*As oil & gas audit agency begs reps for improved funding in 2021 budget By Tordue Salem, Abuja The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, on Tuesday, revealed that the oil sector audit agency, has only 49 staff nationwide, does not have an office of its own and is inadequately funded for its operations. The …

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden By: Abayomi Adeshida, ABUJA The possibility of Nigeria to reap the full benefits of the in-coming Joe Biden Presidency in the United States of America would be based on the ability of the Nigerian Government to always interface with the American leadership on all-inclusive policies that would not discriminate against …

Only 5,000 anti-venom doses available By Chioma Obinna No fewer than 10,000 victims of snakebites in Nigeria have no access to treatment even as Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, continue to struggle for attention in the country.   Every year, a total of 15,000 snakebite cases are reported in Nigeria but only 5,000 victims have access to treatment …

Senate Senate on Tuesday decried the yearly poor budgetary ceiling to Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF) by the Budget Office, saying the allocations over the years were grossly inadequate. Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Sen. Matthew Urhohghide (PDP Edo) with other members of the committee expressed their displeasure when officials of OAGF …

By: Abayomi Adeshida, ABUJA The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) unit of the National Union of Petroleum and National Gas NUPENG, has assured Nigerians that Tanker Drivers would not participate in the proposed strike action by a unit of the petroleum industry. The key players in Nigeria’s very important distribution chain of the nation’s oil industry …

House of Representatives The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Affairs on Tuesday in Abuja queried the allocation of N15 billion to the East-West Road project. The members of the committee at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs 2021 budget defence frowned at the allocation of N4 billion to all other human development projects in …

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it arrested 92 suspected drug traffickers in Kano State in October. The NDLEA Commander in the state, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano. He said that the arrest was made in various areas within …

Aminu Tambuwal The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged African lawyers to stand up against arbitrary exercise of power by elected leaders in the continent. Tambuwal, who is also the Chairman Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, advised in his keynote address at the 2020 Virtual Conference organised by the African Bar Association (AfBA) …

By Gabriel Ewepu Abuja The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Tuesday, advised the Federal Government to apply Global Forum on Asset Recovery, GFAR, principles to recover forfeited assets. This was stated by the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, who also is a member of the recently inaugurated 22-man Inter-Ministerial Committee …

The Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is urging Libya’s warring parties to implement their recent historic ceasefire agreement, calling it a “welcome concrete development” for a population that has been yearning for peace. Fatou Bensouda made the appeal in her briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday, just weeks after the Government of …

File photo The Nigerian Navy (NN), on Tuesday, unveiled new houses for the Chief Boatswain’s Mates (CBM) of the Western Naval Command (WNC) and Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC). Rear Adm. Oladele Daji, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), WNC and Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, held at the Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos, said that it …

By Gabriel Ewepu and Alice Ekpang – Abuja Following the recent twist on the #EndSARS protest, 32 CSOs, Tuesday, accused the government of oppression, abuse of human rights, and intimidation of #EndSARS promoters and activists. This was contained in a statement signed by leaders of 32 CSOs which include; Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); …

Obasa Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, declared in Ikeja on Tuesday that the October #EndSARS protests devastated the Lagos State economy. Obasa made this known when Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the state’s 2021 budget to the Assembly. Lagos State plans to spend N1,155,022,413,005 in the 2021 budget entitled: “Budget Of …

BY Victoria Ojeme The Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, Tuesday cancelled the registration of the Business name ‘Enough is Enough’ with immediate effect. The commission disclosed this on its Twitter handle, @cacnigeria1. Read the tweet below: “Based on the provisions of Section 579 (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA), the Corporate Affairs Commission …

Hillary … Cites Bush’s letter to President Clinton By Victor Ajihromanus In an apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept defeat,  former US First Lady and Secretary of State,  Hillary Clinton,  has said the willingness of American Presidents to accept defeat distinguishes American democracy. She said this in post on her Facebook page, where …

An EFCC investigating officer, Mr Adariko Michael, on Tuesday alleged that N2.2 billion was spent on prayers in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia to win the war against insurgency in the country. Michael was giving evidence as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial of retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, former National Security Adviser (ONSA) to President Goodluck …

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday Tuesdaysaid that it was currently training no fewer than 200 personnel in nine different countries to further enhance capacity of its officials in air combat. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said this when he appeared at the 2021 budget defence session of the Senate …

The University of Ibadan (UI) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has ordered its members to boycott the 72nd convocation and Foundation day ceremonies of the institution. ASUU-UI Chairman, Ayo Akinwole, said in a statement on Tuesday that the action was in the spirit of the ongoing strike. Akinwole said a copy …

Ogbonnaya Onu By Emmanuel Elebeke Nigeria on Monday joined the rest of the world in marking the World Science day in Abuja, with the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, pledging that the Federal Government will prioritise science education in the country. Dr Onu said the celebration of the World Science Day was to …

…as both leaders mend fences Ayade on a visit to Obong’s palace By Ike Uchechukwu The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has declared his full support for Governor Ben Ayade and his administration. The Obong made the declaration on Tuesday when the governor paid him a courtesy call at his …