IGP Egbetokun arrives Kigali for EAPCCO general meeting

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) of Nigeria, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, NPM, has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, to attend the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Annual General Meeting.

The event, running from January 28 to 31, 2025, brings together police leaders, law enforcement officials, and key stakeholders from around the world to collaborate on strategies, intelligence sharing, and enhancing global efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime.

Dr. Egbetokun, who also serves as Chairperson of the West Africa Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO), is joined by senior police officials, including Commissioner of Police (CP) for Interpol, CP Olaolu Adegbite.

The high-level meeting is focused on fostering international cooperation, strengthening operational policies, and addressing emerging criminal threats.

This was made known via a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday, January 29.

The statement reads: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., in his capacity as the Chairperson of the West Africa Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO), accompanied by senior police officers, including the CP Interpol, CP Olaolu Adegbite, has arrived at the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Annual General Meeting taking place from Tuesday 28th January to 31st January 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda. This prestigious event gathers police leaders, law enforcement officials, and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss strategies, share intelligence, and enhance international cooperation in combating terrorism and transnational organized crime.

“During the conference, IGP will engage with other national and international law enforcement representatives to share insights on strategies for improving public safety and security, as well as addressing emerging criminal trends. The IGP’s attendance underscores Nigeria’s commitment to fostering global security partnerships and collaborative efforts in policing.

“As part of his agenda, IGP Egbetokun aims to highlight Nigeria’s ongoing initiatives in Policing through enhanced intelligence sharing, capacity building, and community engagement. The IGP’s participation is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s ties with other African countries and promote collaborative efforts to address crime challenges not only within Nigeria but across Africa. The EAPCCO Annual General Meeting serves as a platform for countries to discuss operational policies, review cooperative initiatives, and adopt resolutions aimed at enhancing the efficacy of international policing.”

Mininmum Wage: Labour issues ultimatum to defaulters for implementation

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that stringent measures are in place to ensure that states and employers implement the national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment before the end of March.

Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) said this at its one day National Leadership Retreat organised for the union’s National Administrative Committee Members on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the retreat was, ” Leadership Challenges amongst Activists”.

Ibrahim, who is also the National zinternal Auditor of the NLC, said that the measures were imperative due to the continuous delay by states and institutions to manipulate wage payments.

According to him, one of the issues in the implementation of the minimum wage is that of insincerity.

“The national minimum wage has been signed into law, and payments should have commenced nationwide.

“But in most institutions and states, what they did was just to award a certain amount or a figure they are merely using to play with the intelligence of workers as minimum wage.

“But I am happy that the NLC is not sleeping on this matter and we have been engaging.

“But going forward, I can assure you that we are taking very stringent measures to ensure that between now and the end of this first quarter, that the minimum wage and consequential adjustment will be implemented.

“Any state or employer of labour that refuses to implement the national minimum wage and the adjustment in workers’ salaries accordingly will face the consequences.

“The labour laws are there and we have all that it takes to enforce our rights against those employers,” he said.

Ibrahim, while speaking on the theme of the retreat, said that some members sabotaged strike actions, weakening the effectiveness of industrial actions.

“Unfortunately, some of our own members work against our collective struggle. They engage in blackmail and underhand dealings to derail strike actions.

“But this is not unique to SSANU; it happens in every sector. Part of why we are holding this retreat is to educate our members on the importance of unity and discipline within the union,” he said.

Ibrahim also admitted that industrial actions had lost their effectiveness due to government indifference and worker fatigue.

He noted that while strikes remained a last resort, the union would explore alternative negotiation strategies.

He emphasised the need for continuous training of university staff and better funding of tertiary institutions.

The SSANU president, however, said that universities must remain the centers of learning and innovation, requiring continuous capacity building for staff.

“As leaders of this great union, we must ensure that our national executives are equipped with the latest global trends.

”SSANU is an affiliate of NLC, and we have benefited from international training programmes.

“It is important that we bring this knowledge back home and share it at all levels,” he said.

Those present at the retreat include the former NLC President Ayuba Wabba, former SSANU President Chief Promise Adeusi, and the Director-General of the Institute of Mentoring and Coaching, Mr Rotimi Mathew.(NAN)

Passenger jet, Army helicopter collide, crash into River

An American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the frigid Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.

CBS News reported that at least 18 bodies had been recovered so far, citing a police official.

Two sources told Reuters that multiple bodies had been pulled from the water.
American Airlines confirmed that 64 people were aboard the jet: 60 passengers and four crew members.

Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, a U.S. official said.
Relatives gathered at the airport said they were getting little to no information from officials about the incident, adding that they were hearing more about the incident from news reports.

One woman told an airport official, “I don’t know if she got on there or not,” in apparent reference to a passenger on the crashed jet.
She then collapsed in tears.

Hamaad Raza told local CBS affiliate WUSA that he was at Reagan airport waiting for his wife.

“She texted me that she was landing in 20 minutes,” he said.

“The rest of my text didn’t … did not get delivered. That’s when I realised that something might be up.

“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now.”
The U.S. Army said in a statement that it could “confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.”

There has not been a fatal U.S. passenger airplane accident since February 2009, but a series of near-miss incidents in recent years have raised serious safety concerns.

In 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River, killing 70 passengers and four crew members.

Only four passengers and one crew member survived.

A web camera shot from the Kennedy Center in Washington showed an explosion mid-air across the Potomac about 8:47 p.m. (0147 GMT) with an aircraft in flames falling rapidly.

PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA.

“We’re cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a video statement.

Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport.

Dozens of police, ambulance and rescue units, some ferrying boats, staged along the river and raced to positions along the tarmac of Reagan airport.

Live TV images showed several boats in the water, flashing blue and red lights.
The airport said late on Wednesday that all takeoffs and landings had been halted as emergency personnel responded to an aircraft incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement that he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.”

“May God bless their souls,” he added.
“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down on Jan. 20 and the Trump administration has not named a replacement – or even disclosed who is running the agency on an interim basis.
The last deadly major crash involving a commercial airliner in the U.S. was in 2009, when all 49 people aboard a Colgan Air flight died when the plane crashed in New York state. One person also died on the ground. (Reuters/NAN)