Sunday, December 22

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Small Arms, Light Weapons Bill Receives Legislative Attention
5Oct By Mohammed MohammedNo Comments
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Small Arms, Light Weapons Bill Receives Legislative Attention

An Executive Bill seeking to establish a National Commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is presently receiving attention at the National Assembly (NASS). This Bill is in alignment with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on small arms and light weapons, their ammunition and other related materials has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The Chairman of the Committee on Firearms Act (Amendment), Mr. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, who chaired a public hearing on the bill, in his welcome address on Monday, said the hearing is part of effort by the National Assembly to advance legal solution to the growing insecurity bedeviling the country. The Bill, is part of Executive Bills, referred to the House of Representat...
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FG Declares Friday Public Holiday
29Sep By Mohammed MohammedNo Comments
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FG Declares Friday Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared  Friday , October 1, as public holiday to mark the nation’s 61st  independence anniversary celebratelebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulates all Nigerians on this year’s celebration of the country’s 61st  independence and assures of government’s  commitment to tackle and eradicate all forms of challenges –be it political socio-economic  and all diverse problems. Dr Shuaib Before, the Permanent Secretary, who signed the statement on behalf of the Minister,  said that our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land, makes Nigeria unarguably the leading black  nation in the worl...
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Buhari Seeks Amendment to Petroleum Industry Act 
22Sep By Mohammed MohammedNo Comments
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Buhari Seeks Amendment to Petroleum Industry Act 

The Senate has received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari, to amend the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 passed by the National Assembly over two months ago. The request was contained in a letter dated September 16, 2021, and read during the plenary on Tuesday by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.  President Buhari in the letter explained that the appointment of two non-executive members as provided for by the Act to the board of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and Upstream Regulatory Commission (URC) does not reflect balanced geopolitical representation.  He, therefore, requested amendment to Sections 11(2)(b) and 34(2)(b) which provides for the Administrative Structure of the PIA 2021, to increase the number of the non-executi...
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Arthur Eze Commends Buhari on 70% Completion of Second Niger Bridge, Others
15Sep By Dwelleth MorountodunNo Comments
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Arthur Eze Commends Buhari on 70% Completion of Second Niger Bridge, Others

President Muhammadu Buhari has received accolades on the infrastructural development in the South-East, particularly the second Niger Bridge, which has attained about 70% completion and slated for commissioning before the end of 2022.  Oil tycoon, Prince Arthur Eze, gave the plaudits during a private visit to the President Tuesday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.  This was as contained in a statement signed by Mr. Femi Adesina, said the businessman urged Nigerians to always preach peace as against hate, and draw lessons from countries suffering the effect of war.  He pledged loyalty and commitment to the unity, peace and indivisibility of Nigeria, urging President Buhari to stay focused and not be distracted by agitations for separatism rocking some parts of...
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Digital Media Key to Nigeria’s Digital Economy – NITDA
13Sep By Dwelleth MorountodunNo Comments
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Digital Media Key to Nigeria’s Digital Economy – NITDA

The Director-General (DG) of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Inuwa Abdullahi, has said the deployment of Nigeria’s digital media is not only an enabler but it is a potent key to the evolution of Nigeria’s digital economy. According to him, digital media is one of the fastest-growing components of digital economy in the country with a lot of potentials stressing that this trajectory will stimulate job creation and foreign direct investment into the country thereby adding up to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation with a projection to hit $30 billion by 2030. Abdullahi, has advocated the deployment of digital media Digital as key enabler for Nigeria’s digital economy, stressing that digital media is, therefore, one of the key enablers o...
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NNPC Commits to Supporting NLNG
18Aug By Dayo OmoogunNo Comments
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NNPC Commits to Supporting NLNG

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has reiterated the Corporation’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited towards achieving its goal of becoming a global LNG company of choice. Speaking as a Guest of Honour at the 2021 NLNG Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Day, the GMD, who was represented by the Group General Manager, LNG Investment Management Services (LIMS), Nike Kolawole, said HSE was a critical determinant of business performance success across the oil and gas industry. Kyari stated that as a principal shareholder in the company, NNPC would continue to ensure that NLNG placed more emphasis on HSE, stressing that “no matter the figures, indices or values recorded in producti...
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Food Security: FG Moves to Create Enabling Environment for Youth Participation in Agriculture
13Aug By Dwelleth MorountodunNo Comments
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Food Security: FG Moves to Create Enabling Environment for Youth Participation in Agriculture

Against the background of skyrocketing food prices, the federal government in collaboration with relevant stakeholders has started an awareness campaign to enable youth to make an informed decision on food choices in line with the increasing global education on the healthiest and most sustainable options for both individuals and the environment.The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Akin Dare disclosed this today in Abuja at the occasion of the commemoration of the 2021 International Youth Day Celebration (IYD).According to him “Government will create the enabling environment and inclusive support mechanisms to ensure that the youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life while integrating biodiversity in the trans...
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Niger Delta Contractors Appeals to Buhari, Akpabio, Akwa to Pay for Completed Projects
13Aug By Felix ShammahNo Comments
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Niger Delta Contractors Appeals to Buhari, Akpabio, Akwa to Pay for Completed Projects

By Emma Eyibio A coalition of Niger Delta contractors have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari,  the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Effiong Akwa, to pay for all completed contracts. This was contained in a statement issued Wednesday by its Chairman and Secretary, Engr. Kelvin Douglas and  Preye Briggs, the coalition said their members “are dying on a daily basis as a result of pressure from banks loans, harassment and intimidation”.  They added that some other contractors have developed high blood pressure already. To this end, they also begged the Presidency to intervene in the matter, stressing that some contractors completed their jobs two years ago or more and are yet to acces...
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NNPC Records Petroleum Product Sale of ₦234.63bn in March
2Aug By Dayo OmoogunNo Comments
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NNPC Records Petroleum Product Sale of ₦234.63bn in March

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced that its downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), recorded ₦234.63 billion revenue from the sale of white products in the month of March 2021 representing a 24.7% increase from the ₦188.15billion sales recorded in the previous month of February 2021. This is contained in the March 2021 edition of the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations Report (MFOR), according to a press release by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Kennie Obateru. The report indicated that total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period of March 2020 to March 2021 stood at ₦2.129trillion, where petrol contributed about 99.24% of the total sales with...
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Looming Hunger: Former VP Warns over Looming Calamity in Nigeria
30Jul By Mohammed MohammedNo Comments
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Looming Hunger: Former VP Warns over Looming Calamity in Nigeria

Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Friday stated that the warning given by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), on Wednesday, of a looming acute food crisis in Northern Nigeria should not be ignored. According to him, the dire warning should be seen and heard as a whistleblowing moment that ought to draw the focus of the Federal Government, being that Northern Nigeria is the food basket of the nation, and any famine there will have a national impact on the rest of the country and cross border impacts in the West African sub-region. Atiku said the laissez-faire approach taken by the federal government to this most important issue is regrettable. Food security is a vital part of national security, and where this issue is not resolved, t...
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FG Reiterates Commitment to Addressing Challenges of Infrastructure Development Deficits
30Jul By Gami TadanyigbeNo Comments
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FG Reiterates Commitment to Addressing Challenges of Infrastructure Development Deficits

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, says the Federal Government is committed to addressing the country’s challenges on infrastructure development. Mustapha said this on Thursday in Abuja at a Townhall Meeting organized by a group called the Business Hallmark Public Policy Forum with the theme, `Nigeria’s Infrastructure Revolution: Road to a new future.’ He said that the meeting was dedicated to an aspect of development that requires effective collaboration between the public and the private sectors for the development of the country. “It is important that we appreciate where we are coming from, where we stand, what we need to do to get to our desired destination and what government is doing to facilitate reaching the destination. “At inceptio...
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FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification Deadline to October
26Jul By Mohammed MohammedNo Comments
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FG Extends NIN-SIM Verification Deadline to October

Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to October 31, 2021.   The decision to extend the deadline was made following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, diaspora and address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.   The decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicated significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.  As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this woul...
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Sallah: Parks, Recreational Grounds in FCT Remain Shut
18Jul By Dayo OmoogunNo Comments
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Sallah: Parks, Recreational Grounds in FCT Remain Shut

As the Muslim festival of Id- El Kabir approaches and with the declaration of Tuesday(20th July,2021) and Wednesday ( 21 July,2021) this week as public holidays by the Federal Government to mark the event, the FCT authorities have emplaced measures to pre-empt a rise in COVID-19 victims in it's jurisdiction. Rising from a meeting of the FCT Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19, chaired by the Hon. Minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello on Friday, 16th of July 2021, the authorities have, among others, decided to maintain the shutdown of parks and recreational grounds within the territory all through the festive period.This decision was taken in view of the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country and the FCT and the possibility of a third wave in it's s...
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Eid-El-Kabir: FG Declares Tuesday, Wednesday Public Holidays
16Jul By Dwelleth MorountodunNo Comments
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Eid-El-Kabir: FG Declares Tuesday, Wednesday Public Holidays

The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 20 and Wednesday, July 21, 2021, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulates all Muslim faithful and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion. “I call on Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country, considering the challenges of insecurity we face at the moment. These mainly are bandits in the North West and North Central, insurgents in the North East, kidnappers, armed robbers, et...
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N/Delta: With $1bn Contributions from IOCs, FG Lists Achievements, Challenges of Ogoni Remediation
14Jul By Mohammed MohammedNo Comments
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N/Delta: With $1bn Contributions from IOCs, FG Lists Achievements, Challenges of Ogoni Remediation

The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar, has said International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria have contributed $1 billion to the Ogoni clean-up even as he added that the federal government has made considerable progress on the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) mandates since project began in 2016. Briefing a cross-section of the Media in Abuja on the update of the clean-up, he said 21 out of the 69 lots delineated have been remediated assuring that very soon more of the delineated lots will be cleaned of the pollution and pollutants. While admitting that the clean-up is one year behind schedule, he said the achievements made by President Muhammadu Buhari Administration in the project will remain a litmus test ...
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Grinding Insecurity: Buhari Meets 109 Senators Tonight 
13Jul By Seun AdamsNo Comments
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Grinding Insecurity: Buhari Meets 109 Senators Tonight 

Following public outcry and concern over the growing insecurity across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will tonight at 8pm meet with the 109 Senators of the National Assembly. The venue is at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.  The scheduled meeting between members of the upper chamber and President Buhari was conveyed in a letter received from the State House and read during plenary by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.   The Senate on April 27, 2021, reached a resolution for the leadership of the upper chamber to schedule a meeting with the President to enable all 109 Senators meet with him to discuss the issue of insecurity in the country.  The invitation letter for the scheduled meeting between the President and members ...
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How FG’s Robust Strategy Helped in Curtailing COVID-19 – Aregbesola
13Jul By Sharpedge NewsNo Comments
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How FG’s Robust Strategy Helped in Curtailing COVID-19 – Aregbesola

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has attributed the timely strategic and aggressive measures deployed by the Federal Government during the COVID-19 Pandemic since year 2020 as responsible for the success attained in curtailing the pandemic in the country especially in the Nigerian's Correctional Centers (NCCs).  Aregbesola acknowledged that the initiative of the Ministries of Interior and Justice to secure presidential pardon and amnesty for some inmates while also recommending others to State Governments for release was helpful. The Minister stated this in lecture he presented at the Third Annual Lecture on Economy and Security during COVID-19 at the Faculty of Arts, Ekiti State University, Ado -Ekiti, Ekiti State. He commended the University and the Faculty for...
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We are Not Involve in Official Kidnapping
13Jul By Dwelleth MorountodunNo Comments
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We are Not Involve in Official Kidnapping

Following the outcry from the public over the rising involvement of men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in aiding and abetting kidnappers carry out their trade, the FCT Police Command on Monday dissociates itself from involving in such crime. A trending article in some sections of the social media had accused the Police Operatives of aiding and abetting in ‘official kidnapping syndrome along Game Village axis, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). ASP Yusuf Mariam, the Command’s PRO, in a statement said: “The Command wishes to categorically state that there was no record of such incident within the FCT as at 1000hrs of Monday 12th of July.” It is funny to hear my doctor talk about Xanax. Me have been taking it for 20 years, but what do I know. Cause after all they know b...
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NCC Debunks Records of Additional 3m New Lines in Q1
12Jul By Felix ShammahNo Comments
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NCC Debunks Records of Additional 3m New Lines in Q1

By Frank Momoh  The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has been drawn to an online media report alleging that mobile telephony subscriptions in Nigeria somehow grew by 3,000,000 new subscribers in the first quarter of 2021. This the online medium says is coming despite the suspension on the registration of new subscribers which took effect from December 9, 2020 and was only lifted in May, 2021.  The Ericsson Mobility Report cited in the online publication is essentially a forecast of trends based on Ericsson’s analysis and does not refer to the NCC or any official channel as source for its data and/or projections.  It is therefore inaccurate that Nigeria recorded 3million new lines in the 1st Quarter of 2021 as stated in the media report. ...
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FIRS Appoints Banks to Recover N1.8trn from Multichoice
8Jul By Seun AdamsNo Comments
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FIRS Appoints Banks to Recover N1.8trn from Multichoice

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Thursday appointed some commercial banks as agents to recover the sum of N1.8 trillion as tax liability from accounts of Messrs MultiChoice Nigeria Limited (MCN) And MultiChoice Africa (MCA). This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Nami, as released by the Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the Service, Dr. Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, who quoted the Chairman as confirming that the decision to appoint the banks as agents and to freeze the accounts was as a result of the group’s continued refusal to grant FIRS access to its servers for audit. FIRS, said the companies persistently breached all agreements and undertakings with the Service, adding that they would not promptly respond to correspondenc...
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