The Secretary-General of United Nations (UN), António Guterres, says he is concerned by the potential risk of escalating violence over the situation in the Old City of Jerusalem. In a statement, he cautioned all political, religious and community leaders to refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric. “I reiterate my concern over the situation in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is essential to fully respect the status quo at the holy sites as before July 14,’’ he said. The statement came in the wake of a series of deadly stabbings and killings, leading to rising tensions in and around Jerusalem’s Old City since…
Author: Alaba Rotimi
The Zone C Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has passed a vote of confidence in the management of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The zone comprise of the following Nigerian States: Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Kogi, Kwarra, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Deputy Coordinator of the zone, Mr Mathew Dafoum Naankin, stated in Keffi on Wednesday, July 27, 2017 that the students took the decision in collaboration with “Youth for Good Governance’’, an NGO. He commended INEC for its effective interpretation and implementation of the nation’s electoral system. “We at NANS wish to…
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Central Bank has directed all bank and financial institutions to stop dealing with 18 individuals and entities who are allegedly linked to Qatar. The state run news agency, WAM, reported today that the 18 entities were added to the list of those that had been blacklisted for having links with Qatar. The directive by the UAE’s Central Bank makes it the first financial institution in the Gulf to take such a decision even as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt are likely to follow. The four Arab countries announced on July 25 that they were blacklisting nine groups…
The data published by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that Airtel and MTN gained more internet subscribers during the month of June 2017, while Glo and Etisalat were the big losers. The internet users and data subscribers in Nigeria’s telecommunications networks marginally increased to 91.6 million in June. According to the June NCC Monthly Internet Subscribers Data; overall internet users in June 2017 increased by 33,747 to 91,598,757 from 91,565,010 in May. MTN accounted for 284,629 new users, increasing its subscription to 31,691,070 from 31,406,441 in May. Globacom lost 218,482 internet users and had 27,184,002 data subscribers left on its…
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has announced in Abuja on Monday, July 24, 2017 that the Nigeria Police is to set up anti-piracy unit in all the 36 states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to combat the piracy of intellectual property in the country. Idris made the announcement following a request from the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who led a delegation of Creative Industry stakeholders on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Monday. He nominated three senior police officers, including two Deputies Inspector-General of Police,…
Italy’s Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni has disclosed the country may send navy ships to fight migrant traffickers in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast. The PM made the statement on Wednesday, June 26, 2017 in Rome at a joint news conference with his Libyan counterpart, Fayez al-Sarraj. “Sarraj wrote me a letter a few days ago, requesting technical support with naval units from the Italian government,” “The request is being assessed by our defence ministry. “The decisions we make will be assessed in agreement with Libya and with the Italian) parliament, ‘’ the Italian news agency ANSA quoted Gentiloni…
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has initiated unprecedented overhaul of police formations on Kaduna highway. He had ordered the immediate redeployment of Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, all other Officers, Inspectors and Rank and File serving in the Police Divisions and stations abutting the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria highways, notorious for kidnapping and robberies. All police officers and men in Police Stations and out posts, starting from Zuba Division in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to all Divisions on the route, the axis of kidnappers, are affected by the unprecedented redeployment , an indication that the police high command may be working…
Five Nigerians and an Indian lady have been arrested by the Indian police, according to The Times of India. They were arrested for drug related fraud or crime. According to the newspaper, the Nigerians and their Indian accomplice were found in possession of a wide variety of drugs, including cocaine, brown sugar and amphetamine. They were also accused of human trafficking by way of offering Nigerian girls into prostitution. Arrested were by the Rachakonda Police in Hyderabad were Palaparthi Sangeetha, 35, a resident of Sun City, her partner Cosmas Ojukwu, 30, their associates John Okorie, 26, a BA student of Nizam College, Okereke…
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, on Wednesday told the Federal Government to embrace collective bargaining agreement to avoid constant crises in the nation’s educational system. He gave the advice in Abuja when he led a delegation to the National Secretariat of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). “Agreements are made to be sacrosanct and respected. Where we don’t respect collective agreements that are willingly entered into, that is a recipe for chaos. “That is one issue that has affected our educational system.” The labour leader stressed that policy makers must respect the contents…
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) under the aegis of United Global Resolve for Peace (UGRFP) has said that the present Nigerian Constitution does not reflect the spirit and intention of the people as it was inherited from the military. They also noted that a section of the constitution had foreclosed restructuring because it stated that Nigeria is an indivisible and indissoluble nation. The group made the observations during a joint news briefing in Abuja on Wednesday addressed by Mr Olaseni Shalom and Mr Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Executive Director and the Executive Secretary of the organisation respectively. According to Olajengbesi, who is…
The National Coordinator of the Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria, Mr Splendour Agbonkpolor, has decried the recruitment of low-level skilled workers from neighbouring countries at the expense of Nigerians. He briefed newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja and said that the University of Benin (UNIBEN) was working to address the skill gap in Nigeria. He said that UNIBEN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Osasere Orumwense, had been proactive in adopting Information Communication Technology (ICT) platforms and facilities to boost skill acquisition. “Nigeria has failed to take off as a genuine world power because of the persistent neglect of education. “This has led…
The Publicity Secretary of Rivers chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr Nwankwo Ndukwu, has called on the Federal Government to recruit indigenous language teachers to fill vacancies in Unity Secondary Schools. Ndukwu told NAN on Sunday in Port Harcourt that many indigenous language teachers in the unity secondary schools had retired, while the few still in the schools were overworked and also on the way out. “Since the few teachers currently in the school system are fast approaching their retirement age, government should engage more hands, if we are to sustain the teaching of the subjects,” he…
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) market capitalisation has increased to N27 billion for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, July 19. NAN reports that the market capitalisation rose by N27 billion or 0.23 per cent to close at N11.550 trillion against N11.523 trillion on Tuesday. Similarly, the All-Share Index, which opened at 33,436.61, inched 78.32 points or 0.23 points to close at 33,514.93 due to price growth by some highly capitalised equities. Seplat led the gainers’ table during the day, appreciating by N9.98 to close at N485 per share. Guinness followed with a gain of N3.10 to close at N66.10…
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Tuesday said his government would soon establish an export processing zone in the state. Ahmed made this known on Tuesday in Ilorin while receiving management of the Bank of Industry (BOI) led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Olukayode Pitan. According to him, the processing zone will encourage exportation of goods from the state and its neighbouring states to enhance its internal generated revenue and boost the state economic activities. Ahmed said that arrangement was on top gear to fast-track the development of the free trade zone in the state.…
The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) received a record 4,816 entries from African music artists and professionals for the 2017 edition of the awards at the close of the two-month entry submission process on Monday. East Africa dominated the entries. Mr Rikki Stein, AFRIMA International Advisor and a member of the International Committee, said this in a statement in Lagos on Thursday. He said the African Union and the International Committee of AFRIMA opened the 2017 AFRIMA call for entries on May 8. Stein further said screening and adjudication processes of the entries would hold from July 18 to July 28 and Aug.…
Senator Ademola Adeleke representing Osun West Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate has said that dancing is part of him and that he enjoyed dancing. The Senator whose dancing video went viral and gained him more popularity spoke in an interview in Abuja on Thursday. The interview was published on the official Twitter handle of the Nigerian Senate @NGRSenate by Bamikole Omishore, Special Adviser New Media to the President of the Senate and also the Director of the NASS TV. Adeleke who is the Senate to fill the vacuum left by his late brother Senator Isiaka Adeleke said that he…
Two major hotels in Nairobi, Jacaranda and San Valencia, have been closed down indefinitely in the wake of cholera outbreak. According to Africa Review, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Cleopa Mailu on Wednesday announced the closure of the hotels. The two hotels are said to have offered catering services at events where participants were later hospitalised after developing cholera-related symptoms. The CS further said 12 counties have been affected by the outbreak with Nairobi and Garissa in the north-east, being the worst hit. He said 67 people have been admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), 12 others in health…
The Lagos State House of Assembly had announced the death of one of its members, Mr Kazeem Alimi (APC-Eti Osa I). The Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Tunde Braimoh, made the announcement in a statement in Lagos. Alimi, a second term member of the assembly, died at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital on Tuesday at the age of 50. He was the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs. His death came two weeks after he celebrated his 50th birthday. “With heavy hearts , grief and a deep sense of loss; the , Speaker, Mr…
West African Examination Council (WAEC) has withheld results of some 214,952 candidates who cheated in the May-June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Mr. Olu Adenipekun, Head of National Office of WAEC announced this in Lagos as he also announced the cheering news of a seven percent improvement in the number of candidates that passed the examination with five credits. Last year, 52.9 percent of the candidates recorded the feat. The number jumped to 59.22 percent this year, out of the 1,559,662 candidates that sat for the examination. Adenipekun said WAEC is still investigating the exam cheats and that…
South African Golfer Branden Grace has smashed Golf record by shooting the first round of 62 at a men’s major championship, at the British Open. In the 442nd major championship, Grace on Saturday achieved what the greats of the game could not in 157 years of trying and cracked the previous best of 63, which had been achieved 31 times. In 2015, Grace had also hit the 63 mark on the Opening day of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. American Johnny Miller was the first player to make 63 in a major when he won the 1973 U.S. Open. Grace, ranked…