At least 370,000 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Jigawa have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). APC National Chairman and eight governors on the party’s platform, received the defectors in Dutse yesterday, amid jubilation The governors present at the occasion were Alhaji Bindo Jibrila, Adamwa, Alhaji Abubakar Bello of Niger, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, and Alhaji Bello Masari of Katsina. Others were Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar, Bauchi, Alhaji Kasim Shetima, Borno, Alhaji Abdulazeez Yari, Zamfara, and Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, Deputy Governor of Kano State. Receiving defectors, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, said the calibre of the defectors…
Author: Kunle Atiba
Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has directed immediate investigation into the use of unauthorized equipment by Aero Contractors Airlines charter flight to Bauchi Airport on Saturday. The order is contained in a statement signed by Mr James Odaudu, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs Unit of the ministry on Sunday in Abuja. The statement said that several reports received by the minister indicated that the airline used a ladder to disembark passengers from a Boeing 737 aircraft at the airport. According to the minister, the act is inconsistent with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) and…
Unknown gunmen yesterday abducted the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Local Government, Madam Serefina Otazi, family sources disclosed. Mr Patrick Oba, nephew to the Commissioner, said she was kidnapped in Otuoke at gun point on her way to attend funeral at Ewoi Community in Ogbia Local Government Area. The gunmen reportedly whisked away the victim who was in company of two ladies when they attacked and took away her car keys. Otazi had served as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Acting Chairman of Ogbia LGA. Mr Endurance Frank, a family member, told NAN that the family had reported the incident to the Police…
Nigeria’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday said there was no justification for people in the North-East to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He stated this when many members of PDP decamped to the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital. Osinbajo, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said it was never too late for anyone wishing to join APC to do so. “There is no justification for anyone in the north-east to remain in PDP. “Therefore, I call on all my brothers and sisters in north-east to join our great party -APC.…
A lecturer in Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Prof. David Alabi, has urged Nigeria to learn from Israel’s type of leadership, agriculture and technology in order to achieve the desired rapid development. He gave this advice during an interview in Abuja yesterday. He stressed that without good leadership, all efforts at development might be in vain. Alabi’s suggestion came after performing Christian holy pilgrimage to Israel. He attributed Israel’s success in transforming its desert land into agricultural land as well as being an exporter of food to patriotic, dedicated and committed leadership, describing…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as hogwash Friday’s outburst by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum that the nullification of elections of PDP governors was a plot by APC to take control of “oil-producing states by all means necessary”. The National Secretary of the APC, Mai Mala Buni dismissed the statements credited to the PDP Governors as “clannish” and “sectional”. Mai Mala Buni said: “The APC and indeed Nigerians are increasingly worried by the clannish and sectional positions being canvassed by the PDP Governors. We reject the PDP Governors’ attempt to polarise the country along oil-producing and…
The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) yesterday released names of winners of Saturday’s local government election in the State. The EKSIEC Chairman, Justice Kayode Bamisile, said candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won all the 16 local government seats and the 177 wards. All the winners are to be presented with certificates of return today. Those who won the chairmanship seats are Mr Dapo Olagunju (Ifelodun/Irepodun), Mr Deji Ogunsakin (Ado Ekiti), Mrs Sade Akinrinmola (Gbonyin), Mr Bola Alonge, (Ikere), Mr Lanrewaju Omolase (Ekiti South West). Also Mr Olumide Falade, (Ise/Orun) and Mr Kolawole Omotunde (Ekiti West), Mr Bolaji Jeje (Efon),…
Some building materials dealers in Abuja have urged the Federal Government to ban the importation of electric cables. The traders during separate interviews in Abuja today said that Made-in Nigeria electric cables were the best. Mr Wilson Igbokwu said the home-made cables were the best in the world in terms of quality and adherence to international standards. Igbokwu said most imported substandard cables were made from iron as against the locally produced ones that were made from copper. He said the ones made from iron could easily get burnt which sometimes could lead to loss of lives and property. “The ones…
The Lagos chapters of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), today cautioned their members against reckless driving and disregard for traffic laws before, during and after the Yuletide to prevent accidents. They gave the warning in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos. They warned rivers to shun speeding and urged commuters to always warn drivers against reckless driving on the roads. They said that lives and properties of their members and commuters were more precious to the unions and the nation. The NURTW Chairman in Lagos State, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, said that drivers, commuters and…
The Director of Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Balarabe Kabara, disclosed on Thursday that the service has recorded 80 cases of fire outbreaks in November2015. Kabara said that property worth N186m was destroyed by the outbreaks within the period. He said the service had also saved property worth N390m from ravages of fire. “We received 103 rescue calls and 10 false alarms from members of the public. “A total of 134 lives were saved from various incidents while 21 lives were lost,’’ he said. He confirmed that a fire incidence occurred on Wednesday at Naibawa, Zaria road, when a trailer had head-on-collision…
The Nigeria Union in South Africa said today that it was committed to the welfare of Nigerians and the protection of their interests in South Africa. The President of the union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, said this in a Christmas message to Nigerians in South Africa. A statement issued in Pretoria by the Public Relations Officer of the union, Mr Emeka Ezinteje, quoted Anyene as saying that the body would use all legal means to protect the interests of Nigerians in South Africa. The statement also quoted Anyene as urging Nigerians to embrace the identity card project initiated by the union and…
Prof. David Alabi, a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, says a strong political will and adequate funding are critical elements required to develop Nigeria’s defence industry. He said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja today. The don expressed regret that the 51-year-old Defence Industries Corporation (DICON), established in 1964, was producing only bullets, dicon salt and furniture. According to him, its counterparts in Brazil and India are producing aircraft and Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). Alabi described the condition of DICON as “unfortunate’’ and “pitiable’’. He further said that corruption and impunity…
Dr. Adaora Ukoh who works as a Gynaecologist at a private Hospital in Abuja, says partial evacuation of foetus from the womb during abortion of pregnancy (evacuation of foetus) could increase the rate of infertility in women. Ukoh said this in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja today. According to her, abortion is a medical process of terminating a pregnancy by removing the embryo and placenta from the uterus. She said that abortion could be done in two ways; either through the use of medicines or via a surgical procedure. Ukoh described medical abortion as a process where the woman takes medication in…
A Guidance and Counseling Officer at African Community School in Abuja, Mrs Deborah Menegbe, has called on the government to include reproductive health education in primary schools curriculum in the country. Menegbe made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja today. She said that the initiative would equip the pupils with the knowledge to make informed decisions on their sexual life. “It is important for sex education to be integrated into the school curriculum, while the parents have a role to play. “Sex education means giving enlightenment to a growing child about the dangers involved in an unhealthy relationship with the opposite…
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) says it has introduced Rammed Earth Technology to facilitate the construction of three-bedroom bungalows for Internally Displaced Persons across the country. The Managing Director of FHA, Prof. Mohammed Al-Amin, told newsmen in Abuja today that the authority would use its technical expertise for rehabilitation of IDPs at little cost. Al-Amin described Rammed Earth Technology as a technology that would facilitate the construction of a three-bedroom flat with only 10 bags of cement. “What we are doing with the IDPs across the country, particularly in the North-East, is to assist them to regain their shelter but not to…
The Kano State Government has employed 729 extension workers to assist farmers to improve agricultural production in the state. Prof. Mahmud Daneji, Managing Director, Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), disclosed this in Kano today in an interview with newsmen. Daneji said that the government had also distributed 400 motorcycles to extension workers to solve their transportation problems. According to him, the motorcycles have been distributed to both male and female extension workers to enable them reach out to farmers particularly those living in rural areas. “Agriculture is the mainstay of economic activities and major employer of labour in…
The government of Niger has arrested nine military officers on suspicion of planning a coup, government officials said. The arrests, which took place earlier this week, came after a nearly one-month long surveillance operation, Hassoumi Massaoudou, Niger’s interior minister, told a press conference on Sunday. “Nine officers identified as responsible for the attempted coup have been arrested and will be presented before a military court,” Massaoudou told reporters in Niamey, the capital. He said the coup had been foiled “thanks to the loyalty” of certain soldiers “who regularly kept us informed of the plan’s progress”. President Mahamadou Issoufou said in…
The former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has lauded the Abia government for its efforts to develop infrastructure in the state. He made the commendation yesterday in Aba while commissioning Umuola road, Kamalu road and Oomnne drive constructed by the government. He urged the people of Aba not to sabotage the efforts of the government, saying they should support the governor because he is an “achiever.” Obasanjo noted that since Aba is the hub for economic activities for the South-East, if its roads and infrastructure are in good shape, it would augur well for the people of the South-East and South-South. He…
Hajia Aisha Buhari, the wife of the Nigerian President, has called for women empowerment through various skill acquisition programmes to enable them support their families to cope with the current economic downturn. She made the call yesterday in Abuja at the 7th Al-Habibiyyah Women forum. Represented by Hajia Salma Makama, the Managing Director, Shelter Plus, Aisha Buhari specifically called for the empowerment of widows and those displaced as a result of insurgency in some parts of the country. In his remark, the Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, encouraged women to be supportive of their family. He said that…
The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has expressed optimism that insurgency in the North-East will soon become history following renewed commitment by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to tackle the menace. He made the statement yesterday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen. Ndume spoke shortly after presenting certificates to 100 internally displaced women, who had undergo three months training in tailoring. The beneficiaries were part of the 400 women in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in a camp in Karu, a satellite town in the FCT. The camp has a population of 1, 214 IDPs. Ndume said: “By God’s grace this thing – insurgency will…