Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts
Corruption, Crime, Economy, Education, Finance, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

Case pending before two courts, letter has not reached me – Nwaoboshi The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hit back at the Nigerian Senate, asking Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger-Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to refund N2.5n for contracts his companies failed to deliver. The commission failed to mention the names of the concerned firms in the letter written to the lawmaker. The commission gave Nwaoboshi a two weeks ultimatum to refund the funds to its account. NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Okoro, dated July 5 asked Nwaoboshi to return to its coffers fund earmarked for the supply of plastic chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017. The letter read, “Instead of supplying the cha...
Edo 2020: Shaibu Claims Oshiomhole Paid Deputy Speaker N40m to Support APC
Corruption, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Edo 2020: Shaibu Claims Oshiomhole Paid Deputy Speaker N40m to Support APC

Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor of Edo State has alleged that deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye was paid N40m by the erstwhile National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive (APC), Adams Oshiomhole to support APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Shaibu while addressing supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lampese, Akoko-Edo local Government Areas, accused Idiaye who represents Akoko-Edo constituency (I), and the member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency (II), Emmanuel Agbaje, of been paid N40m each to sway their support for Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate, Ize-Iyamu. On Sunday, the deputy speaker and Agbaje announced their support for Ize-Iyamu. The 24 members of the state House of Assembly are of the APC. Shaibu urged the electorates of...
Africa, World Risk ‘Generational Catastrophe’ on Education, UN cautions
Africa, African Development, Covid-19, Economy, Education, Employment, Finance, Interview, Life, News, Press Statement, Safety, Science, United Nations, Youths

Africa, World Risk ‘Generational Catastrophe’ on Education, UN cautions

The United Nations (UN) cautions that Africa and the rest of the world could witness a “generational catastrophe” due to the closure of schools around the world amid the COVID-19 scare. This was disclosed by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a communique. Reports suggest as at mid-July, at least 160 countries had closed their schools keeping more than 1 billion students at home while at least 40 million children have missed out on pre-school. Guterres said ensuring the safe return of students to classroom must be a “top priority”. “Now we face a generational catastrophe that could waste untold human potential, undermine decades of progress, and exacerbate entrenched inequalities,” said Guterres as he launched a U.N. “Save our Future” campaign. He further stated that, “...
Oshiomhole Attributes Losing APC Chairmanship to Brawl With Bigwigs, Fires Shots at Obaseki
Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Oshiomhole Attributes Losing APC Chairmanship to Brawl With Bigwigs, Fires Shots at Obaseki

His woes were self-inflicted, governor retorts Adams Oshiomhole the ousted National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), has said he stepped on toes of party bigwigs, who in retaliation masterminded his removal. He disclosed this during an interview on Monday with Arise news channel, Morning Show. The immediate past Chairman of the APC said he does not regret his actions as the APC national chairman, adding that he would oppose same forces that orchestrated his removal if given a second chance. He was ousted on June 16 after verdict delivered by a Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of an Abuja High Court that validated his suspension by his ward in Edo State. Oshiomhole’s removal paved the way for leadership tussle in the APC thar witnessed the emergen...
Shoprite Commences Process to Shut down Operation in Nigeria
Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, South Africa

Shoprite Commences Process to Shut down Operation in Nigeria

South Africa’s grocery retail giant, ShopRite, plans to discontinue its operation in Nigeria. Shoprite first made its way to Nigerian market in Lagos in December 2005. On Monday morning, the firm said in a trading update filed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that it plans to stop operations in Nigeria. International supermarkets (excluding Nigeria) contributed 11.6 per cent to group sales and reported 1.4 per cent decline in sales from 2018. 78 percent of overall sales was contributed by South African operations and accounted for 8.7 percent increase for the year. The company said it had received offers from investors seeking to take over its Nigerian operations. It said it was deliberating a total sale of its operations or selling a majority stake to Nigerian subsidia...
APC Extends Olive Branch to Atiku, Saraki, Others after Dogara, Gemade’s Return
African Development, Economy, Employment, Finance, Interview, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Youths

APC Extends Olive Branch to Atiku, Saraki, Others after Dogara, Gemade’s Return

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has beckoned to aggrieved bigwigs who left the party to return to its fold in the spirit of reconciliation. The ruling party extended an invitation to heavyweights such as former vice president and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 election, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, former senate president Bukola Saraki and others who left the party ahead of the 2019 election till date. The party made the call after the return of Senator Barnabas Gemade of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the party at the weekend. Ealier, immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara decamped to the party after moving to PDP to contest 2019 election. APC said the return of the d...
PDP Seeks to Avert Defection of Ondo Deputy Governor to ZLP
African Development, Interview, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Youths

PDP Seeks to Avert Defection of Ondo Deputy Governor to ZLP

Pressure mounts on Jegede to adopt him as running mate for governorship poll   There is a cloud of uncertainty in Ondo State over reports that Agboola Ajayi, the state’s Deputy Governor has joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) to form a third force ahead of the October 10, 2020 governorship election. Posters that the deputy governor had dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to vie for the governorship position under the ZLP have been rife in the public and media landscape. However, Guardian reports the leadership of the PDP through the National Working Committee (NWC) have moved to avert Ajayi’s defection by attempting to impose him as the running mate of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede. Ondo State PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Mr...
Lagos State Government Shuts Down Eti-Osa COVID-19 Isolation Centre as COVID-19 cases reduce
African Development, Covid-19, Economy, Finance, Interview, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Science

Lagos State Government Shuts Down Eti-Osa COVID-19 Isolation Centre as COVID-19 cases reduce

The Lagos State Government has closed the Eti-Osa coronavirus patients’ isolation centre. This was announced by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the 17th update on the management of the coronavirus in the state. The governor while reporting progress in curbing the diseas said the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be shut down and patients relocated to a large capacity centre – Indo-Centre in Anthony area, which would soon commence operation. He said, “Over the last four, five months, we have built an excess capacity centre, but that is only the way to go, you cannot over-prepare. “We have got to a stage where we need to balance the economics of this and which of these facilities do we need to keep running. “Some of them now are having less than 20 per cent...
2023 Presidency: Mamma Daura Expressed his Personal Opinion- Presidency
African Development, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

2023 Presidency: Mamma Daura Expressed his Personal Opinion- Presidency

Garba Shehu, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity has said the comment credited to Mamman Daura, Buhari’s nephew does not represent the position of the President. Shehu disclosed this in a statement on Saturday titled “Malam Mamman’s views are his own, and he has said so -Presidency” Recall that Daura had in an interview with BBC Hausa Service monitored in Abuja said zoning should be jettisoned for the 2023 presidency, rather emphasis should be placed on competence. Reacting to the statement, Shehu said as stated by Daura, his view represents his personal opinion and not that of the President, Mahammadu Buhari or his regime.   The statement read, “We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman D...
Ethnic Groups in Taraba task Ishaku to Address Injustices
African Development, Corruption, Crime, Economy, Environment, Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Security, Youths

Ethnic Groups in Taraba task Ishaku to Address Injustices

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has been issued a 30-day ultimatum by four aggrieved ethnic groups in the state to address lingering injustices meted out to them by successive administrations. In a joint world press conference in Jalingo on Saturday, the ethnic groups comprising of the Minute, Fulani, Kuteb and Tiv claimed that successive administrations in the state have subjected them to injustices. Mr Obed Ameh, spokesperson of the group, disclosed that the injustices held sway in chieftancy matters and local government creation. Referencing the stool of Ukwe Takum which has been unoccupied since 1996 after the death of Alhaji Ali Ibrahim, Ameh said the delay in appointing a new Ukwe Takum was a calculated attempt to deny the Kuteb of the stool. He further lamented th...