The Harbingerngr News

By Our Reporters THE Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barrister Pius Akutah has stated that the 5% level of work at Jauri Inland Dry Port in Borno State is not encouraging for business and welcomed the Borno State Government’s commitment to support the project. Jauri Inland Dry Port was concessioned to Messrs Migfo Nigeria Limited and the facility has a total of 10,000% TEUs capacity 5% development completion. However, Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum said the actualisation of the Jauri Inland Dry Port (IDP) in Maiduguri is part of efforts to provide shipping services in the state to reduce costs of cargo to the state and the neighbouring countries. Barrister Pius Akutah expressed this disappointment while playing host to Governor Zulum who was on a fact-finding mission to the Council in Lagos on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. NSC boss recalled the successfully delivered Dala Inland Dry Port project has commenced operation, adding that the Funtua...

Senior civil servants in the country under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, have reiterated their demand for the payment of gratuities to public employees at retirement. ASCSN contended that no portion  of the Pension Reform Act 2014 as amended remove or forbid the payment of gratuity to workers whether private or public at retirement. Members of ASCSN in a communique issued at the end of the Association’s 5th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference, NDC, in Lagos, implored the Government to restore payment of gratuity to public service employees that had been denied the benefits in the interest of justice, equity and fairness. Members of ASCSN from the various organs of the Association such as the Units, Branches and Chapters in the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, attended the NDC. In the communique signed by the new President and confirmed Secretary General, Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo, respecti...

THE Lagos State government, yesterday, assured that despite the economic situation, it will continue to take necessary measures to make food available for its citizens.  The Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated this at the 11th summit of the Association of the Lagos State Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, ALARHOSPS, with the theme ‘Agenda for Sustainable Development and Food Security’, held in Lagos. Hamzat, who highlighted the various measures taken by the state to address food scarcity,, said: “Despite the population of people that enter Lagos every day, the state will continue to partner with relevant bodies to provide food which is very essential for human survival to its citizens. “Apart from developing domestic self-sufficiency in agriculture, the government is also ensuring adequate storage.” Speaking on the topic, Driving Food Systems Resilience in a Food Crisis and Beyond, Dr Adetunji Oredipe, an Agricult...

THE United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has expressed concern over the 8-15% dropout rate among adolescents in primary and secondary schools across the Southwest region, which include Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, and Ogun states. UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Azuka Menkiti stated this after a 2-day regional stakeholders meeting on out-of-school children retention, transition and completion models held in Ibadan. Speaking with journalists, Menkiti explained that the completion rates for primary and secondary school among adolescents aged 10 to 18 are 92% and 85%, respectively.  She warned that this shortfall could severely impact the education sector in both the state and the country if full retention and completion are not achieved. Her words: “This is a two-day regional meeting for the Southwest zone of Nigeria. UNICEF is working to support states in enhancing retention, transition, and completion of secondary education for adolescents. “This effort builds on about 10 years...

SOME Lagos indigenes under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots, on Wednesday, warned against linking the group to those spreading the Igbos must leave Lagos slogan saying such a call was shameful and irresponsible. It also faulted a report describing it as a far-right socio-cultural organisation, saying such a claim is unfounded. They warned that they would not back down in the mission to rescue Indigenous Lagos from marginalisation. The natives stated that the writer of the report was ill-informed about their antecedents, noting that facts were available to prove their position. In a statement by its media office, the group said: “We take an exception to the tag of far-right on De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. As a socio-cultural group of very senior eminent citizens of Nigeria that have been culturally and constitutionally blessed with indigeneship of Lagos State, we consider such uncharitable, wicked and unguarded use of vulgar language as unacceptable. That vitriolic name tag o...

IN a shocking and disturbing incident,  a 16-year-old boy, Abubakar, was buried alive by his two siblings over a missing phone, in Zaria, Kaduna State . The brothers, aged 22 and 18, were arrested by the police after a good Samaritan discovered Abubakar's head protruding from a hole in an abandoned property. The incident, which went viral on social media and was condemned by the public, drew the attention of the authorities in the state, which led to the arrest of the brothers.  Hajiya Rabi Salisu, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development in Kaduna State said the incident was shocking and disturbing. She said: “I’ve never seen someone buried alive apart from such acts in films. This boy, Abubakar, 16-year-old, was buried by his brothers because of a missing a phone. “They dug a hole, tied his hands backwards and sealed his mouth. They buried him, leaving only his head outside covered with rags inside an abandoned property near a farm. It was a good Samaritan,...

HOODLUMS have attacked and robbed some passengers, who boarded a high-capacity bus-based transit system, popularly known as Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, in Orile area of Lagos. This came as the Lagos State government, yesterday, decried the attack, warning perpetrators to desist from the act. It was learned that many commuters lost their valuables to the hoodlums, who went on the rampage and attacked motorists. According to vendor, Bukola Ayeni, “The hoodlums who disguised as protesters against the task force’s seizure of motorcycles, attacked a BRT bus about 1p.m., and stole the passengers’ valuables.” Bukola said the attack went on for about 20 to 30 minutes without the intervention of security personnel. Another victim, Dare Abiola said the hoodlums were going to Orile police station to attack some policemen, who had raided some motorcyclists around the Odunade-Coker axis. Dare explained: “As we moved further, the crowd grew. When we got to the Alafia bus stop, in front of the NNPC fill...