Buhari meets with India's Prime Minister

President Buhari who is currently in India on a 4-day state visit is pictured above with India's prime minister, Narendra Modi after holding bilateral talks.

 President Buhari is set to meet with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and other high level officials prior to the start of the Summit on Thursday. President Buhari will also meet with members of the Nigerian diaspora this afternoon.
Some Nigerian students studying in India are expected to attend. Many Nigerian students have reported that they do not receive allowances from their home States, making it difficult to pay for their upkeep or school fees.
The India-Africa Summit will last from October 26-29 and will be attended by representatives of 40 of the 54 African nations invited.

How troops killed Boko Haram members, rescue 338 people hostages

The Nigerian Army said on Wedneday that troops at fringes of Sambisa forest have rescued about 338 people held by Boko Haram as well as killed over 30 Boko Haram terrorists. Here are photos from the scene of the rescue mission.

Al-makura pledges to partner relevant agencies to tackle unemployment

Gov. Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State has promised to partner all relevant agencies to create job opportunities to the teeming unemployed youths in the state. The governor gave the pledge during the inauguration of Awango by Total Solar Entrepreneurship project on Wednesday in Lafia.
NAN reports that Awango by Total Solar Entrepreneurship project is a programme of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria and an NGO, Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERRI).
According to him, “our APC-led administration in the state is ready to synergise with all relevant agencies to tackle the issue of unemployment in the state”.
Al-makura, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sport, Mr Bulus Amuyi, said that the initiative was in-line with his administration’s programme on youth development.
He said that the programme was also targeted at providing loan opportunities and self-employment to youths.
“Our doors are widely open to support private initiatives that would tackle youth restiveness and as well improve the economic potential of the state”, he said
Al-makura commended Total Exploration and Production Nigeria and GERRI for teaching 40 youths in the state on alternative power sources that would be safer, better and ultimately cheaper.
He also said that government was ready to discuss initiatives on bigger renewable energy facilities to address the prevailing energy deficit in the state.
Earlier, the team leader of GERRI, Elizabeth Joy-yol, said that the project would empower rural communities with affordable and environment friendly solutions in lighting.

Jubilation in Ife as 41-yr old Ogunwusi named Ooni-elect

The Ooni of Ife-designate, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will officially arrive the ancient town of Ile-Ife either today or latest tomorrow. He will be arriving in company of his family members, friends and well-wishers. According to his itinerary revealed to Vanguard, yesterday, he will storm his traditional base to thank the king-makers after which the coronation rites as enshrined in the customs of the Ife people will be expected to start.
When Vanguard got across to his Lagos home in Lekki area, yesterday, preparations for his trip were in top gear with his aides putting finishing touches, while he was on hand to issue instructions. A revered world of a paramount ruler of world class revolved round his youthful mien.
Ooni-designate, Enitan Ogunwusi, sources said, may be received at Ife end of Ibadan expressway, with an informed source saying the Ifa Oracle was being consulted to determine the best day for him to enter the town.
At Ile-Ife, the King-makers and members of the Isoro were said to be preparing to receive him and commence the rites as soon as he arrived.
Meanwhile, there was celebration in the town yesterday, particularly among members of the Giesi ruling house where the new monarch comes from.
Although the town was calm and people went about their businesses, trucks of soldiers were seen driving through the streets with sirens blaring, while policemen and officials of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps manned strategic places.
The Ile Oodua, which is the palace of the Ooni, was said to be manned by armed security men, with an armoured personnel carrier stationed there.

President Buhari departs for India

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, departed Nigeria, via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on a 4-day official visit to New Delhi, India.
See photos:

President Muhammadu Buhari, departing the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja, on 4-day official visit, to New Delhi, India, on Tuesday (27/10/2015)

President Muhammadu Buhari, departing the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja, on 4-day official visit, to New Delhi, India, on Tuesday (27/10/2015)

President Muhammadu Buhari, departing the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja, on 4-day official visit, to New Delhi, India, on Tuesday (27/10/2015)

President Muhammadu Buhari, departing the Nnamdi Azikwe, International Airport, Abuja, on 4-day official visit, to New Delhi, India, on Tuesday (27/10/2015)

300 houses submerged, as River Benue overflows its banks

 

A sudden surge in the water level of River Benue has left over 300 houses and huts submerged, with many families rendered homeless in Makurdi, the state capital.

The unexpected flood, which also swept away property and valuables worth millions of Naira, may have created a major humanitarian crisis in the town and it’s environs.
Among the worst hit areas are Wurukum, Wadata Rice Mill, Agboughoul, Kutcha Utebe and Gydo Villa area settlements, while all the buildings that are less than 500 meters from the shore of the river and those directly behind the New Garage Road are also facing the prospect of going under the fast rising river.
One of the victims and resident of Wadata Rice Mill settlement, John Agboyi, said residents of the area were taken aback by the unanticipated flood.
“Its strange, we went to bed last night, only to wake up this morning to discover that flood water has overtaken our homes and neighbourhood, all we did was to battle to rescue some of our property from the fast rising flood water,” he said.
At Kutcha Utebe where families were seen moving their property from their homes, a resident, Terhile Fidelis, said the flood washed away most of his property before he could mobilize enough support and help to move them away.
He said: “My worry is that I do not have anywhere to go to with my family at the moment. I just can’t understand why this sudden rise in water levels cannot be adequately tackled by the government.”
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Nick Wende, on the issue failed as he did not pick his calls nor reply to the message sent to his phone.

APC hails Nigerian Supreme Court as Wike loses appeal on jurisdiction

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has lauded the Nigerian Supreme Court on its decision to throw out the bid by Wike to declare the sitting of the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja as being against the law. The apex court ruled that the President of the Court of Appeal acted in line with the ‎law in transferring the sitting of the tribunal to Abuja for security reasons.
The court also affirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier okayed the decision of the Tribunal to assume jurisdiction.
“As a party, the APC is grateful that all seven eminent jurists of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that there was sufficient violence before; during and after the elections to justify the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja and that the relocation of the tribunal to Abuja was to safeguard the lives of the tribunal chairman, members and witnesses.
The apex court likened the violence in Rivers to that of a theatre of war such as is prevailing in the North-East”, the party said in a statement sgned by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone in Port Harcourt today.
The APC noted with delight that Justice Okoro from Akwa Ibom State not only concurred but went further to say that Rivers State was a theatre of war and as such protection of life and limbs of members of the panel and interested parties was paramount and thus relocation of the Panel imperative.
The APC also commended the eminent Supreme Court Justices for once again re-affirming that they always dispense justice without fear or favour despite the frequent boasts by Nyesom Wike that he has all the Justices of the Supreme Court in his pocket, whatever that means.
The significance of all seven eminent Justices of the Supreme Court speaking in one voice in today’s judgment according to the APC, is that the faith, hope and confidence of the ordinary Nigerian to get justice is assured in the Nigerian judicial system.