Metro

Hardship only temporary sacrifice for better tomorrow, Tinubu assures Nigerians

Published

1 month ago

May 26, 2024

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has begged citizens to exercise more patience in the face of the present economic hardship and hunger being faced in the country, saying it is only a temporary sacrifice that will come to an end soon.

Tinubu who made the appeal during the 60th anniversary celebration parade, aerial display and flying out parade for 30 Air Vice Marshal’s and nine Air Commodores of the Nigeria Air Force held in Kaduna on Saturday, promised that his administration is doing everything possible to see that the sacrifices of Nigerians in these difficult times are not in vain.

Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the of the dedication of the officers to their duty was a testament to the resilience of Nigerias, while restating that security was a top priority of his administration, noting that development could not be guaranteed in an insecure environment.

“I want to also use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to be more patient with the economic hardship being faced. It is a temporary sacrifice that will come to an end soon.

“We have made substantial investment in procuring state-of-the-art multi-role combat air attack helicopters and other platforms that will enhance the NAF’s capabilities,” Tinubu said.

“Some of the platforms include surveillance aircrafts, T129 attack helicopters, Augusta 109 multi-role helicopters, Diamond 62 surveillance aircraft, M46 attack aircraft, among others.”

The President further maintained that the best way to understand contemporary security challenges was to adopt a societal approach and promised to continue supporting the NAF and the armed forces in general towards the realisation of the nation’s quest for peace and security.

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Metro

24 killed, thousands displaced by flooding, landslides in Ivory Coast

Published

4 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Isaac Dachen

At least 24 people have been confirmed killed while thousands of others have been displaced following devastating flooding and landslides in Ivory Coast’s largest city of Abidjan.

A statement on Tuesday by the National Office for Civil Protection (ONPC), said that the disaster came as a result of a week of heavy rains which were four times the usual volume in some cases.

The ONPC reported that the 24 deaths were as a result of “torrential rains from Thursday 13 to Saturday 22 June”, and warned of the risk of collapsed buildings.

“Two more people were missing after being swept away by the waters”, the ONPC statement added.

In a fresh update on Tuesday afternoon, the agency said the eight people had died after the exceptionally heavy downpours.

“In the commune of Yopougon, Sodexam recorded 214 millimetres (8.4 inches) of rain in a day. The normal level is 50 millimetres (two inches),” it said.

According to the Ivorian Meteorological Agency (IMA) which also gave an update, the recent rainfall was particularly violent with more than 200 millimeters (8 inches) in some districts, four times the usual amount in a day.

“Informal settlements are particularly vulnerable because of poor storm drainage among homes often built quickly without zoning regulations.

“The flooding and landslides have also caused significant damage across the city, flooding houses and roads,” the Ivory Coast National Office for Civil Protection said in a report.

“At least 271 people who were trapped after the rains have been successfully rescued,” it said.

Metro

Mininum Wage Saga: ‘Be patient with Tinubu’, Presidency begs Nigerian workers

Published

13 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian Presidency has, once again, pleaded with citizens to be patient with the President Bola Tinubu administration and avoid piling unnecessary pressure on it as it is working round the clock to transmit the proposed bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly once it is ready.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, who made the appeal on Monday, gave the assurance following a warning by the Organised Labour to the President not to send the minimun wage bill to the National Assembly without consulting and reaching an agreement with its leadership.

In a statement on Sunday, the labour leaders had alleged that there were plans by Tinubu to transmit the bill to the Assembly without the government and the unions reaching a compromise, and urged the President to resist the temptation of doing so without adequate consultations.

But while responding to the allegations by labour, Onanuga, in an interview with journalists on Monday, wondered what the rush for the transmission of the bill was all about.

He had earlier lampooned the labour leaders over their stance on its demand for N250,000 as minimum wage, asserting that the demanded by the workers’ union was unreasonable and unsustainable, warning that the Federal Government cannot channeled all its resources to meet such demand.

While admitting that he had no knowledge of the date for submission, he pleaded for more time.

“People should be patient,” he stated. “The President is working round the clock to ensure that the bill is ready and would be transmitted to the National Assembly in due course,” he added.