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70 More Bodies Recovered From NIger Boat Mishap

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70 More Bodies Recovered From NIger Boat Mishap

Niger boat mishap: 70 bodies recovered —NIWA

 

Sadly, more bodies are being recovered from the Gbajibo River, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, after a wooden boat carrying 300 passengers capsized, on Tuesday night.

At press time, the water marshalls of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, with the collaboration of the Nigeria state’s National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and local divers have recovered 70 bodies, rescued 150 persons while the search for the remaining missing passengers was still ongoing.

This came as President Bola Tinubu sent condolences to the Government and people of Niger State over the boat accident.

Meanwhile, Governor, Mohammed Bago has expressed sadness over the incident and vowed to redouble efforts to enforce laws in line with water transportation to avoid frequent waste of lives and property.

Lagos Area Manager of NIWA, Mrs. Sarat Braimah, who spoke on the incident, accused the operators of the ill-fated boat of illegal operations as they sailed at 8:30p.m., which was against the water transportation code which has outlawed night sailing.

Braimah, who absolved NIWA of complicity in the tragic incident following a public outrage over what was described as the negligence of the authority, disclosed that the four water marshalls deployed to the Gbajibo River where the incident occurred had already closed from duty for the day and left.

She said that the Marshalls went to the other side of the jetty while the ill-fated boat was loading without their knowledge.

 

 

Meanwhile, NIWA has attributed the unfortunate incident to flagrant disregard for transportation code by the boat operators such as overloading (the wooden boat carried 300 passengers), use of sub-standard boat which is a wooden carved boat without necessary navigational aids, lack of wearing of safety vests and night sailing which has been banned.

 

Braimah said: “NIWA just constituted river marshalls, who were posted to every state and Niger State in particular has 24 water marshalls while in Mokwa LGA, where the incident happened, they have four Marshalls.”

She lamented the prevalence of night sailing in the North despite its ban which she said was a major challenge for NIWA.

“NIWA will now make it 24-hour surveillance on waterways in that area in order to prevent reoccurrence.”
According to her, the recently gazetted transportation code launched by NIWA and cascaded to every state contains penalties for infractions of safety standards.

“Last month, NIWA was everywhere on sensitization of the citizens on this code. But, unfortunately, this tragic incident happened.

 

From now on, night sailing is our target. We are going to recruit more river marshalls who will be working on 24- 24-hour basis. This will hopefully deter people and boat operators from night sailing” Mrs Braimah said.

Tinubu mourns victims

President Tinubu in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.

The President also directed NIWA to investigate the spate of boat accidents in Niger State and across the country and devise modalities to check the trend.

He ordered NIWA to expand the scope of its surveillance of inland waters to ensure our people’s safety and prosecute boat operators violating the ban on night sailing.

President Tinubu thanked emergency workers and local divers who were working to find the remaining people.
Gov Bago talks tough on frequent mishaps, loss of life, property
Meanwhile, Governor Bago in a condolence statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim described the incident as unfortunate and disheartening.

 

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You Are More Successful Than You Think” By Prudent Ludidi

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Let's reflect as we wrap-up 2024"By Prudent Ludidi

You Are More Successful Than You Think” By Prudent Ludidi

 

There’s the truth that I believe has the power to transform your life. A truth that can shift your perspective, boost your confidence, and propel you forward. That truth is: you are more successful than you think.

We often measure success by external standards. We compare ourselves to others, focusing on their achievements and accomplishments. We forget that success is a personal journey, unique to each of us.

You see, success isn’t just about achieving grand goals or reaching milestones. Success is about progress, growth, and perseverance. It’s about showing up every day, putting in the work, and striving to be better.

Think about it. You wake up every morning, ready to face another day. You tackle challenges, overcome obstacles, and push through difficulties. You learn, adapt, and evolve. That’s success.

You’ve made it through tough times, difficult conversations, and uncertain situations. You’ve navigated uncharted territories, taken risks, and stepped outside your comfort zone. That’s success.

You’ve built relationships, formed connections, and touched lives. You’ve made a difference, no matter how small it may seem. That’s success.

You Are More Successful Than You Think" By Prudent Ludidi

But often, we downplay our achievements. We dismiss our progress, focusing on what’s still to be done. We compare our behind-the-scenes moments to everyone else’s highlight reels.

Stop doing that.

Recognize your strengths, accomplishments, and resilience. Acknowledge the late nights, early mornings, and endless efforts. Celebrate your small wins, because they add up.

You are more successful than you think.

Your success may not look like anyone else’s. It may not be flashy or Instagram-worthy. But it’s yours, and that makes it remarkable.

Don’t wait for external validation to confirm your worth. You are enough. You are worthy. You are successful.

In conclusion, remember that success is a journey, not a destination. It’s the accumulation of small victories, lessons learned, and growth experienced.

You are more successful than you think. Believe it. Own it! Celebrate it!

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Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory

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Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory

Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory

 

As governor elect of ondo state, Lucky Ayedatiwa continue to receive congratutory messages from well wishers, businesses stakeholders, political leaders, groups, associations, religious leaders, and the likes, Ilaje Progressive Summit Group, has also deem it fit to congratulate his Excellency for the election success of November, 16, 2024.

 

Ilaje Progressive Summit Group Congratulates Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Election Victory

The group leader under the leadership of it’s executive administrator, Hon.( Prince) Aiyetoba Emmanuel has shown his excitement over the election success.

In his word, “Your Excellency sir, Mr. Governor, please accept our warmest congratulations on your well deserved victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibility and challenges of your high office.As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we assure you and the people of the sunshine state of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ondo state Government and the people.
He added” we look forward to working with you, not only to develop closer relations between our states but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and make Ondo state great in the comity of states”

Ilaje Progressive Summit Group is a group that cut across the 12 Wards in Ilaje Local Government and the group were fully respected by members found in each wards of Ilaje and they all delivered the wards to APC with large margins in the just concluded
Governorship Election.

 

 

 

 

 

Please Mr Governor Sir, accept our warm congratulations on your well deserved victory and our best wishes for your success as you prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of your high office.

As you embark upon your new responsibilities, we wish to assure you and the people of the Sunshine State of the continued friendship and sympathetic interest of the Ondo State Government and the people.

We look forward to working with you not only to develop closer relations between our State but also to concert our efforts in the cause of peace and make Ondo State great in the comity of States.
Since the creation of Ondo state on 3rd February, 1976, no governor won all the 18 LGA in any governorship election.

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US-Based publisher condemns Tinubu’s inaction about Igbo killings

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US-Based publisher condemns Tinubu’s inaction about Igbo killings

A veteran Nigerian journalist based in the United States of America and former Director of Strategy and Communications to President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Jackson Ude, has taken exception to the seemingly official negligence of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to the killings of innocent Igbo citizens in the South East.

The communication expert in a series of tweets on Tuesday faulted the sit-at-home policy being implemented in the region by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) describing it as unhelpful.

He wrote, “The continuous killing of Igbos by Igbos under the guise of enforcing a “sit-at-home” order to press a Biafra State, is highly irresponsible and condemned. All well meaning and patriotic Igbos must rise up in unison and condemn the wanton killing of Igbos in the South East Nigeria.

“Our people have not done any wrong going about in search of their daily bread at a time poverty and hunger has enveloped the country.

“How does it make a sense to continue denying the people you seek to protect their daily means of livelihood by enforcing a “sit-at-home” order, turn around and kill them and then claim to be protecting them from “Fulanis” or “terrorist government?”

He called on agitators for the realization of Biafra to set up a political platform rather than resorting to violence.

“The most civil way to achieve this Biafra State is to use a political party platform, elect people into the State Houses of Assembly in the South and have them all sign a referendum for a Biafra State.

“The idea that a Biafra state can be achieved through a “sit-at-home” order and the continuous killing of our people is not only childish but criminal, “he said even as he chided Tinubu for doing little or nothing to address the situation.

“And to have the Federal Government watch and allow citizens from the South East denied their rights to freedom and killed without appropriate measures to protect them is despicable, irresponsible and dangerous.

“I am also thoroughly disappointed in the lackluster attitude and the silence of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo while our people are killed by a few armed individuals.

“The bloodshed is too much and the suffering of the people who are in double jeopardy must be halted.
We must intensify the call for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This is one way the shenanigans of the “sit-at-home” enforcers would end, ” he added.

“If this does not stop, another insurgent group might begin the protection of our people from the “sit-at-home” enforcers, a situation that might throw the whole region in serious chaos!
Igbos have suffered enough!

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