The World Bank has concluded arrangements to commit the sum of $300 million credit to Nigeria, to tackle poverty particularly among the vulnerable. To this end, the Board of the Bank is to give approval for the release of the credit tomorrow for ...
The federal government is carrying out a comprehensive review of tariffs charged on industrial raw materials across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, made this known during the pres...
A female lecturer at the University of Uyo, Dr Ime Udotong, was on Friday night kidnapped by gunmen in front of her resident on Idoro Road in Uyo, an eyewitness said on Saturday.
Udotong, a lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, was said to be returning home from work when she was blocked and whisked away by the gunmen to an unknown destination.
The eyewitness who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Udotong works in the same department with her husband, Prof. Ime Udotong.
He said that Udotong, was driving a jeep while her abductors followed her with a salon car and blocked her way when she was close to her house.
``I suspect she was trailed from school to her house because there is no other way her place would have been known by people other than those close to her.
``I noticed that she had observed the car trailing her and she attempted to rush into her compound, when the kidnappers crossed her car and forced her into their own car.
``Immediately they got her into their own car, they zoomed off through a different direction,” the eyewitness said.
NAN gathers that following a distress call, the police arrived at the scene of the incident few minutes after the gunmen had made away with their victim.
The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Mr Umar Gwadabe said, ``we have just received the report of the kidnap and we are working on it''. (NAN)
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, Nigeria administered oath of office on 19 newly-appointed local government sole administrators in Imo even as eight nominees have yet to be cleared by the Imo assembly.
Mrs Sarah Jibrin, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Ethics and Values, on Saturday decried low turnout of voters during the FCT area councils’ elections.
Jibrin stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while monitoring elections in Area 8 polling units.
She stressed the need for active participation of all Nigerians in the electoral process, noting that ``Nigerians should not give up, as things will get better with time''.
``There is low turnout of voters, but it is still midday, since the closing time is 4 p.m. But it is obvious that some Nigerians are not willing to give up.
``Those that endeavour to come out and cast their votes, believe that the system will get better in the course of time,’’ Jibrin said.
She called on all Nigerians, especially the youth, who are the most important segment of every nation to make useful contributions for the development of democracy
Jibrin attributed voters’ apathy in the FCT area councils to the security situation in the country.
She expressed the commitment of her office to embark on massive awareness campaign to educate Nigerians on the need to imbibe good values.
``I will continue to encourage youths to take active part in politics because youths are future stakeholders and agents of national security,'' she said.
Meanwhile, the PDP Chairmanship Candidate of Kuje Area Council, Mr Ishaku Shaban, said that the large turnout of voters during the FCT councils’ polls was as a result of adequate sensitisation of electorate.
Shaban made this known on Saturday in Yenche ward polling station, Kuje, while briefing newsmen on the turnout of people for the election.
According to him, although, the previously conducted elections are free and fair, but there is voter apathy.
He observed that there was rumour that PDP had planned to rig the polls, adding that the rumour was not true.
Shaban said, "we employed one-on-one approach in creating relevant awareness for people to participate in the election and vote for PDP in our community.
"It is my hope that people will turn out in their large numbers to vote in future elections to reduce voter apathy in the country.
He also commended INEC for early preparations for the FCT elections, adding that the INEC efforts contributed to the large turnout of voters in the elections. (NAN)
The management of NIGAZ company has said that River Kolmari, situated between Bauchi and Gombe States border, is capable of producing 10 Megawatts of electricity for the nation. A representative of the firm, Mr Andrey Maslov, said this on Friday ...
Sheikh Musa Ibrahim, the Chief Imam of Dakata Central Mosque, Kano, has enjoined all Muslims in the country to desist from violence as it is against the teaching of Holy Qur’an. Delivering a sermon at the Friday Jumat service in Kano, Ibrahim urg...
The Federal Government has solicited the support of the governors of Anambra and Delta states for the acutalisation of the Second Niger Bridge. The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, made the appeal on Friday in Awka and Asaba during separate...
The Cross River Government on Friday disbursed N85.4 million to 56 communities under its World Bank assisted programme.
The disbursement was undertaken through its Community and Social Development Agency.
Presenting cheques to the various communities at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, Gov. Liyel Imoke commended the them for complementing government's efforts at transforming rural communities.
Imoke said that government-initiated programmes were not meant for urban areas alone since every citizen had equal right and opportunity to government projects.
He expressed satisfaction with the work done by the agency and the way communities designed, utilised and regarded the projects as theirs.
The governor urged them to continue to protect and utilise the projects as government would increase its annual contribution if demands from communities grew.
Imoke said by meeting the conditionality for the execution of project, it meant that they had the passion and commitment.
He advised them to use the funds judiciously and warned them against its mismanagement.
The chairman of the agency, Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, said the agency had proven to be reliable, fast and cheap mechanism to fast track rural development.
Ekpenyong said it had so far approved 192 Community Development Plans comprising 531 multi-sectoral micro projects.
He said the projects had ``a cumulative cost of N1.666 billion with the agency’s contribution of N1.499 billion. (NAN)
The 70-man Peace and Reconciliation Committee set up by late Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State in January 2012 on Friday failed to submit its report due to the inability of some members to sign it.
The Co-chairman of the committee, Rtd. AVM Ishaya Shekari, made the explanation while addressing newsmen after meeting Gov. Ramalan Yero.
Shekari said the failure of some members to sign the final report was not due to a major disagreement but because they did not receive the information in time.
`` We want to make sure that those that did not get chance to travel here today to sign the report should be given enough time to come and sign. We wanted to sign all the copies and there are many copies involved.
`` I am not aware of disagreement, these are speculations. Until we have the last day we cannot say somebody has refused to sign. We expect everybody to sign.
`` Not all members were able to get the message to come here (Government House) today.
And for that reason, it is not fair to present the report without letting everybody know that it was meant to be presented today.’’
On his part, the other Co-chairman, Alhaji Abbas Sambo, said that not all the members of the committee had signed the report, adding that the reasons were best known to them.
"I have signed the report but some members have not signed, they said they are waiting for the members who are yet to sign.
“We have done our work but whoever refuses to sign does not want peace for the state and God would not forgive them."
According to him, the committee has carried out its mandate and has brought the report to the governor.
He said that for some to refuse to sign the report showed that such members did not participate fully in the committee.
`` Anybody that does not sign, he did not participate well enough as a committee member,’’ he said.
When contacted, the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, declined to make comment on the reason for the failure of the committee to submit its report as scheduled.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that late Gov. Patrick Yakowa inaugurated the committee in January 2012 .
Part of it terms of reference was to identify on issues that have fuelled the recurring ethnic-religious crises in the state and proffer solutions.
The committee is to continue with the process of pursuing full and genuine reconciliation in the state, irrespective of sectional, religious, ethnic or political affiliations.
It is also ``to advise government on issues of peace and unity with the aim of achieving full reconciliation and communal harmony in the state.
``To advise government on any issue that will assist to give lasting peace and enhance the unity and development of the state’’, late Yakowa added.
Members of the committee include the Wazirin Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, the Wazirin Birnin Gwari, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jibril, the CAN chairman, Dr. Sam K. Kujiyet, Mr Nuhu Bajoga (now state Deputy Governor), Alhaji Sule Buba, Sen. Babale Maikarfi, Sen. Zego Azeez and rtd. Maj-Gen. Zamani Lekwot.(NAN)
The number of elderly persons on N5,000 monthly stipend by Ekiti State Government under its social security scheme has risen to 19,270. Mr Oluwole Ariyo, the State Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Human Capital Development, told the News A...
Prof. Attahiru Jega, National Chairman of INEC, says he is prepared to have both domestic and international observers for the 2015 General Election.
Jega told the South Africa Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, that election observation adds value and credibility to the electoral process.
``But the challenges are there, given that some of the international observers work to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of the country in the course of observing elections or their actions seem to indicate this.
``It is important to conduct election in such a way that there will not be external interference in the country's integrity.
``If the role of election observers are carefully defined, there should be less worry about whether they are African or non-African observers,’’ Jega said
He said INEC would be willing to have many observers for the 2015 Nigeria general elections.
``In Nigeria, we have recognised the value of election observers by creating an enabling environment for them to witness the process, produce reports we can look at and see how we can improve on conducting elections in Nigeria.
``They were there in 2011, we saw the value of their observation; we have taken many of their recommendations and injected them into our preparation for 2015 election.
``We will be glad to have as many observers in Nigeria to witness the 2015 election,’’ Jega said.
NAN reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and some African leaders have called for a ban of non-African election observers in the continent.
``I am very excited with my participation in this symposium which brought many experts and people of diverse background and experience together to asses and evaluate almost two decades of election in Africa.
``It is a very important undertaking because election observation mission has been striving to assess the free, fair and credible electoral process in Africa.
``The issue of domestic observers was given prominence and we now see the need to involve more of them in the electoral process.
``There is need to harmonise various election observer missions to derive maximum benefit in process.
``There should be diverse background in election observers, a situation in which virtually all the election observers are lawyers is not good for the electoral process,’’ Jega said.
The 7th Annual symposium of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), is to assess the two decades of election observation in Africa.
The Ebonyi House of Assembly Deputy Speaker, Chief Valentine Okike, has been removed from office for alleged insubordination, promotion of disaffection among members and improper dressing to official functions. Moving the motion for his removal, Mr Chr...
The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja released N400 billion first quarter allocations for capital expenditure in the 2013 budget. This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, Spokesman for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating...
The World Bank is to support Youth Empowerment, Social Support Operation (YESSO) and education in Nigeria with additional 450 million dollars. The Country Director, Ms Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, said this in Abuja on Thursday while briefi...