News

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 17:26

Economic Recovery Plan: OPS hails stakeholders’ involvement, advice on implementation

Press Release Private sector operators on Monday said Federal Government’s engagement of key stakeholders in the development process of the national economy plan showed a genuine desire to rapidly grow the economy, but pointed out that diligent implementation was key to achieving the goal. Captains of industry and heads of various Chambers of Commerce and Industry across the country, who gathered in Abuja for the consultative forum, pointed out that past development plans were rendered useless by either lack of, or poor implementation. They therefore advised that if the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP) being put together is to…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 17:24

Convert Mosques to primary schools, Emir Sanusi advises Northern governors

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has called on governors of northern states to convert mosques to primary schools, especially in the villages. The emir made the call in his remarks at an event in the Kano Educational Week programme. “I was in Morocco sometimes ago and I asked to see their universities. They took me to mosques where I saw each serving as classrooms teaching Computer Science and other subjects,” he said. Emir Sanusi said mosques were not initially meant for prayers alone. He said historically, mosques were also used for other things like marriages, scholarly activities and leadership trainings.…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 17:21

Troops save young woman suicide bomber, kill another

Nigerian troops on Tuesday saved the life of a young woman strapped with explosives and killed another suicide bomber, apparently primed by Boko Haram Islamic extremists to attack the northeastern city of Maiduguri, police said. Soldiers on guard duty spotted the two moving toward a large gas station and ordered them to halt, according to police spokesman Victor Isuku. When they continued to advance, soldiers shot and killed one of the women. The second then surrendered. Both women were wearing jackets laden with explosives but the soldiers were able to disarm them, Isuku said. Witnesses told police the women appeared…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 17:18

Nasarawa Gov, Al-Makura, sacks 10 Commissioners, redeploys 2 others

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Tuesday sacked 10 commissioners and redeployed two others. A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, indicated that six commissioners were retained, two of which were redeployed to other ministries. Those retained at their beats include Yusuf Shehu-Usman, Justice; Daniel Iya, Health; Sunny Agassi, Lands and Gabriel Aka’aka, Environment. The commissioners redeployed are Aliyu Tijani from local government and chieftaincy affairs to education, while Haruna Osegba was moved from commerce and industry to local government and chieftaincy affairs. Already, the governor has forwarded names of new nominees to…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 17:11

NRC raises fares for Kaduna-Abuja rail service

Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced new fares on its Kaduna-Abuja route with effect from Monday. The 60 per cent hike, which came into effect from Feb. 6, took many passengers by surprise. NRC officials were seen handing over the list containing the new fares to passengers at the Rigasa station in Kaduna on Monday morning. The list, on the corporation’s letter-headed paper, which was unsigned, contained details of amounts for tickets from the Rigasa station in Kaduna to Idu station in Abuja, including other sub stations along the route. Passengers will now pay N1,050 as against N600 for a…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 03:01

Buhari 'hale and hearty', says Osinbajo amid health doubts - Reuters

Nigeria's absentee president is in good health and is expected to return home soon, his deputy said on Monday, after mounting unease about the leader's well-being spilled over into street protests. President Muhammadu Buhari has been in Britain since mid-January for unspecified medical checks and many Nigerians suspect his health is worse than officials admit. Hundreds marched through Lagos on Monday calling for a change of government, a rare show of public dissent reflecting worry over Buhari's absence and a sputtering economy. Some fear a rerun of the unstable three months in 2010 when then-president Umaru Yar'Adua's illness was shrouded…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 02:59

Lagos-Ibadan, Ilorin-Kano rail lines to cost $7.6b

The Federal Government plans to spend $6.1 billion on the construction of Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna-Kano standard gauge lines of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The Lagos-Ibadan line which will cost $1.5 billion, will be funded with a Chinese loan. Transportation Minister Chuibuke Amaechi said this in Ilorin at a town hall meeting for North central states. Amaechi added that the failure of the National Assembly to approve the Federal Government’s borrowing plan from China was holding the government back. He urged the people to prevail on the National Assembly to approve the loan. He said the loan, when accessed, would enable the Federal…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 02:56

Boko Haram attacks military base, burns community in Yobe

Suspected Boko Haram sect members have launched attack on a military base and burnt much of Sasawa town located 27 kilometers to Damaturu, Yobe state capital. Details of the attacks were still sketchy by press time due to lack of telecommunications network. Daily Trust gathered that the attack happened around 6:00pm yesterday when the assailants stormed the village in three Hilux vans and two motorcycles, and dislodged military men in the area. A source who escaped from the town told Daily Trust that the town was razed by fire. The source said, “They burnt down the entire town and we…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 02:54

Lagos to ban 'Molue', 'Danfo' – Ambode

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday said he would banish yellow commercial buses from Lagos roads this year. Ambode spoke at the 14th Annual Lecture of the Centre for Value and Leadership with theme: “Living Well Together, Tomorrow: The Challenge of Africa’s Future Cities” held in Lagos. Ambode said that connectivity was a critical element for a mega city to work, which required having mass transit system to move people from one point to another. “I tell you what, I want to banish yellow buses from Lagos this year. “My dream of ensuring that Lagos becomes a true…

Tuesday, 07 February 2017 02:53

Parents grumble as FCE Akoka hikes fees tenfold

Some parents have expressed concern over the ten fold hike in the acceptance fee for new students imposed by the Federal College of Education (Technical), FCE Akoka, Lagos. The parents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the acceptance fee, which was increased from N5,000 to N50,000, excluding the tuition fee, is a strain in the budget for their wards’ education. One of the parents complained that only FCE (T), hiked its fee unlike other federal colleges, whose acceptance fee was far less. He, therefore, called on the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene by…

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Tuesday, 07 February 2017 02:49

Minister promises upward review of corps members’ allowances

Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, says the government has initiated the process of upward review of corps members’ allowances. Dalung, who disclosed that the review was undergoing legislative process, acknowledged that what was being paid as allowances to corps members today had become grossly insufficient for them. The minister stated this yesterday when he conducted an unscheduled inspection visit to the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Mangu, Plateau State, to enable him ascertain the welfare of the scheme’s members and status of facilities at the camp. Pledging that government would not compromise the security…

Monday, 06 February 2017 15:57

Nigeria Police bar anti-govt protesters from presidential villa

Police have stopped antigovernment protesters from reaching Nigeria’s presidential villa in Abuja. The demonstrations were called across the country to protest the country’s economic crisis that has severely hit millions of families. In Abuja, protesters marched early Monday from Unity Fountain in Maitama District, chanting songs and displaying placards, as they headed towards the presidential villa in the upscale Asokoro District. They were met by a team of heavily armed anti-riot police personnel, who denied them entry into the Aso Rock villa. The stranded protesters began to chant “I stand with Nigeria”. Human rights Activist, Chidi Odinkalu who addressed the…

Monday, 06 February 2017 15:55

Beset by economic, political woes, Nigerians protest for change - Reuters

Hundreds of Nigerians marched through the streets of Lagos calling for a change of government on Monday, a rare show of public dissent that reflected mounting anger over an absentee president and a sputtering economy. Flanked by a heavy police escort, more than 500 demonstrators halted traffic in the commercial capital as a truck blasted out protest songs against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari has been in Britain since mid-January for unspecified medical checks and, with no indication of when he might return, many Nigerians suspect his health is worse than officials admit. The country is also mired…

Monday, 06 February 2017 15:52

Hundreds of Nigerians protest corruption; Buhari ill abroad - Associated Press

Hundreds of Nigerians marched Monday to protest poverty and corruption as President Muhammadu Buhari's prolonged absence abroad for medical tests raises political and economic tensions. "Nigerians are frustrated and tired with this absentee government," activist Omoyele Sowore said as he marched in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city. Protesters carried placards saying: "Unemployed people hungry and angry." Prices of food and other goods have soared as Nigeria confronts low international prices for oil on which the government depends and a devalued naira currency because of massive foreign currency shortages. Turnout was small in Lagos, a city of 20 million, with just dozens…

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