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Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:45

Obasanjo, Jonathan, Gowon, other former leaders shun ‘Democracy Day’ ceremony

Former Nigerian heads of state and presidents were absent at the venue of 2019 Democracy Day celebrations on Wednesday. The former leaders including Messers Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, among others, were absent at the event which held at Eagles’ Square in Abuja. Former military leaders Messers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar were also absent. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier declared June 12 Nigeria’s Democracy Day. The inaugural celebration, which took place Wednesday, had in attendance numerous pro-June 12 supporters. The government’s decision was in recognition of the place of late Moshood Abiola in Nigeria’s democratic history. Mr Abiola…

Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:45

11 African leaders attend Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration

No fewer than 11 African leaders attended the ceremonies for the maiden celebration of June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria on Wednesday. Among them were President Idris Deby of Republic of Chad; President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of Mauritania; President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President George Weah of Liberia; President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana. Others were President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe; President Macky Sall of Senegal; President Adama Barrow of The Gambia and President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic as well as the Prime Minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda, On arrival at…

Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:44

SSS blocks June 12 rally in Ibadan, arrests organisers

Officers of State Security Service (SSS) on Wednesday stopped a gathering organised by Yoruba Summit Group in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. The group, an amalgamation of sociocultural and self-determination groups in Southwest including Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, Yoruba Koya Movement, Yoruba Unity Forum, Oodua Peoples Congress, Atayese and Voice of Reason, had converged to discuss insecurity in the country and especially in the region. The summit was billed to take place at Agodi Government arcade before it was stopped by the secret security outfit. Security operatives in about five buses and clad in a black uniform had arrived around…

Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:42

SSS arrests Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp users for posting ‘inciting materials’

State Security Service on Wednesday announced a nationwide crackdown on individuals allegedly caught posting inciting materials on the Internet, in a move that could provoke fresh debates about the potency of Nigerian Constitution’s free speech safeguards. SSS said it had recently observed that some social media users were skewing Nigeria’s history to promote ethnic violence and tip the nation into crisis, a development it said must be urgently reversed through state interference. The secret police’s spokesperson, Mr Peter Afunanya, said in a statement that some “unpatriotic” Nigerians have been using social media platforms to make “unguarded public statements and/or use…

Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:41

Nigeria Air Force loses combat helicopter to crash in Katsina

Nigerian Air Force has confirmed the crash of its helicopter returning from a combat mission in Katsina State. It, however, said no life was lost in the crash, which occurred at about 3.30pm yesterday. NAF spokesman, Mr Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Mr Sadique Abubakar, has ordered a probe of the incident. Daramola said: “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter has crashed in the process of landing while returning from an anti-armed banditry combat mission in Northwest Theatre under Operation Hadaran Daji. “Details of the cause of the incident, which occurred at…

Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:39

JAMB, stakeholders fix cut-off marks for 2019/2020 admission

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved cut-off marks for 2019/2020 admission into tertiary institutions in the country. The decision was taken during the 19th policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria on Tuesday in Gbongan, Osun State. During the meeting, 160 was approved as minimum score for admission seekers into public universities while 140 was approved for private universities. The policy meeting, presided over by JAMB registrar, Mr Ishaq Oloyede, also approved 120 cut-off marks for public polytechnics and 110 for private polytechnics for admission seekers. For colleges of education, 100 and above was approved as…

Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:38

NEPC unveils Charter for Enhanced Service Delivery

Dapo Olaosebikan Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) formally launched a SERVICOM Charter which the organization is confident will enhance services to her numerous target-audience nationwide. The launch took place in Abuja on Tuesday. At the elaborate occasion held in the Council’s main auditorium and attended by some key stakeholders in the export sector of the economy, NEPC unveiled its official charter aimed at raising “expectations and define the standard of service to be provided to customers and members of staff” of the prime government agency. In his address at the occasion, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director/CEO of the Council reiterated…

Wednesday, 12 June 2019 05:21

Rwanda President to Buhari: Fighting corruption not enough; create wealth

President of Rwanda, Mr Paul Kagame, has told President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders, that it is not enough to fight corruption – but to, also, add value to human life. Speaking at Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summit in Abuja, yesterday, Kagame congratulated Buhari on his victory at the poll and said Nigeria must share resources equitably, so everyone can join the fight against corruption. He also called on the president and other attendees to add value, create wealth, while fighting corruption, and not merely to fight corruption. “There is one of your own, who wrote a…

Wednesday, 12 June 2019 05:20

Buhari driving Nigeria towards disaster, instability - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is driving Nigeria towards “disaster and instability”. Mr Obasanjo said this in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES at his Ibogun Olaogun ancestral home in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, last month. The interview is part of a special magazine publication by PREMIUM TIMES, put together to commemorate Nigeria’s 20 years of democracy since 1999. The former president fell apart with Mr Buhari ahead of the 2019 general elections and endorsed the president’s closest rival and his estranged vice president, Mr Atiku Abubakar. Abubakar, who served…

Wednesday, 12 June 2019 05:16

Hong Kong extradition: Debate over bill delayed amid protests

Thousands of protesters and police in Hong Kong are engaged in a standoff as anger grows over a bill which would allow extradition to mainland China. Early on Wednesday protesters, some wearing face masks and helmets, blocked key roads around government buildings. Police in riot gear responded by using pepper spray on protesters to disperse them and said they were prepared to use force. The Legislative Council (LegCo) has now delayed the second reading of the bill. The pro-Beijing LegCo released a statement on Wednesday saying that the meeting which was planned for 11:00 local time (03:00 GMT), would be…

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Tuesday, 11 June 2019 05:53

Buhari secured 2nd term mandate on widespread violence - Human Rights Watch

Nigeria elections in 2019 that gave President Muhammadu Buhari a second term were marred by political violence, Human Rights Watch has said. The report issued by the organisation on Monday said some cases of the violence were carried out by soldiers and police officers. “Buhari should take concrete steps to address the widespread political violence, and to ensure accountability for human rights abuses by soldiers and police as he begins his second term,” the report said. “The election period included persistent attacks by factions of the insurgent group Boko Haram in the northeast; increased communal violence between nomadic herdsmen and…

Tuesday, 11 June 2019 05:50

Media chiefs resolve NBC/AIT, Raypower face-off

PRESS RELEASE Following the suspension of the Broadcast License of DAAR Communications Plc., owners of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power FM by the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC ), President of the Nigerian Press Organisation ( NPO ) comprising of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria ( BON ), Nigerian Guild of Editors ( NGE) and Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ), convened a meeting of all parties to resolve the issues in the national interest. The meeting hosted at 8PM, on Sunday 9th of June, 2019, by elders and patrons of NPO,…

Tuesday, 11 June 2019 05:49

Generator fumes kill 10 wedding guests

Ten traditional wedding guests were yesterday killed at Umuomumu in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State by generator fume in the house of the host of the marriage ceremony. The affected victims said to be 50 in number had stayed back after the traditional wedding ceremony of Favour and Ifeanyi Nzegbu to savour the joy of the moment and had gone to bed while an electricity generator was on inside part of the house they were sleeping. It was further gathered that a brother to one of the victims, who was worried that he had not come back, called…

Tuesday, 11 June 2019 05:46

FG declares June 12 public holiday

Federal Government on Monday declared Wednesday, June 12, as a public holiday, to commemorate the nation’s National Democracy Day. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, made the declaration on behalf of Federal Government in a statement signed by Mohammed Manga, Director Press & Public Relations, of the ministry, on Monday in Abuja. The Federal Government’s decision followed enactment into law of June 12 as Democracy Day annually in Nigeria. Ehuriah congratulated all Nigerians at home and abroad for the entrenchment of democratic rule in the country. The permanent secretary called on Nigerians to continue to cherish the sacrifice…

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