Today's Headlines:Thousands rally in Niger seeking withdrawal of French troops, Six die in road accident in Osun
Thousands rally in Niger seeking withdrawal of French troops
Photo Credit: Punch
Thousands rallied Saturday in Niger’s capital Niamey to demand that former colonial ruler France withdraw its troops as sought by a junta that seized power in July.
The protesters gathered near a base housing French soldiers following a call by several civic organisations hostile to the French military presence in the West African country.
They held up banners proclaiming “French army leave our country”.
The demonstration was boosted by fresh arrivals in the afternoon and a dense crowd formed at a roundabout near the French military base on Niamey’s outskirts.
Niger’s military regime had fired a new verbal broadside at France on Friday, accusing Paris of “blatant interference” by backing the country’s ousted president, as protesters held a similar rally.
President Mohamed Bazoum, a French ally whose election in 2021 had stoked hopes of stability in the troubled country, was detained on July 26 by members of his guard.
METRO:Six die in road accident in Osun
Photo Credit: Daily Post
Six persons have been confirmed dead in a multiple road accident on Saturday morning at Imesi-Ile.
This was made known in a First Information Report, FIR, by the spokesperson of the Osun Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Agnes Ogungbemi, on behalf of the Sector Commander, Henry Benemaisia.
According to the report, the crash occurred along Imesi-Ile Hill due to brake failure and loss of control.
It involved two vehicles; a red-coloured DAF commercial trailer and a blue-coloured MACK commercial trailer, which had no registration numbers.
A total number of 17 male adults were involved in the crash, and 11 sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to the report, “Recovered items, victims properties were taken by the personnel of the Nigerian Police to their station in Imesi-Ile.
Fuel subsidy removal: Borno Rep member contracts 15 filling stations to sell petrol at N430/litre
Photo Credit: Vanguard
Apparently perturbed by the increasing economic hardship associated with removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government and its attendant high prices of commodities, member representing Jere federal constituency in Borno state, Hon Ahmed Satomi has contracted 15 filling stations in Jere local government and Maiduguri metropolis to sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), a.k.a Petrol at the cost of N430 only per litre as his personal palliatives.
Recall that the current official price of petrol is sold between N630 to N637 per litre which have caused motorists and passengers huge economic burden for survival.
Addressing Journalists at the week end, the federal lawmaker who is also the Chairman House Committee on National Security and Intelligence at the national assembly, Hon Satomi said, the gesture which kick -started last Saturday 2nd September 2023 is a continuous process, as 100,000 litres were dispensed over the week end for motorists and residents irrespective of political affiliation.
NLC declares support for Governor Otti over civil service reform
Photo Credit: The Nation
The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Abia state chapter has declared its support for Governor Alex Otti-led government over the ongoing workers verification exercise and other reforms being carried out in the state.
In a statement jointly signed by the state chairman, Nweke Pascal Iheme, and the state secretary, Emma Alozie, and made available to journalists in Umuahia, NLC commended the governor for demonstrating a commitment to reposition the civil service.
The NLC also applauded the governor’s pledge to clear the backlog of salary and pension arrears before the end of the year.
The statement read: “His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti has demonstrated his commitment to reposition Abia Civil Service and the welfare of the workers and the pensioners, a commitment which he assured will be achieved before the end of the year.”
The NLC, however, expressed concern over the invitation of many MDAs to appear for verification on the same day, a situation they said has brought avoidable hitches and frustration on the side of the workers and appealed that the number should be reduced.
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