Global Naija Info

Boko Haram insurgents Boko Haram has so far killed at least eight soldiers in two attacks in Borno State while more than two dozen fighters also died, according to the military. The armed group ambushed a convoy late on Sunday near Bama, 70km southeast of Maiduguri, resulting in the deaths of an army officer, three soldiers, and three attackers, an army statement said on Monday. Earlier in the day gunmen attacked an army position at Logomani, 110km northeast of Maiduguri city, killing four soldiers, it said. The army said at least 22 fighters died in the firefight. The attacks brought the official death toll of troops killed in the past week to 10 with 24 others wounded. However, Boko Haram claimed more than 40 soldiers from a multinational army were killed in just one attack last week. On Sunday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a video denying military reports that he was fatally wounded last month. He also insisted he remained in charge despite the fact that ISIL...

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (middle), with Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (right) and Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Olarenwaju Ogunyemi (left), presenting shoes and socks to pupils of State Primary Schools in Lagos during the launching of Project Bright Steps, a Children Empowerment Project by Wife of the Governor & Founder of HOFOWEM at the Event Centre, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on Monday Kazeem Ugbodaga Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Monday launched the distribution of shoes and socks to 175,000 public primary school pupils in Lagos State by her foundation, Hope For Women In Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM). She counseled parents and guardians against using their children and wards to sell goods in traffic and on the streets, urging them to desist from all forms of child abuse and child labour, saying that parents should send their children to school rather than use them to hawk to avoid the dangers involved. Spea...

Commandant-General of NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday said it had deployed 20,000 personnel for Edo governorship election scheduled for Sept. 28. This is contained in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Okeh and issued to newsmen in Abuja. The statement said that the Commandant-General of the Corps, Mr Abdullahi Muhammadu, had directed the immediate deployment of 20,000 personnel for the election. “The CG has charged the Acting Deputy Commandant General Operations, Mr Hillary Madu, to relocate his office to Edo in order to guarantee free and fair election devoid of violence and rancour. “The Acting DCG is to be assisted by two Assistant Commandant Generals in Charge of Zone G Benin and Zone E Owerri with five Commandants drawn from the neighbouring states. “While the personnel are to be re-deployed from Kogi, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra Commands respectively to complement the deployment of pers...

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers The Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality, HRH, Patrick Oqua-Igbor V, has called on Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River to review the allowances of corps members serving in the state. Oqua-Igbor, made the call on Monday in Calabar, when the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Ifeoma Anidobi, and some members serving in the Calabar Municipality paid him a courtesy visit. He said that in view of the present economic situation, there was need for an upward review of the allowances of corps members in the state. He said the corps members, over the years, have contributed greatly to the economic development of the state by serving in critical areas of human and social development. “Over the years, the NYSC scheme had contributed immensely in the social-economic development of the country. The scheme had offered young Nigerians the opportunity to serve their country in different sectors. “With the present economic challenges in the country, I am advocating f...

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday adjourned till Wednesday the trial of four accused persons in the case of alleged N8 billion currency scam. Abdulmaleek adjourned the trial based on the prayers by the defence counsel following the plea bargaining arrangement entered into by the fourth accused person, Oni Ademola. The other accused persons facing trial include Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola and Togun Philip. “I shall give the opportunity to know the content of the plea bargain and whether it affects their case. “It is my own view that the issue of plea bargaining is solely an affair of the fourth defendant and the prosecution. “Let me also state that the issue of plea bargaining cannot stall further examination and cross examination of the accused persons,” Abdulmaleek said. The case slated for trial was stalled by Adebisi Adeniyi, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes’ Commission (EFCC). Ad...

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday declared the 2016/2017 Legal Year open, urging members of the bar and the bench to come up with innovative reforms so that the Lagos State Judiciary will continue to retain its pride of place in Nigeria. The Governor, who spoke during a church service to commemorate the beginning of the Legal Year, held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, said the synergy of the Executive and the Judiciary was pivotal to the success of any administration, just as he restated his administration’s commitment to enthrone the rule of law and protect the less privileged. He thanked the Judiciary for the support given to his administration in the last 16 months, urging them continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour to ensure peace continues to reign in the State. Governor Ambode while acknowledging that the task of delivering justice to the citizenry was tough, however, expressed optimism that ...

The Ogun Police Command says it will prosecute a Pentecostal pastor, Wale Fagbere, who allegedly invaded a traditional shrine in Ketu area of Ayetoro in Ogun. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Monday that the cleric would be charged for malicious damage and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace. “What he did was wrong and so he must be charged to court. If it was the other way round too, they will also be charged to court. “Everyone has a right to worship whatever deity one chooses without fear or favour, “he said. Oyeyemi, however, said he could not tell in which court the accused would be arraigned as at press time. NAN reports that Fagbere on Saturday attempted to pull down a traditional shrine in Ketu, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state. But he was reported to have immediately gone numb upon entering the shrine, attracting a crowd to the scene. He, however,...

The police in Benue have confirmed the killing of chief Awuhe Alev, the traditional ruler of Mabayongo district, in Katsina Ala local government council of the state Confirming the incidence on Monday to the News Agency of Nigeria, in Makurdi, the police public relations officer, ASP Moses Yamu, said unknown gunmen invaded the traditional ruler’s house in Vingir village on Sunday night and shot him dead. He said the police had yet to discover the motive for the killing but added that investigations into the murder were in top gear and assured that the culprits would soon be arrested. The police spokesman said additional policemen had been deployed to the area to maintain law and order and appealed to members of the public with useful information that might lead to the arrest of the culprits to volunteer them to security agencies. NAN reports that a village in Mbayongo had recently been under siege by security operatives in search of Mr Terwase Akwaza, the former Aide of Gov. Samue...

AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has dispelled the fears being expressed in some quarters about the country being in debt crisis. He made the clarification while addressing State House Correspondents after a delegation of the bank met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Economic Management Team (EMT). Adesina said the country was facing tough times but added that it was not in debt crisis but rather having liquidity problems. “We are here to provide very strong support for the Nigerian government. “Let me just say that Nigeria has tough times but Nigeria is not falling apart. “When people talk about debt crisis, Nigeria is not in a debt crisis. “If you look at the fiscal deficit of this country with regard to the GDP, it is just about 3 percent or 3.5 percent; it is still below the 5 percent for the Fiscal Responsibility Act. “If you look in terms of the debt to GDP ratio for Nigeria, it is 15 pe...

•Soludo Former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has insisted that Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana must apologise to him for accusing him of doling out $7 billion of foreign reserves to banks as loans. In a statement, Professor Soludo stated: ”I have just read further statement from Femi Falana in response to mine and his position that he does not need to apologize to me but that instead I may wish to direct my demand for apology to Mr. Festus Odoko (then head of corporate affairs at the CBN). I hereby further wish to state as follows: When I read Falana’s original statement, claiming that he had “evidence”, that I ‘dolled out’ $7 billion of foreign reserves to banks as a LOAN, I denied the charge and challenged him to publish such evidence. His “evidence” turns out to be a newspaper report quoting the announcement by CBN through Mr. Odoko that “deposits worth $7 billion representing the apex bank’s share of the foreign reserve...

Erosion threatens high tension pole in Shagari Federal Low Cost Housing Estate, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. Residents of Shagari Estate, Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, Lagos, have been thrown into darkness as the base of some electric poles in the area have been eroded. Investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reveals that the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) had switched off electric supply to the area to avert impending danger. This is because the basement of one of the poles carrying 33KVA electric lines has been greatly eroded. Mr Olufemi Ojo, the Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman in the area, told NAN that the problem had been on for a long time. Ojo said that the case had been reported to the Sole Administrator of the LCDA, Mr Rotimi Ogunwuyi, and other relevant government agencies, but that nothing was done to remedy the situation. According to him, continuous rainfall for the past two weeks has further weakened the concrete base...

The Kano State Police Command has arrested five suspected notorious armed robbers who have been terrorising truckers on the highways. The command confirmed the arrest in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Majiya, and made available to newsmen in Kano on Monday. Majiya stated that the police also intercepted a truck loaded with 900 bags of sugar valued at N14 million. He said that the suspects were arrested by operatives of the State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) while on a surveillance patrol on the Emir’s Palace Road. Majiya said that the truck, belonging to Dangote Group of Companies, was coming from Lagos to Kaduna when the suspects attacked it, kidnapped the driver and his conductor and drove to Kano to dispose of the commodity. According to him, the hoodlums were eventually tracked and arrested in Kano while the truck and the goods were recovered intact. He said that investigation was still ongoing while efforts were being made to arrest other member...

Mrs Bolanle Ambode Mrs Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Lagos State Governor, says seeing children going to school without shoes is heartbreaking. She spoke on Monday in Lagos at the launch of ‘Project Bright Steps’ – her initiative established to address such problems and focus on children’s social welfare, education and healthcare. “Wearing shoes is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is heartbreaking to see some of our children going to school without shoes. “Walking without shoes has caused many children to fall ill or lose their feet to infections and other life-threatening diseases. “This initiative will begin to equip primary one to three pupils in all public primary schools across the state with made in Nigeria shoes, socks, bags and other education materials. “This is also to encourage local production of school materials as over 175,000 pupils will benefit from the project this year. “These children represent the future of our country and we will continue to do our best to ...

Proprietors of some private schools have described as impressive the return of students for the 2016/2017 academic year, in spite of the economic recession bedevilling the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many parents have had to change schools for their children and wards due to the jack up of fees by some schools to where they considered affordable in view of the current economic situation in the country Mrs Ngozi Anwuchekwa, the Administrator of Vantage Academy, Gwarinpa, told NAN on Monday in Abuja that the return of students after the long vacation was impressive. She said that the school did not increase tuition fee due to the economic hardship in the country. Anwuchekwa explained that many of the parents returned their wards because of the high academic and moral standard of the school. In a separate interview, Mrs Stella Ejiofor, Head Teacher, Redeemer TEAP International school, Garki, said that the school received a good number of new intakes for th...

A Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court, on Monday remanded a 29-year-old applicant, Anyaogu Samuel in prison for allegedly killing his two daughters. The accused was brought to the court by the police for allegedly killing his nine months old daughter, Chinoso, and two-year-old Miracle. The police prosecutor, Sergeant Tuesday Ganagana, told the court that the children were killed on Dec. 25, 2015 and Jan. 1, 2016. Ganagana said that the matter was reported at the ‘A’ Division Police Headquarters and CIID, Lokoja by the mother of the children, one Grace Edwin. He said that the complainant, who resides in Nataco Area Lokoja, claimed that Samuel suffocated the nine-year-old to death on Christmas day. The prosecutor deposed that the woman also alleged that the accused deliberately covered the baby’s nostril and mouth under the pretext of playing with her and this led to her death. Ganagana said that the baby was confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. He added that the comp...

File photo: oil pipeline fire The Network of Grassroots Elite for Capacity Development (NGECP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged Niger Delta militants to stop bombing the nation’s oil installations and save citizens from further hardships. The South-South Coordinator of the group, Adele Jombai, made the call during the group’s national conference in Awka on Monday. He said that the Federal Government should deepen stakeholder’s engagement with leaders of the area and address the issues that led to the problem. He added that elders and stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have told the militants involved in these activities to stop the bombings because it was affecting everybody. “What is now left is for government to follow the path of peace, which is why we are saying that the Federal Government should deepen stakeholders’ engagement.” The South West leader of the group, Alhaji Idowu Alonge, described the current economic situation as hard on masses and call...

Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning. The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, has solicited the support of National Assembly for budget initiatives to bring the economy out of recession. Udoma made the call when he delivered a keynote address at the Gallery Colloquium on“ Budget as a Critical Tool for Effective Executive-Legislative Relations,” on Monday in Abuja. Udoma was represented by Mr Kayode Obasa, Director, Economic Growth Department, in the ministry. He said that the executive had a plan to get the economy out of recession and put it back on the path of sustainable growth. “This plan involves injecting a fiscal stimulus to provide funding for the 2016 Budget which, as we all know, had been carefully designed to reflate the economy. “The budget was designed to reflate the economy but has, unfortunately, been affected by the revenue shortfalls. “Thereafter, it is important to stay the course in implementing the major...

Clinton and Trump Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Monday faced off in a presidential debate that could be the most-watched in U.S. history, with the high-stakes showdown expected to attract 100 million viewers. The 90-minute contest at Hofstra University on Long Island, New York is the first of three planned debates. It said that the debate would also be one of the last chances for the two candidates to sway voters ahead of the November 8 election. An opinion poll released showed a dead heat at the national level, with both nominees receiving 46 per cent of likely voters in a Bloomberg survey. However the presidential election is won state-by-state – especially so-called swing-states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida and by that measure Clinton still has a slight advantage. The debate would be moderated by NBC journalist, Lester Holt and will feature questions about the direction of the country, the economy and national security. Clinton, a Democrat who...

The demolished historical site Elder statesman and politician, Bashorun J.K. Randle, has cried out over the demolition of three historical sites in Lagos bearing the Randle family name. The demolished sites consisted of the Chief J.K. Randle Memorial Hall, Dr. J.K. Randle Swimming Pool and Dr J.K. Randle Love Garden. He accused the Lagos State Government of plotting to wipe out the family’s name through the demolition of its property. PUNCH Metro reports that the state physical planning ministry demolished some property allegedly belonging to the Randle family in the Onikan area of the state on Saturday during the environmental sanitation exercise. Bashorun Randle, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on the telephone on Sunday, said he was called on the telephone by the security man who had been guarding the place for over 30 years, adding that by the time he got there, the property had been demolished. He said the state government had no legal rights to the property. “That place is our...

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode The thrust of the policy of the Lagos State Government is to enthrone the rule of law and also protect the underprivileged, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said on Monday. He spoke at a church service held at the Cathedral Church, Anglican Communion, Marina, as part of activities marking the commencement of the 2016/2017 legal year for Lagos Judiciary. Bishop Johnson Akinpelu gave the charge at the service attended by judges and magistrates as well as senior advocates of Nigeria among others. Ambode called on the Bench to discharge its duties with the fear of God, saying “the judiciary remains the last hope of the citizens.” “We are gathered here again the same way we came last year to seek the protection of God in this legal year. “Jointly with all of you and even those of us in the executive arm, we have a tough task of delivering justice to the citizenry. “I know that the judicial arm represented by the Lagos State judiciary remains the last hope of the citi...

Oba Olusegun Akinbola, Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre, Ondo State. A traditional ruler in Idanre Local Government in Ondo State, Oba Olusegun Akinbola, has urged fellow monarchs to strive to uphold cultural values and tradition to guard against Western influence. Akinbola, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos on telephone, against the backdrop of his 21 years on the throne as “Aladeokun of Alade Idanre”. The traditional ruler said that the norms and traditions were gradually fading away, because of the advent of Western civilisation which should not be. “We are gradually shying away from our culture and tradition, the norms and ethics of the people are being ignored and replaced with civilisation and politics,” he said. The traditional ruler said that most monarchs that got converted to foreign religions eventually adopted culture that was alien to their indigenous tradition. “Our culture is not idolatry but a tradition that protects the sanctity of norms and...

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) received a total of 2,133 complaints from both domestic and international air passengers between January and June 2016, statistics from its Consumer Protection Department have indicated. A document issued by the department and obtained on Monday by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos showed that the NCAA received 2,091 complaints from passengers flying international routes and 42 from those on domestic routes. According to the document, Turkish Airlines recorded the highest number of complaints with 431 cases, while Air France recorded 372 complaints. This was followed by Ethiopia Air and Emirates Airlines which recorded 214 and 213 complaints respectively. It indicated that 1,800 of such cases were successfully resolved with compensation paid by airlines to the affected passengers during the period under review. Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, told NAN that the ...

Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader and Director at Biafra Radio Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday withdrew from the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Justice Tsoho who was accused of judicial rascality by the Biafran group, is the second judge to do so. Mr. Kanu is facing treason charges brought by the Nigerian government for leading a separatist group. He has been in detention since October 2015. The first judge in the case, Ahmed Mohammed, stepped down in December 2015, after Mr. Kanu said he had no confidence in him. In a new petition to the National Judicial Council, Mr. Kanu accused Justice Tsoho of “judicial rascality” and called for his investigation by the council. In the petition made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Mr. Kanu through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, asked the council to investigate Justice Tsoho for giving parallel judgments on the same request. Mr. Ejiofor said after Justice Tsoho decide...

NSCDC operatives Abdullahi Gana, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has directed the immediate deployment of 20,000 personnel for the Edo governorship election scheduled for Sept. 28. Information about the directive is contained in a statement issued by Assistant Commandant (AC) Emmanuel Okeh, Corps Public Relations Officer in Abuja on Monday. He said Gana had directed the acting Deputy Commandant General, Operations, Hillary Madu, to relocate to Edo for the purpose of the election. Okeh stated that Madu would be assisted by two Assistant Commandant Generals (ACGs) in charge of Zone G Benin and Zone E Owerri with five commandants drawn from neighbouring states. He noted that the personnel were to be re-deployed from Kogi, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra state commands respectively to complement the Edo Command. He advised the personnel to work in synergy with other sister security agencies in order to ensure peaceful conduct of election w...

The gavel of justice Two teenagers, Imole Olarewaju and Segun Malic, who allegedly stabbed a friend to death at a party in Lagos, were on Monday remanded on the order of a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court. The duo of Olarewaju, 15, and Malic, 18, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye‎ Nwachukwu, ordered that the accused should be remanded at an Abeokuta Correctional Home for Boys pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osanyade told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences ‎at Kehinde Street, Ajegunle, Lagos, at about 8:00 p.m. on Aug. 3. The accused and others at large were attending a party of fellow secret cult members at the above address and the party later degenerated into a free-for-all, she said. “The accused and others used a kitchen knife to stab Endurance Augustin, 18, ...

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Saudi authorities on Monday executed an Ethiopian housemaid convicted of killing the child of her employer more than three years ago, the Interior Ministry said. The ministry noted in a statement that the execution was carried out after the death sentence was endorsed by the king. Meanwhile, the convict had confessed having knifed to death the six-year-old girl in June 2013, allegedly in retaliation for her family’s ill-treatment. Monday’s beheading brings to 119 the total number of executions so far this year in the conservative kingdom. According to international rights groups, Saudi Arabia is among the top executioners in the world. On Jan. 2, authorities beheaded 47 people, including a prominent Shiite cleric, on terrorism-related charges. Report says Saudi Arabia has imposed death penalty for murder, armed robbery, banditry, rape, drug trafficking and witchcraft. The kingdom, which applies a strict int...

Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade The Bishop of Lagos Mainland Anglican Church, Rt. Rev. Johnson Akinpelu has urged the judiciary to stand for truth and justice at all times. Akinpelu made the call in his sermon at a church service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, on Monday to mark the opening of the 2016/2017 Legal year of the Lagos State Judiciary. He urged the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, as well as the entire judiciary to be firm in the discharge of their legal duties. According to him, justice must not only be done, it must be seen and perceived by all, as actually done. “We cannot afford to continuously rest on the successes of the past; today calls us in a special way to render remarkable services and to do justice where there is perceived injustice. “The question is what Jesus will have us do in our present society? We must pray that He gives us the grace as Christians to lead a life of truth and stand for justice. “We pray ...

Pastor Uguru Usani, Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani said on Monday in Abuja, stressed on the urgent need to re-define strategies for efficient and better service delivery in the Niger Delta region. Usani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the people of the region needed to understand the role of the ministry and its intervention plans to ensure better service delivery in the area. According to him, the ministry in collaboration with various stakeholders, have been organising retreats to enlighten the people on the obligation of the ministry. “What was crucial towards the development of the region was effective co-ordination of projects, programmes and activities in the area by intervention agencies, stakeholders and development partners. “The ministry was being re-positioned to live up to its mandate of promoting peace and coordinating policies and programmes to aid development in the region,” he s...

A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced a 27-year-old tailor, Adabara Abdullahim, to 12 months imprisonment for giving false information to the police. The judge, Mr Garba Ogbede, did not give Abdullahim an option of fine. Ogbede ordered him to pay N 239, 500 to the commissioner of police, FCT Command. Abdullahim, a resident of Zuba, Abuja, had pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of giving false information and extortion. He had pleaded for leniency. The prosecutor, Mrs Ndidi Ukoha, had said during Abdullahim’s arraignment that he gave a police officer false information about an armed robbers’ lodge at Stanza Guest Inn at Zuba. She said that the tailor falsely informed Insp. Yunusa Garba, who was on duty at the Lugbe Police Station, that robbers planned to attack a bank in Lugbe on Feb. 15. She submitted that the tailor committed the offences at 11.30p.m. on Feb. 13. “During police investigation and interrogation, the accused confessed to have deceitfully enri...

Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University ‎(LASU) The Lagos State University ‎(LASU), on Monday, promised to look into anomalies and complaints by students who sat for “ENT 202” examination on Sept. 19. ‎‎ According to the LASU’s bulletin, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, said that justice would be done to the affected students. Fagbohun said he was fully aware of the irregularities that marred the conduct of the examination. “I moved round and also received so many complaints. I‎ was not too happy with the way the examination was conducted and the way the students were treated. “Let me assure you that the university authorities are already looking into the issue and will ensure justice is done as soon as possible,’’ he said.‎ According to him, no student would be treated unfairly and all issues relating to the conduct of the examination would be thoroughly addressed.

Gov Atiku Bagudu The Kebbi State Government said it would not condone lukewarm attitude or any act of indiscipline from school teachers and other workers. Alhaji Balarabe Abdulmumini, the Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board, gave the warning during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria NAN in Birnin Kebbi on Monday. He said the board would intensify efforts to conduct regular inspection of schools with a view to checking and monitoring teachers and students. Abdulmumini said the school inspection department was mandated to report erring teachers for proper discipline and that there would not be sacred cows. He said the recent inspection of Makera/Maurida Primary School in Birnin Kebbi Local Government area revealed some unwanted things. Abdulmumini said out of a total of 13 teachers in the school only three teachers were present and “I ordered the school headmaster to report to me for disciplinary action”. He said the state government had co...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State Enugu House of Assembly has given its support for competence examination for principals of secondary schools in the state organised by the Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB). Mr Mathew Ugwueze, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, made this known on Monday in Enugu while speaking on a petition by some school principals challenging the examination. Ugwueze, while addressing some of the principals, warned that legislators would not tolerate frivolous petitions that could truncate resolves to move the state’s education sector out of precarious situation. He said that the petition, which challenged the PPSMB authority to summon public school principals for such test, was in bad taste “and a call to the dark days”. “As far as I am concerned, that petition holds no water and you should not send such to me again because I will not attend to it. “We are all in one direction to achieve a better and sound education for our c...

President Muhammadu Buhari A member of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajuddeen said on Monday that the Federal Government would expend N4 billion on Galma dam irrigation project in 2016. Tajuddeen, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State. He said the project was designed to reduce redundancy and further encourage dry season farming, especially among the youths. “When completed, the project will provide opportunities for farmers in the area to boost their revenue base apart from creating jobs for the teaming unemployed youths. “We want a situation where Nigeria will be completely food secure. “Therefore, people must be ready to engage in farming activities and see it as a business not a tradition,” he said. On constituency project, Tajuddeeen told NAN that he had donated 100 motorcycles, 200 sewing machines and 156 grind...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo has said that it will take delivery of sensitive voting materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria in Benin on Monday. The INEC Assistant Director on Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Prisillia Sule, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday. Sule said that party agents of the 19 political parties participating in the Sept. 28 governorship election had been invited to witness the retrieval of the sensitive materials at the CBN. She also said that INEC headquarters had deployed National and Resident Electoral Commissioners to assist Edo REC, Mr Sam Olumekun, to conduct the election. NAN reports that fierce-looking armed security operatives were seen in and around the Ikpoba-Hill office of the commission

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Monday said about 3,500 pilgrims from Zamfara and Sokoto states had been transported back to the country through Sultan Abubakar III International Airport. NAHCON Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Abubakar Kaoje, confirmed the number of arrivals to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto. He said that the pilgrims were transported in seven flights by Max Airline. Kaoje said that 2,000 pilgrims were from Zamfara, while the remaining 1,500 pilgrims were from Sokoto State. He commended the pilgrims for their good conduct during the Customs and Immigration’s screening.

Dr Okezie Emenike, an Abuja-based medical doctor, on Monday, said that people with Bulimia Nervosa are at risk of life-threatening illnesses. Emenike disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He defined Bulimia Nervosa as a psychological disorder characterised by overeating spree in a short period of time, followed by purging in an attempt to get rid of the food consumed by vomiting or taking laxatives. He said that the condition was associated with a sense of loss of control and immediately followed by feelings of guilt and shame. According to him, bulimia affects more women than men and is common in teenage girls and young women. He noted that the cause of bulimia was unknown but attributed genetics, physiological, family, society and culture as factors that could pose risk of developing the condition. He added that bulimia could be dangerous as it could lead to serious health problems, stressing that a person with the condition often indul...

NSCDC operatives The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa State on Monday said it received 405 cases from January till date. Alhaji Lawan Bashir-Kano, the state NSCDC Commandant, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia that the reports led to the arrest of some criminal elements in the state. He said that the reports aided the efforts of its operatives in combating crime in the state. “Our mandate is to ensure the peaceful coexistence among the people of the diverse ethnic, religious and political groups is been sustained so as to achieve speedy development in the country. “That is why the command is up and doing in tackling crime of various kinds in the state, so that every citizen whether in the rural or urban area can go about their normal activities without fear of intimidation or attacks. “I want to disclose to you that from January 2016 to date, the command has received a total number of 405 cases which includes both criminal cases such as ...

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State The Kwara Government on Monday inaugurated a joint health monitoring team to oversee the activities of the Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) in its efforts to improve the state’s health service delivery system. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sulaiman Alege, who inaugurated the committee in Ilorin, said government wanted the committee to interface between it and health insurance providers on behalf of patients to ensure that the latter enjoyed quality service delivery. He said that the committee, among others, would monitor and review activities as they relate to the operations and service delivery of health providers participating in the CHIS in the state. This, he said, would provide the committee with an insight on challenges being experienced, as well as assist it to proffer best possible suggestions on how to mitigate them. He added that “the committee will act as representative of the ministry in enrollment meetings with a vi...

Alhaji Lai Mohammed The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has demanded a retraction of libelous publications by the Daily Independent newspaper, Omo Bazuaye and Akin Fadeyi over “Change Begins With Me” campaign. The minister made the demand in letters written to the newspaper, Bazuaye and Fadeyi by Falana & Falana’s Chamber, a law firm of a renown civil right activist and lawyer, Femi Falana. The letters dated Sept. 19 and signed by a lawyer Oludare Falana, was made available to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday. The first letter addressed to the Executive Editor of newspaper alleged that the libelous statement was published in the Sept. 15 edition of the paper. The law firm stated in the letter that the newspaper claimed in its publication that,”Change Begins With Me Gulps N3.4 billion” and that the concept of the campaign was stolen by the minister. “Having damaged our client’s hard earned reputation by your reckless action, we have his instruction to dem...

Rev Sam Ayokunle, CAN President Rev. Samson Ayokunle, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has called on Christians to put hands on deck to rebuild a new Nigeria for the country to move forward. Ayokunle made the call at the Independence Anniversary Interdenominational Church Service tagged: “Our Help Comes from the Lord” held at the National Christian Centre, in Abuja. CAN president,who said that Nigeria as a nation was on its way to seeing better days ahead, urged Nigerians to be strong and not to be dismayed at the situation they were passing through. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that CAN had organised a three-day prayer and fasting ahead of the Independence Anniversary for divine intervention in the economic situation of the nation. CAN president said that Nigeria as a nation did not only have oil but other mineral resources that would help in the nation’s economic growth. “We should have the kind of wisdom that will prevail over economic growth; w...

3SC Players It was jubilation time for supporters of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Sunday after the club defeated visiting Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi to escape relegation. The victory meant the club will escape the drop from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) when the 2015/2016 season ends on Oct. 2. A header from Samuel Olabisi in the 54th minute of the Match Day 37 game gave them the victory. The tension-soaked match was the last home match for 3SC in the 2015/2016 NPFL season and was crucial to their final position on the league table. 3SC were before the match 15th on the table with 44 points, while Wikki Tourists were third with 54 points. The Ibadan-based club will visit Owerri for their last match of the season against hosts Heartland FC. 3SC’s Coach Gbenga Ogunbote said that he was highly grateful to God for the escape, saying many people had believed that the club would be relegated. “God has been faithful to me all the time. It is good t...