Author: Saint Augustine

The All Progressives Congress, (APC), South-East geopolitical zone, has described as,”blatant falsehood” the alleged plan by Federal Government to transfer Boko Haram prisoners’ to Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. This is coming on the heels of protests by angry youth, yesterday, in markets in Anambra State over the alleged plan. But in a swift reaction, the Spokesperson of APC, South-East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu in a statement said,” we wish to state categorically that the rumour making the rounds that Boko Haram detainees will be transferred to Anambra State or any other state for that matter…

Five people were killed and 16 injured when two female suicide bombers attacked a hospital in Maiguguri, Borno, on Saturday. The two suicide bombers were among the dead. The two women tried to get into a hospital but were stopped by security guards at the gate and blew themselves up, witnesses said. “We evacuated the charred bodies of the two security guards, another civilian and the two bombers,” said Auwal Mohammed, a member of the community in Molai, where the hospital is situated. Muhammadu Buhari, the new president of Africa’s most populous nation and biggest economy, made Maiduguri the command centre…

The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Sunday said it had arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly impregnating a minor. The State Commandant of the corps, Mr. Muhammad Gidado, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspect, a resident of Kanti Quarters in Katoge village, was arrested in Kazaure Local Government Area. ” The Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 32-year-old man for raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl in Kazaure Local Government Area,” Gidado said. He said that the matter was reported by…

The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has called on National Assembly to be decisive in reforming the Electoral Act and reviewing the Constitution. Jega made the call at a Dinner organised for him by the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and some civil society organisations in Abuja on Friday night. “Electoral reform has just began, a lot more efforts needs to be done. The Justice Muhammed Uwais panel has a lot of good recommendations which are yet to be taken on board and implemented. “I think between now and 2019, there is sufficient…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has assured the Nigerian trading public that the basis for calculating duty payment in Nigeria remained the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF). Speaking at a Public forum in Lagos, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Anthony Ayalogu pointed out that the CIF which had been the basis of calculating duty in the country was still in force and had not changed advising that people should not misconstrue the implementation to mean a change in the terms of trade. Also reacting to a question on whether or not the implementation of the ECOWAS CET would lead…

A member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Mr. Felix Kwakye has said that the import Adjustment Tax (IAT) currently provided for in the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) was not an opportunity for member countries to do whatever they like. Kwakye who was fielding questions from the participants at a forum in Lagos however stated that the IAT was fashioned to help most of the countries that would have to make economic adjustments over a 5 year period so that by 2020, as agreed by ECOWAS member countries, all of them would have to embrace…

The Managing Director, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu has said that the proposed N5, 000 payments to the poorest Nigerians promised by President Muhammadu Buhari during his electioneering campaign is a difficult but not an impossible task. Chukwu who made this known in an interview with Primetime Reporters in Lagos stated that the president could define the criteria as well as use that to select those to benefit from that social safety net even as he wondered whether or not the criteria to be selected by the President would be fair. He reiterated that if President Buhari should…

The Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has come out to give reasons as to why the President is yet to make appointments after over a month in office. Speaking after an exclusive chat with President Buhari, Shehu revealed that the president had not made any appointments for several reasons. He availed that President Buhari was focused on the campaign against terror and corruption and would not be making any appointments until both issues had been satisfactorily tackled. His words: “It is about security. That is his number one campaign agenda and he…

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has explained to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun that his letter on the position of the party with regard to the election of Principal Officers of the Senate was belated, just as he admitted that his hands were tied. In a reply to Oyegun’s letter, Senate President Saraki noted that the party’s letter came after the APC Zonal Caucuses had taken their decision to nominate candidates as Principal Officers in the Senate. In the letter dated 25/6/15 with reference number NASS/ 8/SP/ APC/01/6/15 and obtained…

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Aihaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero has directed that immediate temporary rehabilitation works should commence on the deplorable road network linking Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports. The Managing Director gave this directive when receiving the members of Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) who paid him a courtesy visit recently at the Nigerian Port Authority’s Corporate Headquarters, Marina, Lagos. Aihaji Sanusi Lamido who was reacting to updates made by the General Manager, Western Port, Chief M.K Ajayi on the adverse effect of the road on the economic activities at the Ports in Lagos directed…