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The Nigerian Air Force is set to acquire another set of fighter helicopters to boost its combat capabilities. The aircraft are 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters. The service had in June disclosed that it would acquire 50 new aircraft to strengthen its capabilities against armed gangs and terrorists. Already, the service in the last two years had taken delivery of 12 Super Tucano, two additional DA-62 surveillance aircraft and T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 Multi-Purpose aircraft among others. In a statement on Sunday, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, along with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Fi...

Mrs Nkechi Obi, MD/CEO, Techno Oil Group (in green attire) with other participants at the induction into the Bank Of Industry (BOI) Hall of Fame By Emmanuella Anokam Mrs Nkechi Obi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Techno Oil Group, has described the company’s induction into the Bank of Industry (BoI) Hall of Fame, as an honour well deserved. Obi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, following the company’s induction alongside other companies for demonstrating integrity in their business operations. She said that Techno Oil had maintained an unwavering commitment to ethical operations, integrity, safety and flawless operational standards since it commenced operations. Obi said that the company would continue ...

By NAN The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) on the 7-11 October, 2024, held a 5-Days training Program for over 57 members of its staff, on Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills in Maiduguri, Borno State. The Facilitator of of the workshop Aysha Hassan, said the training was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the 57 staff members of the Commission to enable them perform their duties effectively, particularly in resolving conflicts and mediating between conflicting parties. The PCC State Director, Salisu Mohammed El-jummah, while declaring the training open underscored the importance of the program on improving the effectiveness of the Commission in fulfilling its mandate of addressing public complaints, especially within the challenging context of Borno State....

Algeria began repatriating its citizens from Lebanon on Friday due to escalating military tensions between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad said in a statement that 306 Algerian citizens were flown from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport to Cairo International Airport on two specially arranged flights. According to the statement, Algeria’s national airline, Air Algerie, will bring them back home. The ministry said this was the second time such an operation had occurred in recent months, following a similar effort in August that successfully repatriated 125 Algerian nationals. The ministry noted that further repatriation measures would be taken if necessary.Xinhua/NAN

The House of Representatives has urged the inspector general of police to initiate measures to find a missing corps member, Okeke Chukwuemeka Godwin, who has not been seen since May 9, 2024.The call for the rescue was sequel to a motion by Nnolim Nnaji (PDP-Enugu) at a plenary on Thursday in Abuja. Moving the motion, Mr Nnaji said the NYSC was established to engage Nigerian university graduates in effective community services and nation-building across ethnolinguistic boundaries. He said that the scheme had been threatened by myriads of abductions, incessant attacks and murder due to the inadequate facilities and general welfare. The lawmaker said that there is an optimum obligation to provide a safe environment and facilities for NYSC members in federal and state governments in ...

Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano) has commended the Court of Appeal’s judgment that upheld his innocence in a case of murder brought against him by the Kano government. In a statement in Abuja, Mr Doguwa who represents Tudun Wada/Doguwa federal constituency of Kano state in the House of Representatives, said that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. The court had ruled that the appeal by the Kano government lacked in merit and affirmed an earlier judgement by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court which acquitted the lawmaker. It could be recalled that Mr Doguwa was arrested for alleged murder during the 2023 general election which led to the cancellation and rerun of the National Assembly polls in the constituency. In his reaction, Mr Doguwa said that the judgment...

The executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas of Bayelsa State on Friday announced the suspension of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, for alleged anti-party activities and the purported factionalisation of the party at the state level. The APC executives also suspended several other key members of the party including its 2019 governorship candidate in Bayelsa state, David Lyon. Also suspended are two commissioners who are currently serving in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Bayelsa State government, and the Commissioner for Power, Engr. Karin Kumoko. The Chairman of the APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Mitin Eniekenemi, confirmed the party’s suspension of Lokpobiri and the ot...

By Joan Nwagwu Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu says the African Continent is richly endowed but most of its potential are yet to be fully tapped. Tinubu said this while declaring open a two-day maiden edition of a programms: “Elevate Africa” on Thursday in Abuja. The theme of the programme is: “The Africa We See: Unleashing the Potential to Redefine the Future”. Tinubu, who was represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice President said there were many potential within the great continent of Africa that defined her and the prospect of her tomorrow. According to her, Africa is a blessed continent, from her rich vegetation to her beautiful landscape, abundant natural and human resources, her diversity and culture among others. She, however, said Niger...

Senator Mohammed Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district, has expressed concerns regarding the looting of crops by terrorists in the Gwoza communities of Borno State. Ndume on Wednesday disclosed that he had been reliably informed by village heads from the affected areas—specifically Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and surrounding communities—about the dire situation facing local farmers, who are now left frustrated and hungry due to the loss of nearly half of their agricultural produce. Regarding the renewed Boko Haram killings, especially targeting farmers while harvesting their crops, I was reliably informed by the village heads of the affected Gwoza communities that almost half of the crops produced by resilient farmers in Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashigashiya, and other surround...

The Senate has today passed the bill sponsored by Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC-Oyo South) on the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Igboora, in concurrence with the House of Representatives. This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan. With the Senate's approval, the bill will now be sent to the President for assent, bringing the long-awaited medical facility closer to the people of Igboora. This development marks a significant step toward improving healthcare access for the people of Igboora and its surrounding communities. Senator Alli expressed his excitement over the passage of the bill, which he sponsored on the floor of the Senate. He emphasised that the establ...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged the informal sector to ensure the unionisation of workers for job protection and decent work in the country. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President made the call at a two-day workshop organised by the NLC in collaboration with the ILO on Wednesday in Abuja. The theme of the workshop was “Building Networks and Joint Action for Enhancing Decent Work in the Informal Economy”. Ajaero said that it was imperative to unionise the workers based on the challenges they faced in the informal sector. According to him, if you check in almost all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) there seems to be embargo on employment and nothing is happening but people are creating jobs...

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has emerged as the highest-ranked public institution in the 2024 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII). Dr Umar Yakubu, Executive-Director, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, (CeFTI), announced this at the Public Presentation of the 4th Edition of the TII, in Abuja on Tuesday. Yakubu said that the index was put together by the (CeFTI) in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Service Reform, (BPSR), with support by McArthur Foundation. He said that the TII was an assessment that seeks to evaluate the performances of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through a peer review mechanism. He said that the review mechanism was in relation to their compliance in proactive disclosure of informat...

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) has emerged as the highest-ranked public institution in the 2024 Transparency and Integrity Index (TII). Dr Umar Yakubu, Executive-Director, Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, (CeFTI), announced this at the Public Presentation of the 4th Edition of the TII, in Abuja on Tuesday. Yakubu said that the index was put together by the (CeFTI) in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Service Reform, (BPSR), with support by McArthur Foundation. He said that the TII was an assessment that seeks to evaluate the performances of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through a peer review mechanism. He said that the review mechanism was in relation to their compliance in proactive disclosure of informat...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  Sure Switch Tech has inaugurated a digital application known as 'Sure Drivers' to combat  road transport related crimes such as 'One Chance, Kidnapping and others. The Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Mr Chukwuma Ugbah during the inauguration  on Wednesday in Abuja said the application  would  checkmate the operation of 'One Chanvce Taxi Operstors in Abuja. "Crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, and other vices on our roads have become a menace, affecting the lives of countless individuals.  "The transportation sector, which should represent safety and mobility, is often undermined by such threats. "However, we stand at a turning point, where technology, particularly digital driver identification (Sure Driver...

Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), has appointed a former spokesperson for the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, as the new Commander, Tin-Can Island Port Strategic Command, Lagos. Mr Ofoyeju confirmed the appointment during an interview on Wednesday. He takes over from Commander Aminu Abubakar who has been deployed to Katsina Command. Mr Ofoyeju is a seasoned and astute officer, with wealth of experience in media relations, drug law enforcement and drug demand reduction. He has served in numerous committees, including the special purpose committee and the planning and organising committee for the 31st meeting of Heads of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies in Africa hosted by Nigeria in 2023. Prior to his appointment, he was the agency’s reform...

The Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Ibrahim, has said the proposed reforms for the National Youth Service Corps will strengthen the scheme to meet challenges and opportunities. She said this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving a committee report on NYSC Reforms, noting that the reforms would ensure its relevance and impact for years to come. She said, “NYSC plays a crucial role in promoting national unity, fostering development, and empowering youths. Like any reputable institution, NYSC must adapt and evolve to effectively tackle the constantly changing challenges and opportunities in society.” The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Olubunmi Olasanya, represented by the Director for Enterprise Development and Promotion, Momoh Olugbenga, commended the committee for its di...

The Senate Wednesday went into an emergency closed-door session over a motion to enforce financial autonomy for the 774 Local Government Councils, given the pronouncement of the Supreme Court. The emergency session followed the presentation of the motion sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye (LP -Anambra) and nine other lawmakers at plenary on Wednesday. Mr Nwoye had through orders 41 and 51 of Senate rules, while presenting the motion, alleged a plan by some state governments to avoid execution of judgement of the Supreme Court on autonomy of local government financing. According to Mr Nwoye, the state Houses of Assemblies were attempting to enact alternative laws for their respective states. He specifically alleged that some state governors were already using their House of Assemb...