State
Two arrested for extorting money from motorists leaving Abia
The combined team of Abia State Government COVID-19 Joint Task Force manning the border between Abia and Imo States (Onuimo), have arrested two suspects extorting money from motorists entering Abia State with food items. The two suspects, Nwabueze Ibebuike and Ikechukwu Ekeke both hailed from Ekenaobizi in Umuahia South LGA. Before their arrest, the suspects in company of two others still at large mounted illegal checkpoint at Ekenaobizi extorting money from motorists leaving Abia State and assuring them that the Task Force will grant them exit from the state while those entering the state who were cleared by the taskforce team were not spared by the suspects thus creating the impression that there are working for the COVID-19 task force. Both suspects are currently at the Umuahia Central ...
Presidency: Nothing wrong with taking more loans
There is nothing wrong in taking more loans to finance specific projects, the Presidency said on Sunday. It urged those criticising efforts in borrowing to develop the country, to desist. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said Nigeria has more capacity to accommodate loans. He spoke while featuring on Southwest Political Circuit, a popular political interview programme on Ibadan-based radio station, Fresh F.M. Adesina called from his Aso Rock office to take questions on aspects of COVID-19 management and economic issues. He said that there was no need for Nigerians to raise concern about the country’s rising debt profile because the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is applying loans to the specific projects they are meant for. Although he pointed out that the huge debt, which th...
Troops raid militants hideout in Rivers, recover cache of arms
Nigerian troops on May 12 raided and destroyed an identified pirates/militants hideout in Arugbanama Community in Bonny Local Government Arwa of Rivers State, Defence Headquarters says. The Coordinator, Defence Media Information, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja, the troops were from the 146 Battalion deployed in Bonny Island in the state. Enenche explained that the troops engaged the militants/pirates in exchange of gun fire leading to the killing of two of the criminals. He added that there was recovery of one AK47 rifle and seven magazine, one pump action rifle, one pistol and magazine. Others are one round of 7.62mm NATO ammunition and 102 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, three rounds of 9mm ball ammunition and one live cartridge. He said that one camou...
Suspected killer of UniJos lecturer nabbed as kidnapped daughter rescued
One of the suspected killers of Dr Mandi Drenkat, a lecturer with the University of Jos has been arrested at the Babale area of Jos North local government area of Plateau State. The suspect, identified as Ali Mohammed was arrested with one AK 47 rifle and a kidnap victim in their den named Chiboze Joseph rescued unhurt. It would be recalled that the late Dr Drenkat was shot in his home at the University of Jos Senior Staff Quarters on Friday night and his six years old daughter kidnapped but subsequently rescued by the Police. Confirming the arrest and rescue, the State Police Commissioner, Edward Egbuka, who also paraded the suspect told journalists on Sunday, “On 16/5/2020 at about 0030hrs, the Command received a distress call at road 6 University Senior staff quarters, Jos where some ho...
PDP mourns Simeon Nwakaudu, condoles Governor Wike
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expressed shock over the death of the Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu. In a statement of condolence signed by the spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said: “the media industry and indeed Rivers state, have lost one of our brightest and patriotic media professionals; a loyal compatriot, who gave his all in serving our dear nation.” The statement further read: “Nwakaudu was a courageous and hardworking Nigerian, who dedicated his youthful life in serving our nation as an accomplished journalist, Special Assistant to Governor Wike during his tenure as Minister of Education and then as his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, where he contributed immensely in the implementation of...
Adamawa imposes curfew on crisis-ridden Lamurde communities
The Adamawa State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on warring communities in Lamurde Local Government Area. A statement to this effect said the curfew is government’s response to “the violence that erupted on Thursday, May 14th 2020 and the attendant tension.” The statement, signed by Humwashi Wonosikou, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, said, “Sequel to breach of peace in Tigno Dutse Tito, Sabon Layi and Bagashi communities, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved the imposition of a 24-hour curfew from 6:00pm to 6:00am with immediate effect.” The statement added that Governor Fintiri views the disturbances as unacceptable, warning that security agencies have been directed to enforce the curfew, and urging residents of Lamurde Local Government Area to shun rumor-mo...
Ndigbo in Lagos do not hate APC – lawmaker
Honourable Jude Idimogu, the lawmaker representing Oshidi/Isolo Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly has said that Ndigbo, an ethnic group from South East, does not hate All Progressives Congress (APC), as many people would erroneously believe, rather it is the leadership of the group that has been the problem. Idimogu said at a press conference over the weekend when representatives of Ndigbo and other stakeholders announced him as the apex leader of Ndigbo in APC, to take over from Joe Igbokwe, Special Adviser on Drainage and Environment to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State. The lawmaker said he had not been a happy person because his people had continued to support opposition party in the state, which had also robbed them of their due rights as a people in the sta...
Bauchi governor orders payment of salaries
Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has approved the payment of May, 2020 salaries of Civil Servants in the state ahead of the Eid-el Fitr celebration. His Senior Special Assistant on Media, Muktar Gidado, revealed this on Sunday in a statement. He said the Governor has directed the State Accountant General to ensure that the salaries are paid on or before the 20th of May. He explained the development was to enable workers, including pensioners enjoy a happy Eid-el Fitr celebrations. Mohammed assured civil servants in the state of the commitment of his administration to prompt payment of salaries in addition to other reforms introduced to ensure effective service delivery. He equally enjoined them to ensure total compliance with all the protocols against COVID-19 pandemic. Get more ...
Federal government donates 5,318 metric tons of foodstuff to Kano
The Federal Government said it has delivered a total of 139 truck-loads of foodstuff which is equivalent to 5,318 metric tons to Kano State, for distribution to the less-privileged, and people living with disabilities as palliatives against the effect of COVID-19. The relief items were 10 trucks of rice; 2,438 metric tonnes of Maize; 1,380 metric tonnes of millet and 900 metric tonnes of sorghum in a total of 139 trucks each ferrying 60 metric tons to feed 300,000 households. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, who stated this in a statement, yesterday, disclosed that the10 trucks of rice came from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), while maize, millet and sorghum were drawn from the country’s strategic food reserves as authori...
Governor Fayemi: Ibrahim Gambari’s appointment excites governors
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed excitement over the appointment of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. The Forum also expressed its readiness to work with Gambari for the progress and development of the country. In a congratulatory message signed by its Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in Abuja on Sunday, the NGF expressed confidence in Gambari’s competence for the job. “As you know, this appointment comes with great responsibilities and unconventional demands, requiring candour, discipline, professionalism, loyalty, focus, diligence and the highest level of service. “Your credentials, pedigree, experience and career trajectory both locally and globally speak to your capacity. As State Governors, we are excited a...
Nasarawa Assembly members test negative for coronavirus
Nasarawa State Government All the members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly have tested negative for coronavirus (COVID-19), the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Alhaji Mohammed Omadefu, has said. Omadefu disclosed this during an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Keffi. Expressing gratitude to God over their COVID-19 status, the spokesman restated the assembly’s commitment in containing the spread of the pandemic in the state. “At last, all members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly have been certified COVID-19 negative. “This followed the fact that the only member out of the 23, whom controversies surrounded his COVID-19 status, Hon. Mohammed Bello Isa, member representing Uke/Karshi, has been cleared this afternoon as his two tests results of COVID-19 were all neg...
Rivers monarchs accuse IGP of reversing presidential lockdown order
President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to reverse the order of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the movement of agricultural produce, livestock, goods and services in Rivers State. The call was made on Saturday by the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, which noted that the IGP had set up a Joint Technical Task Force at the instance of the Federal Ministries of Agricultural and Rural Development, Defence, Environment as well as various security agencies, to ensure free and unhindered movement of food, livestock, agricultural inputs and others into the State. The State Chairman of the Council, King Dandeson Jaja, speaking on behalf of the council in Port Harcourt wondered why the IGP would unilaterally lift the ban on the Presidential order restricting interstate movement...
