The Federal Government has condemned the stigmatisation of Nigerians by South Africa and 21 other countries over the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus disease that was successfully eradicated recently. The Federal Government said the eradication of the virus prompted the World Health Organisation to declare Nigeria an Ebola-free country. The countries that stigmatised Nigerians are: Bahrain, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Cuba, Gabon, China, Egypt and Hong Kong. Others are Kuwait, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Zambia, Mauritania, São Tomé & Principle, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Namibia, Seychelles and South Sudan. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, who…
Author: Wale Adebayo
PHOTO CREDIT: PREMIUM TIMES A Chief Armourer with the Kaduna State Police Command, Nambol Audu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, has allegedly committed suicide in the early hours of Friday, the police authorities said. Recall that Audu was arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing firearms and attempting to sell them to criminal elements. His accomplices, Zingkur Joseph of Trade Centre Jos and Samuel Adamu of Kuru Jos-South Local Government Area of Plateau State, were also arrested and paraded. DSP Audu was said to have shot himself on the chest while in detention at about 5.am on Friday. Confirming the incident,…
The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Alhaji Kabiru Gaya, on Friday night, was reportedly attacked by four armed men, said to be dressed in military fatigue and snatched a Prado SUV in which he was travelling. The senator’s spokesperson, Idris Afegbua, who confirmed the development in a statement late Friday, said his boss was travelling to Kano from Abuja when he was suddenly attacked along the Jaji-Zaria road by unknown gunmen in military uniform. Mr. Afegbua, who said the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m., said the senator was however unhurt, although his car, with Registration Number FL 16 SEN,…
Billionaire businessman and major financier of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Arthur Eze, has declared that the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan was a done deal. He made this declaration in Abuja during a meeting of the Elders’ Advisory Council of Goodluck Support Group on Friday. Another businessman and founder of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, at the occasion, donated 24 vehicles manufactured by his company to the group, pledging to do more in the coming days. Eze, in his remarks, urged all Nigerians to support Jonathan in fulfilling his political aspiration. He argued that…
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and governorship aspirant in Kaduna State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, in Kaduna on Friday, alleged that the withdrawal of the security details of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was a ploy by the Federal Government to eliminate him (Speaker). El-Rufai, who accused President Goodluck Jonathan of orchestrating the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides, alleged that the Speaker was one of the targets of snipers being purportedly trained by agents of the government. Speaking to journalists after picking his expression of interest and nomination…
Ekiti State Government has dismissed rumours he was planning to sack civil servants in the state. Rumours have reportedly make rounds courtesy of the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) that the Ayodele Fayose-led government had plans to reduce the number of government parastaltals and will therefore cut jobs. Special Assistant to the state governor on Public Communications and News Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka did not deny a planned reduction of the number of ministries in the state, but said it was being done to ensure effective and efficient discharge of duties. Olayinka said it did not indicate that some workers would…
President Goodluck Jonathan and Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi may not be best of friends when the latter was in office, but indications have emerged that the duo were ready to settle their differences. Now the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, the former apex bank chief and Jonathan met yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja and held a meeting behind closed doors. The emir showed up at the president’s residence in the company of elders and a retinue of aides. Reports say that the meeting lasted about an hour but the Emir refused to take questions…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will sanction political parties over non-compliance with its timetable for the 2015 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega made this known in an interview, where he advised politicians and political parties to adhere strictly to the timetable. “The time table has long been issued and it is on our (INEC) website. “I will advise people, particularly politicians and political parties to adhere strictly to that timetable. “The times when campaign will begin, when primaries will be conducted, when candidates will be nominated. “That is very important because non compliance with the election…
Police have arrested three suspects in connection with an early morning explosion at the Gombe Motor Park which reportedly led to the death of eight people and left about 34 people injured. The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Manzo Ezekiel, told AFP his staff had confirmed five dead but noted the toll could be higher. According to the Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kudu Nma, a vehicle with an inscription “Yobe Line” was reported to have brought the suspected bombers to the motor park. “A vehicle which was suspected to have carried the bombers who came in…
Former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has declared his intention to offer credible leadership in Kaduna State if he wins the 2015 governorship election, saying however that he was not desperate to win. El-Rufai said this on Friday in Kaduna when he obtained the APC nomination forms in the state. Speaking to officials of the party and supporters at the APC State Secretariat in Kaduna, El-Rufai said he did not enter into the contest to enrich himself but to help in transforming the state. He called on party members to be united and support whoever emerges as the flag bearer…
Oando Plc has disclosed plans to build a 400-megawatt power plant in Nigeria, after failing three times in bids to buy electricity utilities put up for sale in 2013. Chief Executive Officer of Oando Gas & Power Ltd. Bolaji Osunsanya in an October 29 interview with Bloomberg News said work on the power plant will start by mid-2015 and last for about three years. Nigeria had last year sold generation companies (Gencos) including Geregu power station, Ughelli power plant, Kainji hydro power station, the Egbin power station, Sapele power plant and Shiroro hydro power station. The privatisation of assets in…
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Gombe State Police Command has warned politicians in the state against recruiting youths as thugs. The state commissioner of police, Abdullahi Kudu Nma, gave the warning yesterday in Gombe when he paraded 22 suspected thugs. The police boss said: “We resuscitated Patrol 99, not only because of politics, but because of a lot of complaints of hooliganism. Some miscreants are trying to resurface under the guise of yan kalare”. Narrating how the suspects were arrested, Nma said, “Early this morning, we acted on a tip-off and arrested 22 people. We recovered dangerous weapons…
Original inhabitants of Abuja are to be relocated to their permanent site in 2015, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Smart Adeyemi, has said. Mr. Adeyemi stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday. He said that already, districts were being created to ensure the implementation of the relocation next year, adding that the exercise would relieve many of the original inhabitants of some of their problems. Mr. Adeyemi said efforts were being made to ensure a robust budget allocation for the FCT in 2015. “In next year’s budget, effort will be…
Women of any age can become single parents at any time either through teenage pregnancy, divorce, separation, death of a spouse or by choice. Parenting is not such an easy task and it could be more challenging when you are a single parent. For some being a single mom is not such a big deal but for some others it is, especially when you are a celebrity, constantly in the limelight and have to deal with maintaining a stable family and pursuing your career. Below is a list of women in the Nigerian entertainment industry who have been single moms…
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has been advised by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party to respect the party’s constitution and resign from office. Mimiko, who was elected governor on the platform of the LP, dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) earlier this month. The Labour Party NWC took the decision after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. According to a statement issued by the LP National Publicity Secretary, Ikpe Etokudo: “The NWC came to the inevitable conclusion that the constitution of the republic and provision of relevant section of the electoral laws…
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Governor James Ngilari of Adamawa State has been barred from contesting the governorship election of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. The party said it was bound to comply with the agreement it entered into with governorship aspirants from the state about two months ago. The decision to ban Ngilari was taken at the meeting of the members of the National Working Committee of the party in Abuja on Wednesday night. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, Thursday. According to Metuh,…
Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat, has announced the 2014 Flash Fiction Prize category of the Etisalat Prize for literature. This award category which is in line with the company’s goal of inspiring and encouraging creativity is designed to celebrate the short form of storytelling. According to the Director, Brands and Communication of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Enitan Denloye, “In today’s fast paced world, communication is right at our finger tips through the use of smart devices; phones, tablets and the likes and people prefer to consume information on-the-go and in small bits. The flash fiction category therefore seeks to marry…
Former Minister of Education and Bringbackourgirls campaigner, Oby Ezekwesili has called on the Federal Government to make the rescue of the 219 girls abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram group priority over every other activity. Ezekwesili, who spoke yesterday ahead of the 200th day since the schoolgirls were abducted by the terrorists, expressed sorrow that the girls remained in the hold of their abductors. She also dismissed claims that the BringBackOurGirls group’s activities had a political undertone. “As far as we are concerned, we are not looking at any other thing, we are just…
Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday expressed optimism that despite the growing anxiety and challenges ahead of the 2015 general elections, Nigeria would emerge stronger and more united as a nation. The senate president, who made this known when the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Michel Arrion, visited him in Abuja, added that government has improved and indeed strengthened political institutions to withstand any storm no matter the circumstances. Mark, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said, “Our political situation is steadily progressing. All Nigerians are now more conscious and indeed aware of…
The All Progressives Congress said on Thursday that the usage of card readers by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2015 general election remained one of the best ways to ensure that the forthcoming poll was free, fair and credible. National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, stated this in Abuja when he received the ECOWAS Fact Finding team to Nigeria led by former Ghanaian President, John Kuffour, in his office. The APC chairman said that INEC had no excuse not to deploy the technology because some countries in West Africa with lesser population and human resources, were already…