State
National carriers announce resumption of Qatar-Saudi air travel
The national carriers of Qatar and Saudi Arabia have announced the resumption of air travel between the two countries starting next week, just days after a deal was reached to end a years-long regional diplomatic dispute. A Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit on Tuesday declared an end to the bitter rift in which members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain – along with Egypt – blockaded Qatar since June 2017. The group severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism, an accusation Doha vehemently denied. Kuwait and the United States had been mediating for reconciliation. On the eve of the 41st GCC summit held in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom agreed to reopen its air, sea and land borders with Qatar – a major breakthrough in the Gulf crisi...
Ex-Governor Ngilari: PDP is dead, will be buried in 2023
Former Adamawa Governor Bala James Ngilari, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no future in Nigeria because it is a dying party. Ngilari said this at the state All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting on Saturday in Yola. The former governor who defected to APC in 2020, was the PDP’s Adamawa North Senatorial Candidate at the 2019 general election. ” One of the reasons why I dumped PDP for APC is that PDP is a dying party. In fact, PDP is dead and it will be buried in 2023. ” Secondly, I don’t see PDP as an alternative for the future of Nigeria, because the contradictions in the party will make its members go to the graveyard and we will help them bury themselves. ” And the reason why I identified myself with APC is because of its laudable objectives that will take us t...
Chidi Ibeh emerges factional Ohanaeze president
A former commissioner in Imo State, Chief Chidi Ibeh, has emerged factional President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Ibeh, a holder of a national award, Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), emerged during a parallel election organized by the Prince Richard Ozobu-led election committee. Chief Uche Okwukwu was elected Deputy President-General. Okwukwu, who hails from Rivers State, was until his suspension by the Nwodo-led executives the Secretary-General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. Chief Okechukwu Isiguzoro from Abia State was also elected Secretary-General. Speaking on the outcome of the election on Saturday, Chief Ozobu told journalists that it was held in Enugu under strict observance of COVID-19 protocol. ‘We promised to give Ndigbo credible election and that is what we h...
Rivers governor threatens to shut jetty over criminal activities
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has threatened to shut down the Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty in Port Harcourt which conveys travelers to various riverine communities in the state if cases of criminality or physical violence in the area continued. The governor said the zeal to provide an enabling environment for sea travelers and boost the marine economy of the state spurred his administration to remodel the once dilapidated jetty first built in the 1950s. Wike stated this at the commissioning of the remodeled Bonny-Bille-Nembe Jetty by the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal on Saturday. The governor in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri Wike, said he decided to remodel the once filthy and disused jetty because he firmly believes that the people of the state deserve t...
Kaduna debunks rumour of helicopter supplying arms to criminals
The Kaduna State Government on Friday described as false, the news in circulation that helicopters supplied gunmen with arms at Ungwan Dankali and Tsallaken Dogo in Zaria Council Wednesday. The State’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the security stakeholders in the state conducted checks and discovered that the report was fake. While urging residents of Kaduna to always provide useful information to fight banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping, Aruwan in a statement also assured the residents that the state government, together with security operatives are working round the clock to maintain peace security in the state. According to Aruwan, “the attention of the Kaduna State government has been drawn to a story that is being circulated by certain...
Enugu: Police declare notorious robber wanted
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Abdulrahman, has, for the third time, declared wanted a suspected notorious armed robber, Valentine. Abdulrahman also ordered the traditional ruler of Akwuke community in Enugu South Local Government Area of the state, lgwe Benard Nwonye, to produce the fleeing suspect, who is an indigene of the community. In a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Abdulrahman said the suspected armed robber, Valentine was allegedly wanted for several robbery incidents, including the killing of two policemen at a checkpoint in the New Haven axis of Enugu in 2016. The statement reads in part “Valentine was declared wanted in connection with the robbery incident that took place at the last bus stop axis of New Haven in the Enugu metropolis. “The f...
Igbo group writes Nigerian government to request extradition of Nnamdi Kanu for ‘treasonable felony
YouTube An Igbo professional group, Coalition of South East Professionals’ Network in Nigeria and Diaspora (CSEPNND), has written an open letter to the Federal Government of Nigeria, urging it to immediately write the Government of the United Kingdom and Israel, requesting for extradition of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra,Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,to face the law over his involvement in alleged treasonable felony. The group whose request was contained in the open letter dated January 8th, 2021, and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, explained that its action was predicated on Kanu’s ceaseless treasonable activities in the country. Noting that Kanu possessed citizenship of the two foreign nations, the coalition, according to the letter signed by its National President, Prof. Madumere Ch...
Governor Wike: PDP‘ll rescue Nigeria in 2023
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said Nigerians have known clearly that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has their interest at heart with the commitment it has shown in fulfilling every promise made in ensuring an enduring improvement in their socio-economic situations. Governor Wike stated this at the commissioning of dualised Forces Avenue, Olumeni and Harvey Streets in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt, by Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal on Friday night. Governor Wike said the administration of his predecessor under the All Progressives Congress (APC), deliberately ignored the roads in the Old GRA of Port Harcourt, thereby leaving the area in blighted condition. Governor Wike stated that his conviction in developing the city and building it into world class sta...
#EndSARS: Eight arraigned in Ekiti over attack on police stations
Eight persons were on Friday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged attacks on police stations and stealing during the recent #EndSARS protests. The defendants are Olatayo Abiodun, 25; Olaoye Toyin, 23; Fasoroti Ifedayo, 25; Ojo Idowu, 18; Adetayo Damola, 20; Owolabi Oluwaseun, 21; Ajewole Ojo, 21, and Moses Ifeanyi, 20. They are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, willful damage, arson and stealing. The defendants were those arrested in connection with the widespread national protests against police brutality which were later hijacked by hoodlums. Their actions resulted in the destruction of property and deaths across the country. Trial The prosecutor, Oriyomi Akinwale, a police inspector, told the court that the defendants committed the ...
‘Christmas village’ boost Akwa Ibom economy with N1 billionn revenue – official
Mr. Orman Esin, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, has said the ‘Christmas Village’ generated more than N1 billion to the state economy since Dec. 1, 2020. Esin announced this to newsmen in Uyo on Friday. He said that the opening of the village had brought some life back to holidaymakers and citizens of the state. “The Christmas village has created value of more than N1 billion since it was opened on Dec. 1, 2020,’’ he said. “More than 600 vendors attract thousands of visitors every evening, adding that the Christmas village became a must-visit place in Nigeria every December. “With the ravaging Covid19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the 2020 Christmas season looked bleak. “Annual events were cancelled all over the world including the record-setting annual 999 events in...
Rivers taskforce sacks 11 operatives for ‘collecting bribes’
Eleven operatives of the newly formed Rivers Taskforce on Illegal Trading and Motor Parks were sacked on Thursday for collecting bribes from members of the public around Choba area in Obio-Akpor local Government area of the State. The task force members were sacked barely five days after the task force recommence operation. Coordinator of the Taskforce, DSP Felix Nwadibe (retired) who disclosed this in Port Harcourt said they were sacked based on reports and verifiable evidences of misconduct, despite several warnings before the commencement of the new exercise. He also said the sacking would serve as a deterrent to other members of the taskforce who want to indulge in such act. He expressed satisfaction at the level of performance of the taskforce members so far, pointing to the level of ...
Nigerian government begins three-month special public works scheme in Jigawa
The federal government on Friday inaugurated the Extended Special Public Works (ESPW) programme in Jigawa with 1,000 unskilled youth benefiting from the 27 local government areas of the state. Each participant will receive N20,000 monthly for three months for the duration of the programme. The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who made this known at the ceremony in Dutse, said that the extended programme was an outcome of the pilot SPW in rural areas approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. Mr. Adamu said that the programme was introduced following the emergence of the novel COVID-19 pandemic, as a measure to cushion the adverse socio-economic effects on citizens. “It aimed at shielding the vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic which included, but are ...
