Abuja
NDLEA clarifies stand on drug integrity test for intending couples
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has shed light on the “drug integrity test” for intending couples. The Head of Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr Jonah Achema, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja said that what the agency proposed was totally different from what was reported. Achema said that the clarification became necessary following the report circulating on the media that the agency was to conduct drug tests for ladies before marriage. NAN gathered that a report had been circulating on social media by an online publication that the NDLEA would conduct a drug integrity test for ladies before marriage. According to Achema, the attention of the NDLEA has been drawn to the barrage of reactions to a report by an online publication. “This in which was wrongly credited to the Chairma...
Edo election: PDP governors vow not to leave Benin amid ‘police intimidation’
File Photo Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have vowed not to leave Edo State amid alleged police intimidation. During an emergency press conference in Abuja on Saturday, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, accused security agencies of harassing and threatening the lives of its Governors who had gathered in Benin City, the state capital, ahead of Saturday’s poll. This comes amid claims from Akawor Desmond, the party’s chairman in Rivers State, that over 300 policemen laid siege to the hotel where Governor Nyesom Wike was staying. Secondus, expressed shock that, “security agents were detailed to surround the lodging of our governors to harass and intimidate them.” He questioned why APC governors, “including the governor of Kano Sta...
Edo election: Governor Obaseki declares Friday work-free
Ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Edo State, the government has declared Friday, September 18, 2020, as a work-free day. This was contained in a statement titled ‘Edo 2020: Obaseki declares Friday work-free day’ on Thursday. The statement noted that the declaration of a work-free day was to enable workers in the State Public Service to travel to their respective Constituencies to exercise their franchise. It quoted the Edo State Head of Service, through the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Aziegbemhin P.E, as saying, “Sequel to the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election scheduled to hold on Saturday September 19, 2020, Mr. Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has approved Friday 18th September 2020 as a work-free day to enable workers in the State Public Service travel to their respective ...
Edo election: NSCDC deploys 13,3111 personnel, 60 sniffer dogs
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has deployed no fewer than 13,3111 personnel alongside 60 sniffer dogs to ensure security during the Sept. 19 Edo governorship election. Mr Abdullahi Gana, Commandant General NSCDC, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen by the Corps Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Emmanuel Okeh on Wednesday in Abuja. Gana revealed that the deployed personnel were drawn from the Corps Headquarters and its commands in Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo state. He said that the deployed staff would complement personnel of its command in Edo and the zonal command in Benin. He said that the deployment was to ensure that every act of electoral malpractice, violence and other social vices that could affect the smooth conduct of the el...
Edo election: Court fixes October 14 to hear PDP’s suit seeking Pastor Ize-Iyamu disqualification
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned to October 14, to commence hearing in the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Pastor Osagie Ize-iyamu from the September 19 governorship election in Edo State. Justice Mohammed fixed the date following an agreement by parties to hear the suit after the court’s vacation period. The court had last week adjourned to September 16 for hearing in the application against the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the court’s jurisdiction being a vacation court to entertain the suit. When the matter came up, on Wednesday, counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Ken Mozia (SAN), informed the court that the matter for the day was the hearing of the APC’s objec...
President Buhari felicitates with Bamanga Tukur at 85
The Trent President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday felicitated with elder statesman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on the occasion of his 85th birthday. This is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja. Buhari joined members of Tukur’s family, friends and well-wishers in celebrating the elder statesman. He noted Tukur, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and one-time governor of old Gongola State, had devoted a greater part of his extensive political life to supporting democracy in the country and continent. According to the president, Tukur is an accomplished businessman, pan-Africanist and philanthropist. Tukur understands very clearly that one of the best human legacies is to invest in people and many Nigerians who cam...
1,785 new lawyers called into Nigerian Bar
A total of 1, 785 new lawyers were admitted into the Nigerian Bar on Tuesday, with Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief O. C Okocha, SAN, urging them to embrace professionalism at all times. At the ceremony that held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu, SAN, disclosed that the new lawyers were among candidates that passed the January 2020 Bar final examinations that were supervised by the Council of Legal Education. According to the Law School DG, 1, 779 candidates passed the examinations, while six candidates were from previous Bar final examinations. Hayatu revealed that a total of 2, 515 students participated at the examinations, out of which five candidates were graded in first class, 76 graded in the second class upper, 633...
Edo election: FRSC deploys 1,500 personnel, 35 vehicles
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it had deployed no fewer than 1,500 of its personnel to provide security during the Sept. 19 Edo governorship election. FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), ACM Bisi Kazeem, on Tuesday in Abuja. Oyeyemi said the deployment of the personnel became neccessary because of the heightened concern of political violence during the Saturday’s election. He said the officers and men of the FRSC would assist in ensuring a hitch-free electoral process in Edo. He said that the FRSC team would be led by the Zonal Commanding Officer RS5, Benin, to be assisted by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Federal Operations at its FRSC headquarters, including Sector Commander RS5.1 Benin. H...
Minister inaugurates committee on coronavirus herbal cure
The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, has inaugurated a Committee on Covid-19 Herbal Remedies and Natural Compounds. The Minister who emphasised the threats posed by COVID-19 to the health and well-being of Nigerians and the national economy reiterated the urgent need to develop a home-grown remedy and vaccine to tackle it. Speaking at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, Onu said the Committee, made up of eminent scientists and fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) will work to authenticate claims by researchers, scientists, and traditional medical practitioners of cure and herbal remedy for COVID-19. The Minister urged members of the Committee to vigorously scrutinize and evaluate all claims brought before it, adding that it should identify the remedies with ...
Minister: Nigerian government waiting for NPAN to make submissions on palliatives
The Federal Government yesterday said it was ready to look into the hardships and the challenges the media, especially print, was facing due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this after presenting a portrait of the Argungu festival to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Briefing State House correspondents, the Minister said he had a virtual meeting with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, some time ago, adding that he was waiting for the association to make submissions to him on the challenges the print media was facing. He said the Federal Government was willing to assist the media industry within its means to ameliorate the situation. Alhaji Mohammed, who said gov...
PTF: Nigeria winning fight against coronavirus
Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)/Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, says Nigeria’s national response on COVID-19 is achieving impressive results. The PTF chairman, who stated this at the daily briefing of the task force on Monday in Abuja, said “Nigeria continues to progressively witness declining confirmed cases of COVID-19 with a record low number of 79 cases on Sunday, Sept. 13. “While this suggests that we are winning this war, the reality is that we need to improve on our commitment to eliminate the virus completely by abiding with the protocols so that we can return to a semblance of what was our normal life. “In a very modest way, therefore, we could say that our National Response, under the guidance of Mr. President,...
Nigerian government begs health workers to suspend nationwide strike
The Federal Government has appealed to the Joint Health Sector Unions to suspend its one-week warning strike nationwide. The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the appeal on Monday during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja. “I use this opportunity to appeal to JOHESU to suspend their strike and go into a negotiation. “The position of the Ministry of Health is that strikes by healthcare workers jeopardise the lives of citizens, especially at such times of global health emergencies as now. “Nigeria needs the service of all our health workers to control the spread of COVID-19. Issues around allowances are multi-sectoral and have always been served with negotiations no matter how long it took,” he pleaded. The minister’s plea is coming hours after JOHESU ...
