WOP

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulate Nigerians, particularly the Muslims faithful on the Eid-El- celebrations. The president in a statement on Thursday, August 31, signed by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, extended the Sallah message to Muslims who are currently in Saudi Arabia to participate in the rites of the Hajj. He said: “From the outset, I want to use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians who prayed for my recovery and have continued to extend their goodwill and support after my return to the country. "Indeed your fervent and sincere prayers, which cut across religion, political and ethnic divides, has energised me to re-dedicate myself and this administration to the task of building a great Nigeria." The president appealed to Nigerians to strengthen the bonds of friendship and unity to keep the country together. He said: “We must learn to see ourselves as brothers and sisters from the same heritage, who must come to terms w

The US President, Donald Trump will donate $1 million of his fortune to recovery efforts in Texas, the White House says he hasn't determined which group or groups will receive the donation. "He would like to join in the efforts that a lot of people we have seen across the country do," press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at the White House, saying the funds would come from the President's "personal money." She said the President hadn't determined which organization to support. "He actually asked that I check with the folks in this room since you are very good at research and have been doing a lot of reporting into the groups and organizations that are best and most effective in helping and providing aid, and he'd like some suggestions from the folks here and I'd be happy to take those," she said during the daily press briefing. On Tuesday, the President's campaign asked supporters to donate to charities involved in t

Youths For Change NG, an umbrella group of Nigerian youths, has urged Government to critical action Fani-Kayode former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode for falsehood, personal insults, acrimony and sheer hatred and abusive language. The group’s National Leader, Mr Seun Bobade,made the call in a statement on Thursday in Ilorin, stressing that sometime the abusive language by the former minister bothered on hate speech. Bobade slammed the former minister “for his ranting and increasingly unsubstantiated allegations’’ which he said were becoming an embarrassment, particularly to youths who had seen him as role model. He noted that Fani-Kayode had alleged that Mohammed, Adesina and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had threatened to shut down a TV station if it aired his interview. “The media must hold Fani-Kayode to a higher standard. They should not just regurgitate his allegations without asking him to substantiate such. After all, it’s trite-law that he who alleges

A pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group, Afenifere, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country as soon as possible to avoid catastrophe. In a statement released in a monthly meeting in Akure, Ondo state, the group said it disagrees with President Buhari's recent comment that the issue of restructuring should be left solely in the hands of National Assembly and the Council of State, Tribune reports. The statement reads: “We are not impressed by the president’s broadcast after his return, especially his stand on the restructuring which, he said, is a matter only for the National Assembly and the Council of State. “We do not agree that the sovereignty in the land rests with these two bodies but sovereignty rests with the people and the people, therefore, must be the one to determine the way forward for the country in crisis. “We believe at this point now that we need a constitution assembly elected by the people of Nigeria to deal with the question of restructu

The aims of the meeting between the South East Governor's Forum, SEGF, and Nnamdi Kanu include general security issues bedeviling the country in general and the southeast geopolitical zone in particular. It was said that the issues discussed also included the application by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami SAN, for Kanu to be re-arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions among other sundry matters. The meeting was said to be a continuous process. The meeting which held at the Government House, Enugu, the governors promised to engage in further dialogue with the pro-Biafra group, even as they told Kanu that IPOB’s demands "should not be absolute". The Governors present at the meeting were Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi; Governor of Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Anambra Deputy Governor, Nkem Okeke. Their Imo and Abia state counterparts, Rochas Okorocha and Okezie Ikpeazu, were said to have travelled outside Nigeria. Re

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has been invited to Chatham house, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, an independent policy institute based in London to speak on development issues in the country. Governor Wike who played host to a visit from Chatham house in Government House, Port Harcourt Wednesday said anti corruption agencies could only achieve meaningful impact in the anti graft war when they operated independently from political manipulations. He said: “It is difficult to fight corruption when the institutions are weak. It may just be a political tool to attract sympathy from western countries. "In Nigeria, the institutions are subservient to the President. Here, Police is central, but the institution is now being used for illegal acts. That is corruption". "The fight against corruption must be holistic. It should not be a political weapon against opponents of the government. We have instances of mass corruption in the state, but Federal agencies frustrat

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received a standing ovation from members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the presidential villa, Abuja. Its a first meeting since April. It's over 100 days of which he was out of Nigeria for medical treatment, the president has missed five consecutive meetings, two of which were canceled. Last week President Buhari cancelled FEC meeting to receive the report of the Prof. Yemi Osinbajo-led presidential investigative panel on alleged corruption cases against the suspended secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke. At Wednesday’s meeting, ministers offered prayers for the president, who had earlier before the commencement of the meeting, met with the Nigerian women basketball team who recently emerged African champions.

Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) UK The umbrella body that actively works to advance the course of all Urhobo organizations and people in the United Kingdom. Have released scholarship Grant result for 2017/2018 successful Urhobo students in Nigeria report signed by the National President Chief (Barrister) Emmanuel Okpako Ganiga and the National Secretary Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) UK Olorogun Ted Ochuko Arayki The result was announced by the body on the  UPU UK Annual International convention held on the 27th of August 2017, which showcase continuous heritage and history of the Urhobo people of the Niger Delta. The ceremony was attended by  hundreds of Urhobo sons and daughters of Urhobo Nation. Names of successful Urhobo Sons and Daughter listed below

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti has inaugurated the reconstituted Council of Traditional Ruler with Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju, as the new Chairman on Tuesday. Fayose appealed to traditional rulers in the state to join the government in its efforts to ensure continuity of good governance and urged them to ensure security and peace in their domains as the state goes into holds governorship election in 2018. “You will agree with me that the 2018 is around the corner, hence all hands must be on the deck to ensure that the process of selecting a new government is not stalled unnecessarily. “There is the need for Ekiti people to be on the same page with this administration, be enduring the continuity of the good works that it had started for the sustenance of the on-going development of the state.” He urged the monarchs to assume the position of the chief security officers of their domains and to be security conscious. Oba Ademolaju, in his acceptance speech, thanked

The ongoing restructuring of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC received fresh impetus on Tuesday with the appointments and deployments of top executives across the value chain of its operations. Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, told NNPC staff shortly before the announcement was made public that the new appointments would not only help to position the Corporation for the challenges ahead but would help fill the gaps created due to statutory retirements of staff. A total of 55 top management staff were affected in the exercise. Under the new arrangement, Roland Ewubare, formerly MD of the Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL moves to the National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS as the new Group General Manager while Diepriye Tariah, former GGM and Senior Technical Assistant to the NNPC GMD takes over from Ewubare as MD of IDSL. Malami Shehu, Executive Director Operations, of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Comp

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is planning to link all the air and sea ports in Nigeria by rail system. All land depots are to be connected too. To make export easier for farmers in the country. In a statement issued by the permanent secretary of the transport ministry, Sabiu Zakari, at the opening session of the 15th National Council on Transportation in Sokoto. Daily Trust quotes Zakari as saying: “The vision is for a farmer in Sokoto to be able to send his goods from his farms by road to the nearest inland container depot, where it would be carried by rail to one of the seaports for export to Europe, America, Asia. “The current transport infrastructure and services are inadequate to cope with the country’s huge population and so the need to develop and integrate the various modes has become a necessity to enhance the nation’s transportation system.” “Bonded containers are currently being transported by rail from Apapa port to Inland Container Nigeria Limit

A North Korean ballistic missile fired over northern Japan Tuesday was denounced by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a "most serious and grave" threat. The Japanese military did not attempt to shoot down the rocket, which broke into three pieces off the coast of Hokkaido and landed in the Pacific Ocean, around 700 miles east of Cape Erimo, after travelling 1,700 miles in eight minutes. Millions of Japanese citizens were woken with texts urging them to move to a 'sturdy building or basement' as the missile passed over its territory at around 6am local time. Residents took cover, while train services across Japan halted, with early-morning commuters told bluntly: 'All lines are experiencing disruption due to missile launch.' Dictator Kim Jong-Un is believed to have fired his rocket over Japan because it is the path towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, which he threatened to attack two weeks ago. Japan's chief government spokesman, Yoshi

GOVERNORS of the South-South/South East regions have called for location of investment in the oil and gas sector in the regions, saying that the Federal Government should discourage the granting of licences for them to be sited outside the areas and step up efforts to effectively secure the areas, adding that it should connect the regions with railways. A communique by Chairman of the forum and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, at the end of a meeting of the South South/South East Governors Forum, Sunday night, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, urged the Federal Government to encourage investors in the oil and gas industry to operation from the regions. The Governors says, “the emerging trend where approvals for investments in the oil and gas industry are granted for locating same in other parts of Nigeria with laying of pipelines in deep waters rather than locate the projects in the areas that produce the resources should be discouraged. “We urge the Federal Governmen

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan have welcomed their second child, a daughter named August. Mark announced the news on Facebook saying, 'Priscilla and I are so happy to welcome our daughter August!" He also included a letter to his daughter from himself and Chan expressing hopes that she would take time to enjoy her childhood. The letter partly reads, ' When your sister was born we wrote a letter about the world we hoped she and now you grow up in, a world with better eduction, fewer diseases, stronger communities and greater equality.  Childhood is magical. You only get to be a child once, so don't spend it worrying too much about the future. You've got us for that, and we'll do everything we possibly can to make sure the world is a better place for you and all children in your generation,'. He and Chan wrote a similar letter to his daughter Max upon her birth in 2015.

As Corporation Further Alerts Public on Crude Oil Scammers A few days after raising the red flag on the fraudulent activities of crude oil scammers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has provided further insights into the modus operandi of the conmen who dupe unsuspecting would-be crude oil buyers. Speaking on the unwholesome activities of the scammers, NNPC’s Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD), Mr. Mele Kyari, said the Corporation “doesn’t sell crude oil from hotel rooms as done by scammers”. Shedding more light on the scammers’ modus operandi, Kyari said they usually lured their unsuspecting victims with higher discount offers on cargoes, offers of non-OPEC crude specification, crude allocation, presentation of crude oil sale letters as well as conducting business from hotels. “Some of them even go to the extent of luring their victims to hotels to transact these fraudulent crude oil contracts. The entire public should know that NNPC

The United State of America Congress delegates visited Nigeria Senate today 28 August, and discussed the Security, Anti-Terrorism, Agriculture, Jobs as well as Humanitarian Aids The Nigerian Senate today hosted a visiting delegation from the United States Congress. The US Congressional Delegation was led by the United States Ambassador Stuart Symington and included Senators Christopher Coons, Gary Peters & Michael Benett as well as Representatives Barbara Lee, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Charlie Dent, Terri Sewell and Frederica Wilson. The US Congressional Delagation discussed with the hosts NASS Nigeria on matters surrounding Security, Anti-Terrorism, Agriculture, Jobs as well as Humanitarian Aids. The meeting also focused on improving the legislative relationship between NASS Nigeria and the US Congress. The Meeting also delved into matters concerning protection of Fundamental Human Rights. The US Congressional Delagation was hosted by the Chairman of the 8th  NASS Nigeria

The Federal Government has declared Friday, 1st and Monday 4th September, 2017 as Public Holidays to mark Eid-il-Kabir celebration. In a statement issued Monday in Abuja and signed by Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary DOOPS, Dr Rufa’i Kawu Attahiru. In the statement, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians, urging them to use the occasion to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country’s democracy. “Gen. Dambazau further urged all Nigerians to join hands with the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari in its avowed determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country, where the rights of every citizen, are protected and guaranteed, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The Minister assured citizens of their safety in all parts of the country, emphasizing that security agencies

FIFA has confirmed the date Nigeria will host Cameroon in back-to-back 2018 World Cup qualifying games. According to the fixture list on their website, the match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, which was earlier moved to August 31 for television purposes, has been moved back to the initial date of September 1. Stadium: Godswill Akpabio International StadiumUyo Match Date: Friday 1 Sep 2017 Kick Off Time: 5:00 PM Local time All times are in West Africa Standard Time The return match of World Cup Qualifiers Match Date: Mon, 04 Sep 2017 Kick Off Time: 6:00 PM

Niger Delta agitators, yesterday, described the withdrawal of the quit notice issued to the Igbos resident in the North by a coalition of northern youth as an attempt to fool Nigerians. They said that it was also laughable to announce the withdrawal alongside a call to revoke the bail conditions of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement after the meeting, the agitators maintained their earlier stance which demanded the departure of northerners and Yoruba of the South West from the Niger Delta region before October 1, 2017. Those who signed the statement included General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators); General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers); General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors); Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters); Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice); Major-Gen. Duke Emman

Houston is being inundated with "unprecedented" flooding after the ferocious Hurricane Harvey set in over the Texas Gulf Coast this weekend, dumping torrential rain on the city with no end in sight for days. "This event is unprecedented and all impacts are unknown and beyond anything experienced. Follow orders from officials to ensure safety," The National Weather Service (NWS) said Sunday morning. The flooding comes after the hurricane, which has now left at least three dead after it bashed the Texas coast, left buildings and parts of communities submerged. In Houston, there were more than 1000 calls for rescues and people were forced to their rooftops. A third death was confirmed Sunday by La Marque, Texas Mayor Bobby Hocking. The body of a 52-year-old man was found at the Walmart on I-45. La Marque is about 38 miles southeast from Houston on the Gulf Coast. "At this time it is unknown if the subject passed away from health conditions or due to drowni

English Premier League Week 3  table after Sunday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man Utd             3 3 0 0 10 0 9 Liverpool           3 2 1 0 8  3  7 Huddersfield     3 2 1 0 4  0  7 Man City             3 2 1 0 5  2  7 West Brom         3 2 1 0 3  1  7 Chelsea               3 2 0 1 6  4  6 Watford              3 1 2 0 5  3  5 Southampton    3 1 2 0 3  2  5 Tottenham         3 1 1 1 4  3  4 Burnley              3 1 1 1 4  4  4 Stoke                   3 1 1 1 2  2  4 Everton              3 1 1 1 2  3  4 Swansea             3 1 1 1 2  4  4 Newcastle          3 1 0 2 3  3  3 Leicester            3 1 0 2 5  6  3 Arsenal              3 1 0 2 4  8  3 Brighton            3 0 1 2 0  4  1 Bournemouth   3 0 0 3 1  5  0 Crystal Palace   3 0 0 3 0  6  0 West Ham          3 0 0 3 2 10 0

The Middle Belt Youth Council (MBYC) has taken a firm stand on issue of herdsmen attacks by calling on victims of such attacks to carry arms and other weapons to defend themselves. The president of the MBYC in southern Bauchi, Emma Zopmal, made the call in an interview with the Punch on Sunday, August 27, shortly after a communique signed by its representatives in 15 states. The group said: “We support victims under the attacks of Fulani herdsmen to take up arms to defend themselves. You don’t protect yourself in the grave. If someone decides to kill another person, how can the person protect himself? “The way forward to end the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen is for the communities to be given the right to protect themselves because the first line of defence is the individual who is the target. If he is allowed to defend himself, one would be mindful of attacking the person. “So, these people that are targets should be given arms to protect themselves. The communities should be

Former minister of aviation, chief Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the action of  Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, over the deaths recorded yesterday, August 26, during the demolition of the Owerri Main market, popularly known as Eke-Ukwu Owerri. The former minister on his twitter handle on Sunday says “When will this pot-bellied illiterate, this filthy sodomite, this one-legged ritualist and this ravenous beast stop killing people in Imo? “Calling a mass murderer a mass murderer, a racist,a bigot a bigot,a monster a monster and a tyrant a tyrant is NOT hate speech. “It is called speaking truth to power and it is the life-blood of democracy. Anyone that thinks otherwise needs to go back to school.” The killings in the Imo state capital have been condemned by all, the incident which bought death to a 10 years old boy Somtochukwu Ibeanusi, who was allegedly shot dead by soldiers from the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze. The tragedy reportedly happened during the demolition

Owerri, Imo State capital went into flames Saturday morning following a clash between Imo State government forces and indigenes of Owerri over the government’s decision to demolish the famous Ekeukwu Owerri market which lead to the death of a 10 years old boy and other persons. The state capital was under siege following the arrival of bulldozers and commencement of the exercise, which has already taken the lives of some persons, with many others injured, while property worth billions of Naira are already lost. Narrating the situation, an eye witness who does not want to be named said: “due to refusal of the indigenes to comply with the state government’s directives to relocate the market without adequate arrangements for alternative places, three Owerri indigenes were shot by Hausa soldiers and as a result, in a reprisal attack, Owerri indigenes entered Hausa quarters, setting it ablaze, with many casualties feared. Everyone is running helter-skelter. People are running away from

The Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has asked Niger Delta leaders to caution militants in the area against quit notice issued,  in order to safeguard the lives of Yoruba's in the region. The militants under the aegis of Niger Delta Agitators (NDA) had asked the Yoruba and the Hausa resident in the region to vacate on or before October 1 in response to the quite notice given to the Igbo by the Northern youths. In a statement issued on Friday by Gani Adams, OPC national coordinator, the group said the threat could disturb the relationship between both regions. “We know that the position of the militants may not reflect that of their leaders. There is a need for them to speak out against the move of the group,” the statement read. OPC warned that “Yorubas must be safe in Niger Delta”. Adams said: “We see the Southerners as friends but we are not in any way comfortable with the threat to quit. “The clamp down may have an ill effect of further threat against our people in the

Former Kaduna governor Balarabe Musa has said that  “saboteurs”  were behind groups issuing quit notices to Nigerians living in some parts of the country. Musa condemned such notices in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday August 26 He said “The quit notices are designed to escalate tension in the country and promote disaffection among citizens. Clearly, the issuers of such notices are irresponsible groups being backed by some people in their respective regions to issue the notices. “Such backers are saboteurs ready to undermine the unity of the country for their own parochial ethnic and political interests. It is sad that issuance of quit notices to Nigerians resident in other states is now the order of the day.The development threatens the unity of the country and the peaceful co-existence of all citizens. “The groups issuing the threats are not doing that alone. They are actually acting scripts by some people in their regions who are suppos

The people Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State were throw into mourning when no fewer than seven persons was declared missing with several others sustaining injuries in a boat mishap. The cause of the incident is still sketchy at the time of filing this report but an official report by the Police says it was a boat mishap, stressing that it has nothing to do with attacks by the groups involved in factional leadership tussle in the community A source said the boat fully loaded with passenger's at the Escravos Jetty in Ugborodo was heading to Warri when it was attacked reprisal masterminded by some armed youths reportedly loyal to the factional camp of the Ugborodo Community Management Committee, UCMC. Factional Chairman of Ugborodo Administrative Committee, Mr. Jolomi Samuel Metseagharun corroborated the eyewitness claims in a telephone conversation. Metseagharun described the sad development in the community as a despicable act of d

Paul Arkwright, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, says the presidency was not lying to Nigerians about the true health status of President Muhammadu Buhari. Arkwright speaking with Vanguard said he is privilege to meet President Buhari in the Villa, that Buhari have recovered from his illness and fit to carry on the responsibilities of his office. He said: “I had a privilege to meet President Buhari in the Villa. I was one of the small numbers of Ambassadors who were invited to witness the signing of treaties and MoUs between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “What I can say is what I saw. I saw a President who was fit; he was fine; he was cheerful; he had a great sense of humour. It was great to see him". “President Buhari greeted me very warmly and I shook his hand. Frankly, it was just brilliant and great to see him back to work in full capacity.” The president returned to Nigeria on Saturday, August 19, after 105 days away from work spent 103 days i

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has distanced himself from ongoing calls for the country's restructuring by some Nigerians home and abroad. Obasanjo who made this known on the sidelines of the just concluded African leadership forum in Johannesburg said Nigerians should restructure their minds before calling for restructuring of the country. The former president, Nigerian's focus should be on how to include everyone in a nation that is already well endowed, and change our mentally. Channelstv reports. “We have to restructure our mentality, we have to restructure our minds we have to restructure our understanding of Nigeria, what country do we want and if we decide on what country we want, how do we get that country, all hands on deck. “How do we get inclusive, how do we get every Nigerian feeling a sense of having a stake in the country,” he said.

The Federal Government of Nigeria, have filed fresh application before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, seeking immediate revocation of the bail granted to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. FG, predicated the application on section 169 and 173(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Aside asking the court to void the bail it gave the IPOB leader on April 25, FG, further applied for an order “directing the arrest and committing of the 1st defendant to custody pending trial”. Meantime, FG, in the application it filed on Friday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, adduced reasons why Kanu should be arrested before his next trial date. According to FG, “The 1st Defendant is standing trial for alleged offences of conspiracy to commit acts of treasonable felony, treasonable felony and other related offences before this Honourable Court". “That the offence for which he is

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose have given reasons for his absence from the meeting with the president. The meeting held on 25 August by the president and state Governor at the Vila where without Fayose. He said the meeting was impromptu and can not abandoned his people who voted his into office. Fayose tweet on his twitter handle that "There was no how I could have abandoned the people here in Ado Ekiti for the impromptu meeting with the President". "Guests were already in Ekiti since yesterday for the chieftaincy title installation before I received notice of the meeting with the President". "Also, there is Udiroko, a major festival in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital tomorrow to which I am committed". "For those insinuating that I shunned the President's meeting with govs,I did not. I had my installation as Apesin of Ado Ekiti slated for today."

GOVERNOR of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose was conspicuously absent as governors met with president Muhammadu Buhari at the PresidentiPresidential Villa Abuja. Fayose who hold the chairman of PDP Governor did not state reason of his absence. The meeting which started immediately after President Buhari finished the Friday Jumat service had in attendance the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike among others

The president met with the leaders of the two main parties on Friday, August 25 at the Presidential Villa. Senator Ahmed Makarfi led the delegation from the opposition party to the meeting which was also confirmed by the president's aide. President Buhari also spoke at the end of the meeting, commending the leaders for coming around. Chief John Oyegun who is the Chairman of the PC speaks after Makarfi saying the meeting signifies Buhari is the president of all Nigerians regardless of party or region. Makarfi insists that no matter the party the president comes from, he still enjoys the support of Nigerians. Senator Makarfi speaks welcoming the president back to the country, insisting that they don't wish him evil. The leaders of the opposition party arrived by 12:25 where they proceeded to the meeting with the president. Meanwhile the president thanks the leaders of the ruling party and opposition party for their visit. "I'm full of gratitude to the l

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has rejected the withdrawal of the quit notice earlier issued to all easterners living in the northern region by the coalition of Arewa Youths Consultation Forum vanguard report. The Coalition of Northern Groups CNG has withdrawn the “quit notice” it issued Igbos resident in the region, but asked the Federal Government to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu saying the time has come to curtail his excesses. The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, Sen. Kabiru Gaya and other northern leaders, Thursday in Abuja, the group however said it would continue to pursue its other demands up to the United Nations. However, before the expiration of the order of October 1, the group made a volt farce, withdrawing the order yesterday. But IPOB has rejected the withdrawal, urging the Arewa Youths to stick to the eviction order if they have integrity. IPOB slao urged all

Former Oyo governor Rasheed Ladoja, who contest the state’s governorship seat in the 2015 general elections under Accord Party, has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ladoja, along with Mr Seyi Makinde, a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, moved to the PDP on Thursday in Ibadan, when Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, visited the Oyo capital. The former governor, who won the seat on the ticket of the PDP in 2011, said that he was returning to his home, adding that it was not his wish to leave the PDP when he did. “When I left the PDP some years ago, it was because of the injustice done to me. “We left because the PDP leaders, at that time, were not ready to protect the interest of all members. We are back now because the new leadership has promised to right all wrongs and avoid mistakes of the past. “I have discussed with members of the Accord party and they have asked for amnesty; we need assurance fr

The Coalition of Northern Groups CNG has withdrawn the “quit notice” it issued Igbos resident in the region, but asked the Federal Government to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu saying the time has come to curtail his excesses. At a press conference attended by the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, Sen. Kabiru Gaya and other northern leaders, Thursday in Abuja, the group however said it would continue to pursue its other demands up to the United Nations. “Mindful of the concerns generated by the clause in the Kaduna declaration that advised the Biafran Igbo to relocate from northern Nigeria and for northerners in the South East to do likewise, and our commitment to the unity of our dear country, we immediately opened channels for dialogue and interaction with government agencies, national and international groups, institutions and figures". “Admittedly, we came under intense persuasive pr

President Buhari have signed 9 International Agreements covering Anti-Corruption, Security and Economic Development on 24 August. The Agreement will reduce the corruption and guarantees commercial and civil protection for businesspersons, and efficient Settlement of legal disputes. The Agreements signed by President Buhari today mean that Nigerians will no longer be able to hide stolen assets in the UAE. One of the Agreements is an Extradition Treaty. Fugitives from justice will no longer be able to hide in UAE; they will be extradited to Nigeria The UAE Agreements will encourage legitimate trade and business transactions between Nigeria and UAE and discourage illicit financial dealings. UAE is of Strategic importance to Nigeria in terms of financial flows. Many Nigerians buy assets there and also try to conceal illicit wealth Another of the UAE agreements guarantees commercial and civil protection for businesspersons, and efficient Settlement of legal disputes. Four of t

Delta State is  26 years, the Chief Press Secretary to Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr. Charles Aniagwu says Deltans have every reason to celebrate Aniagwu who was fielding questions from journalists on Thursday in Asaba said, “as a state created 26 years ago, our leaders and indeed, all Deltans have cause to celebrate because the state has recorded huge socio- economic and political transformation within the period. We may not have been able to develop to a level we anticipated, but today we have been able to record considerable number of milestones that we can be proud of as a state in various areas of  development”. He said successive and present administration in the state have been able to focus on construction and maintenance of the vital infrastructure like roads, bridges and drains are achievement of the SMART agenda . These roads, he pointed out, “ are intended to link up our various communities to enhance social- economic development in the state. Th

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday called on members of the public to disregard a fake twitter handle, “@DefenseMonitor’’ currently trending. Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, the Director Defence Information (DDI), in a statement said “The twitter handle is mischievously using the Defence logo and posting tweets as though they are emanating from the Defence Headquarters. “The tweets have started attracting reactions from unsuspecting members of the public. “The DHQ hereby call on patriotic citizens of our nation to disregard the twitter account and ignore the tweets, while the effort is underway to track the perpetrator of this heinous act. “The official twitter handle of the Defence Headquarters is @DefenceInfoNG which is a verified account. “People are advised to be conscious of increase in the number of fraudsters who will go at any length to misrepresent the military and its institutions, sometimes using such channel to swindle innocent members of the public. “Please b

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that the Senate will accelerate the passage of the Existing Vacancies in the Federal Civil Service (Prohibition) Bill, once it resumes in September. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said that the Bill, which is currently due for Second Reading, will be given priority as one of the Senate’s legislative interventions to curb the increasing rates of illegal recruitment into federal government agencies and parastatals. “The Existing Vacancies Bill will put in place clear-cut procedures that will help to curb and possibly end the trend of ‘silent or underground recruitment’,” the President of the Senate said, “This country belongs to every Nigerian, and as such, all vacancies that exist in the Federal Civil Service must be properly advertised to give every Nigerian that meet the requirement a chance to apply.” Saraki also stated that the objective of the Bill, whi

The Federal Government has directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction any radio or television station that broadcasts hate speech, as part of efforts to discourage hate speech in the country. The directive Issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the 3rd Annual Lecture Series of the NBC, which also coincides with the 25th Anniversary of the Commission. “As a matter of fact, the challenges facing the NBC have never become more daunting, considering the increasing propensity of some radio and television stations across the country to turn over their platforms to the purveyors of hate speech. It is the responsibility of the NBC to put these broadcast stations in check before they set the country on fire. “As the NBC celebrates what is a milestone – a quarter of a century – in its existence, I urge the Commission to redouble its efforts in discharging its mandate. The NBC must ensure a strict adherence to t