The Editorials

A mysterious fish has allegedly swallowed N52 million meant for the South East Entrepreneurship Development Center (SEEDC) contract job and renovation of Women Development Center in Abia state. ....

Oredola Adeola  The on-going peace efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari, to promote and improve cohesion within the All Progressives Congress (APC), through the establishment of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu's APC reconciliation committee, has suffered a set back , as a splinter group has emerged out of the Lagos State chapter of the party. The group with the name: “Broom United Movement (BUM) emerged with the aim of challenging the party’s leadership in the state. The group accused the state leaders of engaging in “illegalities, manipulation and marginalisation” against party members. According to Hon. Fouad Oki, APC State Vice chairman of the Lagos Central Senatorial District Chapter, who is also the leader of the group, APC as a ruling party in Nigeria is heading towards a deep crisis ahead of 2019  general election, except if genuine reconciliation is allowed to take place. “Our party suffers from low organisational capacity and lack of internal democracy. The resultant ef

The Federal Government has disclosed that the Air Force has deployed 100 fighter jets to join in the search for the 110 schoolgirls abducted on Monday February 19, 2018, in Dapchi community, Yobe State. This was disclosed by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, Culture and National Orientation. The Minister disclosed that based on fact sheet with the government twenty of the jets have flown 200 hours as at Monday evening. He added that the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar relocated to Yobe State on Tuesday, to personally superintend the search for the girls.” He confirmed the released of names and details of the abducted Dapchi school girls. Contained in the list revelation that  eight(8) of the girls are in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3, ranging within the ages of 11 to 19years. Alh.Mohammed said, “The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member Scr

Oredola Adeola The Lagos State Government has exempted Lagosians (senior citizens) aged 70 years and above- who live in their own houses, properties owned by religious and not-for-profit organizations from paying Land Use Charge. This was disclosed by Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, the state’s Commissioner for Finance, as he expressed determination of the state government to correct inefficiencies associated with old Land Use Charge Act. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode pays his Land Use Charge at GTB, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos State, last Monday The Commissioner further asserted that the State Government has begun the implementation of the law, thus, sending out demand notices for properties across the state. Recall that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, assented to the new law on February 8, after it was reviewed by the State House of Assembly, when the government spotted grey areas in the old Land Use Charge Act. Ashade said, “To make matters worse, the Land Use Charge rates had over time gradua

Oredola Adeola Following Tuesday attack carried out by Fulani herdsmen on Gwamba village, under Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, the Nigerian Army through Brigadier General Texas Chukwu Director Army Public Relations, has confirmed that troops of 101 special Forces Battalion on Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) has arrested 6 and killed 10 herdsmen who carried out the attack. In a statement obtained by this newspaper through the  Director of Army Public Relation, it was revealed that the troops who were immediately deployed to Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State swiftly responded to distress call and supported troops at Gwamba village under attack by herdsmen. Brig.Gen Chukwu further affirmed that  despite swift reaction to rescue the village from destruction, the notorious herdsmen set the village ablaze before troops arrival, adding that the troops later trailed the herdsmen and arrested 6 of them at Garigiji village while trying to escape. He

President Muhammadu Buhari has issued a statement to congratulate ace cinematographer, renowned movie producer and filmmaker Tunde Kelani, on his 70th birthday. The President in a statement released to the press by Mr. Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser to the on Media & Publicity, also felicitates with family members, friends, professional colleagues and the teeming fans of the veteran Nollywood artiste. The President observed that the artiste who began his creative industry career as a journalist, has become a master in the art of storytelling through the stage and tube, and now one of Nigeria’s foremost directors and producers in the movie industry. President Buhari however lauded the artiste for his uncanny story telling skills, and ability to breathe life into scripts and translate literature into movies. He also praised his efforts which has enhanced global understanding of the rich cultural heritage of the country and consistently updating the narrative of a un

Oredola Adeola Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in Northeast Nigeria have been under intense attack since May, 2013, by Boko Haram, the Islamic militants. This unfortunate crisis perpetrated by the deadly militant group has taken different shapes between 2013 and 2018, and leaving many questions unanswered, based on the coordination of attacks amidst Federal Government’s claim of victory. Of particular emphasis for the sake of this article is the abduction of innocent school girls who are often used by the Abubakar Shekau- led terrorists group to negotiate for the release of members of the group in custody of the government. Behind this dangerous operation is a sequence of activities that often precedes invasion by the Islamic militants. Also worrying are illogical statements and actions often taken by relevant authorities after the regrettable damages may have been perpetrated on unsuspecting masses. Records and investigations of activities that occurred pre and post

A truckloads of armed soldiers and policemen have set up security checkpoints at the entrance and exit of Blantyre Street, where the All Progressives Congress ( APC) National Secretariat in preparation for the National Executive Committee meeting of the party. President Muhammadu Buhari , Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the 24 governors on the APC platform are expected to attend the meeting which is scheduled to begin at 11:00 am.

Oredola Adeola Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has signed the 2018 Appropriation Bill of the State into law with a total budget size of N1,046,121,181,680.00. Recall that the Lagos State House of Assembly on Jan. 30 passed the state’s Appropriation Bill into law. The total budget size comprises of N347, 038, 938, 872.00 to be funded from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and N699, 082, 242,808.00 from the Development Fund for both capital and recurrent expenditure for the year ending 31st December, 2018. The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, who briefed newsmen on Monday tagged it “Budget of Development and Progress” The Finance Commissioner highlights the projection for revenue (IGR) at N897billion, adding that the remaining part of the budget would be funded by deficit financing. ”For the first time, the bill has about N1.046trillion as total amount that we would spend in 2018. “The Budget is tagged “Budget of Progress and Development” and in terms

Oredola Adeola After days of denying allegation made by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, Yobe state governor, that the Boko Haram attacks in Dapchi and Buni-Yadi years back were aided by military withdrawal of troops from those locations, the Nigerian army has admitted that the authority withdrew the troops from the community before girls’ abduction. The Nigerian Army through the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, the military’s anti-insurgency command in the North-East, on Monday, admitted that troops were redeployed from the Dapchi area before the abduction of the schoolgirls, affirming that it handed over the security of the area to the Nigeria Police Division. The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations and the Theatre Command’s spokesperson, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the military should not be blamed for the abduction of the schoolgirls as the troops handed over a “peaceful and calm situation” to the police. Nwachukwu said the troops were redeployed in Kanama, on the Ni

Oredola Adeola The Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has moved Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye from the Diocese of Osun North East to Diocese of Lagos. The decision was made at its recent Episcopal Synod held at the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas, Ilorin, Kwara State. The election and translation of the Bishops and Archbishops to their new offices was announced by Rt Rev. Dr S. Ayodeji Fagbemi, General Secretary (C.O.N). The new offices of the Bishops and Archbishops are as follows, the Rt Rev Dr Samuel Ezeofor for the diocese of Aguata (on translation from Ogbaru), Rt Rev Akintunde Popoola for Ibadan South diocese (on translation from Offa); Revd Canon Victor Agberam for the diocese of Northern Izon; Very Revd Stephen Oni for the diocese of Ondo; Ven Dr Cornelius Adagbada for Oke-Ogun diocese; Ven. Dr Paul Olarewaju Ojo was elected for Ijumu diocese. Meanwhile two Archbishops were elected at the Synod , they include, the Rt Rev. Godwin Okpala of (Nnewi) for the Province