Category: News - Page 456 - African News Today

Nigeria: N211 million Worth of Gold Seized at the Airport by the EFCC

14Nov

By adminNo Comments

Economy, News, Nigeria, Security

Nigeria: N211 million Worth of Gold Seized at the Airport by the EFCC

Gold worth about N211 million was prevented from being transported out of the country illegally by the EFCC at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State. Commenting on the issue, the acting head of EFCC's Media and Publicity, Mr Tony Orilade, said "following intelligence reports, the operatives on November 9, 2018, uncovered the gold weighing about 35kg just at the point of departure of a suspect currently in the EFCC’s custody." According to him, the gold was heading to Dubai when it was intercepted. He noted that the suspect was providing the agency with useful information that will help it get to the bottom of the syndicate behind the operation. He further added "It will be recalled that the EFCC also in March 2017, intercepted bags containing a total of N49 milli...

Nigeria: Wike Sees Key Appointments As Panacea For Niger Delta’s Unease

14Nov

By Akanimo SampsonNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Nigeria: Wike Sees Key Appointments As Panacea For Niger Delta’s Unease

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, one of the big oil and gas states in Southern Nigeria controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is currently pressing for a new approach at taming the frequent unease in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s honey comb. For the governor who is locked in a reelection battle with the All Progressives Congress (APC) galvanized by former governor and Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, transnational corporations operating in the oil and gas region, should as a matter of policy, encourage their host communities with key appointments. Wike who was speaking in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when the Management of Nigerian Bottling Company called on him, said local content participation was key to harmony and sustained development. There has be...

Nigeria: Warring Executive, Legislature Close Ranks To Combat Natural Resources Theft In Nigeria

13Nov

By Akanimo SampsonNo Comments

Economy, News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Warring Executive, Legislature Close Ranks To Combat Natural Resources Theft In Nigeria

Despite the festering cold war between the Executive and the Legislative arms of the Nigerian government, the two organs of governance appear to be finding a common ground to rally together once more. The menace of piracy and theft of natural resources in the country’s territorial waters is bringing them together. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city on Tuesday that the bicameral National Assembly will collaborate with the Executive to make new laws and strengthen existing ones in order to smash incidences of piracy and theft of natural resources in Nigeria’s territorial waters. Dogara, a stalwart of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made this cherry deal public while speaking to a delegation from the Nigerian Ma...

Nigeria: Use Of Security Forces For Partisan Politics Worries Opposition

13Nov

By Akanimo SampsonNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Nigeria: Use Of Security Forces For Partisan Politics Worries Opposition

The frequent deployment of armed security forces in Nigeria for partisan political activities is becoming a major source of worry for the opposition ahead of the 2019 general elections billed for this coming February. Already, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a leading opposition party in the country, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a ruling party, to perish the on-going plot to use the police as a tool to intimidate voters and rig the Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin Federal Constituency by-election, in Kwara State, scheduled for Saturday. This is coming as officials of the Akwa Ibom State Government are alleging that the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) is meddling in the affairs of the state. Since the defection of t...

Breaking News: Suspended NHIS Executive Secretary Escorted into the Premises by Tear Gas Firing Policemen

22Oct

By adminNo Comments

Breaking News, Corruption, News, Nigeria

Breaking News: Suspended NHIS Executive Secretary Escorted into the Premises by Tear Gas Firing Policemen

Professor Usman Yusuf, the Executive Secretary for the National Health Insurance Scheme who was recently suspended was this morning escorted into the premises of the NHIS by almost 50 Policemen. Staff of the scheme who attempted to prevent his entry were dispersed by the tear gas the policemen fired at them. The suspended Executive Secretary claims that the governing board that suspended him had no powers to do so. According to him, only the President could give such an order regarding his appointment.

Breaking News: Atiku Picks Peter Obi as Running Mate

12Oct

By adminNo Comments

Breaking News, News, Nigeria

Breaking News: Atiku Picks Peter Obi as Running Mate

The Presidential candidate for the People's Democratic Party, Abubakar Atiku has picked former governor of Anambra State, Dr Peter Obi as his running mate. This puts to an end speculations among Nigerians regarding who will fill this position. Peter Obi emerged the preferred candidate after extensive consultations between the party and the candidate. He has also been in the news a lot as many supporters of Atiku have been nominating him alongside Akinwunmi Adesina and Okonjo Iweala. Of this three, Peter Obi has governance experience and is also a card carrying member of the PDP. His selection appears to be a master stroke that will bring the votes of the South East behind Atiku.

Nigeria: They Will Lose Together – Presidency Speaking on OBJ’s Endorsement of Atiku

11Oct

By admin1 Comment

News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Nigeria: They Will Lose Together – Presidency Speaking on OBJ’s Endorsement of Atiku

The presidency has said that it is not bothered by former President Obasanjo's endorsement of PDP's presidential flag bearer, Abubakar Atiku. According to a statement by Shehu Garba, he said "they will lose together. The full text of the response by Shehu Garba to the endorsement is published below: "OBASANJO’S ENDORSEMENT OF ATIKU WILL NOT DISTRACT PRESIDENT BUHARI "The Presidency has received the news of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s predictable U-turn and somersault on the endorsement of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at a meeting Thursday, and to say that we are the least surprised by the well-rehearsed theatre. "They will lose together. Listening to the prepared statement of the former President after the meeting showed the usual ego trip and “I know it all” c...

Opinion: Portrait of the Tiger Ambode Rode by Yinka Odumakin

11Oct

By adminNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Opinion: Portrait of the Tiger Ambode Rode by Yinka Odumakin

LOUIS XIV was King of France for 72 years and 110 days and became the most powerful French monarch who consolidated a system of absolute monarchical rule that endured until the French Revolution. At the peak of his maniac, he said: “L’Etat c’est moi”(I am the state). I am not aware Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is given to so much reading to have come across Louis’ declaration but I once heard him making the same declaration as he got up from his seat and said “Eko fe lo sun”(Lagos wants to sleep). The embodiment of the current pathetic Lagos by the man who rode to power in 1999 largely on account of his association with NADECO abroad is an interesting study for some of us who are eyewitnesses to recent history. It’s all coming back to me now from 1998 in a rush. Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi and I h...

Opinion: 2019 – The Only Option Available to Buhari is Rigging by Reuben Abati

10Oct

By adminNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Opinion: 2019 – The Only Option Available to Buhari is Rigging by Reuben Abati

There has been some clarity about Nigeria’s 2019 Presidential election, with the end of the October 7 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of party primaries at all levels. On Saturday, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at its convention held in Abuja, ratified the choice of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as its flagbearer, with a curious vote tally of 14. 8 million. President Buhari and his supporters have continuously left no one in doubt that they intend to have a second shot at power and office. The number of party members across Nigeria who endorsed the Buhari candidacy has however raised eyebrows. 14. 8 million! In the 2015 elections, that was a little less than the same number of total votes that the incumbent got in ...

Opinion: PDP/Atiku Need SS/SE to Win, We Demand Regional Autonomy for Our Support

9Oct

By adminNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Opinion: PDP/Atiku Need SS/SE to Win, We Demand Regional Autonomy for Our Support

A Facebook user Baron Roy has opined his view that PDP and Atiku need the South-South and South-East to stand a chance of winning the 2019 elections. His position is that this is an opportunity to place specific demands to offer them this support. He has called on Nigerians from this regions not to throw their support at PDP/Atiku but to use this as a bargaining chip. His position is stated clearly in his post published below: "Don't get it twisted "Let us assume votes would count and INEC would do the right thing by some inexplicable miracle... "The Northern Gambit Despite all, Buhari and his APC would still take at least 65% of the votes in the 12 states of the core North. In the Middle Belt, APC/Buhari and PDP/Atiku shall go head to head. If those are the only regions wh...