FAAN, led by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, recognized the fire incident and emphasized the prompt action of the airport firefighters, preventing a potential disaster.

Flight operations at the E wing of Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Nigeria have been rerouted following a fire incident.
– The fire started early on Thursday morning when smoke was detected at the E54 bridge.
– Daily Trust reported that the Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) quickly responded to the fire, managing to control it.
– The fire resulted in a power outage in the area of the old international terminal.
– The terminal has experienced past fire incidents, sometimes leading to temporary closures.
– The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recognized the fire incident, praising the prompt response of the airport firefighters in containing the blaze and preventing additional damage.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, said, “At 05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing.

“The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs.

“Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire. The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs.

“Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress. In the meantime, all flight operations in Terminal 1 of MMA have been diverted to the D Wing.”

The EFCC is taking a significant step in pursuing justice against former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke by applying to join her ongoing trial in the UK as an interested party.

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This move aims to secure Nigeria’s access to assets that could be seized from her due to alleged bribery and corruption charges.

The EFCC team will head to London shortly to file papers and participate in the case. They plan to inform the UK court of their findings and the forfeiture order by an Abuja high court on Diezani’s $2.5 million homes and cars.

Diezani faces trial in the UK for allegedly receiving cash, cars, flights, luxury holidays, and using London properties.

The NCA alleges she may have received at least £100,000 in cash and other benefits. Joining the trial is seen as crucial for Nigeria to recover questionable assets from Diezani.

“This country may not be able to retrieve questionable assets from Diezani if the EFCC does not file an application as an interested party,” the source said. “We have received an advisory on this important bend to Diezani’s trial, and we will be part of the case in the UK.”

• EFCC’s Case Against Diezani:

• EFCC possesses substantial evidence against Diezani, including a court order related to her $2.5 million worth of properties and vehicles.

• Allegations suggest Diezani stole around $2.5 billion from Nigeria’s finances during her tenure as a minister.

 

• EFCC’s Successes:

• A former EFCC chairman disclosed that the commission recovered $153 million and obtained the final forfeiture of over 80 properties in Nigeria, valued at approximately $80 million.

 

• International Collaboration Against Corruption:

• In March 2023, the NCA shared evidence with the US Department of Justice, leading to the recovery of assets totaling $53.1 million linked to Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.

• The partnership between EFCC and NCA in the UK is viewed as a crucial step in combating corruption and reclaiming stolen assets.

 

• Diezani’s Legal Situation:

• Diezani was detained in London in 2015 after resigning as a minister and was formally charged in August with six bribery charges.

• She has been on police bail for over eight years, residing in the affluent St John’s Wood area of London.

“Bribery is a pervasive form of corruption, which enables serious criminality and can have devastating consequences for developing countries. We will continue to work with partners here and overseas to tackle the threat.”

Diezani was arrested in London in 2015 shortly after resigning as a minister. In August, she was charged with six bribery offenses. Since then, she has spent over eight years on police bail, residing in St John’s Wood, a luxurious area of London.

In a significant development, the Organised Labour and the Federal Government have come to a preliminary agreement on the new national minimum wage.

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The two parties have decided to continue engaging daily over the next week at the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage until a final consensus is reached.

During a marathon meeting led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, the Federal Government provided assurance to Labour leaders that President Bola Tinubu is dedicated to implementing a new minimum wage exceeding N60,000 per month.

The news, disclosed late on Monday night, follows the withdrawal of Organised Labour from negotiations before this latest breakthrough. Prior to this agreement, members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had initiated an indefinite nationwide strike to push for a new minimum wage and the reversal of recent electricity tariff increases. This strike disrupted operations in both public and private sectors across the country.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a joint statement was issued by the Ministers of Information, Mohammed Idris, and Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, representing the Federal Government, along with NLC and TUC Presidents, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, representing Organised Labour. The statement outlined a four-point resolution aimed at resolving the ongoing industrial dispute.

This development marks a significant step forward in addressing the concerns of workers regarding the minimum wage and signals a commitment from the government to meet these demands. The coming days will be crucial as both parties work towards finalizing the details of the new minimum wage agreement. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving situation.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000;

“Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage;

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“Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in (ii) above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and

“No worker would be victimised as a result of the industrial action,” the resolutions read.

The Federal Government has announced Wednesday, June 12, as a public holiday to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day.

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, extended congratulations to Nigerians for the celebration. He highlighted the importance of upholding democratic principles and praised President Bola Tinubu‘s commitment to implementing beneficial reforms for the economy and security of the nation.

The statement partly read;

“As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us all reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains a united, secured, peaceful and indivisible entity.

“The minister also called on Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to appreciate the progress that has been made, and look forward to a better future for Nigeria’s Democracy.”

The federal government has revealed a series of events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Democracy Day, signifying a quarter-century of uninterrupted democratic rule in Nigeria. This information was disclosed in a statement released by Abdulhakeem Adeoye, representing the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

A recent report has uncovered substantial evidence indicating that Jihadi fighters from the Sahel region have entered Nigeria via the Benin Republic border.

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The report, published by the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch think-tank with a focus on the Sahel, highlights the escalating presence of these fighters.

Terrorism and extremism have been on the rise in the Sahel region, especially in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic.

The tri-border area of these nations has notably suffered from the activities of terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, leading to attacks on both military forces and civilians.

Recent military coups have further destabilized the region, prompting West African countries to seek support from Russia after cutting ties with the US and France.

Benin, which borders Nigeria, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso, has also experienced a rise in violent extremism in its northern areas.

”That violence has now seeped into Nigeria,” the Clingendael Institute said.

The report indicates a resurgence of banditry in areas under the control of the militant jihadist group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) in Benin, with apparent ties to Nigeria. It also mentioned that these extremists have established a presence in Kainji Lake National Park in Niger and Kebbi states.

“Evidence suggests this involves Sahelian extremists (likely JNIM). Another group would be Darul Salam – a group linked to Boko Haram, if not fully affiliated — with an open attitude towards bandits,” the report said.

“Bandits and unidentified armed groups are known to move towards Kebbi State from Sokoto. It is alleged that these include various Darul Salam fighters with links to the Sahel.”

The Clingendael report stated that the motive of the Sahel extremists in the park is unclear, as is their relationship with other armed groups in the region.