Author: Emmanuel Anthony

Following the continued protests by youths under the End SARS campaign, the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has ordered the immediate closure of schools across the state. The move by the governor was disclosed in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Femi Agagu. The directive was coming a few hours after parents in the state urged the state government to close all schools for the safety of the children. According to the Education Commissioner, “Mr Governor has directed that all schools that resumed on Monday 19th October 2020 be closed for the meantime from tomorrow…

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A Northern group under the auspices of Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA), has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to act swiftly to protect Nigerians against the activities of hoodlums that have taken over the peaceful End SARS protest to perpetrate evil. The group in a statement by its speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, explained that it is the civic rights of all Nigerians to put forward their agitation via peaceful protest or other means that conforms with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They said Nigerians reserve the right to safer environments to go about their normal businesses,…

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The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), has called on governors from the South-East geopolitical zone to join the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in the interest of the people especially in a bid to produce a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023. Ohanaeze hinted that there are no political benefits for the South-East zone to remain in a political party that has no respect and value for the Igbos except milking their votes during elections through deceitful mediums and fake promises. The call was contained in a press statement signed by OYC President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro…

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The Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has disclosed the real reason for the ongoing protest by Nigerian youths. Enenche attributed the ongoing protest by Nigerian youths to the loud impunity, nepotism, tribalism, oppression and subjugation across Nigeria. For over a week, Nigerian youths have been protesting police brutality. The protest had led to the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu. Adamu had also announced the establishment of the Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWAT). Reacting to the protest, the clergyman also decried how a section…

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The End SARS campaign appears to have taken a new shape in Ogun State as residents of Ota, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area have called on Governor Dapo Abiodun, Senators and the Federal Government to fix their roads. Ota is the industrial capital of Ogun State, playing host to many industries and businesses. But, the people of the area have for years decried the deplorable state of roads in the entire Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, especially the road leading Ota to Agbara, Lagos, Abeokuta and Idiroko. Residents of the area took advantage of the End SARS protest, calling on the government…

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced when the 2023 presidential election will hold. The date is February 18, 2023. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday. He spoke at the inauguration of the Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. Yakubu told House of Representatives members that they are about 855 days left for the next general elections.

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Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday, assured protesters that the National Assembly would ensure that the five demands they made to the Executive are implemented. Lawan gave the assurance during plenary after the upper chamber was briefed by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi on the intervention by the leadership to wade into the continued protest by Nigerian youths. He described the demands by the protesters as legitimate, adding that the National Assembly would prevail on the Executive arm of government to ensure expeditious implementation. Lawanda, however, urged the protesters to go back home to give the Federal Government the chance…

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The 2021 appropriations bill has been read for the second time in the House of Representatives, following two days of debate on the general principle of the bill. The N13.08 trillion budget scaled the first hurdle as members used two days to discuss some of the merits and demerits of the bill. At the resumption of the debate on the bill yesterday, parameters such as the deficit, allocations to health and education, employment creation were some of the talking points. Nicholas Ossai from Delta State described the appropriation bill as a “bill of hardship.” He expressed concerns about the deficit…

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Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to see the decentralisation of policing and the institution of state police as the lasting solution to the impunity and shortcomings he is currently trying to fix in the federal police. Ekweremadu regretted that the Bill to amend the constitution to create state police departments, which he sponsored in the 8th Senate as well as the current Senate, had not received the required political support. Reacting to the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and proposed setting up of the Special Weapons and…

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The Federal Character Commission has cautioned Nigerians against falling victims of job racketeers. In an alert issued on Tuesday by the Executive Chairman of the FCC, Dr. Farida Muheeba Dankaka OON, she equally vowed to deal decisively with any staff found defrauding job seekers under whatever guise. The commission said it was worried about reports that some unscrupulous elements were collecting money from innocent members of the society in the name of offering them jobs. She said in the statement made available to journalists that “as a commission, we will not fold our hands and watch a few bad eggs…

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The industrial action declared by the labour movement in Kwara State, on Tuesday, recorded total compliance as state government workers stayed away from work in Ilorin, the state capital. Most ministries, government agencies and establishments remained under lock and key on orders of the labour leaders to prevent workers from gaining entrance. Primary and secondary school teachers also deserted their schools in compliance with the directive by the labour unions. Students and school pupils were seen either roaming the streets or playing football in their schools. The strike action recorded a major success on the first day of its declaration…

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The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) on Monday appealed to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai to Re-open both private and public schools in the state. In a press statement signed by the General Secretary and Chairman of the association on Monday, Mallam Ja’afaru Yusuf and Mr. Iorhena Philip Terfa said the government should specify a date for resumption. According to the statement, “We are concerned about the adverse effects the continuous lockdown of schools will have on the learners and the society. “We want to inform the general public and the Government that our schools are…

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Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has reacted to the suspension of the new electricity tariff by one week. Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), James Momoh, confirmed this on Monday. Momoh spoke when the ad hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff submitted its interim report at a bilateral meeting between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour. He said the week extension was to enable the committee review and work out modalities for the implementation of the agreement reached on the electricity tariff’s structure. According to him, the government was using the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) VAT proceeds…

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The Zenith Labour Party on Friday accused Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State of plotting to interfere in the electoral process of the Ondo State governorship election holding today. According to the ZLP, Fayemi is set to compromise the integrity of the election following the importation of thugs into the state from Ekiti State. The party in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Felix Olatunde also alleged that the Ekiti State Governor has been inducing security agents as part of plans to undermine the electoral process on Saturday. In a statement, Olatunde who disclosed that the thugs were being…

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Nnamdi Kanu has vowed to launch Radio Biafra in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hometown in Daura, Katsina State. The Indigenous People of Biafra leader said this on Thursday. The secessionist group’s leader insisted that its Radio station would be established in the president’s community within the next six weeks. The IPOB leader, who spoke through the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, was reacting to a report that the Nigerian government had approved N654m to monitor and crash Radio Biafra’s frequencies in the Southeast. He stressed that the launch was to prove that IPOB was indefatigable. According to the IPOB leader, the wife…

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Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has reacted to her emergence as one of the two last candidates for the position of a Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Okonjo-Iweala thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for supporting her candidacy for the WTO job. WTO members had on Wednesday selected two candidates for the final round. The candidates are Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee. In a tweet, on Thursday, Okonjo-Iweala wrote: “Happy to be in the final round of the @wto DG campaign. Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy. I could not have…

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President Muhammadu Buhari has been castigated by the Biafra Zionists Federation (BZF), one of the groups seeking secession from Nigeria. The group’s anger stems from Buhari’s statement through his aide that he will not allow the country to be restructured. This comes after some socio-cultural groups and individuals, including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Afenifere, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, among others knocked Buhari over his stance on restructuring. Recall that in a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Buhari said his administration…

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President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that the October 10 gubernatorial election in Ondo State is peaceful, transparent and credible. President Buhari also assured the electorate in Ondo of the provision of adequate security to forestall any breach of the peace by unscrupulous elements. In a video message to party supporters at the Grand Finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the Ondo Governorship Election, the President urged the electorate to turn out en masse to vote on Saturday without fear of molestation. He expressed confidence that the…

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The Northern Elders Forum has called on Nigerians to continue demanding for the restructuring of the country from the present government, saying the Nigerian state has failed.  The elders tackled President Muhammadu Buhari over his government’s failure to restructure the country. Recall that the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had on Saturday called on Buhari to restructure the country “as soon as possible”. Adeboye, who spoke at a symposium alongside the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Governor of Cross River State and former presidential aspirant, Donald Duke; and a former Minister of…

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Leaders of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, on Tuesday lifted sanctions imposed on Mali following the August 18 military coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.  The crippling sanctions on landlocked Mali were lifted following the nomination of retired Colonel Bah Ndaw as interim president, and Moctar Ouane as prime minister of the transition that is expected to last 18 months, the statement said. “Taking into account the notable progress made towards a constitutional normalisation, and the support the process, the heads of states have decided to lift the sanctions on Mali, and called on partners to support Mali,” said…

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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the just-concluded Edo State election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has said that the election was neither free nor fair but he will not sue Governor Godwin Obaseki. Ize-Iyamu said that contrary to media reports, the election was neither free nor fair, pointing out that there were several episodes of violence, voter intimidation and falsification of results. He pointed out that there were unlawful cancellations of results particularly from Urhonigbe South and North in Orhiomwon, while results were falsified from many polling units in Ofunama in Ovia South West, and in parts of…

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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has advised the federal government to restructure Nigeria, in order to get rid of secession agitations and its economic challenges. Adeboye stated this while speaking at the 60th Independence Day Celebration Symposium organized by RCCG and the Nehemiah Leadership Institute on Saturday. According to the respected cleric, President Muhammadu Buhari administration must carry out the restructuring of the country “as soon as possible” to avoid a breakup of the various social-ethnic components. The 78-year-old further suggested the adoption of a merger of the British style of…

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The Court of Appeal has set aside the judgment that nullified the election of Douye Diri as Bayelsa State Governor. Recall that the Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Petition Tribunal had sacked Governor Douye Diri on August 17. Diri’s election was nullified due to a petition by the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) that it was unlawfully excluded from participating in the poll. The tribunal, therefore ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days. But the Court of Appeal on Friday said the ANDP did not prove valid nomination of its candidate to contend unlawful exclusion. The…

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The US presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, Joe Biden, has reacted to the news of President Donald Trump and his wife contracting COVID-19. Trump announced on Friday that he and his wife, Melania have tested positive for COVID-19. He announced that they will be quarantined for the recovery process to begin. And Biden, who is Trump’s main challenger in the November presidential election, tweeted, “Jill and I send our thoughts to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a swift recovery. Biden said his family will continue to pray for the President. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has joined…

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has introduced e-registration adding that it was aimed at simplifying the registration exercise for its customers. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. She also said the agency would embrace digitisation in carrying out its activities to reduce frequent human interaction. Adeyeye noted that the reforms in the agency also involved the training of staff to meet the demands of various customers. According to her, part of the reforms is aimed at creating a disciplined workforce geared toward service delivery. “Our staff…

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An Ibadan Chief, Oloye Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke on Thursday declared that many Nigerians are tired of the present political dispensation. Adegoke, who is the Ajia Balogun of Ibadan land made this declaration while delivering a paper as part of activities to commemorate the 60th independence anniversary of Nigeria which was organized by Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan. At the event were Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) and NUJ Chairman, Mr. Ademola Babalola. Adegoke while speaking on the topic, “Nigeria at 60: Challenges and prospects”, noted that his interaction with many people have revealed that…

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A campaign poster of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, running for president has emerged online. The campaign poster has the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum as Vice President. The campaign poster with tag “The Two Eggheads For 2023” is flanked by the logo of the All Progressives Congress, APC. However, individuals or groups behind the poster was not identified. Both Osinbajo and Zulum were yet to react to the poster as at the time of filing this report. In another development, President Muhammadu Buhari will today address the nation from the Eagles Square, Abuja. Buhari’s address is part of…

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The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, has said everything is negotiable, including Nigeria’s unity. Ezeokafor who spoke against the backdrop of Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary decried the leadership deficiency in the country, saying that once the leadership of the country is gotten right, every other thing would follow. He stated that the country needs good leaders who will lead her on spiritual rebirth, and that only then will the country be restored to glory. “Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary is something worth celebrating, and worth thanking God for, but it is time for us to think…

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The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned against another COVID-19 explosion in the country, following deliberate refusal by some states to carry out adequate testing. NCDC’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, stated this while appearing on a TV programme. Ihekweazu noted that some states were unable to ascertain the number of COVID-19 cases in their domain. He, however, expressed delight that NCDC can establish that fewer cases were being reported than it was in the last six months, adding that he was especially impressed about the progress made in a few states, especially Lagos. The NCDC boss, however, said…

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President Muhammadu Buhari has transmitted the Petroleum Industry bill to the House of Representatives for passage. It would be recalled that in the 8th Assembly, a part of the PIB was passed by the legislature but the president declined assent due to disagreement on certain provisions in the bill. There has been reports that the new bill will scrap the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other agencies, however, the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipriye Sylva has dismissed the reports, noting that the bill involves commercialization of NNPC. Sylva made the clarification on Monday while speaking to journalists after…

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