The journalists reportedly died on Monday while returning from the wedding ceremony of a colleague held in Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state.

Findings revealed that the accident occurred after a tyre burst on the bus conveying the journalists, leading to a loss of control and a fatal crash.

Confirming the incident, the Gombe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samson Kaura, said seven persons died in the crash, while four others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Kaura added that the injured victims were rescued from the scene and taken to medical facilities for treatment.

The Director-General, Government House Press and Media Affairs, Ismaila Misili, also confirmed the death toll, describing the incident as tragic and devastating to the state’s media community.

Reacting, the National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, describing the incident as a huge loss to the journalism profession in Gombe State and Nigeria at large.

Yahya said the deceased journalists were dedicated professionals who served the public with courage, integrity and professionalism.

“They were committed practitioners who served the public with courage, integrity and professionalism. Their loss has left an irreplaceable void in our noble profession,” he said.

The NUJ president also expressed the union’s solidarity with the families of the deceased and members of the Gombe State media community.

“We pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to the souls of the departed and gives their loved ones the fortitude to bear this painful loss,” he added.

Yahya, speaking on behalf of the National Executive Council and journalists across the country, extended condolences to the Gombe State Council of the NUJ, as well as friends and colleagues of the victims.

He further said the tragic incident highlighted the need for improved road safety measures and responsible driving to prevent avoidable loss of lives, especially among journalists who frequently travel in the course of their duties.

The post Seven journalists die in Gombe auto crash first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Seven journalists die in Gombe auto crash appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The commendation was contained in a statement by a socio-cultural group, Oyo Progressive Front (OPF) on the heels of the disbursement of N43 billion to Oyo and 23 other states in the country.

According to the state coordinator of OPF, Tunde Oladeji, the disbursement was due to benefits that accrued to Oyo state from the Federal government performance-based grants from the World Bank due to the Ajimobi-led administration’s input in 2018.

“The grant has again confirmed to the people of Oyo state and the country that Senator Ajimobi led a focused and transparent administration during his eight year-tenure in Oyo state. Months after his tenure, the State is still reaping the benefits of his stewardship,’’ Oladeji said.

He explained further that  the Federal government disbursed N43,416,000,000 (USD120.6 million) as performance based grants to 24 States on the basis of results achieved in 2018 under the performance-based grant component of the World Bank-Assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme-for- results.

Apart from Oyo state, other beneficiary states are Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe states.

The programme is wholly financed with a 750 USDmillion loan from the International Development Association (IDA) , a member of the World Bank Group.

Kaduna state achieved the highest number of result and got the highest share of N3.9billion while Katsina and Benue got the lowest amount of N540million each.

The post Group lauds Ajimobi as Oyo shares N43b over 2018 performance report first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Group lauds Ajimobi as Oyo shares N43b over 2018 performance report appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Contained in a statement from the agency on Saturday, the goods were destroyed at a dump along Bajoga Road in the capital city of Gombe State.

The drugs which include antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, antiretroviral, cancer drugs, anti-malaria, and herbal remedies were destroyed alongside other items such as codeine-containing cough syrup and tramadol, as well as tomato paste, non-alcoholic beverages, maize flour, and insecticides.

According to the statement, “The counterfeit, fake and unwholesome products destroyed were seized from companies that engaged in sharp practices by gallant and committed NAFDAC officers during surveillance and enforcement activities.

“Other products were voluntarily handed over to the NAFDAC by compliant companies, sister agencies, and associations.”

The agency further assured Nigerians that it would continue to do everything possible to ensure that only safe and right quality medicines, wholesome foods and other regulated products were distributed and consumed in the country.

NAFDAC also appealed to political, traditional and religious leaders to sensitise their members, subjects, and congregation on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse.

The agency, however warned smugglers of codeine-containing cough syrups, tramadol, substances of abuse and fake products to desist henceforth or face the wrath of the law, saying it has intensified surveillance and enforcement activities at all ports of entry.

It called for the establishment of Drug Abuse Control Committee comprising of NAFDAC officials and that of other relevant agencies by various state governments.

NAFDAC also urged the Gombe State government to provide office accommodation and vehicles for its use at each of the three senatorial districts for effective coverage.

The post NAFDAC destroys N464m harmful drugs, items in Gombe first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post NAFDAC destroys N464m harmful drugs, items in Gombe appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The anti-graft agency told a Federal High Court in Jos on Monday.

A prosecution witness, Saliu Sambo, a Director of Administration and Finance in the state, gave evidence on details of food supply from 2003 to 2011 during Goje’s administration.

Goje is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.

Sambo said the food contractor was the former governor’s cousin, adding that N1,451,682,518.6 was paid to the contractor between 2003 and 2011.

Another witness, Mohammed Balbaya, a cashier at the Government House, confirmed that the food contractor was paid N1,451,682,518.6 between 2003 and 2011.

Another witness, an Assistant Director of Finance and Account, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), tendered a certified true copy of Federal Government’s Approved Guidelines for Accessing and Utilisation of the UBE Intervention Fund, issued in March 2006.

He also tendered a copy of Federal Ministry of Education Circular of September 9, 2008 and signed by Goke Adegboroye, entitled: Re: Review of the disbursement formula of the Federal Government’s two per cent of Consolidated Revenue Fund as Intervention to the UBE Programme.

Adegboroye said the supply of dictionaries, allegedly done under the Goje administration, was not covered by the guidelines.

The post EFCC reveals how former Gombe governor’s cousin paid N1.4bn to supply food first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post EFCC reveals how former Gombe governor’s cousin paid N1.4bn to supply food appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The Civil servant with the State Ministry of Higher Education was sued by one Inuwa Dattijo, aka DJ Maitaya of the State Agency for Social Services, who alleged that the accused sent him an audio clip containing insults on the governor and his mother.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Habibu Danjuma, informed the court that when the accused was asked to name the purported sender of the message, he failed to give a satisfactory account of the said information.

Danjuma said ‘’The accused was charged with one-count charge of fabricating false evidence, an offense that contravened Section 156 of the Penal Code Law.’’

However, the court did not take the plea of the man.

After listening to Adamu, the presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Japhet Maida, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

The case has been adjourned to September 26th.

The post Civil servant remanded for insulting Gombe Governor, Dankwambo first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Civil servant remanded for insulting Gombe Governor, Dankwambo appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.