A ROUND UP OF THE MAJOR NEWS STORIES.

LAGOS STATE POLICE COMMAND ARREST PUBLISHER OF CROSS RIVER WATCH, AGBA JALINGO AND 18 OTHERS

Journalist and activist, Agba Jalingo and 18 other protesters, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command during a #RevolutionNow protest, in the Ikeja area of Lagos state on Wednesday.

Recall that Jalingo was released in February 2020, after he was detained at the Afokang Prison in Calabar for 179 days, following an allegation of treason by the Cross River State government.

Jalingo was again arrested on Wednesday August 5^th, when protesters under the aegis of the #RevolutionNow movement, stormed the under-bridge area of Ikeja, to protest the deplorable condition of the country.

Meanwhile,the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP, has condemned violent attacks on #RevolutionNow protesters in Abuja, Lagos, Osogbo and other parts of the country.

SERAP in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, asked the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari to “end the use of excessive force against protesters, and allow people to peacefully exercise their human rights”.

AYADE SEEKS NORTHERN-NIGERIA LEADERS’ SUPPORT FOR SUPER-HIGHWAY.

Cross River state governor Ben Ayade has called on leaders from the northern part of the country to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to support the state in the construction of the 275 kilometres superhighway project in the state.

The state governor who said this during a meeting held recently in Abuja, expressed worry at the lack of support for the project from the federal government.

While urging the president to fulfill the pledge he made during the ground breaking ceremony of the project, governor Ayade also called on the federal government to take advantage of the huge opportunity being thrown up with the construction of the superhighway.

COMMISSIONER FOR WORKS IN CROSS RIVER STATE APPEALS FOR PATIENCE, FOLLOWING THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF THE CALABAR-ITU ROAD

The deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu road will soon be a thing of the past.

This is according to the cross River state commissioner for works, Dane Osim-Asu during an interview on the Hit breakfast show on Monday.

The commissioner who said the state government is putting pressure on the federal government to begin work on the road, also revealed that the Minster of Works will soon visit the state to inspect the road.

Osim-Asu also addressed the state of other roads across the state.

The Commissioner who however noted that the state government is yet to recover the funds used for the construction of the Goodluck Jonathan Bypass, which is a federal road, added that palliative work will also be carried out on the road.

CROSS RIVER GOVERNMENT SIGNS-OFF DOCUMENTS FOR SIFMIS

The road map to develop public finance management in Cross River State, using accountability and transparency as an instrument received a boost recently, as the Government successfully handed over installation and sign-off documents, for the State Integrated Financial Management Information System, SIFMIS, to the Joint Venture Partners, who partnered the State Government in executing the Project.

Speaking at the handing over meeting held in Calabar, the State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, expressed excitement at the completion of the SIFMIS in the State, noting that the project will put Cross River State in a good position, especially in the area of public finance management and fiscal responsibility.

Dr. Asibong however commended the State Governor Ben Ayade, for his political will and tremendous support, which provided a soft landing for the execution of the project in the State.

CRIRS COMMENCES CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON REVENUE LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN ALL SENATORIAL DISTRICTS IN CROSS RIVER STATE.

The Cross River Internal Revenue Service CRIRS, has commenced capacity building workshop in all the 18 local government areas in the state, on best practices regarding administration of Revenue Laws and Regulations in the State.

Addressing journalists at the 2-day workshop in Calabar on Tuesday, Chairman of the CRIRS Akpanke Ogar, said the objective of the workshop is to intimate local government administrators on tax laws, for a clear understanding of their roles on the taxes to collect.

Also speaking, a Managing Partner of Perspector –Watt Consulting Limited, Essien Ukorebi, said the training will help harmonize the mode of collecting taxes, on all levels.

Our correspondent reports that over 30 participants were present at the first stream of the workshop, in the Southern Senatorial District of the state.

“INT’L ORGANIZATIONS LEAVE NIGERIA BECAUSE OF POOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECHANGE RATE” – ASSIM-ITA

The Executive Secretary, Cross River State Chamber of Commerce, Ken Assim-Ita, says most international organizations are leaving the country, as a result of poor infrastructure and exchange rate.

Recall that on Monday, the media was awash with news of a South African multi-national, leaving Nigeria.

Speaking during Wednesday’s edition of the hit breakfast show, Assim-Ita said most of the organizations were not making the kind of projected profit they expected, due to Nigeria’s exchange rate.

Assim-Ita who is an entrepreneur, also advised the government to create an enabling environment, for businesses to thrive.

AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF HOTELS AND LEISURE CENTERS.

Akwa Ibom state government has announced the reopening of hotels and leisure centers.

Secretary to State Government, and Chairman COVID-19 Management Committee, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, who made this known in a statement issued, also announced the reduction of curfew hours in the state.

The statement urged all hotels and leisure centres in the state, to ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 guidelines and protocols, that are applicable to the hospitality and allied services operations.

EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DEPUTY SPEAKER IMPEACHED.

The Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye, has been impeached.

Idiaye was impeached on Wednesday, during a plenary session of the Assembly, in Benin City.

Recall that Idiaye recently declared his support for the governorship ambition, of Pastor Ize Iyamu, of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

UNITED STATES AFRICA COMMAND, RAISES ALARM OVER THE INFLUX OF ISLAMIC STATE AND AL-QAIDA TERRORIST GROUPS IN WEST AFRICAN.

The United States Africa Command, says the Islamic State and Al-Qaida terrorist groups, were gradually taking over the West African region after being displaced in Syria and Iraq.

Commander of the US Special Operations Command, Africa, Major General Davin Anderson, noted that the extremist groups have begun deploying strategies, to re-establish themselves in the region, and expand further in the continent without drawing attention.

Speaking during a virtual media briefing with journalists on Tuesday, the commander disclosed that Al-Qaida has expanded in Mali, and had moved into northern Burkina Faso.

OVER 300,000 HOMELESS, FOLLOWING MASSIVE EXPLOSION IN BEIRUT.

Beirut’s city governor, Marwan Abboud says up to 300 thousand people have lost their homes and authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter.

This follows a massive explosion in Beirut that sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage and killing at least 100 people, on Tuesday.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Wednesday, called for an emergency cabinet meeting saying a two-week state of emergency should be declared.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Information Minister, Manal Abdelsamad says the military will oversee the house arrest of those responsible for storage and guarding at the Beirut port since June 2014.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Abdelsamad said they would be put under house arrest “as soon as possible”, after their identities are determined by an investigative committee.

KAFFY WORKING ON HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NIGERIAN DANCERS.

Dance legend Kafayat Shafau-Ameh popularly known as Kaffy says she is working with stakeholders to bring health insurance to Nigerian dancers following the spate of health challenges leading to the loss of lives among them.

The singer said this during a two-day virtual conference tagged Dance2Health with stakeholders in the industry including healthcare providers, health management organizations and life coaches.

The summit which is the first of its kind, was put together by KAFFY Foundation in response to the growing concerns of health challenges faced by members of the dance industry.

BEETOVIN DISHES ‘ASUNDER’ ACCOMPANIED WITH VISUALS.

Fast rising Afro-pop singer and Record Producer BEETOVIN, is set to release his second single in 2020, titled “Asunder”.

The song, which is a mellow infusion of Afro-pop and RnB, was produced by BeetovinNackit and Chieff-Ace.

Speaking in a chat with our correspondent, Beetovin, who recently bagged an endorsement deal, added that the song will be released alongside a music video, on Thursday, August 6th.

DYBALA BEATS JUVENTUS TEAM-MATE RONALDO TO SERIE A PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Paulo Dybala has beaten Juventus team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo, to this season’s Serie A Player of the Year award.

Italian football’s main governing body, named the Argentina International as the 2019-20 ‘MVP’, with Juve’s newest signing Dejan Kulusevski grabbing the Young player of the Year prize for an outstanding campaign at Parma.

Juventus Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, got the nod for best goalkeeper.

EDITOR(S) – Onyekachi Nwosu, Abenmire Adi-Williams

REPORTER(S) – Happiness Ifiok, Mary Adie