The Editorials

Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate President and the Governor of Kwara state , Abdul Fatai Ahmed  have finally left All Progressive Congress (APC) for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  He made this known in a tweet on Tuesday via his tweeter handle. According to him, " I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC)."     The Senate President said, " This is not a decision that I have made lightly. If anything at all, I have tarried for so long and did all that was humanly possible, even in the face of great provocation, ridicule and flagrant persecution, to give opportunity for peace, reconciliation and harmonious existence. "Perhaps, more significantly, I am mindful of the fact that I carry on my shoulder a great responsibility for thousands of my supporters, political associates and friends, who have trusted in my leadership and have attached their political fortunes t

By Tope Fasua IKOGUSI The other day, Aare Afe Babalola wrote an article. It was about Ikogosi Warm Springs and the tourist resort that was built around it.  He was one of the investors and complained about how they are yet to get any dividends therefrom while the tourist centre is dead today. The Aare - a legal luminary - suggested that the Federal Government place particular emphasis on tourism, and that for a place like Ikogosi, there may need to be an expressway which leads directly to it from the airport, while police and soldiers dot the roads to provide security to those who may want to go and enjoy themselves there - especially those coming from abroad. He also suggested a dedicated power plant to supply the resort with 24 hours electricity. These all sound nice… and utopian. No self-respecting, normal tourist will want to navigate gun-toting police and military men just to get to a tourist resort.  Also most foreign tourists have little to spend and all

Oredola Adeola | Google has launched network of free Wi-Fi hotspots in Lagos, Nigeria, partnership with  21st Century Technologies Limited and Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), two Nigerian fiber cable network providers,  to provide public Wi-Fi service called Google Station to Nigerians, in six places in Lagos, including the city’s airport. The Google Station project was unveiled by Google's Vice-President for Product Management Anjali Joshi on Thursday at Google for Nigeria event which was also attended by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President.  Speaking about the new develop, Google’s VP disclosed that Nigeria is the fifth country to host the Google Station, after India, Indonesia, Mexico and Thailand. He added that the service is aimed at countries with rapidly expanding populations.  He said, “We are rolling out the service in Lagos, but the plan is to quickly expand to other locations. Google aimed to collaborate with internet service providers to reach millio

The Federal Government through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has disclosed that the validity period of the Nigerian international passport has been extended from five(5) to ten (10) years. The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammed Babandede, revealed this on Thursday during the inauguration of the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) POS Passport Fee Terminal at the Ikoyi Passport Office, Lagos. According to the CG of NIS, the 10 years duration would be for adults, while that of minors would remain five years. He added that the increase in the duration of passport has been endorsed by the National Assembly and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). He further stated that the 10 years’ extension would take effect from next year, adding that the current backlog of requests for passports waiting for issuance would still be five years. Speaking about the controversy over the scarcity of passport, which has lasted over two years, he note

After the drama and the blockade on the residences of Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Senator  Ekweremadu on Tuesday morning, by the security operatives, th e Senate President who later made his way into the National Assembly complex for Tuesday's plenary has read  letter confirming the defections of 15 APC Senator to PDP. They are :- Sen. Tejuoso Sen. Shaaba Sen. Gemade Sen. Melaye. Sen. Shittu Sen. Rafiu Sen. Shitu Ubali Sen. Isa Misau Sen. Hunkuyi Sen. Monsurat Sen. Danbaba Sen. Nafada Sen. Nazif Sen. Kwankwaso Send.Nyako  Senator Bukola Saraki has also informed the decampees that he is also pitching tent. Consequently, going by this figure , PDP now has 54 Senators , while APC has 44 Senators , APGA has 1 Senator, and ADC has 2 Senators , while 2 seats are vacant out of 109 Senators in the 8th Assembly.

After the drama that ensued between the security operatives and Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy Senator  Ekweremadu on Tuesday morning.  The Senate President who later made his way into the National Assembly complex for Tuesday's plenary has read  letter confirming the defections of 15 APC Senator defects from to PDP. Sen. Tejuoso Sen. Shaaba Sen. Gemade Sen. Melaye. Sen. Shittu Sen. Rafiu Sen. Shitu Ubali Sen. Isa Misau Sen. Hunkuyi Sen. Monsurat Sen. Danbaba Sen. Nafada Sen. Nazif Sen. Kwankwaso

Officers of the DSS and Nigerian Police have barricaded every routes, in and out of the Lake Chad residence of Senate President Bukola Saraki and residence of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja. It was reported that the officers stormed the locations as early as 6:58am on Tuesday morning to enforce the blockage.  Investigation shows that this measure was put in place by the authority to prevent the two Senate leaders from overseeing the proposed plan by the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) to decamp en masse from the ruling All Progressives Congress to another party. In another development the Senate President and his Deputy have reportedly outwitted the officers, get off his convoy, and has managed to find his way into National Assembly complex. He is presently in the complex to preside over the Tuesday's plenary. Recall that  Saraki, is expected to honour the invitation of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris billed for 8am on

The #EndSARS campaign which started on social media has gained momentum following the dismissal of four policemen attached to Special Anti Robbery Squad Ikeja, Lagos (SARS).  The disciplinary measure was disclosed to newsmen on Sunday by CSP Dolapo Badmos, Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command. The officers who were detained and later dismissed are Sgt Adeoye Adekunle, Sgt Adeniran Adebowale, Sgt Agbi Lucky and Sgt Odighe Hehosa. Recall that the #EndSARS campaigner have been using their platform to protest against the activities of the police unit which have been accused of extortion , harassment, robbery , intimidation and extra- judicial killings. There have also been public demonstrations for and against the continued existence of the dreaded anti-crime unit of the Nigeria Police Force. According CSP Badmos, the Assistant Inspector General in charge of zone 2 command, AIG Adamu Ibrahim has upheld the recommendation of police disciplinary body that recomme

Senator Ademola Adeleke has emerged as the Osun PDP Governorship candidate , defeating his closest rival, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi win only 10 votes, during the party's primary held in Osogbo, on Saturday. Sen.Adeleke polled 1569 votes Dr.Ogunbiyi polled 1562 votes Alh.Fatai Ajibade polled 56 votes Barrister Oke   polled 3 votes 3448 delegates accredited 3246 delegates voted Void votes 56

Oredola Adeola I feel it is right to help the government set the record straight, in respect of its recent Roadshow of the logo for the proposed National Carrier, in the United Kingdom. Despite the hue and cry about what is and what is not, in respect of  the proposed Nigeria Air, it is evident that the entire project is just a market test, and efforts are being made to bring this dream into reality. That’s fine …. My worry is in the media hype that the roadshow generated, unfortunately this is for a project that is still being nurtured. I learnt that the Imfrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has only given the Nigerian Government a certificate to launch the idea based on some conditions, while FG has offered to take 5% of the total sum for entire project, subject to finding investors that will put in the 95%. I don’t know of any investor, who would risk throwing money to a project that has not fully taken shape. It is worrisome also that this capital in

The Lagos government has vowed to commence removal of all trucks and trailers from Lagos road from Friday through Monday next week. This was confirmed by CP Imohimi Edgal, Lagos State State Commissioner of Police, while briefing newsmen after an emergency meeting on the chaos in Apapa axis as a result of the gridlock. According to him, the task tagged “Operation Sanity on Lagos roads” will be done by a joint operation involving security agencies and stakeholders in the maritime sector to remove all containerized trucks and tankers parked along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway commencing from tomorrow.  He further said that the decision to set up the operation became imperative owing to the need to restore sanity and prevent complete breakdown of law and order.  The CP however noted that the operation will be carried out by 1000 policemen, 500 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), 100 officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Dr.Kayode Fayemi, a candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the Governorship election held on Saturday, July 14, polling 197,459 votes against, candidate of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Professor Olushola Eleka's  178,121 votes. The official announcement was released and announced by INEC's Returning Officer, Idowu Olayinka in Ado Ekiti on Sunday. Speaking after he was declared winner, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in his acceptance speech said, "Four years ago, I was the first to come out and accepted defeat. "Restoration of Ekiti " Right from today you will notice, calm, civility, respects and decorum would be restored to this land. "We lost value in Ekiti and we have restored it. " This election is not about Ekiti people, it is about the people of Nigeria. "I may not have answers to all the problems of Ekiti , but I will work with my team to re

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, has deployed DIG operations, 18 ACP, thirty thousand (30,000) Police personnel, two (2) Patrol Surveillance Helicopters, five (5) additional Armoured Personnel Carriers, ten (10) Armoured Personnel Vehicles and two Hundred and Fifty (250) Police patrol vehicles are deployed throughout Ekiti State to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair Governorship election on Saturday. This was disclosed in a statement released by Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officer, force Headquarter. The IGP however directed that a robust and elaborate security arrangement be implemented in Ekiti State to ensure peaceful, credible, free and fair election. The statement said, “ The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations has been deployed to the State and will be assisted by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Four (4) Commissioners of Police, Eight (8) Deputy Commissioners of Police and Eighteen (18) Assista

By Lasisi Olagunju The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its elder brother, the PDP, were formed for ambition, power, fame and riches. You've heard chants of 'Power to the People' for how many years now? Politicians are the only ones who have grown in power. The 'people' have not left the park of hope.  They won't. Forget about Change or Progress or whatever else APC's slogan is. You are not likely to see any as promised. APC is a political party with very smart politicians. Smart politicians are conmen. That makes the APC a con party.  A conman builds his chest of gold by trick. He works hard to gain the trust of his mugu and persuades him to do business with him. Then he dispatches the dupe to the cold night of ejection. The smart APC appropriated the revolt of 2015 against the PDP and hopped to power. It evoked so high hopes. So much was promised, but so much has been denied. The crafty works hard and we saw it in the construction of the APC

By Ninyo Omidiji | Madam Oby Ezekwesili may have cut the picture of a mad woman, when she took a lone protest to Aso Rock to demand that the president steps up his game to stop the wanton killings taking place in some parts of the country. But, by that singular action this woman seems to me like the sanest person remaining on this side of the Sahara. Mass burial of victims of one of the violent clashes in Jos This country is a joke! The way we have gone numb to gruesome killings of the defenseless is amazing. It strikes me we are in the middle of an undeclared war but many are resting on their oars. To some, once the killings are not taking place in their backyards, so long they don't affect their kith and kin, they reduce everything to political arguments. We throw opinions around more than we take positions. The value of human lives is next nothing to an average Nigerian, in spite of their overt religiosity. We only pay lip service. We have become a bundle of

OREDOLA ADEOLA | The Lagos State Government has restricted movement and diverted traffic in some areas in Alausa Ikeja ahead of the visit of Emmanuel Macron, President of France, to Lagos State. It also declared partial restriction of movement on Oshodi flyover to enable the state advance the ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange from Sunday July 1 to Tuesday 2, 2018. In a statement released on Sunday the state government called for the understanding of residents, urging motorists to make use of alternative routes provided. The statement revealed that the government would divert traffic and restrict movement from 12 noon to 12 midnight on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 around the Alausa, African Shrine/Agidingbi axis, due to Macron's visit. Earlier in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, the Government also revealed that construction work at the Oshodi Transport Interchange had entered critical stage and