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Adama Barrow has been sworn-in as new Gambia President. Barrow after taking oath of office urged security forces to ‘demonstrate their loyalty.’
Barrow took the oath of office at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
The Gambia’s new president Adama Barrow called on the country’s armed forces Thursday to “demonstrate their loyalty” in a standoff with Yahya Jammeh, the longtime leader who has refused to step down despite an election defeat.
“I command the chief of defence staff and officers of high command to demonstrate their loyalty to me as commander in chief without any delay,” he said after being sworn in as president in The Gambia’s embassy in Dakar.
“I command all members of the armed forces to remain in their barracks, those found wanting or in possession of firearms without my order will be considered rebels.”
Hundreds of the displaced victims of Olokonla town via Ogombo village in Etiosa local government area of Lagos State, yesterday, stormed the Lagos Island residence of the former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protest one month of homelessness brought about by illegal demolition by the state government.
The protesters were displaced on December 16, 2016 when some armed military men in company of some officials of Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development demolished about 200 buildings valued at N15b.
The ministry was said to have embarked on the exercise 48 hours after some of the buildings were marked for demolition and many of the victims were said to be brutalized while salvaging their property.
Two of the victims were said to have died three days ago due to the torture they allegedly received from the soldiers.
Not satisfied with the development, the victims have petitioned the House of Assembly and Governor Akinwumi Ambode about the development without result.
Having waited for a month without justice, the victims staged a peaceful protest at the entrance of Tinubu's residence located at Bourdillon to register their plight.
One of the protesters 70 years old Suwebatu Ayedogbon said the exercise has almost reduced her family to beggars. She said, ''my only son struggled to own a building where I was accommodated for the past two years but this was demolished in December and all of us have nowhere to stay,''
Another protester Mr Akeem Onilekere said he had nowhere to lay his head since the exercise, ''I acquired a loan in my place of work to develop the property hoping to move in by April but I have not finished paying back the loan when the structure was demolished,''
Addressing the protesters, an aid to the former governor Mr Tunde Rahman calmed the protesters and asked them to report to Tinubu's office on Tuesday for a round table discussion. .
Counsel to the victims Oladotun Hassan said the former governor was their last result since various attempts have failed.
From the left, Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, Senator Binta Masi- Garuba; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari; Co-Founder Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs. Melinda Gates; Minister for Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and the Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuoso after a meeting when Mrs. Gates paid a learning visit to Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA 19.01/2017
From the left, Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, Senator Binta Masi- Garuba; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki; Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari; Co-Founder Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs. Melinda Gates; Minister for Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole and the Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Lanre Tejuoso after a meeting when Mrs. Gates paid a learning visit to Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA
From the left, Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari; Co-Founder Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs. Melinda Gates; Wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha and the Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun after a meeting when Mrs. Gates paid a learning visit to Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA
From the left, Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari; Co-Founder Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs. Melinda Gates; Wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha and the Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun after a meeting when Mrs. Gates paid a learning visit to Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA
Co-Founder Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs. Melinda Gates flanked by Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari and the Wife of the Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha (4r); the Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun (3r) and others in a group photograph with Wives of Governors after a meeting when Mrs. Gates paid a learning visit to Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA
Here is a timeline of developments in The Gambia since the December election which President Yahya Jammeh lost to his opponent Adama Barrow:
– Jammeh concedes defeat –
– December 1, 2016: Gambians go to the polls to choose their new president from three candidates, including Jammeh, who has ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, and Barrow, representing a large opposition coalition.
A day later the electoral commission announces that Barrow has won, to scenes of jubilation on the streets.
Jammeh concedes defeat, congratulating Barrow for his “clear victory”.
– Opposition freed –Adama Barrow and Yahya Jammeh
– December 5: Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who was jailed in July for taking part in a protest, is freed on bail with 18 others.
In the following days some 40 members of the opposition are also freed.
– Jammeh U-turn –
– December 6: The electoral commission says Barrow won the election more narrowly than originally thought, and with a lower turnout. He garnered 43.2 percent of the vote and Jammeh 39.6 percent. A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, took 17.1 percent.
– December 9: Jammeh announces he has changed his mind and says he rejects the results “in totality”.
He lodges a complaint with the Supreme Court to overturn the result.
The defiance sparks global concern, with the UN Security Council among those demanding that Jammeh hand over power.
– Jammeh urged to go –
– December 13: Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are sent to The Gambia, but are unable to convince Jammeh to acknowledge his defeat. A new mission takes place a month later.
– On December 31, Jammeh accuses ECOWAS of declaring “war”.
– Supreme Court stalls –
– January 4, 2017: The army chief reaffirms his loyalty to Jammeh.
– January 9: Jammeh dismisses 12 ambassadors after they call for him to step aside. Several ministers have since been fired or have resigned.
– January 10: The Gambia’s chief Supreme Court justice says Jammeh’s legal challenge against the result will not be heard for several months.
– January 13: The African Union (AU) urges Jammeh to respect the results and relinquish power peacefully, warning of “serious consequences”. It says it will not recognise him as of January 19.
Thousands of Gambians, fearing unrest, cross the border into neighbouring Senegal and to Guinea-Bissau.
– Barrow in Senegal –
– January 15: Senegalese President Macky Sall announces he has agreed to take in Barrow until his inauguration on January 19.
– January 16: The Gambia’s top judge pulls out of hearing a bid by Jammeh to halt the inauguration.
– State of emergency –
– January 17: Jammeh declares a state of emergency, saying foreign powers had created an “unwarranted hostile atmosphere, threatening the sovereignty, peace, security and stability of the country”.
– African troops ready –
– January 18: The Senegalese army says it is ready to intervene if there is no solution to the crisis. Gambian vice president Isatou Njie-Saidy resigns along with the environment and higher education ministers, the latest cabinet members to desert Jammeh.
Nigeria and Ghana also agree to send troops.
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz travels to Banjul in an 11th-hour mediation bid.
– January 19: A midnight (0000 GMT) deadline for Jammeh to step down expires.
Barrow announces he will take the oath in the Gambian embassy in Senegal at 1600 GMT.
UN Security Council to vote on a draft resolution endorsing the ECOWAS effort to ensure a transfer of power in The Gambia.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has concluded plans to set up security outposts and deploy its personnel along the Abuja-Kaduna road following proposed closure of the Abuja Airport.
The Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, is scheduled to be closed from March 8 for six weeks to allow for repairs of the runway.
The Federal Government announced the relocation of activities within that period to the Kaduna Airport and assured of security beef up along the Abuja-Kaduna route during the period.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, at a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja said he had ordered the setting up of 15 security outposts and emergency stations along the route.
He explained that the outposts would be set up along Bwari-Jere to Kaduna, Abuja-Zuba Kaduna routes to enable corps personnel to protect lives and property along the routes. He said that the decision to establish the 15 outpost was to provide adequate security during the six weeks of the closure of the airport.
"We are doing all within our powers to strengthen relationship with relevant stakeholders to achieve the desired result," he said.
Muhammadu said special attention would also be given to critical infrastructure along the route and other passengers plying the road to the northern part of the country.
He stressed the need for adequate security along the route, saying those with nefarious behaviour may take advantage of the temporary situation to perpetrate their sinister acts.
He added that the Crisis Management Department had been directed to station their ambulances along the routes for any emergency and rescue operation.
The NSCDC boss urged Nigerians to remain peaceful and law abiding and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency.
Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow was to be sworn in Thursday at the country’s embassy in Senegal as incumbent Yahya Jammeh stood firm, refusing to quit despite threats of military intervention.
A regional force massed on the Senegal-The Gambia border ahead of a UN Security Council vote due at 1800 GMT Thursday expected to endorse west African efforts to ensure a transfer of power.
Barrow’s inauguration was due to take place at the Gambian embassy in Dakar at 4:00 pm (1600 GMT), his spokesman Halifa Sallah told AFP.Adama Barrow
Two giant screens were to be set up outside the small embassy premises and a live transmission provided by state broadcaster RTS.
As Jammeh’s mandate expired at midnight (0000 GMT) with no sign of him stepping down after 22 years at the helm, troops from Nigeria and Ghana were to join hundreds of Senegalese soldiers massing on the front.
Shops were shuttered and streets quiet in and around the capital Banjul, and tour operators evacuated hundreds more tourists from the tiny country’s popular beach resorts.
In off the cuff remarks, army chief Ousman Badjie insisted however that his soldiers would not get involved in a “political dispute” or prevent foreign forces from entering the west African nation.
– Inauguration to go ahead –
Barrow, a real-estate agent turned politician who won a presidential vote on December 1, flew to Senegal on January 15 after weeks of rising tension over Jammeh’s refusal to step down.
Jammeh initially acknowledged Barrow as the election victor but later rejected the result.
He attempted to block Barrow’s inauguration with a court ruling and by declaring a state of emergency this week.
Speaking to AFP by phone, a senior member of Barrow’s opposition coalition, Isatou Touray, welcomed the army chief’s declaration that his troops would not prevent Jammeh’s removal by force.
“That’s a very positive outlook from him, given that Jammeh’s regime is done,” Touray said.
“We don’t have to risk the lives of innocent citizens.”
In remarks at a hotel restaurant late Wednesday, Badjie said he loved his men and wouldn’t risk their lives in a “stupid fight,” witnesses said.
– ‘Really scary’
Arriving back from The Gambia at Manchester airport in northern England, several passengers could be seen comforting a Gambian national and UK resident who had tried unsuccessfully to get his family out.
Speaking to AFP, Ebrima Jajne described the situation as “really scary for everybody… because this president (Jammeh) doesn’t want to step down and people are fleeing.”
Tourist Ralph Newton said local residents had done what they could to reassure visitors, despite the threat to themselves.
“All the locals were just worried… They said it’s a bad time for us but you’ll be alright… It’ll be us they come for, if they come for anybody.”
And Sara Wilkins, another tourist, said they had struggled to get clear information on the developing situation.
“We weren’t told anything… I kept phoning (tour operator) Thomas Cook and they were just like… don’t worry about it,” she told AFP.
“I rang Thomas Cook again this morning and they said pack your bags, you’ve got to go.”
Despite the build-up along the border, an army source told AFP Senegalese troops were “not yet” present on Gambian soil.
– Eyes on border –
After 11th-hour talks in Banjul, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz flew on to Dakar where he held a meeting with Barrow at which Senegal’s President Macky Sall was also present, the private RFM radio station reported.
It was not clear whether the Mauritanian leader had secured a deal or made an asylum offer to Jammeh.
The last-minute intervention came after several unsuccessful attempts at diplomacy by the 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mauritania is not part of ECOWAS and diplomats have previously reached out to the conservative desert nation in hopes of brokering a deal with Jammeh.
ECOWAS heads the regional force massing on Gambian-Senegalese border.
Speaking to AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty hailed ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis.
“ECOWAS has stood up, and they don’t always do that, he said.
“It’s an important message to Jammeh, both from the people of The Gambia, the people of Africa, and from neighbouring states, that it’s not business as usual anymore.”
Ekiti State Gov., Ayo Fayose, on Thursday gave a cash reward of N100,000 to a retired Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs Mary Omotosho, for returning the sum of N1.78m wrongfully paid to her by the Ekiti State Pensions Commission.
The governor, who gave the reward at the Government House, Ado Ekiti, described her action as "uncommon and unbelievable".
He urged other citizens to emulate the good example of Omotosho, whenever they might have been wrongfully paid.
Fayose
"I commend your honesty and it is good to appreciate people who do well; when we do that, we are encouraging others to do same. Some people tend to do evil because those doing well are not appreciated. I am calling on those who may have been wrongfully credited with money that is not theirs to pay back," he said.
Earlier, Mrs Omotosho, who is a retired Chief Nursing Officer with the state Local Government Service Commission, recalled that a few days before Christmas, she got a credit alert from her bank paying the N1.8 million sum to her.
"Though I am on monthly pension, I knew that was a mistake as my monthly pension is not up to that.
"I waited for the bank to retrieve the money, but that did not happen.
"A few days after, I got the real alert for my monthly pension, and I went to the Pensions Commission to report the matter and I was given an account number to pay the excess money into.
"I did a bank draft and paid the money into that account. Though I am a retiree, I don't take what does not belong to me. I believe God will always meet my needs," she said.
Omotosho thanked Gov. Fayose for the recognition accorded her, as well as the cash reward.
A Bill for an Act to establish National Agency of Albinism and Hypo-Pigmentation on Thursday passed second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill which was sponsored by Rep. Linus Okorie (Ebonyi-PDP) seeks to ensure social and legal protection and to improve welfare of people living with albinism.
Leading the debate on the bill, Okorie said albinos were often stigmatised by the society and abandoned by their families, and were often bullied, making them to avoid school.
He said that in some parts of Africa, albinos were killed and their body parts used for rituals.
He said the agency would be largely funded by international donor agencies, adding that some of such agencies had already indicated interest in the programme.
Okorie said that the lower chamber would be a true representative of the people only when it ensured that the most vulnerable were protected to live their lives to its full potential.
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the house, Mr Yussuff Lasun, referred the bill to the Committee on Health Institutions and Services for further legislative actions.
Meanwhile, some albinos have expressed joy over the progress recorded so far in the effort to improve their living standard.
Ms Oluchi Nwoha, a member of the Albino Foundation commended the progress the bill had made at the legislature.
She said in Abuja that the development had gone a long way to show that the Nigerian Government was ready to invest in the lives of albinos.
Nwoha said when the agency would be established, it would provide a lot of opportunities for persons living with albinism and would enable them live quality life.
She urged organisations dealing with people living with albinism and other skin conditions to form a coalition to support the expected agency to function optimally when established.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, said on Thursday that the introduction of Islamic finance into the nation's economic system would positively impact the rate of its financial inclusion in Africa.
He made the remarks at the Third International Conference on Islamic Banking and Finance in Kano.
"Financial Inclusion is one key component on inclusive development, which is necessarily for sustainable growth. "In this area, Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa are lagging behind several regions and continents with less than one adult in four having access to an account in a formal financial institutions in Africa.
"Based on the survey conducted by the Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), 39. 5 per cent of adult Nigerians are financially excluded," he said.
According to him, the number is the highest in Africa, with the North East and North West having the highest rates in Nigeria, representing 68.4 per cent and 56.0 per cent respectively.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano
He, however, noted that many Muslims rejected the formal financial services because of non-compatibility of the services to the tenets of Islam.
"This contributes to the overall rate of financial exclusion in the continent.
"OIC countries with Islamic Banking services have higher level of financial inclusion than those that do not have those services," he said.
He said religious reasons were also responsible for the exclusion of 11.6 per cent in OIC countries, compared to 4 per cent in the rest of the world.
"This shows that self-exclusion due to religious considerations are to some extent being mitigated by the introduction of Islamic financial services."
He said Islamic Banking presence and activity had been found to be associated with greater inclusion in terms of households and firms accessing of bank credit to finance investment.
The monarch therefore stressed the need for the mobilisation of large scale financial resources to support the Sustenance Development Goals.
"Under the UN developmental goal of promoting inclusive and Sustainable economic growth, the concept of risk sharing is a pillar of Islamic finance.
"It is another illustration of the relevance of Islamic finance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
"The mobilisation of human and material resources and global collaboration are necessary for the realisation of sustainable development, "he added.
He said Islamic finance, based on its principles of risk sharing, prudence and ethics and supported by a robust and resilient regulation system, could without doubt contribute towards the achievemens of Sustainable Development Goals.
A Federal High Court Lagos on Thursday, fixed March 8 for the continuation of trial of an oil marketer, Olaniran Ogundipe, and his company, Petroleum Broker Nigeria Ltd, over N1.3 billion alleged oil subsidy fraud.
Ogundipe and his company were first arraigned before the court on March 19, 2014.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, the trial judge adjourned the matter following the inability of the prosecutor, Mr Dania Abdullahi to furnish the court with the original copies of documents he intended to use for prosecution.
The prosecutor had informed the court that the original documents were with his co-prosecutor who he said had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence department Panti-Yaba.
Consequently, justice Hadizat Shagari, urged the prosecutor to make efforts in getting the original copies he intended to use in the matter.
She then fixed March 8, for the continuation of trial.
In an amended charge marked FHC/L/321c/2013, the prosecution alleged that the accused, his company, and other persons now at large, committed the offence between January and April, 2011.
They were said to have obtained the sum of N1.3 billion as subsidy from the Federal Government under false pretence that they had imported and sold 17,837,160 litres of petrol, into the country via MT Aidin (Ex MT Stena FR8).
They were also alleged to have on or about January to April, 2011, forged import and vessels documents which they used to obtain the said sum from the Federal Government of Nigeria, as fuel Subsidy.
Furthermore, the accused were also alleged to have between January and April 2011, with intent to defraud the Federal Government, forged Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc.
He was also said to have forged Marine Certificate number 0006108, dated Feb. 18, 2011, for 15, 000 metrics tonne of petrol.
The accused was alleged to have forged Certificate of Quality, which they claimed was issued by SGS Inspection Services Nigeria Ltd, and used same to obtained the payment for the Subsidy.
The offences is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 8(c),1(1)(a),(3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
It also contravened the provisions of Sections 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation, 2006, as well as Sections 467(1) and 467 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation 2004.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently on bail.
Copenhagen – Facebook will build a new data centre in the Danish city of Odense, the California-based tech company has said at a press conference with local authorities on Thursday.
"The Odense data centre will be one of the most advanced, energy-efficient data centres in the world,'' Facebook's director of data centre operations, Niall McEntegart said.
McEntegart said Facebook already has a data centre in Lulea, Sweden and another in Clonee in Ireland.
"The new facility will be built on the outskirts of Denmark's third largest city, best known as the birthplace of fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen.
"It will be powered exclusively by renewable energy,'' McEntegart said, adding that the cold climate could help to cool servers instead of relying on air conditioners.
McEntegart told media that the centre would cost more than 100 million dollars but would not be more specific.
"It would provide 150 jobs when operational,'' he said.
Facebook bought a 0.5 square kilometre plot of land on the outskirts of Odense in October 2016, but had not disclosed the purpose of the site.
Danish Energy Minister Lars Lilleholt said Facebook's decision was recognition of Denmark's strengths.
"We have one of the world's greatest energy systems with large quantities of green energy, high security of supply, good fibre connections and competitive power prices,'' Lilleholt said in a statement.
Apple also invested in a data centre in northern Denmark in 2015.
Report says the Facebook centre, expected to be operational in 2020, will consist of two large data buildings, a building for administration and logistics as well as several other technical facilities.
Tension has mounted even higher as the ECOWAS force, ECOMIG, have now embarked on a Naval blockade and air reconnaissance of The Gambia, following the defiance by the embattled outgoing president, Yahaya Jammeh, to step down for the President-elect, Adama Barrow.
Nigerian Air force Charlie-130 Aircraft and Airmen QRF of ECOMIG at the Senegalese Senghor airport today. pic.twitter.com/nU629fjqMp
Also, Senegalese ground trucks and other ECOWAS forces have mounted at the border between Senegal and Gambia in readiness to launch a military assault on Jammeh’s government in a move to oust him as it has become clear a peaceful resolution has been to no avail.
Yahya Jammeh
A private military contractor(Humint), Naval Intelligence and Counter Terrorism/Insurgency personnel with a twitter handle, @DonKlericuzio, tweeted to this fact.
However, as many in Jammeh’s government have continued to withdraw their support for him, the Gambian Navy led by Rear Admiral Sarjo Fofana, have also abandoned Jammeh while pledging to pass allegiance to Adama Barrow after swearing-in.
The ECOWAS force ECOMIG have now embark on a Naval blockade & air reconnaissance of The Gambia
Recall that both the country’s Vice President, Isatou Njie Saidy, the army led by its chief, Ousman Badjie and a lot of others have also abandoned Jammeh for his refusal to step down for Barrow.
Saidy, who had been in the role since 1997, is the highest level official to abandon Jammeh's camp in his standoff with opposition leader Adama Barrow, who won the election.
Unconfirmed reports said that as tension continued to mount, the wife and children of the outgoing Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh allegedly abandoned him and have equally fled the country’s capital of Banjul on the eve of the deadline given Jammeh by the ECOWAS and the African Union to step down.
The Senegalese Government gave Jammeh till midnight of 18th January, 2017 to vacate presidency seat or he would be ousted militarily. This order was backed by both the ECOWAS bloc and the UN.
However, many hours after the elapse of the deadline, Jammeh has stayed put, undeterred by the mounting troops from the West african bloc at the Gambian border who are ready to militarily oust him from power.
After eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital, Banjul, the army chief added, "I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men," he added, stopping to pose for selfies with admirers while dressed in fatigues, beret and green t-shirt, according to those present.
“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute…I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men. "If they (Senegalese) come in, we are here like this," Badjie said, making a hands up to surrender gesture.
Also, thousands of Gambians and tourists have equally fled the country in droves. Bus parks were scenes of chaos as people boarded buses, packing suitcases onto trucks and hiring canoes to flee the capital of Banjul.
The Banjul airport was also chaotic as many people struggled to board planes to fly out of the country.
Meanwhile, the President-elect, Adama Barrow has declared that Jammeh’s presidency is officially over.
Barrow who took to his twitter handle to also announce that his inauguration will proceed by 4pm in The Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, the neighbouring country where he sought sojourn also told his people that a new era had begun for The Gambia and its citizens.
As many in Jammeh’s government have continued to withdraw their support for him, the Gambian Navy led by Rear Admiral Sarjo Fofana, have also abandoned Jammeh while pledging to pass allegiance to Adama Barrow after swearing-in.
A private military contractor(Humint), Naval Intelligence and Counter Terrorism/Insurgency personnel with a twitter handle, @DonKlericuzio, tweeted to this fact.
Recall that both the country’s Vice President, Isatou Njie Saidy, the army led by its chief, Ousman Badjie and a lot of others have also abandoned Jammeh for his refusal to step down for Barrow.
Yahya Jammeh
Saidy, who had been in the role since 1997, is the highest level official to abandon Jammeh's camp in his standoff with opposition leader Adama Barrow, who won the election.
Unconfirmed reports said that as tension continued to mount, the wife and children of the outgoing Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh allegedly abandoned him and have equally fled the country’s capital of Banjul on the eve of the deadline given Jammeh by the ECOWAS and the African Union to step down.
The Senegalese Government gave Jammeh till midnight of 18th January, 2017 to vacate presidency seat or he would be ousted militarily. This order was backed by both the ECOWAS bloc and the UN.
However, many hours after the elapse of the deadline, Jammeh has stayed put, undeterred by the mounting troops from the West african bloc at the Gambian border who are ready to militarily oust him from power.
After eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital, Banjul, the army chief added, "I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men," he added, stopping to pose for selfies with admirers while dressed in fatigues, beret and green t-shirt, according to those present.
“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute…I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men. "If they (Senegalese) come in, we are here like this," Badjie said, making a hands up to surrender gesture.
Also, thousands of Gambians and tourists have equally fled the country in droves. Bus parks were scenes of chaos as people boarded buses, packing suitcases onto trucks and hiring canoes to flee the capital of Banjul.
The Banjul airport was also chaotic as many people struggled to board planes to fly out of the country.
Meanwhile, the President-elect, Adama Barrow has declared that Jammeh’s presidency is officially over.
Barrow who took to his twitter handle to also announce that his inauguration will proceed by 4pm in The Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, the neighbouring country where he sought sojourn also told his people that a new era had begun for The Gambia and its citizens.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday said that his administration would consolidate on its infrastructural renewal drive with the construction of 181 local government roads in the current fiscal year, saying the process for the award of the contract would commence next week.
Governor Ambode, who spoke at the first Quarterly Town Hall Meeting for 2017, the sixth in the series, held at the Ajelogo Housing Scheme, Ajelogo Market Road, Akanimodo, Mile 12, said the 181 roads, is an improvement on the 114 roads, two in each local government, which his administration promised to embark upon every year.
Acknowledging that most of the requests made by residents during the interactive session at the Town Hall Meeting were majorly on roads owing to the success of the 114 roads delivered in September 2016, the Governor said his administration thought it wise to ensure that the roads captured for 2017 are key roads that would have economic impact on the people living in that axis, hence the increase to 181 roads.
"I want to pronounce here that you should watch out next week in the newspapers, we are advertising 181 roads which would be done in all our local governments.
"What we have found out is that if we decided to continue with two, some of those roads are not linking each other to the main road, so most likely you would see that if we are supposed to do some road in some local governments, it would only make economic sense if there is a linkage. So you would see in the advert that some local governments would have like three, some would have four roads, but the average is that 181 if you divide it by 57 that would be a minimum of three roads from each local governments," Governor Ambode said.
The Governor said that the choice of the roads to be constructed had been made by the local governments in conjunction with the engineers, assuring that before the end of the year when the road would be delivered, the people would be better for it.
Giving his account of stewardship in the last quarter, Governor Ambode said the choice of Akanimodo, Mile 12 as venue for the meeting was to show that the axis has not been left behind in the developmental progress ongoing in the State, saying he had come to listen to the needs of the people and where government intervention was in dire need.
He said in the last quarter, his administration kicked off its "Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing Policy" aimed at providing affordable units across the three Senatorial Districts, disclosing that there are 4,355 housing units available with over 500 applicants prequalified so far, while allocation would commence next week.
On the agricultural sector, the Governor said his administration was already looking to build on the first fruits of its partnership with Kebbi State Government with the launch of LAKE RICE in December 2016, adding that in the current quarter the government would embark on the rehabilitation of the Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex, Agege in line with the promise to increase meat production output, develop the red meat value chain and restructure the complex for improved operations.
Governor Ambode also said that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps would become operational in the current quarter with the recruitment of 5700 personnel, while 100 would be deployed to each of the local government to complement the efforts of other security agencies in policing the State.
Expressing optimism that 2017 holds great expectations for Lagos, especially as the State gets set to mark its landmark Golden Jubilee on May 27, his administration would continue with its urban regeneration initiatives, building new infrastructure and maintaining existing ones.
He listed some of the key projects to be done to include Agric-Isawo-Arepo Road in Ikorodu, Ajelogo–Akanimodo Road Rehabilitation, Oshodi to Murtala Mohammed Airport Road, Ketu-Alapere Inner Roads Phase II, Oke Oso–Araga–Poka in Epe, Topo Garage to VIP Chalet in Badagry, Ladipo Market Road and Multilayer Car Park , Mushin and establishment of Bus Terminals and depots in Yaba, Ikeja, Oyingbo, Anthony, Ketu and Toll Gate, while more beneficiaries will receive funding from the N25bn Employment Trust Fund in January.
Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, in his remarks urged the Governor to give priority to the construction of Adeniji-Adele Road and ensure the construction of other roads that deserve utmost attention in the area.
He also urged the Governor to improve the standard of markets in the area to enviable standards, while urging total reconstruction of non-approved and unauthorised buildings already built within major markets in Lagos Island.
Akiolu further urged Lagosians to continue to cooperate and support the present administration as well as desist from any form of clandestine meetings that may undermine the progress of Governor Ambode's administration.
Responding to questions that bordered on security, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni said with the continued support of the State Government, the Command increased the number of personnel in Ketu-Epe Police Post from two to seventy to effectively combat kidnapping and other crimes in Agbowa, Itoikin and environs, as well as transformed the hitherto abandoned Iyun Police Post to anti-kidnapping unit, while two gun boats were moved to Ejirin.
Owoseni, however, urged traditional rulers and community elders to caution their subjects especially the youths on the need to be law abiding, shun all forms of criminal activities, and only be engaged in lawful means of livelihood.
Unconfirmed reports said that as tension continued to mount, the wife and children of the outgoing Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh allegedly abandoned him and have equally fled the country’s capital of Banjul on the eve of the deadline given Jammeh by the ECOWAS and the African Union to step down.
The Senegalese Government gave Jammeh till midnight of 18th January, 2017 to vacate presidency seat or he would be ousted militarily. This order was backed by both the ECOWAS bloc and the UN.
However, many hours after the elapse of the deadline, Jammeh has stayed put, undeterred by the mounting troops from the West african bloc at the Gambian border who are ready to militarily oust him from power.
Yahya Jammeh
Meanwhile, both Jammeh’s vice, The Gambia’s Vice President, Isatou Njie Saidy has also abandoned him after quitting her position in Jammeh’s government amid rising political tensions as Yahya Jammeh refuses to step down as president despite losing a December election.
Saidy, who had been in the role since 1997, is the highest level official to abandon Jammeh's camp in his standoff with opposition leader Adama Barrow, who won the election.
Also, The Gambia’s army chief, Ousman Badjie has equally said he would not back Jammeh’s fight by ordering his men to fight other African troops if they enter Gambian territory. Calling the fight a stupid one, Ousman said, "We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute.”
After eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital, Banjul, the army chief added, "I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men," he added, stopping to pose for selfies with admirers while dressed in fatigues, beret and green t-shirt, according to those present.
“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute…I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men. "If they (Senegalese) come in, we are here like this," Badjie said, making a hands up to surrender gesture.
Also, thousands of Gambians and tourists have equally fled the country in droves. Bus parks were scenes of chaos as people boarded buses, packing suitcases onto trucks and hiring canoes to flee the capital of Banjul.
The Banjul airport was also chaotic as many people struggled to board planes to fly out of the country.
Meanwhile, the President-elect, Adama Barrow has declared that Jammeh’s presidency is officially over.
Barrow who took to his twitter handle to also announce that his inauguration will proceed by 4pm in The Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, the neighbouring country where he sought sojourn also told his people that a new era had begun for The Gambia and its citizens.
Arriving back at Manchester airport in northern England, several passengers could be seen comforting a Gambian national and UK resident who had tried unsuccessfully to get his family out. Speaking, Ebrima Jajne described the situation as "really scary for everybody… because this president (Jammeh) doesn't want to step down and people are fleeing."
Tourist Ralph Newton said local residents had done what they could to reassure visitors, despite the threat to themselves. "All the locals were just worried … They said it's a bad time for us but you'll be all right… It'll be us they come for, if they come for anybody."
And Sara Wilkins, another tourist, said they had struggled to get clear information on the developing situation. "We weren't told anything… I kept phoning Thomas Cook and they just like … don't worry about it," she said. "I rang Thomas Cook again this morning and they said pack your bags, you've got to go."
Despite the build-up along the border, an army source revealed that Senegalese troops were "not yet" present on Gambian soil. –
Eyes on border
After 11th-hour talks in Banjul, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz flew on to Dakar where he met Barrow for talks at which Senegal's President Macky Sall was also present, the private RFM radio station reported. It was not clear whether the Mauritanian leader had secured a deal or made an asylum offer to Jammeh.
The last-minute intervention came after several unsuccessful attempts at diplomacy by the 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS). Mauritania is not part of ECOWAS and diplomats have previously reached out to the conservative desert nation in hopes of brokering a deal with Jammeh.
ECOWAS heads the regional force massing on Gambian-Senegalese border. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty hailed ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis.
"ECOWAS has stood up, and they don't always do that, he said. "It's an important message to Jammeh, both from the people of The Gambia, the people of Africa, and from neighbouring states, that it's not business as usual anymore."
The Nigerian Air Force dropped two bombs on the centre of a town where tens of thousands of people were seeking refuge from Boko Haram, according to an aid worker who witnessed the attack.
At least 70 people were killed on Tuesday when the jet bombed the town of Rann, sparking widespread condemnation from organisations working to address a growing food crisis in the war-torn region.
Alfred Davies, a field coordinator with the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), described the attack as “incomprehensible”.
“The first bomb fell at 12:30 pm (1130 GMT) and landed just a few metres away from the Red Cross office,” he wrote in an account sent by MSF on Thursday.
“The plane circled back and it dropped a second bomb five minutes later,” he said, adding they were “dropped on houses.”
He added: “There are no words to describe the chaos. Some people had broken bones and torn flesh; their intestines hanging down to the floor. I saw the bodies of children that had been cut in two.”
MSF arrived in Rann last weekend to vaccinate children and screen for malnutrition, which has gripped the region and left hundreds of thousands of people in dire need of help.
Between 20,000 and 40,000 people who had fled the Islamist militants were living in makeshift shelters in the town, which was previously inaccessible because of insecurity.
People were dying of hunger and were in urgent need of food, according to Davies.
“The army that was meant to protect them bombed them instead,” he said.
Six Nigerian Red Cross workers were among the dead.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told AFP on Thursday that 61 injured were airlifted to its specialist trauma unit in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.
Of those, 28 were children, seven were women and 26 were men, it added.
Nigeria’s military has called the bombing a mistake and blamed “the fog of war”. It said its intended target were jihadists reportedly spotted in the Kala-Balge area, of which Rann is part.
Daily newspaper The Nation, owned by the founder of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party, blamed the bombing on a “failure of intelligence” caused by information provided by a “foreign country”, without elaborating.
Boko Haram has laid waste to northeast Nigeria since it took up arms against the government in 2009, displacing millions and disrupting farming and trade in its quest to establish a hardline Islamist state.
Nigeria recently said it has flushed Boko Haram fighters from their stronghold in the Sambisa Forest of Borno state and claimed the group is in disarray.
Gambian president-elect Adama Barrow was to be sworn in Thursday at the country’s embassy in Senegal, as African troops massed at the border to force incumbent Yahya Jammeh to quit after his election defeat.
The United Nations Security Council was to vote later Thursday on endorsing a west African military intervention as Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana dispatched hundreds of troops and fighter jets to The Gambia’s border with Senegal.
Shops were shuttered and streets quiet in and around the capital Banjul with tour operators evacuating hundreds of tourists from the tiny country’s popular beach resorts.
The army chief however has insisted his soldiers would not get involved in a “political dispute” nor prevent foreign forces from entering the west African nation.
Barrow, a real-estate agent turned politician who won a presidential vote on December 1, flew to Senegal on January 15 after weeks of rising tension over Jammeh’s steady refusal to step down.
At the helm of the former British colony for 22 years, Jammeh’s mandate expired at midnight (0000 GMT) with no sign of him stepping down.
He has attempted instead to block Barrow’s inauguration with a court ruling and by declaring a state of emergency.
– Inauguration to go ahead – But Barrow’s spokesman Halifa Sallah told AFP that the inauguration would go ahead. “It is going to take place at the Gambian embassy in Dakar … at 4:00 pm (1600 GMT),” he said.
Jammeh initially acknowledged Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the result, this week declaring a national state of emergency.
Speaking to AFP by phone, senior coalition official Isatou Touray welcomed a declaration by army chief Ousman Badjie that his troops would not prevent Jammeh’s removal by force.
“That’s a very positive outlook from him, given that Jammeh’s regime is done,” Touray said.
“We don’t have to risk the lives of innocent citizens.”
In remarks at a hotel restaurant late Wednesday, Badjie said he loved his men and wouldn’t risk their lives in a “stupid fight,” eyewitnesses said.
– ‘Really scary’ Arriving back at Manchester airport in northern England, several passengers could be seen comforting a Gambian national and UK resident who had tried unsuccessfully to get his family out.
Speaking to AFP, Ebrima Jajne described the situation as “really scary for everybody… because this president (Jammeh) doesn’t want to step down and people are fleeing.”
Tourist Ralph Newton said local residents had done what they could to reassure visitors, despite the threat to themselves.
“All the locals were just worried … They said it’s a bad time for us but you’ll be all right… It’ll be us they come for, if they come for anybody.”
And Sara Wilkins, another tourist, said they had struggled to get clear information on the developing situation.
“We weren’t told anything… I kept phoning Thomas Cook and they just like … don’t worry about it,” she told AFP.
“I rang Thomas Cook again this morning and they said pack your bags, you’ve got to go.”
Despite the build-up along the border, an army source told AFP Senegalese troops were “not yet” present on Gambian soil.
– Eyes on border – After 11th-hour talks in Banjul, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz flew on to Dakar where he met Barrow for talks at which Senegal’s President Macky Sall was also present, the private RFM radio station reported.
It was not clear whether the Mauritanian leader had secured a deal or made an asylum offer to Jammeh.
The last-minute intervention came after several unsuccessful attempts at diplomacy by the 15-nation Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS).
Mauritania is not part of ECOWAS and diplomats have previously reached out to the conservative desert nation in hopes of brokering a deal with Jammeh.
ECOWAS heads the regional force massing on Gambian-Senegalese border.
Speaking to AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Amnesty International chief Salil Shetty hailed ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis.
“ECOWAS has stood up, and they don’t always do that, he said.
“It’s an important message to Jammeh, both from the people of The Gambia, the people of Africa, and from neighbouring states, that it’s not business as usual anymore.”
A coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis, Stand Up for Nigeria (SUN), has urged Nigerians to stop blaming President Muhammadu Buhari for the current hardship in Nigeria.
The South-West coordinator (SUN), Comrade John Blessing, who led a rally, yesterday in Lagos, in solidarity with the anti-corruption fight of President Buhari, said that present government should not be blamed for infliction of hardship on Nigerians.
He said that the economic recession of today would have been averted, if the past government was half sincere as the Buhari government.
Blessing said: "The economic recession is real. The fall in the value of the Naira is real. Inflation that has taken away the purchasing power of Nigerians is real. But these are not the only real things we know in this country. The looting of public treasury by previous administrations is real.
One Million man rally for president Muhammadu Buhari by stand up for Nigeria (SUN), a coalition of civil society organizations.
Why then would some people ignore these realities, these other realities, and take to the streets to accuse the present government of inflicting hardship on Nigerians? Are they saying that they are not aware that the only reality they see, the economic recession they are lamenting about, might have been averted if the past governments, on behalf of which they are now acting, had been half as sincere as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari? Where was the United Action for Democracy (UAD) when different democratically elected governments were organizing bazaars and converting budgetary allocations into personal allowances?"
He advised Nigerians to focus their energy in making contributions towards supporting the government, to deliver the economy of the country.
His words: "Dear compatriots, let us not waste time on these yesterday men. Instead of giving them undue publicity let us focus that energy on making contributions towards supporting Mr President to deliver the Nigeria of our vision. Let us see where and how we fit into the anti-corruption fight, diversification of the economy, supporting made in Nigeria goods, becoming employment creators and doing other things that change Nigeria for good."
Blessing also said that the present administration has alleviated the plight of the down trodden in the country, through the ongoing conditional cash transfer programme.
"His government has not left out the unemployed youth who are now getting monthly stipends of N30000 while they have been matched with work places where they will acquire skills and experiences for future job. 200,000 youths are part of the first batch while more is to follow. While Mr President continues to do the work he was elected to do, we will be educating ourselves on the relationship between the failings of the past government and the economic hardship of today while preparing to be beneficiaries of the years of economic booms that lie ahead because of the sacrifices being made to lay a solid foundation for Nigeria", he said.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said that 181 roads would be constructed across the state before the second quarter of the year.
Ambode spoke at the state's quarterly Town Hall Meeting with residents of Lagos-East Senatorial District held at the Ajelogo Housing Scheme, Mile 12, in Ketu area of the state.
He said the construction would be visible in all the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
According to him, a minimum of three roads will be constructed in each council area.
The governor said that the state government would advertise bids for the construction of the roads next week to complement the 114 roads constructed in 2016.
"Majority of the questions asked are on roads because of the success recorded with the 114 roads last year, when we did two roads per local government.
"I want to pronounce here that you should watch out next week in the newspapers; we are advertising 181 roads which will be done in all our local governments.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode
"What we have found out is that if we decide to continue with two, some of those roads are not linking each other to the main road.
" Most likely you will see that if we are supposed to do some roads in some local governments, it will only make economic sense if there is a linkage.
"The choice has been made by the local governments in conjunction with the engineers so that we can make economic sense of the road and we think we will continue in that pace," Ambode said.
The governor also said that 5,700 Neighbourhood Safety Corps would be recruited in the next three weeks.
He said that this was part of continued efforts to ensure good governance and safety of Lagos residents.
Ambode highlighted other various activities and projects for the year which include road rehabilitation and construction.
He said others include establishment of bus terminals and depots, as well as creation of jobs for micro, small and medium enterprises, among others.
The governor said that bus terminals would be established at Yaba, Ikeja, Oyingbo, Anthony, extending to Abule Egba, while those under the bridges and illegal car parks would be eradicated.
He said the government would also intensify efforts to make artisans and youths have access to the Employment Trust Fund.
Ambode, while responding to remarks by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, said that Lagos Island would get a face lift this year.
According to him, the Ebute-Ero market will get a multi-layered car park.
Ambode, while thanking residents for their support, urged them to do more by paying their taxes.
He promised government's unrelenting efforts at ensuring an all-inclusive government and delivery of more dividends of democracy.
Residents appealed to the government for the construction of more schools, health centres and roads, which the governor promised to look into.
The Enugu State Police Command said that it has burst a kidnapping and human trafficking syndicate that abducted and sold a four-year-old girl in Abia for N350,000.
Mr Ebere Amaraizu, the command's spokesman, said in a statement that the little girl's kidnap was aided by a family member from Inyi community in Oji River Local Government Area.
According to Amaraizu, the little girl went missing from school without a trace at about 12:45pm on Dec. 15, 2016 and was only recovered by the police one month later.
"The report of the missing girl threw the entire family, especially the mother, into confusion and sorrow.
"In the course of investigation, one Miss Chinedu Chukwu, immediate younger sister to the mother of the victim, and her boyfriend, Osunkwo Chinonso, were nabbed for their involvement in the dastardly act.
"They conspired and came in from Anambra to the school where little Chinecherem was tricked and whisked her away to Umuahia in Abia.
"They sold the child at Ihe Olokoro community of Abia to one Florence Nwokocha at the price of N350, 000.
"Police operatives on Jan. 16, nabbed Nwokocha who provided information leading to the recovery of the girl from where she was kept at Faulks Road, Aba, awaiting a buyer,'' he said.
Amaraizu said the police had also launched full scale investigation and manhunt for the person who harboured the little girl in Aba.
"All the suspects are assisting the police in their investigations just as little Chinecherem Irechukwu has been reunited with her family,'' the police spokesman said.
The mother of the victim, Mrs Irechuwu, expressed gratitude to God and the police for their prompt action which led to the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of her daughter.
"God is at work,'' the relieved mother said in an interview.
She expressed regret that her immediate younger sister was involved in such a woeful act.
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