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Showing posts from February, 2018

President Buhari Re-Appoints Segun Awolowo As NEPC Boss

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Mr Olusegun Awolowo as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). This was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity saying a letter signed by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) confirmed Awolowo’s appointment for another four years. “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Mr. Olusegun Awolowo as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council,” the statement read. “According to a letter signed by Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the appointment lasts for four years. “Mr. Awolowo, a lawyer and scion of the Obafemi Awolowo family, was first appointed to the NEPC position in 2013.”

We Did not Disrupt Igbo Leaders' Award Ceremony in Enugu, MASSOB, Ohanaeze Youths Deny Allegation

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The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) under the leadership of Uchenna Madu and the Ohanaeze Youth Council have dismissed as false insinuations by the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) that they disrupted an award ceremony for respected Igbo leaders in Enugu on Tuesday. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, specifically said it was unacceptable under any guise for him to bring respected Igbo elders to any place where they would be humiliated. In a statement signed by Samuel Edeson (National Director of Information) MASSOB; and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and Engr Obinna Adibe, Secretary General and National PRO of Ohanaeze Youth Council respectively, the groups stated that the leader of ECA, Elliot Uko should be held responsible for any break down of law and order in Enugu state. The Uchenna Madu led MASSOB said, “We are very surprised and shocked to read on pages of newspapers that MASSOB disrupted an Igbo event to honour some prominent Bia

Mob Attacks Nigeria Customs Check Point in Jigawa over Death of Mutum

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…One killed, four cars burnt  By Adebayo Segun Mob numbering about 500 has allegedly mobilised themselves and attacked the check point of the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) at Babban Mutum village of Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The incident occurred when a 60-year-old, Alhaji Umaru Babban Mutum, was shot dead after a disagreement between him and some customs officers at the border town of Babura council area of the state. The trouble was said to have started when a car was said to have been impounded at the entry point by the custom officials belonging to Umaru. An eyewitness, Mahmud Babban Mutum, told THISDAY yesterday that the deceased was involved in fierce argument with the custom officials stationed at the border over arrest of a car he allegedly imported through Niger Republic. Mutum said there was an argument between the custom officials and Umaru who came to retrieve his impounded vehicle ‎and in the pro

Over 150 High-Level Speakers to Grace the Africa Trade, Investment Global Summit 2018 in Washington, D.C

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Business leaders and prominent personalities are expected to speak at the Africa Trade and Investment Global Summit (ATIGS) 2018 to be held on June 24 to June 26 at World Trade Center – Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The prestigious biennial business conference and exhibition will bring together delegates from more than 70 countries including government delegations, high-profile African leaders, project developers, and international investors. The event has a well-structured format for facilitating direct peer engagement, for more advanced deal-making, showcasing fundable companies, co-investments and financing engagements, strategic partnerships, and business networking. It is aimed at “Driving trade, unleashing investment and enhancing economic development: the gateway to African markets.” The 2018 Summit will feature as panelist and speakers a wide array of senior officials and distinguished personalities including,  Hon Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu, Deputy Sena

How Nigeria Reportedly Loses $70m to Illegal Fishing by Chinese Vessels

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About $ 70 million  is reportedly lost annually by Nigeria to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) activities carried out by some Chinese fishing vessels in the maritime domain, it has been gathered.  It was also learnt that these Chinese vessels usually complain about not seeing enough fishes so they usually come as close as four nautical miles to the coast, which is illegal, thus depriving local fishermen of the resources. This was disclosed on Wednesday during the visit of a delegation from the German Armed Forces General Staff College to the Western Naval Command (WNC) headquarters in Lagos. According to the WNC Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Sylvanus Abbah,  the perpetrators usually come as close as four nautical miles to the coast.  He said such acts are not allowed, adding that by them doing so, they end up depriving local fishermen of the resources they ought to catch. Although Abbah said there was significant reduction

Intrigue As Imo Deputy Governor Rejects Okorocha’s Senate Offer, Insists On Governorship

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Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, has rejected an offer by his principal, Governor Rochas Okorocha, to contest for the Imo East senatorial election in 2019 insisting on the governorship position. Okorocha had endorsed himself for the Imo West senatorial seat in the 2019 general election and endorsed Madumere for the Imo East senatorial seat. He then reaffirmed his earlier endorsement of his Chief of Staff and son in-law, Chief Uche Nwosu as his successor in 2019. “If Uche Nwosu will be home for governor, I will tell the deputy governor to go to Senate. I told you earlier that my interest is the presidency but since President Buhari will be running in 2019, I decided to put my ambition on hold until he completes his tenure,” Okorocha stated during the inauguration of members of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) at Government House Owerri last Monday. “But I have decided to run for the Imo West Senatorial zones because if I don’t, bad

MEND, Okah Kick as South African Court Dismisses Appeal

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  The leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah and the militant group on Wednesday rejected the recent dismissal of Okah’s appeals by the Constitutional Court of South Africa. Okah, who is facing terrorism charges following the 2010 Nigeria's Independence Day attacks that killed 12 people, said in a statement that he had directed his lawyers to file a fresh appeal at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The Constitutional Court of South Africa had in 2013 convicted Okah of 13 charges of terrorism, including bombings that killed 12 people in Abuja on October 1, 2010. In a letter written from Kokstad Prison, Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, Okah rejected the ruling of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, saying the ruling ignored pertinent questions raised by his lawyers. Okah added that his lawyers are in complete agreement with his position on the ruling by South Africa's highest court in th

PDP Loses Publicity Secretary to Herdsmen Attack in Adamawa

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  By Emma Ella The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) on Wdnesday confirmed the death of it Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sam Zadok, who was among the 20 people killed in the attack by herdsmen last Tuesday in Gwamba village of Demsa Local Government Area of the state. Confirming his death, the state Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Abdullahi Parambe, said the party would continue to regret the absence of Zadok “who have been instrumental to the party’s development especially in the southern senatorial district of the state.” While addressing journalists in Yola, the state capital, he said the deceased was also former state Commissioner of Ministry of Youth and Sports in the administration of former state Governor,   Murtala Nyako, who have never attempted to defect to any other political party. PDP also condemned in strong term the wanton killings, but called on the incumbent state government to as a matter of urgency stop the spate of killings. However, Zadok was

INEC Releases Dates for General Elections for Next 36 Years

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  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday announced dates for general elections in the country for the next 36 years starting from 2019 to 2055. The Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Mamood Yakubu, made the announcement at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja. According him, “In 2019, the dates are February 16 and March 2; in 2023, the dates are February 18 and March 4. In 2027, the dates are February 20 and March 6; in 2031, it is February 15 and March 1. In 2035, it is February 17 and March 3; in 2039, it is February 19 and March 5 and in 2043, it will hold on February 21 and March 7. In 2047, it would hold on February 15 and March 2; in 2051, election would hold February 18 and March 1; while in 2055, INEC would hold elections on February 20 and March 6.” He pointed out that in other democracies of the world, periods of elections are generally known and are not topics for speculation, explaining that the aim

Saraki Urges State Govt To Stop Paying Pension To Ex-Governors In Elective Positions

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The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on states of the federation to emulate Kwara state and stop payment of pensions to former Governors still holding elective or appointive positions. This is even as he commended the Kwara state House of Assembly for passing the bill to stop payment of such pensions. Saraki in a series of tweets on his verified twitter handle, @BukolaSaraki said that he was indeed happy that the the chat he had with the Assembly Speaker, Ali Ahmed, had resulted in the passage of the bill. In 2017, the Senate’s President had said that he already directed the state government to stop paying him pensions adding that he had refunded those that he had collected earlier. “I am happy that following my conversation with Kwara Speaker, @HonAliAhmad, two months ago, the Bill to suspend the payment of Pension to former Governors and their Deputies when they hold a Political or Public office was passed into law yesterday by the Kwara House of Assembly

Nigerian, Cameroon Troops In a Combined Military Operation Kill 35 Boko Haram Terrorists, 603 Civilian Hostages Rescued

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  35 Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in a joint operation involving Nigerian and Cameroonian Troops, in furtherance of Operation Deep Punch to smoke out remnants of Boko Haram Terrorists in the Northern fringes of Lake Chad and Sambisa Forest. The troops took the battle to the terrorists in their enclaves at Kusha-Kucha, Surdewala, Alkanerik, Magdewerne and Mayen villages, all situated along the Nigerian – Cameroonian border. Confirming the operations in a statement, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col Onyeama Nwachukwu, said 603 civilians held hostage by the insurgents were also rescued and conveyed to Bäma and Pulka towns “On Monday 26 February 2018, combined troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Cameroonian Defence Forces, in a clearance operation, took the battle to the terrorists in their enclaves at Kusha-Kucha, Surdewala, Alkanerik, Magdewerne and Mayen villages, all situated along the Nigerian – Cameroonian border,” he stated. “In the fierce off

CAN Blames Religious Violence on Lack of Inter-religious Education

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The President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson    Ayokunle, has blamed what he described as a surge in religious violence in Nigeria on the lack of basic knowledge of Christianity and Islam, saying that when history is no longer taught, inter-religious education has become more difficult. In his introductory remarks during panel discussion at the two-day high level meeting organised by KAICIID in Vienna, Austria, the CAN president urged all religious groups in Nigeria and the world to make concerted effort towards government's inclusion of inter-religious education in the schools curricula.  He said the trend all over the world was that educational institutions were actively looking for ways to respond to the issues of education in a religiously multi-faceted world. According to him, these institutions seek to entrench a transformational process through which students could be educated to become global citizens with an understanding