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Thursday, 04 April 2019 04:28

FEC approves N3.4trn promissory note to offset local debts, salaries

Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday, approved establishment of a Promissory Note Programme worth N3.4trillion for the settlement of inherited local debts and contractual obligations of Federal Government. Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja. She said: “Today (yesterday), at FEC, I presented a memo seeking approval of council for additional financing of $6.8 million sought as a loan from AfDB to finance inclusive basic service delivery and livelihood empowerment integrated programme for the rebuilding of…

Thursday, 04 April 2019 04:27

Two-thirds of world’s hungriest people live in Nigeria, 7 other countries – UN

No fewer than 113 million people experienced high levels of food insecurity in the world’s most severe food crises in 2018, Global Report on Food Crisis 2019 has found. The report, released on Wednesday in Brussels, warned that these food crises were primarily driven by conflict and climate-related disasters. One of the key findings of the report showed that nearly two-thirds of those facing acute hunger were in just eight countries. These countries were Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. “The worst food crises in 2018, in order of severity, were: Yemen,…

Thursday, 04 April 2019 04:20

FG renames university teaching hospital after Ekwueme

Federal Government has approved renaming of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki to Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Former Vice President Ekwueme died in November 2017. He was in office between 1979 and 1983. Mr Ahmed Ramalan, chairman of the hospital’s board, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abakaliki while addressing journalists. He said the renaming was with immediate effect. Ramalan said Mr Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, gave the approval on behalf of the government as it is important to bring the action to the notice of the people of Ebonyi and Nigerians. “We hope that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will…

Wednesday, 03 April 2019 04:42

Buhari declines assent to 8 new bills passed by N’Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari has declined assent to eight bills recently passed by National Assembly. The bills are Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill, 2018; Chartered Institute of Training and Development Establishment bill, 2018; Nigerian Aeronautic Research bill, 2018 and National Institute of Credit Administration bill 2018. Others are Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Agency Bill, 2018; National Housing Fund Bill, 2018; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill 2018 and National Biotechnology Development Agency Bill 2018. Reason for rejection His decision to decline assent to the bills was communicated to the Senate via several letters read out by Senate President, Mr…

Wednesday, 03 April 2019 04:36

FG to provide free internet access for citizens – Minister

Minister of Communication, Mr Adebayo Shittu, says federal government will ensure free access to the internet in public places across Nigeria. Shittu said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders workshop on the role of Public Internet Access for Economic Development. “We are trying to ensure the vision of free Wi-Fi all over, particularly in public spaces, at the airport, schools and all that,” Shittu said on Tuesday. Shittu said the government had been trying to ensure that internet accessibility is made available not just for privileged Nigerians but everyone. “Federal Ministry of Communication will ensure the privacy…

Tuesday, 02 April 2019 04:49

Buhari ‘orders’ State House hospital to serve only first, second families, staff

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that State House Medical Centre revert to a clinic to serve the “original purpose” of its establishment. According to a senior presidency official, the original purpose of the facility was to serve only families of the president and vice president and staff of State House. Permanent secretary, State House, Mr Jalal Arabi, announced this Monday in Abuja when he appeared before Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs for the 2019 budget defence. The permanent secretary disclosed that ‘‘without prejudice to what is currently obtainable at SHMC, the intention to revert to a clinic…

Tuesday, 02 April 2019 04:45

Amnesty International decries failure of Osinbajo’s SARS reform

Amnesty International (AI) has berated Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for allegedly killing Kolade Johnson, who was shot dead while watching a Premier League match on Olu Aboderin Street, Lagos, on Sunday. AI said the call to scrap SARS and reform the police had not been taken seriously. It said efforts put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government had failed even as it blamed the judiciary for failing to punish police torture. The organisation said SARS continues to use torture to extract confessions from suspects, adding that the police unit seems not to be accountable to anyone. A series of…

Tuesday, 02 April 2019 04:43

Pastor Adeboye’s top assistant dies

Mr Adetokunbo Olorunnimbe, A senior aide to general overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mr Enoch Adeboye, has died. The aide, who was Chief-of-Staff and Chief Private Secretary to Adeboye, died on Saturday at the age of 60 years. His death was confirmed by Mr Olaolu Olorunnimbe, who also revealed that burial arrangements will be announced soon. The deceased was born on May 26, 1958 to Ishola Adekunle Olorunnimbe and late Simisola Adetoun Olorunnimbe. He got married to the “love of his life” Modupe Olorunnimbe, nee Botu in April 1987. The son of the late pastor, Olaolu, described his…

Tuesday, 02 April 2019 04:40

As Ajimobi’s govt winds down, tension heightens between Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council

The frosty relationship between Olubadan of Ibadan, Mr Saliu Adetunji, and members of Olubadan-in-council which appeared to have subsided, resurfaced, yesterday, as the latter accused the monarch of undermining the Olubadan institution with illegal practices and disregard to the Council. Members of Olubadan-in-Council, promoted to beaded crown wearing kings by Governor Abiola Ajimobi spoke through Otun Olubadan, Mr Lekan Balogun, after a meeting held at Mapo Hall on Monday. They jointly described the actions of the paramount ruler as uncalled for and that caution should be exercised in order to avoid crisis. They alleged that Olubadan was destroying the system…

Monday, 01 April 2019 05:50

Nigeria ranks 6th most miserable country in the world

The recently published report by Steve Hanke, an economist from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, United state, listed Nigeria, Venezuela, Iran, Brazil, others among the first ten (10) most miserable countries in the world. According to the report Venezuela was listed as the most miserable country in the world. According to Hanke, “Venezuela holds the inglorious title of the most miserable country in the world in 2018, as it did in 2017, 2016, and 2015.” Argentina jumped to the No. 2 spot after yet another peso crisis. Since its founding, Argentina has been burdened with numerous economic crises. Most can…

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Saturday, 30 March 2019 04:47

New Ministers to be appointed on merit, national spread - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday hinted on what to expect during his second term in respect of appointments and security. Buhari declared that he would focus on merit and national spread in making political appointments with a view to giving every part of the country a sense of belonging. He also vowed that government would ensure harmony among Nigerians. ‘‘In the area of allocation of political offices, our focus will be on merit and national spread such that every part of Nigeria will have a sense of belonging,” the President pledged while receiving a delegation of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)…

Saturday, 30 March 2019 04:38

Genco to supply electricity directly to Presidential Villa

Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved that Aso Rock becomes an eligible customer so it can get direct electricity supply from Shiroro hydropower Generation Company (GenCo) within six months. A statement by Mr Hakeem Bello, spokesman for Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said approvals were obtained after Fashola presented memos at the meetings. Eligible Customer Regulation issued by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in 2017, permits electricity consumer to buy power directly from Generation Companies (GenCos). Aso Rock Villa, official residence of the President will benefit from this as FEC, last Wednesday, approved inclusion of the…

Saturday, 30 March 2019 04:37

UK faces new Brexit crisis after lawmakers reject May’s deal

British lawmakers on Friday rejected the government’s Brexit deal for a third time, leaving the U.K. facing the stark prospect of a chaotic departure from the European Union in just two weeks, with political leaders in turmoil and the country ill-prepared for the shock. It’s either that, or a long delay to the country’s exit from the EU. The alternatives are dwindling. The House of Commons voted 344-286 against the withdrawal agreement struck between Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU, rebuffing her plea to “put aside self and party” and deliver the Brexit that Britons voted for. Amid business…

Thursday, 28 March 2019 05:12

Dogara tackles Buhari on Nigeria’s budget

Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari over 2019 and previous budget estimates and procedure. Dogara in his opening remarks at a public hearing on 2019 budget said the budgets over the years have only reflected the selfish wish of its drafters. He said the budgets have repeatedly excluded national values and interests. He also criticised the late submission of budgets to National Assembly by the Executive. “Over the years, the main problem with our budget as submitted by the Executive is that it does not reflect national values and priorities. The…

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