One hundred and forty cases of measles have been reported across 10 local governments in Taraba State, according to its Commissioner of Health, Dr. Innocent Vakkai. The official was not happy with the fact that Nigeria had remained the leading country in measles, with many of the cases recorded in northern states including Taraba. He said that the disease, a leading killer in developing countries like Nigeria, was giving signs of a steady rise in Taraba. “During the campaign, measles vaccination cards will be given to mothers to signify coverage. Children between nine and 59 months without the card will…
Author: David Folami
Senate President Bukola Saraki, says the Upper Chamber will hurry up with the passage of the Anti-Hate Speech and the Anti-Jungle Justice Bills as soon as they are presented to it. Saraki said the Senate was ready to give the two bills speedy consideration in a bid to cut short rising cases of hate speech and jungle justice across the country. “The Hate Speech Bill will help to mitigate verbal attacks or expressions against individuals or groups on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and even gender. “This will help to send a clear message with accompanying punitive measures to those…
President Buhari has sympathised with the President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma over the recent mudslide that killed over 300 in the country. Buhari was said to have called Koroma on the telephone from London to express his deepest condolences. The tragic incident reportedly left over 2,000 Sierra Leoneans homeless. “In a Tuesday telephone call from London, President Buhari told President Koroma that the hearts of Nigerians are with the people of Sierra Leone at this tragic and painful period in the history of the country,” Adesina said in the statement. “President Buhari prays that Almighty God will comfort…
The Federal Government has begged to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to cancel its ongoing strike to put Nigerians students’ mind at rest. The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, led that appeal on Tuesday, August 15, in a statement. Ngige put all the blame on ASUU for not following due process before commencing on the indefinite strike. “In fact, it was on Monday, August 14, 2017, that the office of the minister received a letter dated August 13, 2017, from ASUU, that is, one full day after it commenced the strike,” the Minister said. “The Federal…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has recovered N553.77 million from alleged corrupt politicians in the South East, the agency’s Zonal Head of Operations, Mr. Johnson Babalola said. Babalola said the ‘stolen’ funds were recovered from Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the funds were part of the ‘loot’ the party illegally appropriated to itself for its ‘shady’ activities in the 2015 general elections in the zone. “We have recovered N300m out of N400m in Ebonyi. In Abia, we recovered N82.5m out of N450m while we got N60m in Enugu out of N450m. “However, we are facing…
The meeting between leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Sen. Chris Ngige has just ended in Abuja. Reports have it that the meeting held on Tuesday at the Minister’s Conference Room, Ministry of Labour, Abuja, took significant steps toward the resolution of the issues raised by ASUU. According to Mr Samuel Olowookere, the meeting agreed on the forensic audit of the sum of N30 billion earlier given to the ASUU in 2010. He said the meeting further agreed on monthly remittances to ASUU, while the audit last. The minister assured members of ASUU and Nigerians that…
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has sounded a note of warning corps members against undertaking unnecessary and unauthorised journeys because the roads are unsafe. Obaseki gave the advice on Tuesday in Benin at the closing ceremony of the 2017 NYSC Batch A Stream II Orientation course. He said that corps members should travel only when necessary and with the permission of their employers and the NYSC. Obaseki further urged them to integrate with the people in the rural areas and respect the culture of their host communities. He also appealed to employers not to reject corps members posted to them.…
The House of Representatives has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo remains the father of corruption in Nigeria. The House issued this statement in response to Obasanjo’s comment saying that allocating funds for constituency project is a form of corruption. According to the House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas, the former President has made attacking the National Assembly his hobby. He said “We won’t respond to any corruption allegations by Obasanjo against us anymore. “We have replied him enough and our position remains what we said earlier. It has not changed. “I refer you to our…
Lauretta Onochie, the Personal Assistant on Social Media to President Buhari has said that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan should beg Nigerians. Onochie said that GEJ should crawl on his knees across Nigeria and apologise to Nigerians. She wrote: “Ex-President Jonathan should be crawling on his knees from Otueke to Kaura Namoda, apologising for how he presided over the plundering of Nigeria. “The government of ex-President Jonathan was fraught with broken promises, massive corruption and shattered dreams. It was a Govt for a few Nigerians. “Massive oil earnings under Ex-President Jonathan did not benefit Nigerians as he bequeathed a dearth of infrastructures…
The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, says the whistleblower policy of the Federal Government is one of the current administration’s successful initiatives. According to Adeosun, as at July, over 5,000 reports have been made through various reporting channels, 365 actionable tips are received out of the 5000 reports. She said that over half of the reports came from public servants. “Thirty-nine per cent (144) of the actionable tips relate to misappropriation and diversion of funds/revenue, 16 per cent (60) relate to ghost workers, illegal recruitment and embezzlement of funds meant for personnel emolument. “Fifteen per cent (56) relate to…
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has launched the Biafra Secret Service (BSS). Speaking to newsmen, IPOB’s Directorate of State, represented by Chinasa Nworu said that the group is ready to go to war to actualise its dream for a Biafra nation. Nworu also said “We ask for a referendum to go our separate way, but you, Okorocha and your Hausa Fulani brothers are conversing for war. “If it comes to that, Biafrans shall defend themselves, we have done it before and we shall gladly and happily do it again. “Remember that 2017 shall never…
Inter Milan coach Luciano Spalletti has said Manchester United target Ivan Perisic is “determined to stay.” Croatia international Perisic has been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer, but Inter have refused to sell less than their £48.5 million valuation. “There was a moment [when he considered moving], but then he spoke like a footballer who is interested in doing the right thing for his professionalism and he drew a conclusion.” No hints or signs yet on what the Croatians’ next move might be.
Roberto Firmino has said it would be “awful” for his Liverpool teammate and close friend Philippe Coutinho to leave Anfield. Coutinho submitted a transfer request on Friday as he seeks to secure a move to Barcelona, while Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has said the Brazil international “cannot play for Liverpool” currently. “I prefer to not think of this [Coutinho leaving] because it would be awful. He’s a great player but also a great friend to me,” Firmino said. “It is normal that great teams are interested in his football but my concentration is now on the team. “My objective is…
Sergio Busquets has said it is “clear” that Barcelona need to improve the team with new signings following the departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain. Barca have signed Marlon Santos, Gerard Deulofeu, Nelson Semedo and Paulinho this summer but Busquets believes they still need to add to the squad, especially in attack. “Obviously Neymar’s position is where we’ve lost something. It’s clear signings are needed. We have to strengthen the squad. We need attacking players to compensate for Neymar. “But every position can be strengthened, and the more quality players that come in the better. I hope the best players…
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has blasted Douglas Costa over his demands for more cash while at the Bundesliga champions. After joining Bayern from Shakhtar Donetsk for €30 million in 2015, Costa had a decent solid first season in Germany, scoring four and assisting in 14 goals in 27 Bundesliga appearances under Pep Guardiola. He also scored the decisive penalty in the DFB Pokal final shootout against Borussia Dortmund as Bayern secured the double in Guardiola’s final game in charge. However, Costa, who had to fight for a place on the flanks with Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Kingsley Coman,…
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he remains optimistic that Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for Wednesday’s Spanish Super Cup second leg at home to Barcelona — despite his five-match ban for being sent off in Sunday’s first leg. Ronaldo was shown a second yellow card late on in Madrid’s 3-1 win at the Camp Nou after referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea ruled he had dived to try and win a penalty. Zidane told a news conference that he would wait until an appeal was heard on the morning of the game before deciding on his squad. “The committee will…
Gianluigi Buffon, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the three shortlisted players for the UEFA Player of the Year award. The award, which was created in 2011, will be presented at the Champions League group stage draw on Aug. 24, with Real Madrid star Ronaldo expected to win it for the third time in four years after his outstanding performances helped Los Blancos to become the first club to retain the trophy. Buffon would be a popular choice, but the 39-year-old would have had a better chance had Juventus beaten Madrid in the Champions League final. Juventus did complete the…
Everton have agreed a deal worth up to £45 million for Swansea player Gylfi Sigurdsson, according to multiple reports. The Iceland international will undergo a medical on Wednesday to finally complete his protracted transfer to Goodison Park, reports said. The saga has dragged on for most of the summer with Swansea initially valuing the 27-year-old at £50m. But Everton are finally set to secure their No. 1 summer target at a price slightly lower than the selling club had wanted. “The objective and the aim is that at some point the two clubs will meet,” Paul Clement said ahead of…
Andres Iniesta will not feature in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid through injury as Barcelona attempt to stage another miraculous omeback a 3-1 deficit from the first leg. Iniesta didn’t train on Tuesday due to a thigh problem and will not travel to Madrid with the rest of his teammates for Wednesday’s game. Barca have not confirmed how long their club captain will be sidelined, but the injury is not thought to be big. Thomas Vermaelen and Rafinha will also miss the trip to the Santiago Bernabeu due to ongoing injury problems. Portuguese midfielder…
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba believes he has returned from Juventus as a man and is prepared to achieve the one goal that matters: winning the Premier League. Pogba, 24, left Old Trafford for Turin on a free transfer in 2012 and spent four trophy filled years at Juventus before making his return for a world-record fee of £89m and with something to prove. “I came here to win the Premier League and to challenge myself as well. Winning the Premier League is what matters,” Pogba told the Manchester Evening News. “My dream was to play for this club and…