Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme should be a two-year programme so that corps members can undergo military training. Speaking during a programme on Channels Television on Wednesday, the Taraba governor said at the end of the military training, ex-corps members would be able to carry guns to defend themselves. He noted that since the government cannot provide adequate security, citizens should be engaged to protect themselves. “If you leave me, the NYSC, I will say it should be two years — one year for compulsory military training and the other year for the social works that they are doing now,” he said. “[This is] so that anybody who graduates as an NYSC person can know how to handle a gun, can know how to defend himself, just like it is done in other countries like in Israel, Lebanon and other places. “You must engage your citizens to be proactive when you cannot provide the security. You must allow them to protect themselves. Constitution or no constitution, you must first be alive.” The governor also asked the federal government to train those residing in border communities on how to use guns so that they can protect themselves against banditry and kidnapping. Ishaku said such communities should not be left to the whims and caprices of gunmen, if the government can’t protect them. “I will still request the federal government that those who are at the border regions and those villages that are hard to reach, they must teach them how to use guns to protect themselves,” he said. “You can’t leave human beings like that — at the whims and caprices of somebody who moves with an AK-47. This is wrong. They should train 10 or 20 people in each village along the axis of the boundaries.”

Chairman of Igbudu Market Mile ‘2’ in Warri South council area of Delta state simply identified as Okpako has reportedly died during a sexual romp with his wife’s salesgirl. It was gathered the incident occurred on Sunday night at a hotel (name withheld) located at Odibo Extension in the Igbudu area of Warri. Details surrounding the incident were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report. According to a security source, his death occurred before the planned sexual escapade. “It’s like he took some drugs as well as Indian hemp. I learnt he ran out of the hotel room like someone who wanted to die. ‘’They rushed him before they knew it, he went unconscious. He was confirmed dead in the hospital,” the source stated. But another community source said he died during the sexual intercourse. The source claimed he took hard drugs and smoked heavily before the incident, adding the young lady ran out to call for help when she noticed the man was dying. A similar incident, involving a butcher simply identified as Victor and his friend’s ex-wife, Julie, reportedly occurred last month in Oghara, Ethiope West council area. Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed Sunday’s incident, adding that the girl is in Police custody. “It is confirmed. The man died in a particular hotel. While we cannot tell for sure until autopsy, I think he took some drugs,” Edafe said.

Twenty persons escaped death while four others were rescued when two separate storey buildings collapsed in various locations in Anambra state Tuesday night. The two buildings were located in Amikwo village, Awka South Local government area, and Oko in Orumba North Government Area of the state. Four persons were reportedly trapped inside the debris in the Oko building but were rescued with injuries, while about 20 persons reportedly escaped death in that of Amikwo. According to eyewitnesses who preferred anonymity, the Amikwo building collapsed at about 2am, falling on part of an occupied nearby two storey building. No life was lost in the incident. Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics 20 escape death, four rescued as buildings collapse in Anambra July 7, 2021 20-escape-death-four-rescued-as-buildings-collapse-in-anambra FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail By Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha Twenty persons escaped death while four others were rescued when two separate storey buildings collapsed in various locations in Anambra state Tuesday night. The two buildings were located in Amikwo village, Awka South Local government area, and Oko in Orumba North Government Area of the state. Four persons were reportedly trapped inside the debris in the Oko building but were rescued with injuries, while about 20 persons reportedly escaped death in that of Amikwo. According to eyewitnesses who preferred anonymity, the Amikwo building collapsed at about 2am, falling on part of an occupied nearby two storey building. No life was lost in the incident. READ ALSO: 65-year-old farmer sodomizes 8-year-old boy in Anambra When our reporters visited the scenes today, the building had been sealed by officials of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA). Reacting, Managing Director, ACTDA, Ven Amaechi Okwuosa revealed that the building has been under construction for the past ten years and was marked for demolition in 2018. Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics 20 escape death, four rescued as buildings collapse in Anambra July 7, 2021 20-escape-death-four-rescued-as-buildings-collapse-in-anambra FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedInWhatsAppEmail By Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha Twenty persons escaped death while four others were rescued when two separate storey buildings collapsed in various locations in Anambra state Tuesday night. The two buildings were located in Amikwo village, Awka South Local government area, and Oko in Orumba North Government Area of the state. Four persons were reportedly trapped inside the debris in the Oko building but were rescued with injuries, while about 20 persons reportedly escaped death in that of Amikwo. According to eyewitnesses who preferred anonymity, the Amikwo building collapsed at about 2am, falling on part of an occupied nearby two storey building. No life was lost in the incident. READ ALSO: 65-year-old farmer sodomizes 8-year-old boy in Anambra When our reporters visited the scenes today, the building had been sealed by officials of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA). Reacting, Managing Director, ACTDA, Ven Amaechi Okwuosa revealed that the building has been under construction for the past ten years and was marked for demolition in 2018. 20-escape-death-four-rescued-as-buildings-collapse-in-anambra “Although the developer had commenced demolition of the building, the right equipment was not used, hence the collapse,” he said. Okwuosa pledged the agency’s commitment to ensuring the structural integrity of buildings done in the state capital territory. Contacted on the Oko incident, Executive Chairman of Anambra Physical Planning Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe, blamed the incident on a compromise on structural integrity. He said the structure had since been sealed, while development partners had been invited for questioning.

A former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has said the ruling of the Federal High Court that she could serve without the certificate of the National Youth Service Corps has vindicated her. She said this in a statement issued by her legal team hours after the judgment on Wednesday. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in the judgment, held that Adeosun was not qualified to have participated in the scheme when she graduated at 22 years because she was then a British citizen. Justice Taiwo further held that as at when she formally returned to Nigeria and became a Nigerian citizen at over 30 years, she was not eligible to present herself for the NYSC service. The judge said Adeosun or anyone did not require a discharge certificate of NYSC to qualify to contest election to the House of Representatives or be appointed a minister in Nigeria. The judge was, however, silence on the certificate forgery allegation against the former finance minister. The former finance minister, who was enmeshed in an allegation of NYSC certificate forgery, resigned her appointment in 2018. Adeosun, in an originating, summon with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2021 filed on March 11 by her lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, listed the Attorney General of the Federation as the sole defendant. The former minister, who said she went through a “very traumatic spell”, noted that the court had further reiterated her stand on the matter. The statement read, “My lawyers have informed me of the judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the case of Folakemi Adeosun v The Attorney General of the Federation (FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2021) in which the court, presided over by Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruled that the Constitution does not require me to present my first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate, to be appointed a Minister. “More importantly, he also ruled that I was not eligible to perform NYSC by virtue of the constitution. This is the position I have always maintained and am happy for this official clarification. “The ruling vindicates me after a very traumatic spell. It is, however, not only a personal victory; it’s also a victory for many Nigerians in the Diaspora under similar conditions who are desirous to serve their country. “I wish to thank God, my family, friends, my counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and numerous well-wishers for their love, care and concern throughout this difficult period, which has lasted three whole years. “I wish to add in the light of the court’s ruling, I will at the appropriate time and without hesitation, take all further steps necessary within the law to protect my reputation. I thank you all.”

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N16.04 billion ecological fund projects across 12 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) for soil erosion/flood and pollution control interventions. Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said this while addressing state house correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting on Wednesday. Adesina explained that the approved funds for the projects (N16,041,101,334.79), inclusive of 7.5 percent value-added tax (VAT), is for the third and fourth quarters of 2020. He said projects for implementation include: “Erosion, Flood Control, Bridge Reconstruction and Road improvement at Umulmenyi Nkpa Communities of Bende LGA, Abia State; Gully Erosion Control Works at Umuokoro Lower Okata Community, Ihitte/Uboma LGA, Imo State. “Imaku Omi Erosion Control Project, Ogun Waterside Local Government (Phase II), Ogun State; Afforestation, Combating Land Degradation, Road Improvement Measures in Aworiosun, Ikoyi Agroforestry Community, Isokan LGA, Osun State. “Erosion Control at Calabar Free Trade Zone, Calabar, Cross River State; and Erosion and Road Improvement Works at Yelwa Primary School and Police Station Road, Yola, Adamawa State”. Adesina said other projects are ecological problems at “Federal College of Education Technical, Gombe, Gombe State; Flood and Erosion Menace Affecting Lau Community and its Environs in Lau LGA, Phase II, Taraba State. “Erosion and Flood Control at Birnin Kudu, Budiga, Babaidu, Kafin Gana, Sammiya/ Buji LGA, Gofara, Yayarin Tukur, Birnin Kudu LGA, Jigawa State; Flood Erosion Control Works from Kano Road to Main Water Channel in Daura, Katsina State, Phase II,” he added. “Asa River/Isale Koko Erosion and Flood Control Project, Ilorin East LGA, Kwara State; Erosion Flood Control and Environmental Degradation in Agaie and Lapai Community, Niger State. “Soil Erosion, River Channelization and Slope Protection within Maitama District (Phase III), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja”. The presidential spokesman further said FEC also approved the revised estimated total cost on the contract to construct Damaturu-Gasua-Nguru 132 kVA double circuit transmission line for Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Traders at the Karimo Market in the Federal Capital Territory are counting their losses after a late-night fire on Tuesday consumed about 200 stalls and destroyed goods worth millions of naira. Although the cause of the inferno remains unknown, some traders said the fire started from a shop before spreading to the others. When our correspondent visited the market, the traders were seen salvaging what was left of their goods. A cosmetic trader, who gave his name simply as Godwin, said the inferno was sudden as he could not rescue any of the goods. He said, “I did not know how it happened, nobody knows how it happened because I have been asking around. Some people still defied the fire to see if they could salvage some of their goods. I could not because the fire was a bit much at my end. “The most painful thing was that some people stole our goods instead of helping us when the fire was spreading. I recently stocked my shop; this is too hard for me to bear.” The Financial Secretary of the market, Wilson Loris, told our correspondent that the affected area was the nerve centre of the market, adding that about 200 makeshift shops were affected. He said, “For now we cannot say this was what caused the fire but the fire started from a particular shop which the executives are still trying to trace. About 200 shops were affected. The most painful aspect of it was that the side it affected was the heart of the market. Everywhere is empty and goods worth millions of naira were being housed here. We call on the government to help us.” The PUNCH observed that the fire had not been completely put out as of 12pm on Wednesday.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre has disproved claims it handed over five ‘Buhari-Must-Go’ protesters to the Department of State Service (DSS) during last Sunday’s church service. The protesters were arrested last Sunday at the Dunamis church’s glorious doom along the Airport road, Abuja. Dunamis said the protesters were arrested outside the church, adding that they had no hand in the arrest of the youths. An official statement from the church on Wednesday by one Dr. Abah Ochowechi, titled: ‘Arrest and detention of protesters – the truth you need to know’ dated July 6, 2021 said: “Nothing can be further than the truth. The church holds three services every Sunday and the Senior Pastor, Dr. Paul Enenche preaches in all the services. “After the sermon in the first service on that Sunday, an altar call was made to which many people came out, including the said youths, and nothing happened to them. “However, soon after their departure from the altar, they swung into a protest with blaring trumpets and saxophones right from the exit door of the church. “At the same time, the event was covered and live-streamed with the background shot of the church building and those of the thronging crowd both exiting and entering the sanctuary for the next service. “The live-streaming had the caption, “Buhari-Must-Go protest hits Dunamis Church in Abuja.” The statement condemned the protesters by stating the church was not a protest ground. Ochowechi said: “Moreover, the church is not an activism ground but a centre for the projection of truth against all forms of evil. “The church is non-political and non-partisan and thus not an appropriate ground for political protests. It is not the seat of government where those who have protested against reside. “We wish to state categorically that Dunamis International Gospel Center has no hand in the arrest, and detention of the said youths as they were arrested outside the premises of the church. “The church has no right to arrest and detain people and has no detention custody. The right of arrest and detention resides with government security agencies.”