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President Muhammadu Buhari , charged the military junta in Mali to set an acceptable time table for return to democratic government, since the country cannot afford to stand alone in the sub-region.

President Buhari, who joined ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments in a virtual meeting, said Nigeria believes that the people of Mali and the military leaders need to appreciate the fragility of their country and the imminent danger which it poses to the citizens of Mali as well as the ECOWAS sub-region.

In his remarks at the third Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS on the socio-political crisis in Mali, President Buhari said from the briefings presented by the Special Envoy, former President Goodluck Jonathan, it was clear that the regional body’s engagements with the new military leadership in Mali were yet to achieve the desired results in several key areas.

According to him, “I am, however, personally happy to hear of the release from detention of the former President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who is reported to be in good condition. The disposition of the new leadership to free the remaining senior officials is noted as this should contribute to the renewed sense of belonging to the Malian people.

“With regard to other areas being negotiated, Nigeria believes that the people of Mali and the military leaders need to appreciate the fragility of their country and the imminent danger which it poses to the citizens of Mali as well as the ECOWAS sub-region.”

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, Buhari advised that the military leadership should be flexible in negotiations by putting the interest of all Malians and the harmony of the sub-region into consideration.

He said, “For the people of Mali, specifically the leadership, embracing Democracy and Good Governance is crucial to the country’s political stability. Mali cannot therefore afford to stand alone, hence the need to come to terms with the realities of an acceptable and workable transition compact that inspires the confidence of all Malians.

“Meanwhile, I urge the military leadership to consider: the immediate release of all the remaining senior Government officials in detention, without pre-conditions; a transition process, to be completed in not more than 12 months, and which shall include the representatives of Malian stakeholders.

“This is a critical consideration for the new government to enjoy the cooperation and collaboration of regional and international community, and to allow the easing of sanctions imposed on Mali.’’

President Buhari also emphasized the need for Mali’s Constitutional Court to work hand in hand with all the Malian stakeholders to ensure an early and hitch-free return to a democratic government through free, fair and inclusive election.

He said, “In this connection Nigeria will, alongside ECOWAS, provide necessary logistics support to facilitate the conduct of elections to re-establish democratic governance in Mali.

“As I conclude this intervention, let me thank once again, the Mediator, Dr Jonathan, as well as my colleagues in the sub-region, who have continued to demonstrate sincere commitment to the resolution of this crisis. Nigeria stands in solidarity with the good people of Mali.’’

The President commended the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic for convening the Extraordinary Summit.

He also condoled with Alassane Ouattara, President of Cote D’ivoire, on the loss of a close aide, Mamadi Diane.

Among Declarations of the Summit adopted by ECOWAS leaders were that the transition government in Mali must be led by civilians, and that the return to constitutional order should be concluded within 12 months.

Malian military was also encouraged to focus on securing the country, faced with severe security threats from its northern part, instead of an incursion into governance.

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The Vice President , Prof . Yemi Osinbajo, said that the Federal Government was creating a “ payroll support” for private schoolteachers and artisans to cushion the untoward economic effect of the COVID- 19 pandemic on them.

He added that the Federal Government had secured land in 11 states of the federation to build thousands of two – bedroom apartments for Nigerians at the cost of N2 m each .

He also declared that he was too busy to think about the 2023 elections .

Osinbajo spoke at the ongoing 60 th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.

He featured on the “state of the nation” session with the theme, “ A stimulating exchange on the State of the Nation, ” moderated by the Publisher of ThisDay newspaper , Mr Nduka Obaigbena.

The vice president said the Federal Government’ s efforts were geared towards saving jobs and creating new ones amid the pandemic .

Osinbajo said , “ Through the Economic Sustainability Plan , the FG’ s focus is to save jobs and create new ones . Similarly, there is a survival fund and payroll support for artisans, private schoolteachers and small businesses .

“ We are currently compiling the data , the criteria is already set . There are plans also for other sectors including the hospitality and aviation sector . ”

On the Federal Government’ s housing plan , Osinbajo said , “These houses are to be built by young engineers , architects and artisans. We hope to build thousands of two – bedroom apartments for about N2 meach. ”

Osinbajo said despite the decline , Nigeria ’ s economy had fared better than some other countries .

“ Economics like politics is local . In comparison to other economies we have fared better . We , however , recognise that there is a severe decline . The Economic Sustainability Plan is our response to that and we will focus on local industry , local resources and local production , ” he said .

Two yet – to – be – identified persons has lost their lives when a helicopter crashed into a building on Salvation Road, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State .

News correspondent learnt that the pilot was conveying two passengers to a destination in the state when the tragedy struck around 12 . 17 pm.

The General Manager , Lagos State Emergency Management Agency , Olufemi Oke- Osanyintolu , said two people died , adding that one person had been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital .

Oke- Osanyintolu said , “ The agency received distress calls concerning a privately operated helicopter that crashed into 16 A Salvation Road, Opebi , Ikeja and immediately activated the emergency response plan .

“ The helicopter was carrying three people, one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital , while the other two were killed on impact and their bodies have been deposited in a mortuary . We are on top of challenges , especially crowd control . The operation is ongoing and updates will follow. ”

Two yet – to – be – identified persons has lost their lives when a helicopter crashed into a building on Salvation Road, in the Ikeja area of Lagos State .

News correspondent learnt that the pilot was conveying two passengers to a destination in the state when the tragedy struck around 12 . 17 pm.

The General Manager , Lagos State Emergency Management Agency , Olufemi Oke- Osanyintolu , said two people died , adding that one person had been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital .

Oke- Osanyintolu said , “ The agency received distress calls concerning a privately operated helicopter that crashed into 16 A Salvation Road, Opebi , Ikeja and immediately activated the emergency response plan .

“ The helicopter was carrying three people, one is in the intensive care unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital , while the other two were killed on impact and their bodies have been deposited in a mortuary . We are on top of challenges , especially crowd control . The operation is ongoing and updates will follow. ”

Ahead of school resumption, the Governing Council of the Adekunle Ajasin University , Akungba Akoko, Ondo State has reduced the tuition fees of its students .

The university authorities increased the tuition fees in 2018 from N30 , 000 to over N 150 , 000 depending on the academic programmes of the students .

Students of the institution had staged a protest on the decision but the state government said there was no going back on the fees increase .

The announcement on the reduction of the fees was contained in a circular, dated August 26 , 2020 , issued by the institution ’ s Acting Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council , Mr Opeoluwa Akinfenwa , and made available to news correspondent .

The circular read , “ I write on the directive of the Acting Vice -Chancellor , Professor Olugbenga IGE to inform all returning students of Adekunle Ajasin University , Akungba -Akoko that following an earlier appeal by students , and in view of the economic effect of the COVID- 19 pandemic in the country on parents and students , the governor of Ondo State , Mr Rotimi Akeredolu , has directed that the university should consider a reduction in tuition fees in a way that quality education can still be sustained in the university. ”

According to the circular, the students in the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences who were paying N150 , 000 before will now pay N120 , 000 .

Students in the Faculties of Agriculture and Education will now pay N 100, 000 instead of N 150, 000 . Faculty of Arts students will pay N80 , 000 as against N100 , 000 being paid before . But the tuition fees for the Faculty of Law students remained N150 , 000 .

The Federal Government has shifted the resumption date for the commencement of international flights into and out of Nigeria from August 29 , 2020 , to September 5 , 2020 .

Minister of Aviation , Hadi Sirika , had announced on August 17 , 2020 , that international flights would resume on August 29 , following pressures from the public for the resumption of the flights .

But at the briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 in Abuja , the Director – General , Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority , Musa Nuhu , declared that international flights would not resume as earlier announced .

He said September 5 , 2020 was picked as the new date for international flights resumption, stressing that there were still issues to be sorted out before allowing international carriers to operate into and out of Nigeria .

“ Regret to announce that the international flight resumption earlier scheduled to resume on 29 th August has been shifted to 5 th September 2020 , ” the Federal Ministry of Aviation also tweeted.

When Sirika last week Monday announced that international flights into and out of Nigeria would resume on August 29 , the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 said that the date was not sacrosanct .

International flights were suspended by the Federal Government across the country about five months as a result of the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic .

He further disclosed that like it was done during the resumption of domestic flights across the country, the international flights would commence with two major airports.

He named the airports as the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport , Abuja , and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport , Lagos .

Sirika said emphasis would be placed on the observation of all the safety and technical guidelines as prescribed by global and health authorities , which would be communicated in due course .

There is gridlock at the long bridge, Warewa section of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway .

The PUNCH gathered that the standstill was caused by a fire outbreak .

It was learnt a car was gutted by fire in the middle of the bridge around 1 . 30 pm.

The car owner was said to be going to Arepo area of Ogun State when she noticed fire from the bonnet of her car .

As soon as she hurried out of the vehicle , it went up in flames .

Mali ’ s new military rulers said that former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , who had been detained since the country’ s coup on August 18 , had been freed.

The junta , which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP ), said on Facebook it was “ informing public and international opinion that former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been released and is currently in his residence ” .

Keita ’ s release was been a key demand of Mali ’ s neighbours and international organisations , including the African Union and European Union .

Nigeria ’ s Akinwumi Adesina has been re – elected as the President of the African Development Bank President for a second five- year term .

The election took place electronically at the virtual annual general meeting of the bank.

Adesina ’ s reappointment at the helm of the 56 – year – old bank is considered a formality as he is the sole candidate .

Presidential spokeswoman , Lauretta Onochie , confirmed the development in a congratulatory tweet.

The head of the African bank had appealed on Wednesday for a second term in office after a months- long storm over alleged corruption and poor governance that ended after he was cleared in an independent probe .

In a speech at the AfDB’ s annual meetings , Adesina formally requested a second term as president , declaring that he was “ doing it with an acute sense of duty and commitment . ”

“ I do it to serve Africa and our bank, in an unbiased way , to the best of the abilities that God has given me, ” he said , according to a statement issued by the bank.

Adesina , the son of a farming family , became in 2015 the first Nigerian to head the bank, one of the world’ s five biggest multilateral lenders and an important but often unseen player in economic development .

The 19 years old serial killer, Sunday Shodipe, who was rearrested by the Oyo State Police command has said that the herbalist who was detained with him ordered him to escape from the cell to shed more blood to appease spirits tormenting him.

He made the confession just as he confessed to killing another woman, Mrs Oladeji Funmilayo, after his escape from police custody last Sunday.

The suspect, during his parade alongside other 32 criminals by the Oyo State Police Commissioner, CP Joe Nwachuwu Enwonwu he escaped from police custody in order to get more blood to appease some spirits tormenting the life of the herbalist with whom he was in detention.

The suspect clarified that he was the actual Sunday Sodipe that escaped from police custody, but re-arrested on August 13, 2020.

“The herbalist with whom I was detained told me to escape from detention to provide blood to appease some spirits who were sucking his (herbalist) blood since he could no longer get access to hard drinks and other ingredients like colanuts, alligator pepper which he was using to offer sacrifice in the cell.”

Confessing how he went back to Akinyele area to kill the woman, he said: “After I escaped from Mokola Police cell in Ibadan, I went to do what Baba Adedokun asked me to do to save him from dying.

“I went from Moniya where I used to live to Akinyele and used an object to hack the woman. Blood gushed out and I recited what Baba always said I should recite, mentioning his name. I disappeared as usual but did not know whether the woman died”, he narrated.

“I don’t have any charm. I don’t know what Baba Adedokun was using me for. He said it was my initial confession that kept him in detention and that if I had not confessed and mentioned his name as the person using him, both of us would have been out”, he explained.

CP Nwachuwu said: “Shodipe confessed that he inflicted machete injury on the woman’s head and left her in the pool of her own blood.

“The victim who was brutally attacked by the notorious killer was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where she later gave up the ghost”.

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