News
FG restricts movement around Eagle Square ahead of Tinubu’s inauguration
The federal government has restricted movements around Eagle Square, the venue of the handover and inauguration parade in Abuja.
Bola Tinubu, president-elect, and Kashim Shettima, vice president-elect, will be sworn in on May 29 and begin a new administration.
Ngozi Onwudiwe, a permanent secretary in the office of the head of civil service, in a statement, said the ministry of foreign affairs and the Federal Secretariat Complex Phases I, II, and III will be blocked off by security personnel ahead of the ceremony.
The restriction will begin by 2pm on Friday and end on Tuesday.
“As you may be aware, the presidential transition council (PTC) has unveiled the activities marking the 2023 presidential inauguration ceremony,” the statement reads.
“The inauguration parade and swearing-in of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is the climax of the programme will take place on Monday, 29th May 2023 at the Eagle Square, Central Business District, Abuja.
“In line with the security arrangements for the event, the Federal Secretariat Complexes Phases I, II, III and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be cordoned off by security operatives from 2.00 p.m. on Friday, 26th May 2023 to Monday, 29th May, 2023.
“Accordingly, officers and intending visitors to the affected areas will not be allowed access till Tuesday, 30th May 2023, when work will resume in earnest.”
In the past few weeks, different branches of the military have been conducting drills ahead of the inauguration ceremony.
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday said it is aware of plans by “subversive elements” to disrupt the momentous event.
POLICE ANNOUNCE TRAFFIC DIVERSION
The police in the federal capital territory (FCT) on Friday announced traffic diversions ahead of the inauguration.
Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, said the diversion points are Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/Total Filling Station, POWA/FCDA Junction, Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
“Other diversion points are Eagle Square ( Phase 1 & Phase 11), Kur Muhammad Way / National Mosque, Abia House, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo and Gana Junction/Transcorp,” she said.
“Traffic will also be diverted at Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, Ceddi Plaza, NNPC Twin Tower and NNPC/NBS.”
She said the command had deployed intelligence and tactical assets across the FCT to avert any form of threat.
Adeh said the operational deployment comprises stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance and vehicular/foot patrol.
News
FAAN diverts flights as fire breaks out at Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Flight operations at terminal one of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have been diverted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to the D Wing following a fire outbreak at the facility.
Obiageli Orah, director, public affairs and consumer protection, FAAN, said the incident happened in the early hours of Thursday.
In a statement, Orah said at “05:29 hrs, smoke was detected billowing from the E54 Bridge, leading electrical engineers to immediately cut off power to the entire E Wing”.
“The Airport Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS) team was quick to respond, arriving at the scene by 05:30 hrs. Initial suspicions point to sparks from an electrical unit as the cause, but a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire,” she said.
“The incident, which had escalated into a fire, was brought under control by 06:41 hrs. Efforts to ventilate the smoke from the building are in progress.”
News
JUST IN: 118 inmates escaped from Suleja prison during heavy rainfall, says NCoS
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) says 118 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state on Wednesday, during a downpour.
In a statement on Thursday, Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the federal capital territory (FCT) command of the NCoS, said the rainfall ravaged parts of the prison.
He added that the command, in collaboration with security agencies, has apprehended 10 of the fleeing inmates, while raising concerns over the weak walls of the facility which he said were built during the colonial era.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the medium security custodial centre, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of 118 inmates of the facility,” the statement reads.
“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit to recapture the rest.
“The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak.
“The service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all aging facilities give way to modern ones.”
He said Francis John, controller of corrections, FCT command, has called on the public to carry on with their normal activities, adding that the service is working to address the situation.
News
Police order arrest of officers bashing car in viral video
Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has ordered the arrest of officers seen in a viral video bashing a moving car.
Adejobi condemned the incident and called for the identification and summon of the officers involved.
On Wednesday, an X user quoted a video with the words: “Can we agree finally say na animals una carry guns and uniforms give?… The Nigerian Police is the most UNPROFESSIONAL in the entire solar system.”
Reacting to the video, Adejobi wrote: “This is condemned totally. How can human beings be behaving in this unholy manner. #BenHundeyin, #LagosPoliceNG, #PoliceNG_CRU take necessary action. Fish out and invite the men immediately. Thanks.”
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