Those Responsible Would Pay "Heavy Price" - Erdogan!.

“Turkey has a democratically elected government and president,” ...

"We are in charge and we will continue exercising our powers until the end. We will not abandon our country to these invaders. It will end well.” 

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the above statement as he addressed cheering crowd at Istanbul Ataturk airport having defied troops who had tried to seal it off, after a foiled coup attempt.

Turkey witnessed a bloody coup attempt on Friday, July 15, 2016, when an army faction identified as “Peace in the Country Council,” attempted to take over power from a civilian government in the country. 

President Erdogan said the attempt was an act of “treason” and those responsible would pay a “heavy price”.

Information made available to the press revealed that no fewer than 60 people were killed across Turkey during the coup attempt, and about 754 members of the armed forces detained across the country.

Hulusi Akar, Turkish Chief of General Staff  who was removed from the Turkish Armed Forces Head Quarters where the plotters used as one of their centers to command their attempt, in a hostage situation, has been rescued and taken to a save place; he is reported to be in good health.

Shortly before President Erdogan returned to Istanbul from a retreat on the coast of the Aegean Sea, Marmaris, Turkish Prime Minister broadcasted NTV  that the situation was "largely under control".  

As at early Saturday, 16th July, 2016, unrest was reported in some parts of the country.

Ataturk Airport in Istanbul reopened on Saturday, and broadcasting has begun. 

Turkish neighbors, Bulgaria and Greece has reinforced its patrols on both borders. 

A statement released by the Bulgarian government warned Bulgarians to restrain from travelling to the south, while Greece Armed Forces was reinforced in a state of "heightened readiness".

The coup attempt on Friday, 15 July, 2016 in Turkey was the fifth time in 60 years. The last coup was reported to be on 28 February, 1997, when the then Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan was forced to resign in a postmodern coup, after the Military offered a number of recommendations following rising in Welfare Party. 

Disturbing Photo Of A Child Killed During Attack In Nice!

Disturbing photo of a child reported to be among the scores of people killed when a truck  drove into a crowd during Bastille Day celebrations, on Thursday, 15th July, 2016, in Nice, capital of the French Riviera, in France.

About 150 people were injured in the incident that appears like a terrorist attack;eye witnesses said the lorry kept going at different directions  as it knocked down people.

Child Photo credit: Reuters

Photo Speaks: Drainage At Falomo Needs Urgent Attention!

Roving Informant campaign against blocked drainage systems: 

As seen at Falomo, the stagnant drainage in front of Church of The Assumption Catholic Church, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, needs urgent attention. 

Overload Nah Offenseooo!

Photo Speaks: As seen at Ogoja, Cross River state Nigeria, on Saturday, 9th July, 2016.

NDA's Lethal Attack On West Africa's Economic Growth!

The activities of militants in Nigeria's Niger Delta region, south of Nigeria, is not only crippling economic activities in the country but is beginning to negatively impact neighboring countries in West African, which hitherto enjoyed 80% electricity supply security. 

This was further brought to light when Ghanaian President, John Mahama, during his  Eid-el-fitr goodwill speech stated that Ghana recently suffered some generational problems, a setback he attributed to sabotage in Nigeria, as crude oil which the country ordered a month ago, in June, 2016, is yet to arrive Ghana. A recent 'controlled explosive devices' attack on about three Chevron Nigeria Limited manifolds at Diogbolo, close to Dibi, Warri Local Government Area of Delta State, South-South Nigeria, by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militant group was reportedly responsible for this. President Mahama however assured Ghananians that his government is taking steps on a daily basis "to ensure that Ghana has security when it comes to power supply.” 

Over the past few months, Nigeria's economy suffers extensive down-turn as a result of militant activities which has a direct and indirect link to the Naira plummet.  Though these attacks is purportedly aimed at "avenging the ills meted at the Niger Delta region and people", over a long period of negligence of the area that is responsible for Nigeria' wealth, the real casualties of the "avenger's wrath" are without doubt the poor masses who suffer untold hardship due to the adverse effects on SME developments, like: insecurity, poor electricity supply and the Naira plummet against the U.S dollar and British Pound Sterling. 

Despite the catastrophic nature of the NDA's attacks not only on Nigeria's economy, but those of nearby countries that rely on Nigeria for crude oil supplies, the militant group appear not relenting in their attacks. Militants believed to be of NDAs group in the early hours of Friday, July 8th, 2016, again, struck, destroying pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company(NAOC), the Tebidaba-Brass Agip pipeline at Goulubukori manifold, Nembearea and Lagosgbene pipeline all in Southern Ijaw, near  Ekeremor area of Bayelsa State, southern Nigeria. 

The Niger Delta Avengers, reportedly poised to take the Niger Delta struggle to "never seen before" new heights, with claims to well-equipped human resources to meet their goal, on 12 May 2016, issued President Muhammadu Buharian 11-point condition with an October 2016, deadline, when the group vowed to display its currency, flag, passport, ruling council and territory to the world.

With Boko-haram forces in the north, reported Fulani herdsmen attacks in virtually all the regions across the country, and most recently, NDA's threat and attacks on oil pipelines in the south, the feasibility of fostering economic growth in Nigeria and the West African sub-region at the moment appears bleak. Small and medium scale businesses are left with no option than to shut down or profoundly slow down productions as a result of the aforementioned 'adverse effects' factors. 

Peharps its time the Nigerian government embarks on sincere and effective measures with all stake holders, to redress this ugly situation. 

THE REAL CASUALTIES ARE THE MASSES WHOM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NDA CLAIM TO FIGHT FOR.

Medina Mosque Under Terrorist Attack!

Four security officials were killed and about five others injured in a blast
at the security headquarters of the mosque where the Prophet Muhammad is buried, popularly called Prophet's Mosque in Medina, western Saudi Arabia, and one of Islam's holiest sites, as the evening prayers was coming to an end, on Monday, 4th July, 2016. The blew himself and four security officers up as they tried to stop him. 

Saudi Arabia interior ministry also reported two other explosions. A bomb went off near a mosque in the eastern Gulf coast of Qatif, and home to many minority Shia Muslims, only the suicide bomber was killed in the blast that went off just before 7pm local time.  

Another hit close to the United States consulate in Jeddah, western part of Saudi Arabia, on Monday, 4th July, in-which two security officers were injured. These happened as Muslims rounded off the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

No terrorist group has so far claims of responsibility for any of the attacks.

Buhari Approves NNPC's New Board Of Directors!

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, 4th July, 2016, approved the composition of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), as provided for under Section 1(2) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Act of 1997, as amended.

Names of members of the new board are as follows:

A. Chairman-Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum;

B. Group Managing Director- Dr Maikanti Kacalla Baru;

C. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance; and

D. The following six persons:

1. Mallam Abba Kyari

2. Dr Thomas M.A John

3. Dr Pius O. Akinyelure

4. Dr Tajuddeen Umar

5. Mallam Mohammed Lawal, and

6. Mallam Yusuf Lawal.

A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated that President Buhari further urged the new board members to ensure the successful delivery of NNPC's  mandate, ” and serve the nation by upholding the public trust placed on them in managing this critical national asset,” .