Friday, July 31

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NASS Tasked On New Robust Strategies To Curb Kidnapping
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NASS Tasked On New Robust Strategies To Curb Kidnapping

Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has urged the National Assembly to recommend robust strategies to prevent kidnappings. Mr Nwoko, representing Delta North, made the call in an interview in Abuja on Sunday. He said the joint committees of the National Assembly on security agencies should interface with relevant stakeholders and develop novel measures to tackle the menace. Th senator said kidnapping has increasingly made life difficult for citizens and is affecting the economy, including food security. Mr Nwoko said this would have far-reaching effects on the country’s prosperity. He particularly said the kidnappers had gradually made life difficult for residents of the FCT, particularly in the Kuje Area Council. The senator said that despite the efforts by security agencies, ...
Budget Defence: Reps Reject CBN, Customs Representatives, Demand Heads’ Appearance
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Budget Defence: Reps Reject CBN, Customs Representatives, Demand Heads’ Appearance

The House of Representatives has rejected representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and comptroller general of Nigeria Customs Service, insisting they appear personally to defend their 2024 budget proposal. Also, the representatives of the Federal Inland Revenue Service were rejected by the House Committee on Appropriation. Abubakar Bitchi, the committee chairman, said on Friday in Abuja at the budget defence session that the heads of the agencies were duly invited for the interactive session. Mr Bitchi said the revenue-generating agencies must generate money because, without money, there is no magic President Bola Tinubu will perform to ensure the full budget performance. The lawmaker said, “The objective of this engagement is, among others, to provide high...
Lagos: EFCC Arraigns Businessman For $39,554 Fraud
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Lagos: EFCC Arraigns Businessman For $39,554 Fraud

A special offences court in Ikeja, Lagos, has arraigned a businessman, Olaoluwa Oluwamide, and his company, Ayomi Triumph Energy Ltd., for allegedly defrauding Sterling Bank Plc of $39,554. Mr Oluwamide and his company are facing a count charge bordering on converting an erroneous transfer, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mr Oluwamide, however, pleaded not guilty. The EFCC counsel, Nwandu Ukoha, informed the court that the matter had been inherited from retired Justice Serifat Solebo and requested an accelerated trial. Mr Ukoha prayed for a trial date, informing the court of the various tactics employed by the defendant’s lawyer in the previous court to frustrate the trial. He complained that while they were before Ms Solebo, Mr ...
Shettima: We’ll Actualise Vision For Boundary Management
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Shettima: We’ll Actualise Vision For Boundary Management

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has restated the determination of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to actualise the government’s vision in the management of various boundaries in the country. In a statement on Friday, the vice-president’s spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, said Mr Shettima gave assurance when he received the management of the National Boundary Commission at the State House. Its director-general, Adamu Adaji, led the NBC management on a courtesy visit to the vice-president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Mr Shettima, the chairman of the commission’s board, commended its management and staff for working assiduously with the various stakeholders to ensure harmonious relationships along the border corridors. On the constitution of a new board for the commission, th...
2023 CCMDFTH AGM: FG to prioritise investment in health infrastructure for quality delivery
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2023 CCMDFTH AGM: FG to prioritise investment in health infrastructure for quality delivery

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, says the Federal Government will prioritise investment in health and infrastructures in tertiary hospitals to ensure Nigerians have better quality health care. Pate said this at the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria (CCMDFTH) in Abuja. The meeting which was hosted by the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada (UATH) has its theme as: Sustaining Quality Tertiary Health Care Delivery in a Challenging Economy. "Tertiary institutions healthcare is the cornerstone in revamping the Nigerian healthcare sector and we have to focus on them as a pillar of our agenda. "The health sector is getting almost five per cent of...
FCT Natives/Residents pass vote of confidence on Wike 
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FCT Natives/Residents pass vote of confidence on Wike 

The Coalition of FCT Indigenous Groups and Coalition of FCT Resident Associations has passed a vote of confidence on the  FCT Minister, Bar. Nyesom Wike, and have urged him to continue his good works in the nation’s capital, saying the original inhabitants of the entire people of FCT were solidly behind him. The convener of the group, Adeyeye Olugbenga, made the call during a peaceful rally at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Abuja, on Thursday. The group called on President Bola Tinubu to ignore calls to remove Wike as the FCT Minister. The group said ” Some people have alleged that the FCT under Barr Wike has become the epicentre of controversy. They further questioned his land reforms and claimed that he was involved in land grabbing and dispossessing people of ...
Frank Kokori, Ex-Labour Leader Dies At 80
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Frank Kokori, Ex-Labour Leader Dies At 80

The former general secretary of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Frank Kokori is dead. He was aged 80. Kokori died at a hospital in Warri, Delta state, on Thursday, coincidentally his birthday. Atawada Oke, Kokori’s personal assistant, confirmed the death of the former NUPENG leader. Over the past few months, the former NUPENG secretary has been battling a kidney-related ailment. On November 9, Kokori raised an alarm over his health status from his sick bed. Twenty-four hours later, Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, visited the elder statesman at the hospital and promised that the state will provide support for him to get “high-quality medical treatment”. Kokori played a significant role in the struggle against the annulment of the ...
Olufemi Olaleye Appeals Life Sentence For Defiling Wife’s 16-Year-Old Niece
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Olufemi Olaleye Appeals Life Sentence For Defiling Wife’s 16-Year-Old Niece

The Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr Olufemi Olaleye, has asked the Court of Appeal to set aside his conviction by the lower court over alleged defilement of a minor. Mr Olaleye, in a notice of appeal filed by his lawyer, Dr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, said that the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court was wrong to have relied on the evidence presented by the prosecution against him. The court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi in the charge number: ID/20289C/2022 had, on October 24, sentenced Olaleye to life imprisonment for alleged defilement of his wife’s niece said to be 16-year old. However, in the appeal dated and filed on November 24 at the Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State, the appellant, through his lawyer, gave 35 grounds why his appeal ...
2024 Budget: State House To Spend N2bn For Replacement Of SUVs, N4bn For Purchase Of New Vehicles
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2024 Budget: State House To Spend N2bn For Replacement Of SUVs, N4bn For Purchase Of New Vehicles

As breakdown of the 2024 budget continues to emerge, the federal government has earmarked N2,000,000,000 for the replacement of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the 2024 budget. President Bola Tinubu had presented the 2024 budget proposal of N27 trillion last week Wednesday to a joint session of the national assembly. Thereafter, the appropriation bill passed the second reading at both the senate and house of representatives. In the appropriation bill document, the federal government also proposed N4,000,000,000 for the purchase of state house operational vehicles. According to the details of the budget, an allocation of N442,112,065 was made for maintenance services at the state house. Part of the proposed budget expenditure included N129,635,017 for maintenance of motor ve...
International NGO to ensure 1 in 4 women access contraceptive services
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International NGO to ensure 1 in 4 women access contraceptive services

By Justina Auta Marie Stopes International Organisation in Nigeria (MSION), an NGO, has rebranded to MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices (MSIN) to facilitate reproductive choices by ensuring one in four women access contraceptive services by 2030. The organisation’s Country Director, Mr Emmanuel Ajah, made this known on the sideline of the rebranding event in Abuja. Ajah said that rebranding of the organisation would bridge gaps in family planning services and enable individuals to make choices on their Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (SRH) rights services. He added that “we offer Nigerian women contraceptives without discrimination or being judgmental based on age, location, background, marital or economic status. “Our vision is to achieve a birth where everyone is wanted a...
FG, private sector partner on manufacturing, distribution of contraceptive products
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FG, private sector partner on manufacturing, distribution of contraceptive products

By Justina Auta The Federal Government says it will deepen collaboration with the private sector for manufacturing and distribution of family planning commodities to scale-up Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Services (SRH) in the country. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, stated this on Tuesday, in Abuja at the rebranding of the Marie Stopes International Organisation in Nigeria to MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices (MSIN) Pate, represented by Mrs Jummai Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director Nutrition, reiterated government commitment to unhindered access to SRH and family planning commodities for Nigerians of reproductive age to choose, obtain and use. “The ministry is working to deepen collaboration with the private sector in several aspects including manufacturin...
Salaries ‘n’ Wages, data commission partner to boost workers’ productivity
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Salaries ‘n’ Wages, data commission partner to boost workers’ productivity

By Lucy Ogalue The National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), is partnering with the Nigeria Data Processing Commission (NDPC) to increase the productivity of workers in the country. The NSIWC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, said this at a Data Protection and Productivity Measurement and Improvement training organised by both organisations in Abuja on Tuesday. ”We have always tried to organise partnerships like this to improve our country. ”Information and Technology services are now driving the economy, and there is no better partner in that sector than the NDPC which we are collaborating with. ”We are looking at ramping up productivity in the public sector, and you cannot do that if you do not have sufficient data as it is based on statistics. ”You can only begin to...
Oshiomhole urges Labour to revisit management of Contributory Pension Fund
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Oshiomhole urges Labour to revisit management of Contributory Pension Fund

By Joan Nwagwu Adams Oshiomhole has called on organised Labour to revisit the management of the Contributory Pension Funds. Oshiomhole said this at the 8th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) on Tuesday in Abuja. The conference was with the theme,”Trade Unionism in the Era of Economic Crisis: Addressing the Increasing Poverty Level of Nigerian Workers”. The former Governor of Edo State had alleged that the Federal and State Government were borrowing from the contributory pension funds at a low interest rate. Oshiomhole said that this was breaching the concept of establishing the contributory pension scheme. According to him, i know I resisted the idea of contributory pension to be managed ...
Non-kinetic approach key to solving conflict in N/East- NDC provost
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Non-kinetic approach key to solving conflict in N/East- NDC provost

The Provost of National Defence College (NDC), Prof. Adam Ahmed, says non-kinetic approach is key to winning war against insurgence and conflicts in the north east and other parts of the country. Ahmed said this on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the workshop on Defence and Security Management organized by the NDC through the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies. He noted that the use of kinetic approach had not been able to achieve much result as non-kinetic did since its introduction by the Federal Government. He said that the programme was specifically designed to train the middle level and senior level of the members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the securities and the strategic allied MDAs. “The current one that is in session is the seventh version, so it means it...
#RevolutionNow: Sowore’s Treason Case Stalled Over Judge’s Absence
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#RevolutionNow: Sowore’s Treason Case Stalled Over Judge’s Absence

The alleged treason case filed by the federal government against a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was stalled on Tuesday at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court due to the judge’s absence. Mr Sowore is standing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite on allegations of treasonable felony. Then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime had accused Sowore of treason following his call for a protest tagged #RevolutionNow on August 5, 2019. Mr Sowore was in court on Tuesday, but the matter could not continue. His counsel, Marshall Abubakar, said the court registrar had informed him that the judge was on national assignment in another jurisdiction of the court. Mr Abubakar said he had to take a new hearing date, February 14, 2024. On th...
Chinese Director Jailed 10 Years For Taking $2 Million Bribe
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Chinese Director Jailed 10 Years For Taking $2 Million Bribe

A Chinese court on Tuesday sentenced Zhang Wufeng, former director of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, to 10 years for bribery. Mr Zhang was convicted of taking bribes worth over ¥16.47 million (about $2.32 million) by the Intermediate People’s Court of Deyang City, Sichuan Province. He was found guilty of taking undue advantage of his former positions in Shandong Province, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration to commit the crime. However, between 2003 and 2022, the court said he aided other individuals and entities in matters related to project contracting and career promotions. The court added that Mr Zhang was fined ¥1 million and had his illegal gains from bribery recovered and tu...
Aigbefoh receives Award for Outstanding/Inspiring Legal Practitioner of the year
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Aigbefoh receives Award for Outstanding/Inspiring Legal Practitioner of the year

By Gami Tadanyigbe Chief Dr Ebosetale David Aigbefoh Esq, has been Honoured by National Media Community Award 2023 as“ Outstanding /Inspiring Legal Practitioner of the year 2023” at the National Institute Of Journalism Ogba- Ikeja, Lagos, on December, 3rd 2023. This prestigious award of recognition was bestowed upon Chief Dr. Aigbefoh for his remarkable contributions in the legal profession for the development of justice in the country. Acknowledging Outstanding Contributions, Chief Dr. Aigbefoh's tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to the legal practice and community development have made a significant impact on the lives of many. As the Chairman and Publisher of "Legislative Assembly News" Media, he has utilized his platform to raise awareness about pertinent issues, ...
Organisation urges stakeholders to invest in orphans, street children
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Organisation urges stakeholders to invest in orphans, street children

By Justina Auta A firm, FBS Reinsurance Limited, has called on stakeholders to invest in the education, basic needs and showing love to orphans and vulnerables to promote Nigeria’s security. Mr Fola Daniel, the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, made the appeall when they donated N600,000, electronics, food stuffs, sewing machines and grinding machines, among other items, to two orphanages on Sunday in Abuja. The homes visited included Halal Children’s Homes, Lifecamp; and Heritage Orphanage Home, Gwarimpa. Daniel, while commending the caregivers for their love, sacrifices and commitment to the children, encouraged other stakeholders to contribute towards the growth and development of the children. According to him, ignoring or failure to support orphans, vulnerable and...
Some Ondo Officials Are Forging Akeredolu’s Signature-Ajulo
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Some Ondo Officials Are Forging Akeredolu’s Signature-Ajulo

Kayode Ajulo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has alleged that some government officials in Ondo are forging the signature of Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state, on documents. Speaking in an interview on Arise TV, Ajulo said the absence of Akeredolu has created a huge vacuum in the state. Akeredolu has been absent from the state since June 2023 due to medical reasons. Akeredolu returned to Nigeria in the first week of September after a three-month medical leave in Germany. Since returning to the country, Akeredolu has been in Ibadan, Oyo state capital. The absence of Akeredolu from Ondo has become a source of concern to many stakeholders within and outside the state. Reacting to the development, the lawyer said some cabals have hijacked the governance of the stat...
Demand More Than Supply: 150k Nigerians Have Done Visa Interview This Year-US Embassy
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Demand More Than Supply: 150k Nigerians Have Done Visa Interview This Year-US Embassy

Following the high numbers of Nigerians seeking to travel to United States of America, its embassy in Nigeria has said that it is doing everything possible to clear visa applications from Nigerians. Speaking in an interview with NAN on Sunday, David Greene, the charge d’affaires of the embassy, said the demand for visa applications is more than the supply. Greene said the embassy has interviewed over 150,000 Nigerians for visa applications in 2023. “When it comes to visas, it is a simple fact, the demand for visa appointments outnumbers the supply,” he said. So, those appointments are available and we are doing everything we can to address that gap. “What folks do not know is that this year we have interviewed more than 150,000 Nigerians. “This is in addition to 30,000 st...