Nigeria
Senate summons ex-NSITF bosses over ‘N84 billion embezzlement’
The Senate has summoned former managing directors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund over alleged missing financial documents in the agency. The former NSITF bosses are expected to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday. The Chairman of SPAC, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, at the last meeting of his panel on Thursday, said 50 queries were issued against the NSITF officials by the office of the Auditor General for the Federation. Urhoghide said the ex-NSITF bosses were being invited following the failure of the officials of the agency to respond to the queries of the AuGF regarding some alleged financial infractions. He said, “Twelve out of the 50 queries of the Auditor General of the Federation so far reviewed by the committee revealed that N84bn had allegedly be...
Imo council chairs petition President Buhari over ‘lopsided appointments’ in NDDC
The Oil Producing Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo State under the auspices of Urashi Peoples’ Congress (UPC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse what it described as persistent lopsided appointment in the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In an open letter addressed to the president, which was signed by the Coordinator, Mr. Reginald Uwakwe, a copy of which was made available to newsmen yesterday, the group lamented that the appointments into key positions i.e. the managing director of the NDDC, have been allegedly skewed in favour of only four states of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta, out of the nine member states that made up the commission. It said between 2001 and 2021, the list of managing directors and their states included Dr. God...
Akwa Ibom: Police confirm attack on station
The police command in Akwa Ibom has confirmed Saturday’s attack on its Udung Uko Divisional Police Headquarters by gunmen. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko MacDon, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Udung Uko in Akwa Ibom on Sunday. Mr Macdon, a superintendent of police, said the situation would have been worse but for the gallant policemen on duty who repelled the attack. He, however, said that the three officers who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state. “Gunmen on Saturday night attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. “At least three officers sustained fatal injuries, resulting from heavy gunshots as policemen on duty tried to repel the attack,” he said. Acco...
Provost advocates national confab on education
Provost of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu, Ebonyi state, Prof Ruben Okey Okechukwu, has advocated an education conference in the country to discuss the way out of the many challenges confronting Nigeria’s education system. According to the professor, the report of the conference will help in addressing the many challenges that have bedeviled the nation’s education system. He noted that a similar conference convoked immediately after the civil war in 1970 had developed education immensely which led to the introduction of the universal primary education. On the ravaging insecurity plaguing some parts of the North, leading to kidnapping of students in exchange for ransom, he urged government to urgently arrest the ugly trend. Okechukwu, who spoke in Abuja after he was confe...
Gunmen kill member of Edo vigilance group in Benin
A young man and member of the Edo State vigilance group simply identified as Endurance, better known as “DMX ” was on Saturday night shot and killed at Ugbowo area by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of a rival cult group in Benin City. Reports have it that the assailants trailed their victim from his house to a Lotto Betting Shop, where he was shot trice at close range, while other stakers at the Lotto Betting Shop scampered for safety. The incident which allegedly occurred at about 6 pm on Saturday on Ologbosere Street, off Benin Technical College road in Ugbowo Quarters, Egor Local Government Area threw residents of the area into panic and apprehension. It was gathered that the Vigilance group in the area, immediately after the incident, stormed the crime scene to rescue their col...
PIB: IPMAN commends National Assembly for inclusion of PEF
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has commended the National Assembly for the inclusion of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund in the newly passed Petroleum Industry Bill. The Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Yakubu Suleiman, gave the commendation on Sunday in a statement. Suleiman said the legislative arm of government had demonstrated that it was sensitive to the yearnings of majority of Nigerians for a permanent solution to the energy problems in the country. He said the entire content of the bill as passed by the Senate would serve as a catalyst for the inflow of the much desired foreign direct investment to boost the economy. He said: “The much awaited Petroleum Industry Bill has come to ease Nigerians of the pains that necessitated the call for the Bill in the ...
Igbo group urges Nigerian government to charge Nnamdi Kanu for murder
The Igbo Peace Forum (IPF) has urged the Federal Government to press charges of mass murder against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu. The group made the call on Sunday, in Abuja, at a solidarity rally to register their support for President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies for their accomplishments in recent security operations in the country. The Group’s National Coordinator, Mr Emeka Okpara said Igbo citizens were concerned that certain individuals had taken up arms against constituted authority, leading to loss of lives and property of several innocent citizens. “It would be recalled that the leader of the proscribed IPOB, Kanu, who was standing trial on several charges, including treason, jumped bail, but was re-arrested recently...
Police arrest nine suspects for armed robbery in Jigawa
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested nine armed robbery suspects believed to have been terrorising residents in Gumel Local Government Area of the state. ASP Shiisu Lawan, spokesperson for the command, revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Dutse on Sunday. He said the suspects were arrested on June 30. Lawan said four of the suspects (names withheld) were arrested after attacking one Naja’atu, a housewife, with cutlass on June 15 about 2:40am. He said: “On June 15 at 8am, one Nazifi Abdulhamid of plantation Gagarawa Tasha, reported the incident to the police that on same date about 2:40am, the four suspects trespassed into his compound and attacked them with sticks and cutlass. “His wife, Naja,atu Lawan, aged 23, raised alarm and as a result they (suspects) used a cutlass ...
Fuji legend Wasiu Ayinde undergoes surgery
Nigeria’s Fuji legend, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has undergone minor surgery for an undisclosed illness. Canada-based show promoter, Bolaji Saheed Basia who is also a close friend of the singer shared his pictures on a hospital bed on Saturday night. “Minor surgery though but I still give thanks to almighty God for the success,” the entertainment and hospitality businessman wrote on Instagram. Bolaji and K1 have been friends for four decades from their days in Agarawu, Lagos Island. The Fuji king had joined others for an exclusive birthday celebration for his friend on June 25. Last year, Basia stated in a Facebook and Instagram post that the singer surprised him when he paid for a land he bought. “I called the agent when I didn’t hear from the owner again. H...
PDP: Zamfara governor’s reason for defection confirms APC behind insecurity
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) noted that Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle’s statement that he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to get the Federal Government to end insecurity in his state is a confirmation that APC and its government are responsible for the banditry, terrorism and kidnapping ravaging that state. According to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the confession by Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, that he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to get the Federal Government to end insecurity in his state, reinforces public stance that the APC and its government are responsible for the banditry, terrorism and kidnapping ravaging that state.” The party believ...
APC states to implement Security Trust Fund to address insecurity
In a bid to fight the increasing wave of insecurity in the country, All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled states are to strengthen the legal framework for the implementation of the Security Trust Fund (STF) by member States. This decision was reached at the 12th Quarterly meeting of Secretaries to Government of APC states in conjunction with the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital. The communique, jointly signed by the Nasarawa State Secretary to Government, Barr. Muhammad Ubandoma Aliyu and the Director-General of PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman, issued at the end of the meeting and released to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday stated that States Chief scribes will continue to mobilize resources for the management of security challenges in the APC-controlled states....
Speaker Gbajabiamila: Constitution review to address Nigeria’s foundational deficiencies
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for collaboration between the National Assembly and the 36 state Houses of Assembly to make the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution successful. Gbajabiamila, who spoke at a meeting of the Conference of Presiding Officers of Nigerian Legislatures in Abuja at the weekend, noted that the constitutional amendments are to address Nigeria’s foundational problems. The Speaker also stated that the legislature remained the most important arm of government in any democratic setting, according to a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, titled ‘Constitution review: Gbajabiamila Seeks Collaboration Between NASS, State Assemblies…Says Legislature Remains Most Important Arm o...
