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Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:24

Onnoghen: Presidency warns against blackmail, says Buhari has done nothing wrong

The Presidency, Wednesday warned Nigerians against capitalizing on the delayed transmission of the name of Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, to the Senate to blackmail President Muhammadu Buhari. It also flayed what it called attachment of ethnic, religious and sectional meanings to the development, saying Buhari’s appointments so far have shown him as a detribalised president. Reacting concerns raised by many Nigerians, especially the Cross River State National Assembly Caucus over delay by the president in sending the name of Onnoghen to the Senate for screening and subsequent confirmation as substantive CJN, Special Assistant to the President on…

Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:20

Nigerian woman incurs £.5m bill after delivering quadruplets in London hospital

One of the largest hospitals in Britain is chasing a bill of more than £500,000 from a Nigerian woman who gave birth to quadruplets. The 43-year-old, named only as Priscilla, went into labour three months early shortly after landing at Heathrow airport in November. She had intended to give birth to the babies in Chicago, in the US, where she has family – but was turned away by border officials upon arrival. They claimed that although she had a visa, she did not have the required documents from a hospital stating that she had the money to pay for the…

Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:18

UN official, 4 others killed in attack along Cameroon-Nigeria border

The United Nations is strongly condemning an attack along Cameroon's border with Nigeria that killed a U.N. independent contractor and four others. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for West Africa, said in a statement Wednesday that the attack took place near Kontcha, Cameroon. The contractor's nationality was not released. Three Nigerians and one Cameroonian also were killed in the Tuesday afternoon attack. Several others were wounded. The U.N. says the group was part of a technical monitoring team carrying out a field mission related to border demarcation. There are no immediate claims of responsibility, and it is…

Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:17

Why I’m leading anti-government protest – 2face

Despite the controversy around his planned anti-government rally, Nigerian musician, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2face, has insisted on going ahead with the rally and provided reasons for it. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, the singer said the protest would kick off on Monday from the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos at 8 a.m. and terminate at the National Theatre in Iganmu area of the city. Defending his choice of venues, the multiple-award winning artiste said “The National Theatre and National Stadium are the two national icons that epitomise our decline as a nation.” 2face also…

Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:14

Osinbajo swears in 5 NPC Commissioners

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday in Abuja swore-in five new commissioners of the National Population Commission, NPC. The swearing in of the commissioners followed their successful screening by the Senate, on December 12, 2016, after their nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari. The appointment of the commissioners was also endorsed by the National Council of State last year. They are Benedict Ukpong, Akwa Ibom; Gloria Izonfuo, Bayelsa; Kupchi Iyanya, Benue; Haliru Bala, Kebbi; and Eyitayo Oyetunji, Oyo. This is the first time the acting president will be administering oath of office on political appointees as President Muhammadu Buhari is on…

Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:02

Fayemi slams N3b libel suit on Fayose’s aides

Minister of Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi has sued a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Samuel Omotoso and Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media Lere Olayinka for libel. Fayemi, a former governor, is claiming N3 billion as damages from Omotoso and Olayinka in the suit filed by his counsel, Rafiu Balogun, at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court for alleged offensive statements. The minister’s action followed the defendants’ failure to retract the libellous statements and tender a public apology as demanded by Balogun, in a November 19 letter. The plaintiff is seeking, among…

Thursday, 02 February 2017 03:01

Navy confiscates N420bn crude, diesel

Nigerian Navy confiscated crude oil and diesel worth N420 billion in 2016, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, said yesterday. Speaking during the budget defence at the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Ibas said the amount of crude oil and diesel seized stood at 810,725 and 1,078 metric tonnes respectively. The CNS told members of the committee chaired by Rep Abdulsamad Dasuki (APC, Sokoto) that the Navy destroyed 181 illegal refineries, 263 wooden boats, 38 barges, 139 Geepee tanks and 148 pumping machines in 2016. He said the Nigerian Navy also arrested 784 suspects,…

Wednesday, 01 February 2017 18:44

Osinbajo inaugurates task force to reduce food prices

Moved by the need to enhance affordability of food prices across country, the Buhari administration has constituted a Presidential Task Force to urgently consider measures that would ensure a steady flow of produce to the market and reverse recent price increases. Giving the directive Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food prices, noting that the Task Force will explore options to promote availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians. According to him, the Task Force, which has seven days from Wednesday to report back…

Wednesday, 01 February 2017 18:42

From 15 million in 2014, Nigerian air passengers declined to 6 million in 2016

From more than 15 million passengers in 2014, Nigerian air passenger traffic declined to 6 million in 2016, Oscar Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, has said. Mr. Onyema made this disclosure Tuesday at the listing of Medview air on the Nigeria Stock exchange in Lagos. He explained that the past decade has seen the Nigerian aviation industry experience numerous institutional challenges, leading to the exit of many air operators. “Over the past decade, the Nigerian aviation industry has experienced significant challenges leading to the exit or decline of many operators,” he said. Mr. Onyema also…

Wednesday, 01 February 2017 18:41

UK deports 41 Nigerians

Alhaji Muhammad Sidi, Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Wednesday that 41 Nigerians deported from the United Kingdom for various immigration offences had arrived the country. He confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while receiving the deportees at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos. Sidi added that the 33 adult males and eight female deportees arrived the country aboard a chartered aircraft at about 8: 00 a.m. “From the manifest with me, 41 Nigerians are on board and according to the British High Commission in Nigeria, they were deported…

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Wednesday, 01 February 2017 18:38

SSS says man accused of laundering billions for Alison-Madueke working for Buhari govt

A man the State Security Service said was working for the interest of the Nigerian government was actually a money laundering suspect named in the mismanagement of about $118 million public funds, an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown. In its controversial report to the Senate last year, the SSS said Stanley Lawson, a former Group Executive Director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and an ally of ex-petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was, “in actual fact, working in the interest of the Federal Government.” The report was signed by Folashade Bello on behalf of the…

Wednesday, 01 February 2017 18:34

With increasing prices of kerosene, gas, Abuja residents resort to firewood, charcoal

Some Abuja residents are now using firewood and charcoal for cooking following the astronomical increase in the price of kerosene and cooking gas. A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja metropolis on Wednesday revealed that residents resorted to seeking other options because they could not afford the cost of kerosene and cooking gas. Some residents have abandoned their gas cookers and opted for charcoal pots, whose prices have also been increased as a result of high demand. A 12.5kg of gas initially sold for between N3,500 and N4,000 now goes for N6000 to N7000, while 5kg…

Wednesday, 01 February 2017 02:56

China’s $1.5b loan for Lagos-Ibadan rail ready - FG

The Federal Government yesterday said it had secured $1.5 billion from the China Exim Bank to begin work on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line project. Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Land Transport, chaired by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, to give a status report of the 2016 budget and also present the 2017 budget. Amaechi said the foundation of the Lagos-Ibadan Segment Two of the Lagos- Kano rail project would be laid before March 31. He said the target of the Federal Government is to begin work from Apapa sea port to Ogun…

Wednesday, 01 February 2017 02:55

Budget: Osinbajo, Sakari, Dogara Meet In Aso Rock

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly at the presidential villa, Abuja. Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang attended the meeting. Osinbajo was also joined by Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma. The meeting, our correspondent gathered, may not be unconnected with the processes for the consideration of the 2017 appropriation bill which is currently before the National Assembly. Acting President had…

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