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Friday, 23 June 2017 04:04

FG declares June 26, 27 public holidays

The federal government has declared, June 26 and 27, as public holidays to mark Eid-el Fitr celebration. Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd), who made the declaration on behalf of the government, enjoined all Muslim faithful and Nigerians in general to use the occasion of the celebration for sober reflection and pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation in its march to nationhood. Dambazau urged all Nigerians to shun hate speeches and divisive tendencies and join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria which guarantees fundamental…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:25

Osinbajo to governors: Safeguard lives, property

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday urged state governors to safeguard lives and properties of all citizens residing in their states. Osinbajo, who gave the advice at a consultative meeting with the governors at the Presidential Banquet, Abuja, said the directive had become imperative given that “Nigeria is indissoluble’’. He warned that leaders must not allow “the careless use of words and careless expressions” that might degenerate into crisis. He said: “We are a people that like to talk and we express ourselves loudly but it is expected for us to recognise that it is those same words that can…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:23

AGF replies Buhari’s anti-corruption adviser, orders appeal against Saraki’s acquittal

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has defended his role in the anti-corruption war of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Mr. Malami, in response to criticisms of his role by a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, PACAC, said he was committed to the anti-corruption efforts of the administration. In a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Malami also said he had “directed that a Notice of Appeal be lodged against the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal acquitting and discharging false assets declaration case preferred against the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.” Saraki’s acquittal had been…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:19

FG parastatals defy Osinbajo, reject Corps members

Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abuja are rejecting members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, posted to them for the compulsory one-year service, despite a policy directive by the federal government against their rejection. Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, had warned that no corps member should be rejected, in line with the government policy forbidding MDAs from denying NYSC members a place to carry out their primary assignment. Osinbajo gave the warning on May 25 during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2017 NYSC Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members at the Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja at which…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:18

Saudi Arabia's next king is a young, ambitious risk taker

He is known as MBS and his rise through Saudi Arabia's corridors of power has been shockingly swift. At age 31, Mohammed bin Salman already controlled the kingdom's defense policy and was overseeing a massive internal economic overhaul with the backing of his father, King Salman. His sudden appointment Wednesday to the position of crown prince places him as first in line to the throne, cementing his position as the driving force behind Saudi Arabia's major moves and seemingly charting Saudi policy for the coming decades. He is regarded as a bold and ambitious risk taker. Even before the royal…

Thursday, 22 June 2017 04:04

Zero hunger: Govs endorse peer advisory mechanism

Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan Five state governors in the country have endorsed a peer advisory mechanism to enable them monitor implementation of their state-grown agricultural plans with a view to ending hunger by 2030. The peer advisory mechanism is a brainchild of Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum (NZHF) that is aimed at reviewing, monitoring, and advising states in Nigeria on the ways and means by which the states themselves, using available resources, can achieve zero hunger by 2030. The five pilot states which have given their endorsements include Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Ogun and Sokoto states. According to International Institute of Tropical Agriculture…

Wednesday, 21 June 2017 04:01

FG introduces free treatment for HIV patients

The Federal Government on Tuesday said it was set to implement new guidelines for HIV prevention, treatment and care to consolidate previous efforts in tackling the scourge. Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, stated this at the opening of a two-day North-West Zonal Dissemination of 2016 National Guidelines for HIV prevention, Treatment and Care in Kaduna. Represented by Segilola Araoye, his special adviser, Adewole said the guideline would ensure that those affected by HIV receive free health service at all levels in both public and private health institutions. “From this day hence, everyone who tests positive to HIV is automatically…

Wednesday, 21 June 2017 03:59

FG reacts to controversy over alleged de-listing of Christian, Islamic subjects

The federal government has reacted to controversy over alleged removal of key religious subjects from the country’s education curriculum. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES Monday, acting Executive Secretary of Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Kate Nwufo, denied claims that Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Studies had been removed from the curriculum, or were now studied as a single subject. “We have developed a curriculum on Religion and National Values to expose pupils to see relationship between moral values – which entails religion, social values – and civic values,” Mrs. Nwufo said. She said NERDC developed the curriculum…

Wednesday, 21 June 2017 03:46

Edo pushes anti-open grazing bill

A bill for a law to establish Edo State Cattle Rearing and Grazing Agency on Tuesday passed second reading on the floor of Edo House of Assembly. Mr Bright Osayande (APC-Ovia North East 11), who led the debate for the passage of the bill, said the incessant killing of defenseless farmers and needless destruction of crops by herdsmen was a call for concern. “The criminal activities of these herdsmen have earned the group the reputation of being the fourth most dreaded group, according to the Global Index for Terrorism (GIT). “Their activities have taken a different dimension as the herdsmen…

Wednesday, 21 June 2017 03:44

Another 175 Nigerians flee Libya, return home

Another batch of One Hundred and Seventy-five (175) Nigerians voluntarily returned from Libya on Tuesday aboard a chartered Nouvelair aircraft with registration number TS-INA. The aircraft landed at 7.50 pm at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The returnees were made up of 34 males, 122 females, 10 children and nine infants. They were brought back by International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Nigerian Embassy in Libya. The returnees were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police. Also on…

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Wednesday, 21 June 2017 03:42

Hajj Commission responds to NSCIA over fares

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has said that Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, was “fully” involved in negotiations that led to the 2017 Hajj fares. The commission stated this on Tuesday in response to a statement by NSCIA, that it was not consulted before the fares were announced. Intending pilgrims are to pay N1.5 million for this year’s Hajj. The fare, higher than what pilgrims paid in 2016, has been criticised by many. NAHCON said the rise in the fare was due to the high exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar. It also said about 98% of…

Wednesday, 21 June 2017 03:39

Flood wrecks havoc in Ibadan

Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan Some residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, took to rooftops and other escape routes in order to stay safe from rampaging floods that sacked certain parts of the city. Houses, worship centres and vehicles were submerged after a downpour caused flooding in many parts of the ancient city. The rain which began in some areas on Monday evening continued until early morning of Tuesday. In other parts of the city, the rain began in the middle of the night and ceased around 9am on Tuesday while most of the affected areas are located close to…

Tuesday, 20 June 2017 04:55

Osinbajo breaks fast with Sultan, other northern monarchs

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo hosted Monday night eminent traditional rulers from the northern part of Nigeria, to break the Muslim fast. The socialisation came on the eve of another meeting on Tuesday on the political situation in the country. Osinbajo last week met with Southeast and northern political leaders, climaxing in the meeting Sunday with South east traditional rulers. His message has been the same: Nigeria is an indissoluble country. Let the people put an end to hate speeches and secessionist agitations. What Osinbajo told the royal fathers: Let me first say how honoured I am by the visit of…

Tuesday, 20 June 2017 04:48

United States assures of commitment to Nigeria's unity

Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington, on Monday, said his country would continue to work towards the promotion of the unity of Nigeria, where he said the strength of the world’s most populous black nation lies. The envoy, who led top officials of the embassy on a working visit to the office of the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, in Ibadan, said US recognised the strategic importance of Nigeria in Africa. He said his visit was in the furtherance of his country's vision and mission to explore new frontiers of partnership…

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