IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Federal Government has declared Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July, 2022, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Thursday, congratulated all Muslims and Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

“I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment” Aregbesola stated in a communique.

The Minister assured Nigerians that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is “committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians, empowering the citizens for successful living, the provisions of social investments programmes and adequate security in the schools”.

Aregbesola, while wishing Muslims a happy Eid-el Kabir celebration, urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individuals and criminal activities they observed around them to law enforcement agencies with the use of N-Alerts application that has been designed to mitigate security challenges with prompt response from security agencies: as soon as you “See Something Do N-Alerts”, most especially during this festival.

He also enjoined all Nigerians to be vigilant and observant of intruders in their communities. “We must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival,” he admonished. 

Department of State Service says none of its personnel is involved in the escape episode of the Kuje prison attack as reported in Vanguard online newspaper on the 6th of July 2022 that there was an hot chase by gallant officers.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of public relations Department of State Service Peter Afunanya.

He says, at the point of the attack on the prison, no DSS personnel was an inmate at the holding facility just as the claim of carrying out a special assignment was non-existent. 

The Vanguard report is not factual and therefore misleading. The public is advised to disregard it.

..... Seeks redress in court

The rightful Candidate of the just concluded PDP primaries for Orlu/Orsu/Oru-East Federal Constituency Chief Aloy Igwe has urged his teeming supporters to remain calm amidst uncertainties in the election.

Speaking with Newsmen in Owerri the State Capital, Chief Igwe sounded it loud and clear that he remains the Candidate of the party in the election having garnered the highest number of vote and returned elected in an election that was supervised by INEC and Security agencies.

According to him, "You all know what happened. On that fateful day, the delegates of Orlu, Orsu and Oru East LGAs voted for me and I won my election squarely. I even have the Certified True Copy of the Election that where I was declared winner."

He berated some power mongers who in a bid to override the election that produced him, went and conducted a 'RERUN' election which he boycotted because according to him 'is neither here nor there.'

He thereafter approached approached a Court of Competent Jurisdiction to seek redress on the matter and to save the Party from chaos during and after the Elections.

The Minister of Communication and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal Government cannot, at the moment, remove subsidies on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol.

Mohammed, who spoke during an exclusive interview to Reuters in London, said many other nations were introducing measures to help citizens cope with high oil energy prices, hence Africa’s most populous country could not be an exception. Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil exporter but still has to import almost all its fuel needs due to a lack of refining capacity. The Federal Government shelved plans to abolish fuel subsidies earlier this year, a move that raised concerns with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“When you consider the chaos, the social disharmony and … instability such an action (abolishing subsidies) would facilitate, is it worth it? I don’t think so,” the Minister said. The Minister believes that a new industry law that allocates money to oil-producing communities would stop attacks and blamed the European Union’s climate change policies for stifling investment in the sector.

He added, “We believe that climate change is real and important for emission control, but there is a bit of double standard in the EU policy regarding climate change,” he said.

Arsenal have signed Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City for £45m on a long-term deal. The 25-year-old is manager Mikel Arteta's fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of midfielder Fabio Vieira, goalkeeper Matt Turner and Brazilian striker Marquinhos.

Arteta said he was "very excited" by Jesus' arrival. "The club has done a tremendous job to recruit a player of this stature," he said. Arteta, who worked with Jesus when an assistant coach at City, has been trying to boost Arsenal's attacking options following the departures of forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on free transfers. "I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here," the Gunners manager said.

"This is a position that's been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted, so I'm really happy." Jesus, who will wear the number nine shirt for the Gunners, leaves City after five-and-a-half years. He made 236 appearances and scored 95 goals for them, winning four Premier League titles, three League Cups and the FA Cup.

"It's been a pleasure to play for Manchester City," Jesus said.

Manchester City have signed Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips for £45m. The 26-year-old England international has signed a six-year deal with the Premier League champions.

He becomes Pep Guardiola's third summer signing after the arrivals of Erling Haaland and Stefan Ortega Moreno. "I am absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City. City have again proved to be the best team in the country," Phillips said.

Phillips, who made 235 appearances over eight seasons at Elland Road, still had two years left on his Leeds deal. He said City have "an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world".

He added: "To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about."