News Agency of Nigeria
MURIC urges Nigerian government to deploy security task force in Southern Kaduna
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an NGO, has called for the deployment of joint security task force to stop the incessant killings in Southern Kaduna. The Director of the group, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, gave the advice on Monday in a statement. Akintola said, the measures will go along way in curtailing the ethno-religious killings and other forms of criminality been perpetuated in the area. The group however condemned the recent killings of some youths in Zangon Kataf, which according to him violated the peace agreement initiated by the Agwa Atyap, Sir Dominic Yahaya between the Atyap and Hausa/Fulani. “MURIC strongly condemns these killings and attacks on law-abiding Muslims. We call for stronger presence of security agents. ”It is high time soldiers are drafted to Southern Kaduna to enfo...
NCDC reports 160 new virus infections, two deaths
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 160 new infections of COVID-19 in the country, bringing the nation’s confirmed cases to 56,177. The NCDC made this known on its official twitter handle on Saturday. Newsmen report that the 160 new infections were down slightly from 188 recorded on Friday in the country. The agency said that in the last 24 hours, two people died from the virus, bringing the death toll nationwide to 1,078. The NCDC stated that the number of recovered patients increased by 90, bringing total number of discharged cases to 44,088. “As of Sept. 12, 2020, 160 new confirmed cases and two deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “Till date, 56,177 cases have been confirmed, 44,088 cases discharged and 1,078 deaths recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Terri...
Temi Otedola makes acting debut
Temi Otedola, daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, says she’s excited about her acting debut in an emotional movie ’Citation’. Newsmen report that the star- studded movie, which happened to be a teaser of Otedola’s first feature movie, was directed by Kunle Afolayan. Temi played a role in a character as Moremi Oluwa in the movie ‘Citation’ which also featured prominent artistes. Temi, who said she was so excited and overfilled with gratitude over her first debut, took to her Instagram page @temiotedola to make the announcement to her fans. “I can’t believe this day is here. I can officially share the first teaser for #CitationTheMovie… “This day is an emotional one for so many reasons. As many of you already know Citation is my debut feature film, and is directed by the legen...
Nigerian government approves new test kit for HIV
In its effort to ensure that the spread of the HIV virus is drastically reduced, the Federal Government has approved the inclusion of ”Wondfo HIV I and II rapid test kits” for use in the country. The National Coordinator, National AIDS/STI Control Programme (NASCP) Dr Akudo Ikpeazu, made the this known while presenting the evaluation report on the kit, on Tuesday in Abuja. “The Wondfo rapid test kit, could be used as a confirmatory test because of its high specification of 99.4 per cent,” she said. The coordinator said that in 2019, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) approved the conduct of the laboratory performance evaluation of Wondfo HIV I and II rapid test kit. “The result of the evaluation which was conducted at the reference testing laboratory Public Health in Vitro Diagnostic La...
Instant rain claims 25 lives in Jigawa
No fewer than 25 persons killed and more than 51,000 houses destroyed by heavy rainfall in Jigawa. Gov. Muhammad Badaru, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Dutse. The governor, however, said he could not immediately give the exact number of casualties, adding: “You see to put the number of how many people died, you see this keep increasing. “The last count we had was between 20 and 25. Some are yet to be verify whether it is as a result of flooding or other issues, whatever it is even if it is one life that is lost as a result of flooding is very serious,” he said. Badaru, who condoled the families of the deceased and sympathised with those whose property were destroyed in the current flash floods assured them of his government support. He noted that not most of ...
Plateau governor tasks new council chairman on prudence, accountability
Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has urged the new Chairman, Management Committee, Barkin Ladi Local Government, Jock Alamba, to embrace prudence and accountability in the discharge of his duties. Lalong also charged him to consolidate on the peace achieved in the area. He made the call while inaugurating the chairman on Tuesday at the Government House, Jos. Newsmen report that the former chairman of the Local Government, Mr Ezekiel Mandyau, died in July after an illness. The governor said that Nigeria was dealing with the impact of COVID-19, adding that the global pandemic had affected all facets of the economy, including the finances of local government. “This means that you must embrace prudence, accountability and accord priority to the programmes and projects that have direct bearing on t...
Court orders police to produce Bayelsa governorship candidate
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, again ordered the police to produce Vijah Opuama, the Bayelsa Governorship Candidate in the Nov. 16, 2019 election. Newsmen report that Justice Taiwo Taiwo, on Aug. 3 and Sept. 2, ordered that Opuama, who was said to be in police custody, be produced in court but the orders were disregarded by the security outfit. Opuama’s Lawyer, Michael Odey, had, on Aug. 31, brought an ex-parte application before the court, asking the police to show cause why the detainee should not be released unconditionally. While the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mr Adamu Mohammed, is the 1st respondent, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge-of the I-G’s Monitoring Unit is the 2nd respondent in the suit. However, the judge, on Monday, issued the third order, ...
Rivers government reopens NLC secretariat as labour suspends rally
The Officials of the Rivers Government, on Tuesday, unsealed the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Port Harcourt, following collective bargaining agreement signed with the union. Newsmen report that the state government had sealed the NLC secretariat in March for correction of structural deficit. Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, on Sept. 4, issued a notice to hold mass rally over the sealed secretariat among other lingering industrial dispute. However, after a six hour deliberation on Monday, the organised labour reached an agreement with the state government to address all contending issues and for the protest to be called off. Government officials arrived at the secretariat at about 7.00 a.m. and remove the seal to fulfil part of the agreement. Wabba, who addressed workers of the affi...
APC commends labour for suspending planned strike in Rivers
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has commended the organised labour in the state for suspending its planned strike for Tuesday. It said in a statement issued by its spokesman in the state, Mr Ogbonna Nwuke, that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its associates had demonstrated uncommon maturity and discipline. Nwuke noted that labour demonstrated this by allowing last-minute discussions with the Rivers Government. He said that the breakthrough recorded at the meeting was plain as a result of the unique sacrifice made by labour in the overall interest of the state and nation. “We have heard that the Rivers Government and labour have settled their differences. “It took last-minute efforts that lasted late into the night to avert a crippling strike. “While we welcome the res...
CSO urges President Buhari to freeze NDDC account
The Act for Positive Transformation Initiative, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to freeze the account of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and suspend all further spending in the commission. Mr Johnson Kolawale, the Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy, and Programme, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Abuja. He alleged that plans were ongoing to make fraudulent expenditures by top officials in the commission. Kolawale revealed that the commission had continued to spend funds against due process and against the directive of the President. According to him, the commission has squandered an additional nine billion Naira in the last one month. “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, and genuine sec...
Ondo guber: Do not use ‘Amotekun’ against oppositions – AA
The Action Alliance (AA) has urged Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu not to use the local security outfit, ‘Amotekun’, against opposition political parties before, during, and after the Ondo State governorship election, holding on Oct. 10. Mr James Vernimbe, National Secretary of the party said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja. Vernimbe said that although his party was fit, prepared and ready for the forth coming election, it was paramount to checkmate the use of the ‘Amotekun’ security during the polls. “We urge the Government of Ondo state not to use ‘Amotekun’ security agents against the opposition in the state during the election. “We also urge all security agencies to be neutral before, during, and after the election,” he said. He also called on the In...
27 Stranded Nigerian girls evacuated from Lebanon arrive Abuja
Another batch of 27 stranded Nigerian girls evacuated from Lebanon by the Federal Government and the Lebanese Government, as well as its community in Nigeria arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday. Receiving them, Ferdinand Nwonye, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who represented the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the evacuation was in fulfillment of the Nigerian Government’s promise to ensure no Nigerian is left stranded in Lebanon. Newsmen report that there have been several pleas from Nigerians stranded in Lebanon for assistance to enable them to return home. Nwonye said the Nigerian Government was aware of the unfortunate situation they experienced in Lebanon, hence the collaboration to ensure their safe return to t...
