Author: Saint Augustine

Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015 I am immensely grateful to God who has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan Friday left the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja for his home town Otuoke in Bayelsa State. He took off on Nigerian Air Force Aircraft, flight 5N-FGW at about 12.03 pm. He left in company of his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, his Aide-De- Camp (ADC) Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, his escort and some of security personnel. Some of those who bade him farewell at the Presidential wing of the airport are some members of his cabinet. They were led by the former Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo, Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke, the Aviation Minister, Osita…

The new Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike has announced the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha as the Chief Judge of the state. Wike made the appointment after being sworn-in by the Chief Judge of Bayelsa state, Justice Kate. Wike also directed that all the state owned courts which has been under lock be opened with immediate effect. The Governor of Rivers state further announced the reinstatement of some Lecturers of the Rivers state University of Science and Technology who were relieved by the Amaechi-led administration. Details later…

President Buhari seems to have taken a first shot on his intolerance to corruption when he avowed during his inauguration speech that he is for all Nigerians and not for any particular person or group of persons. He said” I belong to everybody, I belong to no body” President Buhari who commended outgone President, Goodluck Jonathan for his support during the transition programme said he has set a precedent for others to follow. He also commended the former president for conceding defeat during the general elections. Buhari vowed to restructure the local government system in the country in order to…

Chief Val Usifoh is the Chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN); a position he has occupied since 1999, he has been in the shipping corridor since 1963 during when he has worked with many Shipping lines including the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL). In this interview, he clarifies the ambiguity behind container deposit fund which many agents have severally accused the shipping lines of not refunding as well as essence of the shipping association of Nigeria and the experience of the members of the association during the economic down-turn in the country. Excerpt; Can you tell us the activities…

With the dwindling crude oil prices, Nigeria is focusing attention in the maritime sector, which also has vast resources to keep the economy going. No doubt, Nigeria has a large coastline of maritime activities including oil and gas. But over the years, the sector has been underutilized in both human and material resources. In the face of these challenges one institution has been consistently focus on the training and retraining of qualified manpower and personnel for the sector. The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, the nation’s only International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognized institution has been the…

The agricultural reform of the Chief Willie Obiano’s administration is likely to take the State to the Top –Three position in the country, as the government has attracted about USD 745 million to the State through its proposed mechanized agriculture, one of the government’s Four Pillars of Development, even with anticipation of more investment to make the State self-sufficient and develop a large market for abundant harvest. Throwing more light on the State government’s new drive towards becoming food basket in Nigeria, during the flag-off ceremony to mark the 2015 Farming Season at Otuocha on May 27, this year, Governor…

On the heels of the one year anniversary of his administration and the need to reflect greater diversity and build a broad-based cabinet in furtherance of the policy of inclusive governance and quality representation across the state, the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano, recently strengthened his cabinet with the appointment of five new Commissioners. The five Commissioners who were sworn-in at a brief ceremony held at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia include: Hon Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Barrister Mrs. Mary Imelda Obinuju Nwogu; Hon Commissioner for Finance, Sir Okey Moka; Hon Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development,…

As the dust raised by the said letter written from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to one Mr. Uchu Block of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) ordering the stoppage of the collection of the Practitioners’ Operating Fee of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) is yet to settle, another faction of NCMDLCA has petitioned the Registrar of CRFFN, Sir Mike Jukwe urging him to take proactive steps towards protecting its registered members. In a letter titled,” Re: The Dissolved Board of Council…

The inspirational and result-oriented leadership of the Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA and Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, which has seen the party evolve and grow in leaps and bounds with resounding victories by its candidates in the recent general elections both in Anambra and some parts of Nigeria, manifested at the conduct of a transparent and peaceful State Congress of the party recently at the Women Development Centre Awka. The Congress which started May 16th at the Ward level across the State and the Local Government Areas two days later…