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9 pregnant women among 157 new returnees from Libya
Nine pregnant women are among the 157 latest Nigerian returnees from the North African country of Libya. The voluntary returnees arrived last weekend with the assistance of International Organisation for Migration( IOM).
Abraham Tamrat, programme manager, Migration Management Unit, IOM, Lagos, who confirmed the development, said that the returnees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard a chartered flight on Friday.
Don’ t relent in prayer for Nigeria, Ambode charges citizens
JOSHUA BASSEY
BUSINESS DAY
CityFile
Wife of Ondo State governor, Betty Anyanwu – Akeredolu and others during the Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials,( FOWOSO) during Empowerment Outreach programme for women, youths and special needs people in Ondo east local government area of Ondo State.
Governor of Lagos State, AkinwunmiAmbode has charged Muslims to intensify pray for Nigeria ahead of the 2019 elections, stressing that mutual understanding, love and unity must be reinforced among the citizens irrespective of tribe and religion.
Ambode gave the charge in a keynote address he delivered at the Eid-el-Fitri get-together in Lagos Mainland, weekend, to mark the end of the 30-day fasting and prayer by Muslims in the state. The get-together was held simultaneously across the 20 local government areas of the state.
Represented by Tunji Bello, the secretary to state government, at Evans Square, venue of the event, Ambode noted that the get-together was to promote an inclusive governance and ensure that“ everybody feels the pulse of governance, irrespective of their locations within the boundaries” of the Lagos.
“ This is also a way of showing appreciation to God for His“ love which
... 8,500 so far returned, 514 in June alone
According to Tamrat, the returnees comprised 89 males and 62 females, including three children and three infants, with six medical cases. He said that the Nigerians returned from the Libyan cities of Janzour, Salah Adden and Tajoura.
They were received on arrival by officials of National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Tamrat said officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Federal Airports Authority of
made it possible for Lagos to experience an atmosphere of peace and religious harmony,” he added.
Calling for continued support from the people of the state, the governor assured that his administration was inching towards the realisation of the goal of transforming Lagos into a smart city that is ideal for living and doing business.
Also speaking, the wife of the governor, BolanleAmbode, appreciated God for making it possible to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri with the Muslims. She said Lagosians had good reasons to give thanks to God“ for witnessing an era of effective collaboration between Muslims and Christians.
We are thankful that in our diversity, we are enjoying enduring and satisfactory level of peace, unity, and harmony,” she remarked.
She called for improved condition of the girl-child, widows, orphans, and the less privileged persons in society.
AbdulLateef, the commissioner for home affairs, advised Muslims to, beyond Ramadan, continue to pray for the development of Lagos and for sustainability of peace and unity in the state.
Nigeria and the police were also on ground to receive the returnees.
He said that the IOM had assisted the return of no fewer than 8,500 Nigerians from the North African country where they had been stranded enroute Europe.
Tamrat noted that Friday’ s arrival brought to 514, the number of Nigerians who have voluntarily returned from Libya in June under the Voluntary Return Assistance Programme.
Peace Corp member nabbed with pistol
SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa
The police in Bayelsa State said they have arrested a member of the Peace Corp with a locally made pistol during a raid on a criminal hideout at Amarata, Yenagoa.
The raid was a direct response to the increasing wave of criminal activities in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital in recent months which has adversely affected lifestyle.
Asinim Butswat, spokesperson of the state police command in a statement said the arrest was as a result of synergy between the police and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency( NDLEA).
The suspect, 33-year Seiyefa Okorie was said to be“ fully dressed in Peace Corps T-shirt and had the organisation’ s identity card” when he was arrested.
Though the suspect has confessed to being a drug peddler, the police said the investigations were ongoing.
Monday 18 June 2018
Arepo community seeks Amosun’ s intervention on road
ENDURANCE OKAFOR
Residents of Arepo, a community in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun State, have called for the intervention of the state government in the construction of the bad road that leads to the 18 estates within the community.
The residents through the Arepo Central Community Development Association( ACCDA) recently taxed themselves, as they raisedN8 million to construct the main access road to Arepo.
The community resorted to raising funds as the wait for the government to construct the road was taking eternity. The construction of the road was awarded about 6 years ago and every means by the community to get the government to execute the project proved abortive.
“ We raised money to construct this part of the road because we did not get the help of the state government. This road was awarded to First August in November 2012 with a sign post erected at the Journalist Estate Phase 1 gate. Since then, the road has remained untouched and impassable for motorists and pedestrians, Kehinde Adeyemo, the president of ACCDA said.
However, the community remains optimistic that the state government would come to their rescue, considering when the same road almost divided into two at the gate of NUJ II Estate leading to heavy erosion. The residents embarked on the culvert through proceeds raised from the occupants in Arepo but the government through the ministry of works intervened in the construction of the second stage of the culvert.
The bad state of the road poses a threat to the lives of the inhabitants of the Arepo community.
Adeyemo, the president of ACCDA said during raining season, they sometimes record casualties on the road especially among pregnant women and children.
“ This is because the road has become impassable. People most times resort to using okada and we all know how vulnerable women and children are under this avoidable but pathetic situation,” Adeyemo lamented, as appealed to the state government’ s intervention.
Akeredolu’ s wife seeks AfDB’ s support for women
Wife of Ondo State governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has called for African Development Bank’ s( AfDB) collaboration in the area of women empowerment and social development in the state.
Akeredolu made the call during a technical session with the visiting AfDB group management team led by its senior director, Ebirima Faal in Akure, the state capital.
She said a lot had been done with the support of government to empower women in the state, and listed such to include ICT training for 105 girls who received a tablet each.
Solar renewable energy training for over 200 Ondo State girls and beyond; skill acquisition training for over 1000 women in five local government areas, accelerated birth registration, breast cancer awareness among others.