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UNICAL security apprehends suspected cultists with hard drugs on campus
Security operatives in the University of Calabar, UNICAL, have arrested two suspected cultists for being in possession of packs of 100mg of tramadol on campus. The suspect, Abarakwe Darlington, 23, and Asuquo Effiong, 25, were arrested following an interrogation from the security operatives after he allegedly beat up an ice cream vendor, George Emmanuel, who had raised an alarm that he sold the suspects ice cream and they refused to pay him. The Acting Chief Security Officer of the University, So Usani Okon-Etim(rted), told some Journalists on Wednesday on campus that the suspects were arrested close to the moot court on campus. He said: “These two suspects bought ice cream from the seller and they refused to pay him, rather they started flogging him. The boy however raised alarm and some ...
South-east group hails re-organisation in Nigeria Police Force
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders has expressed delight over the recent re-organisation in the Nigeria Police Force. The group, an umbrella body of youth organisations in the zone, described the measure as “a step in the right direction”. This is contained in a statement issued by the group’s President General, Goodluck Ibem, in Owerri on Wednesday. It commended the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, for his “foresight” in appointing Mr Etim Okon as the Assistant Inspector General in charge of Zone 9. Ibem said that Okon’s appointment could not have come at a better time, considering the rising cases of insecurity in the zone. “We are deeply grateful to the IGP for his foresight in appointing a tested and experienced hand to man the affairs of Zone 9, Umuahia in Abia. ...
Washington denies Iran state media report saying prisoner swap agreed
The United States on Sunday denied a report by Iran’s state television that the arch-foes had reached a prisoner swap deal in exchange for the release of $7 billion frozen Iranian oil funds under U.S. sanctions in other countries. Iranian state television said on Sunday that Tehran would free four Americans accused of spying in exchange for four Iranians held in the United States and the release of $7 billion in frozen Iranian funds. The U.S. government denied that an exchange was in the works. The state TV, quoting an unnamed Iranian official, also said British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe would be released once Britain had paid off a debt on military equipment owed to Tehran. A British Foreign Office official played down that report. Iran and world powers are holding talks ...
May Day: Minister donates bus to staff union
The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, on Saturday, donated a 28- seater bus to the ministry’s staff union. The gesture was in commemoration of the 2021 Workers’ Day. Abdullahi disclosed this in a message he posted on his Twitter handle, @MohdHAbdullahi. He said the gesture was meant to show appreciation for the workers’ dedication and to ease their movement to and from work. He wrote, “As part of our modest efforts in supporting our dedicated staff, I just provided a 28-seater bus to the staff union to ease their mobility to and from work amongst other efforts. “I wish them a happy Workers’ Day.” The minister also promised that his ministry will continue to promote labour-friendly policies to make the workplace conducive for workers. He also vowed to ensu...
Workers Day: Senate president urges labour to consider higher national interest always
Ahead of the May 1 Workers Day celebration, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Friday, Senator urged organised labour to always look at the larger picture and consider higher national interest in their responses to government policies and actions. Lawan stated this on Friday, while commemorating this year’s workers day celebration coming up today (May 1). In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, the Senate President assured workers that “the National Assembly believes in the well-being and welfare of the workers and will always provide legislative support for every effort to tackle their challenges and improve the work environment.” Recalling that the Nigerian workers across the generations have continued to drive economic productivity, nation-building and democra...
President Buhari seeks NMA support in providing responsive health care system
President Muhammed Buhari has solicited the support of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in reforming the Health care sector in order to deliver a health system that is responsive to the needs of Nigerians. Buhari disclosed this on Thursday during the 61st Annual General Conference Annual Delegates meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), held in Jos, Plateau State. The President who was represented by Minister of Health, Professor , Osagie Ehanire, said inspite the Country’s fragile health system, Doctors have continued to respond to diseases. He said the Country’s health system has a long way to go in meeting the demand of Nigerians. President Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah appealed to Federal Government to provide modern medical equipments and consuma...
NGF, FRC to collaborate to promote fiscal responsibility in states
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) on Thursday met to discuss potential opportunities for collaboration towards promoting fiscal responsibility at the sub-national level. Only 18 states so far have been able to dometicate the fiscal responsibility law in their domains. The Chairman of FRC, Victor Muruako, on his remarks stressed that it was imperative to encourage states to adopt fiscal responsibility into law. He expressed believe that the way to start is to is to begin at regional basis before encouraging other states to key in. Muruako said for now, the Commission has been engaging with states by providing technical assistance. He, however, said collaboration with NGF, will ensure the study of fiscal responsibility is taken to the grassroots. Th...
NOA urges all leaders to de-escalate tension, preach peace
File Photo Responding to the spike in violent crimes and insecurity across Nigeria, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged political, ethnic and religious leaders to take deliberate steps to de-escalate tensions and promote peace, unity and tolerance among the citizens. In a letter of appeal signed by the Director General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari, the agency said the present situation called for leaders across political, religious, traditional, professional and the social landscape to do all within their powers to arrest the situation to avoid further deterioration. The letter reads in part: ‘At these very challenging times, all the nation and its citizens need are deeper reflection and sobriety in what we do and say, as truly, the forces of disunity and national disintegration are ...
Nigerian government tasks universities on best practices for impact as panel visits FUPRE
Nigerian universities have been charged to always comply with global best practices in terms of corporate governance, operations, benchmark, quality assurance and judicious application of resources for impact. The Chairman of the federal government Visitation panel to the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Prof. Ikenna Onyido, stated this yesterday at the institution. Onyido argued that it was important for the federal government to at interval check the books of the various universities owned by it to ascertain compliance to the various regulations and assess their development in line with available regulations overtime. The Emeritus Professor and former Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, who led a seven-member team to FUPRE, stre...
U.S. pledges sustained help for India in tackling coronavirus crisis
Senior U.S. officials on Tuesday pledged sustained support for India in helping it deal with the world’s worst current surge of COVID-19 infections, warning the country is still at the “front end” of the crisis and overcoming it will take some time. The White House’s National Security Council coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, Kurt Campbell, told a virtual event on the U.S. assistance that President Joe Biden had told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a phone call on Monday: “You let me know what you need and we will do it.” Campbell said at the event, organized by the U.S.-India Business Council and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, that Washington was committed to helping the world’s second most populous country get to grips with the crisis. “We all have to realize that this is no...
Senator Tinubu: Nigeria must remain united to surmount current challenges
The myriad of challenges facing Nigeria as a nation has received the attention of a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who submitted that the nation must remain united for the problems to be tackled. The National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while canvassing for people’s support for President Muhammadu Buhari as he address the nation’s challenges, also stressed that his personal relationship with the president remains very cordial. Speaking on Monday night after an hour closed-door meeting with President Buhari, Tinubu, who was in company with the former Interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, emphasised that a concerted and united response was what is needed presently to address the various crises facing Nigeria. According to him, ...
South-east governors reiterate support for state police
The South-East Governor’s Forum on Sunday reiterated its support for the establishment of state police in view of the current security challenges in parts of the country. The chairperson of the forum, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, disclosed this in a communique issued at the end of their security meeting with opinion leaders in the zone in Enugu. The governor said the forum had set up a committee to work out acceptable modalities for the workability of state policing and would submit the same to the National Economic Council (NEC). “The meeting is in support of restructuring, the setting up of state police and other national issues as discussed at the last NEC meeting. “A committee has been set up to work out acceptable modalities and submit the same to NEC in its next meeting,” he said. ...
