President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Chukwudi Oracle Nwala, former Technical Adviser, House of Representatives on Petroleum Industry Reform, on his 50th birthday today, “joining family and friends to celebrate with the lawyer and trainer, whose research skills continue to create impact”. In a statement by Femi Adesina, the President noted the contributions of Nwala to national development, working with private and public institutions, and devoting most of his time to research on law – Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, and providing counsel to leaders on key development issues like the Petroleum Industry Governance Framework and Petroleum Host Community Development…
Author: Francis Francis
Nigeria requires strong institutions and systems to fight corruption and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has recommended. He made this recommendation while delivering a lecture to participants of Executive Intelligence Management Course 14 of the National Institute for Security Studies in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In his paper titled “Governance, Corruption, Rule of Law and Security in Africa”, Prof. Owasanoye stated that the solution to corruption, economic and security problems bedeviling Nigeria lies in building strong institutions and systems with active collaboration from…
Disturbed by prevalent cases of suicide especially among secondary school students, National Orientation Agency (NOA) has organized an awareness programme at at preventing new trend as pupils in secondary schools across Nigeria take their lives over preventable depression. The programme is themed “Life is Worth Living, Preserve it”. Representing the Director-General, Dr. Garba Abari, the Director, Orientation and Behaviour Modification (OBM), Barr. Theresa Nnalue highlighted reasons for committing suicide as depression, rape victim, academic failure, domestic violence, health challenges, bullying among others. She asked teachers to look after the behaviors of students especially when such pupils are looking depressed or…
The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu, has revealed plans to establish tourism clubs and train 500 youths as tour guides from the five IBILE Divisions of the State. Bonu said that having these tour guides in place would complement the efforts of the Ministry at domesticating tourism activities in all Local Government Areas. His words: “With this idea, tourists that visit our State would now have a better experience as they would be professionally guided and accompanied to all the tourism sites by local people with local knowledge of their…
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit, asking the court “to compel President Muhammadu Buhari to disclose spending details of the overdrafts and loans obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since May 29, 2015 including the projects on which the overdrafts have been spent, and repayments of all overdrafts to date.” SERAP is also seeking an order to compel the president to “explain and clarify whether the $25bn (N9.7trn) overdraft reportedly obtained from the CBN is within the five-percent limit of the actual revenue of the government for 2020.” The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of…
A delegation from the Lagos State Government led by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) at the weekend to inspect facilities at the church for COVID safety and prevention protocols in preparation for the funeral rites of its late founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua. Speaking after the inspection of the church facilities and meeting with its officials, Abayomi said the inspection was in line with the third wave mitigation strategy of the Lagos State Government to prevent the importation and…
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a get-well message to the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis as he heads in for a scheduled surgery of the colon. A statement by Garba Shehu said the President called for prayers from Nigerians and the global community as the Pontiff goes in for this routine operation. “He wishes him a quick recovery”.
The Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) and the Gambian Defence Minister, Hon Sheik Omar Faye, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that would formalize the over 60 years of relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia. A statement by Victoria Agba-Attah, Director, Press & PR said while signing the MOU in the Ship House, Abuja, Gen Magashi expressed hope that Nigeria and Gambia would mutually ensure that Government business would benefit both countries. Maj. Gen. Magashi noted that the MOU in areas of training of Military officers, Defence Technical Assistance, Procurement, Intelligent Sharing and effort on counter…
Concerned about fostering sustainable development in the Mineral Sector through proffered pragmatic solutions, which will facilitate the diversification agenda of the Federal Government, FG, for economic growth, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, MMSD has engaged the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and other critical Mining Stakeholders to re-engineer the industry. While declaring open the maiden edition of the Strategic Engagement held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, with the 774 Local Government Chairmen across the Federation for a sustainable Mining in Nigeria the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, GCON, SAN, said the engagement should lead to…
Nigeria’s vocal former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the recent attack on the house of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho. Recall that the Department of State Services raided Igbodo’s house on Thursday morning, killing two and arresting others. Reacting to the development, Kayode in a statement on Facebook, while decrying the act, asked the federal government to desist from going after Igboho. “My question is this: what has this man done to deserve this? There is nothing he has been asked to do in terms of keeping the peace in the South West by the Federal Government and…
Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri has berated some Igbos who allegedly celebrated the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Recall that the federal government had on Monday announced that the embattled leader has been arrested and extradited to Nigeria for the continuation of his trial. Mixed reactions have continued to trail Kanu’s arrest and according to Omokri, some Igbos celebrated the arrest. In a post on Facebook, the self acclaimed Buhari tormentor wrote: “When Sheikh Gumi told bandits that the soldiers who kill them are Christians, and as a result, they should not kill…
Self acclaimed Buhari Tormentor, Reno Omokri has berated the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed for saying that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu wears designers during a press conference. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had on Monday said Kanu has been arrested and brought back to Nigeria for the continuation of his trial. The information minister, while harping on the development, fingered Kanu for wearing designers. Reacting to the minister’s remark in a post on Facebook, Omokri said: “My question to Lai Mohammed is this, is wearing designer clothes a crime?…
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDIPB) of short-changing Sokoto State in the 2019/2021 Replacement and Recruitment Supplementary List. MURIC’s allegation was contained in a statement issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday. “A list of successful candidates in the 2019/2021 Replacement and Recruitment Supplementary exercise of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDIPB) is being circulated in the social media. Out of 411 names on the list of successful candidates that appeared on the list, only five (5) are in the Sokoto State column.…
Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, has declared that the State will continue to empower women and youths in the informal sector to become self-dependent in order to contribute greatly towards the economic growth of the country. The Commissioner, who made the assertion at a one-day workshop organised by the Women Development Centre, Agege, said that the theme of the workshop, “Feminisation of Skills Acquisition and Human Capability Development among Unemployed Women and Youth in Lagos in COVID-19 Era” is apt, considering the role of women and youths as home and nation…
Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, reiterated his commitment to encouraging increased visibility in politics as he swore in five women among 18 new commissioners in the state. Okowa made this known at the ceremony at the Events Centre, Asaba, and stated that his resolve on the issue was a deliberate attempt towards enhancing women participation in decision-making process of governance. It would be recalled that in March, 2021, 17 women took oath of office as vice chairmen in 17 out of the 25 local government areas in the state. The governor disclosed that the commissioners were appointed…
Lagos State Police Command has warned against any form of rally that may spark violence in the State. Some Yoruba nation agitators have shelved their planned rally scheduled for Saturday in Lagos, but some people are insisting that the rally must go on. Prominent among the agitators is Chief Sunday Igboho, who has announced that the rally has been suspended. Addressing a joint press conference with the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, at Alausa, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, said that the Command would not allow any form of rally in the State.…
President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to work for the progress of the country, with a focus on leaving behind stronger democratic institutions and culture that will continue to drive development, says Femi Adesina. Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity, spoke on Thursday at the State House while receiving an award from Progressive Councilors Forum (PCF), an association of past and present elected councilors, led by the Chairman, Hon. Sunday Yusuf Achor. The Presidential spokesman said the President remains focused on the goal of a greater Nigeria, delivering the gains of democracy to every citizen and working with…
Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday, said College of Medicine of University of Delta, Agbor, would be sited at Agbor, not Owa-Alero as being speculated in some quarters of the state. Okowa made the clarification when he led the former Governor of Cross River, Senator Liyel Imoke, to inaugurate the reconstructed 10.2-kilometre Alihame/Agbor-Nta/Oki road and side drains in Agbor, and Abavo Circular Road Phase II and III, Abavo, both in Ika South Local Government Area, saying there was no iota of truth in the speculation. He disclosed that the Trauma Centre being built by the state government in…
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has stated that it is important that the ongoing Forensic Audit is concluded and handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari as the recommendations and outcome of the exercise would be implemented by the new board that would be inaugurated soon to reposition the NDDC for effective service delivery in the region. A statement by Deworitshe Patricia said the Minister said this during a live Radio Nigeria Audience participatory programme organized as part of the activities marking the second term of the Buhari Administration on Tuesday at the Radio House in Abuja.…
The Federal Government has resolved that dialogue is required to find lasting solutions to the lingering challenges of the food systems and associated forms of malnutrition in Nigeria. In her opening remarks at the Consolidatory Dialogue For The Nigeria Food Systems held recently in Abuja, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said: “Indeed, through these engagements, we have not only been able to identify some challenges intrinsic to our food systems from multiple perspective, but we have equally been able to harvest some promising ideas, innovative solutions and approaches from diverse stakeholders.” According…
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has urged the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to domesticate critical technology used in the country, in order to achieve rapid industrialization. Dr. Onu made this known when he received the Management of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (TRANSCORP) Plc in his office on Tuesday in Abuja. The Minister said that the deployment and peaceful use of Nuclear power technology will improve the production of electricity and provide sustainable and reliable electricity that will not be affected by environmental conditions. In his words, “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to achieve…
The evergreen drama involving married men and side chicks has again unveiled another episode as a lady has been rushed to the hospital after her lover, a married man died during a hot romp. Igbere TV reports that the man who hails from Okposhi in Ebonyi State died while having hot sex with the young lady in the state. It was gathered that the ugly incident happened at one of the Hostels in front of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo(AE-FUNAI) last week. The report said the two lovers enjoyed the sex till it went sour. An eyewitness said, “they went…
The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for NIN-SIM data verification to July 26, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline was made after a request by stakeholders on the need to consolidate the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process following the rapid increase in the number of enrolment systems across the country. As at June 28, 2021, a total of 5,410 enrolment systems are now available across the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. It is worthy of note that there were only about 800 such…
Three Christians from the Church of Iran denomination have each been sentenced to five years in prison and fined four million Rials (approximately GBP 64.00) by the Revolutionary Court in Karaj, northern Iran. According to the religious rights group, CSW, Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi and Alireza Nourmohammadi received the sentences on 26 June, after being convicted of “engaging in propaganda against the Islamic regime.” All three are appealing the verdict. The three Christians stood trial in Karaj on 21 June 2021, charged with “sectarian activities” under a new amendment to the Iranian penal code. CSW’s sources report that during the trial the…
The Lagos State Government has disclaimed an online viral post titled “New Lagos Traffic Offences and Fines” being circulated on social media platforms, advising that the motoring public should disregard the information in its entirety because it false and did not originate from the Ministry of Transportation or Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). A statement signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, emphasized that the purported new Lagos Traffic Laws were not issued by the Lagos State Government, warning all road users to be wary of unscrupulous and faceless elements, who are out to scam unsuspecting Lagosians…
Following the report that an elderly man, Alhaji Moshood Salahudeen, was killed while 14 other Muslims sustained gunshot and cutlass-inflicted injuries on Sunday, 26th June, 2021 when masquerade (egungun) worshippers of the traditional religion attacked members of the Qamar ul-Islam Society who were holding a programme in front of their mosque at Oluode Aranyin, Ita Olookan area of Oshogbo, Osun State, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called on the Commissioner of Police, Osun Police Command to fish out the killer and his accomplices. The group made the call in a statement by its director, Ishaq Akintola. The statement reads: “Egungun…
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has averred that the trend where corrupt politicians who join the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC are ‘shielded from prosecution is wrong and should be discouraged’. Ortom made the remark at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi when he received the National President Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, Comrade Lawrence Amaechi and his delegation on a courtesy call where he was presented with ‘The Defender and Shepherd of the Masses’ award. He noted that there is no law under the constitution that shields corrupt leaders who are members of the APC from prosecution, stressing that doing…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (SAN), has felicitated with the former Governor of the State and current Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on the occasion of his 58th birthday. Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Fashola as a seasoned administrator, legal icon and technocrat who has used his skills and positions in different capacities for the growth of Lagos State and Nigeria. He said Fashola raised the bar in corporate governance and administration while serving as Governor of Lagos State, with great records of…
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia to “issue provisional measures to urgently stop the Nigerian government and National Assembly from supporting and pushing through two bills to gag the media, and impose arbitrary and harsh punishment on journalists, broadcast stations, media houses and media practitioners in Nigeria.” SERAP said: “the Complaint, addressed to the Chairperson of the Commission Mr Solomon Ayele Dersso, and Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Ms Jamesina Essie L. King, is brought pursuant to…
An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned against trivializing crimes committed by bandits and herders. Professor Ishaq Akintola, the director of the organisation, gave the warning in a statement issued over the weekend. According to Akintola, “Nothing can extenuate the crimes committed by bandits. We should not look for excuses for them. Rather we should educate the Nigerian public on the position of the Shariah regarding banditry. We should also let the bandits know the gravity of their crimes and the ‘kabiirah’ status of their sins. “Banditry is categorised as ‘hiraabah’ in Islam. ‘Hiraabah’ is a technical…
