The Nigerian Army has described the video purportedly released by the Boko Haram showing Abubakar Shekau countering the successful take-over of Sambisa Forest in Borno State from them as “mere terrorist propaganda.”

A statement by Brigadier-General Sani Usman in Abuja today, Thursday, said the attention of the Nigerian Army had been drawn to the video clip released by the group from an undisclosed location, showing its purported leader, making spurious claims.

“While effort is on going to subject the video for further forensic analysis, the Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it has captured and occupied the last known stronghold of the terrorists group in the Sambisa forest.

“We would like to reassure the public that this video is nothing but mere terrorists propaganda aimed at creating fear in the mind of people and to remain relevant.

“Therefore, there is no cause for alarm, more so as concerted effort in clearing the vestiges of Boko Haram terrorists wherever they might be hiding is ongoing.

“Our gallant troops deployed in various parts of the North-East have continued to intensify the search for all persons associated with Boko Haram terrorist group with a view to bringing them to justice.”

Brigadier General Usman advised members of the public to go about their normal lawful business, remain vigilant and be security conscious, adding that any suspicious person or group of persons should be reported to the security agencies. [myad]

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that laboratory result of the suspected fake rice showed that the product was not plastic but rice contaminated with micro organisms.

The NAFDAC Acting Director General, Yetunde Oni, in a news conference along with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Abuja, said that the seized rice was unsatisfactory and therefore unwholesome for human consumption.

She explained that the product branded ”Best Tomato,” was in 25kg bag, without NAFDAC number, batch number, date markings and details of the manufacturer.

She said that while `floating’ was negative, sedimentation was positive even as cooking was normal; odour was normal, colour was off-white and E-coli was within specification.

She said that lead and cadmium were not detected, pre-ashing was normal, ash, moisture and mould were within specification but coli form was above maximum limits.

Oni called on the public to report suspicious cases about all NAFDAC regulated products to any of the offices across the nation for prompt regulatory action.

She gave the following numbers for members of the public who have cause to call for enquiries: 08013630600, 09094262773 and 08033112282.

The Comptroller-General, NCS, Colonel Hameed Ali, said that irrespective of the outcome of the laboratory analysis, customs would remain vigilant and alive to its responsibilities.

Ali, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General, Tariff and Trade, Umar Iya, said NCS was guided by intelligence reports.

”Intelligence reports indicate that several metric tonnes of expired and dangerous rice are still lying in wait in warehouses in neighbouring countries and the target of the products is the Nigerian market.”

Ali said that the NCS would intensify patrols to ensure that such economic saboteurs do not succeed even as he called on the warehouse owners and transporters across the country not to accept such smuggled products in their facilities or vehicles respectively.

He warned that both the smuggled products and means of conveyance were liable to seizure. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has regretted that his plan to travel to Bauchi for an official assignment today, Thursday, was disrupted by bad weather.

“We make our plans, God makes His own plans,” said the President in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari thanked the Government and people of Bauchi State and the Nigerian Air Force for the studious and elaborate preparations made to receive him, and assured that he is going to visit the state at a more auspicious time.

President Buhari expressed regret over the disruption caused by the bad weather, saying that he actually looked forward to the visit in the course of which he was to commission an Air Force medical facility and a number of other projects by the state government.

Report had it that uncooperative weather which has been the bane of air travel in the current harmattan season, led to the delay and cancellation of flights from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Technical information received from the weather station showed that visibility as at this morning was 600 meters, 200 metres short of the 800 metres minimally required for a safe aircraft take-off.

According to the information available, the visibility was expected to drop to 300 metres before improving to permissible limit later in the day.

The commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Commodore Hassan Abubakar, said that the Presidential Aircraft was in perfect condition, the weather in Bauchi was alright, but that the problem was in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has aid that the Federal Government is planning to upgrade the Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), at the country’s major airports, to ensure that they are working better.

“This is with a view to minimizing the sort of flight disruptions that have featured every harmattan season.” [myad]