News

Thursday, 24 January 2019 05:30

FG releases N198bn to INEC for elections

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Mahmood Yakubu, has revealed that the N198 billion budgetary allocation for the funding of the forthcoming general election, has been released to the commission. The electoral body has also stated that results of the February 16 presidential election will be transmitted electronically from the polling units, while the result box will be carried physically by collation officers. National Assembly had last year approved a total sum of N189,207,544,893 for the conduct of the general election as proposed by the commission in the supplementary budget. Yakubu disclosed this on Tuesday while updating Council of…

Thursday, 24 January 2019 05:29

Arik aircraft is a disaster waiting to happen - Senator

Senate Chief Whip, Mr Olusola Adeyeye, on Wednesday said he thrice boarded an aircraft belonging to Arik Air, without a functional air conditioning system. Adeyeye said each time, flight officials in the aircraft told him they were supposed to have serviced the plane. He said the aircraft is named Queen of Angels. Adeyeye made his observation known shortly before the end of plenary that was started by only 17 lawmakers, a number less than 36 required to form a quorum. “In recent times as I have had to criss-cross the length and breadth of Nigeria because of the frenzy of…

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 04:49

Buhari asks Obasanjo to pray at Aso Rock meeting

It would have been a routine spectacle attracting no curiosity. The President and a former leader who used to be a frequent caller at the seat of power. Smiles, banters and handshake – that’s all. That was not the situation yesterday when President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met at Council of State meeting at Presidential Villa in Abuja. All eyes were on them as the President and Mr Obasanjo moved towards each other, hands stretched out. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Obasanjo’s face was wreathed in smiles – not the toothy, broad smiles or laughter that…

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 04:48

Labour unions reject N27,000 minimum wage approved by Council of State

Labour unions in Nigeria have rejected the N27,000 new National Minimum Wage adopted by National Council of State (NCS) on Tuesday. NCS pegged the national minimum wage at N27,000 for states and the private sector. The council also pegged N30,000 as the minimum wage for federal workers. The council’s meeting held at Presidential Villa, Abuja and was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. In separate press statements issued by Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) Tuesday night, both unions rejected the amendment made to the submission of the tripartite committee made to the presidency more than two…

Wednesday, 23 January 2019 04:44

FG declares Lassa Fever outbreak, activates emergency response

Federal government on Tuesday declared a Lassa Fever outbreak in the country. This followed increase in the number of Lassa Fever cases reported in states since the beginning of the year, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said. This is coming on the heels of Lassa Fever International Conference held in Abuja to mark 50th year anniversary of the discovery of the disease in the country. Each year, Lassa Fever kills many and leaves most of its survivors with disability, often due to the side effects of drugs they received. The viral disease is contracted from the feaces of the multimammate…

Tuesday, 22 January 2019 04:16

NBA to Buhari: Stop CJN’s trial, it’s illegal

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has demanded an end to the trial of Nigeria’s Chief Justice, Mr Walter Onnoghen. NBA made the demand in a statement ahead of scheduled continuation of Onnoghen’s trial at Code of Conduct Tribunal today. The lawyers’ union asked federal government to discontinue the trial and “follow the rule of law.” Onnoghen is facing trial on six counts of alleged false asset declaration. He was charged following a petition by a member of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Dennis Aghanya. In its statement, NBA argued that only through Senate can the presidency remove Onnoghen. “Ahead of…

Tuesday, 22 January 2019 04:14

ASUU strike continues as meeting with FG ends without agreement

Another meeting between federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended on Monday night without an immediate resolution of the ongoing strike. The meeting held at Federal Ministry of Labour headquarters was to find a lasting solution to the ongoing strike by university lecturers. At least six other meetings have been held between both parties before Monday’s since the strike commenced on November 4. While addressing journalists at the end of the meeting which lasted about four hours, minister of labour and employment, Mr Chris Ngige, said the meeting will reconvene at the instance of the union. When…

Monday, 21 January 2019 04:51

Gap between rich and poor growing, fuelling global anger - Oxfam

Tax systems that put a high burden on the poor mean public services are underfunded, stretching the gap between rich and poor and fuelling global public anger, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International, said on Monday. The Nairobi-headquarted charity said in a report that a new billionaire was created every two days last year, just as the poorest half of the world’s population saw their wealth decline by 11 percent. The report, released on Monday as political and business leaders gather for the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said governments are increasingly underfunding public services and failing…

Monday, 21 January 2019 04:48

World’s oldest man dies

World’s oldest man has died at his home — a hot springs inn — in northern Japan at the age of 113. Masazo Nonaka died in the early hours of Sunday while sleeping at home in Ashoro on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, his family said. He died peacefully from natural causes, according to his granddaughter Yuko Nonaka. The supercentenarian, whose family has run a hot springs inn for four generations, was certified by Guinness World Records in April 2018 as the world’s oldest living man at 112 years and 259 days. Born on July 25, 1905, Nonaka grew…

Sunday, 20 January 2019 04:07

Mexican pipeline explosion kills 73, leaves nightmare of ash

Gerardo Perez returned Saturday to the scorched field in central Mexico where he’d seen an illegal pipeline tap burst into flames to see if he could recognize missing friends. He couldn’t. Only a handful of the remains still had skin. Dozens were burned to the bone or to ash when the gusher of gasoline exploded, killing at least 73 people. Perez said he and his son bypassed soldiers and ignored warnings to stay clear of the geyser Friday evening in the town of Tlahuelilpan in Hidalgo state, about 62 miles (100 kilometers) north of Mexico City. “We’re stubborn,” he said.…

More...

Sunday, 20 January 2019 04:06

170 migrants dead in Mediterranean shipwrecks

About 170 people are feared to have died in two separate Mediterranean shipwrecks, the UNHCR says. Italian navy reports a ship sank off the coast of Libya with 117 people on board, while Moroccan and Spanish authorities have tried to find a lost boat in the western Mediterranean. UN's refugee agency could not independently verify the death tolls. More than 2,200 people lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2018. "We cannot turn a blind eye to the high numbers of people dying on Europe's doorstep," UN refugee high commissioner Filippo Grandi said in a press release. "No…

Friday, 18 January 2019 05:03

FG to deport aliens, shut borders during general elections

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has threatened to charge and deport foreigners who may want to disguise as tourists to illegally observe next month’s general elections. Controller General of Immigration, Mr Mohammed Babandede, who disclosed this during his first quarterly forum on the Service’s preparation for the elections with Command Comptrollers and Zonal Coordinators Thursday in Abuja, added that Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already taking care of accreditation of foreign election observers, and that only genuine observers would be allowed access to election venue. Babandede said, “if you are a monitor participating in election you should declare it right from…

Friday, 18 January 2019 04:55

Total lunar eclipse meets supermoon Sunday night

Here comes a total lunar eclipse and supermoon, all wrapped into one. The moon, Earth and sun will line up this weekend for the only total lunar eclipse this year and next. At the same time, the moon will be ever so closer to Earth and appear slightly bigger and brighter than usual — a supermoon. “This one is particularly good,” said Rice University astrophysicist Patrick Hartigan. “It not only is a supermoon and it’s a total eclipse, but the total eclipse also lasts pretty long. It’s about an hour.” The whole eclipse starts Sunday night or early Monday, depending…

Thursday, 17 January 2019 05:25

Boko Haram sponsored by forces outside Nigeria - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said Boko Haram insurgents were being sponsored by forces outside Nigeria. He said the military needed a lot of money for purchase of gadgets, spare parts and arms to completely wipe out the terrorists. Buhari spoke during a live presidential town hall meeting tagged, “The Candidates” at Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday. “We need a lot of money for the military for spare parts, communication gadgets, arms and ammunition. Boko Haram are certainly supported by forces outside Nigeria,” the President said. The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate said he became the…

Page 547 of 831

News

More...

Search

Most Read

Editorial

News

Business

Politics

Opinion

Features

Strangely

Crime

Wars

SCIENCE & TECH

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sports

VIDEOS