News
Shettima Cancels Samoa Trip Mid-way Over Damaged Aircraft Windscreen
Vice President Kashim Shettima will no longer represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Summit in Samoa as earlier planned.
The trip was cancelled after “a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York,” the Presidency revealed in a statement Thursday night.
Therefore, a delegation led by the Environment Minister, Balarabe Lawal, will now represent Nigeria at the biennial event.
The statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, is titled ‘Cockpit windscreen of VP Shettima’s plane damaged at JFK airport, ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at Samoa Commonwealth summit.’
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Shettima departed Abuja last Sunday for the gathering at the behest of President Bola Tinubu.
Onanuga said, “Vice President Kashim Shettima’s trip to Samoa to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Summit has been cancelled after a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
“The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane.
“President Tinubu, acting promptly, has approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in the Samoa capital of Apia while the plane’s repair has commenced.”
The delegation, which will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting in Samoa, is being led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.
The summit began on the Pacific island on October 21 and ends on October 26.
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Shettima was scheduled to join King Charles of England and other world leaders from 56 member countries at the first CHOGM to be held in the Pacific island of Apia, Samoa, from October 21 to 26.
The theme will focus attention on how member countries can harness their strengths through resilience, unlock potential, leverage the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’, and foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.
At the meeting, Nigeria and other member countries will also elect and appoint the next Commonwealth Secretary-General.
The leaders will deliberate on the theme, ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.’
However, “Vice President Shettima and foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar have left New York for Nigeria,” Onanuga revealed.
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This would not be the first trip Shettima is backing out of.
In May, he was scheduled to represent Tinubu at the US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, but returned midflight due to a technical fault with his aircraft.
The Presidency said Shettima heeded the advice of the Presidential Air Fleet to shelve the trip.
Shettima has so far visited Rome, Italy; St. Petersburg, Russia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Havana, Cuba; Beijing, China; Iowa and New York in the United States of America; Davos, Switzerland; Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (twice); Nairobi, Kenya and Stockholm, Sweden.
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News
Better Days Ahead, New Bendel Insurance Coach Assures
New coach of Bendel Insurance Football Club, Benin, Coach Kennedy Boboye, on Tuesday assured management and Supporters Club of the Benin Arsenal that things will change for good.
Boboye spoke at his official unveiling as the new coach of the Benin Arsenal which was held at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Studium, Benin City.
The new Head Coach, who solicited for cooperation and support from both the management, players and supporters of the club, said with this, he would bring his expertise in football management to bear, and make sure the football club took its position in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
READ ALSO:Super Falcons Star Onumonu Retires From Football
Earlier, Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, expressed optimism that, going by the track records of the new coach, the Benin Arsenal would experience the needed change.
“This coach is a proven winner. He knows what it takes to succeed in this league, and he brings with him a mindset that aligns perfectly with the ambition we have for this football club,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman, Bendel Insurance Football Club, Jarrett Tenebe, said though he’s not satisfied with the current position of the football club in the Nigeria Premier Football League, this new coach would restore the lost glory.
Bendel Insurance is in the 19th position of the league with six points.
News
Edo Assembly Commission Questions Clerk Over Alleged Age Falsification
Edo State House of Service Commission has invited the Clerk of the Assembly, Audu Omogbai, for questioning over alleged age falsification.
The invitation of the Clerk followed a petition by some Concerned Staff of the Assembly.
The petitioners alleged that Omogbai, falsified his age to remain in service.
They alleged that the Clerk’s initial appointment dated back to 1993 and that he has exceeded the mandatory 30 years of service.
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The petitioners also alleged that the Clerk has surpassed the mandatory retirement age of 60 as well as obstructing investigation.
The petition reads partly, “The Clerk has allegedly withheld official file records, hindering investigations into these matters.
“We humbly request your intervention to investigate these allegations and take appropriate actions to maintain integrity and adherence to regulations within the Edo State House of Assembly.”
It was gathered that Omogbai has been invited for questioning.
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He was invited in a letter signed by Chairman of the Assembly Commission, Sir Ezehi Igbas.
Omogbai was asked to appear before a three-Man Ad-hoc Committee for an interview session.
The Assembly Clerk could not be reached for comments.
News
Abductors Demand ₦5m As Teenager Is Kidnapped In Edo
A 12-year-old girl has been kidnapped in Ayogwiri community, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The abductors, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen attacked some women on their way from the farm and in the process kidnapped the teenager, and injured some of the women.
This incident was said to have created fear and panic in the community.
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It was gathered that the kidnappers of the teenager are asking for N5 million ransom.
The community in a statement issued by Engr Vincent Ozemoya, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the community, condemned the incident.
“The BoT calls on all relevant security agencies in the area to rise up and rid our Farms and forest of evil elements, be they herdsmen or kidnappers,” the statement reads
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu could not be reached as at the time of this report.
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