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In a last minute effort to forestall a disruption in normal daily business activities and public order, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, late Tuesday met with leaderships of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).

The meeting, called ahead of today’s planned protest by the organised Labour against insecurity across the country, had representatives of relevant stakeholders in attendance.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who was responding to a question on whether the organised Labour was still going on with its plan to protest, said he and his colleagues in attendance would have to meet with the larger house to come to a decision that could be announced subsequently.

“We came for consultation with the President, and we are finished. So we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow you’ll get the outcome”, he said.

On whether the protest would go on as earlier announced, Ajaero said “If I’m insisting or not insisting, I’ll communicate to you. It’s not an organization that one person rules, let’s go back. Now you have a meeting of Labour and the governor’s forum. We’ll go back to the drawing board and digest all that Mr. President said to us, and move forward from there”, he said.

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, said the meeting was part of consultations, adding that all stakeholders, including government, Labour and the governed are meant to work for the country.

“Consultation is going on, we’re dialoguing. Like he said at the end of the day, you’ll know what you’re supposed to know and what you want to know. We are here to serve the country; both the Labour, the government and the governed. We’re all working service to the nation”, the governor said.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeoch, said the meeting with the President was a satisfying experience for the Labour, noting that the fact that the administration had managed to bring the economy to a safe place was good enough message to Labour.

“Citizens who are also members of an NLC wanted to see Mr. President, and they’ve seen Mr. President, and of course, you know, they are happy they’ve seen Mr. President, and they’ve had firsthand that at least the President has driven the economy out of the woods. So it’s a very good news”, she said.

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A Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR, operated by Skypower Express, has crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before diverting to Owerri after the crew declared an emergency.

The crash occurred at about 8:00 pm on the airport premises, with four passengers and crew members onboard.

Confirming the incident, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the agency had been notified of the crash.

According to the NSIB, the aircraft crashed on the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities have been recorded so far.

The statement said: “Following the occurrence, airport emergency services were successfully activated and arrived on site promptly. Reports indicate that there was no post-crash fire, and the runway remains active for flight operations, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.

“Efforts are currently underway to coordinate the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination.”

The NSIB said it has officially activated its investigation protocols in line with its statutory mandate.

The Director-General of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., sympathised with the management of Skypower Express over the incident and expressed relief that no lives were lost.

Badeh Jr. added that the Bureau’s investigation team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and commence a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.

Two days ago, 11 persons narrowly escaped death as a private jet crash-landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Sunday morning.

The occupants, including passengers and cabin crew, were safely evacuated amid an intense atmosphere, eyewitnesses told The Guardian.

The private jet, owned by Flybird Aviation, crash-landed at about 9:30 a.m. while approaching Kano Airport en route to Abuja.

The incident attracted urgent attention, with emergency staff and other stakeholders converging at the runway to render rescue operations.

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is yet to release an official statement on the incident. Unofficial sources disclosed that the passengers have been taken to an unknown destination.

Several aircraft incidents have occurred at Kano Airport, with several lives lost.

The last incident occurred in May 2002, when an EAS Airline aircraft departed the runway at Aminu Kano International Airport at 1:29 p.m. local time en route to Lagos.

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Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has approved the disengagement of 30 special advisers in a move aimed at restructuring the state’s governance framework.

The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, who explained that the decision forms part of efforts to revamp the administration and improve efficiency in line with the governor’s New Niger agenda.

According to the statement, details of fresh appointments or possible reassignments were not provided.

The governor reportedly made the announcement during his maiden State Executive Council meeting with the newly inaugurated commissioners at the Government House in Minna.

Bologi explained that, “the termination of their appointment was to allow the governor to rejig and reposition their portfolios with a view to making them more effective and efficient in line with his New Niger agenda.”

He added that the governor expressed gratitude to them for their sacrifices and contributions to the success of his administration, while wishing them success in their future endeavours.