The Late 5: FG beefs up security at International airports over ISIS threat, Senegal gives Africa first win at World Cup and other stories

These are the stories that drove the conversation today:

President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to lead a delegation on behalf of the Federal Government to immediately visit Bauchi following the windstorm which destroyed an estimated 1505 houses mainly in the state capital. 

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, stated that eight persons were confirmed dead, while 120 others had reported various degrees of injury.

“The delegation which also includes the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engineer Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja is to undertake an assessment of the extent of damage occasioned by the natural disaster. and visit Azare, another major town  struck by a major fire disaster that destroyed the market in the town a few days after.


The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) has beefed up security and surveillance at the major airports in the country following a recent reports that terrorists were sneaking into Nigeria from Syria.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, disclosed this  in Lagos on Tuesday, said that the move was aimed at forestalling anything untoward from occurring at the airports, adding that FAAN’s Aviation Security (AVSEC) was working with other sister security agencies to maintain surveillance on the perimeter fence, the cargo area, the runway and other restricted areas.

According to Yakubu, special attention was being given to Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt Airports which services international passengers and were gateways into the country via air.


Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday led a senate delegation on a three day parliamentary visit to Russia.

According to a statement issued by the Senate President’s media team, the visit is aimed at “deepening legislative best practices and further strengthening the relationship” between both countries.

During the visit, Saraki is expected to address the federation council of the federal assembly of the Russian Federation (senate of Russia) and also hold meetings with Valentina Matviyenko, chairperson of the federation council;  Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the state Duma; and Mikhail Bogdanov, deputy minister of foreign Aafairs of the Russian Federation, to exchange views on issues of Nigerian-Russian cooperation.

Senators Godswill Akpabio, Olusola Adeyeye, Monsurat Sunmonu, Duro Faseyi, Obinna Ogba and Ibrahim A. Danbaba are the lawmakers on the delegation.


The World Council of Bishops, has written President Muhammadu Buhari, pleading for pardon for five young men sentenced to death by a Yola High court in Adamawa for the killing of a herdsman.

The Court had on June 11, 2018 sentenced the five men from Kodomun in Demsa council area of the state to death by hanging for murdering a herder in retaliation to the several killings in the area.

The bishops noted in the letter that Nigeria “has suffered untold bloodshed from killings, maiming, traumatisation  of innocent citizens around the north eastern, north central and Middle Belt states, as a result of the frequent attacks by the militia herdsmen times without number.”


Deputy Leader of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, and Member representing Ise/Orun constituency, Ebenezer Alagbada, has defected to the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Alagbada announced his defection and resignation as the Deputy Majority Leader of the Assembly on Tuesday at a press briefing in Ado Ekiti, noting that he took the decision after consultation with his constituents.

He listed his reason to be that Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose allegedly reneged on his promise to give the governorship slot his constituency, and accused the Governor of disdaining them and working ruthlessly to ensure they are manipulated out as the candidate of the PDP in preference for the Deputy Governor, Prof Kokapo Olusola.


And stories from around the world:

The Terranga Lions of Senegal recorded a convincing win over European side, Poland to hand Africa it’s first victory at the 2018 FIFA WorldCup.

The game which ended 2-1 saw the Polish team concede an own goal in the first half before Senagelese Striker, Mbaye Niang doubled the goal to give them the maximum 3 points.


The U.S.-led coalition in Syria said on Tuesday it had disrupted Islamic State’s funding by killing the man who ran its oil and gas network and other members of the group last month.

“The death of these (Islamic State) members hinders the terrorist group’s ability to finance operations throughout Iraq and Syria … the ability to pay fighters, procure weapons, and maintain equipment will be degraded,” it said in a statement.

The coalition said it killed the oil and gas network leader Abu Khattab al-Iraqi and three other Islamic State members on May 26 in the “Middle Euphrates River valley.” (Reuters)


The United States is set to pull out of the United Nations Human Rights Council, unnamed UN officials say.

The US UN envoy Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are set make the announcement later on Tuesday.

Ms Haley last year accused the council of “chronic anti-Israel bias” and said the US was reviewing its membership. (BBC)


Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have captured the airport at Hodeidah and have started preparations for the more complex task of capturing the city and its port nine miles (15km) to the north.

The port is critical to the supply of aid to the rest of the famine-struck country.

Confirmation that the airport on the southern outskirts of the city had been seized after three days of fighting came from both TV pictures and eyewitness accounts. At least 40 Houthi fighters who had held the airport were killed, but most retreated into the city, preparing to fight a potentially intense street-by-street campaign that could endanger tens of thousands of civilians. (The Guardian, UK)


French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Tuesday for a joint European response to the EU’s flashpoint challenge of immigration amid deep divisions in the bloc.

Macron said the EU needs “a European response to the migration challenge,” with more capacity for border agency Frontex to monitor its outside borders.

He also said Paris and Berlin are in favour of deals that would allow EU member states to reject at their borders asylum seekers already registered elsewhere in the bloc, usually their first port of call.(AFP)

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail