The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has said in a briefing that they have commenced investigation on the chopper that landed on the busy highway of Benin-Ore road to pick up a passenger.

The incident which went viral on social media has been a controversial issue as aviation experts and public opinions have been divided over the issue.
NCAA Public Relationship Officer, Mr. Sam Adurogboye said in a briefing that they are fully aware of the helicopter that landed on the highway indicating that the helicopter is owned by tropical Arctic Logistics Ltd, with the registration number 5N – BVQ and aircraft type AW139. he continued, the Pilot was compelled to land between Benin and Ore in an unscheduled diversion to pick up someone. NCAA has commenced a full-scale investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the unscheduled diversion. As soon as the investigation is concluded, the outcome will be made public.

President Donald Trump told Russian President Vladimir Putin not to meddle in the elections – with a smile.

The president was asked at the top of a meeting Friday in Japan whether he would tell the Russian president not to interfere in the elections – as the Mueller report concludes Russia did in 2016.



'Yes, of course I will,' Trump responded.

'Don't meddle in the election, please,' Trump told Putin, with a smile on his face, turning to the Russian amid cross talk in a room packed full of reporters and dignitaries.

'Don't meddle,' Trump told Russia's President Vladimir Putin when asked about election interference during the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019
'Don't meddle,' Trump told Russia's President Vladimir Putin when asked about election interference during the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019

Earlier, Trump told reporters: 'We’ve had great meetings. We’ve had very, very good relationship. And we look forward to spending some very good time together.

'A lot of very positive things going to come out of the relationship. So Vladimir, thank you very much,' Trump said.

'A lot of very positive things going to come out of the relationship,' Trump said
The two men met for the first time since the release of the Mueller report Friday
The two men met for the first time since the release of the Mueller report Friday
The two men were seated next to each other with a floral arrangement.

Putin spoke only in broad strokes in brief comments, speaking in Russian through a translator.

'We haven't seen each other since Helsinki meeting,' Putin noted, referencing their summit meeting where Trump took heat domestically for saying he accepted Putin's denial of election interference – which is contradicted by the U.S. Intelligence Community assessment.

Before his trip to Japan, Trump said that he 'may' raise the issue of Russia's election interference.

There was an earlier show of camaraderie, as the two men chatted on the way to a 'family photo' at the G20 summit here in Osaka.

Trump patted Putin gently on the back on the way to the event, where he stood next to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The ribbing about election interference comes in contrast to the deadly serious tone of the Mueller report.

Mueller's report concluded after a two year investigation that: 'The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion. Russia's actions “favored presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and disparaged presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.”

NNEWI – Pastor Gift Dike, the Gen- eral Overseer of Christ In Me Deliverance Mission (CIMDM), Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State, has said that God gave him a divine message on how to stop the alleged ‘Fu- lanization’ and attempted Islamisation of the coun- try by the current Federal Government, as revealed by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that God had chosen Obasanjo as an instrument to redeem the country.

Disclosing this to DAILY INDEPENDENT in Nnewi on Thursday, Pastor Dike, who said that the mes- sage was given to him in a trance last month necessi- tating him to put down the message in a book form
titled ‘The Secret of OBJ’, noted that he wanted the former president to give him an audience by invit- ing him to deliver the book to him as well as deliver other important messages concerning deteriorating security condition of Nige- ria, which God mandated him to deliver to Obasanjo.

He said: “Please help me to tell ex-President Oluse- gun Obasanjo to invite me to see him as the Almighty God directed me to deliver a message concerning Ni- geria nation to him.
“God said he is the most experienced, courageous ex-Nigeria leader who can deliver the message to Ni- geria leadership and they will listen; God said he has heard the cry of Nigerians and that he has decided to put a stop to killings, kid- nappings, violence, Boko Haram in this country.

Chelsea is close on their first summer signing as they move to complete the deal for a centre midfielder from Spain.

The Stamford Bridge outfit is closing on a permanent deal to sign Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid before the start of next month.

There have been meetings between the two representatives, though the fee has not yet been agreed upon, both parties are optimistic about the deal.

Real Madrid want €50m for the former Inter Milan star but Chelsea is holding out for a fee lesser than the valuation, Kovacic spent the last season on loan with Chelsea and he hopes to continue with the club where he can amass some playing time to himself.

Chelsea is banned from signing players this window, Kovacic is exempt due to him being registered with Chelsea when the suspension was made.

The Presidency has ordered tighter security measures around President Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and some other members of the President’s Kitchen Cabinet.
The Nation reports that the men who are close to President Buhari, have been receiving serious attacks by unknwon persons over claims that they are working against some persons making the ministerial list.

On Tuesday June 25th, some unknown persons attacked the home of Abba Kyari in Daura, Kaduna state over claims that he was working to prevent their preferred candidate from being nominated for a ministerial position. There was even a street protest in Abuja on this matter.
Worried by this development, the presidnecy has given an order to security agencies to tighten the security measures around these men.

A source in the presidency said

“The Presidency has directed that security be strengthened for Daura, Kyari and other close associates of the President, who are being targeted. The challenge most lobbyists are having is that the President is keeping the list of his incoming cabinet to himself. Not even APC leaders or governors have access to the list. Some may have dropped names but the President is always keeping quiet. It is difficult to read his mindset. So, attacking Daura and Kyari was unfortunate. They do not have any role to play in compiling the list of those who will be members of the Federal Executive Council.”

The source added

“ Security agencies are investigating those behind the unwarranted personal attacks on Daura and Kyari and others being assumed to be in charge of the cabinet list, who are said to be sponsored. “I believe these agencies will unmask them.”
Another source told The Nation that the final consideration of likely ministerial nominees is being done by the President. Most states have as many as three nominees from whom the President will pick one.

“ The list in most states comprises three nominees, but the President has adopted broader perspective in considering the nominees, including some former ministers. Preliminary background checks on some of the nominees are ongoing. But before the President sends the list to the National Assembly in July, the checks would have been concluded and the best chosen for cabinet appointments.” the source said

tribunal - Presidential Election Tribunal dismisses INEC, Buhari's application seeking to strike out PDM's petition
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed an application filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the dismissal of a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

INEC and Buhari, being the second respondent had asked the tribunal to dismiss and strike out the petition filed by the PDM on the grounds that it did not file for notice of pre-trial within the 7 days after the close of pleading as stipulated by law.

Justice Mohammed Garba-led tribunal unanimously held that the PDM was well within the time since it filed a notice on the 19th of April and close of pleadings ended on the 15th of April 2019, which was before the 21st of April, is the expiration day of the close of pleadings in this petition.

Justice Garba added that PDM complied with the electoral act as such the application by INEC and President Buhari is misconceived and as such it is dismissed.

Meanwhile, the PDM has said that it is will outline its schedule for the hearing of the petition and they will need only one day to open and close their case.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday assured the implementation of the new national minimum wage will commence soon.

He asked asking state government and employers in the private sector to work towards providing a living wage for their workers .

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha at the 11th triennial delegates conference of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, the President said as a result of several reforms embarked upon, the economy is expected to grow by 2.7 percent in 2019.

He asked state government and the private sector to implement the minimum wage as a way of encouraging workers to contribute to the development of the country.
The President pledged his government will continue to pay particular attention to the welfare of workers.
Details shortly…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the September 22, 2018, gubernatorial election in Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday declared he would become the governor of the state by next week Friday.

He expressed optimism that the Supreme Court judgment slated for July 5 in the appeal filed against the Court of Appeal ruling that declared incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola would be in his (Adeleke) favour.

The apex court had fixed July 5 for judgement on the petition Adeleke filed against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, Oyetola, who was returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the conduct of the rerun poll.

Adeleke, who spoke at the PDP secretariat in Osogbo tasked members of the party to remain calm and prayerful ahead of the July 5 judgment so that they can get a favourable verdict.

Rivers State Governor, Bar Nyesome Wike

Rivers State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has announced that the State Government will henceforth bankroll the form fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) for all Indigenes and non-indigenes in the state.

Governor Wike said  that the gesture  of the Rivers State Government  will commence with the 2020 UTME to be conducted by JAMB.

Speaking during a Courtesy Visit by the Registrar of JAMB at the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday,  Governor Wike said that the Rivers State Government is committed  to ensuring  that less privileged  students are not denied  the opportunity  to sit for the examination.

He said: "From 2020, UTME forms for Indigenes and non-indigenes will be paid for by the Rivers State Government.  It is important  for us to ensure that children  of the less privileged don't bear  this burden.

"This offer  is to ensure that no qualified  candidate is denied the opportunity  to write the UTME. For some parents,  the fee is nothing, but there are families that cannot afford the fees".

The Governor  also announced the allocation  of land at the Greater Port Harcourt City  to JAMB for the construction of their Zonal Office.

He also allocated  a block of offices to JAMB as their temporary office in Rivers State, following  the dilapidation  of the current office. He also donated  an operational vehicle  to JAMB in the State.

Registrar of JAMB,  Professor Ishaq Oloyede commended the Rivers State Governor for his commitment to the development of education,  especially  his abolition of fees for secondary and primary schools in the state.

He appealed to the Rivers State Governor to allocate a temporary  office to JAMB  for their daily operations  as the current office has totally degenerated.

He said that in view of the number  of candidates  writing UTME in the state, JAMB requires land to construct  a mega computer based  test centre in the  state.

"There are only 12 Computer Based Test centres in Rivers State.  This number  is grossly  inadequate.  We urge Your Excellency to allocate land for JAMB  to construct a mega computer based test Centre for at least 500 Candidates.

"You are the closest  governor  to JAMB. Rise and help us. Funding is no longer  our problem.  We retain N2billion annually from our Internally generated revenue "; he said.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media.
27th June, 2019.

June 27,2019


By Dr. Egbara Emmanuel

"Of all the aspects of social misery nothing is so heartbreaking as unemployment.

Between the great things that we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing. The thousands of unemployed graduates roaming the streets of the country searching for job opportunities is gradually becoming an obstacle to development in Nigeria.

The current situation faced by most universities, polytechnics and monotechnic graduates is steadily gaining ground with its aftermath clearly reflecting how poverty, crime and prostitution are hugely becoming forces to be reckoned with in the country.


 Unemployment has no doubt practically become a menace to the society as the challenge of the people no longer
in graduating successfully, but securing jobs after graduation.


 It has become a big blow to good academic performances for those who are still in school as most students share the common notion of "it's not what you graduate with, but who I know after graduation".


Mr President, I hope you are doing fine today and thank you for taking your time to read my letter.

Mr President, I write this letter with a broken heart and deep frustrations. The moment young people graduate from the various Institutions they have nothing to do and become part of the statistics that contribute to unemployment figures.

Worse off are those that dropped out of school at various levels, as they struggle to break the cycle of poverty. These groups of people are languishing in the streets, Using bad addictive substances and the cost of living is too high; I must say things are becoming unbearable.

Our nation stands at the crossroads of liberty. Crushing national debt, rampant illegal immigration, insane business regulations and staggering national unemployment are pushing our nation into unchartered territory.

I understand you have policies that contain reasonable projects aimed at eradicating escalating unemployment levels among the youth. As a country, we need to be thankful and grateful to have you as a president but you are not getting it right.



Your Excellency, we now live in a country where people sell jobs and this is unacceptable as it discriminates against some deserving individuals and it has to be addressed. We live in a society where nepotism is taking its root.

Mr President, I have come up with some fresh ideas for your consideration when addressing problems facing the youth in Nigeria today.

Firstly, increase employers support to open up job opportunities and review employment legislations that work against young people when it comes to getting employment in government institutions.

You may also wish to ensure that the current education system is aligned with the needs of our economy, local market labour information and make it motivating and inspirational.

Another thing is to urge young people to value work at all entry levels. I am saying this because there are some youths who overlook some jobs.

Creation of a welfare system that supports the youth to find training and employment opportunities is also very important.

There is also need to integrate entrepreneurship education into our schools’ core curriculum. This is paramount to combating youth unemployment.

It would do you no harm to mobilise entrepreneurs and business professionals to become role models for the youth and make them active participants in entrepreneurial programmes.

It is also imperative to support young entrepreneurs who have viable ideas and skills to create innovative initiatives with soft loans and other necessities.

Mr President, investment in youth employment will support the needs of a competitive and successful economy for many years to come. It will provide knowledge transfer from the aging workforce. I need not say that young people bring creativity, flexibility, high energy and an understanding of new and emerging technologies.

Mr President, I value your judgement, but ignoring the ideas I have raised here will see Nigeria rooted  in underdevelopment.

It is said that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop, as such keeping the youth in unemployment will tempt them to channel their knowledge and energies into negativities that will frustrate your development agenda in the long term. You need to act now.

May God bless you, Mr President, as I wait for your action.

  For immediate Release
27th June 2019
2.40pm

Happening now in Abeokuta

Former Nigerian President,Olusegun Obasanjo Installed as Father of the Nation , receives One Million Naira for the Obasanjo Library Foundation from Youth Council Leadership led by the Former Youth Council President Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and the Newly Elected Youth Council President Comrade Nihi Oladele


THE EAGLES VOICE BLOG has earlier reported that, the youth Council Leadership were on their way to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State to confer the former president as 'Father of the Nation'.
.... New Youth Council President presented to Obasanjo
..... Visiting Youth leaders gives  one million naira to Obasanjo’s Library
....Obasanjo weeps for Nigeria, charges the Youths to take back their country and save it from the gradual slide to anarchy and economic ayatus .

Media and Information Unit
NYCN
Abeokuta, Ogun state
27th June 2019

The state governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade has approved the reappointments of Mr Emmanuel E. Asikpo-Okon (JP) and Mr. Christian Ita as the State Chief of Protocol and Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant on Media.

The two appointments take effect immediately.

Signed
Aye Henshaw Jnr
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information

A non-profit making organization, Grassroots Empowerment and Justice, GEJ Initiative, has urged government at all levels to focus on grassroots development as a major solution to various challenges affecting the country generally.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Ebriku John Friday, where he asserted that the grassroots people have not really benefited from democratic dividends as expected since 1999, but acknowledged the fact that some state and federal projects are sited in some of the local government areas but the impact is minimal.

According to Friday the grassroots people are in dear need of sustainable health care delivery system following the rising infant and maternal mortality rates that have placed Nigeria as the number one country with the highest number of infant and maternal mortality rate in the world.

He further stated that the education system at the grassroots also needs serious attention, whereby free education should be declared from the primary to secondary school levels.

He also added that the youth at the rural areas should be engaged by the government in partnership with relevant development partners and nongovernmental organizations with basic training on agriculture, ICT, entrepreneurial skills, sports, capacity building on wealth creation, science and technology, spurring their creative and innovative abilities for the benefit of all, encouraging them with funds to establish what they have acquired.

He also stated that provision of adequate and sustainable power supply at the rural areas to boost economic activities, which will attract investors to establish their business that would lead to job creation and development of other infrastructure at the grassroots.

He said: “We in GEJ Initiative, passionately call on the local, federal and federal governments to aggressively and holistically come up urgently with development strategies to ameliorate the lives of the rural populace in order to add value to the lives of this vulnerable population of the country that constitute 1/3 of our population.

“We are really concerned with the plight of development at the grassroots as an organization because much is not done to add value to the lives of the people, yet they are the people who come out to massively to elect politicians at the local, state and federal levels. The current poverty, insecurity and violence largely owes to poor development at the grassroots.

“The people have no good road networks to facilitate transportation of goods and persons, poor power supply and continued blackouts and decayed power infrastructure, poor health care delivery services that have resulted to increasing deaths, disease outbreaks, invasion of quacks, self medication, high infant maternal mortality rates.

“The education system at the grassroots needs serious attention, whereby declaring free education from the primary to secondary school levels and also tackle poor education infrastructure, where pupils lack good classrooms, dilapidated blocks of classrooms, lack of staff quarters and poor payment system for secondary and primary schools’ academic and non-academic staff.

“The youth at the rural areas should be engaged by the government in partnership with relevant development partners and nongovernmental organizations with basic training on agriculture, ICT, entrepreneurial skills, sports, capacity building on wealth creation, science and technology, spurring their creative and innovative abilities for the benefit of all, encouraging them with funds to establish what they have acquired.

He also emphasized on the implications of underdevelopment at the grassroots, “In fact, the future of young people, children and families is blink with this underdevelopment at the grassroots, and the resultant effects we are seeing in the some parts of the country are traceable to the gross neglect in infrastructural development.

“Today, the country is in the deep mess of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, human and drug trafficking, communal clashes, thuggery, armed robbery including suicide.”

 However, the group acknowledged some efforts made by some past and present administrations to transform the lives of grassroots people, and encouraged others to improve on what they have done as much needs to be done, hence called on elected state and federal representatives to join the executive arms of government at the federal, state and local government levels to do synergise with them to give a sense of belonging to the grassroots who are their primary constituents.

by Bella Khobe

The maiden edition of Face of Bakor Nation Beauty pageant/Bakor Pillars and Legends Award event promises to be the best ever. FBNBP/BPLA is prepared to light up Bakor Nation with the best that Africa has to offer in culture and entertainment to bring together Bakor sons and daughters for the purpose of unity, peace and beauty of the rich cultural heritage of the people. According to a statement by the organizer of FBNBP/BPLA 2019, Kingsley Agbor, the event will redefine the future of culture and entertainment in Bakor Nation. He also added that all hands must be on deck if the world must come to the knowledge of the people’s rich cultural heritage, and if they must make any meaningful progress in overcoming underdevelopment. According to him, the promotion of cultural heritage is one way people can get exposure and attract development and that is what the event is all about. Agbor said the event promises to boost the region _socially, educationally, economically, politically and also help to project not only the youths but make the world know that the people have notable values and rich cultural heritage. This will attract tourists to the land.

He called on all sons and daughters of the Bakor nation to support the event with all they can to ensure the Bakor beauty is seen and her voice heard all over the world. Speaking on the area of the award, the Bakor born award winning creative writer cum movie producer and CEO of SOULTIDE MEDIA and also the organizer of FBNBP/BPLA, Mr. Kingsley Agbor, said BPLA is going to be the world leading, and most glamorous awards event that will recognize and reward excellence in leaderships and creativity in Bakor Nation especially those who have done so well for the development of the nation. *' Successful entrepreneurs are going to be available to train Bakor son and daughters on business establishment, skills development and also how to scale through to achieving financial freedom in the Nigerian society.*"
 on the origin and what he described as ‘brief background of the people’, he said,  the Bakor people are a branch of the larger Ejagham tribe of the Bantu (actually Abonintui) race of west central Africa. The name Bantu was shortened by non indigenes who couldn't pronounce "Abon ntui" meaning children of God.
Today, the Bakor people, a sub
 group of Ejagham  tribe are found in two Local Givernment Areas of Ogoja and Ikom. The nine Bakor clans share deep cultural ties with many of the tribes in the eastern part of Nigeria up to southern areas  of Kaduna, Bauchi, Plateau, and Adamawa states.
Most of the tribes in these eastrn flank of Nigeria were the fallouts of the great Bantu trek which mass movement took them fron west central Africa through present day Cameron into south eastern Nigeria where they moved northwards until they encountered the Tuaregs and retreated southwards. As they retreated, small groups began go settle as they found safety and comfort. Thus,  the nine clans of Bakor, namely, Abanyum, Ekajuk, Nde, Nta, Nselle, Nkim, Nkum, Nnam and Ofutop , are neighbours to many other Ejagham, Boki, Tiv, Yalla and Bette, Mbube, subgroups. The matrilineal family system of inheritance gives priority of relationship through the  maternal lineage. Consequently, the practice what is called Akwansi accords the oldest male of the maternal family the headship and custodian of family administration and wealth. This is why every head in time is represented by a stone carving (Akwanse)  There are many of these collection of stones representing different maternal lineages in Bakor.
 It is however believed that at the death of the current Akwansi in the lineage, another stone is   added to the collection and passed on to the next heir. There are also carved wooden sculptures and masks, which are called "Nnereh’ (plural in NDE dialect ) The date for the celebration of the yearly New Yam Festival of the Bakor people is 15th September.
The highlights of this year's event includes;

*Interschool competition that cuts across all the Bakor nation

*Enterpreneurship Lectures and empowerment

 Nomination, voting and decision on the awardees

 Language application

 Exporting of the cultural heritage of Bakor to the world including traditional dance display

 Profiling and appreciation of successful Bakor son and daughters for emulation by the younger generation and lots more. Tentative date for the event is 13th – 15th September, 2019.
The Bakor people are kind and hospitable, come and have a glimpse of their rich heritage come September, 2019," he concluded with smile of high expectation

June 26, 2019

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay (SAN), has countered claims by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan that senators earn N750,000 monthly.
Sagay asked the senate president to stop misleading Nigerians, insisting that senators earn N15 million monthly.
Ripples Nigeria had reported that Lawan on Tuesday said that there was no such thing as ‘jumbo pay’, adding that he earns N750,000 as salary.

However, the PACAC chairman
While speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, said Lawan was only speaking half-truth because everyone knows that the bulk of the money earned by senators is embedded in their allowances.
Sagay said, “He (Lawan) knows that nobody will take him seriously. I respect and like him but what he has done is to give half-truth. He is telling us the actual salary without mentioning anything about the allowances.

“That’s where the jumbo pay comes in when you talk of building, furniture, domestic this or that, 15 items and those items alone bring everything up to N13.5m a month. So, simply mentioning the base salary, which brings it over N14m, is not sufficient.
“So, technically, he’s right, that’s their salary. But what is his income, take-home pay, at the end of the month? It’s about N15m and we are not including so many other things we need not talk about now.
“Not only that; that leadership of the two houses earn a lot more — tremendous amounts. I don’t really want to go into issues not to create controversy but what he’s saying now is pure technical truth about salary but not about allowances, which is where the jumbo really is,” Sagay said.
The PACAC chairman, who was the first to expose the jumbo pay of federal lawmakers, said he was still trying to ascertain the allowances of principal officers.
He said, “What I have not been able to do is give details of what the leadership earn. There is the leadership aspect that I hadn’t revealed — the excess that the Senate leader (President) and deputy Senate leader, leader of the house; the same thing applying to the House (of Representatives).
“What they get — the current ones — that I have not been able to release. I had the details of the previous house. They were mindboggling; we are talking of one person getting up to N280m a year in allowances for his position. But I don’t know what they had during the Saraki era or what the present group are going to award themselves.”