State
VP Osinbajo: We’ll do all it takes to secure Nigeria
The Muhammadu Buhari administration will not relent but will do all it takes, including putting new ideas on the table in order to secure the country, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said. The Vice President is on one-day official visit to Nasarawa State today and was accosted by reporters on his arrival in Lafia after he was received by Governor Abdullahi A. Sule. Below is the verbatim report of the Vice President’s response to the media: As the President said, these group of people have acted insanely in such a dastardly manner, killing innocent people, people who had gone to their farms to work. I spoke to the Governor, Governor Babagana Zulum and the former Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima to express my condolence, but more importantly, to try and think through ways of dealing with...
US braces for continued surge in coronavirus cases, hospitalisations
As newly reported cases of the coronavirus continued to spike across much of the United States, breaking records for hospitalisations, some local leaders are moving to enact more stringent restrictions. US officials had pleaded with Americans to avoid travel and limit social gatherings as the nation entered its winter holiday season. But many appear to have disregarded those pleas over the long Thanksgiving weekend as the Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 1.2 million airline passengers on Sunday, the highest since mid-March. That number is still about 60 percent lower than the comparable day last year when 2.88 million passengers were screened, the highest ever recorded by the agency. Health officials say they are now preparing for a wave of cases over the next two or ...
Joe Biden picks diverse team of top economic advisers
President-elect Joe Biden named former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as his Treasury secretary nominee on Monday, and named three women to other top economic posts, setting the stage for a more diverse White House. While Biden’s transition to the presidency on Jan. 20 appeared to be hitting its stride, he himself was hobbling after fracturing his foot while playing with his dog on Saturday and will wear a protective boot for several weeks, his doctors said. The incoming administration has been hampered for weeks by Republican President Donald Trump, who has refused to concede to Biden, a Democrat. Trump has said without providing evidence that the Nov. 3 vote was fraudulent, claims that state and federal election officials have dismissed. Biden named leading members of an economic tea...
Borno killings: Senator Lawan leads federal government delegation on condolence visit
The federal government has sent a delegation led by the President, of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, to Maiduguri, Borno state on a condolence visit over the killing of farmers at the weekend by terrorists. A release issued on Monday by Lawan’s media aide, Ola Awoniyi, stated that the delegation which had since arrived Borno state was received on arrival at the Maiduguri airport by Borno State Deputy Governor, Usman Umar Gadafu. The delegation is in Borno, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government, to commiserate and identify with the family of the victims, the Government and the people of Borno State over the incident. Members of the delegation include the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Ministers of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bel...
OPU: Security situation in Nigeria coloured with nepotism
The Oodua Progressive Union, OPU, Sunday, lamented that the security situation in Nigeria is being coloured with nepotism, sectionalism, and lack of competence. The group, in a communiqué at the end of the meeting, said: “OPU is disturbed with the news coming from home, regarding the killing of a first-class Yoruba monarch, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Adegoke Adeusi in Ondo State. “We also condemn, in totality, the dastardly acts of Fulani herdsmen who yearly burn down Chief Olu Falae’s farm. In the same vein, we commend Amotekun in the rescue of the wife of the Chief of staff to the governor of Ondo State. “After careful observation of the 1999 Constitution, we realised that the document was unfit and unproductive, making it the source of nearly all our problems. “As a group that is poised fo...
UN: Over 110 people killed in attack on Borno rice field
United Nations (UN) has revealed that not less than 110 civilians were killed by Boko Haram in the attack on a rice field in Borno State. Earlier reports had put the death toll of Saturday’s deadly Boko Haram attack on rice field in Borno at 43 while several others were said to be missing. A statement by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, on Sunday, while describing the attack as horrifying, said not less than 110 people were killed with many other persons injured in one the deadliest attack by the terrorist group, who have laid siege to the Northeast for over a decade. Kallon said: “I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri. “At least 110 ...
Nigerian government given N81 million bill to cut Abuja stadium grass – minister
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has said the Federal Government was given a bill of N81 million to cut the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. He said this in a series of tweets on Sunday. According to Dare, the sports ministry rejected the bill. The minister explained that fund was not available, adding that there would be an outcry if Nigerians were told that N81 million was used to cut grass. He tweeted, “The ministry was given a bill. The Ministry did not accept. It will be detrimental to spend such an amount. And it can be better invested. “If we tell Nigerians we used N81m to cut grass, which is not even available, there will be an outcry. “The funds are not really there for us and that is why we are partnering with private investors to bring back the...
UNFPA set to inaugurate two youth-friendly centres
Wikipedia The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it will inaugurate additional two youth-friendly centres in Lagos State to enhance sexual and reproductive health information and services for youths. Its Head in Lagos Liaison Office, Dr Omolaso Omosehin, also the Assistant Reps, UNFPA, made this known in Lagos. Omosehin said that the youth-friendly centres, which fall under the “Hello Lagos Project”, would be opened before December in Yaba and Ikorodu areas of Lagos State. Hello Lagos Project, an Adolescent/Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, was initiated in 2002, funded and supported by UNFPA. The centre aims at bridging the gap by providing a “safe, accessible and confidential centre for young people” in the state for health and personal...
I paid N3 million ransom before I was freed by kidnappers – doctor
Azubuike Iheanacho, the medical doctor that was kidnapped in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, has revealed that he had to pay a ransom before the abductors freed him. Iheanacho, who owns Peace Hospital located along old Egume Road, Ayingba, was abducted at his residence in Anyigba last week Saturday. Newsmen reported the alarm raised by the state’s chapter of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), appealing to the security agencies to help free the doctor. Iheanacho told newsmen on Saturday evening that he regained his freedom on Monday, after paying N3 million to the kidnappers. “I was injured but not much. Because at the point of picking me, I resisted. People were around when it happened. I was released on Monday. We thank God for everything,” he added. The physician also called ...
Bible Society appoints new CEO-designate
The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) on has announced the appointment of Pastor Samuel Sanusi as its new General Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer-Designate. BSN Manager, Media and Public Relations, Mr Benjamin Mordi, disclosed in a statement on Saturday in Lagos. Newsmen report that Bible Society of Nigeria is a not-for-profit interdenominational Christian organisation. It translates the Bible into local languages, publishes, distributes, raises funds for the Bible work and organises life-transforming programmes. So far, it has translated the full Bible into 26 Nigerian Languages, while translation revision is on-going in 10 Nigerian Languages. According to him, Sanusi will be taking over from the incumbent General Secretary/CEO, Dr Dare Ajiboye, who will be retiring in June 2021. He said ...
President Buhari urges Nigerians to pray for peace, unity
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, unity and stability in the country. The president made the call in an address at the 70th anniversary of the Qaddriyya on Saturday in Kano. Buhari, represented by Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the call was imperative to foster unity and address security challenges in the country. He enjoined the youth to avail themselves of the opportunities of agriculture and economic empowerment programmes initiated by the Federal Government to learn trades, become self reliant and engage in productive activities. Buhari expressed delight over the conduct of the event and commended the Leader of the Qadiriyya, Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru-Kabara for his support and constant prayers for the ...
Troops ambush Boko Haram terrorists, kill six in Borno
Terrorists operating around Shyadawe/Nagasino villages in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria have suffered a heavy casualty blow following an ambush staged against them by troops of 192 and 202 Battalions of Operation Fire Ball (OPFB). The Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists fell from bullet rain by soldiers, leaving dozens lifeless and many others fleeing in different directions with bullet wounds. Brig-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko disclosed that following intelligent on terrorist activities within Shyadawe/Nagasino axis, troops advanced to lay ambush on the criminals. General Bernard, said soldiers also recovered four AK-47 rifles, ammunition and gun trucks while clearing remnants of fleeing terrorists from Sambisa Forest. “The unrelenting troops engaged them with...
