DR
Borno governor sacks health commissioner
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has relieved the Commissioner of Health, Dr Salihu Kwaya-Bura, of his position. The sack is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Relations and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau. Gusau said the removal was part of measures to reposition the ministry. ”The governor has directed his Chief of Staff, Isa Marte, a Professor of pharmacology and fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science with specialty in cancer research, to oversee the affairs of the ministry pending the appointment of a substantive commissioner. “Zulum expresses gratitude to Kwayabura for his immense contributions to the development of Borno public health sector in nearly two years of the current administration and the years he had served under the previous administration,...
EFCC arrests 30 internet fraud suspects
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Friday that its operatives arrested 30 cyber fraud suspects in Enugu, Enugu State. The commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the suspects were arrested at Thinkers Corner Extension in Enugu on Thursday. According to him, the arrest followed intelligence obtained by the commission. He said some exotic cars were recovered from the suspects. Read the statement in full: EFCC Press Release EFCC Arrests 30 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Enugu Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal office on Thursday January 28, 2021 arrested 30 (Thirty) suspects for various internet-related offences in Enugu. Their arrest at Thinkers Corner Extension, followed actionable intelligenc...
Nigerian government distributes N20,000 each to 8,000 women in Lagos
Mrs Rhoda Iliya, the Deputy Director of Information, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja. Iliya explained that Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, at the ceremony on Friday in Lagos reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to alleviate poverty in the country. Farouq, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Bashir Alkali, said that Federal Government’s target in Lagos was over 8000 beneficiaries across all the local government councils of the state. “The grant is expected to increase income and productive assets of target beneficiaries. “It is our hope that the beneficiaries of this programme will make...
Yoruba elders condemn burning of Sarkin Fulani’s residence
Elders in the South West have condemned Friday’s attack on Sarkin Fulani, in Oyo State, Alhaji Salihu AbdulKadir and his family where houses were burnt down, livestock killed and 11 cars also burnt to ashes. The elders, who stated their opposition to the action attributed it to some criminals led by a secessionist, Sunday Adeyemo, in a statement under the umbrella of Coalition of Oduduwa Elders, said the development was inimical to the unity of the country which they stand for. Expressing shock that such ugly development can happen in Yorubaland which they noted, had been in the forefront of a united Nigeria, the elders tasked security agencies to immediately swing into action with a view to arresting the culprits so they can face the wrath of the country’s law. In the statement signed by ...
Ex-Nigerian ambassador Bolere Ketebu passes on
Dr. Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland is dead. She was 66 years old. Her death was made known by President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday. In a statement, Buhari condoled with the Ketebu family, the Bayelsa State government, as well as friends and professional colleagues of Dr Bolere Ketebu, The President said the former ambassador served her country creditably in several capacities. She was at one time President National Council of Women Societies, Secretary to Bayelsa State government and a member House of Representatives between 1992 and 1993. In September 2001, she was elected Advisor, Habitat to the International Council of Women (ICW). She was elected in 2003 as International Board Member to ICW, position she held till 2009. As a board member, she coordinated...
Comrade Kokori accuses JNI scribe of inciting religious war
Elder statesman and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Frank Ovie Kokori, has accused Secretary of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam, JNI, Dr. Khalid Aliyu of allegedly inciting religious war in the country. Comrade Kokori made his position known on Wednesday while reacting to Dr. Aliyu’s outburst in response to the Christmas homily of the archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. Recall that Bishop Kukah in his 2020 Christmas day message, accused President Buhari of nepotism and other misdemeanours which have attracted several reactions across the country. The elder statesman who is a former general secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, also urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto ...
Taraba: Striking resident doctors demand beyond hazard allowance
iStock As resident doctors strike in Taraba state enters week three, the state government, Tuesday said the demands of the aggrieved doctors were beyond the payment of COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowance. The state commissioner for health, Dr Innocent Vakkai speaking at a press parley, also disclosed that a committee has been constituted to compile the total cost of the COVID-19 hazard allowances due for health workers. He listed the demands of the striking doctors to include, “increase in doctors wages, training, and retraining of doctors on residency programs, improved working conditions and for the state to commence training of horsemanship officers. On the payment of the COVID-19 hazard allowance to health workers, Vakkai said the compilation of the total cost has reached the last...
Joe Biden receives second dose of coronavirus vaccine on camera
Joe Biden on Monday received the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on camera, as part of an effort by the President-elect’s incoming administration to reassure the country of the safety of the vaccines. Biden was administered the shot in his left arm by Ric Cuming, chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare’s Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware, according to Biden’s transition team. The President-elect said he would be announcing his plan to “get the entire Covid operation up and running,” including the necessary costs, on Thursday. Biden said he had a meeting with members of his team later Monday afternoon. Biden said he was “not afraid of taking the oath outside,” and that his team has been getting briefed, when asked if he had any fears about taking the oath of office...
Abuja residents: Why we buy ‘second hand’ clothes
Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari Area Council say they patronise the clothes not only because of its affordability but also for the upgraded standard. The buyers spoke in separate interviews with newsmen at the Dutse-Alhaji market on Sunday in Abuja. The buyers were seen patronising the items from their dealers in the market, which was known for the cheap sale of second hand clothing in the district. Ada Micheal, one of the buyers, told newsmen that when it came to especially shoes, school or women bags, she preferred the second hand ones because they were almost new and last longer. ” Not all of these items you see here are fairly used; most of them are new or almost new. ” Some even come with tags from probably the stores they were initially hung for sale or...
Nigerian government begs residents not to reject coronavirus vaccines
Federal authorities have appealed to Nigerians not to be hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it gets to Nigeria. Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, and head of Nigeria’s primary healthcare agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, made the appeal at the PTF briefing on Thursday in Abuja. Nigeria intends to get 42 million COVID-19 vaccines to cover one fifth of its population through the global COVAX scheme, the PTF had earlier announced. The initial vaccines would come as part of Nigeria’s plan to inoculate 40 percent of the population in 2021 and another 30 per cent in 2022, with 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arriving by the end of January 2021. The COVAX scheme was set up to provide vaccines to poorer countries including Nigeria whose 200 million people and poor ...
FCT chief judge bows out service
The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Ishaq Usman Bello, on Tuesday bowed out of service on the attainment of 65 years of age. This is even as he declared in his speech at a valedictory court session held in his honour that the greatest strength of the judiciary remained the trust, reliance and faith of the people in it. Bello, who became the FCT CJ on May 28, 2015, said that in a democratic set up like Nigeria’s, the judiciary had to be impartiality. “I solemnly accept as true the saying that the greatest strength of the judiciary is the trust, reliance and faith of the people in it. “In several cases, I have seen the court take decisions against the state as well for the achievement of the ends of justice. I know this well because I have delivered some myself,” ...
CAN urges churches to be security conscious
File Photo The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked churches to be security conscious as they celebrate Christmas. CAN President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, gave the advice in a press statement yesterday titled, ‘The Power of His Presence, Our Hope of Tomorrow’. He encouraged Christians not to be weighed down by the adversities experienced in the year 2020. Ayokunle said, “Christmas is not a myth, not a tradition, not a dream. It is a glorious reality. It is a time of joy. The fact of the cross illuminates Christmas day and hallows it. “Christmas is also a season to advocate peace in the world that is full of wars, strives, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminalities. “It is painful that many people are mourning due to the demise of their loved ones as a re...
