News
BREAKING: Tinubu will get nod for presidential jet if requested – Akpabio
The Senate’s recent statements regarding the potential purchase of a presidential plane emphasize their stance on the matter and address concerns raised in the media. Here are the key points from their clarification:
- Senate President GodsWill Akpabio clarified that there has been no formal request before the Senate for the approval of a new presidential jet. He assured that if such a request were to come, the Senate would approach it based on the merits of improving the president’s ability to carry out official duties effectively.
- Akpabio emphasized that the Senate takes its responsibilities seriously in ensuring the safety and efficiency of the presidential fleet. He referenced international incidents involving defective aircraft and highlighted the Senate’s commitment to avoiding such risks.
- Akpabio acknowledged that there may be attempts to manipulate public opinion or pressure the Senate preemptively regarding the purchase. He referred to this as “anticipated blackmail” and urged stakeholders not to be swayed by such tactics.
- The Senate leader addressed concerns about misinformation and propaganda circulating in the media regarding the Senate’s position on the presidential plane. He indicated that there are elements disseminating false information (“fifth columnists”) to create confusion among the public.
- Despite external pressures or misinformation campaigns, Akpabio reaffirmed that the Senate’s decisions would prioritize the national interest and the welfare of Nigerians. They would assess any proposal for the presidential plane based on its necessity and benefits for governance.
In summary, the Senate’s statements aim to clarify their readiness to consider and approve necessary expenditures for the presidential fleet, while also cautioning against premature judgments or manipulative tactics in the public discourse.
Finnish prosecutors on Friday said they had charged a man with inciting terrorism online who a media report identified as Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa.
According to the prosecution authority, the accused remained in custody and denied the charges.
AFP reports that Finland’s National Prosecution Authority said in a statement that it had charged “a Finnish individual in a case involving suspected public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”
It added that the alleged crimes had been committed in the city of Lahti between 2021 and 2024 and were related to the suspect’s efforts to establish Nigeria’s Biafra region as an independent state.
The prosecution authority did not name the accused but Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified him as separatist leader Simon Ekpa.Ekpa — who claims to lead the Biafra Republic’s government in exile — was detained in November.
According to the prosecution authority, the accused remained in custody and denied the charges.
News
Tinubu to attend Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration May 18
The inauguration marks the formal beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday for Rome, Italy, to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The President will be accompanied by a delegation that includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed in a statement via X.
‘Tinubu is travelling at the invitation of the Vatican and will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the solemn installation mass scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square.
The inauguration marks the formal beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome.”
A fire broke out on Thursday at the General Hospital in Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, engulfing parts of the three-storey building and causing panic among residents and patients.
Videos from the scene showed thick smoke pouring from the hospital building as onlookers gathered in distress. Firefighters later arrived to battle the blaze.
An eyewitness, Modinat Melemuku, who shared footage of the incident on Facebook, called for urgent help.
She said: “Happening now at General Hospital Ifako-Ijaiye, College Road. Please repost.
Help is needed,” she wrote.
An eyewitness also told reporters the fire began in one part of the hospital before spreading to other sections.
“The fire then spread to the prenatal and postnatal rooms, after which it affected the pediatric ward,” the eyewitness said.
There were concerns that nursing mothers and infants might have been trapped inside, although no casualties were confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Emergency responders were still on the ground trying to bring the situation under control.
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