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Monday, 01 January 2018 05:24

Iran protests go on as social media apps blocked, 2 killed

The largest protests to strike Iran in nearly a decade continued unabated Sunday, despite a government move to block access to Instagram and a popular messaging app used by activists to organize, with even President Hassan Rouhani acknowledging the public's anger over the Islamic Republic's flagging economy. Rouhani and other leaders made a point to warn that the government wouldn't hesitate to crack down on those it considers lawbreakers amid the demonstrations, which began Thursday over the economic woes plaguing Iran. "Those who misused cyberspace and spread violence are absolutely known to us and we will definitely confront them," Iranian…

Sunday, 31 December 2017 04:02

Soyinka to FG: Stop shifting blame over fuel scarcity

Nobel laureate, Mr Wole Soyinka, has called on the Federal Government to end the current fuel scarcity in the country rather than buying time and passing blame. Soyinka stated this on Saturday in a statement titled, “Blame passing: The New Year Gift to a Nation.’’ He also cited the clipping of the 1977 edition of Daily Times when President Muhammadu Buhari, then a minister of petroleum and natural resources, was quoted as saying, “Fuel crisis may be over next year.” Soyinka said, “I recently ran the gauntlet of petroleum queues through three conveniently situated cities – Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:15

Buhari appoints 209 Board chairpersons, 1,258 members

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the constitution of Governing Boards of Agencies and Parastatals, under some Ministries, as well as the appointment of “eminently qualified Nigerians to fill the Board positions, numbering 209 Chairmen and 1258 members”. The disclosure was made, Friday, in statement signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha. Among the appointees are several members of National Working Committee NWC of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a hordes of party stalwarts. National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr Muiz Banire chairs Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON. Other NWC members in…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:13

Aisha Buhari sleeps in hospital as president visits son again

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday was back at Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu District, Abuja, where his son, Yusuf, injured in a motorbike accident, was hospitalised. But the security situation around the hospital remained tense, as policemen screened those gaining entry into the medical facility. The President, who got there around 6pm, had on Thursday alongside his wife and Yusuf’s mother, Aisha, visited the hospital. A guard near the hospital told one of our correspondents that the First Lady slept overnight till Friday. At about 5.30pm when one of our correspondents got to the hospital, Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir el-Rufai,…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:10

Senate sets on collision with Buhari over unapproved fuel subsidy payment

The Senate is set for a showdown with President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged payment of N26 per litre to subsidise pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol. Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), which was on Thursday mandated to investigate the current crisis over supply of the product, on Friday, asked how the government was maintaining a pump price of N145 per litre when the landing cost of the commodity was now N171. President of the Senate, Mr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had on Thursday directed the committee to cut short its recess and “immediately” convene a meeting with…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:06

Buhari signs six new bills into law

President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Amendment Act, 2017. The Act includes gas producing and gas processing companies in the list of agencies that are contributing to Niger Delta Development Commission in addition to the oil companies in a bid to increase funding of the commission for effective discharge of its duties. Previously, NDDC Act excluded the gas companies. The Act makes it explicit that the gas companies have to be included. This is to diversify the sources of funding for NDDC for the economic wellbeing of the region. Federal Capital Appropriation Act also assented…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:04

Shake-up in Nigerian Army, several generals redeployed

Nigerian Army has released a statement announcing redeployment of some senior officers. Those redeployed include some major generals and brigadier generals. “The posting is also aimed at injecting new hands to further actualise the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, which is ‘to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its Constitutional roles’,” the army said in a statement announcing the redeployments. Here’s the full statement: Nigerian Army has today Friday 29th December 2017, released the 2017 Fourth Quarter Postings and Appointments of its Officers. It will be recalled that recently some…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:03

After meeting Buhari, Wike states reason for supporting FG’s withdrawal of $1bn ECA fund

Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, said the decision of his colleagues in Nigeria Governors Forum to allow the federal government withdraw $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account, ECA, is illegal. He, however, indicated that he supported the decision because the motive was that the money would be largely used to fight Boko Haram insurgency. Wike stated this on Friday shortly after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The government has said the money is to be used in the fight against Boko Haram and insecurity across the country. The decision by NGF has…

Saturday, 30 December 2017 04:00

Iranian cities hit by anti-government protests

Anti-government demonstrations that began in Iran on Thursday have now spread to several major cities.Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah, in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere. The protests began against rising prices but have spiralled into a general outcry against clerical rule and government policies. A small number of people have been arrested in Tehran, the capital. They were among a group of 50 people who gathered in a city square, Tehran's deputy governor-general for security affairs told the Iranian Labour News Agency. The US State Department condemned the…

Friday, 29 December 2017 03:34

Anxiety mounts as Yusuf Buhari’s condition remains critical in hospital

There was anxiety on Thursday over the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, who was involved in a power bike accident in Abuja Tuesday night. Yusuf, who sustained a head injury and had one of his limbs broken, was said to have undergone a successful surgery at Ceda Crest Hospital, Abuja. It was gathered that he was involved in a power bike race with a friend in the Gwarinpa area of Abuja when he was involved in the crash. Presidential spokesman, Mr Garuba Shehu, had, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “Yusuf Buhari had a bike accident…

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Friday, 29 December 2017 03:32

Federal agencies’ overheads trapped as recurrent budget ends today

Many federal agencies are unable to get releases for their multi-billion naira overhead costs as recurrent expenditure officially ends today. Salaries constitute recurrent expenditure, while overheads are the cost of running the government. Overhead is comprised of payment for utilities, maintenance, security, welfare, stationaries, insurance and training. Dozens of federal agencies recorded huge debt in electricity, water, insurance bills, among others, due to reduction in allocations for overheads. Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Ltd recently decried outstanding debts of MDAs which runs into billions. Under the appropriation law, only capital expenditure will be rolled over to the following year (2018); but…

Friday, 29 December 2017 03:28

WAEC releases timetable for 2018 first series candidates

West African Examination Council, WAEC, has released timetable for 2018 first series private candidates. The Council released the timetable on its official twitter page @waecnigeria on Thursday night. The council has fixed January 12, 2018 as the closing date of registration for the first series of private candidates which was earlier scheduled to close December 29. The council said candidates are expected to pay a registration fee of N13,950 and a commission of N500 to banks and accredited agents. According to the timetable, the examination is scheduled to start on January 29 and end on February 12,2018. PT

Thursday, 28 December 2017 03:37

United States finally ready for warplane sales to Nigeria - FG

United States has formally agreed to sell 12 Super Tucano A-29 planes and weapons to Nigeria, the air force said, confirming the resurrection of a deal frozen by the Obama administration over rights concerns. Former U.S. President Barack Obama delayed the sale in one of his last decisions in office after Nigerian Air Force bombed a refugee camp in January. But his successor Donald Trump decided to press on with the transaction to support Nigeria's efforts to fight Boko Haram militants and to boost U.S. defence jobs, sources told Reuters in April. U.S. ambassador to Nigeria presented letters of offer…

Thursday, 28 December 2017 03:36

Buhari’s son involved in ghastly accident

President Muhammadu Buhari’s son, Yusuf, was involved in a ghastly accident, the presidency has confirmed. Yhe accident occurred on Tuesday night. “Yusuf Buhari had a bike accident Tuesday night around Gwarimpa in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” Mr. Buhari’s spokesperson, Mr Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Wednesday. “He broke a limb and had an injury to the head as a result. He has undergone surgery at a clinic in Abuja. He is in a stable condition. “The President and his wife, Mrs Aisha Buhari, are thankful to Nigerians for the good wishes and prayers for their son.” PT

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