IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Air Peace has announced a ₦600,000 reduction in airfare for passengers traveling from various Nigerian cities to London, along with an additional luggage allowance.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Ejike Ndiulo, the airline confirmed that the promotional offer will run until March 31, 2025, with an extended travel period until April 15, 2025.

“As the largest airline in West and Central Africa, Air Peace remains committed to enhancing prosperity through reliable air travel, solidifying Nigeria’s standing in global aviation,” the statement read.

With its expanding domestic and international network, the airline aims to create more travel opportunities and support business growth in an increasingly connected world. 

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Jimoh Ibrahim, has attributed the postponement of the Senate debate on President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State to the absence of several lawmakers.

In an interview with journalists on Wednesday, the Ondo South senator explained that the debate was rescheduled for Thursday to allow absent legislators, including those observing Ramadan, to participate.

“Tomorrow morning, the proclamation will be debated. By then, information would have reached other members. Some are fasting and praying at home, but they will be present tomorrow. At 10 o’clock, we will take it up. We are in alignment with Mr. President,” he said.

Ibrahim also clarified that the emergency rule was not a complete dissolution of democratic institutions but a temporary measure to restore peace and security.

“The President did not dissolve democratic structures; he only suspended them for six months to allow all parties to resolve their differences and restore stability in Rivers State,” he stated.

The Senate had earlier suspended its plenary after failing to reach a consensus on the debate. Despite having a quorum, the leadership opted to delay proceedings to ensure broader participation.

The motion, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, cited growing security concerns in Rivers State, including threats from militants and reports of pipeline vandalism. The Senate will require a two-thirds majority (73 out of 109 senators) to approve the emergency rule.

President Tinubu declared the state of emergency on Tuesday night, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state assembly. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator for an initial six-month period, citing political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats. 

Human rights lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a violation of democratic principles that must be rejected by the National Assembly.

In a statement issued in Owerri on Thursday, Ejiofor argued that the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly was unconstitutional and politically motivated.

“This action appears to be a calculated political move rather than a genuine response to a constitutional crisis,” he stated, adding that Rivers State does not meet the conditions required for such a drastic measure under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

Ejiofor described the move as an attack on democracy and urged both the Legislature and Judiciary to act. “The National Assembly must reject this illegal declaration, and if it fails, the Judiciary must step in to uphold the rule of law,” he said.

He also commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its intervention, emphasizing that the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions is at stake. 

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i, has condemned the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu and House of Assembly members for six months as unconstitutional. In a statement he posted on his X handle, El-Rufa’i noted that the Nigerian Constitution does not support the sacking or suspension of an elected state governor by the President under an emergency rule, stating that such is dangerous to the nation’s democratic system.

Rather than suspending the executive and legislative arm of Rivers State, El-Rufa’i said a state of emergency could surely have been proclaimed to grant the relevant security agencies the extraordinary powers and necessary resources to enable them to address any security problem in the state. He insisted that extending the provisions of such an emergency regime to include the dismantling of democratic structures is a wanton aggression against democratic tenets and the rule of law.

“There are things that are so clearly wrong that the justifications summoned in their defence fall flat. The decision of Mr. President to suspend the elected officials of the Rivers State Government is one of those. Our country’s Constitution does not support it precisely because it is dangerous to our system of democratic federalism for an elected president to assume and exercise powers to suspend elected officials at the State level. The responsibilities of a president are heavy and extensive, but they are constrained by the Constitution and the law and certainly do not include firing persons who were elected.

“The security issues cited in the President’s speech surely deserve the most serious attention and sustained efforts to contain the threats and preserve vital national infrastructure. That is a duty that we ought to vigorously support the security agencies to successfully discharge. “The Supreme Court has conclusively declared the suspension of elected officials unlawful in the Dariye vs. Attorney General of the Federation. “It is my view that Mr. President should review this decision and return to the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. As an opposition figure, Senator Bola Tinubu had made his voice heard against the decision of then President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in the North-East, even when that decision did not extend to the suspension of elected officials and institutions. A similar reconsideration is warranted in this case to contain the damage done to the people of Rivers State and restore the Federal Government to compliance with the Constitution.

“Let us not keep silent while the slippery slope of replicating the events of emergency rule in the old Western Region in 1962 unfolds before our very eyes. I appeal to all patriots and voices of reason to join in calling an end to this gross violation of the Constitution and disrespect for the rule of law”. 

As the world celebrates the International Day of Happiness, Nigeria has been ranked 105th out of 147 countries in the latest Global Happiness Report, placing tenth among African nations.

The report, released on Thursday by the Global Happiness Council, assesses happiness levels based on individuals’ perceptions of their well-being.

Finland retained its title as the world's happiest country for the eighth consecutive year. Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom recorded their lowest rankings ever, dropping to 23rd and 24th, respectively.

In Africa, Libya emerged as the highest-ranked nation, placing 79th globally.

The rankings are determined using a three-year average of survey responses, evaluating factors such as social support, income, freedom, generosity, and corruption perception.

Top 10 Happiest Countries:

Finland

Denmark

Iceland

Sweden

Netherlands

Costa Rica

Norway

Israel

Luxembourg

Mexico 

Police authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say six persons have died and fourteen cars burnt following an explosion at the Karu Bridge in the nation’s capital. The incident on Wednesday along the Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi sent panic among residents of the nation’s capital.

But in a statement hours after the incident, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the accident involved a trailer that lost control and crashed into a stationary vehicle trapped in traffic. “The impact engulfed fourteen vehicles in a raging inferno. Panic and chaos followed as bystanders and motorists scrambled for safety. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, battling thick smoke and intense heat to rescue those trapped,” the statement added. 

“Six victims were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital, but tragically, they were confirmed dead by medical personnel on duty. Their remains have been deposited at Karu General Hospital Morgue.” According to her, with the intervention of the police, fire service personnel, and security agencies, the inferno was contained and normal traffic flow was restored.

“The FCT Police Command extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and assures the public that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of this disaster and prevent future occurrences,” Adeh said.