Global Naija Info

Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Reverend Nicholas Okoh, Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, says people are living under a perpetual sense of insecurity and uncertainty in all parts of Nigeria because of different forms of fear. Okoh made this remark at the Sixth Edition of the Divine Common Wealth Conference (DIVCCON), with the theme, ”Fear Not” on Monday in Abuja. Okoh said the fears might be dismissed as wrong perceptions of reality. But he added that the fact of events available had left the ordinary man with no option than to be afraid. He explained that the people’s perception of the inclination of the present administration was on its own a cause of mistrust and fear. The primate added that the direction of the government was not clear on the issue of national unity giving the actions of the government that seemed to sideline some and favour some. He also disclosed that there was also the fear of Islamisation of the

Donald Trump, official Republican Presidential nominee With only hours to the heated U.S. presidential elections, the Republicans have exuded confidence that its nominee, Donald Trump, would win the election and not his rival, Democratic Hillary Clinton. Some of Trump supporters who spoke to a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the U.S. on Monday said Clinton’s support base was fast crumbling. According to them, the Republican nominee will win all the battleground states to be elected president of the U.S. on Tuesday. John Fredricks, the Chairman of the Trump Campaign in the State of Virginia said Trump would get more than the required votes to become president. He said “we are gaining on Hillary Clinton every single day and we feel very confident that by Tuesday, Trump is going to win; we are very confident about that. “As for the Electoral College and the so-called Blue wall, it is crumbling as we speak and the Electoral College is not as they say they have i

From left: President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Mr Godwin Obaseki, Governor-elect during the commissioning of the 6-lane Upper Siluko road in Benin City, on Monday. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, commissioned four key projects of the Governor Adams Oshiomhole administration and praised the Governor his masses-oriented projects. Speaking at the commissioning of the 200-bed hospital, the President with the hospital “we can see what some of the APC Governors are doing and we can compare it to other places”. At the commissioning of the 6-lane Siluko road, complete with street lights, walkways and underground drains, the President said, “I thank the Governor profusely for inviting me, not once, not twice to come to share his success. By your reaction here, I know you understand and you are grateful for the personal sacrifices that he made. “Personally, in the sense that he could have built a comfortable Government House and remain there, watching

The Lagos District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Monday said it had arrested no fewer than 100 miscreants fond of riding on the rooftops of its Mass Transit Shuttle Trains in Lagos and Ogun States. The NRC District Manager in Lagos, Mr. Jerry Oche, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lagos. He said that the hoodlums were arrested by a combined team of the Railway Police, the Lagos State Police Command, the NRC Task Force and Man-O-War personnel. Oche said that the miscreants had constituted a nuisance to the corporation’s mass transit shuttle service in Lagos and Ogun States, causing harm and injuries to innocent passengers. According to him, the miscreants, last Tuesday, caused mayhem at the Agege station and the development led to reprisal attacks from the people, which affected the operations of the corporation. “We want to first apologise to our customers. Nov. 1 was tough for us due to the nefarious activities of the miscreants. “The hoodlums attacked

Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) The Federal Government has set up a 16-member technical committee to develop a roadmap and find a lasting solution to the lingering conflict between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the country. Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, who inaugurated the Committee on Monday in Abuja, stressed the need to tackle the problem headlong. He said that the committee would be expected to draw up a roadmap for an all-inclusive gathering of stakeholders to address the perennial crises. “The Committee is expected to draw up a roadmap for an all-inclusive gathering of stakeholders to address the lingering conflicts between the Pastoralists and Sedentary Farmers,’’ he said. The minister decried the escalating nature of the crises which had resulted to the wanton destruction of lives and property and threatening the socio-economic development of the nation. “You would recall that the conflict has been escalating

University-of-Ibadan The University of Ibadan will on Nov. 14 issue certificates to 9,884 students for completing various academic and research programmes at its convocation ceremony. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, disclosed this on Monday at a news conference to herald the 2016 graduation ceremony. He said that the school will also honour the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, foremost poet, Niyi Osundare, and philanthropist, Chief Bode Amao, for their contribution to humanity. Giving the breakdown of the graduating students, the vice chancellor said that on Nov. 14, 5,595 undergraduate students and 265 diploma students would graduate from the school. Also, 3,579 postgraduate students would receive their certificates on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16. “On Nov. 17, 2016, which is the school’s Founder’s Day, 442 PhD students will graduate. It is the highest the school had ever produced in a single year. “Aliko Dangote, who is reputed to be the richest

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Monday fixed Dec. 2 for judgment on the freezing of Gov. Ayo Fayose’s Zenith Bank accounts by the EFCC. Taiwo’s order followed the adoption of written addresses and other evidences by parties involved in the suit. Fayose’s two bank accounts domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, Ado-Ekiti were on June 20 frozen by the EFCC. Fayose, through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, approached the court for an order ordering EFCC, the first respondent, and Zenith Bank, second respondent, to immediately lift the freeze order on the accounts. Ozekhome argued that the action of EFCC in placing an embargo on his client’s personal bank accounts was illegal, unconstitutional and an infringement on the Fundamental Rights of the applicant. He said EFCC acted contrary to Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of NIgeria,1999, as amended which granted immunity to a sitting governor not to

collapsed-bridge Movement of prison inmates to courts from Mandalla Maximum Security Prison in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara has stopped following the collapse of the bridge leading to the prison. The Officer in charge of the prison, Alhaji Abayomi Gbadamosi, disclosed this at Mandalla on Monday on the effects of the collapse of the bridge. Gbadamosi lamented that apart from inability of the prison management to move inmates to courts located in llorin, the collapsed bridge had paralysed other activities at the prison. “Operationally, the prison cannot make its statutory representation in various courts in llorin since the collapse of the bridge,” he said. He said he could not take the risk of transporting the prison inmates through available alternative routes which he described as long, risky and tiresome. “It is basically not safe to carry our inmates through unofficial roads, whatever happens to them would not be explainable by me, and to play safe we decided not to go

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted the Kano State Government for nullifying the prosecution of the suspected killers of a 74-year-old woman in Kano. The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that there was need to carry out diligent investigation on the killing of the woman. He demanded that the killers of the woman must be brought to book. On Nov. 3, five key suspects in the killing of Mrs Bridget Agbahime, a trader were set free on the orders of a Kano Magistrates’ Court. Onwubiko said that the case should be properly re-filed at a proper court and given accelerated hearing. “The killers of this Nigerian citizen should be charged and punished for the murder, rather than letting them go unpunished.’’ The coordinator faulted the Kano Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Jibrin Muhammad for setting the suspects free. Agbahime from Imo was killed at th

IDPs A lawmaker, Rep. Rhimanda Shawulu (PDP-Taraba), has called on security operatives to quickly unravel the persons behind sexual abuses in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. Shawulu, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, made the call on Monday in Abuja. There were reports by global rights group, Human Rights Watch, accusing security officials as perpetrating extensive sexual abuse and exploitation in the camps. The report said officials either raped women and girls or lured them into sex in exchange for financial and material benefits. Shawulu, however, insisted that the culprits should be unraveled and appropriate sanctions duly applied to serve as deterrent to others. The lawmaker, who condemned the act, said: “whether it is sexual or any kind of harassment, it ought to attract the appropriate wrath of the law. “IDP camps are where you have very vulnerable people who have no choice. They are forced to be in that situation. “So, if

Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), on Monday, said the Judiciary remained resolute and committed to upholding its independence. The CJN said this on the occasion of the swearing-in of Amina Augie and Ejembi Eko as justices of the Supreme Court in Abuja. Mohammed said all courts in the country were empowered to adjudicate with utmost fairness and justice as prescribed in the Constitution and the law. “Certainly, the decision of the National Judicial Council at its last meeting reflects our desire to preserve this independence. “Hence, we proclaimed to the World that any Judicial officer that is standing trial will cease to perform judicial functions. “The Council took this stand following communications it received from the Attorney General of the Federal that he was embarking on the prosecution of the affected judicial officers for the offences disclosed against them,” he said. However, he said: “We must n

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment, Mr. Abdul-Ahmed Mustapha; Chairman, House Committee on Wealth Creation & Employment, Hon. Sola Giwa; Executive Secretary of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr. Akintunde Oyebode; Commissioner for Wealth Creation & Employment, Dr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna during a media briefing on the activities of LSETF at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday. Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos State Government on Monday said that it has set a target to utilize the N25billion Employment Trust Fund to provide financial support to over 100,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the next three years. Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, at a press conference in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Monday said the fund, was in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s

•Fayemi Nigeria was the centre of attraction at the African Down Under (ADU) international mining conference in Perth, Australia, last September for a number of reasons. First, the news of the discovery of nickel in an unusual large quantity and fine quality in Dangoma, a village in Kaduna State, Nigeria, by an Australian mining company, Comet Minerals, had just filtered into the global mining market a few days to the commencement of the conference. Expectedly, the news created some measures of excitement and renewed interest by international investors, operators and geoscientists about Nigeria’s rich minerals deposits. The second reason was that Nigeria’s mining sector has always been in the news for the right reasons since the beginning of the year when the diversification plan of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration took off with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development driving the mining sector to actualise the job creation and revenue boosting tasks. The third re

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State Oyo State Government has announced 50 percent reduction in the salaries of political office holders, their compensation, approval limits and government’s spending with immediate effect. Alhaji Olalekan Alli, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), disclosed this at a news conference held in Ibadan on Monday. Alli said that the decision was taken at the State Executive Council meeting held on Friday, Nov. 4. He said that it was a measure to shore up the dwindling revenue base of the state. The SSG said that the state had been spending its monthly allocation from the federation account on payment of workers’ salary, which he said, stood at N5.2 billion. Alli said that government had not reneged on its subsisting agreement with the labour unions to pay them 100 per cent of the monthly federal allocation to the state. “The resources of government in the state dwindled as a result of the economic downturn. “In July, the state’s monthly all

Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Adams Oshiomhole during the President’s courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin as part of his 2-day official visit to Edo State, on Monday. As part of his two-day working visit to Edo State, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the new Oba of Benin, Ewuare ll. Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state and others accompanied the president to the palace. Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Adams Oshiomhole during the President’s courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin as part of his 2-day official visit to Edo State, on Monday. Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, presents a gift to President Muhammadu Buhari. With them is Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, during the President’s visit

LAGBUS Hundreds of commuters in Lagos were on Monday stranded at various bus stops due to the strike embarked on by operators of Lagbus Asset Management Ltd.(LAGBUS). LAGBUS manages the Lagos State owned branded red luxury commercial buses on some routes in Lagos. Some commuters, who were caught unawares by the strike, said they would return home as they could not afford the sudden hike in transport fares by other commercial buses. Mr Amusa Johnson, a civil servant, said that he was at the bus stop since 6.00 a.m waiting for the red buses before he later found out that they were on strike. “Public transporters such as the “danfo” buses immediately increased their fares because of the number of commuters stranded at the bus stops,’’ Johnson said. Mrs Omolara Akinjuyi, a trader at Idumota market, described the situation as “unfortunate and pathetic”. Akinjuyi also said that other commercial buses took advantage of the situation to increase their fares by about 70 per cent which

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has commended Gov. Adams Oshiomhole-led Government of Edo for the construction of phases II and III Siluko Road to specification. Buhari gave the commendation when he inaugurated the Upper Siluko Road in Benin on Monday. The president who also commended the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Clem Agba for a job well done, said he was impressed with the design and the construction of drainage on the road. Buhari said” I am impressed with the design, the drainage and the construction of walkways on the road. The road will stand the test of time. “Oshiomhole could have built a new Government House but he choose to construct roads for his people”, he said. According to him, Oshiomhole has exhibited a great commitment and good intention towards the people. On his part, Gov. Adam Oshiomhole thanked the people for their understanding during and after the construction of the road. Oshiomhole said “I want to thank the people foe thei

Trump-and-Hillary-Clinton-in-final-debate With the election day looming on Tuesday, the U.S. leading presidential candidates Democratic Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump engage in a marathon race over the weekend in the final battle for the White House The campaigns by both Clinton and Trump have become very frantic with Clinton and Trump criss-crossing the country’s battleground states that are seen critical to cause electoral upset. The electioneering witnessed exceptional rancour through of the last several months of Clinton’s contest with Trump while her email scandal has seen her early two-digit lead tightened to the Election Day. Trump had five campaign stops in five states on Sunday and had been to more than a dozen states since Friday as he made frantic efforts to flip Democratic states as he battled Clinton for the White House. With the entire 18-month race boiling down to the last two days, Trump covered nearly 4,800 kilometres on Sunday as he hovered around

Efcc-Operatives Mr Wale Akoni (SAN), the counsel to Calistus Obi who is standing trial on a N136 million fraud charge, says he will file a no-case submission against the charge. Akoni made the declaration on Monday at the Federal High Court in Lagos after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) closed its case against Obi, a former acting Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Obi, who was also an Executive Director of NIMASA was charged alongside one Alu Dismas, a former personal assistant to the former director general of the agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi. They are standing trial on eight counts bordering fraud. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million each. The prosecutor, Mr Nkereuwem Anana, closed the case for the prosecution after the defence had concluded cross examination of the eighth prosecution witness, Mr Chukwuma Orji, an an investigation officer with the

Butchers-Association The Nigerian Butchers Association on Monday asked the Federal Government to allow cattle free access into the country, to allow for bountiful availability of meat and meat products in Nigerian markets. Alhaji Asimiyu Tela, Chairman, Ondo State Chapter of the association, said this in Akure. Tela called on the Federal Government to collaborate with the association to find new ways for cattle to come into the country without any hitches, to enable the butchers to be able to meet the daily needs of their customers. “If the Federal Government can ensure that cattle are able to come into the country in abundance, as was being done in the past, that will help butchers in the country to be able to satisfy the needs of their customers. “The cows we have in Nigeria as at now are not enough to meet the demands of our customers and thereby, there are not enough of meat and meat products to meet local consumption,’’ he said. Tela said that the association adhered stric

IT is exactly one year now. I remember asking members of the National Assembly to see reasons why they should review the issue of constituency projects in the country’s budget. What informed my decision to make that call was the fact that, as I noted then, the provision gave room for legislative corruption. But, instead of critically appraising my patriotic and genuine concerns for legislative uprightness and focus, some lawmakers concluded that I was making the call out of malice. They alleged that I was brooding over the loss of the senate seat, which I contested for Abia North Senatorial district. The dust raised by padding allegations and other outrageous exposés by the former House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Dr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, have more than vindicated me. However, this intervention is not intended for self-glorification or exultation. Rather, after appraising how far the eighth National Assembly has fared in the past sixteen months, one is compelled to

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State Borno State Government on Monday said it would prosecute parents who fail to enroll their children and wards in schools. “Any parent either out of ignorance or willingly refuses to send his child to school will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Alhaji Kaka-Shehu Lawan, the Bono State Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice said. He said in Maiduguri that government was already offering parents several incentives to encourage them to send their children to schools. The commissioner noted that it was lamentable that some parents still refused to send their children to school in spite of the incentives. “The government has directed the Borno State Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to mobilise all children of school age to be enrolled in schools. “It has also invested heavily in constructing new schools and renovating those vandalised by Boko Haram terrorists in the course of the insurgency, so as to provide conducive atmosphere for le

Some movers and shakers of the entertainment industry have expressed satisfaction at the successful hosting of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), which they described as a unifying factor for African countries. The third edition of AFRIMA which commenced on Nov. 4 was concluded on Nov. 6, with the grand finale at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The award ceremony was used to create a night of glamour, glitz and grandeur for Africa, through a world-class live production that was broadcast live to over 80 countries. It was preceded by the Africa Music Summit on Nov. 4, to foster creative and cultural exchange, fast track the industry’s development, facilitate knowledge transfer and build bridges for the economic growth of the music industry. The show also featured the AFRIMA Music Village on Nov. 4, a high-octane platform for interaction among Africans and African artistes, through music where the beauty of live performance was experienced. The event was specially org

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has again called on the Nigerian media, especially online publications, to be patriotic in their reportage of the Boko Haram activities The army chief made the call on Monday in Abuja while speaking to newsmen after declaring open a one-day seminar on “Assessing the Threats of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria”. Buratai noted that the online media had misunderstood Nigerian Army in its handling of the war against terrorism in the North-East. “We call on Nigerians, Nigeria press, especially the online media, to take note that they are Nigerians; they should behave like Nigerians and be patriotic. “They should take the issue of defence and security as their personal issue, not to criticise, not to malign, not to smear anybody that is making sacrifice. “Defence and security is the issue that should be the concern of everybody, issues of security and defence are not just discussed l

CPN The Child Protection Network (CPN), Minna has taken back to school four girls of Women Teachers College (WTC) Minna, who were earlier withdrawn for marriage. Mr David Yisa, Coordinator of the group, disclosed this in Minna on Monday. He said the intervention made it possible for the parents to allow the girls continue with their education. He explained that the group had also returned seven children who came to Minna from Kafachan in Kaduna State by rail in search of manual job. “We succeeded in uniting them with their respective parents through the support of the State Ministry of Women Affairs, ” he said . Yisa said the measure was part of the group’s efforts in protecting the right of the Nigerian child. He appreciated the support of the National Human Rights Commission to the group. The coordinator solicited the support of traditional and religious leaders in sensitising parents on the importance of child right and western education. He said proper sensitisation woul