Oyebanji described Alake as “a distinguished son of Ekiti who has made the state proud over the years through sundry contributions to national development.”

The governor, in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, noted that “Mr Alake has contributed immensely to the delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda for national development with his demonstrated commitment to boosting non-oil revenue.

“The minister has proved his mettle and made a great impact as an exceptional journalist and communicator with immense intellectual acumen, using his professional platform for the protection of human rights and advancement of democracy”.

The governor said Alake was one of the heroes of the restoration of democracy in the country through his robust advocacy in the media at great risk to his life during the days of military rule.

He hailed the celebrant’s trajectory as a reporter, editor, media manager, administrator and public servant, with a remarkable record as Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State and Special Adviser on Communication to the President before his appointment as minister.

The governor said, “Ekiti will always be proud of the minister for positively projecting the image of the state and contributing to its growth and development”.

He prayed that God would grant the minister long life, sound health and the grace to continue making an impact in his service to the country and humanity.

“On behalf of the government and good people of Ekiti State, I congratulate my dear brother, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, as he turns 70 today. We wish him a happy birthday and pray that God continues to sustain him with good health and wisdom to continue serving our dear country with greater distinction,” the governor stated.

Source: punchng.com

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Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday assured the families of the 25 personnel killed in Monday’s Nigerian Air Force plane crash in Ondo State that the Federal Government’s responsibility to them “will not end with words of condolence.”

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, on Tuesday, Shettima said the nation owes an “enduring debt of gratitude” to the fallen personnel and would stand beside their families beyond the period of mourning.

He said, “Thirty-two of our compatriots left on a routine mission in the service of their country.

“They were colleagues, friends and comrades. But beyond the uniforms they wore and the ranks they held, they were husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.”

The Vice President added, “Somewhere today, there is an empty chair. Somewhere, a family is still trying to comprehend the sudden silence left by someone who was expected to return home. These are the human faces of the supreme sacrifice we speak about as a nation.”

Shettima reasoned that a nation that asks its citizens to serve “must also remember those who pay the ultimate price in that service.”

He said the loss imposed a lasting obligation on the country to honour both the service of the deceased and the loved ones they left behind.

“We cannot ask the bereaved to be strong today. Grief does not obey instructions.

“We can only assure them that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria mourns with them, and Nigeria will stand beside them beyond these days of mourning,” noted VP Shettima.

He extended his condolences to officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, saying the tragedy had taken from the service members of “a professional family bound together by duty and sacrifice.”

“To the men and women of the Nigerian Air Force, we know that this loss is yours in a particularly personal way.

“Your fallen colleagues have paid the supreme price. A grateful nation honours their courage, their service and the families who shared them with Nigeria,” he said.

The Vice President prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, and for comfort and strength for their families, colleagues and loved ones.

The former lawmaker also reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s response to the tragedy.

Tinubu had declared three days of national mourning and ordered that flags be flown at half-mast nationwide. He also directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

The President described the incident as “a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” and commended the rapid activation of search-and-rescue efforts by the Air Force, the Ondo State Government and first responders.

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday while on a routine flight from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.

All 32 people on board, 25 passengers and seven crew members, were killed. As of this report, the Air Force had released the names of the fallen.

Source: punchng.com

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The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, Kabiru Alhassan, has expressed concern over the reported crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State, urging Nigerians to remain calm as rescue efforts continue.

Alhassan, in a message of solidarity issued on Tuesday, said he was deeply saddened by the incident involving the aircraft, which was reportedly carrying 32 passengers and crew.

He said the status of those on board had yet to be confirmed as emergency responders and security agencies continued rescue operations at the crash site.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones at this difficult moment,” he said.

The lawmaker commended the Nigerian Air Force, security agencies, emergency responders and other personnel involved in the operation for their prompt response.

He expressed hope that those on board would be found safe, urging Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful while the rescue operation continues.

“I earnestly pray and remain hopeful that those on board will be found safe,” Alhassan said.

He also appealed to members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information, saying authorities were still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and account for everyone on board.

The incident comes amid growing concern over aviation safety following previous aircraft emergencies involving both military and civilian operations in the country.

The Nigerian Air Force is expected to provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the crash and the outcome of the rescue operation as information becomes available.

The House committee chairman reiterated his solidarity with the passengers, crew members and their families, while urging personnel involved in the rescue effort to sustain their operations.

PUNCH Online reports that a military aircraft that crashed on Monday had disappeared from radar shortly after take-off, according to a senior Air Traffic Controller familiar with the aircraft’s final journey. https://punchng.com/ondo-air-crash-naf-plane-vanished-from-radar-shortly-after-take-off/

The aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was travelling from Benin City, the Edo State capital, to Lagos when air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13 am, before it crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo State.

Source: punchng.com

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