News

EndSARS: Embrace Peace, Dialogue, Obaseki Appeals To Youth

Published

5 years ago

October 22, 2020

Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has appealed to the youth to embrace peace and dialogue for the interest of the state and the nation, just as assured them that 60 percent of those he would appoint to work with him would be persons of 40 years and below.

Obaseki who made the appeal during a meeting with civil society groups in the state, commended them for calling for an end to police brutality.

While expressing displeasure over the protest being hijacked by hoodlums, he further reviewed the 24-hour curfew to 4pm to 6am, adding that he would consider a further review subsequently should the youth embrace peace.

Obaseki who narrated how he came into office as governor of the state the second term through the help of the youth, said the government has always been against police brutality and that it will always stand with the masses.

“I will not have returned back to the government house but for you. I know the sacrifices a lot of you made, I know the hard work, the risk you took. I am aware of the roles you played, a lot of people brought money and either drove them away or collected the money and do the right thing.

“So, I am very clear in my mind how I came into where I am today. I came back on your back.

“You have no doubt in your mind, I am in your side, totally in your side.

“When this crisis started, I have taken some time off to go and relax after the electionairing period but I have been in touch. I have always been in touch with the deputy and with the secretary to the government.

“And our position as government has always been, we are in support of EndSARS because your demands are legitimate.

“Anybody who says that your people are not patriotic doesn’t love Nigeria. You are not asking for anything unusual, we have always argued and even during my electionairing, I made it clear that we need to fix this country, we have no choice and we started warning when COVID19 broke out, that COVID19 was going to unravel this country and that it is time that we stopped the indulgence and begin to take ourselves seriously and do things properly across the board.

“I can tell you this, my biggest fear in my election, my prayers was that, they should not temper with the election of September 19 and if they had done so, this crisis would have started that day.

“God had our prayers. So, when this crisis started with EndSARS, I was not surprised at all. We have been anticipating it. Things are not right in Nigeria and we need to fix it and we have the capacity to fix it.

“So, your position on EndSARS and the reform of the police system in this country is total. Like somebody said, it is time up for just talking and talking and rhetorics. It is about time to implement”, he said.

One of the speakers, Solomon Idiogbe, while speaking on the vandalisation that took place at the Nigeria Custom Service warehouse at Aduwawa, Benin City, said the incident was a conspiracy and that there was no way such could have happened without the help of an insider.

Idiogbe added that being that such has happened, the government should encourage the security agencies in the state to embark on a house-to-house check with the view to mopping up the arms and ammunition that were carted away by the hoodlums from the Custom warehouse so that the citizens could be safe.

He alleged that some people carted away arms and ammunition from the Custom warehouse at Aduwawa.

Another speaker, Phil Aroje, said the ENDSARS protest might not end unless the president addresses the nation.

He called on the president to address the nation.

News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.