Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has dissociated himself from the N60bn arms deal involving the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that contrary to report published in an online medium, SaharaReporters, he has never had anything to do with purchase of security equipment because in his entire political career he never served in any committee or body which has any link with Defence or national security. “As a member of the Seventh Senate, Dr. Saraki was not a member of any…
Author: Admin
While South African music sensation Lira graces the cover of New African Woman’s December/January edition, this issue is also brimming with several incredible women in the magazine’s first ever collation of African Women of the Year – a celebration of game-changing women who have helped to shape the continent in 2015 in different fields. The list, which is by no means exhaustive and only scratches the surface as it highlights some of Africa’s women of influence, recognises women who are transcending all spheres. The broad list includes public office holders such as the African Union Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and…
Dear Hon Commissioners, I write to Congratulate you all on your swearing in as Honorable Commissioners of Cross River State. I wish to commend Governor Ben Ayade for carefully picking you all as his cabinet men that will move CRS from third world to first world. Let me also remind you all my Honorable Commissioners that you people were chosen out of the multitude to serve our dear State because of you all are perceived to be men and women of content and character who have what it takes to move Cross River State higher to the next level of…
The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, a pan-African frontline NGO led by Wife of Nigeria Senate President, H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki, has called on all stakeholders to take an active role in ending the harmful practice of child marriage. Represented by its Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Luther-King Fasehun, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa participated in the first African Girls’ Summit on Ending Child Marriage and other Harmful Traditional Practices in Africa, which took place in Lukasa, Zambia from the 26th to the 27th of November 2015. Discussing with African leaders at the two-day summit in Zambia, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa urged stakeholders to…
To commemorate the 2015 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on the 25th of November, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa has advocated for the prevention of violence against women and the empowerment of survivors – alongside CSO activists, public sector administrators, development workers, legal aid providers and women’s rights advocates at the United States Embassy in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. Having attended the screening of a gender violence film entitled “New Morning” courtesy of Heinrich Boell Stiftung Foundation and a Panel Session on “Breaking the Culture of Silence – Uniting to End Violence against Women” – hosted by…
The attention of the Media Office of the Senate President has been drawn to comments regarding the launch of the “Speak to SP Suggestion Boxes” at various points of the National Assembly. With the efforts of the Senate to promote the two-way interaction between Nigerians and their representatives in the 8th Senate, Senators launched the suggestion boxes in order to allow staff and visitors to the National Assembly to submit internal recommendations on improvements that can be made at the National Assembly. Additionally, the suggestion boxes are a physical component of the online approach being adopted by the Senate to receive…
Black Friday is upon Us! – The concept of Black Friday began in Nigeria in 2013. Since then the concept has spread like wildfire with major online stores jumping on the bandwagon of what could possibly be regarded as the largest shopping event in Nigeria. Black Friday originated in the USA and is celebrated annualy on the fourth Friday in November- the week after thanksgiving. It is notably the first day of traditional Christmas shopping, during which crowds of consumers are drawn to special offers by retailers and e-commerce companies in more recent times. This year Black Friday falls on the…
Lagos Places Nigeria on Top of Global Mileage Ranking At present, Nigeria a country dependent on crude oil is experiencing a shortage of the product called petrol which has affected the daily activities of commuters. Even with the scarcity of petrol, Nigeria still comes on top in the average mileage ranking. The Carmudi team compared average country mileage and found out that population growth; rise in the price of real estate and petrol subsidy affects the distance cars travel. The cars examined ranged from 2 to 5 years old. The research revealed that Nigeria’s average is 22.8% higher than the global calculation. The…
The politicking that characterized the build-up to the governorship election in Kogi state may be unbeknownst to many, leaving for so much speculation when news broke of Prince Abubakar Audu’s death. But the situation certainly is not a coincidence, as some are already bandying about. The Yoruba adage that says the sheep that moves around with the dog will certainly feed on excreta sure passes for a go in the situation under review. When the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu broke a little past the morning belt on Sunday November 22, what clearly comes to mind is the Faust story,…
(Lagos, Nigeria) After months spent conducting a detailed research on the e-commerce eco-system in Nigeria, leading online shopping community Kaymu Nigeria has put together a white paper tagged; E-commerce in Nigeria: Market Trends and Consumer Behavior where they researched on the purchasing habits of e-commerce consumers in Nigeria. E-commerce research encompasses a wide variety of information gathered for e-business planning and prospecting and can be useful to track opinions, profiles and customer behavior. “From research into consumer behavior, it is clear that an increasing number of consumers in Nigeria use the internet to buy products and services. This is closely…
The annual “100 Most Influential Africans of 2015” presents the continent’s definitive power list and profiles the continent’s top game changers in eight different fields: Politics (22); Public Office (4); Arts and Culture (21); Business (21); Civil Society (11); Technology (9); Media (7); and Sports (5). Among the 30 countries represented, Nigerians and South Africans dominate the list, with 20 and 16 personalities respectively. Kenya, Uganda and Cameroon also feature strongly with eight, six and six entries each respectively. Of the top 100 personalities 65 are men and 32 are women, with the other three being groups of people. South…
However removed anyone chooses to be from the eccentricity of Nigeria’s political system, we eventually all get involved at the end of the day. From the cab man who drives around the city narrating his ordeal about how he managed to fuel his car, to the blacksmith who has to send money to his son in the North, we all eventually find ourselves discussing politics and governance –all within the horizon and privy of the information we can gather and digest. So far, with what I have been able to digest regarding the case of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,…
News junkies will not need reminding that the world has become a much more dangerous place after the carnage on the streets of Paris this week, but confirmation that a destabilised Middle East is contributing to a spike in global terrorism comes with publication of the Global Terrorism Index 2015. Much of the surge in terrorist deaths is directly related to the rise of Islamic State, adding to pressures on the West to expand its military campaign against IS in its strongholds in Syria and Iraq. In Nigeria, Boko Haram, the African equivalent of IS, is leaving a trail of carnage…
Many years ago, Nigeria earned a longstanding place as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This is because corruption in Nigeria continues to thrive as a consequence of the nexus between bureaucracy, politics and criminality. Because of this, Nigeria is no longer considered a ‘soft state.’ it has now become a ‘consideration state’ where everything can be obtained for a consideration. Today, the number of judges with an honest image can be counted on one finger. At one time, bribes were being paid for correcting wrongs. These days, bribes are being paid for getting things done at…
The saying: “He who must come to equity must come with clean hands” has eventually caught up with Danladi Umar who has running from pillar to post to cover up his transgressions since the news of his 10Million Naira bribery scandal broke out. The guiding principle in the anti-corruption fight will be totally lost if the “almighty arbiter” in a corruption case is found enmeshed in corrupt practices and yet, wants to prosecute other corrupt persons. The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as an establishment of the government is not new to the system, but sincerely speaking, their activities in…
After six months of deliberation, a new team of largely technocratic ministers faces daunting economic and security challenges It is called ‘Buhari Mean Time’ in Abuja. It started as a jocular description and then became a warning: President Muhammadu Buhari will not be rushed into decisions, especially when it comes to appointments. The new cabinet has been six months in the making. Yet the naming of a potential 36 ministers, amid insistent demands for factional and regional balancing, was always going to be tortuous for a President and retired General who remains deeply sceptical about partisan politics. On military and…
Nigeria awaits the third-quarter growth statistics set to be released later this month. However, irrespective of the figures, the new economic team is confronted with the hard task of fixing the economy. While Nigeria awaited President Mohammed Buhari’s cabinet, the absence of an economic team, especially a finance minister, left a vacuum for economic policy formulation. The apex bank by default took responsibility for economic strategy and direction and has enforced foreign currency restrictions. Although Buhari kept both Nigerians and investors on a long wait, the choice of his ministers is markedly impressive for the most part, particularly the technocrats…
At least 32 people were killed and another 80 hurt in Yola, a town packed with refugees from Nigeria’s Islamic uprising, emergency officials said. The blast took place at a fruit and vegetable market near a main road, Al Jazeera reports. No one claimed responsibility, but the news agency reports that the blame will likely be placed on Boko Haram, the group that has killed thousands as it attempts to promote Islamic law in Nigeria. Tuesday night’s blast breaks a three-week hiatus in bombings after a string of suicide attacks culminated in twin explosions in mosques in two northeastern cities that…
Nigerian Army Special Forces supported by Nigeria Air Force aircraft, say that they have killed about 40 Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed their rocket fabrication factory. This was after carrying out several raids and attacks on Boko Haram camps, rocket making factory and foiling attempts to attack troops’ location. Army Headquarters, in a statement detailing the operations which occurred at the north east epicentre, said that as part of series of successes being recorded by the Nigerian Army in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists, advancing troops of 154 Task Force Battalion of 29 Task Force Brigade, on Wednesday…
Nigeria’s oil output could drop by as much as 15 percent by 2017 unless the government attracts more investment and resolves cash shortages at state oil firms, a senior Moody’s analyst said on Wednesday. Africa’s biggest economy produces about 2.1 million barrels per day of oil with foreign and local companies through production sharing contracts and joint ventures. But projects have been held up because state-oil firm NNPC needs parliamentary and regulatory approval to spend anything. Officials and lawmakers are often six months late in giving their assent, making proposals irrelevant as costs exceed the original budgets. As a result,…