Nigeria
DHQ: Troops eliminate bandits in Niger
The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Whirl Punch have eliminated an unspecified number of armed bandits in an encounter at Tashan Kare in Niger State. The Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, a major general, in a statement on Monday, said the success was in continuation of aggressive clearance operation to rid the North Central of criminal elements. Mr Enenche said the troops acted based on credible intelligence on the attack by bandits. He said troops swiftly mobilised to the scene and made contact with the bandits. “The gallant troops engaged the armed bandits with superior fire power killing unspecified numbers while others fled in disarray into the bushes. “Sadly troops suffered three casualties while two others were wounded in action. “The Military ...
PTF: Nigeria set to end evacuation of nationals August 25
The Federal Government announced that evacuation of Nigerians in the diaspora as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will end on Aug. 25, 2020. This was revealed by the chairman of the Presidential Task Force and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha at the PTF daily briefing on Monday in Abuja. The U.S. and Egypt have indicated interest to repatriate Nigerians convicted, pardoned, and paroled in those countries. Speaking during the briefing, Mustapha said:” a number of countries have signified intention to repatriate Nigerians convicted and pardoned and paroled in those countries. “These include the UAE, Egypt, and the U.S. Coming in the midst of our National Response to COVID-19, all relevant agencies of government are taking multi-sectoral steps to ensure that th...
APC: PDP rudderless under Uche Secondus
Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been sinking since Uche Secondus became its chairman. The party said this after Secondus criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration. In a statement on Monday, the APC said the main opposition party became “rudderless under his (Mr Secondus) watch” and alleged that party’s stakeholders had detached from its activities. “Under Secondus, the PDP has never had it this bad with the opposition party’s stakeholders detached from the party activities as was witnessed with notable PDP leaders boycotting the party’s 2019 presidential campaigns and the recent Bayelsa State Governorship bribe-for-ticket scandal that indicted Secondus. “Little wonder, the recent months have wit...
NYCN youth leaders ‘missing’ in Port Harcourt
Two members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Napoleon Spiff and Zachariah Levi George have been reported missing after they attended an event at the Ministry of Justice Conference Hall in Port Harcourt. Rivers State NYCN Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, who disclosed this said the youths have been missing for four days. Spiff is the Chairman of the NYCN in the Rivers East Senatorial District, while Levi George is the National President of the National Union of Rivers State Students. Ihunwo appealed to security agencies in the state to launch a manhunt for the missing youths. According to him, families of the youths were in distress over their whereabouts, even as he expressed fears that they may have been kidnapped. “I want to use this medium to inform the Rivers State Commission...
Auditor-General denies illegal withdrawal of N10 billion from NHIS account
The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Anthony Ayine, Monday, described as false and mischievous, allegations that he connived with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to illegally withdraw N10 billion from the account of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. In a statement from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, OAUGF, in Abuja, Ayine said in the allegation, it was stated that the first withdrawal of N5 billion from the NHIS account was made by Osinbajo and himself, in December 2016, noting that he actually resumed office in January 2017. According to him, the whole allegation, therefore, is not only illogical, highly embarrassing, scandalous, frivolous and unreasonable, but it is also calculated to smear the OAuGF and the person of the Auditor-General for the Federat...
Nigerian government captures 1 million vulnerable citizens to national social register
No fewer than one million vulnerable Nigerians have been captured into the National Social Register, as part of ongoing efforts aimed at improving the well-being of the citizens through the implementation of National Social Investment Programmes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Minister of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, who disclosed this on Sunday, at the one-year commemoration service held at the Holy Trinity Church Maitama, Abuja, reiterated the resolve of the present administration towards institutionalizing the NSIPs. The Minister who was represented by the Director of Disaster Management, Dr Dorothy Nwodo said: “As you rightly said the Ministry is just about one year that it was established by Mr President and the ai...
292 Army officers to sit for senior staff course qualifying exams in Kaduna
A total of 292 army officers are to sit for the 2020 Senior Staff Course qualifying examination (SSCQE). The examination would hold at the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre (ICC), Lt-Gen Ihejirika auditorium, Jaji Kaduna State. Newsmen report that examination is conducted by Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and is expected to last for one week. The examination’s President and Commander TRACDOC, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, said while addressing the candidates on Sunday at Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna that the examinations was a key determinant to their progress in the Army. “As you are aware, the SSCQE is a major prerequisite for you to attend the Senior Staff Course at the AFCSC here in Jaji or any of the subscribed staff colleges oversees. “Hence, the need for you t...
NAF deploy 32 Special Forces to Southern Kaduna
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Sunday deployed additional 32 special forces to support Operation Safe Haven being executed by the military to restore normalcy to southern Kaduna. The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Training Command Kaduna, AVM Musa Mukhtar said in Kaduna that the deployment was in response to the directive of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, for NAF to support the ongoing operation. Newsmen report that the troops deployed two officers, 28 soldiers and two medical staff. “We are part of support element going to Southern Kaduna to support the operation safe haven from the Nigerian airforce special forces. “I call on the troops to be discipline, remain focused and respect human rights as they go about their operations. “We have Operation Thunder Strike wh...
Asiwaju Tinubu urges immortalisation of former US envoy Walter Carrington
Sen. Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, has called for the immortalisation of former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, in recognition of his outstanding achievements. Tinubu made the call in a condolence message by his media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, which was made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos. Newsmen recall that Carrington who was also U.S Ambassador to Senegal, died on Tuesday at the age 90. In his tribute to the late diplomat, Tinubu described Carrington as a citizen of one nation and son of two. The former governor of Lagos State said that the laudable ideals for which the departed Carrington stood must be honoured. He noted that the late ambassador was a bridge between Africa and the African-American. “To forget him would be a shamele...
Two coronavirus patients discharged in Kwara
Two patients who tested negative for the coronavirus pandemic were discharged in Kwara on Friday. The state has not recorded any new case of the virus in the last 18 hours. Rafiu Ajakaye, the Spokesman for the Technical Committee on COVID-19, said these in Ilorin on Saturday. He said total cases of the virus in Kwara stood at 888 of which 649 patients had been discharged, leaving the state with 216 active cases. According to him, 23 deaths have so far been recorded, while 2,990 tested negative for the virus out of the 3, 982 tests carried out with 104 tests pending. Ajakaye said the state ministry of health indicated that the pandemic had spread to 10 out of the 16 local government areas in Kwara. According to the distribution, Ilorin South Local Government topped the list with 390 cases f...
UAE donates 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies to Nigeria
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday donated 7.5 tonnes of medical supplies to the Nigerian Government to support it in its response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The consignment which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Saturday, comprised thousands of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). Handing over the items, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Fahad Al-Taffaq, represented by his deputy, Mr Khalifa Al Mehrizi, said the UAE’s was committed to supporting Nigeria in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Al-Taffaq said the donation was an initiative of the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum. “The UAE believes that concerted efforts across board is key to effectively mitigating the socio-economic effect of the pand...
NCFront: DSS invites ex-Reps Speaker over TV interview
All Africa The Department of State Services has invited a former member of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’aba, for questioning on Monday. Although the details of the invitation scheduled for Monday in Abuja were still sketchy, it was learnt that it was based on his recent interview on Channels Television on Thursday regarding the agenda to bring about a new Nigeria that works for all. Newsmen reported that Na’aba and former presidential candidate and founder of the Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomion July 7 formed NCFront, a new political movement. The invitation of Na’aba was contained in a terse statement by its Head (Public Affairs Bureau) and former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, entitled: “News Flash: DSS Invites NCFront leader ...
