‘500 Nigerian youths in Japanese prisons’

NO fewer than 500 Nigerian youths are languishing in Japanese prisons over alleged drugs and other related offences, a Nigerian-born cleric, Bishop Enoch Adebayo, has said.

Aviation Ministry justifies N225 million vehicles for Minister Oduah

 

After initial efforts by aviation officials to dismiss as mere rumours the purchase of multi million naira vehicles for Stella Oduah, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, the ministry, Wednesday, confirmed the purchase.

Joe Obi, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, said that the two armoured BMW cars were to protect his boss from “imminent threats.”

Nigeria moves up to 33rd in FIFA rankings

Nigeria has moved up three places to 33 in the latest world rankings released by FIFA on Thursday.

However, Nigeria is still number four in the Africa, behind Algeria (3rd) who dropped three places, Ghana (2nd), who moved up one place and Cote d’Ivoire (1st), who has moved to 17th in the world, MTNFootball.com reports.

The October ranking saw the Eagles garner 724 points which is an improvement from the 707 points recorded in September.

The Nigerians are expected to improve their rankings by next month when they host Ethiopia in a World Cup playoff return leg in Calabar.

Solomon Lar’s body leaves U.S Friday

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye, said the body of the late Chief Solomon Lar, will leave the U.S. on Friday and arrive in Nigeria on Saturday.  

Adefuye told the North America correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in New York that a senior Embassy staff would also accompany the body.

Lar, a former governor of Plateau and a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, died on October 9 at the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Northern Virginia.

Thousand suspected Boko Haram killed in detention -Amnesty International

 

About 1000 suspected Boko Haram detainees died in detention in military camps in the first half of 2013 alone, London-based rights organization, Amnesty International, said Tuesday. 

Some of the dead were beaten and shot without getting medical attention while others die due to harsh detention conditions such as over-crowded jails and starvation.

‘The pillar of my life is gone’ - Beni Lar

Honourable Beni Lar has described the death of her father, Chief Solomon Lar, as a great loss.

Beni, a daughter of the pioneer chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja on Wednesday said  that “the pillar of my life is gone”.

Beni, who is the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Human Rights, said that she shared a lot of memorable moments with the late Lar, who was the first executive governor of Plateau.

“My father taught me that there is no difference between a male and a female (child). He taught me to be hard-working; so, I trained as a lawyer just like him.

APC membership registration begins November

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it would begin the registration of its members nationwide “tentatively” in November.  

The Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known during an interview in Abuja.

“We have to plan the logistics, if you do not plan well you are not going to achieve anything. So, what we are doing now, we are at the level of planning because the exercise will take place all over Nigeria,” he said.

‘Nigerian elite spend N250b on medical treatments abroad’

The organising committee of the Nigerian Centenary Charity Ball has said the Nigerian elite, both in public and private sectors spent about N250 billion annually on medical treatments abroad. 

You can’t amend the constitution - David-West to Jonathan, NASS

A former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, has faulted plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to send recommendations of the proposed national conference to the National Assembly, saying they lack the power to amend the constitution.

David-West, who spoke in Ibadan on Wednesday, said both the President and the lawmakers seem not to understand the constitution they are using for governance.

Desist from dictatorial acts, progressive govs warn FG

 

Governors on the platform of the All Progressive Congress have asked the Federal Government to desist from dictatorial acts capable of adding more pains to the suffering of Nigerians.

The governors, under the aegis of The Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, said that Nigerians had already borne a lot of pains and agony arising from government failure to meet their basic needs despite being asked to be patient and make sacrifices over the years.

Lagos-Ibadan expressway failed section rehabilitation through in 2 weeks – FG

The Federal Government has promised to complete, within two weeks, the ongoing rehabilitation of failed sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that cause heavy traffic on the ever busy dual carriageway.

 

Commuters and motorists plying the expressway complain of spending long hours while driving through some sections of the road in recent times.

39-year old man arrested by NDLEA for importing 7.45kg of cocaine

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 39-year-old man, who imported 7.45kg of cocaine valued N82 million.

Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, the agency’s spokesman, who made this known in a statement to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, said that the suspect was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

Mark, Tambuwal, two deputies snub multibillion naira govt homes

Mark

Tambuwal

The four top leaders of the National Assembly have snubbed a set of government-provided homes that have already gulped more than a billion naira in construction, asking instead for new houses at a more secure location.

Boko Haram has no religion, ethnicity link - Jonathan

Former CAN President, Cardinal John Onayekan; President Goodluck Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Acting Chief Imam of Central Mosque, Ibrahim Bakare during the sallah Homage to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa in Abuja Tuesday

President Goodluck Jonathan has said the the terrorist killings in the country has no religious or ethnic link.

He spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who led the Muslim community to pay Sallah homage on him after the Eid-El-Kabir morning prayers.

Kidnapped Deputy Gov’s father regains freedom

Cross River Police Command, Monday, announced the release of Etubom Essien Cobham, father of the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, who was abducted by unknown gunmen last Friday.

New PDP to FCT Minister: Seal Aso Villa, Akwa Ibom Lodge now

 

The Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has demanded the immediate sealing of the Presidential Villa, Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge, Legacy House (PDP Secretariat Annex) and other venues where political meetings allegedly holds, if the action of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, on the Adamawa Governor’s Lodge, was to be justified.

ASUU strike: Market women protest at National Assembly

Protesting traders, under the aegis of National Market Women Association, Monday, stormed the National Assembly, demanding that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, call off its more than three months old strike.

The protesters, who had been at the Ministry of Education and Office of the Head of Service, arrived the Assembly complex at 11.30a.m.

Christian pilgrimage: President Jonathan to lead 30,000 Nigerian to Israel

President Goodluck Jonathan will lead 30,000 Nigerian Christians on this year’s pilgrimage to Israel.

It is not clear when Mr. Jonathan would depart the country for the spiritual exercise, but the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) says pilgrims would begin leaving for the holy sites this October.

Lagos air crash: Human error caused mishap – AIB

More facts emerged on Friday on how the Associated Aviation Limited Embraer 120 aircraft carrying 20 passengers and the remains of late former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu crashed near the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, last Thursday.

Investigations by the Accident Investigation Bureau said human error might have caused the crash.

But the bureau said it has not concluded investigations on the crash.

Federal allocations: FG, states, LGs share N1.19tr for August, Sept

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Friday approved and disbursed a whooping N1.196 trillion to the three tiers of government for the months of August and September.

Timing of the national dialogue is wrong -,Atiku

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has said his "worry is about the timing of the national dialogue, it’s too close to electioneering and I’m wondering whether we have the capacity to manage very sensitive issues."

He however said he has no objection to the proposed national dialogue and will “consider’’ attending if invited.

“Electioneering in Nigeria can be a very sensitive and controversial issue and in addition to that you now have a national dialogue, otherwise I do not have any serious objection to it,’’ he said.

New oil discoveries: Ghana to invest $20bn in 5 years

 

Ghanaian government says it will invest about 20 billion dollars to develop new oil discoveries in the next five years.

Ghana’s online newspaper, the Daily Graphics, quoted Emmanuel Kofi-Buah, the Energy Minister, as saying while speaking at the inauguration of a Ghanaian oil and gas publication, `The Oil and Gas Year’.

FIFA confident Brazil can ensure World Cup security

Football’s world governing body FIFA is confident Brazil can ensure security during next year’s World Cup, its secretary general said Thursday.

“There is no additional demand on the part of FIFA” in terms of security, Jerome Valcke told a Rio press conference.

In the wake of massive street protests in June as Brazil hosted the Confederations Cup, Valcke said authorities “reacted well and gave us all, teams, trade partners, confidence in their capacity to control these situations”.

ASUU strike: Lecturers to continue strike as FG stops salaries

 

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is “unshaken” by the Federal Government’s recent ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy on the striking lecturers.

.

FG’s decision to stop paying the lecturers’ salaries was confirmed by the university lecturers after their Thursday meeting.

Lagos to close down Badagry expressway for 5 hours on Sunday

The Lagos State Government has announced it would close down the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Sunday between 7 a.m. and 12 noon.

Oando to boost power supply in Lagos with IPP

THE multi-billion naira Alausa Independent Power Project (Alausa IPP) will be inaugurated on Thursday to boost electricity supply at the Lagos State Secretariat in Ikeja.

The secretariat houses Governor babatunde Fashola, his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the House of Assembly, ministries and , departments and agencies (MDAs).

The Alausa IPP is a joint venture between Oando Gas and Power and the state government. It was built for N3.2 billion.

Lar’s death depletes Nigeria’s Second Republic Governors

The death of Solomon Daushep Lar on Wednesday has depleted the number of former state governors who held sway in the defunct Second Republic, terminated by the Muhammadu Buhari-led military coup of December 31, 1983.

21 feared dead in fresh Plateau attack

About 21 people have been feared killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani cattle rustlers in Kukek village of Foron district of Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.

It was gathered  that some suspected Fulani gunmen in their numbers invaded the village in the night to rustle cows.

They were said to have successfully rustled about 60 cows and killed 8 members of a family.

Lar will get a befitting burial – Tukur assures

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Thursday said the party would ensure a befitting burial for the late Chief Solomon Lar, its pioneer national chairman.

Tukur, who said this in Abuja when he briefed journalists, said the party would greatly miss Lar who was “a light in the political firmament.’’

Unemployment rate in Nigeria worsened under Jonathan – Govt. report

 

The rate of unemployment among Nigerians worsened after President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office, a latest report by the federal government has indicated.

The report, the 2011 Performance Monitoring Report on Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies, was announced by the National Planning Commission on Thursday in Abuja.

The report indicated that the unemployment rate in Nigeria in 2010 was 21.1 per cent, a figure that increased to 23.9 per cent in 2011.

Profile of Chief Solomon Lar

 

 Chief (Dr.) Solomon Daushep Lar (born April 1933) is a Nigerian politician who has held various offices at the National level for over 50 years. He was a member of the first national parliament when Nigeria gained independence in 1960. 


He was elected governor of Plateau State on the Nigerian People’s Party(NPP) platform during the Nigerian Second Republic, holding office from October 1979 until the Military coup of 31 December 1983 that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power. Later, he was founding Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which has held power since the return to democracy in 1999.

Solomon Lar dies at 80

Solomon Daushep Lar, the first civilian governor of Plateau State is dead at the age of 80 in a U.S. hospital, after a protracted illness. The Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, announced his death on Wednesday in Jos.

“He died at about 3.00 a.m. American time (about 9.00 a.m. Nigerian time),” the governor told reporters on Wednesday evening.

He was the first chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Fuel subsidy fraud: Court orders arrest of two oil marketers

An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday issued a bench warrant on two oil marketers, Opeyemi Ajuyah and Olarenwaju Olalusi, for failing to attend their trial without cogent reasons.

The warrant for the arrest was issued by Justice Lateefat Okunnu against the two marketers, who were standing trial over alleged N1.1 billion fuel subsidy fraud.

The duo are standing trial alongside Abdullahi Alao, son of a prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao.

The marketers and their companies; Majope Investment Ltd. and Axenergy Ltd, were charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They are facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, uttering and use of false documents.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, only Mr. Alao appeared before the court when the matter was called, while Mr. Olalusi was represented by his counsel, C.Z. Katung.

The EFCC counsel, Olubunmi Bosede, told the court that the defendants had not sent any notice to the prosecution regarding their absence.

Ms. Bosede, therefore, prayed the court to issue a bench warrant on the two marketers.

In a short ruling, Okunnu dismissed Mr. Katung’s objection that his client was not aware of the proceedings.

The judge consequently issued the bench warrant on them before adjourning the matter toOctober 9 for further hearing.

(NAN)

Tambuwal: I’m not under pressure to resign

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal Tuesday  debunked rumours that  he is  under  pressure to resign.

Bow your head in shame: Aviation minister to Fani-Kayode

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah , on Tuesday berated a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Fani-Kayode, on his utterances on the sector, asking him to bow his head in shame.

Lagos air crash: Expect report next year – AIPB

The Commissioner of Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB), Capt. Usman Muktar, disclosed on Monday that the report of ongoing investigation into the cause of last Thursday’s air crash in Lagos may be ready next year.

Muktar said the length of time for the release of the accident report is dependent on variety of factors, which include the circumstances surrounding the crash.

PDP crisis: Presidency, nPDP G-7 governors shift talks

 

Towards resolving the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Presidency and the aggrieved governors on Monday postponed the meeting till after the Muslim hajj and Christian pilgrimages.

Journalists were however not allowed near the First Lady Conference room venue of the meeting.

Among the aggrieved governors that attended the meeting were the Niger State’s Babangida Aliyu, Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Rabiu Kwankwaso ( Kano).

National conference: We’re not afraid of Nigeria’s break-up – Northern elders

 ...National Assembly backs Jonathan

The Northern Elders Forum  has said the North is not afraid of the break-up of Nigeria  if its citizens vote for it at the end of any conference.

Confusion in Akure over plane crash

Akure, the Ondo State capital, was thrown into confusion, Thursday, as news of the crash of the plane conveying the corpse of a former governor of the state, Olusegun Agagu, filtered into town.