News

Wednesday, 04 January 2017 02:42

FG to close Abuja airport for six weeks from 8 March

The federal government plans to close the airport in the capital Abuja for six weeks from 8 March to repair its runway, the aviation ministry said on Tuesday, pushing the move back later than previously scheduled. The decision to shut the airport and divert Abuja-bound flights to Kaduna, an airport used primarily for domestic flights about 160 km (100 miles) to the north, was taken after airlines threatened to stop flying to the capital. The government had said the six week closure would begin in February. But a statement issued on Tuesday, which said the aviation minister would discuss the…

Wednesday, 04 January 2017 02:40

Seyi Makinde faults Oyo 2017 budget, says revenue target gives room for 'high-handedness'

A chieftain of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said that the state’s 2017 budget lacks developmental propositions. According to a statement released Tuesday, Mr. Makinde said that the budget could be more ambitious and realistic with the needs of citizens of the state right at its heart. He also berated the revenue target set by the government, describing it as ‘unrealistic’. Commenting on the N126.8 billion budgeted for recurrent expenditure, Mr. Makinde said that only investment in education and health should have warranted such proposition. He added that the implication of budgeting such fund…

Wednesday, 04 January 2017 02:36

Osun spends N14.2 billion to offset 4 months salary arrears

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun says the state government spent N14.2 billion to offset four months salary arrears of workers in December 2016. Mr. Aregbesola made the remarks at an interdenominational thanksgiving service in Osogbo on Tuesday. According to him, the ability of the state government to pay workers salaries for September, October, November and December, 2016 in a record of less than two weeks period is a huge relief. He said that the disbursement of the Paris Club deductions refunds which made N11.7 billion available for the state had brought some relief to the state. The governor, however, said…

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 16:39

Several vehicles trapped at borders as ban on imports takes off

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has kicked off the implementation of the policy banning importation of vehicles through the land borders with many vehicles trapped at the borders. To this effect, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Seme Chapter disclosed that so many vehicles were trapped at the border posts. Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Seme Command, Mr Selechang Taupyen, said in Badagry that the service had to comply with government’s fiscal policy. Taupyen said that officials of the command had been placed at strategic places to curb any form of smuggling of cars. The Federal Government had on…

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 16:31

Mechanic driving customer’s vehicle kills three in accident

An accident occurred in Plateau State on Monday causing the death of three people. The accident involved an SUV, a tricycle and two motorcycles, and occurred in Bassa Local Government Area, residents and an official said. The car, driven by a mechanic to whom it was given for repairs, was the cause of the accident, as it drove into the tricycle and the motorcycle, witnesses said. Angry residents thereafter set the vehicle ablaze, although the driver escaped. The residents said about nine person may have died from the accident, a figure later clarified by an official. The spokesperson of the…

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 01:36

FG commences social security programme, pays N5,000 monthly to poorest citizens

The Federal Government has commenced the payment of N5,000 monthly to one million vulnerable Nigerians. In a statement released, Monday, by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice president Yemi Osinbajo, the government stated that the payment was effected through the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, of the government’s Social Investment Programmes, SIP. According to the statement, one million Nigerians would receive N5,000 monthly payments under the CCT as a form of social safety net for the poorest and most vulnerable as budgeted for in the 2016 Budget. Mr. Akande added that many of the beneficiaries have…

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 01:35

CBN extends stamp duty collection to savings accounts

Banks are no longer restricting the deduction of stamp duty on deposits made into current accounts, but now apply it to deposits made into savings accounts, investigation has shown. Central Bank of Nigeria had through a circular issued on January 15, 2016 directed the Deposit Money Banks to deduct N50 stamp duty on each deposit made into current accounts with a value of N1,000 and above in order to boost government’s revenue drive and in compliance with Stamp Duties Act, 2004. The apex bank anchored its directive on a court ruling obtained by Kasmal International Services Limited in 2014 to…

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 01:32

Tragedy as husband, wife, son die in Ogun auto accident

A couple who were said to be returning to Lagos from a trip to their hometown in Enugu State, were said to have died in auto crash which happened on Monday in Sagamu axis, along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, in Ogun State. The couple who were travelling in their black Honda CRV with the number plate KRD933DD, had their three children who were teenagers with them in the Sport Utility Vehicle. The deceased couple were said to have died instantly at the spot where the accident occurred while one of the children later died at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.…

Monday, 02 January 2017 18:14

Global aviation safety rating: Nigeria steps up, at par with US, UK

Nigeria has climbed to level three in the implementation of the State Safety Programme (SSP) Process which places it among world leaders in aviation safety. The country is at par with countries like the United States of America, United Kingdom etc who are already in this category. An SSP is an integrated set of regulations and activities aimed at improving aviation safety which will be monitored through Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) after such a state has achieved an Effective Implementation (EI) of over 60 percent. It is required that states that have achieved EI…

Monday, 02 January 2017 18:12

Beware of Obasanjo, MASSOB tells Igbo

Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Monday warned the Igbo to beware of their romance with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It described a recent closeness of Obasanjo to some Igbo leaders as ominous. It warned the Igbo, especially politicians, to be careful of their relationship with the former President. A statement made available to our correspondent by the leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, read in part “His current political antics, romance and friendship in Igbo land is suspect and dangerous to the political survival of Ndigbo in Nigeria. “During his eight year tenure as Nigeria…

More...

Monday, 02 January 2017 02:30

FG agencies budget billions for foreign training despite embargo

Federal government agencies have budgeted billions for foreign travels and training this year despite the subsisting embargo on such travels. Data from the 2017 proposed budget analysed by Daily Trust shows that over N15 billion has been earmarked for the banned subheads. These funds were captured in the budgets of the various ministries and agencies under subheads such as “international training and transport (training),” “international travel and transport (training)”and “international travel and transport (others). On February 5, 2015, the office of the head of service of the federation announced the embargo in a circular “Restrictions on Foreign Trainings and International…

Monday, 02 January 2017 02:23

Afenifere leader, Adebanjo lauds Mimiko on education

A Yoruba leader and Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo weekend lauded the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko for upholding the cardinal policy of the Action Group led by the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which is Education for all.” Adebanjo asked him to “continue to flaunt and hold the banner of good governance.” The Afenifere chieftain gave the charge in Ondo during the Commissioning of theAwosika Memorial Caring Heart Mega Primary School, where he was the guest of honour. Adebanjo said quality education remains the forerunner of an egalitarian society, pointing out that the Mega school type of educational…

Monday, 02 January 2017 02:20

2017: There’ll be sorrow for corrupt people, says Olukoya

General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya has sounded a stern warning to corrupt people, saying they will “reap multiple sorrow”. Olukoy spoke early yesterday while giving a 40-point prediction to spiritually guide Christians for 2017. He addressed worshippers at the MFM’s Prayer City at a service to herald into 2017. He declared 2017 as one of deep sorrow for the wicked, adding that it’s also a year of confused noises and meaningless storm. According to him, 2017 will “experience redemption in contention, while it is blowing heavenly final whistle against those attacking…

Sunday, 01 January 2017 18:08

Drunk pilot arrested in cockpit before take-off

A pilot who was drunk in the cockpit has been arrested shortly before take-off in Canada. Two hours after his arrest, the 37-year-old man was found to have more than three times the legal limit of alcohol in his body. His plane, part of the Sunwing budget airline, later left Calgary for Cancun, Mexico, with a different pilot. There were more than 100 people on board. The incident happened at 07:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Saturday. Airline staff noticed the pilot behaving strangely, and then he passed out. They alerted the authorities and the man was escorted from the…

Page 805 of 819

News

More...

Search

Most Read

Editorial

News

Business

Politics

Opinion

Features

Strangely

Crime

Wars

SCIENCE & TECH

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sports

VIDEOS