slightlyMad:

Islam has a lot to do with boko haram, the fact that you are not killing your fellow christian goes to show you are disobeying allah, who instructed all muslim faithfuls to execute infidels.

The world will be better off if the whole world can fight islam. which is the main cause.
Abeg, no come kill me 4 house o, i don't really mean all my above rant o.

How come muslims in the Sw have not killed you?

adepojuot: No be lie ooooooo,I just read it from vanguard news online,the attack started around 3am,there target were maiduguri air force base,maiduguri international airport,and several places,many killed according to vanguard news online...Islam is a curse to entire world....the same thing is happening across Muslim countries....

What does Islam got to do in this?

osaxx: amaechi just want to cause trouble in rivers....because he is fully prepared to run-away when it starts...knowing fully well rivers is prone to crisis....such an irresponsible governor.....those people praising him...calling him strong are likely not to be from rivers state...so they have nothing to loose when the problem starts....this are the kind of leaders we have in nigeria...knowing fully well his decision is suicidal...innocent riverians will die because of his selfish decision.....may God forgive amaechi

How does the sack of a local government increase the cost of garri for common man.Go siddon somewhere,yeye.

jbaur24: They should shoot the damn APC at sight..

Do you hate democracy that much.Fool

lygn19:
LoL... How I wish Mbu go just send JTF to go flog crace commot frm der eye.

It is people like you that will never allow free and fair election in Nigeria.May your life be managed the way PDP is managing the affair of Nigeria.

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kokoA: Some people swore in their lives that Ameachi and co lacked the "lever" to dump PDP.. Now some of them are the ones screaming "they have committed political suicide". Wetin concern una? Why crying morethan the bereaved?

I gbadun you.

I have since port to Etisalat.

I know First bank will surely be there when it involve illegal transactions.You can hardly see UBA in any form of illegal deal that is against cbn guidelines.

The Lagos State Government is working towards launching the first phase of the Okokomaiko – Marina (Blue Line) Light Rail Mass Transit for operation early 2014, Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has disclosed.

“The first phase is between National theatre and Mile 2; that was actually awarded in 2010 and we are hoping that by 2014 that phase will be finished and then move on from Mile 12 to Okokomaiko and then come back to National Theatre to construct the infrastructure to Marina,” he said in an interview.

The first phase, from the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos to Mile 12, is a seven-kilometre distance with stops at Iganmu, Alaba and Mile 2.
Dr. Mobereola said due to the huge capital outlay, construction of the rail project was divided into three phases, the first of which is the survey, design, preparation of construction yard and the rail infrastructure between National Theatre and Mile 2.

He described the quality of work done so far as good noting; “it will stand the test of time. Railway is not something that is for 5 years, 10 years. In most cases it is built to last 50 to 100 years. So we have to ensure that the quality of work is very good.”

“The good thing is that we have a contractor has been building new Railway system for the past 50 years in their country and other places, they know how to build a very good rail way system and the quality is commendable, it is very good and we are quite happy with it,” he added.

Dr. Mobereola stated that the rail project was being implemented under a public and private partnership: the state is building the infrastructure while the private sector will provide the rolling stock and management.

Speaking on how the rail system will boost economic activities, Dr. Mobereola said it will reduce the travel time from between two to three hours which is the average commute time from Okokomaiko to Marina to between 42-43 minutes, a development he described as a huge improvement for the people living on that axis and going to work in Marina.

He said the rail project will also benefit a broad spectrum of Nigerians going to school, hospital; generate economy development along that corridor, and ultimately employment, create housing schemes, industrial development as well as promote cross-border trade.
http://www.lamata-ng.com/rail_services.php

How much can i get lexus RX300 2000 model from Cotonou?

Published on November 6, 2013 by · 2 Comments
The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Wednesday described reports linking it to the Sure-P budget as a comprehensive falsehood stressing that the Corporation has no connection whatsoever with the disbursement and appropriation of funds to the Sure-P Committee.
A member of the Nigerian Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Senator Kabiru Marafa had yesterday said over N500 billion SURE-P funds has not been unaccounted for by the NNPC.
Marafa (PDP Zamfara), who made the disclosure at a meeting of the committee on Tuesday in Abuja said records made available to the committee show that so far, the money realised from the subsidy funds is up to N800 billion.
“This committee wrote to the relevant organisations that benefit from this SURE-P programme when it was inaugurated. It was said that the subsidy regime was going to be N32 per litre. This committee wrote the NNPC to ascertain the quantity of fuel being imported from the time this subsidy programme started.
“The NNPC replied and gave us a break down of the quantity per month from January 2012 to December 2013 which if you calculate, it will give about 21 months.
“When you sum up everything, it comes to roughly about 25 billion litres. Now, if you multiply 25 billion by N32, you get about N800 billion, “he said.
Marafa, however, said the officials of the SURE-P told the committee that they had collected only N300 billion so far for the Programme.
“SURE-P told us, when we invited them, that they collected about N300 billion at N15 billion flat rate per month, so if you multiply 21 by N15 billion, you will get about N315 billion.
“So what we are talking about is the amount involved which is N500 billion, where is it?
“That is what we want NNPC to tell us. They are the ones importing the fuel, they are the custodians,” he said.
The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Governor of the CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and officials of the NNPC were absent up at the meeting to explain the shortfall.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the non appearance of these agencies confirm our fears and reservations of Nigerians on the secrecy of the implementation of the SURE -P programme,” Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Committee said.
But in a press statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Group General Manager, Tumini E. Green, the NNPC said Sure-P budget is managed by a Committee made up of eminent Nigerians.
“NNPC is neither a member of the Sure-P Committee nor does it pay any money into the Sure-P account for any reason whatsoever. The budget is the responsibility of other requisite statutory authority. The committee superintends over the disbursement and the execution of the various social welfare projects, “Green informed.
She affirmed in a terse statement that the Corporation does not know how the funds are managed.
The statement also added that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke who has the highest regards for the distinguished Senate Ad-Hoc Committee was unavoidably absent because she was away on some very important national assignment.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/11/06/nnpc-replies-senate-on-missing-n500b-sure-p-fund/?replytocom=721305#respond

Its only fools that will believe that BH represent Islam.Islam doesn't encourage killing oneself not to talk of killing innocent people.It is stated clearly in Quran that there is no compulsion in religion.Shaytan and his followers can not extinguish the light of islam through spreading falsehood.May Allah continue to guide us aright and save Us from the hand of shaytan and his followers.Amin.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State today presented a budget of N489.69 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval for the 2014 fiscal year.
The budget shows a drop by N10 billion of what was budgeted in 2013, which was N499.604 billion. This is the first time the Lagos State Government recorded a drop in its budget in 14 years since the democratic dispensation in 1999.
The budget is made up of N234.665 billion recurrent expenditure and N255.025 billion capital expenditure.
Presenting the budget to the Assembly, Fashola said the budget comprise a Total Personnel Cost/Total Revenue of 19%; Total Personnel Cost/IGR of 27% and Personnel Cost as percentage of Recurrent Expenditure of 37%, saying that a zero deficit financing requirement is proposed for 2014 budget.
The Sectoral allocation of the shows that General Public Service takes N100.215 billion; Public Order & Safety, N17,977 billion; Economic Affairs, N160.046 billion and Environmental Protection, N39.727 billion.
The sum of N50.537 billion is budgeted for Housing and Community Amenities; Health, N37.8 billion; Recreation, Culture and Religion, N3.482 billion; Education, N77.423 billion and Social Protection, N2.466b
“Because this is the last full year budget that my administration will implement, it represents a slight reduction in budget size when compared with the 2013 budget. Its focus will be to complete on-going projects, and consolidate on the gains we have made,” he said.
Fashola said the sectoral highlights of the 2014 budget are: General Public Service, Pensions, Residents Registration and Issuance of permanent residents’ cards, implementation of Public Procurement Law, Public Order and Safety, Computerisation/Automation of Judicial procedures including e-filing.
Others include completion of on-going High/Magistrates’ Courts projects, Renovation/Rehabilitation of Court Rooms and Judges Chambers and Improving Safety and Disaster Management.
He added that the budget would also focus on implementation of various IPP projects, development of Enterprise Zone in Gberigbe, Ikorodu and Upgrading of Yaba Industrial Park, advancement of Ten-Lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway / Blue Rail Line Corridor, completion of other on-going Road Construction Projects and pedestrian bridges, Agric-YES, Accelerated Food Expansion Programme: Rice, Animal Husbandry, Root Crops, among others.
“One of our programmes that we will be paying attenition to is the Residents’ Registration exercise. As I said at the launch, it is for residents of Lagos and no more. It seeks to register everybody who intends to live here for up to 6 (six) months and beyond irrespective of where they come from.
“I have issued Executive Orders to the entire Public Service to amend our forms and processes to request the provision of the citizens’ registration number which is provided whenever you register. With effect from the 1st of December 2013, it will be a requirement in terms of information to be provided in order to enable us to provide service to you or process requests from you,” he explained.
The governor urged all to either go to the nearest Local Government office to them to register, or do so online at the Agency’s website or engage the mobile registration team, saying that “there is continuous information on the radio, television and our state website about how the process works.
“I am convinced that, as soon as you start providing us with your registration numbers, our capacity to respond to your requests will get faster and better. Our electronic Certificate of Occupancy programme is almost completed. I have signed some of them already and very soon we will start releasing the certificates.”
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/10/30/fashola-budgets-n490b-for-2014/

Former minister of Aviation Femi Fani Kayode has responded to the current minister of Aviation Ms. Stella Oduah who yesterday described him as an ignorant individual, who “should hide his head in shame.” after he called for her resignation following Thursday's crash...

Mrs Stella Oduah said:

“I have huge sympathy for them, the ignorant people in particular. Because when you speak out of context, when you speak under the influence of whatever it is you are under, you speak incorrectly and you mislead innocent Nigerians and that is what he has done. And he really should hide his head in shame.”

Femi Fani Kayode's response below...

Stella Oduah made some comments about me today (yesterday) which were uncalled for, malicious and petty. She reportedly said that I should ''bow my head in shame'', suggested that I was ''speaking out of context'' in my essay where I called for her resignation and that I spoke under some ''influence of something or other''. My advice and counsel to her is to grow up and stop being petty. She is meant to talk like someone who befits her office and not like a market woman, a fish wife or a creature from a Parisian bordello.


I do not like joining issues with women publiclly which is why I was very gentle with her in my essay though I made my point. But this particular woman is endangering the lives of our people with her incompetence and insensitivity and we cannot just keep quiet. This is a woman under whose watch almost 200 people have been killed as Aviation Minister and instead of focusing on how to save lives her obsession has become smearing and abusing Femi Fani-Kayode. This is a woman who only yesterday told Nigerians that ''accidents are inevitable'' and that they were ''acts of God''. This is a woman who thinks more about how her headscarf looks, her jewellry and the jewellry of others more than she does about protecting Nigerian air travellers.


If anyone should bury her head in shame it is her and not me. After just under 200 of our fellow citizens have been killed under her watch instead of abusing her critics and those of us that have expressed our concern and offered our advise she should be seeking repentance from God and tendering her resignation. She should be attempting to encourage the Nigerian people and assuage their fears rather than indulging in petty and cheap sideshots and an futile press war. Instead of comforting the families of those that were lost she is opening her mouth and abusing me. What a shame. Under her tenure we have beautiful terminals but deadly and blood soaked skies. Our skies have become a death trap because she really doesn't care.


My advice to her is to shut up, get serious and focus on doing her job rather than attempting to smear me with her filthy lies and malicious innuendos. I raised some serious issues in that essay that were clearly above her education level and I avoided personal insults. That is what civilsed people do. She should learn from that and address the issues that were raised rather than spend her time trying to kill the messanger. When someone says that God is the author of fatal crashes you know that it is not the same God that we worship as that person. It is the devil that causes accidents and kills people and not God. You can say that a fatal accident is an act of God only if the devil is your god. When I speak and write I am under the influence of one thing and one thing alone- the Spirit of the Living God who sees through her and who knows her for what she is.


She is the one that is under the influence of one thing or the other and not me. She is the one whose hands are filled with blood. She is the one that must bury her head in shame and no-one else. I will pray for her because she needs it and I will pray for Nigeria to. May God deliver us from this vampire Minister.

http://lindaikeji..com/2013/10/ffk-responds-to-aviation-minister-calls.html#more

Jagaban of Nigeria.

The Police in Kenya said Tuesday said they were battling to contain a new trend of commercial sex tourism that targets young boys in the coastal towns of the country .
The reports monitored from a local radio station, quoted Police as saying the trend had caused the rise in the sale pampers in the region due to the rising health problems among boys indulging in the act.
Malindi sub county Deputy Police Commissioner, Joshua Nkanatha told Kenya local radio that boys from poor families were being lured into the trade by rich male tourists.
The Police official said the situation had lead to an increase in number of cases of HIV/AIDS spread in the area.
“A survey we conducted shows that boys engaging in sexual activities with male tourists are buying pampers because they can no longer hold their stool, “Nkanatha said.
Nkanatha, who spoke during a Public Baraza at HGM primary school, Malindi said “male prostitution had become high
in Malindi and contributing to increased cases of HIV and AIDS.
He urged educated and concerned members of the public to take up the responsibility of enlightening the youths
about the health risks of engaging in the vice.
Malindai is a resort town on the outskirt of Nairobi, the Kenyan Capital which attracts Tourists from within and outside Africa. (NAN)
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/male-prositution-causes-rise-in-sale-of-pampers-in-kenya/#sthash.8NCeCVaW.KuQ6eymS.dpuf

Infact,I am suprised by the hypocritical nature of the xtians,does this act depicts any intonation of religion.This issue of Bokoharam is unislamic and lets look at Islam and not the muslim.Its all signs of the end time.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday announced an 83 percent second quarter performance for the State’s 2013 Budget even as he assured Lagosians of high quality service delivery in the coming months.

The performance represents an increase of 22 percent above the first quarter performance which stands at 61 percent. The two quarter results, however, represents a cumulative performance of 72 percent.

Fielding questions from newsmen after presiding over the Year 2013 Budget Second Quarter/Half-Year Performance Appraisal at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Fashola said the second quarter result was consistent with the promise he made to Lagosians at the first quarter budget review meeting that there would be an improved performance in the second quarter.

“Our review covers from April to June this year and the result shows an isolated performance of 83 percent for the second quarter which is consistent with the promise I made at the first quarter, when we announced a 61 percent result, that we would improve on our performance and work harder,” the Governor said.

He added: “So what you have, 61 percent for the first quarter and 83 percent for the second quarter, is a cumulative of 72 percent, slightly behind our result of 75 percent at this time last year, 2012.”

Explaining the slight shortfall in cumulative performance this year as against the same period last year, Governor Fashola said: “You will also understand that we are working a larger budget this year against last year’s budget”.

The Governor, however, added that, given the right circumstances, Lagosians should expect continued improvement in the quality of both service and service delivery.

“All told, Lagosians should expect that we will do better. If we came out with 61 percent in the first quarter and 83 percent in the second quarter, they can only expect a better result in the third quarter,” the Governor said.

Pointing out that the signs of better performance in the third quarter were already there, the Governor declared, “Many of our road projects, Agege, Iju, Ikeja, Lekki, Isolo, Ago Palace, Mile 12, Ikorodu are making progress. We are completing many school projects and also a lot of drainage projects that are already assisting in mitigating the impact of the heavy rains that we have seen so far.”

The Governor, however, explained that the major challenge that the Government faces has to do with fund availability, pointing out that there are many projects which have been completed but not yet paid for. He said such projects could not be added to the budget performance because they have not been paid for.

“We have done quite a lot, road projects, drainages and all that. Our main challenge remains funding so we continue to ask Lagosians to voluntarily declare their assets and pay their taxes. There are a lot of projects we have not paid for so we cannot add them as part of the review. But work is going on, our contractors are working, we are heading North,” the Governor said.

Assuring of continued delivery of quality service to the people, Governor Fashola declared: “The more people that voluntarily declare their assets and pay their taxes, the more we improve the quality of service delivery. We had over 160 roads awarded last year and about 70 this year and many of them are likely to finish this year. That can only translate to improved travel time and more savings. The more citizens pay their taxes and discharge their own civic responsibility, we will give better service.”

Also fielding questions on the outcome of the budget review, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, reiterated that the only challenge facing improved performance was fund availability, adding that Government was ready to discharge its obligation of giving quality service to the people.

“Our main challenge remains funding. As you know, it is the raw material for our performance. Once it is available, what remains is for us to do our job and fulfill our obligations to the people,” he said adding, however, that the heavy rains of this year affected project completion.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/07/12/fashola-announces-83-budget-performance/

Meagre allocations put police stations at the mercy of charity from communities and criminals, Temitayo Famutimi reports

For whoever wants to know why inefficiency is the lot of the Nigeria Police, the starting point may be to closely watch the state of things at police stations across the country. Apart from the poor physical state of many of them, they are largely run on charity.

By the way, how much should a police station, which ought to be always battle-ready in all ramifications, since security problems can arise any time, have in its coffer at every point in time? Well, investigations by our correspondent shows that some of the police stations in Nigeria get as low as N35,000 as allocation from the force headquarters per quarter.

This is the reason why in all the states of the federation, many police stations rely on philanthropic gestures from members of their host communities and proceeds of bribery to function effectively. And that is why inscriptions such as ‘Donated by Welders Association’, ‘Community Development Association’ are constant features on many items and facilities found in many police stations in the country.

From rehabilitation of buildings, to fuelling of patrol vans and generators that serve the stations, many Divisional Police Officers appear to have been turned into beggars of some sort.

Besides, Nigerians who have at one time or the other had a reason to report an incident at a police station are no longer new to the demands from the policeman on duty, asking them to part with sums between N500 and N1, 000 before their statement can be taken.

Even after taking such statements and there is a need to make an arrest of those reported, the policeman on duty asks the complainant to drop another N2, 000 to fuel the police patrol vehicle.

A cross section of DPOs who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity say the development poses a dilemma and, indeed, a threat to the operations of the security agents.

Besides, despite the Inspector-General of Police’s order outlawing police check-points on highways, policemen are still occasionally sighted at some strategic highways across the country, mounting roadblocks and extorting money from the motoring public.

The reasons why this development has continued to be a regular feature of policing in the country, according to men and senior officers of the police, is as a result of the paltry sum of money being allocated to run police stations.

They declare that many of them run the affairs of police stations from the proceeds of bribes collected by men who go on regular patrols as well as philanthropic gestures of members of the public.

But a new twist to this development is that criminals are joining other law abiding citizens to contribute to the running of police stations in the country.

A DPO serving in the Ogun State Police Command explains that depending on members of the public for effective policing is not only risky but also against the principles of policing. Describing the majority of such philanthropic gestures as a Greek gift, the senior police officer says experience has shown that many of these donors usually have skeletons in their cupboards.

Butressing his argument with what transpired in his area of jurisdiction, he explains that an hotelier who had taken up the responsibility of paying for the monthly subscription of the DSTV in the police station was, initially unknown to him, doing so as a cover for his child abuse activities in his hotel.

He says, “Unknown to us, this hotelier was engaging in commercial sexual exploitation of juveniles in the hotel. We were shocked to learn about this and initially it was very hard for us to take a decision due to the support he had been rendering to the police station.

“My men didn’t have the gut to take actions because they were unsure if they had the moral right to arrest a staunch supporter of the station. My men had to await my arrival at the station before a decision to raid the hotel had to be taken.

“Expectedly, the subscription for the DSTV stopped and, ever since, I foot the bill from my purse whenever I have enough money to spare.’’

Investigations by our correspondent reveal that police stations receive quarterly allocations from state commands, after the latter would have got reimbursements from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

A senior police source at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters in Abeokuta also confided in our correspondent that the quarterly allocation the command receives from the Force Headquarters fluctuates between N450, 000 and N650, 000.

This amount, it was gathered, is meant for catering for the needs of the 46 police stations and the five area commands in the state for three months. The amount, it was learnt, is not distributed equally among the police stations as criteria such as the size of the police station and the crime wave in the station’s area of jurisdiction were being used to determine how much each station receives.

A Divisional Police Officer in the Command, who claims to be receiving one of the highest quarterly allocations, says his division receives between N35, 000 and N40, 000 every three months.

This amount, according to him, is meant to cover fuelling of patrol vehicles, generators, stationeries, communication, and other expenses incurred by the police station during the three-month period.

The DPO, who also pleads anonymity because he is not in a position to speak to the press, explains that the allocation for a typical quarter is not even enough to fuel the patrol vehicles in the station for three days, let alone covering the whole expenses for three months.

He says, “It is very difficult to run a police station as a DPO without your men engaging in corrupt practices. How do you run a police station without funds? To describe the allocations we get quarterly as inadequate is to say the least.

“I get less than N40,000 to cater for my running costs quarterly, and, as a matter of fact, to run a truly motorised patrol, for instance, you will need about 40 litres of petrol in 24 hours for a patrol van and this amounts to N3, 840 daily. In this division, we have four patrol vehicles and this makes it N15, 360 daily.

“If we decide to spend the allocation only on petrol, the money wouldn’t last more than three days. So, where do we get the money to make up for the huge shortfalls? Am I in the position to tell policemen who incessantly complain of poor salaries to donate money to run the affairs of the station?”

In Lagos, the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, a public-private partnership established by law in 2007, has been useful in this regard. The LSSTF intervention ranges from acquisition of police equipment, purchasing of patrol vehicles and their maintenance.

However, a senior police officer in the state, explains that patrol vehicles whose maintenance bill is footed by the LSSTF are those attached to the Rapid Response Squad, noting that other vehicles in police divisions are left in care of DPOs to maintain from the quarterly allocation.

The police officer explains that the quarterly allocation given to police stations in the state is between N45, 000 and N80, 000, depending on the size of the police station and the crime wave in the area the station is situated.

He adds, “Police funding is a problematic issue and there is no way the police will perform magic with the way we are being funded. For my division, I get an allocation of N45, 000 quarterly. Just tell me what that money can cover out of the needs of the station for a total of 90 days?.

“Apart from fuelling of patrol vehicles and generators to power the police station, we incur expenses on stationeries. This is especially because the police are not ICT-compliant. As a result, we often beg for assistance from members of the public.’’

According to investigations, DPOs are usually in the habit of holding save-our-souls meeting with the members of the community in their jurisdiction to solicit for help to run the affairs of the station.

In such meetings, it was gathered, community development associations, owners of small businesses, among others, usually take up one or two responsibilities of catering for the needs of such police stations.

One of the DPOs in Lagos State Police Command told our correspondent that when he assumed office, in one of such meetings, he begged the stakeholders in the community who raised money to buy blocks, pay for the labour costs as well as foot the bill for fixing a gate around the station’s fence.

He says, “For you to succeed as a DPO there is no way you won’t live your life as if you are a beggar because money won’t be forthcoming from the top to make ends meet. And who are you to ask questions? When you are invited to a meeting with your boss, maybe at the Area Commander or Commissioner of Police, and issues bordering on finance come up, the best you can do is to say ‘yes sir, I’ll manage, sir.

“When I resumed at my duty post I specifically made the areas of needs of the station known to the various stakeholders in the community. At the end of the day, some private citizens and managers of firms were the ones who erected the fence of the station.”

He adds that after much persuasion, two managers of the petrol stations in the area had been providing the station with 50 litres of petrol per week. The Officer in Charge of Patrol and Guard goes around taking delivery of the fuel every Monday.

“And when the fuel finishes, the boys know how to go about getting the patrol vehicle refuelled because the work has to be done,” he adds.

A source in Akwa Ibom State Police Command explains that the situation is not different from other state commands. He however notes that the local government chairmen provide some monthly allowances to support police stations in their domains.

Also, a police source adds that the case of many states in the northern part of the country is usually worsened by the presence of many police posts under police divisions.

Another source at the Police Force Headquarters says the Police Public Relations Officers in the various state commands are worse off as their offices are not entitled to any allocations from the Force Headquarters.

The source adds that the PPROs in the various commands live at the mercy of the commissioners of police in their respective states.

The source notes, “The IG is just trying to work around something and find a way of including that office in the scheme of things to function appropriately. What about officers who get transferred to new police commands? The allowance they are entitled to in lieu of accommodation at that new desk for 30 days is not often even paid.

“Nigerian police officers and men are suffering in silence and yet we are expected to perform some magic. There are no two ways to it: The Federal Government and the National Assembly should commit more funds to the police for effective policing of the country.’’

When contacted, the acting Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police, confirmed the plight of the DPOs across the country.

According to him, the challenges are not peculiar to one particular state stressing that the state of police stations across the country are pathetic.

He adds that the Force Headquarters is constrained and cannot fund the various police divisions, area commands and state commands appropriately because, “we cannot give what we don’t have.’’

He adds that the current challenges being faced by the police predate the era of the current Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar. But he notes that the Federal Government is working hard to change the fortune of the Nigeria Police.

He says, “The Federal Government has expressed very strong determination to change the trend. There is also an ongoing debate on police reforms and funding and some of these challenges, I believe, will be tackled.

“Besides, the current management team is placing professionalism of the administration of the finance of the Nigeria Police Force in the front burner to manage the resources available to us. That is why we now have officers who have degrees in disciplines such as Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration and other closely related fields being transferred to work in the finance and budget units of the police.’’

Mba says donations in cash and kind to the police are not peculiar to the Nigeria Police. He notes , “Private citizens and companies even in the United States and United Kingdom do so as part of their corporate social responsibility.’’

But Mba notes that DPOs owe it a duty to conduct background checks on those individuals and firms making such donations to the police, warning that those who fail to do so would be ‘’arrested.’’

He adds, “The IGP is not in a position to monitor donations being given to police stations. It is the responsibility of the DPO concerned to conduct background checks such that it will be ascertained that such donations are not Greek gifts.

“A DPO holds a strong and very important office as the police station is the foundation upon which effective policing work is built upon. Any DPO who fails to conduct such checks is acting irresponsibly and would be arrested.’’

Mba advises officers and men of the Nigeria Police to do everything “humanly possible,” to do the job well despite the “challenges and constraints”.

http://www.punchng.com/feature/dpos-confessions-we-run-police-stations-on-bribes-and-charity-2/

APC has been registered, says Akande

All Progressives Congress (APC) has been registered as a political party, says the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.

He spoke with journalists at Abuja after receiving a delegation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the National Secretariat.

The INEC officials who in compliance with the civil service rule came to inspect the party secretariat, were only seen and never heard by the reporters.

It was however gathered that the four- man delegation was led by the Director, Political Parties Monitoring, Mr. Ibrahim Shittu.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news-update/apc-has-been-registered-says-akande/

The leadership of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has suspended the son of the General Superintendent of the church and his wife, John and Love Kumuyi from carrying out any activity in the church over their recent controversial wedding in Jamaica.

John and Love wedded in Jamaica on 15 June, 2013 and thousands of members of the church have reacted sharply while condemning the wedding gown worn by the wife and other aspects of the wedding that were at variance with the church’s standard.
•John and Love during their wedding in Jamaica

•John and Love during their wedding in Jamaica

She was decked in attires quite different from the acceptable standard set for Deeper Life members by the church.

Love was arrayed in flowing gown with a veil to match, while lots of people said her hair wasn’t natural and that she applied lipstick as part of the make-up.

Also at issue was the hiring of a Limousine which conveyed the couple to their destination after the wedding. And a huge cake was cut during the wedding contrary to the church’s tradition.

Due to the myriad of controversies generated by the wedding on social media, Facebook, especially by members of Deeper Life, the church decided to place the couple on suspension to give them time to pray and seek forgiveness from God for their action.

On Saturday, at Deeper Life’s monthly miracle and revival programme held at the Deeper Life Conference Centre, DLCC, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, John and Love’s suspension from church work was announced to the over 50,000 Deeper Life faithful at the event by Pastor Philip Oluwi, a key leader in the church.

Oluwi, certainly is acting on the instruction from the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor William Kumuyi, to suspend the couple for the embarrassment they brought upon the church during the wedding, emphasizing that the standard of Deeper Life regarding wedding and moderacy had not changed.

“The church, Deeper Life, remains committed to the biblical practice and standard of almost 40 years Christian dressing and still remains and does not compromise on biblical Christian dressing.

“Hence, deviation warrants the displeasure and frown of God and the leadership of the church. John and Love are now under discipline,” Oluwi announced to the entire congregation, an action that helped to calm the nerves of many Deeper Life faithful.

Also, the couple has apologised to the church for the embarrassing way the wedding was conducted. The letter was read by Oluwi and re-read severally to church members by the Church’s Secretary, Pastor Jerry Asemota.

The letter addressed to the Church Secretary, with the heading: “Letter of Apology,” expressed the deepest regret of the couple for bringing the church into disrepute.

The letter reads: “We unreservedly and wholeheartedly state that we did not intend and do not intend that our act or omissions in any way undermine the great work that God has done through the Deeper Christian Life Ministry through our father in the Lord, the General Superintendent.

“We also use this medium to profusely and sincerely apologise to the General Superintendent (Kumuyi) of the church for the embarrassment and heartache our action has caused him; more so as he had earlier declined to be at the event. We acknowledge that we may have benn distracted by cultural differences as we both have lived outside Nigeria for nearly two decades.”

The letter added: “This notwithstanding, we fully accept that having been nurtured, taught and brought up with the sound teaching of the word of God, we should have been able to draw the line which we failed to do. We have now realised the far reaching effect of our actions and omissions and do plead with the church for forgiveness and also appeal that any action that should be taken be directed at John and Love, as we take this time to prayerfully reflect on our actions.

“We take full responsibility for what has happened and this action should in no way be blamed on the General Superintendent or the leaders of the church in Nigeria, United States, Jamaica, or United Kingdom and beyond.”

However, P.M.NEWS investigation revealed that John and Love’s wedding was not conducted in a Deeper Life Bible Church. It was also not conducted by pastors from the church as Deeper Life Bible Church in Jamaica has not been licensed by the country’s government to join couples in wedlock, according to the laws of Jamaica.

The wedding was taken to another church where the ministers in the unnamed church conducted the wedding and joined them in holy matrimony.

Besides, Deeper Life leaders that came from Nigeria were said to have disapproved of the earlier gown Love was to wear for the wedding, while another was hurriedly sewed the night before the wedding.

Church leaders were said not to have seen the new dress until the couple was marching into the church and by then, it was too late to take any action as the wedding was not conducted in a Deeper Life church.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/07/02/deeper-life-suspends-kumuyis-son-wife/

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar stunned his audience in far away Geneva, Switzerland when he recalled how his late father was jailed for refusing to let him attend school in his hometown of Jada, Adamawa State.

The former Vice President made the revelation in remarks he made on the occasion of the conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on him by the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

“When my father was put in jail by local authorities because he needed my assistance with herding the livestock, it seemed like a harsh punishment,” Atiku reminisced.

He, however, noted “were he to be alive to witness this day (yesterday) and the last 30 or so years of my life I am sure that he would exclaim “wow! Education pays after all.”

“The founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola recalled that as a young lad growing up in his rustic village of Jada, he had dreams, but that it was education that made his dreams come true.

According to him, “education is what brought me in contact with members of the United States of America’s Peace Corps when I was still a little boy; a contact and interaction that would have profound impact on my life, especially my love for education and service.

“While underscoring the imperative of education to personal growth and development, the former Vice President said it gave him the friends he made across Nigeria as he attended high school and university; gave him a job in the Nigerian civil service; and provided him with opportunities to meet and form more life-long friendships from across the world.

Atiku Abubakar attributed the modest achievements he has made in business and politics and the contributions in improving the lives of others to education.

He stressed that education is what has informed his determination to give back to society, especially through education.

He noted that the centrality of education in the improvement of the human condition is one reason why public policy must seek to always improve the quality of and access to public education everywhere in the world, especially in developing countries like Nigeria.

He advised parents not to choose career options for their children but allow them to discover their innate potentials by charting their own preferred discipline.

“A young friend of mine, who heads the human resources department of an organization in Nigeria, called me up one night about seven months ago and said he came across an application for employment by one of my children and wondered whether I consented to my child applying to work in that organization.

“I asked why he needed to clear that with me first and he said he thought that I would prefer that my child works in one of my establishments. I then told him that I do not choose careers for my children. I owe them good education; I support them to acquire good education. What they do thereafter is up to them as adults,” Atiku said.

Others who received honorary doctorate degrees from the same institution are His Excellency (Dr.) Oguz Demiralp, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey and His Excellency (Dr.) Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) and Honorary Dean of the Geneva School of Diplomacy

The National Caucus of the ruling PDP has explained that the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, southwest Nigeria, was not lifted because of a pending case challenging the action.

The party organ gave the explanation late on Tuesday after a meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In an interview with State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting which ended at about 11 p.m., the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Mr Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, said the body was briefed on Amaechi’s suspension.

Akpabio explained that reversing Amaechi’s suspension from the party would amount to over-reaching the decision of a competent court, sitting on the case challenging the action.

He said that it was easy for the National Working Committee (NWC) to lift the suspension of Sokoto Governor Aliyu Wamakko because the matter was not in court.

“The PDP National Caucus was fully briefed on all issues pertaining to the party.

“We made an appeal to the NWC to look at the suspension but the one of the Rivers State Governor is subjudice because he has gone to court.

“The one of Sokoto did not go to court and so the suspension was lifted,” Akpabio said.

Amaechi was suspended on 27 May over allegations concerning his refusal to heed the party’s instruction to reinstate the elected chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council in Rivers.

Wamakko, who was suspended on June 5 for alleged serial disobedience to party authority, was recalled by the party this week.

Akpabio said that the meeting also deliberated on the lingering crisis within the party and agreed that a high-powered team headed by the president should immediately embark on reconciliation.

He said the team would consult with aggrieved members to bring them back to the fold.

He said that the PDP at its NEC meeting on Thursday, considered the report by INEC which faulted the election of some members of the National Working Committee.

He refuted media reports that President Jonathan had ordered that the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and other executive members should resign.

“I believe that he (Tukur) is the National Chairman.

“In fact, NEC will look at INEC’s report that some national officers were not properly elected.

“We will look at that as a party. I don’t see any problem with the national chairman.”

Akpabio also disclosed that the meeting had set up a special committee to look at the guidelines that would be presented at the NEC meeting on Thursday for approval.

“Members were drawn from the National Assembly which of course includes the senate leader and also the whip of the National Assembly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the fraction Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, on Tuesday failed in its bid to stall hearing of a suit challenging its legitimacy and seeking its de-registration.

A Federal High Court siting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, refused to entertain NGF’s application for a stay of proceedings in the matter.

The forum’s lawyer, Mr. Okunade Olorundare, a senior advocate of Nigeria, had applied for his preliminary objection to be heard first before the substantive matter or alternatively, for his application for stay of proceedings pending appeal to be heard first. These were rejected by the court in a ruling.

The court had earlier fixed the hearing of all pending applications, particularly the preliminary objection and originating summons, for Tuesday.

Parties were expected to argue both applications, but Olorundare and Mr. Nasiru Tijani, who represented the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, objected and insisted that the court must first hear their objections.

Olorundare further told the court that he had filed an application before the court seeking a stay of its proceedings pending the determination an appeal he filed.

The appeal was against the court’s decision on 29 April to hear the substantive suit together with the defendants’ preliminary objection.

He urged the court to either hear his preliminary objection first or hear his application for stay.

Mr. Tijani Ali Danjuma, the Northern Coordinator of Network for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance, NDDGG, had taken the NGF and the CAC before the court claiming that the governor’s body was erroneously registered by the CAC and wants the court to de-register the NGF.

He contended that the body was illegal and asked the court to determine whether, by virtue of the provision of Section 5 sub-sections 2, 3, 176, 183, 185, 187, 306 and 308; and the Oath of Office of Governor of a state, as set out in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the term “governor” referred to an “office” or a “ person.”

His lawyer, Mr. Tubotamuno Dick in the course of Tuesday’s proceedings, described Olorundare’s argument as part of the defendants’ antics to frustrate the prompt hearing of the case.

He argued that the court’s decision to hear both the substantive suit with the objection was in line with the provision of Order 29 of the court’s Civil Procedure Rules and urged the court to discountenance the defendants’ argument and proceed to hear the case the way it had planned.

The court held that the decision to hear the applications together was informed by the provision of Order 29 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules and maintained that Olorundare’s argument, as well as that of the CAC, were misconceived and calculated to stall the court’s business for the day.

Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to 4th July, for hearing of the defendants’ objection with the substantive matter

Ali Danjuma, the laintiff, also wants the court to determine among other issues, whether an “office” can have fundamental human rights as provided under Chapter Four of the Constitution, particularly in relation to the right to freedom of association as provided under Section 40 for it (the office of governor) to qualify as Trustee under Section 592 of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2004 and for it to be registered as an association under Part C of CAMA.

Residents from various parts of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have been coming to catch a glimpse of a baby allegedly born with a miniature Quran at 9, Oguntade Street, Shasha area of the state.

Incidents like these are scientifically impossible, but residents of the area say it is true even though some of them confessed that they did not see the baby clutching the miniature Quran, the holy book of the Muslims. They were only told about it.

It took efforts for P.M.NEWS reporters to gain access into the one-room apartment of the baby’s parents as a result of the crowd that took over the place.

The mother of the baby, Kabirat Lamidi, a 32-year old hairstylist, said right from the conception of the baby, she had been sick.

She said when the baby refused to come out after 11 months, she went for a scan where it was shown that she had an object in the womb with the baby.

The Ede, Osun State indigene who said she had been married for 10 years, said she was shocked to discover that few seconds after the baby was delivered, she pushed out a Quran.

“I have been hearing about such incidents and I have always insulted people thinking it could never happen. I believe it is a gift from Allah,” she said.

She said as a Muslim, she was not even dedicated and did not know how to pray, expressing surprise that such an incident could happen to her.

The mother of three said she had always given birth in the hospital but that on this day, she went into labour so fast that she could not move.

“My advice to people is that they should henceforth watch their mouth. I didn’t believe before now,” she said.

Mrs. Saudat Olawuwo, a staff nurse with the Shasha Medical Centre who assisted with the delivery, said she was called by neighbours when the woman was in labour.
•Crowd at 9, Oguntade Street, Shasha, where a baby was said to have been born with Quran

•Crowd at 9, Oguntade Street, Shasha, where a baby was said to have been born with Quran

Mrs. Olawuwo with 17 years working experience, said the woman was supposed to put to birth on 16 May, but it did not happen.

“By the time I came the day she was in labour, the baby was already coming out. So I assisted her.

“After that, we were expecting the placenta, but the woman began behaving like one about to run mad. I was so confused.

“The woman was shouting that she wanted to push again and all of a sudden, the Quran, wrapped in nylon and stained with blood jumped out.

“Out of confusion, I ran out and called people who came to see. We also called a Muslim cleric around the area who came and prayed for the baby,” she said.

Father of the baby, Luqman Lamidi, said he was in a drinking bar when he was called and told that his wife had delivered a baby with a Quran.

He said he did not believe until he came and saw the Quran covered with blood.

“I arrived home and saw a lot of crowd and could not even enter. In fact, I am surprised that a drunk like me could produce a child that came into this world with a Quran,” he said, adding that he had become a changed person.

Chief Imam of Oguntade, Shasha, Alhai AbdulRafiu Opeloyeru Oyedokun, said he was the one who tore the nylon from the Quran after he was called to the place.

“When I came, people were still doubting if the object was a Quran or not, so I tore the nylon with blood on it publicly and everyone confirmed it.”

As the yet to be named baby boy lay asleep, P.M.NEWS noticed that each time the Quran is placed on his chest, he consistently lifted his hands up and would not drop the hands until the Quran is taken off.

There was a big controversy in May last year following the alleged birth of a baby boy said to be clutching a miniature Holy Quran at birth.

The baby was born at a white garment church in Mushin, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

While some disputed the claim, others said it was possible. A large crowd gathered at 1, Sonde Street, Ijeshatedo, Lagos home of the boy’s parents as news of the birth spread rapidly.

His mother, Mrs. Kikelomo Ilori, 32, a Cosmetologist, told P.M.NEWS that he was born after she had carried the pregnancy for about 10 months.

“When my baby was delivered holding a Quran in his hand, the nurse said the Quran should be thrown away. But I insisted my mother must see it before any action could be taken,” Kikelomo, who is a Christian, further explained.

Corroborating the story, Senior Rev. Victoria Yetunde Dada said during the pregnancy, Kikelomo was always coming to her for prayers and counselling.

“I advised her not to abort the pregnancy because she might die in the process. Again, I told her the foetus was sent by God and will be great,” Apostle Mother Dada told our correspondent.

Reacting, Medical Director of Bodet Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Bode Tawak said scientifically, it was not possible for a baby to be born holding a Quran.

“How big is the baby’s hand to hold the Quran? How big is the Quran? How did the Quran get into her mother’s womb? I don’t know how a Quran can get into a womb. But there are things you can’t explain,” Dr. Tawak responded.

He said while the incident cannot be explained medically, in Nigeria many mysterious things happen.

A Kaduna-based medical practitioner, Dr. Munir Yusuf said from a medical point of view, it was not possible, but added that depending on the size of the Quran, it was possible metaphysically.

He explained that if the Quran is small enough to pass through the diameter of the vagina, with the child, it is possible.

In the same vein, a herbal medicine practitioner, Chief Dr. Bola Adegunloye believes nothing is impossible, but said too much importance must not be placed on the incident.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/06/19/another-baby-born-with-quran-in-lagos/

Scores of commuters including school children going to Ikoyi, Eti-Osa, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, were on Tuesday morning stranded at Obalende Motor Park when commuter bus drivers plying Ikoyi axis, Lagos, withdrew their vehicles from the area.

They were protesting against alleged indiscriminate seizure of their vehicles by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Task Force.

The drivers alleged that LASTMA officials and the Lagos State Task Force usually impound their buses on the excuse that the state government has banned commuter vehicles from plying Ikoyi and its environs.

The drivers have called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to their rescue and direct the security personnel to allow them do their job, since there has not been any official ban on commuter buses plying Ikoyi.

A commuter, Mr. Joseph Etuk, who claimed that he works at Gerhard Road in Ikoyi, also begged the governor to call the security personnel and LASTMA officials to order because their activities are affecting not only the transport workers but commuters who are working in the area.

He said since last week when the officials began to arrest commuter bus drivers plying the area, commuters have found it difficult to get to their places of work on time.

“What we are saying is that, apart from the green and white painted buses plying Ikoyi, there is no other alternative means of transportation to the area. If the government wants to ban commuter buses from plying Ikoyi, it should first announce it to the public and provide alternative means of transportation to the area.

“We are appealing to Governor Fashola to call the security men to order and stop the arrest of commuter bus drivers conveying us to our places of work on a daily basis. But we still believe that the governor is not aware of what is happening to bus drivers and commuters plying Ikoyi axis in Lagos”, he stated.

A bus driver, who identified himself as Jude, said: “For a long time, we have been warned by the transport union leader not to ply Gerrard, Alexander and Bourdillon roads in Ikoyi, and we have stopped plying those areas. We drop off passengers going to Ikoyi at Lugard Avenue and those going to JAMB Office on Glover Road by Milverton Street Roundabout and then turn back. Yet, each time the task force officials arrest us, they will deliberately drive us to Alexander Road, Ikoyi and claim they arrested us there so as to extort money from us.

“We decided to withdraw our vehicles from the area when the situation became unbearable. We are now begging Governor Fashola to direct the security personnel to allow us to do our job since we are not plying the prohibited areas such as Gerrard, Alexander and Bourdillon roads.”

When P.M.NEWS visited Obalende Motor Park Tuesday morning, stranded commuters were seen waiting to board the unavailable buses plying Ikoyi.

The drivers refused to work because they claimed that they could be arrested.

Efforts made to speak to the transport leaders in charge of the park proved futile as at the time of writing this report.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/06/18/commuter-bus-drivers-protest-in-ikoyi/

National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu says he will not only miss his late mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, but also the afternoon food and prayers she offered him. Mogaji died on Saturday, 15 June, at the age of 96.

Speaking after her burial on Sunday, in Ikoyi, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Tinubu said: “I will miss her afternoon foods and prayers. Even though I had eaten my lunch, she would still want me to eat her food despite the fact that I am a married man. She taught us contentment. She was so generous to the extent that she could give out her last kobo to the needy.”

Tinubu disclosed that she died peacefully as she never gave anybody heartache before she died, saying that she was resting when death took her away.

The former governor stated that immediately his mother died, he felt a vacuum in his heart as he would miss her greatly.

“She was so kind and God was kind to her. She ate her lunch and took her vitamins that afternoon. She was resting when death snatched her from us. I felt the void immediately she died.

“There are so many lessons to learn from her, most especially the women folk. They must continue to be resilient, committed and industrious in order to help us banish poverty. She was a committed democrat. Mama would vote and mobilise voters anytime, any day. She believed in one man one vote.

“As women leaders of the society, they have to continue to plan together, share issues, share discussions and look at the right direction. Commitment to the education of their children is the best weapon against poverty and ignorance. Once you get out of that, definitely the nation will benefit and progress,” he stated.

Tinubu added that Mogaji influenced the decision of his administration to pay the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, fees of secondary school students in Lagos State.

“I was so touched when she brought some women to me and said that I should pay their children’s WAEC fees. Then I was the governor and I decided afterwards that henceforth, I will be paying the examination fees of school children whether rich or poor,” he said.

Tinubu described Mogaji as “a successful woman, a good leader, mother in Nigeria, good thinker, compassionate and a committed democrat.”

The remains of Mogaji was on Sunday buried at the Vault and Garden Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos.
•The remains of the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji on the way to its final resting place in Ikoyi, Lagos

•The remains of the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji on the way to its final resting place in Ikoyi, Lagos

Mogaji, who was the President General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men died in her home on Saturday at Sunday Adigun Street, Alausa in Ikeja.

Prayers were offered for Mogaji, at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos, by the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Alhaji Garuba Akinola, who was represented by Alhaji Mujitabah Giwa.

In his sermon, the cleric said there were many things to emulate in the life of Mogaji as she lived an exemplary life.

“God owns our beginning and the end. She had impacted much in the lives of the people positively and her life is worthy of emulation,” he said.

The service at the mosque ended around 11:30 am while the body of Mogaji was taken to the cemetery in a white casket. She was removed from the casket before she was lowered into the grave in accordance with Islamic injunction. At the graveside where she was buried, the cleric offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased before she was lowered into the grave, saying that everyone would die at a particular point in time.

After the burial, attention shifted to the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Ikeja, where special prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Senator Babafemi Ojudu and Senator Gbenga Ashafa have paid glowing tribute to the late Mogaji.

In his tribute Ojudu said her death has created a void no one can fill.

According to the lawmaker, Alhaja Abibat cared so much about people that she was able to secure for herself a special place in their hearts.

“A politically conscious woman, apart from being kind to all, she dedicated herself to enlightening women and lifting them from economic and political doldrums,” Ojudu said.

In a statement in Lagos on Saturday, Ojudu said he believes Asiwaju Bola Tinubu drew his strength and uncompromising kindness from his mother.

He prayed God to give the ACN National Leader and other members of the extended family the strength to wade through times like this, adding that rather than being sad, they, however, should be happy to have had an amazon like Alhaja Abibat as their matriarch.

In his tribute, the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Ashafa, joined millions of Nigerians to sympathize with the family of Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji who passed on on Saturday evening.

Ashafa described Alhaja Mongaji as a courageous and selfless woman who lived her life caring for others around her, adding that her struggle for independence women movement would remain indelible.

In a statement made available by his Head of Media and Strategy, Mr Babatunde Adegunju, the lawmaker described the Iya Oloja General as a loving and caring mother that accommodated everyone around her as if they were her own children regardless of tribe and background.

He said: “Mama Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the Iya Oloja General for the whole federation will be remembered for touching the lives many across the country.

“She influenced many lives and was a rare gem, she was loving, caring, accommodating and as well as industrious throughout her life time. Mama passed on at this moment that we needed her most.

“With deep sense of sympathy and concern, I sympathize with the entire family of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all market men and women in Nigeria and Lagos in particular and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and other Obas in Lagos State and that Almighty God will give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May Allah (SWT) grant Mama Alijannah Firidauz.”

Ashafa described the demise of the pioneer Iyaloja /President General of the Market men and Women as a great national and personal loss. As a mark of honour for the late Mogaji, market men and women in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, were on Monday ordered to close their markets.

As a result of this, activities in major markets in the state were virtually paralyzed.

Most of the markets visited by our correspondent such as Ipaja-Ayobo, Command, Dopemu and Agege markets were not fully opened for transactions.

Traders in these market were seen discussing the life and death of the Iyaloja general, describing her as “leader of leaders.”

According to a market leader in Ipaja-Ayobo who identified himself as Alhaji Saka Aberuagba,”we are celebrating Mama Mogaji because she was an icon that performed wonderfully well.

“She demonstrated audacity as the Iyolaja general during her life time and her legacy shall be maintained and consolidated,” he said.

A trader at Temidire market Dopemu, Mrs Justina Olowookere, described her as a consummate, faithful and compassionate mother to all and sundry.

“Mama was a wonderful mother. It is not out of any political intent that we are celebrating her. She was a lover of so many people. We are honouring a mother who over the years touched many lives.”