…as new emir gets appointment letter …Security heightens in Zaria …Low celebration, tears of joy By Ibrahim HassanWuyo As officials of the Kaduna State Government presented letter of appointment to Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the new emir of Zazzau, a historian and leader of Ulamas in the Emirate, Idris Musa, Barden Malaman Zazzau has said that …

By Chinonso Alozie The Imo State government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the Amanda Projects Group, to rebuild the demolished Eke ukwu market with 1,850 buildings. The signing of the MOU, was done by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Simon Ebegbulem at the state secretariat along Port Harcourt in Owerri. According …

Mainland Bridge By Olasunkanmi Akoni As part of the on-going repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, the Federal Government, on Wednesday, said the Adeniji Adele and Adekunle section of the bridge would be totally shut for two days commencing from Friday, October 9, 2020. It would be recall that FG, in collaboration with Lagos State …

By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja Managing Director, Abuja Broadcasting Corporation Ltd, owners of Aso Radio and Television, Ibrahim Damisa, has advocated the inclusion of journalists in governance, saying societal backlash associated with some government policies would reduce if the media were carried along in their formulation. Damisa gave the advice on Wednesday when he led members of …

Adebanjo …Says Osoba, APC leaders in S’West‘re scared of Buhari By Clifford Ndujihe & Yinka Ajayi ELDER statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has restated his accusation of sell-out against former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and some South-West leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the issue of restructuring. If not, they should publicly …

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala World Trade Organization, WTO, members have selected two final candidates – Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee – to advance to the final round in the race to lead the Geneva-based trade body, Bloomberg has reported. By advancing two women to the final round of the selection process, the WTO will …

By Henry Umoru THE Senate has   begun a probe into the total amount of crude oil and gas, as well as  non-oil export proceeds un-repatriated since the inception of the Pre- Shipment Inspection of Export Act CAP-P26 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. Consequently, the Senate yesterday mandated the Committee on Banking, Insurance and other …

…Okays N3.12trn for debt servicing By Henry Umoru AMID concerns raised by senators on the nation’s dwindling economy and heavy borrowing by the Federal Government, the Senate, yesterday, approved the sum of N4.28 trillion to fund the N13.08 trillion 2021 budget deficit of N5.19 trillion. With the approval,   debt service estimate now hits the sum of …

Rev. UMA UKPAI In a related development, the President of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association Incorporated, Rev. Uma Ukpai, has flayed those agitating for Biafra, saying they are showing the level of their madness. Rev Ukpai who made the assertion yesterday in his office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while fielding questions from newsmen, however said that …

…It’s misplaced priority —Ohanaeze …Biafra agitators showing level of madness —Rev Ukpai …Buhari has proved us right —Biafra Zionists By Anayo Okoli, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Chinedu Adonu & Chioma Onuegbu THE Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, approved N654 million for the deployment of hybrid spectrum monitoring system targeting illegal frequencies in the southern part of the country …

…12 govs storm Akure for Akeredolu …We’re fully behind Akeredolu — Fayemi, chairman Govs forum PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Saturday’s governorship poll will be peaceful, free and fair because measures have been taken to ensure so. In a video message to party supporters at the Grand Finale of the APC campaign for the Ondo …

…lAs Senate probes human rights abuses by operatives, others …Urges IGP to arrest, prosecute security personnel involved in extra-judicial killings …Reps unveil 30-day plan to tackle police brutality …Probe alleged criminal activities of Police unit …To work with NBA, CSOs, others to draft new legislation to curtail SARS excesses …Impose strict disciplinary measures on erring officers …

Former Argentine soccer player, Diego Maradona tested negative for COVID-19, allaying fears he had contacted the virus after hugging a colleague who was later found to have tested positive, his lawyer said yesterday. The man who led Argentina to the World Cup in 1986 took the test after coming into close contact last Friday with …

By Mary Obaebor Oyo State government has started the oral interview exercise for some 7,000 applicants who scored 50 percent and above in the Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted by the state’s Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM). The Chairman of TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu, who briefed newsmen on the sidelines of the interview sessions, said successful candidates …

The Nigerian Police Force The Police Service Commission (PSC) has issued communication platforms for Nigerians to send complaints of misconduct against police officers in the course of their duties. Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations of the commission, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. Ani called on Nigerians to …

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it is ready to support investments from Japan to initiate inclusive and sustainable development in the continent. Mr Samuel Higenyi Mugoya, AfDB’s Director, Syndications, Co-financing and Client Solutions said this during a webinar for Japanese private sector, in a statement released on its website on Wednesday. The meeting was …

The World Bank Group has said that it will help developing countries resume growth and respond to the health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19. President of the bank, Mr David Malpass, in a statement on Wednesday, said it would assist the countries as they worked toward a sustainable and inclusive recovery. Malpass, however, said …

By Bashir Bello The Borno State government has partnered with the Kano State government to borrow a leaf from the Kano State AgroPastoral Development Project, KSADP to replicate Rural Grazing Area, RUGA settlement project in the state. The State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad who received the delegation from Borno State government, led by …

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called for greater investment in universal health coverage to defeat COVID-19 and avert future pandemics. Guterres made the call during the virtual launch of his latest policy brief, “COVID-19 and Universal Health Coverage”. He said the COVID-19 pandemic had underscored the importance of “strong public health systems and emergency …

Former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra says the lack of adequate investment in education is responsible for Nigeria’s economic downturn. Obi said this in Nsukka on Wednesday during the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s 60th Founders’ Day Lecture, entitled “Nigeria at 60: the journey so far”, which was delivered virtually. He said that all over the …