2023 Will Either Birth A New Nigeria Or Ground It —Obasanjo

FORMER President  Olusegun Obasanjo has described 2023 as the year that will either bring about the emergence of a  new federation or make the country slide into dissolution.

Speaking on Wednesday  when he hosted members of the Tiv Professionals Group at his Penthouse residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) premises in Abeokuta, the former president  urged the nation’s  leaders to ensure that the year 2023 is a watershed in Nigeria.

He noted that all efforts must be geared towards ensuring that 2023 marks the beginning of a new Nigeria,  warning  that if the feeling of rot in the system continues, the nation will be slide into dissolution. He warned those beating  the  drums of war to desist from such, adding that they do not have the interest of the minority ethnic groups at heart |||READ MORE

Authorities arrest man accused of stealing 100 vials of COVID-19 vaccine

A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing 100 vials of a COVID-19 vaccine and other property in Washington state, authorities said.

The burglary happened last week at a dental office in Purdy, about 30 miles southwest of Seattle. The owner called 911 in the early morning on April 30 to report that someone had entered the building overnight and stolen 100 vials of Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, a vial of Botox and more than $100,000 in medical equipment, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.

While its deputies searched for the person responsible, the sheriff's department put out an alert reminding residents that "COVID-19 vaccines are always free" and to only access them "through legitimate sources."|||READ MORE

Woman from Mali gives birth to 9 babies in Morocco

BAMAKO, Mali -- A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies at once — after expecting seven, according to Mali's Minister of Health and the Moroccan clinic where the nonuplets were born.

It appeared to be the first time on record that a woman had given birth to nine surviving babies at once.

The five girls and four boys, and their mother, “are all doing well,” Mali’s health minister said in a statement.

The mother, 25-year-old Halima Cisse, gave birth to the babies by cesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, Mali’s top health official announced|||READ MORE

India’s COVID-19 Cases Worsen As 3,980 Die In 24Hrs

India saw record new jumps in Covid-19 cases and deaths on Thursday, dashing tentative hopes that a catastrophic recent surge that has stretched hospitals to the limit might be easing.

Health ministry numbers showed 3,980 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the national total to 230,168, and 412,262 new cases, taking India’s caseload since the pandemic began over 21 million.

Many experts suspect that with low levels of testing and poor record-keeping for cause of death — and crematoriums overwhelmed in many places — the real numbers could be much higher |||READ MORE

EFCC Arrests 30 Suspected Yahoo Boys in Kwara

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested 30 internet fraud suspects, also known as Yahoo-Yahoo Boys, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

An EFCC statement listed the suspects as Adigun Oladapo, Olamilekan Ogunsola, Fuad Abidemi, Haastrup Samuel, Olamide Adeyemi, Akinola Abideen, Ebenezer Haastrup, Kehinde Adeyemi, Quadri Kareem, Abubakar Abdulbashit, Damilola Akinola, Ola-Oluwa Samuel, David Oyewole, Mojereola Toheeb, Isaac Chikezie, Joshua Chiekezie, Abdulsalam Opeyemi and Abawonjo Abdulazeez.

Others are: Ganiyu Olanrewaju, Adeleke Ibrahim, Taiwo Ganiyu, Oke Gideon, Olakunle Adebisi, Ajani Samuel, Joshua Ogizien, Sodiq Olasupo, Olamilekan Mubarak, Adeniyi Olashile, Rotimi Adeyemi and Rasaq Olanrewaju |||READ MORE

Years Of Leadership Failure Responsible For Insecurity – Obi

Vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Peter Obi, has lamented the current nationwide insecurity, warning that unless drastic action is taken to contain it, the situation would degenerate into anarchy.

The former Anambra State governor blamed what he described as cumulative years of leadership failure for the security situation in the country.

Obi, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Awka, identified the total absence of merit as the major problem affecting Nigeria |||READ MORE

CBN Introduces Funding Opportunities For Anambra Farmers, Traders

Branch comptroller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Awka, Benedict Mmaduagwu, has advised farmers, artisans, traders and others in Anambra State to embrace the funding opportunities the apex bank has made available for them to grow their businesses.

He stated this during the bank’s two-day fair held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Development Centre, Awka, which began on Tuesday.

At the fair with the theme, “Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development” Mmaduagwu said the apex bank had opened some funding windows designed to help boost the country’s economy, with targets at promoting small and medium scale enterprises across Nigeria |||READ MORE

Breaking: NAFDAC approves Pfizer-BioTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Friday approved the use of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

This is coming few months after it gave authorisation for the use of the Oxford-Astrazeneca jabs in the country.

Announcing this at a press conference in Lagos, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye  explained that the pfizer-Bio Tech vaccine was for emergency use only |||READ MORE

How to end illegal migration, neo-slavery in Nigeria – Justice Nweze

Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Centus Nweze, has recommended for total revamping of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, to end illegal migration and neo-slavery in Nigeria.

Justice Nweze, made the remarks while presenting his keynote address during the 2nd edition of  the Grace Uzoma Okonkwo Foundation’s international conference tagged  ‘Migration and Neo-slavery as Significant Features of the 21st Century’ at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN on Wednesday.

The legal luminary who was represented by the chairman of the occasion, Justice  C. A Ogbuabor  during the conference organised by the aforementioned Foundation in collaboration with the Institute of African Studies, and the Department of English and Literary Studies, UNN, also said that the agency seems overwhelmed by the enormity of challenges bedeviling adequate checking of illegal human trafficking in Nigeria |||READ MORE

God has directed me to prophesy against Buhari, Uzodinma – Mbaka

The Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Fr Ejike Mbaka, has blessed the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, for championing the cause of his people.

“Up till today, I don’t know who Nnamdi Kanu is. I have never seen him face to face. Look at my hand on the altar. But I want to tell you something. Wherever he is, may God bless him. Because if somebody has risen to shout that his brothers are suffering, is it a crime? May the lord bless his courage,” Mbaka said in a recent sermon at his church.

Mbaka also stated that God had asked him to withdraw his support for the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, and to prophesy against them |||READ MORE

Woman collapses in church while fasting, dies in Lagos hospital

The family of a woman, Joy Owoyele, is in grief after she died during a 14-day fasting in the Isheri Olofin area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that Owoyele had sought spiritual help regarding her matrimonial challenges at the Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Gbogunmi, aka Ajanpelenbe Mountain, located on Pipeline Road, Isheri Olofin.

She was said to have been placed on 14-day fasting and prayer, but on the 10th day, things took a tragic turn as she suddenly collapsed after the morning prayers inside the church |||READ MORE

Painter impersonates Oba Elegushi, defrauds Facebook lover of N51m

The Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, paraded a painter, Moses Olaitan, and his accomplice, Segun Omoshola, for allegedly impersonating the Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and using his image to defraud a woman they met on Facebook of N51m.

The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said after a report was made, detectives tracked down and arrested Olaitan and Segun three months after perpetrating the crime.

“She told me to send my account number, but because I didn’t have an account number, I contacted Segun, who provided the account used for collecting the money |||READ MORE

Sexual assault: Lagos lists possible charges against Baba Ijesha

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team has waded into the sexual assault allegation against Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, also known as Baba Ijesha.

Baba Ijesha who is currently in police custody is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

 In a statement shared by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos, Gboyega Akosile, the LSDSVRT revealed the possible charges Baba Ijesha could face if legal action is carried out against him.

The statement read, “This is to inform members of the public that the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Team is actively following up on the Baba ljesha’s case, we are also in direct contact with the complainant with a view to providing the necessary support |||READ MORE

BREAKING: US mission to prioritise student visa applications for Nigerians

The United States Mission in Nigeria says it will prioritise visa applications by Nigerians students who hope to resume academic studies in the States by September 2021.

This was contained in a statement on Friday signed by Temitayo Famutimi of the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate General.

According to the statement titled, ‘US Announces Priority Appointments for Student Visa Applicants’, the Mission said it would prioritise visa interview appointments for Nigerian students well in advance of their programme start date |||READ MORE

Lagos Creates 30, 000 Jobs Through Waste Management

Lagos State Government yesterday revealed that efforts of the present administration to revamp the operations of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) provided employment to over 30,000 residents.

The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello disclosed this at the annual ministerial briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in office.

The commissioner said LAWMA has successfully increased the number of trips completed daily in evacuating waste to landfill from 357 to 850 on the average |||READ MORE

Minister Dissolves Board Of Sports Federation, Set Up Caretaker Committees

Barely three months to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Minister of youth and sports federation, Chief Sunday Dare has dissolved all the boards of 31 National Sports Federations and set up caretaker committees to run the fairs of the federation.

This was disclosed in a press statement on Friday in Abuja.

Minister said the dissolution of boards of Federations was inline with the Olympic Charter which stipulates a four year tenure for all Sports Federations Boards |||READ MORE

Abducted agric varsity students in Benue regain freedom

The students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State who were kidnapped last Saturday have been released.

A terse statement by the Director, Information, Protocol and Public Relations of the University, Mrs. Rosemary Waku, revealed that the students were returned to campus on Tuesday.

She identified the released students as Israel Farren Kwaghgee and Solomon Salihu |||READ MORE

Iyabo Ojo, Yomi Fabiyi fight dirty over Baba Ijesha’s sexual assault case

Popular Nollywood actors, Iyabo Ojo and Yomi Fabiyi, have taken to their respective Instagram accounts to throw jabs at each other over the defilement of a teenager by their peer, Baba Ijesha.

Both actors are trending on the Nigerian Twitter space. While Iyabo is trending at the number one spot with over 7,500 tweets, Yomi Fabiyi is trending at number seven with over 2,000 tweets.

Fabiyi, who first made a comment, shared a cryptic message, urging his colleagues not to be in a hurry to crucify Baba Ijesha. He added that before they castigate their colleague, they should ensure that law enforcement officers have done their investigation |||READ MORE

Nigeria Should Carry Out More Research On Safety, Benefits Of Genetically Modified Organisms

As food scarcity looms in Nigeria, with farmers facing enormous challenges, agricultural biotechnology involving use of different scientific techniques to modify plants and animals may be the way forward. Scientists have reported that genetically modified crops have more yields, require less spraying, and enhance nutrient composition. They also are resistant to pests and disease.

Nigeria approved its first biotechnology crop in 2018 and presently, two crops; Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt.) cotton and cow pea has been approved for commercial use. This development, though welcomed by some Nigerians especially scientists, also raised safety concerns. Countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark, Malta, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia are reported to have chosen a total ban on GMOs.

The national vice president, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Chief Daniel Okafor, told me that from what he had seen, scientifically modified crops do better in terms of yields but urged the institutions to carry out more research while the regulatory agencies do their work as well |||READ MORE

Secession, Restructuring Clamours Won’t Create Better Life For Nigerians – Sowore

The African Action Congress (AAC) has said the clamour for restructuring, power rotation and secession by various groups in the country would not meet the long-term aspirations of Nigerians.

This is even as the opposition political party also said it was unfair for the federal government to defend the minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, in the wake of allegations that he had openly supported some extremist groups in the past.

Factional national chairman of AAC, Omoyele Sowore, who stated this during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, however, warned that a mass revolution was inevitable if the legitimate concerns being raised by Nigerians about the future of the country were treated with levity |||READ MORE

How Baba Ijesa Defiled My Foster Daughter – Comedienne, Princess

Popular comedienne, Oluwadamilola Adekoya, popularly known as Princess, has narrated how fellow practitioner in the Nollywood, Olarenwaju Omiyinka, a.k.a. Baba Ijesha, was caught sexually molesting her 14-year-old adopted daughter.

The comedienne cum actress narrated the incident in a video from an Instagram live broadcast obtained by LEADERSHIP.

Princess explained that she was rendering help to Baba Ijesha, and that it was during one of his visits to her house that the actor molested one of five children living with her |||READ MORE

Boko Haram Two Hours Drive From Abuja, Hoists Flag In Niger

NIGER State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, confirmed on Monday that Boko Haram insurgents have hoisted their flag in Kaure village, in Erena township axis of Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, two hours drive from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The governor also said that the Boko Haram fighters forcefully snatched wives of some of the villagers and married them. There had been attacks on Niger communities of recent, which were attributed to bandits.

Governor Sani Bello made the revelation in Minna, when he paid an on-thespot assessment visit to the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Primary School, near the palace of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago, in Chanchaga Local Government Area of the state |||READ MORE

William and Kate take their children for special family outing in Sandringham

After a difficult few weeks following Prince Philip's death, the Cambridges found the perfect way to enjoy some family time at the weekend.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children - Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and three-year-old Prince Louis - were spotted happily playing in the new Sandringham play park on the Queen’s Norfolk estate as they made the most of the sunshine on Sunday.

Of course, 39-year-old Kate has a special connection to the park. It recently underwent a major revamp, inspired by her Back to Nature Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019 |||READ MORE

COVID-19: Nigeria to impose travel ban on India, Brazil Turkey, says PSC

The Federal Government plans to issue a travel advisory within the next two days on inbound flights from India, Brazil and Turkey.

This followed the escalation of new variants of COVID-19 virus in those countries, Head, Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Dr, Mukhtar Muhammad, said at a news conference in Abuja yesterday.

He expressed concern over the situation in India, which is a popular destination for medical tourists from Nigeria.

The PSC also urged Nigerians to keep observing all the regulations and instructions already provided to keep safe from the infection of COVID-19, warning that the third wave of the pandemic, going by how it has been sweeping through other parts of the world, is lurking around to enter Nigeria, especially as the nation has already reopened its economy to the world |||READ MORE

India nears 200,000 COVID deaths, daily cases fall, army steps in

India’s coronavirus death toll is nearing the bleak milestone of 200,000 with another 2,771 fatalities reported while its armed forces have pledged urgent medical aid to help battle the staggering spike in infections.

Over the past 24 hours, India recorded 323,144 new cases on Tuesday, slightly below a worldwide peak of 352,991 reached on Monday, with overrun hospitals turning away patients due to a shortage of beds and oxygen supplies.

India, home to approximately 1.3 billion people, has so far reported 17.64 million COVID-19 infections and 197,894 deaths but experts believe the tally runs significantly higher |||READ MORE

Ezekwesili: I Have Been Rejecting Ministerial Appointments Since 2007

A former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, said she was determined since 2007 that she would never accept a ministerial appointment again.

Ezekwesili said this in a series of tweets yesterday, adding that she had rejected past ministerial appointments.

The former minister’s tweet came barely two weeks after her former protégé, Japheth Omojuwa, said in an open letter that Ezekwesili was expected to be appointed a minister by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 |||READ MORE

Can Nigeria develop without discipline?

MANIFESTATIONS abound testifying  the afflictions of Nigeria by indiscipline: In 1966, there was the phrase “ten percenters”; in 1975, we were told Nigeria had so much money that she didn’t know what to do with it and by that time, Nigeria was 158 out of 159 in the UNDP HDI; in 1975-79 during a military government, $2.8billion was found missing; in 1980-83, Nigeria imported shiploads of sand and paid fully for them; in 1991, Nigeria lost $12.4billion oil wind sales; between 2003 and 2007, $16billion for building of power plants was missing; in 2013, Nigeria lost over N3trillion to fuel subsidy within three years; in 2014, a top government official was allegedly given $2.1billion to share among some political elite so that the coming 2015 election will favour the ruling political party.

In that same year, the then Central Bank governor declared that $20billion was missing from the NNPC’s account at the Central Bank; in 2016, a Canadian professor declared that Nigeria spent $1.5trillion on foreign education; in March 2021, the FEC approved $1.5billion for turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery that has not refined one barrel of crude oil in the past five years.

Over 70 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, yet a federal legislator is paid over N29m monthly; over the past 20 years, SPDC has reported that about 100,000 barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil is stolen daily and at an average price of $50 per barrel, this equals $1.75billion or N665billion per annum. Till date these stolen, lost and wasted resources have not been investigated and culprits punished accordingly |||READ MORE

2 more Greenfield varsity students killed; bandits insist on N800m ransom

Two more students of Greenfield University, Kaduna, kidnapped over a week ago by bandits have been killed by their abductors who are insisting on payment of N800 million ransom.

Remains of three of the students, a male and two females, had earlier been found in a village close to the university.

Mr.Samuel Aruwan ,Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, who confirmed the killing of the two students yesterday, said the state government would update the citizenry on further developments |||READ MORE

Sanwo-Olu, dismantle this altar of impunity

It is not difficult to see the depressing spectacle as you worm your way into the womb of the state with an estimated 22 million people, from the Berger end of the endlessly rehabilitated Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and traverse its aquatic landscape, The expressway, as important as it is to the nation’s economy, has taken the whole of the last 22 years, involving all the administrations that have ruled the country since then, to fix. Every New Sheriff in Town comes with a new completion date that never happens. Agony subsists. Incidentally, the Abeokuta end of its entry point isn’t exciting either.

As you descend from the scary Long Bridge that has now turned into a haven for herdsmen killers and night marauders, then to Kara Bridge, and face what ordinarily should be the allure of Lagos, pockets of cudgel-wielding fierce-looking youths, menacingly commandeering buses and trucks bearing farm produce and sundry products meant for the millions of residents, welcome you instead. The brazenness is unimaginable. What a contradiction it is, the centre of excellence introduced by a less than excellent visage.

If it is at dusk, it is even scarier and messier. The traffic on the road is obstructed, so the wearied drivers could compellingly pay unreceipted levies. But, at all times, it is a spectacle that tells the tale of a state whose government, as an institution for law enforcement, fights a losing battle for space with unaccountable non-state actors, and most times and in many places, surrendering the space to them |||READ MORE

One million cases in 4 days, record deaths: India's Covid 'storm' in 10 charts

NEW DELHI: India's coronavirus situation is worsening by the day with the country reporting a record surge of nearly 3 lakh new infections and over 2,000 deaths on Wednesday morning.

The massive spike in infections comes as the country battles a severe second wave of the pandemic, which has crippled the healthcare system and prompted the Centre to expedite the nationwide vaccination programme.

"This second corona wave came like a storm," Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged in his address to the nation on Tuesday |||READ MORE

Makinde Awards Cash Gifts To Each Gold, Silver, Bronze Medalist

Each gold medalist from Oyo State in the just concluded National Sports Festival (Edo 2020) is to get N500,000, silver medalists, N350,000 and bronze medalists, N250,000.

Also, each of the state’s 55 coaches to the festival is to receive N500,000, irrespective of whether their trainee won a medal or not.

Governor Seyi Makinde made this announcement when he received the state’s contingent to the festival at the governor’s office, Ibadan, on Wednesday ||READ NORE|

The Answer to Your Church’s Problems

While the Bible encourages and even commands gathering together as believers, nowhere do we find that a perfect church is expected or even possible.

I was not very excited about my first Sunday at my church three years ago. Still aching from the closure of the church I had attended for years, I missed the people I was used to seeing every week. It took me a solid year of back-and-forth before I decided I would stay at this new church, and it took me even longer to feel like I was finding my place in it.

At first glance, my church may not look like the ideal church for singles. We’re a smaller congregation with less than 200 people, most of whom are families with kids. We don’t have a singles ministry, a young adult group, or even Sunday school |||READ MORE

Chad Leader Idriss Deby Dies On Battlefield After Winning Reelection

Idriss Deby took power in a coup decades ago and died fighting against rebels trying to oust him. Over 30 years, Deby has been a maverick figure in the Sahel region, with friends in the West but enemies close to home.

Idriss Deby, the son of a shepherd who went on to lead his country Chad and become one of Africa's longest-serving heads of state, has died on a battlefield with anti-government rebels. He was 68.

The shock announcement came from the Chadian military, just a day after Deby was confirmed president-elect after securing nearly 80% of the April 11 vote. Meanwhile, Deby's son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has taken over as interim leader of a transitional military council, the military said |||READ MORE

UPDATED: Senate approves $1.5bn, Euro 995m external loan for FG

The Senate on Tuesday approved $1.5billion and Euro 995million external loans for the Federal Government.

This followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts on the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government at plenary.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Clifford Ordia, presented the report.

The loans are part of the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government |||READ MORE

2023: APC, PDP, others should nominate Igbo candidate for election in Nigeria — Ohanaeze

AHEAD of 2023 general and Presidential elections, the umbrella body of South East people, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has asked Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and other political parties to zone the presidency to the South East for equity, justice and fairness.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, who noted that time is ripe for Nigeria to get a President of South East extraction in 2023, said the talent of Igbo is yet to be fully utilized and maximised by Nigeria.

Obiozor, who expressed optimism that the South East would get the Presidency in 2023, however, warned that many were called, and a few were chosen. It wondered why why people were beaming unnecessary attention on negative issues such as security challenges in the South East because Igbo Presidency had changed from probability to possibility |||READ MORE

Poverty alleviation: Lagos domesticates national human devt progs

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, inaugurated the state Human Development Core Working Group with the charge to improve the lives of residents and provide excellent opportunities to make life more meaningful in line with the National Human Development Plan.

The group is chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, with the mandate to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of Human Capital Development Intervention in the state as defined in the National Human Development Plan.

The Special Adviser, Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs and Investment, Mrs Solape Hammond, will serve as the State Coordinator and Focal Person while the Office of the SDGs and Investment will be the Secretariat of the Core Working Group in the state |||READ MORE

Don’t trust UK’s asylum offer, Don cautions IPOB, Biafra agitators

Professor of Political Science, Abia State University, Professor Hatz Ofoeze, has cautioned members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and other Biafra agitators not to be carried away by the promise by the United Kingdom to grant asylum to ‘persecuted’ members of the movement.

Ofoeze in an interview with our Correspondent said ” Britain can never be trusted”, hence, he holds the promise with a pinch of salt.

He said that Britain was the cause of Nigeria’s woes, and doubted the sincerity of the promise |||READ MORE

Outrage Over New Viral Video Of Assault On Policeman In Lagos

An undated viral video which surfaced on Wednesday involving a motorist and a policeman is currently causing public outrage on the social media after the motorist was seen assaulting the armless policeman over an argument in Lagos.

The policeman had apparently insisted on impounding what looks like a mini-truck. Argument ensued between the policeman and a man holding a bottle at the back of the vehicle, who was trying to force the security man to come down from the truck.

Onlookers were also heard from the backgroud prodding the man with the bottle, who is apparently the owner of the vehicle, to assault the policeman and the latter brazenly did by hitting the policeman with the bottle on the head |||READ MORE

Federal Govt Okays N8.39bn For Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Makera Road

The federal government has approved an N8.39 billion augmentation for the completion of a section of the Sokoto-Makera Road, which traverses Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger states.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), disclosed this to State House Correspondents yesterday after the federal executive council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa .

According to him, the handlers of the 185 kilometre long project, CRCC Construction Company, requested for the contract augmentation because of a range of factors |||READ MORE

Senate Okays N257.18bn Budget For Customs In 2021

The Senate, on Wednesday, approved the sum of N257,183,671,694.71 as budget for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the 2021 fiscal year.

The approval followed the consideration of a report presented by the Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo North), in his presentation, said out of the amount budgeted for the Customs in the 2021 financial year, the sum of N99,719,722,681.71 is for Personnel Cost; N19,530,769,000.00 for Overhead; and N137,933,180,013.00 for Capital Cost |||READ MORE

House Democrats draw the line: No bipartisan cooperation with Republicans who questioned the election

WASHINGTON – Freshman Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat, has begun turning to an unusual source when trying to decide whether he wants to work with a Republican he thinks makes a good point during committee hearings: Google.

The Massachusetts lawmaker says he knows his constituents want him to work across the aisle, but he's drawing “a sharp red line” at working with Republicans who voted not to certify the Electoral College results as part of then-President Donald Trump's failed bid to overturn his election defeat.

If a quick search produces evidence that one of his Republican colleagues refused to acknowledge President Joe Biden's win, he said, “I kind of throw cold water on the whole thing,” adding that while he doesn't like political litmus tests, "insurrection against the United States government qualifies.” |||READ MORE

How Biden, Republicans and public health leaders are trying to convince GOP skeptics to get their Covid vaccinations

WASHINGTON — Vaccine holdouts could end up being the last obstacle to defeating the pandemic, and a growing effort is aimed at convincing one substantial group of skeptics: Republicans.

While efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy and access have so far been mostly focused on African Americans and Latinos, recent polls suggest the largest group of Americans either hesitant about the Covid-19 vaccine or outright opposed to it are Republicans, and efforts to reach them are only in their infancy.

Success convincing skeptical conservatives could be the difference between the United States reaching herd immunity or not. That's why a group of Republican pollsters and politicians, plus the White House, are all already working on getting the skeptics on board |||READ MORE

Ndume: It Started Like A Joke… Nigeria On The Brink Of Collapse

Senator Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has expressed worry over the increase in criminal activities, adding that security and welfare are threatened in Nigeria.

Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, Ndume said Nigerians and government are still not taking the security situation seriously.

He called on citizens and government to match faith with action on ensuring an urgent improvement in the security situation |||READ MORE

FG Not Ready To Protect Nigerians- Gani Adams

 

Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams has said the federal government and security agents are not ready to protect Nigerians.

Speaking in an interview with The Sun, he also accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of playing the ethnic card on issues of security.

While describing the current state of security in the country as unfortunate, Adams said the poor handling of criminal activities may lead to war READ MORE

Kaduna Abduction: Shehu Sani, Aisha Yesufu React To Bandits Flogging Of Students

Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, and the former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, have reacted to the video released by bandits showing them flogging the missing 39 students abducted from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The bandits on Saturday released a video requesting for the sum of N500m as ransom to release the students.

Parents of the students have also confirmed that the abductors have reached out and are demanding the sum of N500 million |||READ MORE

Benue Will Not Negotiate, Grant Amnesty To Criminals Again – Ortom Vows At Suswam’s Funeral

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has promised that his administration will no longer negotiate or grant amnesty to criminals again.

Naija News recall that Terkura, the elder brother to Gabriel Suswam, former Benue governor, was killed alongside his aide on March 2.

They were both attacked at Terkura’s hometown in Anyiin LGA of the state.

Speaking at his funeral on Saturday, Ortom said the state will no longer offer amnesty to criminals, except they repent and beg for forgiveness |||READ MORE

FG launches cash grant for rural women

The Federal Government Rural Women Cash Grant Programme was flagged off yesterday in Borno and Yobe States. A total of 5,840 women are expected to receive cash grant of N20, 000 each in Borno, while 3,400 women of the same category will benefit from Yobe state. At the flag off on Friday at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Government House Maiduguri, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, explained the importance of the programme to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

She said the Conditional Cash Transfer has been catering for Internally Displaced Persons in Gonikachallari, Bakasi and NYSC Camps due to the peculiarity of security situation in Borno State. “We currently have 12,190 Poor and Vulnerable Households (PVHHs) that have been enrolled in 13 Local Government Areas. They are Konduga, Gubio, Magumeri, Hawul, Shani, Mafa, MMC, Chibok, Mobbar, Kaga, Jere, Akira-Uba and Dikwa LGA’s and disbursement is set to commence as soon as the security situation improves.

“A total number of 5,840 women are to benefit from the cash grant of 20,000 each to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural women in Borno State. It is President Muhammadu Buhari’s social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda, with the realization of the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years,” the minister explained |||READ MORE

IPODO…where drug dealers harvest pleasure, profit from little girls’ bodies

This is the dream of a Lagos crack dealer: to see the sun rise daily in its silvery splendour while the city stirs to hustle and thrill seekers pursue a new kind of “jonzing.”

His name is Kola but “customers” call him O’ngbana. At 49, O’ngbana swaggers through Ipodo like a cocky prince of the barrio. Amid the shanty in Ikeja, Lagos, he made a killing everyday until COVID-19 struck, dwindling patronage to a trickle.

Business is at a scary low. A dribble here, a trickle there, makes O’ngbana very worried. “People don’t have money to eat let alone smoke crack (adulterated cocaine). But I have my loyal customers. Come rain or shine, they will always show up,” he said, and forlornly recalled the glory days of his hustle, when he made as much as N10, 000 in a day and about N50, 000 in a week, dealing crack and Indian Hemp |||READ MORE

How I was raped five times, by Iyabo Ojo

Popular Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has shared how she was raped five times.

She recalled the first incident was when she was just 14.

She spoke during a recent episode of her YouTube series titled ‘Bare it all with I.Y‘monitored by THE NATION.

The actress explained she decided to share her story to encourage others who have had a similar experience to speak up with a view to tackling rape and sexual violence in society |||READ MORE

Buhari sued over FG’s plan to borrow N895bn from dormant accounts

The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to restrain and stop President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government from borrowing an estimated N895bn of Nigerians’ money in the form of their unclaimed dividends and balances in dormant accounts.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project filed the lawsuit after the recent move by the Federal Government to take over and borrow unclaimed dividends and dormant account balances owned by Nigerians in any bank in the country. But the same legislation explicitly excludes dormant official bank accounts by all branches of government and their agencies.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/31/2021 filed by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, last Friday, SERAP is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining and stopping President Buhari from demanding, taking over, borrowing, and collecting Nigerians’ money in the form of their unclaimed dividends and funds in dormant accounts or transferring and moving the money into a trust fund known as ‘Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund” |||READ MORE\