News

Reps Issue 10-Day Ultimatum For Federal Polytechnic Idah To Provide Documents On Projects

Published

3 months ago

October 11, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has issues a 10-day ultimatum tothe management of Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State, to provide detailed documents of ongoing projects in the institution.

Chairman, House Committee on Polytechnics and other Technical Institutions, Rep. Fuad Kayode-Laguda gave the directive when the Rector, Prof Yahaya Usman and other officials appeared before the Committee on Thursday.

The Committee querried the documents presented by the institution’s officials which the lawmakers said was short of what was required by the Committee.

The lawmakers also discovered some infractions on the observance of Federal Character principles in staff composition on the Nominal Role presented to the Committee.

Speaking to journalists after the session, Chairman of the Committee said: “We invited Federal Polytechnic Idah Kogi State and Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau State. But, unfortunately Federal Polytechnic Shendam didn’t come prepared, and we couldn’t host them today.

“But we were able to have a very-very productive interaction with Federal Polytechnic Idah, which they’ve also invited us over to the school to come which ordinarily we would have gone.But, to make things convenient for them we said they should come here. But, they also pleaded with us to come.We had a very-very mutually beneficial discussion.

“Yes, they have not met the standards expected by us in terms of their reportings which we have given them another 10 working days to make available those documents to us.Basically, it’s just explaining their budget line that we asked for. So, it’s not anything out of place”.

Speaking the Federal Character issue, he said they have made their observations and have directed the institution that there was a violation which was need to be addressed urgently.

He added, “Well, after going through their nominal role, we noticed that, a shortfall of indexes of Federal Character. However, they came up with reasons and defence.But, very soon, we are sure there are some employment opportunities that would come up and the corrections will start happening.

The Committee chairman said although some officials of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau were at the sitting, but the refused to entertain them because the requirement was that, the Rector as the headvof the institution must be before the Committee in person.

He said, “The people that came, the head of the school was not here and he didn’t send in an apology and that’s not satisfactory. So, we told them to please excuse us, till when they have a complete team to meet with us. We will be getting in touch with them by inviting them back.

“We’ve invited them. In North Central we invited four schools.Idah, Kogi State, Shendam Plateau, Bida Minna, the Rector will come back with his team before we go through their reports and of course the one we took now”.

While speaking to journalists, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Prof Yahaya Usman Usman said that, they were before the Committee made submissions and the Committee has requested additional documents and further clarifications on some issues which he said would be made available on the appointed date for their next appearance.

He said, “The interaction was very smooth. Of course when you face a Committee like this that is carrying out their statutory function, it is more or less interviews,investigations and all these things. But the… other correspondences that were not contained in our submissions, they’ve given us 10 working days within which we submit, and we’ve obliged”.

Speaking on the oversight visit by the Committee to the institution, he said some issues were raised which necessitaed the suspension of the visit until another time.

He added, “The letter written to us before we started coming, the reason given was based on security, why we have to come. If not, ordinarily, of course they are supposed to be in Idah today.But with the reason given we understand that we have to come back”.

Speaking on the alleged violation of Federal Character, the Rector said, “Yes, we argued this out. Federal Character was implemented. It might not be, the profession, you might not expect the proportions of the State’s populations of staff. The staff are from different populations.

“Oh, yes. Of course Idah is a traditional town, you understand. Most people employed from the far north, from the West will not come. They come, see the place and run away. So, indigines have to fill in these gaps. I think we have explained it”.

News

Lucky Escape As Turkish Airlines passengers plane makes emergency landing in Malta

Published

8 minutes ago

January 2, 2025

Naijablitznews

Multiple passengers escaped from a Turkish Airlines (TK) aircraft after an emergency landing at Malta Luqa International Airport (MLA) on Wednesday afternoon (January 1, 2025).

The unscheduled landing occurred when the captain requested clearance due to an ill Moroccan passenger.

According to FlightRadar24 data, Turkish Airlines flight TK619 bound for Marrakesh (RAK) took off from Istanbul (IST) at 8:56 AM UTC.

After being airborne for around two hours, the flight diverted to Malta and landed at 11:02 AM UTC.

The flight was operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as TC-LCI.

Photo: Nabil Molinari | Flickr
The escape happened while the aircraft remained on the runway, prompting an immediate security response.

Police received notification at 1:45 pm, initiating a comprehensive search operation with Armed Forces of Malta personnel across the airport grounds and surrounding areas.

The Moroccan passenger, whose medical condition triggered the emergency landing, remains under police custody at Mater Dei Hospital.

Authorities continue to search ⁹for the escaped passengers across the airport perimeter.

The incident activated Malta’s airport security protocols, mobilizing law enforcement resources for a coordinated manhunt.

Police maintained an active presence in the vicinity while investigating the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized passenger departure.

● Similar Incidents

In May 2024, seventeen Moroccan passengers attempted to flee Rome’s Fiumicino airport following an emergency landing of a flight from Istanbul to Tangier.

The diversion occurred due to a passenger experiencing a heart attack. After landing, Italian security forces intercepted the group, conducting comprehensive passenger verification before clearing the flight’s continuation to Tangier.

This incident mirrors previous escape attempts by Moroccan passengers during emergency landings across European airports. In July 2022, twenty-eight Moroccan passengers attempted to flee after an emergency landing in Barcelona.

A successful escape occurred in November 2021 at Palma de Mallorca airport when passengers fled from a Casablanca-Istanbul flight.

December 2022 marked another incident at Barcelona’s Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport. A Pegasus Airlines (PC) flight from Casablanca to Istanbul requested an emergency landing for a passenger allegedly simulating labor.

During the medical evacuation, twenty-seven passengers attempted unauthorized exit. Police apprehended thirteen individuals, while fourteen successfully evaded capture and remained unlocated.

The recurring nature of these incidents has prompted enhanced security measures at European airports handling emergency landings. Law enforcement agencies maintain heightened vigilance during medical diversions, particularly on routes connecting North Africa and Turkey.

News

Just in: LP’s Peter Obi opens up on merger deal with PDP, NNPP ahead 2027

Published

14 minutes ago

January 2, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has opened up on a merger deal with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) or any other party.

Peter Obi made this known on Thursday morning during a press conference in Abuja on the state of the nation, stating that no agreement has been established with other parties.

The former Governor of Anambra State called on all lovers of Nigeria in the political space to unite in 2027 and defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of mismanaging the country’s resources.

According to him, the level of corruption in Nigeria remained high, including the cost of governance, which has led to an astronomical increase in public debt under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu of the APC.

Peter Obi maintained that government officials willfully mismanaged public funds in 2024 through incessant foreign travels.

Speaking further, Peter Obi frowned at the insecurity situation in the country, stating that it is unfortunate that Nigerians are dying needlessly due to banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping-for-ransom.

Meanwhile, the NNPP 2023 presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed the purported report of reaching an agreement with the opposition presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, to share power by alternating terms.

The genius Media nigeria reports that Kwankwaso, in an interview with the BBC, expressed anger over the lies.

He stressed that he was unaware of such a claim but had heard reports that Atiku’s camp had been meeting with regional leaders, including clerics, to propagate the narrative.

The former governor of Kano State also explained that he had found peace since leaving the PDP for the NNPP and distanced himself from the power-sharing agreement.

News

Anglican Archbishop, Driver Freed After One Month In Kidnappers’ Camp

Published

18 minutes ago

January 2, 2025

Naijablitznews

The kidnapped senior Anglican cleric, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala has regained freedom.

Archbishop Okpala was set free alongside his driver.

He confirmed his freedom in a post on his Facebook page, Thursday morning.

The clergyman simply wrote: “Praise the Lord!”

Hundreds of reactions followed immediately, thanking God for his freedom.

Okpala, a retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi, was released one month after he was abducted.

It could be recalled that he went missing on his way to Umuchu, a community in Anambra State for a burial ceremony.

Details of his release are still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, but it is being celebrated on various social media platforms of the Anglican Communion.

One of such platforms is the official Facebook page of St Stephens Anglican Church.