Police Investigates Damboa Suicide Bombings, Urges Residents To Remain Vigilant!

Scores were reportedly killed, some main-stream reports puts casualty figure at between 31 and 32 following a bomb attack at Abachari area, outskirts of Damboa Local Government Area Borno state, north-eastern Nigeria.  

Police reports put the number of casualties at 21.

The bomb attack, which was carried out by six suicide bombers main-stream reports said, left between 48 and 84 people injured. 

Information made available by the Bornu state Command, through its  Public Relations Officer, Okon Edet, disclosed that the attack took place Saturday evening, June 16, 2018, at about 24:45 hrs. 

“At the sound of the explosion, personnel of the Nigeria Police and members of the civilian JTF mobilised to the scene discovered 20 dead bodies and 48 injured persons in a suspected terrorist attack.

“The wounded and the dead were evacuated to a hospital while the scene of the crime was sanitised by a deployment of police EOD unit.” Edet said.

Giving details of the horrific incident, eye-witnesses who spoke to Punch Newspapers further revealed: “At the sound of the explosion, personnel of the Nigeria Police and members of the civilian JTF mobilised to the scene discovered 20 dead bodies and 48 injured persons in a suspected terrorist attack.

“Following the suicide bombings, the jihadists fired rocket-propelled grenades into the crowds that had gathered at the scene of the attacks, thus increasing the number of casualties.

“There were two suicide attacks and rocket-propelled grenade explosions in Damboa last night which killed 31 persons and left several others injured.”

It was gathered that attacks carried out earlier in Shuwari and Abachari neighbourhoods on Saturday, June 16, 2018, at about 8:30pm by two suicide bombers left six people dead. 

Most of the casualties, reports claimed "were from the rocket fired at the gathering of sympathisers". The eye witness said.

...and "misfiring by the Nigerian Army". A claim the Army denied.

The Police stated that investigation into the incident is on-going, while members of the public were urged to continue to be vigilant and watchful.

Boko-haram terrorist group is suspected to be behind this attack.

$7 Million Allegedly Illegally Kept In Heritage Bank Recovered By Special Presidential Investigation Panel!

The fight for corruption in Nigeria seems to be taking a new turn as the Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) set up by the Presidency for the Recovery of Public Property reportedly recovered the sum of "seven million Dollars ($7 million) Or (₦2.1 billion at official rate) illegally kept in Heritage Bank."

Information made available to the public by the Social Media Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, on Sunday, 17th June, 2018, revealed the  following: 

• "The Special Presidential Investigation Panel (SPIP) for the Recovery of Public Property has recovered seven million Dollars ($7 million) Or (₦2.1 billion at official rate) illegally kept in Heritage Bank.
• Chairman of the panel, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, disclosed this while briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on activities of the panel.
• The panel has also recovered ₦533 million and land worth N1.5 billion, from the “Previous Management” of NEXIM Bank. (The recovered funds and property had since been returned to the bank.)
• The panel has also recovered and returned to the National Theatre, ₦24 million which was diverted by some directors of the agency.
• Also recovered, were 2 hectares of land in Abuja valued at over N2 billion, belonging to the National Council of Arts and Culture.
• The panel went on and recovered and returned a part of Agura Hotel belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The recovered part of the hotel had been illegally “annexed by some so-called powerful persons with untouchable connections for over 20 years”.
• Other recoveries by the SPIP, according to Obono-Obla, are 19 official Sports Utility Vehicles allegedly made away with by former Commissioners of the National Population Commission after their tenures in office.
• He said the panel had charged a former Director in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to court for failure to declare his assets. The assets include houses in upscale areas of Abuja, a quarry and a farm within the Federal Capital Territory, for which a court has granted an interim forfeiture order.
• The SPIP is also investigating some members of the National Assembly and former governors for a range of alleged offences. These include illegal purchase of designated official residences for principal officers of the National Assembly excluded from the monetisation policy at giveaway prices.
• Others are purchase of several properties worth hundreds of millions in various currencies, and flagrant abuse of office thus causing financial adversity to the nation.
• Mr. Obono-Obla said the SPIP was partnering with the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary to ensure that some public officers "perceived to have looted public funds and illegally acquired assets both in Nigeria and the UK”, were prevented from entering that country.
• The SPIP chairman equally told the President that the panel was beaming its searchlight on several companies for a wide range of alleged offences. Some of the companies, he said, are

1. Celtel, for alleged tax evasion since 2005;
2. Western Oil and Gas, for illegally drilling crude oil in Delta, and seven others for alleged failure to pay royalties to the Federal Government in about 10 years.

• He said some multinational oil companies based in Egi Kingdom, Rivers, were also being investigated for allegedly conniving with unscrupulous individuals to dodge their obligations to the community to the tune of ₦38 billion and $30 million
• Also under investigation by the panel is another company, which has failed to fulfil its contractual agreement to dredge the Calabar Channel, years after receiving $12 million.
• The panel has also compiled a list of over 200 past and serving public officers perceived to have illegally enriched themselves at the expense of the nation and the Nigerian people, among others,” Obono-Obla said in the briefing.
• Pres. Buhari, assured the panel of his continued support and non-interference in line with his administration’s stance on the anti-corruption fight.
• Obono-Obla said the panel would remain committed to its mandate, in addition to complementing the Federal Government’s fight against corruption.
• He solicited the continued support of Nigerians to the panel with useful information that would lead to the recovery of looted public assets.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the panel  was inaugurated by the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in August 2017. (NAN)."

About Eight People Injured And Hospitalised After A Taxi Crashed Into World-Cup Fans In Moscow!

About eight people were rushed to the hospital  following injuries they sustained when a taxi rammed into a crowed of world-cup fans at  Ilyinka Street, Central Moscow, Russia, on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

Photo: The Moscow Times

Among the injured persons, two-Mexicans, two Russians, and one Ukraine reportedly hospitalised were reported to be in stable condition. However, one woman is reported to be in serious condition.

Reports said the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the crowd.

Photo Of The Day, Even Keke Dey Rock Our Jersey!

Commercial tricycle popularly known as 'keke-Marwa' in Nigeria, seen rocking the Super Eagles famous jersey around Lagos, metropolis.

It's a win-win situation....when we are united.

Gridlock Returns To Inwards Ajah At Lekki-Epe Express Way!

Despite the construction of Jubilee Bridge at Ajah area to avert traffic at the busy Lekki-Epe express way, gridlock appeared to have returned to Ikota/Ilaje bus-stop axis. Pictures below, taken in the evening of Thursday, June 14, 2018  show the situation inward Ilaje bus-stop from Ikota area. 

Lekki-Epe Express Way, by Ikota, inward Ilaje bus-stop

One of the reasons for this 'traffic return' Roving Informant gathered, is the bad state of the Ikota- Lekki Scheme 11- Ogombo road alternative route. 

...See link below, to previous publication on the need for alternative route in Lekki area of Lagos state.

http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2017/06/roving-informant.html

The 'alternative-route' is supposed to divert vehicles headed to Lekki-Scheme 11 area, Abraham Adesanya, Ogombo, even Shongotedo and beyond, while making the express-way free for those headed to Ado-Road, Badore, Thomas Estate areas...and heavy duty trucks, vans and pick-ups.

Lekki-Epe Express Way, by Ikota, inward Ilaje bus-stop

With the teeming population of the ever-growing Lekki axis of Lagos State, the need for alternative routes, and a major Beach-Road can not be over emphasised. It is hoped that with persistent clamour, the authorities will consider making 'alternative-route' project a reality.

Operation Clear The Drainage: Flood Swallowing Up Lagos Markets!

This is Ultra Mordern Market Ajah, Lekki area of Lagos state, Nigeria. As seen on Wednesday morning, June 13, 2018. Result of years of uncleared drainage has resulted in flood, bringing businesses almost to a halt whenever it rains. 

Ultra Modern Market Ajah, Lekki-Lagos

Ultra Modern Market Ajah, Lekki-Lagos

This is once again, a call to relevant authorities and sundry to do the needful...clear the drainage.

Click on link to read previous stories on drainage. http://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2016/11/drainage-clearance-needs-waste-disposal.html

Nigeria Sign Agreements on Regional Gas Pipeline, Chemical Plant, Agricultural Training With Morocco!

Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco among two other agreements, signed a Regional Gas pipeline Agreement on Monday, May 11, 2018, in Rabat, Morocco's capital city.

                                        

The Regional Gas pipeline Agreement is expected to enable Nigeria provide gas to other West-African countries, and to Morocco and Europe.

The feasibility study of the pipeline-agreement was signed by the Group General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Farouq Said Garba, and Mrs Amina Benkhadra, Director General of the National Office of Hydrocarbon and Mines. The agreement is expected to be concluded by July 2018.

According to a statement signed by Senior Special Assistance to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, "The construction of the pipeline will be phased and based on increasing needs of the countries crossed, and Europe, for the period of 25 years.

The Nigeria Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), designed to be 5,660km long, will reduce gas flaring in Nigeria and encourage diversification of energy resources in the country, while cutting down poverty through the creation of more job opportunities.

The NMGP will further encourage utilisation of gas in the sub-region for cooking, and discourage desertification". The statement read.

Other agreements signed were the Memorandom of Understanding for the development of a chemical plant in Nigeria for producing ammonia and its derivatives, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Authority, Mr Uche Orji and the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Management of Phosphate in Morocco, Mr Mostafa Terrab. 

The Cooperation Agreement on Vocational Training and Technical Supervision, was signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh and his Moroccan counterpart, Mr Aziz Akhannouch. This agreement is expected to boost skills on better management of agricultural outfits in Nigeria.

After witnessing the agreements signing, Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari and King of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed V1, proceeded to a meeting which focused on strengthening economic relations in gas resource development, global investments and agricultural training and management.

President Muhamadu Buhari is on a two-day official visit to The Kingdom of Morocco.