Niger: Gov Bago blames human negligence, overloading for rising boat accidents

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has raised concern about the increasing number of boat accidents across riverine communities in the state, describing the tragedies as painful and avoidable. In a statement released by his media aide, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor said many of the mishaps happen because of human negligence. He noted that some
Niger: Gov Bago blames human negligence, overloading for rising boat accidents

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has raised concern about the increasing number of boat accidents across riverine communities in the state, describing the tragedies as painful and avoidable.

In a statement released by his media aide, Bologi Ibrahim, the governor said many of the mishaps happen because of human negligence.

He noted that some of these accidents are caused by overloading of boats and refusal to wear life jackets.

He stressed that such incidents could be reduced if passengers and operators follow safety rules on waterways.

The statement added that Governor Bago extended his condolences to families who lost loved ones in the recent Borgu accident and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.

He said the state government shares in their grief and stands with them in this difficult time.

He also commended the quick response of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority, community volunteers, and local divers who took part in rescue operations.

Niger: Gov Bago blames human negligence, overloading for rising boat accidents

199,000 benefit from FG’s cash transfer programme in Adamawa

Over 199,000 people in Adamawa State have benefitted from the Federal Government’s free cash transfer programme, the lead person of the intervention in the state, Mrs Mary Yuwadi has said. Yuwadi, the Adamawa State Coordinator of Social Investment Program, which is supervising fund disbursement in the state under the cash transfer segment, said on Thursday
199,000 benefit from FG’s cash transfer programme in Adamawa

Over 199,000 people in Adamawa State have benefitted from the Federal Government’s free cash transfer programme, the lead person of the intervention in the state, Mrs Mary Yuwadi has said.

Yuwadi, the Adamawa State Coordinator of Social Investment Program, which is supervising fund disbursement in the state under the cash transfer segment, said on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu directed a scale up of what was initially five million to 15 million Nigerians to be reached under the cash transfer program.

According to her, the directive means that more than double the 199,000 Adamawa people would be served when the scale up is implemented.

In her speech during an interactive session with stakeholders at the Women Development Centre in Yola, Yuwadi said lives have been transformed over time as each beneficiary gets a total of N75,000 in three tranches of N25,000.

“The beneficiaries appreciate the gesture and do meaningful things with it, small as the amount may seem to the more affluent Nigerians,” she said.

She added that the state office responsible for getting potential beneficiaries in the register is currently updating the register and adding more people.

Shedding further light on the cash transfer programme, the Training and Communication Officer of the Adamawa State Cash Transfer Unit, Patience John, said through its cash transfer scheme, the Federal Government is building resilience for the most vulnerable Nigerians to reduce extreme poverty.

She said, “The Federal Government is passionate about investing in social protection. Transparent targeting mechanism has been applied to ensure that intended beneficiaries are reached.”

The Stakeholder Engagement in Yola on the National Social Safety Net Programme Scale Up Implementation, organised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, in collaboration with National Social Investment Programme Agency and National Cash Transfer Office/Adamawa State Cash Transfer Unit, was attended by implementation desk officers from Adamawa’s 21 LGAs, among other stakeholders.

199,000 benefit from FG’s cash transfer programme in Adamawa

Unpaid benefits: Retired military pensioners picket Finance Ministry

Many retired Nigerian soldiers on Thursday blocked the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the alleged delay in releasing funds to the Military Pensions Board, MPB, for the payment of their outstanding entitlements. They stated that they resolved to protest after officials of the Ministry of Finance failed to honour earlier
Unpaid benefits: Retired military pensioners picket Finance Ministry

Many retired Nigerian soldiers on Thursday blocked the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, protesting the alleged delay in releasing funds to the Military Pensions Board, MPB, for the payment of their outstanding entitlements.

They stated that they resolved to protest after officials of the Ministry of Finance failed to honour earlier assurances that their benefits would be paid by August 10.

DAILY POST recalls that the ex-servicemen had suspended a similar protest on August 4 after a meeting with officials of the ministries of defence and finance, where they were promised that the backlog of payments would be cleared.

Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters simply identified as Mama G, said the renewed demonstration was prompted by what she described as the government’s failure to act on its commitments.

“We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive,” she said.

The senior citizens have, in recent years, staged several protests in Abuja and other cities, lamenting delays in payment of their pensions and accusing authorities of neglect.

At the time of filing this report, the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, and the Military Pensions Board had yet to respond to the protest.

Unpaid benefits: Retired military pensioners picket Finance Ministry

Nwakali’s Lack Of Discipline Affecting His Progress In Football –Ezeji

Former Nigerian international Victor Ezeji has blamed Super Eagles midfielder Kelechi Nwakali’s lack of discipline for his decline in his football. Nwakali, who was one of the shining lights for…

Presidential honours for Madagascar team after CHAN fairytale

Presidential honours for Madagascar team after CHAN fairytale

Iheanacho Will Rediscover His Best Form At Celtic –Finidi

Former Nigerian international Finidi George believes Super Eagles midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho will flourish at Celtic. Iheanacho’s transfer follows a season where he initially joined Sevilla, only to find himself on…

Ensure strict reliance on rule of law, justice – Bolaji Akinyemi, rights activist tells FG

A rights activist and social crusader, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, has called on the Federal Government and its actors to ensure strict reliance to the rule of law in the administration of criminal justice. Akinyemi said he observed that the country was toiling with its judicial and democratic foundations by exhibiting weak and lackadaisical tendencies
Ensure strict reliance on rule of law, justice – Bolaji Akinyemi, rights activist tells FG

A rights activist and social crusader, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, has called on the Federal Government and its actors to ensure strict reliance to the rule of law in the administration of criminal justice.

Akinyemi said he observed that the country was toiling with its judicial and democratic foundations by exhibiting weak and lackadaisical tendencies on criminal activities it was supposed to slam firm judgements and decisions on.

The Board of Trustees Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiatives, stated this while speaking with journalists in Abakaliki on Thursday.

He was responding to the Canadian and Finnish courts rulings that declared the All Progresses Congress, APC, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in-Exile, Simon Ekpa, terrorists elements, and also slammed a six-year jail term on the latter.

Akibyemi said, “The gavel has fallen twice—once in Canada and once in Finland—reminding us that justice, even if uneven, still speaks across borders.

“In Canada, the Immigration Appeal Division, ruling on the case of Douglas Egharevba, held that membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was enough to make him inadmissible into the country. The reason? Reasonable grounds existed to believe that the party, by systemic violence and subversion of democratic institutions, had crossed the line of civility.

“While no formal proscription of PDP—or its rival All Progressives Congress (APC)—was pronounced under Canadian law, the implication was stark: association with Nigeria’s dominant parties carried the stain of complicity in violence. For a court to so hold, without proof of personal wrongdoing, is a loud global indictment.

“Across Europe, in Finland, the hammer struck even harder. The Päijät-Häme District Court convicted Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the so-called Biafra Government-in-Exile, of terrorism-related offences. His crimes included incitement to terrorism, participation in a terrorist organisation, and facilitation of arms and explosives. The judgment was not symbolic—it carried a six-year prison sentence. No ambiguity. No immigration technicalities. Ekpa, guilty as charged.

“Placed side by side, these two pronouncements point us to one undeniable truth: while the right of any nation or people, including the Igbo, to seek self-determination is legitimate under international law, the world frowns heavily at violent options. Violence is the fast track to global isolation. IPOB, long caught between agitation and armed provocation, now stands at a crossroads. Reinvent themselves in line with non-violence, or forfeit the global sympathy needed to advance the cause of Biafra.

“But the other side of this coin cannot be ignored. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. If the Nigerian state applauds the Finnish court for sentencing Simon Ekpa, then it cannot dismiss the Canadian court’s ruling on the violent character of its two dominant parties, APC and PDP. One cannot cherry-pick justice abroad. To do so is hypocrisy of the highest order.

“This brings us home to the institutional failure of INEC, the body saddled with the regulation of political parties. If foreign courts are raising questions about the violent DNA of our parties, what has INEC done to sanitize the space? The answer is simple—nothing. Violence, thuggery, ballot snatching, vote-buying—these have become the enduring currencies of our elections, tolerated and normalized by a commission that should be an umpire but acts as an enabler.

“The judgments in Canada and Finland should be a mirror for us. They expose the shame we bury under propaganda. They call us out on the violence that has become the language of politics and agitation in Nigeria. They remind us that while democracy allows the pursuit of power and even self-determination, the path of violence discredits both the parties in government and the movements seeking freedom.

“APC, PDP, Simon Ekpa: guilty as charged. Different courts, different contexts, same verdict. Nigeria must now decide—shall we continue to export political violence as our most reliable product, or shall we embrace the hard but honourable work of building a nation where justice, fairness, and non-violence underpin our politics?”

Ensure strict reliance on rule of law, justice – Bolaji Akinyemi, rights activist tells FG

Tinubu: ‘Working vacation is something else’ – Shehu Sani disagrees with Presidency

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has faulted the Presidency’s description of President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Europe as a “working vacation”. Reacting in a post on X, Sani wrote: “I understand the word ‘working’. I understand the word ‘vacation’. The sentence ‘working vacation’ is something else.” Earlier, DAILY POST reported that the Presidency announced
Tinubu: ‘Working vacation is something else’ – Shehu Sani disagrees with Presidency

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has faulted the Presidency’s description of President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Europe as a “working vacation”.

Reacting in a post on X, Sani wrote: “I understand the word ‘working’. I understand the word ‘vacation’. The sentence ‘working vacation’ is something else.”

Earlier, DAILY POST reported that the Presidency announced that Tinubu had departed Abuja on Thursday, September 4, to begin his 2025 annual leave in Europe.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the vacation will last 10 working days.

The statement added that Tinubu will spend the period between France and the United Kingdom before returning to the Nigeria.

https://x.com/ShehuSani/status/1963607736807010468?t=PpWuZBLlOm2OTNXZoKDraw&s=19

Tinubu: ‘Working vacation is something else’ – Shehu Sani disagrees with Presidency

NCAA grants Nigeria’s first Aerodrome Operational Permit to Ogun’s Gateway International Airport

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued Nigeria’s first-ever Aerodrome Operational Permit (AOP) to the Gateway International Airport, Ilisan-Iperu, Ogun State. This historic approval makes the facility the first airport in the country to attain this certification under the NCAA’s enhanced regulatory framework. In addition, the Instrument Landing System/Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS/DME) installed on
NCAA grants Nigeria’s first Aerodrome Operational Permit to Ogun’s Gateway International Airport

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued Nigeria’s first-ever Aerodrome Operational Permit (AOP) to the Gateway International Airport, Ilisan-Iperu, Ogun State. This historic approval makes the facility the first airport in the country to attain this certification under the NCAA’s enhanced regulatory framework.

In addition, the Instrument Landing System/Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS/DME) installed on Runway 23 of the Gateway International Airport has been declared “totally satisfactory in all respects” and cleared for unrestricted use after a successful flight inspection conducted by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on September 4, 2025.

Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, described the milestone as a validation of his administration’s vision to make Ogun State a hub for commerce, investment, and global connectivity.
“This achievement is not just for Ogun State but for Nigeria as a whole. The Gateway International Airport is a symbol of progress and a new benchmark for aviation infrastructure,” he said.

The certifications position the Gateway International Airport as a game-changer in Nigeria’s aviation sector, promising safer and more reliable operations, direct international market access for farmers, job opportunities for youths, and reduced congestion at Lagos airports.

With these approvals, Ogun State has firmly established itself as a leader in aviation development, setting new standards for infrastructure, safety, and global competitiveness.

NCAA grants Nigeria’s first Aerodrome Operational Permit to Ogun’s Gateway International Airport

Niger boat mishap: ‘One tragedy too many’ – Labour Party

The Labour Party, LP, has described the recent boat mishap in Niger State, which claimed nearly 60 lives, as “one tragedy too many”. The opposition party urged authorities to enact stricter laws regulating water transportation in order to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies The Interim National Chairman of the party, Nenadi Usman, made the
Niger boat mishap: ‘One tragedy too many’ – Labour Party

The Labour Party, LP, has described the recent boat mishap in Niger State, which claimed nearly 60 lives, as “one tragedy too many”.

The opposition party urged authorities to enact stricter laws regulating water transportation in order to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies

The Interim National Chairman of the party, Nenadi Usman, made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday while extending condolences to the families of victims.

Usman noted the alarming frequency of boat mishaps on Nigeria’s inland waterways.

DAILY POST reports that the accident occurred at the Malale riverfront in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The boat, which was reportedly carrying about 90 passengers, had departed Tugan Sule in Shagunu Ward en route to Dugga for a condolence visit when it capsized.

“It is deeply unfortunate and heart-wrenching that people on a journey to sympathize with others became victims of a calamity themselves,” Usman said.

She urged authorities to urgently consider more robust legislation and stricter enforcement of safety regulations on waterways, stressing that the recurrent mishaps, particularly in Niger State, demanded immediate action.

“On behalf of the entire Labour Party family, I extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the government and people of Niger State, and indeed all Nigerians, on this national tragedy,” she added.

Niger boat mishap: ‘One tragedy too many’ – Labour Party

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