The minister made this known when he featured on a national television on Saturday to discuss on the state of the nation.

He said the containers were abandoned because contractors were not paid.

He, however, noted that the present government in its determination to boost power supply was able to retrieve 690 of those containers.

He said the contractors had also been paid and mobilised to site, adding that the effort had yielded positive result.

“How many hours of power did we have. When we came in all the GENCOs were generating were under 5000 megawatt, which we have been able to raise to 7000.

“Today people who live in part of Ondo that have not seen power for 10 years will tell you they now have power.

“As a matter of fact, not only do we generate 7000 megawatt of power, by the end of this year we will generate additional 2000 megawatt,’’ he said.

On challenges of power distribution, the minister said the government had put measures in place to solve the problem.

“If once in a while there is problem in distribution, it is not about generation.

“Yes there is this disconnect between the generation and distribution and this is where the government has come in to help the distribution companies through a programme called the Distribution Expansion Project,’’ he said.

He further reiterated the effort of the present government in working to revive the Mambilla Power Project.

According to him, going by the effort of the present government the Mambilla Plateau will generate additional 3050 megawatt of power in a few years time.

He pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari was the only one that had summoned the courage and political will to see that the project was revived.

“We have improved on what we inherited because we put together a payment assurance scheme of N701 billion to ease the difficulties of gas suppliers and generating companies who complained that they have the capacity to generate but the discos do not have the capacity to pay them.

“In the area of distribution, we were distributing 2,690 megawatts of power in 2015.

“January 2018, we distributed 5,125 megawatts. So, in every area of power we have stories to tell,’’ he added.

Mohammed explained that beyond power, the Federal Government had touched the lives of Nigerians positively in other areas including education, agriculture, infrastructure and technological development.

“The N100 billion Sukuk bond that was divided into N16.6 billion for each of the geopolitical zones is powering infrastructure of 25 critical roads.

“The present government has invested in bridges, roads and rails and had put aside a 1.3billion dollar under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund to ensure that five critical projects did not suffer from funding.

“Some of these projects have been there for about 40 years, such as the Mambilla Power Project, Second Niger Bridge, the East West road, the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and the Abuja-Kano road.

“There is no area that this government has not touched,’’ he said.

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The ‘IF’ and ‘FIA’ hits maker posted the video on his Instagram Story @davidoofical to share the joy of being appreciated after the surgery was successful.

“Aaww I paid for the surgery of a lady that works at the airport and they did this to thank ME! SO CUTE!”

In the video, some of the airport staff held placards with inscription that reads “OMO BABA OLOWO THANK YOU 15 MILLION NO BE JOKE ooo’’

Though the name of the female colleague was not mentioned but the video clearly showed the appreciation to the ‘Aye’ crooner for his humanitarian gestures.

It was learnt that the 26-year old HNK and DMW boss quietly gave an airport staff the sum of 15million naira for a surgery and medical bills.

The singular act of philanthropy was not made public, not until April 18 when the airport threw a stunt at the airport to thank the music star.

This was not the first time the self acclaimed OBO was dishing out philanthropy gestures to people in need in the country.

Davido, who is known for his philanthropic gestures to the needy recently, built a house for Utibet, from Akwa Ibom who was recorded singing Davido’s ‘IF’ that went viral.

He had also given scholarships to indigent students and assisted others with school fees.

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City defenders Kyle Walker and Nicolas Otamendi, midfielders David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne as well as all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero were named in the side.

Tottenham Hotspur had three players on the list, including England striker Harry Kane, who made the team for a third straight year along with Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who has 40 goals across all competitions this season and was nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, also made the team.

Chelsea had a lone representative in defender Marcos Alonso.

PFA Team of the Year: David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero.

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The Paris St Germain player, who joined the club from Barcelona in August, had an operation on his foot after being injured in a French league game against Olympique de Marseille on Feb. 25.

He has been receiving treatment in Brazil and said he expects to be training exactly a month before the five-time champions play their World Cup opener against Switzerland on June 17.

“I get my final exam, if I’m not mistaken on May 17 and then I’ll be free to play,” he told reporters at a news conference in Sao Paulo.

“I had an exam last week, it is all perfect, evolving well, so I hope that continues so I can get back as soon as possible…

“I am having treatment every day and from the moment I start training I am going to work harder than I ever worked because this is a dream that’s coming up, it’s a World Cup.

“I’ve waited four years for this chance, its close and I hope to get there in great shape.”

Neymar played for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, but missed the catastrophic 7-1 semi-final defeat by Germany through injury.

Brazil struggled in the two years immediately after their home World Cup, but have since rebounded and go to Russia as joint favourites with bookmakers along with Germany.

Neymar, who joined PSG for a fee of 222 million Euros ($275 million), said he was apprehensive about kicking a football again after almost three months out.

“I expect to go (to the World Cup) in a better state than before,” he said.

“Of course, doubts exist and I feel them too sometimes, but that’s normal for a guy who has had the first surgery of his career. It’s very difficult for me not playing and not training.”

“I have to work even harder, but I am going to have enough time to arrive in form for the World Cup, to prepare.

“It was horrible getting injured, but I am more rested, that’s the upside. We have to see the positive side of things.”

After opening their Group E World Cup campaign against Switzerland, Brazil face Costa Rica on June 22 and then Serbia five days later.

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Our Correspondent reports that plenary was proceeding in the Red Chamber at about 11.15 a.m. when some persons made their way into the session and took the mace away.

The intruders had overpowered the Sergeants-at-Arm before going for the mace, the symbol of authority of the chamber, while the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, was presiding at the plenary.

Some witnesses of the incident, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that a senator was earlier sighted with the persons suspected to have carried out the act.

As at the time of this report, the lawmakers immediately went into a close-door-session and the mace was yet to be found.

Meanwhile, activities have been halted in the National Assembly as the House of Representatives discontinued with its plenary as a result of the incident.

Lawmakers and members of staff of the assembly were seen in clusters discussing the incident.

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Spokesman of the upper chamber, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

“Today, some armed hoodlums led by suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.

“This action is an act of treason as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such.”

He urged all security agencies to stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilise their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of the act.

Abdullahi said that the action was also an affront on the legislature, adding that the leadership of House of Representatives had expressed support against this action.

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Fighter jets and bombers flew overhead as Rouhani told the Tehran crowd and a live TV audience on Wednesday that Iran’s forces posed no threat to its neighbours.

“We tell the world that we will produce or acquire any weapons we need, and will not wait for their approval.

“We tell our neighbouring countries that our weapons are not against you, it’s for deterrence,” Rouhani said.

“We are not living in a normal region, and we see invading powers have built bases around us.

“Disregarding the principles of international law, they intervene in regional affairs and invade other countries without UN permission,” Rouhani added.

U.S., British and French forces pounded Iran’s ally Syria with air strikes early on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected April 7 chemical weapons attack, which they blame on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Britain, France and Germany have proposed fresh EU sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, in a bid to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

Trump has delivered an ultimatum to the European signatories to fix what he saw as the “terrible flaws” of the deal, threatening to refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief on Iran.

U.S. sanctions will resume unless Trump issues fresh “waivers” to suspend them on May 12.

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IATA’s Director General/CEO, Dr Alexandre de Juniac made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Montreal and made available to our correspondent in Abuja.

De Juniac said that it was expected that there would be a near doubling of passengers over the next 20 years from the approximately four billion passengers recorded in 2017.

He said that would be a massive undertaking to manage this expected growth, while making aviation even safer than it is already.

De Juniac noted that 2017 was a very strong year for safety with no fatal accidents involving jet passenger aircraft.

According to him, the fatal accident rate was 0.14 per million flights, the equivalent of one fatal accident for every 6.7 million flights, according to IATA’s 2017 Safety Report.

“If we look at it another way, using fatality risk on average, a person would have to travel by air every day for 6,033 years before experiencing an accident in which at least one passenger was killed.

“Yet we still have accidents, so we know there is room for improvement because each fatality is a tragedy and that rededicates everyone in the aviation industry to our common goal of having every flight take-off and land safely,” he said.

De Juniac said that global standards and best practices were vital to sustaining safety improvements as demonstrated by the performance of airlines on the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry.

He explained that over the last five years, the accident rate for airlines on the IOSA registry had been nearly three times better than for non-IOSA compliant airlines.

According to him, to ensure that IOSA delivers even greater value in the future, it is undergoing a digital transformation.

“Introducing automated advanced business analytics to the IOSA process will enable better management of resources, the ability to measure the effectiveness of standards, and an enhanced level of quality assurance.

“Digital transformation also will enable more seamless interaction on industry safety initiatives, standards and operational practices, as well as bench-marking,” he said.

De Juniac said that future safety advances would depend on achieving a better understanding why more than 100,000 flights were being operated safely everyday through analysis of flight information and other data resources.

He disclosed that IATA’s Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) initiative was a crucial part of the effort to encourage the greater use of data by the operators.

The programme, according to him, now includes information from over 470 organisations, while over 90 per cent of IATA members are contributing to at least one of the GADM databases.

De Juniac said that IATA was developing a global database of turbulence reports to provide airlines with an enhanced situational awareness tool.

According to him, when this innovative turbulence data repository becomes operational in early 2019, IATA will see a significant decrease in turbulence-related injuries.

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Spokesman for the family, Jim McGrath, announced Barbara’s death on Tuesday evening at the age of 92, after a series of recent hospitalisation.

Trump ordered flags be flown at half mast in her honour.

The president recalled Bush for her commitment to spreading literacy, and as an “advocate of the American family.”

“She will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family, both of which she served unfailingly well,” Trump said in a statement.

Vice-President Mike Pence praised Bush as an inspiration to others, highlighting her devotion to her family.

The Obamas said: “We’ll always be grateful to Mrs. Bush for the generosity she showed to us throughout our time in the White House, but we’re even more grateful for the way she lived her life.

“As a testament to the fact that public service is an important and noble calling; as an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit”.

Former President Bill Clinton, who defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 election, said Bush was a “remarkable woman” who was “fierce and feisty” in support of her family, friends, her country and her causes.

“She showed us what an honest, vibrant, full life looks like,” Clinton said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Paul Ryan said: “Barbara Bush holds a revered place in the hearts of generations of Americans. She so loved her family and our country”.

Former Vice President Joe Biden fondly remembered Bush for her wit, intelligence and love of her family and country.

Biden said in a statement: “Her tireless work as a champion for global literacy will be just one legacy she leaves behind.

“The others will be her unshakable faith, her devotion to service and her beloved family, in which she instilled that same great love of country and public service.”

Former Vice President Al Gore, who lost the presidency to George W. Bush, said Barbara was “a pillar of strength for her family and was much admired in our country”.

“Both the wife and the mother of a U.S. President, she will be remembered for her service, pragmatism, and strong, kind spirit,” he said.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also reacted to Barbara’s death.

“Always a friend to Canada, Barbara Bush leaves a legacy of dignity, grace, service and devotion to family.

“Sophie and I send our deepest condolences to Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush, their family, and to all Americans,” Trudeau said.

Politicians across the aisles also mourned the death of Barbara, recalling the former first lady for her dedication to her country and family.

The matriarch of the Bush family, Barbara was the second woman to ever have her husband and son both serve as president.

She served as first lady during the presidency of her husband, George H.W. Bush while her oldest son was elected president in 2000 and served two terms.

Her younger son, Jeb Bush, served two terms as governor of Florida, and ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign for the Republican nomination in 2016.

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“A former First Lady of the United States of America and relentless proponent of family literacy, Barbara Pierce Bush passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the age of 92.

“She is survived by her husband of 73 years, President George H.W. Bush; five children and their spouses; 17 grandchildren; seven great grand children; and her brother, Scott Pierce.

“She was preceded in death by her second child, Pauline Robinson “Robin” Bush, and her siblings Martha Rafferty and James R. Pierce.

“The official funeral schedule will be announced as soon as is practical,” the statement said.

Barbara served as the country’s first lady from 1989 to 1993.

On Sunday, the family said in a statement that Barbara had decided not to seek additional medical treatment and instead sought comfort care at home.

Former president George W. Bush, in a statement on Tuesday night, described his mother as a “fabulous First Lady”.

“My dear mother has passed on at age 92. Laura, Barbara, Jenna, and I are sad, but our souls are settled because we know hers was.

“Barbara Bush was a fabulous First Lady and a woman unlike any other who brought levity, love, and literacy to millions.

“To us, she was so much more. Mom kept us on our toes and kept us laughing until the end. I’m a lucky man that Barbara Bush was my mother,” he said.

Former Governor Jeb Bush, in a statement, said his mother lived a remarkable life.

“I’m exceptionally privileged to be the son of George Bush and the exceptionally gracious, gregarious, fun, funny, loving, tough, smart, graceful woman who was the force of nature known as Barbara Bush.

“Thank you for your prayers, and we look forward to celebrating and honouring her life and contributions to our family and great nation in the coming days,” he said.

The George and Barbara had celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in January, making them the longest-married couple in presidential history.

Barbara was the mother of former President George W. Bush and Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida.

George W. Bush became Texas Governor in 1994 and went on to win the presidency in 2000, and also won a second term in 2004, a feat his father did not have.

Jeb Bush became the 43rd governor of Florida in 1999 and was a Republican presidential aspirant in 2016 but lost to Donald Trump.

Her husband, the nation’s 41st president, is now 93 years old and struggling with a Parkinson’s-like disease that has confined him to a wheelchair and made it difficult for him to speak.

Jean Becker, chief of staff at George H.W. Bush office said the former president was “broken-hearted to lose his beloved Barbara, his wife of 73 years”.

“He held her hand all day today and was at her side when she left this good earth,” he said

She had been hospitalised multiple times throughout the year due to complications involving chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.

In January 2017, Barbara and her husband were hospitalised at the same time and while she was being treated for bronchitis, her husband was being treated for pneumonia.

Barbara’s funeral is expected to be held at St. Martin’s Church in Houston, where she and the former president have been devoted members for decades.

Born in 1925 to Pauline and Marvin Pierce in New York City, Barbara met George Herbert Walker Bush at age 16, and they wedded on Jan. 6, 1945.

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