Benefit
Musicians to Mark 20th Anniversary of Joe Strummer’s Passing by Busking in Front of NYC Mural
A bevy of musicians will honor Joe Strummer on the 20th anniversary of his passing this Thursday (December 22nd) by busking in front of a famous New York City mural of the legendary Clash singer-guitarist. Featured artists include members of D Generation and Gogol Bordello. The annual “Gates of the West” holiday benefit takes place 6-8 p.m. at the painted Strummer memorial on the side of the bar Niagara on 112 Avenue A. If there’s rain or snow (currently rain is in the forecast), the tribute will move to the stage inside Niagara. Among the performers are Niagara co-owner and D Generation frontman Jesse Malin, Gogol Bordello singer Eugene Hutz, and the The So So Glows, plus a few dozen other artists. An after-party will begin at 8 p.m. at Malin’s new bar 96 Tears, right next door at 110 Ave...
NNPC, Shell donate 10 solar power water projects to communities in Borno
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) have donated 10 solar powered boreholes and 16 VIP latrines to some communities in seven LGAs in Borno. Speaking at the formal handover ceremony of the projects in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Borno Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, lauded NNPC/SNEPCO for the intervention. He said it would impact positively on the lives of the benefitting communities. Kadafur, whose speech was read by Alhaji Mohammed Wanori, the Commissioner for Inter-Governmental Affairs, said the intervention was in line with the administration’s policy of restoration of livelihood in communities worst affected by decade-long insurgency. “This administration places a high premium on the adage which says ‘water ...
House speaker lauds Ebonyi lawmaker over democracy dividends
Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has applauded Chief Chinedu Ogah, representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency, for delivering democracy dividends to his constituents. The Speaker made the commendation on Wednesday at Ekpelu community in Ikwo local government area while inaugurating constituency projects attracted by Ogah. The Speaker, represented by Mr Abdulkadir Babayali, said that the lawmaker has demonstrated uncommon love, uncommon will and uncommon wisdom in attracting the projects which he said would enhance the living conditions of the people. He added that the lawmaker had demonstrated effective representation through the provision of many life changing infrastructure and other development projects for the people. The Speaker urged the people to...
Oyo APC: We’re proud of Senator Ajimobi, even in death
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State Chapter, says it is very proud of the good governance and rare virtues in the late former Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, even in death. Chief Akin Oke, the state Caretaker Chairman, said in a statement by his Special Assistant, Olawale Sadare, on Thursday in Ibadan. Newsmen recall that the late Ajimobi, died on June 25, 2020, following reported complications arising from the COVID-19 infection. Ajimobi, who died at the age of 70, was the first civilian governor to govern Oyo State for an unprecedented two terms. He was until his death, the Aare of Ibadanland and the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC. Oke said that the memory and legacy of Ajimobi would remain indelible in the hearts of the people who valued quality leadership, good govern...
Jamiu Abiola: MKO, Kudirat died in vain if Nigeria’s democracy collapses
Getty Images Son of Chief MKO Abiola, winner of the 1993 presidential election, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola has floated a foundation named after his mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola to work for peace and unity of Nigeria in the face of agitations for secession. Jamiu Abiola said it would mean that his parents, Alhaja Kudirat and Chief MKO Abiola died in vain if Nigeria or its democracy collapse. He spoke in Zaria, Kaduna State on Saturday while launching the Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari Peace Foundation in memory of his Zaria-born mother, who was assassinated on the 4th June 1996. Alhaji Jamiu Abiola who is the Chairman of the Foundation said, it was founded to work against the forces trying to bring Nigeria down, adding that the creation of Nigeria by God was not a mistake and the country has gone too ...
Algeria’s FLN remains biggest party after election
Algeria’s FLN, long the country’s biggest political party, won the most seats in Saturday’s parliamentary election, the head of the electoral authority said on Tuesday. Fewer than a third of registered voters took part in the election, which the long dominant establishment had seen as part of its strategy to move beyond two years of mass protests and political turmoil. The protests that erupted in 2019 demanded the ousting of the ruling elite, an end to corruption and the army’s withdrawal from politics. While authorities praised the demonstrations as a moment of national renewal, they also cracked down with arrests. “The dynamic of peaceful change that was launched (with the protests) is being strengthened,” electoral authority head Mohamed Chorfi said, referring to the election. The FLN’...
Ondo governor: Why Amotekun will transform into state police
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Saturday said that the State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps would eventually transform into a State Police overtime. Akeredolu, who insisted that every federating unit in the country should have its own police for effective security, noted that there was no serious attempt to redesign the nation’s security architecture to respond to the demands of a nascent country at the time of independence. Speaking at the 2021 Democracy Day lecture held in Akure, the state capital, the governor also said that he does not believe in secession. At the event held at the International Event Centre (DOME), Akeredolu said the local government could not be absolutely autonomous and that the Federal Government should have no control, whatsoever, over h...
EFCC: Top government officials involved in illicit financial flows
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accused Nigerian leaders and top government officials of aiding the Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) activities in the country. The EFCC also revealed that corrupt government officials and their private sector collaborators used fronts and ownership structures that do not provide sufficient information about the true identities of the natural persons behind the title to hide illicit money and transferred same to safe havens abroad. The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Abduralsheed Bawa, disclosed this during a one-day conference that was organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CSLAC) on IFF on Corruption in Arbitration in Abuja Bawa, who was represented by the Head of Research Unit, Department of Policy Research a...
Iran says nuclear talks policy won’t change after presidential vote
Iran’s policy in talks with world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear accord will remain unchanged after a June 18 presidential election because the issue is decided by its highest leadership, a government spokesman said on Tuesday. A host of barriers to the revival of the nuclear deal remain firmly in place ahead of talks due to resume this week, suggesting a return to compliance with the accord is still a way off, diplomats, Iranian officials and analysts said. “We have shown that we adhere to our international obligations under all circumstances, and this was a national decision,” cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei told a weekly news conference. Rabiei said Iran’s nuclear policy, set by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is not linked to internal developments and that the new government wou...
Constitution review: States creation tops list of submissions at North East public hearing
YouTube States creation topped list of demands by groups from Adamawa and Taraba States at Thursday’s public hearing on the review of 1999 Constitutional in Gombe. Newsmen report that the groups wanted creation of Amana and Gongola out of present Adamawa State and Mambilla out of the present Taraba State. Ahmad Sajoh, the leader of the movement for Amana State, said the struggle for the creation of the state had been on for years. Sajoh said since 1961 when the area was moved into Nigeria from Cameroon, it had been an independent entity and it was the wish of the people to have a state of their own. He said: “The then Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, convinced us to be part of Nigeria on the condition that the area shall be an autonomous province with ...
Ex-President Obasanjo visits Chicks market in Ibadan, promises improved system
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday assured members of the Day Old Chicks Merchant Association of Nigeria (DOCMAN) of improved system and the backing of the government. Obasanjo gave the assurance during his surprise visit to the market, Obasanjo Day Old Chicks Market, located at Oluyole Estate in Ibadan. The former president, who arrived at the market at about 9.20 a.m, was conducted round the congested market by Deacon Sunday Agusa, the General Manager of Obasanjo Farms, Ibadan. Newsmen report that there was massive turnout of traders at the market to welcome the former president amidst pomp and pageant. Obasanjo said that his attention was drawn to the existence of the market by his staff member and the use of his name to grow the market to an international standard on day-ol...
Minister: Nigerian government to scale up domestic gas expansion, monetisation drive
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, has stated that the federal government will continue to ramp up its current domestic gas expansion drive as well as its monetisation programme to increase the country’s supply of the much needed foreign exchange earnings. Speaking when he appeared virtually at the formal opening of the new headquarters of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the minister stressed that the company was expected to play a major role in achieving the objective. Sylva noted that the country’s gas reserves must be fully explored for the full benefit of Nigerians, noting that has remains a major game-changer for Nigeria, especially with the renewed attention to the commodity as a lower carbon energy source. “In ...
