President Goodluck Jonathan said Tuesday in Abuja that in addition to enhancing regional and continental trade, ongoing reforms in the Nigerian Customs Service will also boost security in the country by helping to curtail the influx of illegal small arms and light weapons. . Speaking at an audience with the visiting Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that the reforms were necessitated by the need to redefine the core values and operations of the service.
Author: David F.
ORGANISED attacks on prison formations by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East part of the country have left no fewer than 50 officials of the Nigerian Prisons Service dead, while many more have been wounded. . The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Mr Zakari Ibrahim, in Calabar, Cross River State in his keynote address at the annual workshop of the Prisons Welfare Insurance Scheme, said the organised attacks by the insurgents and hoodlums in a desperate bid to free themselves or their colleagues in custody “have left a number of our staff with severe injuries while some…
Two policemen were feared dead following a clash between them and some youths in Difa village in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State. . A reliable source in the area said yesterday in Gombe that the incident occurred in the night of February 16. . According to the source, some policemen on routine night patrol from Kwadon division arrested some youths in the village for allegedly being in possession of illegal drugs. . The source said that the arrest did not go down well with other youths whose protest led to violent clashes that resulted in the death and…
UNIVERSITY of Lagos is set to name a 15- storey girls hostel after Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan this Friday. . At a briefing yesterday, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Duro Oni, said the 15-storey building expected to cost about N3 billion would be named after the First Lady because of her contributions towards women folks. . He said: “It is a female hostel and the person due to be named after it is the President’s wife who has touched the lives of many women.” . According to him, like other tertiary institutions, UNILAG had been having problem of accommodation hindering…
One person was confirmed dead while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in a tanker fire incident that occurred on Monday night at Takie area of Ogbomoso in Oyo State. . Eye witnesses reports that the fire was caused by a petrol tanker which crashed into a nearby park following brake failure. . Some eye-witnesses told NAN that the vehicle, which was trying to negotiate a roundabout at Takie, fell and spilled its content before bursting into flames. . The Oyo State Police Command confirmed the death of a motorcyclist who was crushed when the vehicle ran into the…
The UN’s human rights office on Tuesday condemned the killing of scores of villagers by suspected Boko Haram Islamists in Nigeria, and urged the government to do more to protect civilians. . “We condemn in the strongest terms Sunday’s attack by gunmen against eight villages in Adamawa and Borno States, which led to the death of more than 150 people,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN high commissioner for human rights. . “We are appalled by the extreme and indiscriminate violence which Nigeria has being witnessing in recent times,” she told reporters. . Hundreds of homes have been destroyed…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday in Abuja, assured its defecting members that its doors are still open to those of them willing to return to the party. . Mr Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of the party gave the assurance in a statement, adding that the PDP was the only party committed to the people`s interest. . He added that PDP was the only political party in the country that could provide equal opportunity for all Nigerians to pursue and realise their political aspirations. . Metuh attributed the current surge of defections and return of influential Nigerians from…
President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed retired Brig.-Gen Jones Oladehinde Arogbofa as his new Chief. . A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said the appointment of Brig-Gen. Arogbofa, a retired Officer of the Signals Corps of the Nigerian Army, is with immediate effect and he has taken up appointment at the Presidential Villa. . Part of the statement reads: “The new Chief of Staff to the President was born on November 10, 1952. He hails from the Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State. . In addition to administrative…
The Senate, Tuesday, confirmed former National Security Adviser, Gen. Mohammed Aliyu Gusau, former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro and former governor of Adamawa State, Mr Boni Haruna, from Zamfara, Lagos and Adamawa states respectively, as ministers. . Former Nigerian Ambassador to China, Aminu Wali, former Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mohammed Wakil, Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi and Mrs Lawrencia Labaran Mallam, representing Kano, Borno, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna states were also confirmed. . Others were Dr Khaliru Alhassan from Sokoto, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan, from Osun, Dr T.W. Danagogo from Rivers states and Mrs Asabe Asmau Ahmed from Niger…
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says the government takes the construction and rehabilitation of roads in both the urban and rural areas of the state as a priority as a means to fight poverty and improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state. . During an inspection of ongoing road construction in Igueben, Esan Central and Esan South East Local Government Areas, monday, the Governor noted that the economic life of the affected areas will get a boost when the roads are completed. . The Governor who expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of road construction work…
Nigeria earned an estimated N86 billion from the visit of some 4.7 million tourists in the country in 2012. . This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). . The statement stated that the overall Gross Domestic Product from tourism returns stood at N40.5 million in that year. . It said that overnight tourist visits was more than 4.6 million; tourists on a single day visit were 160,544, while transit tourists were 276,788. . According to the statement, there had been a steady increase in the number of inbound tourists…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Monday, said that fasting and prayers are tools needed by leaders to lead their people saying he fasts and prays before taking any critical decision. . Speaking at the commissioning of special projects in Port Harcourt, Obasanjo commended the efforts of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi on his developmental projects. . He also commended Amaechi’s wife, Dame Judith Amaechi for her supportive role. . “You are the only person who can tame this man, I thank you for what you are contributing to his success and works in Rivers State.”
The Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Monday presented letters of allocation for the N200 billion intervention fund to all public universities in the country. . Wike, who made the presentation at a meeting with vice chancellors of the universities in Abuja, urged the beneficiary institutions to utilise the funds and take them to the desired level. . He noted that the Federal Government was committed to improving university education in the country, and tasked the vice chancellors to ensure that the funds were used to improve infrastructure in their universities. . While expressing the hope that the…
The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, on Monday in Abuja said that women were underrepresented in all political structures in Nigeria. . Mark, who was represented by Sen. Helen Esuene, said this at the Nigeria Women Strategy Conference, with the theme: “Building Bridges of Opportunity; 2015 and beyond.” . He said that though women had participated actively in politics in the country, they had nothing to show for their participation except to mobilise for the electoral success of other people. . The Senate president stressed that marginalisation of women could be addressed through the collaborative efforts of men and women.…
Mallam Aliyu Zubairu, a reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Yola, and his wife, Nazira , died in a midnight fire incident in Yola on Monday, the authority’s General Manager, Malam Adamu Yusuf, has confirmed. . Yusuf told reporters in Yola that the incident occurred in the couple’s residence in Shagari quarters, Yola – South Local Government Area. . It has been learnt that the fire started at about 1 a.m. on Monday. . Yusuf expressed shock over the incident, and urged the deceased family and colleagues to take the sad news in good faith as “no one can…
The Northern Governor’s Forum (NGF) on Monday said the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram sect has gone beyond the traditional pattern of their attacks. . The Chairman of the forum, Gov.Babangida Aliyu of Niger, expressed the concern, when he spoke to newsmen on the agenda of the one-day general meeting held in Kaduna. . “The situation has gone beyond the normal pattern that we gave to Boko Haram and I think we need to really appreciate the gravity of the situation,” he stressed. . Shettima of Borno State, inspecting a burnt mosque and some houses in Kawuri, Konduga LGA…
A 19-year-old boy, Burwa White, was on Monday sentenced to four months imprisonment by a Special Offences Court in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos for breach of peace. . The imprisonment also covered the offence of disrupting the duties of Cpl. Oladele Oladipupo, a policeman. . The Magistrate, Mrs J.E. Adeyemi, who sentenced the boy, however, gave him an option of a fine of N20,000. . The prosecutor, Mr Babatunde Sunmonu, had told the court that White behaved in a disorderly manner that caused a breach of the peace in the area and also resisted arrest. . Sunmonu said that the accused…
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Monday said the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, were better armed and better motivated by their backers to continue the destruction of lives and property in the North East region than the Nigerian security services. . Speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Jonathan on the latest spate of attacks by the terrorist sect at Izge in Gwoza Local government, Governor Shettima said it was high time political leaders are held responsible to curb the wanton destruction of lives and property. . According to the Governor, the North Eastern part of the country…
Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Monday, said the All Progressives Congress, APC, has registered 2 million members in Kano at the just concluded membership registration exercise. . Speaking during a meeting with lawmakers at Kano Government House, Governor Kwankwaso also enjoin those yest to register as members to do so , ” for the salvation of the state, the North and the whole country.” . He alleged that federal government is bribing APC members from the states and national Assemblies to leave the party for PDP, noting that no sincere legislator would do so in view of the implications…
Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Monday, said the All Progressives Congress, APC, has registered 2 million members in Kano at the just concluded membership registration exercise. . Speaking during a meeting with lawmakers at Kano Government House, Governor Kwankwaso also enjoin those yest to register as members to do so , ” for the salvation of the state, the North and the whole country.” . He alleged that federal government is bribing APC members from the states and national Assemblies to leave the party for PDP, noting that no sincere legislator would do so in view of the implications…