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Killings, Kidnappings: Service Chiefs Appear Before Senate, ‘Morrow

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Service chiefs and heads of security agencies would tomorrow, appear before the Senate to brief it on efforts to address the spate of insecurity in the country.

The Senate would be briefed properly on the worsening security situation in the country that appears to threaten the nation’s corporate existence.

Disclosing this, yesterday in Abuja, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, said that the appearance by the service chiefs is in response to a resolution by the Senate, penultimate Tuesday, wherein it was resolved that the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies be invited against the backdrop of heightening insecurity across states of the federation.

Lawan explained that the service chiefs were unable to respond promptly to the invitation by appearing, yesterday due to a security meeting at the Presidential Villa, scheduled to end, today.

He noted that in view of the development, the service chiefs would, therefore, appear before the chamber on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Those to appear before the Senate are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff; Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.

Also expected at the meeting are the Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd); the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufa’i; and acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba.

Lawan said, “They were to come today at 11 am to brief the Senate on the security situation. Today, the National Security Council is continuing its meeting that it started last week. Therefore, the invited security heads will not be able to come for the briefing.

“We are not sure if they will finish their meeting, today. We assume it could spill to Wednesday too.

“Just like it spilt from Thursday to Tuesday. So, to be on the side of caution, we have now fixed the date for the briefing to be Thursday, May 6.

“I want to appeal to all of us, that the briefing we will take from the service chiefs and other security agencies will be very crucial for us to be properly informed, properly guided, and that if there is any request for supplementary budget, we should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request.

“On Thursday, the only item on the order paper will be the briefing. We will do that as a special day for the engagement, the interaction between the Senate and the service chiefs.”

It would be recalled that the Senate had last week summoned the service chiefs and heads of security agencies to appear before it, yesterday, after the senators had expressed anger, frustration, agony over continued security challenges in the country with attendant armed banditry, killings, rape and kidnapping.

The senators, who spoke one after the other, last week, had lamented the high level of blood-letting across the country, just as they have taken a swipe at the Federal Government over the level of insecurity in the country, saying that there is a lack of leadership and political will which explain why the challenges have continued in Nigeria.

The lawmakers spoke during their contributions to a point of order raised by Senator Muhammad Sani Musa, All Progressives Congress (APC), Niger East.

Musa’s motion is titled, “The activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas of Niger State: And the need to bring an end to the menace.”

Musa, who came under Orders 42 and 52 of Senate Standing Rules, recalled that several efforts had been made on the insecurity situation in the country, and yet nothing had been achieved.

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NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

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The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

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Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

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The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

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Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

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