NEWS
New Year: 52 Escape Death in Anambra Multiple Accident

At least 52 people escaped death in an accident involving six vehicles on Ihiala road, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra as the New Year 2021 began on Friday.
State Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Andrew Kumapayi confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.
Kumapayi said the accident which occurred at about 2 p.
m. , was caused by speeding and loss of control.“The multiple crash involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AGB268ZT, a Mark Trailer with registration number GWA456YR and another Toyota Hiace bus with registration number NEN106XQ.
“Others are an Acura MDX Jeep with registration number NZM764LK, a Marcapolo Luxury bus with registration number AKD483XF and a Hyundai Jeep with registration number EG172SMK,” he said.
The commander said that witness report reaching the FRSC indicated that the driver of one of the vehicles was speeding, lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the other five vehicles.
“A total of 52 people were involved in the crash – 38 male adults and 14 female adults. No life was lost.
“11 people out of the 52 sustained some degrees of injuries and were taken to Obijackson Foundation and Our Lady of Lourdes hospitals in Ihiala for treatment by the FRSC rescue team.
“Meanwhile, the FRSC rescue team from Ihiala were on ground controlling traffic as the obstructions were been cleared,” he said.
While wishing the injured people speedy recovery, the sector commander warned motorists against speed limit violation and urged them to drive safely and stay safe to avoid accidents. (NAN)
Foreign News
NiDO-Worldwide Appoints New Coordinating Chairman

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NiDO)-Worldwide has appointed Mr Chibuzo Ubochi, as its new Coordinating Chairman of NIDO-Europe.
Ubochi succeeds Dr Victor Ubani, the Chairman of NIDO Americas and outgoing coordinating chairman of NiDO-Worldwide.
Ubani disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, against backdrop of the end of his tenure as coordinating chairman and inauguration of Ubochi’s tenure as the new chairman of the organisation.
He congratulated Ubochi over his recent electoral victory where he emerged chairman of the organisation, saying it was a closely contested NIDO-Europe election against Dr Johnson Odibo.
According to him, the process which was conducted with robust participation, ushered in a new era for NIDO-Europe.
Ubani said: “It is one marked by renewed strength, unity and purpose. I write in my capacity as the outgoing Coordinating Chairman of NIDO-Worldwide, having had the honour of serving in this rotational role on behalf of the Americas.
“I am deeply grateful for the cooperation and commitment demonstrated by our continental bodies throughout my tenure.
“Together, we pursued the vision of a more effective, united and relevant NIDO across all regions. I believe we made notable progress in advancing our collective mandates.
“As is the custom within our global structure, which comprises five continental bodies, I will now be handing over the rotational leadership of the Coordinating Chairmanship to the current Chairman of NIDO Europe, Sir Chibuzo Ubochi”.
Ubani explained that he had observed Ubochi’s leadership as Chairman of NIDO UK South and his previous tenure as Legal Adviser to the NIDO-Worldwide Coordinating Platform, to express confidence in the latter’s ability to lead the organisation.
“I am confident in his capacity to fulfill this responsibility with vision, integrity and diplomatic skill.
“He is well acquainted with the complexities of our global structure and is well-positioned to continue strengthening and advancing a more focused and impactful NIDO Worldwide.
“As he assumes this role, I urge all continental chairs, executives and members to extend the same cooperation and collegiality accorded me to him.
“The task ahead requires a united front, focused energy and shared commitment free from unnecessary distractions and geared solely toward the progress of our global diaspora, and the development of our homeland,” he said. (NAN)
NEWS
Man Docked over Alleged Stealing of Excavator Worth N25 Million

A 33-year old man, Alaba Oladepo, was on Tuesday, arraigned before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, over alleged stealing of a Caterpillar excavator valued N25 million.Oladepo, whose address was not given, is being charged with conspiracy and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Sikiru Opaleye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in Nov. 2024, at the Moniya area of Ibadan. Opaleye said that Oladepo stole a D8 Caterpillar excavator valued N25 million, belonging to Olumide Bamidele.The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 383 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum.Ogunkanmi said that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner, and that the other must be a blood relation of the defendant.She adjourned the matter to Sept. 2, for hearing.(NAN)NEWS
Zelensky Wants Pressure on Russia after New Wave of Air Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for more international pressure to be placed on Moscow following another night of heavy Russian air attacks on the Ukrainian capital.“Today is one of the largest attacks on Kiev. Odesa, Dnipro region, and Chernihiv region were also targeted,’’ he wrote on the X platform.
These airstrikes had drowned out all efforts by the U. S. and other countries to achieve peace, he said.Zelensky called on the U.S., Europe “and others around the world who called for an end to the war’’ to take action.The response to such Russian attacks must not be silence, he said.There were fires in the capital with a number of buildings destroyed, and there were several injuries, he said.The port city of Odessa was also hit hard, with two people killed and at least 10 others were injured after a drone strike, Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov wrote on Telegram.The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia attacked its neighbour with 315 drones and drone dummies, two North Korean ballistic missiles and five cruise missiles.It said that 284 targets were destroyed, including all missiles and cruise missiles.In the Russian border region of Belgorod, a woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.There were also reports of injuries.The Russian Defence Ministry reported that 102 Ukrainian drones were shot down over several Russian territories and the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.The information provided by the warring parties cannot be independently verified.According to Russian media reports, one of the targets was a drone factory near the city of Yelabuga in the republic of Tatarstan.Russia’s aviation authority placed temporary restrictions on take-offs and landings at 13 airports during Monday night and Tuesday morning, including the airports of Moscow and St. Petersburg. (dpa/NAN)