SECURITY TEAMS SEARCH FOR FLEEING INMATES OF ONDO PRISON

Ondo State Command of the Nigerian Prison Service has confirmed a jail break at the Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure, Ondo State.

The yet to be identified gunmen, attacked the prison at about midnight on Saturday with explosives and other weapons freeing about a hundred and seventy-five inmates.

Ondo State Comptroller of Prison, Tunde Olayiwola, said one prison official died in the attack, which is the first in the state. 

Similarly, Ondo State Police Public Relations officer, Wole Ogodo said though the information was still sketchy, the incident has nothing to do with terrorism.

However, a security source said the attackers engaged the prison guards in a gun battle for about three hours before gaining access to the prison custody through a whole with explosives.

Reports say only seven of the escapees have been re-arrested, just as security has been strengthened around the prison, with a massive manhunt for the fleeing prisoners.

Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede as well as the state Police commissioner, Patrick Dukumor were among the top government functionaries to visit the prison.

FUEL SHORTAGE LOOMS AS NUPENG BEGINS 3 DAY WARNING STRIKE ON MONDAY

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said it would begin a three-day warning strike on Monday.
This is contained in a statement signed by NUPENG’s General-Secretary, Mr Isaac Aberare, on Sunday in Lagos.

The statement said that the workers were going on strike over alleged unfair labour practices by some major oil companies in the country.
“The strike is also to protest the refusal of NARTO to implement the signed collective bargaining agreement with the petroleum tanker drivers.

“We are also unhappy over the bad state of roads across the nation, ‘’ the statement said.
The statement said that all efforts by the Federal Ministry of Labour to intervene in the issue three weeks ago had failed.
It said that the oil multinationals had failed to implement the agreement reached for a truce brokered by the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu.
The statement alleged that the union’s call for a stakeholders meeting in the oil and gas sector to address the situation had also been ignored.
It directed all members of NUPENG at the various depots to stop loading petroleum products for the next three days.

Members in all the branches in the country must also follow suit,’’ the statement said.
It said that if after the three-day strike, nothing was done to address the situation, NUPENG would be forced to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike. FREDOM ONLINE

DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT MOURNS SENATOR PIUS EWHERIDO

DELTA MOURNS SENATOR PIUS EWHERIDO: 

GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The death is hereby announced of Senator Akpo Pius Ewherido, Senator representing the Delta Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.  Senator Ewherido died today Sunday, 30th June, 2013 at the National Hospital, Abuja after a brief illness.

The Government of Delta State wish to commiserate with and express its deep condolences to the family at this trying moment. Government advises Deltans, particularly members of his Constituency to remain calm.

We pray that God grants his family, constituents and all of us, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

SIGNED:

Comrade Ovuozourie S. Macaulay 

Secretary to the State Government

LEKKI FREE TRADE ZONE: LAGOS STATE GOVT. DONATES BUSES TO COMMUNITY

The Lagos state government has given out four eighteen sitter buses to the Lekki community, as part of compensation to the people of Abejoye, Lekki-Epe, Abomiti and Yegunda zone of the Lekki Epe axis.

GOV. BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA

Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Sola Oworu, said the gesture is to improve the relationship between the state government and host communities of the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

She said the zone when operational, will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the communities.

Mrs. Oworu told correspondent, Maureen Idegwu, that the state was seeking further collaboration with the Federal Government on the project, adding that foreign investors are ready to invest in the construction of natural gas pipeline.  

NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT DOCKS JOURNALISTS

The Nigerian Government has re-arraigned two journalists of the Leadership Newspapers and the company`s secretary before an FCT High Court on an eleven-count charge relating to felony and forgery. 

The accused, Political Editor of Leadership Newspaper, Tony Amokeodo, Political Correspondent, Chibuzo Ukaibe and the Company’s Secretary, Omofuma Juliane, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At Thursday’s session, Prosecuting Counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo said the print media workers, wilfully conspired to commit felony by forging and publishing a document tagged Presidential Directive.

He asked the court to remand the journalists until the date of trial but Defence Counsel, Femi Falana disagreed and applied for bail on grounds that the accused persons have no previous criminal records.

Justice Usman Musale, granted bail to the first and second accused persons in the sum of half a million naira each with one surety each in like sum. He subsequently adjourned the case to July 16, for hearing

MALI: GHANA's PRESIDENT CALLS FOR EXTRA VIGILANCE

Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama has called for “vigilance, attention and more hard work” to consolidate the gains from efforts at returning Mali to democracy and sustainable peace after last year’s military coup and rebel insurrection in the north of the country.

Receiving a delegation of ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff, which paid him a courtesy visit at the Flagstaff House, Accra on Thursday, President Mahama said with the imminent replacement of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) by a UN mission, MINUSMA on the first of next month, sustained support was needed to restore lasting peace to the country.

KOGI STATE GOVERNMENT SETS PRIORITY ON THE EVENT OF ANOTHER FLOOD DISASTER

Food security and nutrition for those that would be internally displaced in the event of another flood in Kogi State would be a priority to the present administration.
Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada made the resolve in Lokoja, while receiving the New Country Program Director, International Rescue Community (IRC), Mrs. Nicky Smith, Programme Coordinator, Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication, Peter Egwudah.

The Governor,  who’s speech was read by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, commended IRC and CISCOPE for having programmes that are in tandem with those of the State Government in improving the lives of people who were affected by last year's flood.
Capt. Wada specifically appreciated the support of improved seedlings, provision of clean drinking water and improved sanitary condition given to the people of Ibaji and Idah Local Government Areas by the organization. He equally lauded the synergy that existed between the State and the organizations.
The State Governor described the flood that ravaged the State last year as most devastating and Earlier, the New Country Program Director, International Rescue Community, Nicky Smith, said the l agency is ready to partner with the State in Disaster Preparedness, providing food security and nutrition as well as working to stimulate the economy of mostly farmers who were affected by the last year's flood.