Somalia News Gazette

St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo in Ondo State on Sunday reopened for service ten months after a deadly attack on the church by gunmen.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that no fewer than 40 worshippers died in the June 5, 2022 attack by gunmen.

Worshippers who defied fears to attend Easter Sunday service expressed pleasure for the reopening of the church.

Addressing the congregants, Bishop Jude Arogundade, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo Diocese, lamented the growing level of insecurity in the country.

Arogundade appealed to the government to ensure that the attackers were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.

The bishop prayed for the congregants, especially the injured and those that lost their relatives, promising that the church would not abandon them.

Some worshippers who were unable to control their emotions were seen weeping, while recalling the ugly incident.

Arogundade appreciated the Aids to the Church in Need, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu and other donors for extending their help to the church.

He asked the church members to keep praying for those still suffering and in trauma as a result of the attack, stating that the church would continue to comfort those in pain.

He, however, solicited for more assistance from the Federal Government and the well-to-do in the society for the victims and the church.

“We are still waiting for the Federal Government. These are your citizens; let them know they belong to you. I have criticised you enough but if you do well, I will praise you.

“Some who have psychological issues are still many; but we believe that with our support and prayers they will return,” he said.

Speaking on the reopening of the church, Mrs Jumoke Oyekorode, who lost her mother in the attack, said that the vacuum left by her mother had yet to be filled.

Oyekorode added that it was a good thing for her mother to have died in the church, and thanked God for the reopening of the church.

Also, Mrs Margaret Ata, a survivor of the attack, said that she was happy to be back in the church, though as an amputee.

Ata, who lost her an eye and two legs as a result of injuries sustained in the attack, stated that two of her children were on scholarship. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng )

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Adam Ahmed, the Provost of National Defence College, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, has backed the call for drug test for all public office holders in the country.

Ahmed made his position known while answering questions from newsmen at the 6th Annual Ramadan lecture series and prayer for the nation, organised by the Ashraaf Islamic Foundation, on Saturday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of the lecture was: ‘Drug Abuse, Criminality and Insecurity in Nigeria: Toward a Collective Solution’.

He said: “Some political appointees and elected persons when they behave you will know clearly that they are high on drugs.

” And the same thing some technocrats and some security personnel, so it is widespread.”

Ahmed, who was the Chairman of the occasion said in Malaysia, Philippines and some South American countries politicians were tested before they were given power.

He added: “Not just that every person that is holding power including the military, security people are tested before they are given a very serious responsibility.

“Because, leaders have a way of influencing followers, if they are known to misuse drugs, the tendency is that those that are behind them will also be involved.

” So, that is why I believe strongly that no one should be given any serious responsibility until the person is tested for drugs.”

Ahmed called on those that were responsible for drug legislation and administration of anti drug use to be more proactive in tackling the incidences of drug abuse in the country.

He also emphasised the need for the government to identify various groups like the ashraaf islamic foundation to spearhead the campaign against drug abuse in the country.

Ahmed said: “Drug abuse in Nigeria and misuse of drug by the people are worst than any kind of crime that we think.

“Because the bulk of the crime that is committed in this country can be traced to drug abuse or misuse of drug, be it political, criminal, security even at home, social, economic, all can be linked to drug abuse.

” I think in the beginning, we never took the fight against drug abuse serious in this country.

“Yes, during the military, there were draconian laws which fortunately some people hade ven called such laws should be returned where drug pushers were killed.

” But then after that, we went through a period where everything goes as far as drug is concerned in this country.”

According to him, the mancae has almost engulfed all sectors, adding, “including all functionality of the society. So, it is a really sad situation”

He, however, commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant agencies for their efforts in curtailing the menace of drug abuse in the country.

Earlier, the founder of the foundation, Imam Sharafudeen Aliagan, said the objective of the event was to find a lasting solution to the rampant effects of drug abuse in the society.

He said: ” We have a lot of professionals, we have lots of academicians and many people who really know what is going on in the.sociery.

“We put heads together having discovered what the menace of drug abuse is and its rampant in the society.

” Drug abuse, criminality, insecurity we know that is exactly what is affecting us in the country, as we speak that is our major problem.

“So, we feel that current affair is very important that we discuss all our programmes.

” And when we discussed this and we are able to bring out the report to the government and the generality of Nigerians, there will be some high level of solutions to this menace.”

According to Aliagan, the foundation invited Muslim and non Muslim professionals and academicians to brainstorm to find a lasting solution to the menace.

He said: “Because, those who are into kidnapping, insurgency and rubbery must have taken one of these intoxicants which help them to perpetrated their evil acts.”

Also, Mrs Amina Bukola, the women leader of the Nasrul-Lahi-il Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), described the theme of the lecture as very topical and timely.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO), says it has intensified investment in gas infrastructure to aid diversification and Nigeria’s energy transition.

Mr Suresh Kumar, Managing Director, NIPCO Plc, who said this during a facility tour of the company on Sunday in Lagos, added that it would also reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Kumar said that the organisation had deepened gas usage and market penetration in the country through massive investment in the sector.

He said that as the Federal Government plans to put an end to fuel subsidy, natural gas by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Auto CNG were bound to be a preferred “fuel of choice”.

According to him, the benefits of the natural gas is that it is safe, environmental friendly, economical, among others.

Kumar said that the company had invested massively in gas infrastructure, in line with Federal Government declaration of 2021 to 2030 as “Nigeria’s Decade of Gas“.

He noted that the declaration is a period the government aspired to accelerate domestic and export gas production and utilisation.

He said that NIPCO was intensifing investment in gas infrastructure to bolster the gas agenda of the Federal Government, which was getting a booster.

According to him, already, the company has established Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) facilities across the country to make cars run on gas.

He also said that NIPCO had been expanding its scope on supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and constructing new pipeline infrastructure to strategic locations in the country.

Kumar, said the company had invested over 50 million dollars in developing Nigeria’s natural gas over the years, while more projects were still in the offing.

He said: “We have spent more than 50 million dollars on natural gas infrastructure over the years. We believe that there are lots of potential in Nigeria that can be explored for gas utilisation, and this will further boost our economy.

“By using indigenous gas, we can reduce subsidy burden on the Federal Government.

“We can also reduce the importation burden and that will directly or indirectly reduce capital flight and create more employment opportunities for Nigerians.

“We are the pioneers. We always dream for the future. So, we dreamt for natural gas utilisation in Nigeria right from 2008 and we started investing.

“We introduced this model to the government. Nigeria is a country that has abundant natural gas and instead of wasting subsidy on petrol, we should be looking at a blueprint that can change the petrol market to CNG market,” he said.

According to him, NIPCO is an integrated company that supplies Nigerian market with petrol, diesel and gas.

Kamar said the company currently has about 19,500 metric tonnes combined storage capacity for LPG with 10 loading bays, which could truck-out over 4,000 tons per day.

Also speaking, Mr Nagendra Verma, Managing Director, NIPCO Gas, said the company currently has 14 CNG filling stations in various states across Nigeria and another six CNG stations, currently under construction.

He said over 7,000 vehicles were currently running on CNG, adding that over 350 truck fleet belonging to NIPCO were all on gas.

“We have workshops which are fully efficient and fully capable to convert PMS vehicles to gas, we have the expertise and we are ready to convert more vehicles to run on gas, he said.

Verma said: “So, we intend to have CNG stations in almost all the states of Nigeria, wherever the pipeline is available.

“Presently, we are laying LNG pipeline for 80 Kilometer pipeline from Shagamu interchange to Ibadan.

“The pipeline work is going on. We expect to commission first phase by the end of December 2023.

“And the entire pipeline is expected to be completed by next year.”

According to him, the company is also developing gas pipeline infrastructure in Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, which is currently nearing completion.

He said the company is currently constructing a propane tank of 500 metric tonnes capacity, the biggest in Nigeria, in a bid to meet up with the federal government requirements of mixing certain quantity of propane with butane for domestic gas.

Verma said that the propane tank would be completed in the next three months.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Delaware mall shooting left three people injured and forced shoppers to evacuate as police investigate.

Delaware State Police said authorities do not have a suspect in custody in the shooting at the Christiana Mall, in a northern community near Pennsylvania.

‘We can confirm that there are 3 victims who were injured by gunfire and transported to an area hospital for medical treatment,’ police said in a tweet. ‘There are currently no public safety concerns at Christiana Mall and the surrounding area.’

The mall would remain closed Saturday evening, police said in a statement.

The three people were shot in the food court area, WPVI-TV reported.

Police asked people to keep away as authorities investigate, but set up a reunification site at the north entrance for those trying to locate someone.

Additional details were not immediately available.

‘We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to gather more details on this shooting,’ police said in a tweet.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Somali Police Commissioner General Sulub Ahmed Firin received on Sunday officials from Turkey.

The Commissioner and the officials discussed strengthening cooperation and providing training to the specially trained Somali Police officers (Haramcad) and thanked them for the unwavering support of the people and government of Turkey.

Source: Somali National News Agency