State House Press Release President Jonathan Welcomes Improved Economic Relations With Canada

President Goodluck Jonathan Monday in Abuja welcomed significantly improved trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Canada which has seen the volume of annual bilateral trade between them rise from about $600 Million three years ago to over $2 Billion at present.

Speaking at an audience with the outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Chris Cooter, President Jonathan also welcomed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in other areas such as education, electoral reform and polio eradication.

The President praised Mr. Cooter for working very hard to improve relations between Nigeria and Canada during his three-year tenure in Abuja.

“You have done wonderfully well here and I assure you that our relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength,” he told the outgoing High Commissioner.

He wished him success in his future assignments.

Governor Fashola's Loses Dad

The  Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola has lost his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola.

In a press statement by the family, the octogenarian passed away today Monday the 5th day of August 2013 at the age of 80.

 He is survived by his wives, children, grand children and great grand children.

 He will be buried on Tuesday, the 6th of August 2013 at Vaults and Gardens Ikoyi by 1pm.

Benin Stood Still For Mr Fix It

Source: nairaland

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the People's Democratic Party Tony Anenih turned 80 over the weekend and was celebrated by a vast array of Nigerians deemed to be the movers and shakers of society.

At an elaborate ceremony on Sunday, President Goodluck Jonathan, three former Heads of Government and several state Governors extolled the virtues of the statesman and strongman popularly referred to in political circles as Mr Fix It.

Oyo NUJ Declares 7-Day Mourning For Dead Colleagues

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo state council has declared seven days mourning over the loss of three of its members in a ghastly auto crash of Friday at Osu area, near Ilesa, Osun state.

Some officials of the NUJ, mostly from Oyo and Lagos State councils were on Friday involved in a fatal auto crash which left Adolphous Okonkwo, who was the national financial secretary of the union, Kafayat Odunsi from the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Victoria Island, Lagos and the chairman of the Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Network Centre of the NUJ, Tunde Oluwanike died in the incident.

A release issued by Oyo NUJ Secretary, Comrade Rotimi Babalola stated that the seven day mourning commences today (Saturday) and will last till Friday, August 9th after which special interdenominational prayers would be offered for the repose of the victims; quick recovery of the injured ones and to forestall future occurrence of such incident among the journalists.

It added that all activities including social events have been suspended forthwith at the Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan while condolence register has also been opened at Executive Chambers of the union for members to pay their respect for their dead colleagues.

It would be recalled that following the incident, the victims were rushed to the Osun State General Hospital, Ilesa, from where they were referred to the Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo, where the injured victims are currently receiving treatment.

Narrating their experience, the chairman of the NUJ, Oyo State council, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun said "We are coming from Abuja where we held a meeting and by the time our vehicle got to Osu area, the rear tyre of our bus burst and the vehicle veered off the road before we somersaulted about eight to nine times and finally crashed in the bush".

"It was a terrible experience because we lost three of our members in the accident. The rest of us involved in the accident survived by the grace of God", he said.

At the emergency unit of LAUTECH on Friday night, doctors and nurses were seen making frantic efforts to attend to the survivors of the accident, while the Osun state Deputy Governor and chairman of the NUJ, Osun State council, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and Comrade Abiodun Olalere mobilised support and care for the injured officials.

Pics: Gov. Fashola Receives Leadership Of Aka Ikenga, Others On A Courtesy Visit.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (right) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development, Dr Dolapo Badru (left) during a courtesy visit by the leadership of Aka Ikenga and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria to the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (right) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development, Dr Dolapo Badru (left) during a courtesy visit by the leadership of Aka Ikenga and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria to the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2^nd left), Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (3^rd left) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development, Mr. Dolapo Badru (left) during a courtesy visit by the leadership of Aka Ikenga led by its President-General and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria to the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (5^th right) in a group photograph with the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (4^th left behind), Leadership of Aka Ikenga – President-General of the Association, Chief Goddy Nwazurike (3^rd right), Chief Ayola Ofodile (left), Mr. Okey Onyemaobi (2^nd left), Barrister Oscar Onwudiwe (4^thleft), Chief Arthur Ngwube (5^th left), Mr. Obi Akabueze (2^nd left behind), Sir (Chief) Okaro Ifeanyichukwu (right), Mrs. Chinwe Dike (2^nd right) and others during a courtesy visit by the leadership of Aka Ikenga and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria to the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), President-General of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Nwazurike (ight), Mrs. Chinwe Dike (2^nd right) and Chief Arthur Ngwube (left) during a courtesy visit by the leadership of Aka Ikenga led by its President-General and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria to the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Cross section of Leadership of Aka Ikenga led by its President-General, Chief Goddy Nwazurike and Lagos Ndigbo members of the Action Congress of Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the Governor at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 2, 2013. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze (right) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Development, Mr. Dolapo Badru (left).

FG Close Case On Trial Of Lebanese Terror Suspects

The Federal government has closed its case on the ongoing trial of three Lebanese businessmen facing trial in Abuja over terror related charges.

Prosecutors presented the last of 10 witnesses in the trial which commenced on Monday.

They also presented video recordings of the suspects where they admitted to having ties with Hezbollah several years back.

The last of the prosecution’s witnesses took the court through series of recordings showing the interrogation of the suspects.

They all admitted to have had links to Hezbollah, one of them even admitted that he services the huge stock of weapons discovered in a bunker in the Northern City of Kano.

The Defence team is expected to open its case on Friday.

The trio are facing 16 charges bordering on terrorism, money laundering and illegal arms deal.

Press Release: Fashola Nominates DG PPP, Ayo Gbeleyi, As Finance Commissioner

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Wednesday nominated the Director-General of the State’s Office of Public - Private Partnerships (PPP), Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi to replace Mr. Tokunbo Abiru who recently resigned from the State’s Cabinet as the Honourable Commissioner for Finance. The nomination is, however, subject to clearance by the State House of Assembly.

Mr. Gbeleyi also doubles as the Special Adviser to the Governor on PPP, the agency driving the Government-to-Business (G2B) collaboration policy thrust for the acceleration of infrastructure delivery towards the actualization of the vision of making Lagos Africa’s model megacity.