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Jubilation As Ashafa Hands Over FESTAC Mechanic Village To Artisans

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Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), yesterday handed over the site of the six acres Mechanic Village/Market in FESTAC Town to the artisans.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony at the new site on 6th Avenue, FESTAC town, Ashafa said that the event was in line with his promise to restore the lost glory of FESTAC town.
The Tide source reports that Ashafa was represented by Mr Akintola Olagbemiro, FHA South-West Zonal Manager, at the handing over the site to the Nigerian Automobile Technician Association (NATA).
He expressed joy at the achievement of FHA’s age -long plan to resettle the mechanics in a comfortable permanent site.
“Let me quickly add that the place of mechanics, technicians, and artisans can never be underestimated in any society.  Their overall importance in any economy is not of low profile because of the essential nature of their trade.
“The value chain they add to the economy is quite enormous, owing to the many jobs and employment they create through service deliveries.
“We in FHA will do all we can within our reach to make you comfortable, relevant and organised,” he said.
He urged the leadership of NATA, FESTAC branch, to ensure orderly business premises and collaboration with all tiers of government and other stakeholders for peaceful coexistence.
“With the success of today, it has been officially declared illegal for any auto mechanic to operate in any other part of FESTAC Town.
“We also implore the auto mechanic/technician leadership to help relevant authorities concerned with the security and sanitation of FESTAC Town, by compelling all your members to avail themselves of this facility,” he said.
Ashafa pledged continuous collaboration of FHA with the artisans and other stakeholders and thanked the FESTAC Town Residents Association, security agencies and other stakeholders for their patience.
He said that the FHA would liaise with the Amuwo Odofin Local Government and other stakeholders towards Right of Way (RoW) recovery.
Ashafa added that FHA surveyors had taken the measurements of the site for laying of the beacons on the new site.
The Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Government (AOLG), Mr Valentine Buraimoh, said the move would bring added development, not only to FESTAC Town, but to the entire community.
Buraimoh, however, noted that there was need to hold a stakeholders meeting to determine how the space allocated could be maximised.
“We need to get ideas and suggestions on how best we can use the space given to us,” he said.
NATA members, led by the immediate past chairman of the Amuwo Odofin Local Government (AOLG) Area, Mr Ayodele Adewale, marched in joy to the venue to take possession of the facility.
Adewale told journalists that he was overwhelmed with joy that efforts of his tenure to ensure that the artisans and traders take possession of the site allocated to them in the original Master plan of FESTAC Town, had become a reality.
The Chairman of NATA, Mr Yunusa Elekolomo said: “I am happy that finally this site that rightly belongs to us is being given to us today.
“Since the 70s, we have suffered a lot of encroachment on this land, we have suffered too much, I will say that today that we are taking possession is my happiest day,” he said.
Earlier, President, FESTAC Town Residents Association (FTRA), Mr Shola Fakorede, said that enough sensitisation and awareness campaign was carried out for residents and artisans to embrace the project which had become a reality.

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Deputy Commandant Hails  Tinubu For Signing NFSS Bill Into Law 

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The Deputy Commandant General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) Anti- Bunkering Agency, Amb Wachukwu Adah, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed  Tinubu for signing into law the Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill, describing the gesture as a right step in the right direction. The operatives of the NFSS are known as forest guards.
Amb Adah, who made the commendation  during the official structuring of the Nigeria Forest Security Service Anti-Bunkering team and  induction of legionnaires in Omoku Town, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday, described President Tinubu as the best President of Nigeria following his monumental achievements in office.
He said the  Local Government Autonomy Bill recently signed into law by the President Tinubu administration has tremendous impacts on  the lives of the  average Nigerians, especially those at the grassroots level.
He noted that by this singular gesture, the President had hit  the ground running, for the meaningful development of the country.
Amb Adah reiterated that Rivers youths would utilise the opportunity to serve the country to the best of their ability, acknowledging their readiness to do the needful by ensuring that the  forests across the nation  are adequately secured.
The Deputy Commandant General also applauded the transformation of the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying, the Minister has turned Abuja to London.
He, however, appealed to the Minister to assist Rivers youths to get sensitive positions in the new Nigeria Forest Security Service ,saying, there is need for him  and other leaders to assist  the youths who are interested in  jobs at the NFSS to secure them, as it is done elsewhere.
“ We need your backing on securing the jobs at NFSS”, he said.
Amb.Adah, who represented the National Commandant, Amb Joshua Osatimehia, said the youths are fully ready to contribute to the security, progress and growth of the nation, and emphasised the essence of character, professionalism and quality service delivery at the NFSS.
In his address, the Administrator of Ogba/ Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Council, Dr Ndu Ajie assured the security outfit of the total support of the council.
Dr Ajie, who was represented by the Secretary of the council ,Mr.Onyedibia Ndulaka,  praised the determination and sacrifices made by  the security operatives in ensuring and fostering the peace  and security of the State.
On their part, heads of security agencies in the local government area, including the Joint Task Force(JTF);  the Police; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC); and the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), commended  the efforts of the security outfit in the security of national  assets, assuring them of collaboration to achieve common goals.
During the event, the 23 LGA commanders and other ranking  officers were commissioned.
Recall that President Tinubu had commissioned the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and a committee to work out modalities on the operations of the NFSS.
The former State Commander of NFSS, Chief Will Wegwu showered encomiums on the Deputy Commandant General for  his sacrifices and untiring  efforts to keep the flag flying.
Chief Wegwu assured the participants that the  officers and men would continue to support the Deputy Commandant General to succeed in his assignment.
The Omoku Police Area Commander, ACP Mahe Mohammed; and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Omoku Police Division, CSP John Landan, were among a host of other security chiefs and personalities that graced the occasion.

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Business Mogul Partners Students To Reach The Unreached

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Rivers-born business mogul, Chief Clement Anele, has pledged his determination to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies, to reach the unreached and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele, who gave this indication while receiving an Award of Education Ambassador from the Rivers State Postgraduate Students Association in his office in Port Harcourt, said he has a covenant with God to give succour to the needy, especially widows, ,students, clerics and the vulnerable in the society.
Chief Anele ,the Managing Director of Anele Good Heart Foundation,
vowed to continue to partner with student groups and other relevant bodies to reach the unreached, and the vulnerable by providing basic necessities of life to them.
He said, “I cannot be everywhere. I need to partner with students to reach the unreached in the society. The sole aim is to improve the living standard of the vulnerable among us .
It is important we touch lives through the little resources God has made available to us .We don’t expect reward from human beings, but from God.
I feel happy and joyful seeing widows, students and the less- privileged benefiting from the foundation .It was a dream God gave me to assist making the society better. I don’t need anyone to praise me for doing it .It is a divine calling to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable.”
In his speech, the Secretary of the group, Mr Ken Itari, described Chief Anele as an extraordinary individual, who has impacted on humanity, especially the students and widows through his foundation.
He said the honour done to the business mogul by the students was borne out of their desire to partner with him to build a better future for the youths.
He said the students would continue to stand with the philanthropist in his vision to reduce hunger and change the society for the good of all.
He noted that Chief Anele’s scholarships to the students and providing food on the tables of the widows and many vulnerable persons, using his hard-earned resources, show his immense love for humanity, stressing that his reward for the good works he is doing can only come from God.

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Unknown Assailants Kill 56-Year-Old Drug Dealer In Ondo

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A 56-year-old suspected drug dealer, Bode Akinsiku has been killed in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo Local Government Area of Ondo State by unknown assailants.
Akinsiku, who was murdered at about 6:15 am on Tuesday, at a popular joint in Loro street, Odosida axis of the town was known as a prominent drug dealer in the area.
According to sources, the deceased was shot at close range after he was trailed to a bar by his yet to be identified killers.
One of the sources, who craved anonymity, revealed that Akinsiku arrived at the joint to meet with some people in the early hours of Tuesday.
“He arrived at the bar and met with some people. While he was talking with them, his phone rang and he received a call.
“It was while he was receiving the call that some boys arrived on a motorcycle. One of the boys approached him and asked if he could identify himself.
“They both engaged in a heated shouting match for some seconds before he was shot several times at close range.”
“The gunman, after shooting Bode, crossed to the other side of the road and shot sporadically to scare residents. He later hopped on a getaway motorcycle.
Meanwhile, the death of Akinsiku created panic in the area with shops and businesses horridly closed while the area was deserted over fear of arrest.
Police operatives from Enuowa Divisional Police Station later arrived at the scene and evacuated the lifeless body to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital.
The Police spokesman in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, who confirmed the incident, stated that it was a cult related killing.
Ayanlade, who stressed that cult clashes have been rampant in the area, said efforts are ongoing to apprehend those behind the killing.
He also urged residents to be law-abiding and report any information which could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

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