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To Those Extending Arm Of Friendship, I Offer Mine In Return — Tinubu To World Leaders

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Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says he is ready to work with world leaders who have “extended the arm of friendship” following his victory at the presidential poll.

Tinubu, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), won 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had 6,984,520 votes and Peter Obi, Labour Party flagbearer, who polled 6,101,533.

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in from world leaders since the announcement, with the United States of America and Rishi Sunak, UK prime minister, commending the APC standard bearer.

Tinubu, in a tweet on Sunday, said the gestures from world leaders demonstrate the “important role Nigeria has in the world”.

He described it as “an encouraging sign” that the rest of the world is interested in partnership with Nigeria.

“The past few days have been a whirlwind for me and for many Nigerians. We have, through our electoral process, consolidated our democracy as a nation and, by the Grace of Almighty God, I have been given the mandate to lead the nation for the next four years as its President,” the president-elect said.

“I deeply appreciate the congratulatory messages that have come in from friends and well-wishers from home and abroad. The messages of goodwill and solidarity have been so overwhelming for me to mention you all by name.

“I am particularly grateful to many world leaders from our African neighbours, our friends in The Commonwealth, and from other parts of the world who welcomed my election with heartwarming messages.

“The support and assurance I have received from the international community is a reminder of the important role Nigeria has in the world and an encouraging sign that the rest of the world remains interested in constructive and beneficial cooperation with the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As President-elect of this great nation, I say thank you.

“To those who have extended the arm of friendship, I offer mine in return. This is a good time to believe in the Nigerian dream; a good time to believe in our renewed hope. The Nigerian eagle shall fly high.”

Tinubu’s victory has not come without criticism with opposition political parties calling for the nullification of the result.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) have declared their intention to challenge the result in court.

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US Agency To Probe Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ System After Pedestrian’s Death

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The US government is set to launch an investigation into Tesla’s “full self-driving” system following reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions and the death of a pedestrian.

According to international media, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made the announcement on Thursday, citing incidents where multiple Tesla vehicles encountered poor visibility environments, including sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.

In addition to the pedestrian’s death, another crash resulted in an injury, the agency stated.

Investigators will examine the capability of “full self-driving” to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes.”

The NHTSA said the probe will cover approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from the 2016 to 2024 model years.

The agency also plans to determine whether any other similar crashes involving “full self-driving” have occurred under low visibility conditions.

The NHTSA is also seeking information from Tesla regarding any updates to the system that may have influenced its performance in these environments.

“In particular, his review will assess the timing, purpose and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact,” the agency said.

Tesla has already recalled “full self-driving” twice following investigations by the NHTSA, which in July gathered information from law enforcement and the company after a motorcyclist was struck and killed by a Tesla using the system near Seattle.

Reports from the Associated Press indicated the recalls were due to the system being programmed to run stop signs at low speeds and other violations of traffic laws.

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Students Set Kebbi College Provost’s Residence Ablaze Over Alleged Extortion

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Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have “set the residence of the Provost, Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, on fire” and “vandalised his vehicle.”

The protest began due to allegations that the college management “extorted N23m from the students” for “index registration for 250 graduating students.”

According to a source, the controversy started with a newly introduced Public Health programme initially affiliated with the Reproductive Health and the Public Health Association of Nigeria.

The college then merged the programme with the Department of Environmental Health, leading to a demand for an additional “N65,000 from each student for index registration,” on top of the “N30,000 already paid.”

In response to the allegations of extortion, the students resorted to violent actions, including “stoning vehicles and setting the provost’s residence on fire.”

Several staff members fled before security personnel arrived.

The provost, Saidu-Sauwa, described the allegations as “fictitious, baseless and mischievous,” denying any involvement in extorting students.

He stated that the college uses a “Single Treasury Account” where all funds are deposited, and “no one has access to the account, including me.”

He further claimed that the protest was fueled by an anonymous source attempting to discredit the college, urging students and staff to “exercise restraint” while the cause of the unrest is fully investigated.

Following the intervention of security agencies, normalcy has returned to the college.

The Kebbi State Police Command indicated that more details will be provided after a report from the Divisional Police Officer in Jega is available.

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Army Seeks Nigerians’ Support In War Against Terrorism, Says “We Can’t Do It Alone”

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The Nigerian army has urged the public to provide support in the fight against terrorism. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, noted that Nigeria is facing “asymmetric warfare” with non-state actors operating in various parts of the country.

In a video message on Friday, Musa emphasized that while the army is dedicated to restoring peace, success requires a “whole-of-society approach.”

He mentioned that Nigeria has a significant history of peacekeeping efforts both in Africa and internationally. Musa outlined the country’s current security challenges, including “Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast,” “banditry in the northwest,” “pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in the south-south,” and IPOB’s push for “secession” in the southeast.

Despite these ongoing issues, the armed forces are fully committed to ensuring peace across the nation. Musa also highlighted efforts to enhance “troop welfare” and training, aimed at creating a sense of normalcy in markets, schools, and the economy, especially in affected regions.

He reassured Nigerians that the military is a professional force focused on fulfilling its mission to restore “peace and security.” Musa urged the public to continue supporting the “government, the armed forces, and other security agencies” in this effort.

He concluded by stating, “We cannot do it alone… Together, we will succeed.”

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