ki-Moon will address the 23rd International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Congress to be held in Mauritius from 8 – 11 May, 2016. Themed “International Arbitration and the Rule of Law: Contribution and Conformity”.

The Congress will offer discussion of cutting-edge issues in international arbitration of relevance to hundreds of seasoned practitioners and young professionals from around the globe. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei will also address the Congress.

The ICCA Congress is the pre-eminent event for international arbitration professionals. It typically draws over 1000 attendees and brings together arbitrators, counsel, corporate counsel and government representatives from around the world, giving delegates access to key decision – makers and thought leaders in the field. This is the first ICCA Congress to be held in Africa.

Doha has called for an emergency meeting of Arab League envoys to discuss the Syrian regime's deadly airstrikes on the war-torn city of Aleppo.

Qatar's permanent envoy at the Cairo-based pan-Arab body has requested holding "a meeting to discuss the dangerous escalation in the city of Aleppo and the Syrian regime forces' massacres against civilians" there, a Qatar News Agency statement said.

The request comes after Russia said it will not ask the Syrian regime it backs to halt air raids on Aleppo, which has been divided between regime control in the west and rebel control in the east since 2012.

Russian airstrikes have killed at least 5,799 people in Syria since Moscow's aerial campaign started in late September, the opposition-aligned Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Saturday.

According to the British-based NGO, at least 2,005 civilians were among those killed, including 481 minors and 305 women.

The Russian airstrikes, which began on Sept. 30, have also claimed the lives of 2,035 Islamic State fighters, as well as 1,759 members of Syrian rebel factions and the Al-Nusra Front, Al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

FCT Council of Chiefs paid a Courtesy Visit to the Presidential Villa (PHOTOS)

The FCT Council of Chiefs paid a Courtesy Visit to the Presidential Villa on Friday April 29, 2016. They were received in audience by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Moscow defended its intercept of a U.S. reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea on Friday, saying it took the action because the aircraft turned off its transponder.

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov dismissed Pentagon claims that the maneuver by the Russian SU-27 against the U.S. Air Force RC-135 was “unsafe and unprofessional.”

"We’re already getting used to claims of Pentagon representatives regarding alleged 'non-professional' maneuvers of our fighters when intercepting the U.S. scout planes on the Russian borders," he said in a statement carried by the state-run ITAR-TASSnews agency. "At the same time, we want to note that the RC-135U surveillance plane tries to sneak up to the Russian border with the transponder turned off each time. Therefore, the air defense forces on duty have to lift the fighter to visually identify the type of aircraft and its tail number.”

The Jose Mourinho to Manchester United rumours have been something of a saga, and the season hasn't even ended yet. Journalists, no doubt under pressure to get the most mileage out of the story, have been putting claims out, backtracking, and sitting on the fence so much that there must be plenty of splinters in backsides.

One man who didn't sit on the fence is Diego Torres. He's the Spanish journalist who wrote a critical biography of Mourinho, which was the book containing the claim the Portuguese manager wept when he didn't get the Manchester United job after Ferguson.

Mourinho obviously wasn't very happy with the claims and said at the time: "I think the person who wrote that book shouldn't write books. He should write books for kids using his imagination."

Torres titled his book 'Prepare to Lose: The Mourinho Era', to think that Mourinho or his Gestifute agency would send leaks to the journalist is unrealistic. Mourinho has fallen out with many journalists, but none have probably annoyed him as much as Torres.

Nigerian troops have continuously intensified clearance operations of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East under the auspices of Operation LAFIYA DOLE.

It is in this vein that troops of 231, 331 Battalions and elements of Armed Forces Special Forces Battalion, accompanied by some vigilantes, conducted a clearance operation at Doksa village aimed at clearing the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area.

The team, acccording to Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman who is the Acting Director Army Public Relations, cleared all the routes in the general area as well as suspected hideouts of the Boko Haram terrorists before arriving and clearing the terrorists out of their enclaves in Doksa 1, 2, and 3, as well as Sabon Garin Doksa.

He said "the troops also dominated the area with heavy artillery shelling against other registered locations of Boko Haram terrorists at Buga Dam, Golgore and Lariski villages."

The Boko Haram casualties are enormous and troops have also intensified shelling other hideouts.

Arsenal fans opposed to long-serving manager Arsene Wenger were drowned out by supporters backing him during the north London club's Premier League home game with Norwich City on Saturday.

In a pre-planned protest, hundreds of fans held up A4 posters bearing the words "TIME FOR CHANGE" in the 12th minute of the game at the Emirates Stadium, in a nod to Arsenal's 12-year league title drought.

But in response thousands of fans chanted "There's only one Arsene Wenger!", with some holding aloft placards in support of the under-fire Frenchman.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerian President, Mr. Muhammadu Buhari has appointed human rights lawyer and anti-corruption crusader, Chief Okoi Obono-obla as his Special Assistant on Prosecution.

A letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal indicates that Buhari has approved his appointment as “Special Assistant to the President (Prosecution), Federal Ministry of Justice with effect from 18th April 2016 on the Terms and Conditions of Service as contained in “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries & Allowances, etc.) (Amendment)Act 2008.

"All the players are playing & serving for the team. This is great for the team as a whole."

"We have met the challenge & that's the important thing. Now we'll focus on the game on Wednesday."

"The important thing was to win these 3 points. If we didn't then it would've been an uphill task, We suffered but less with Modric."

"I suffer in all games. We added three more points against a tough opponent. This helps us prepare for the game on Wednesday."

"Bale's goal was decisive. A sensational effort by him which allows us to keep dreaming & fighting for the league."

There was crisis and confusion at the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State on Saturday over the conduct of the ward congresses to elect delegates, who will eventually elect the state executives of the party.
One of the chairmanship aspirants of the party, Dr. Bayo Faforiji, and thousands of his supporters stormed the party secretariat as early as 8:30am to protest the alleged hoarding of the forms by the State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa.

Faforiji’s supporters almost lynched a supporter of Mr. Soji Adagunodo, who is also a chairmanship aspirant but for the timely intervention of security men at the scene.

IT’S A NEW DAY IN ASO ROCK, OUR PROBLEMS ARE TEMPORARY & RESOLVABLE, VP OSINBAJO SAYS

• UNVEILS PACKAGE TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has restated the resolve of the Buhari administration towards instituting a new culture of probity and accountability in governance saying “it’s a new day in Aso Rock”.

"Nearly a year on- there are many problems and many have asked where is the change? Is this the change we voted for? Even some fifth columnists in our midst have suggested bring back corruption," according to the Vice President while speaking today at The Platform, a public engagement forum organized by the Covenant Church led by Pastor Poju Oyemade.

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo then declared matter-of-factly that "the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is completely and irrevocably committed to change. "

The Latest on anti-government protests in Iraq. Iraqi security forces have fired tear gas on protesters at one of the entrances to the Green Zone as hundreds of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr continue to stream into the highly fortified government compound.

Associated Press reporters at the scene say thousands of protesters have entered the Green Zone since breaching the walls and storming parliament earlier on Saturday.

The heavily guarded area is home to most government ministries and foreign embassies.

The entry of the protesters marks a major escalation after months of demonstrations and sit-ins by al-Sadr's followers, who are calling for wide-ranging political reforms aimed at combatting corruption and waste.

We are not immune to the distress of the Nigerian people. What we say to you is that these problems are temporary, not because they are not tough, or old and recurring problems but because today you have a leadership with the sincerity and commitment to solve them, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said at the 12th Edition of The Platform, a public policy forum held in Abuja.

We must stay the course, keep our focus and see our country turn around.

In November 2015 and...for the first time in Nigeria's history, we generated 5000MW of power. Power was becoming stable. By February 14, 2016, sophisticated vandals hit the Forcados export terminal which supplies over 40% of Gas going to our power plants.

Erstwhile Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has taken a swipe at the current economic policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, describing them as opaque and archaic.

Speaking at The Platform, a yearly public policy forum currently holding in Abuja, Ezekwesili said the Buhari’s current economic policies are similar to those he promulgated during the military regime he led in the 1980s.

According to Ezekwesili, Buhari’s “archaic and opaque,” economic principles are not only encouraging massive corruption and abuse of power, but also hurting the poor they were intended to help.

She said, “During the first coming of this our new president, a command and control economic system was adopted.

At least 20 air strikes hit rebel-held areas of Syria's northern city of Aleppo on Saturday, in the ninth straight day of violence in which bombardments by both sides have killed nearly 250 civilians, a monitoring group said.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights did not immediately say whether Syrian government warplanes or Russian jets, which have been supporting Damascus, carried out the strikes.

Bombing by the government side on rebel-held areas of Aleppo since April 22 have killed 140 people including 19 children, the Observatory said.

French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

(Reuters) - France will nearly double the number of troops it has in Ivory Coast, the defence minister said on Saturday on a visit during which he laid flowers at the site of an attack on tourists that killed 19 people.

Jean-Yves Le Drian placed a bouquet on the beach in Grand Bassam, a resort town 40 km (25 miles) from Abidjan, where gunmen shot swimmers and sunbathers before storming hotels last month, an attack claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Four French citizens were killed.

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the government and people of Edo State over the call to glory of the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, as he said "we have lost a People's monarch.

In a statement by the Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the President of the Senate, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described the late Oba as a just, fair-minded, courageous, benevolent and a people's monarch who lived his entire life in the service of his people as a prince and king while also serving the nation as a bureaucrat and diplomat of high repute.

The Senate President who received the news of Oba Erediauwa's transition with great shock said, "a glorious chapter in the annals of the Benin Kingdom has just come to a close. My grief stricken heart however goes out to the immediate family of the Oba, the Benin Traditional Council, the people and Government of Edo State, over the glorious but yet sad exit of the Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa - our highly revered King.

Our President has travelled a lot to parley the international community. No doubt his integrity has earned him and the country greet respect from various “world leaders”. We wish him well and do not intend to join the debate as to if he should travel less or travel more. Rather, we want to offer some little points with regards to how to earn respect from the International community. Enjoy.

President Muhammadu Buhari In Chin

1. Promote your Culture and Values

A large hunk of the greatness of the Western world is promotion of its culture. America owes more thanks to Michael Jackson, James Bond, 2Pac, and Hollywood than it owes its graduate in terms of the world view of America as a super power. Unfortunately these are the people who taught the world to dress, talk, think, and act like Americans. This is why it was more fanciful in Africa to use American products and operate American system of Government, both of which puts you under the country in terms of economy and leadership respectively.

President Kenyatta of Kenya on Saturday visited the scene where a building collapsed killing seven people during heavy rains.

The President was accompanied by Nairobi Women Representative Rachel Shebesh, Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke, Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet.

County officials said seven people have been confirmed dead and that the number could rise as search and rescue efforts continue.

More than 150 people have so far been rescued from the rubble. Kenya Defence Forces have been deployed to assist in rescue operations.

Mr Mueke ordered people residing in adjacent buildings to evacuate immediately to avoid a similar disaster.

Late Oba of Benin,
His Royal Majesty,
Omo n’Oba n’Edo
Uku Akpolokpolo
Oba Erediauwa I

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has condoled with the people of the ancient Bini Kingdom over the transition of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa I.

In a statement signed by his spokesman Turaki Hassan, the Speaker ‎noted that the late Oba’s legacy of peace will continue to make impact in the Edo nation and the entire country for generations to come.

“The Edo nation will always remember the late revered monarch as a royal father who loved peace and mediated disputes with fairness. Nigeria has indeed lost a dependable royalty and jewel of peace”, the speaker lamented.

Oba Erediauwa was a peace maker who devoted his life and time in preaching peace and building bridges of love and friendship

The Bini kingdom during his 37 year reign witnessed unprecedented progress, peace and stability and by his demise the nation has lost a rare gem, a father and leader per excellence.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has orderd the suspension of the ongoing run-up elections in Kano state. This becomes necessary following the violence, harassment & Intimidation & snatching/destruction of election materials in the Minjibir state constituency election in Kano State today.

INEC after consultation with the security agencies has decided to suspend the election.

A new date will be announced later when INEC is satisfied that conditions are conducive for the safe conduct of the election.

President Buhari - We’ll use recovered money to create jobs for youths –

NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp,
Gbakuta, Iseyin, Oyo State

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said his administration was determined to recover money stolen by former public officers to create jobs for the nation’s teeming unemployed youths. The President said this at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Gbakuta, Iseyin, Oyo State during the swearing-in of Batch ‘A’ corps members posted to the state.

Buhari, whose speech was read by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sport, Ololade Agboola, said recovered funds would be used to create jobs. “One of the disturbing problems inherited by this administration is increasing unemployment amongst young people.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has commenced mobilisation towards the picketing of some Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Nigeria National League, NNL, and Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, clubs over non-payment of salaries of footballers and coaches of the clubs following the expiration of the 25 April, 2016 ultimatum given the league management and the club owners to comply with the decisions of the Players Status and Arbitration Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The decisions were reportedly reached on 18, 19 and 20 December, 2009; 10, 11 and 12 May, 2010 as well as 18 September, 2015.

The OccupyNASS campaign group has denied reports that it was being sponsored to work against the National Assembly leadership and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, disclosing that instead, a robust support package from unnamed Nigerians, at an average of N400,000 daily, flowed in throughout its campaign.

After three days of sit-out at the National Assembly main gate, the group said on Thursday that it would bring down its tents and evacuate the premises on Friday morning.

At a press briefing on Thursday night, the movement highlighted its achievements, demands and plans for the future.

The convener of the group, Bunmi Awoyemi insisted that the protest was ending on a good note for all Nigerians.

I will like to start this address by thanking the Almighty for enabling us to gather here today for the Second Quarter 2016 Route March. This is a demonstration of our resolve to ensure that personnel keep fit at all times. I therefore congratulate you all for a successful outing. This exercise is very timely given that as you are all aware, the war against insurgency and terrorism in the country is still ongoing and any of you here could be deployed at a short notice for the operation in the NE or indeed any part of the country where we are deployed.

The Nigerian Air Force has continued to sustain the tempo of its operation and have degraded the capacity of the insurgents and denied them freedom of movement. We have continued to target their logistic bases, ammunition depots and destroyed mines laid by insurgents on access routes. We are optimistic that within a short time God willing; the Boko Haram menace would become a thing of the past. Similarly, the Nigerian Air Force has continued to contribute its quota in various internal security operations across the country aimed at combating all forms of criminality. To sustain the tempo of these operations, there is the need to train and reinvigorate certain professional ethics that have eroded over the years.

Yesterday, Friday 29th April 2016, Nigerian troops of 7 Division Strike Group Team B attached to 22 Brigade fighting Bokoo Haram in the North East, again embarked on aggressive mobile fighting patrol in support of the ongoing offensive operations in Sambisa forest. This is in its bid to finally bring the terrorists' insurgency to an end. In the process, the gallant troops have once again dealt heavy operational blow on the Boko Haram terrorists logistic cells.

Residents of ISIS-held Iraqi city suffer under siege

Abu Jassim can only afford to provide one meal a day for his seven-member family - usually a stew made of locally grown leafy green vegetables or rice with a small portion of flat bread.

“We are experiencing the agony of starvation for the first time in our life,” said Abu Jassim, a 52-year-old grocer and resident of the besieged ISIS-held city of Fallujah.

In reality, nobody seems to be starving in Fallujah just yet. But medical officials say malnutrition is on the rise and vital medical supplies are running out.

The Nigerian navy has said that Charles Ekpemefumor, also known as Charles Parker, is wanted for allegedly masterminding the hijack of the MT Maximus vessel and its crew.

Navy declared Charles Ekpemefumor wanted for allegedly masterminding a recent pirate attack and hijacking of a vessel and its crew, MT Maximus.

A statement by Navy spokesman Air Commodore Christian Ezekobe said the vessel with 18 crew members, carrying 4,368.203MT of Gas Oil was hijacked on 11th February 2016 by a group of suspected pirates off Cote d'Ivoire waters.

He said the navy rescued the vessel on 19th February 2016 within Sao Tome waters 320 nautical miles (nm) off the Nigerian coast.

A partial truce known as a "regime of calm" has come into effect in most parts of Syria apart from in the divided second city of Aleppo.

The truce announced by the Syrian army came into effect in two areas an hour after midnight local time on Friday.

A statement said it would last for 24 hours in Damascus and the Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital.

The truce is also due to last for 72 hours in the northern countryside of Latakia province.

There has been no explanation as to why the halt in fighting is only temporary,

No agreement has been reached between Manchester United and Jose Mourinho over the manager's job at Old Trafford reports Sky Sports News HQ.

Jos Mourinho is reportedly keen on the post should United look to replace Louis van Gaal in the summer.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss reportedly signed agreement with the Manchester United as speculation continues to surround Van Gaal's future despite the Dutchman leading United to their first FA Cup final for nine years and with them still in contention for a place in next season's Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Laurent Blanc is another linked with the post but Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino is out of the running after agreeing a new five-year deal with the Londoners.

Jose Mourinho will reportedly take over at Manchester United next season, and apparently wants to sign a La Liga star for the Old Trafford club.
Marca had previously reported, in February, that the Portuguese tactician will replace Louis Van Gaal at the end of the season.

On Thursday, the Spanish publication again insisted that Mourinho is soon to be unveiled as United's next boss, and he apparently has his eye on a Valencia midfielder.

The former Chelsea boss is said to want to sign Andre Gomes from the struggling La Liga side. The 22-year-old is a client of Mourinho's agent Jorge Mendes, and the coach believes the player will soon become hot property.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has discussed the notion that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are "selfish" footballers.

The Frenchman has refuted claims that the Argentine superstar and the Portuguese talisman are greedy players, suggesting that their ability helps their teams score goals and win games.

"If Messi scores, does that make him selfish?" Pogba asked during an interview with La Repubblica.

"No, being strong lets you help the team. Take Cristiano Ronaldo. He sets himself some incredibly high objectives, he's ambitious, he wants to beat every record, and he wants the Ballon d'Or. That's not selfishness.

PHOTONEWS: Mrs Aisha Buhari's inauguration of her pet project " Future Assured" Oyo state

Mrs Aisha Buhari's inauguration of her pet project " Future Assured" in Ibadan, Oyo state Capital (PHOTOS)

Mrs Aisha Buhari

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that it delivers on its promise of change as this will make reelection in 2019 a walk over for the party.

The Speaker said this when he received a delegation from Delta State APC under the umbrella of Delta APC Contact Committee in his office on Wednesday, according to a statement issued in Abuja by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan.

Dogara noted that nothing could sell the party faster and wider than providing tools of empowerment for Nigerians to thrive in their businesses and daily lives through provision of infrastructure and other needs as promised by the party.

China has denied a U.S. aircraft carrier entry into a Hong Kong port, according to Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Bill Urban.

"We were recently informed that a request for a port visit by a U.S. carrier strike group, including the USS John C. Stennis and accompanying vessels, to Hong Kong was denied," he said.

"We have a long track record of successful port visits to Hong Kong, including with the current visit of the (command ship) USS Blue Ridge, and we expect that will continue."

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced N3.6b in stolen funds to former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah, according to EFCC sources.

As Minister of Aviation, Ms. Oduah secured several multi-billion naira contracts to upgrade Nigeria’s 22 airports. It was later revealed that much of this money went into the minister’s pockets and that the program’s progress that she touted was grossly overstated.

Documents made available showed that of the 192 contracts awarded in the second phase of the program, only six were completed.

Ms. Oduah first came under scrutiny after compelling the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to buy her two bulletproof BMWs valued at N255m.

The death toll at the Al Quds hospital, which was supported by MSF and a number of other organisations, has now risen to more than 50 from the hospital and surrounding areas where the bombs first hit, it includes patients and at least six medical staff.

The bombing of an Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)-supported Al Quds hospital in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, has killed at least 50 people, including at least two doctors.

According to hospital staff on the ground, the hospital was destroyed by at least one airstrike which directly hit the building on Wednesday night, reducing it to rubble. Other airstrikes in the neighbourhood also hit areas close to the hospital.

"MSF categorically condemns this outrageous targeting of yet another medical facility in Syria," said Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission,Syria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released additional guidelines to the existing 2015 Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of elections in the country.

Having approved the pilot of the Continuous Accreditation and Voting Procedure at elections, for the time being, the Commission has decided that the following shall constitute a supplement to the existing guidelines and regulations at elections.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood has urged Nigerians to play their part in ensuring elections were devoid of violence and other vices that led to declaring an election inconclusive.

He said: “It is not just the responsibility of the Commission but the responsibility of all of us. If we play our role and mitigate violence, because you see the fire smoldering, if no action is taken until it develops into an inferno, it becomes difficult for everybody”.

The INEC Chairman made the call yesterday when members of the INEC Press Corps paid him a courtesy call at the Commissions headquarters Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari has received with sadness and an immense feeling of great national loss, news of the passing away of the highly revered traditional ruler of Benin Kingdom, Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa.

On behalf of the Federal Government, President Buhari extends sincere condolences to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the people of Benin Kingdom and Edo State on the passage of the beloved monarch who had ruled over his people since his ascension to the throne in 1979.

The President extends special commiserations to Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa and other members of the late Oba's immediate family.

President Buhari assures them of the fullest sympathy and solidarity of the Federal Government and all Nigerians as they mourn Oba Erediauwa who will always be remembered as one of the most outstanding traditional rulers of his era.

Nigerians have never lacked ideas, but the time has come for the nation to transform brilliant ideas into reality by diligently following-up on plans and coming together to achieve objectives.

This view was expressed today by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, while receiving at the Presidential Villa, a delegation of Nigerian CEOs who attended the Indian Manufacturing Conclave - an industrial conference- last month in New Delhi.

"Almost all of us are certain about what the country needs to do but the critical problem is the capacity to get things done. What is important is what we do with all the ideas,” according to the Vice President.

President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja that a multinational taskforce will soon be established to patrol the waters of the Gulf of Guinea.

Speaking at an audience with the French Minister of Defence, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, President Buhari said that patrols by the multinational taskforce will augment and boost ongoing efforts to improve security in the Gulf, and curb crude oil theft and piracy.

President Buhari and Mr. Le Drian also discussed ongoing French support for the Federal Government's efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President expressed his government's appreciation of the assistance and support of France and other G7 countries, which he said, has helped Nigeria achieve significant successes against Boko Haram.

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to some stories going round the media circles with the title “Disquiet in the war front as soldiers complain of unpaid allowance” alleging that there was problem in the Nigerian Army due to non-payment of allowances to some soldiers serving in the North East.

In particular, they were alleging non-payment of outstanding peacekeeping operations allowance of troops that served in Guinea Bissau under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States and operation allowances to some troops in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, among others.

The issues contained in such publications are not true nor correct. While some media treated the matter professionally, giving the military benefit of doubt and sought to know the truth, others mischievously went to town with the false story without recourse to ethics of the profession and bothering to find out from the military.

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