Author: Editor

NEWLY released tax returns for former President Donald Trump have shed light on his business losses, complicated tax set-ups and tax payments during his White House years. However, they are unlikely to have a major political impact as he eyes another presidential run, experts say. The documents confirmed that Mr Trump paid no federal taxes in 2020 and only $750 (£622) in 2016 and 2017. He paid close to $1m in 2018, however. A long legal battle led to the release of the records, and Mr Trump criticised the disclosure, warning that it will deepen the US political divide. He…

A RECENT record obtained from Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board (KSPHCMB) revealed that Kano state received the highest allocation of Covid-19 vaccines totaling 209,520 covid19. Out of this allocation, Gwale was 1,046,038, and Kumbotso got 1,341,852. These vaccines were administered to residents of the communities in the 86 vaccination centers across Gwale and Kumbotso Local Government Areas (LGAs), however, the health workers that were directly involved in the vaccine administration met some challenges. This investigation is focused on the challenges of incentives and motivation packages to the frontline health workers involved in the Covid-19 vaccine administration in the two…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that a total of 460,643 Permanent Voter Cards were uncollected in 11 years in the Federal Capital Territory. The latest document from the Commission office in FCT, on Saturday, revealed that uncollected old PVCs from 2011-2019 were 230,007 while that of 2021-2022 was at 230,636. The document tagged, ‘Total PVC received and collected as of December 24, 2022’ had the year 2022 excluded. A total of 305,960 PVCs were received from the Commission’s Headquarters in 2021-2022 out of which 75,324 were collected and 230,636 were uncollected. The breakdown of PVCs collected in…

FORMER Jigawa State Deputy Governor, Ahmad Mahmoud Gumel has resigned his membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a resignation letter signed by deputy governor, dated 30th December and addressed to the Chairman, All Progressives Congress APC Galangamawa Ward, Gumel Local Government Area of Jigawa state. The letter reads in part: “With all sense of respect and regards as a Chairman, your person and your party, I wish to notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC). “I’m constraint to take this decision due to the obvious intra-party conflict, disunity and lack of commitment and confidence…

A VERY happy and prosperous New Year to you. First, I would like to thank and honour the Almighty who saw us through the year 2022 and has given us the opportunity to see another year. Each New Year is an opportunity to reflect on the past year, reposition, and move forward with the New.  As we celebrate the opportunity to be alive in the year 2023, we must also acknowledge the passing away of our brothers and sisters who didn’t make it into this new year. May their souls rest in perfect peace.  This year is particularly important to…

THE high command of the Nigerian Army has directed over 120 major-generals, brigadiers, colonels, lieutenants, captains and others to proceed on compulsory retirement. The affected officers, who include those who failed their Senior Staff Course Examinations, were ordered to submit their letters of voluntary retirement or face summary retrenchment. The exercise was in accordance with the Public Service Rules and the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service, 2017 (Revised). It was gathered that the number of senior and middle level personnel that would be required to leave the service might be higher than 120 as those…

FOLLOWING the insecurity in different parts of the country, the number of Nigerian refugees in Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic has risen to 339,669, a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has shown. The figure showed about 17,000 increase from the 322,000 disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, in September 2021. The displaced persons were victims of terrorism in the North-East and the banditry-turned-terrorism in the North-West, as well as the killings and kidnappings across the country. The minister had in 2021 said the breakdown “consists of 16,634 in…

FORMER Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health. He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican. His successor Pope Francis said he had visited him there frequently. The Vatican said in a statement: “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater…

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Katsina State has arrested an alleged major supplier of tramadol in the state and recovered 1,140 capsules in his possession. NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Mohammed Bashir,  who disclosed this on Friday in Katsina said the suspect, a  40-year-old man, who has been hiding under the guise of operating motorcycle spare parts was arrested on Thursday. Bashir said the suspect who was hails from Enugu State was arrested in his residence with the first consignment of drugs. “As usual, we don’t just stop there, we continued with our investigations. “We also…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed Dauda Ali Biu as the Corps Marshall/CEO of the Federal Road Safety Corps. In a statement on Friday, by the Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Willie Bassey states that the appointment of Biu who had been acting on that position, with effect from December 23, 2022 for an initial term of four years. The statement also confirms other appointments which included the renewal of the appointment of Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye as Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)…

RUSSIA attacked Ukraine with 16 Iranian-made drones overnight – with seven of them targeted at the capital, Kyiv, Ukrainian officials have said. All of the drones were destroyed, according to Kyiv’s military. A day earlier, on Thursday, a wave of Russian missiles was fired at cities across the country. Russia says it has been striking energy and military targets to weaken Ukraine’s capacity to move army reserves and repair equipment. In the capital, an air alert was announced after 02:00 local time on Friday and residents were urged to take shelter. Five of the drones were shot down in the…

NORTH Korea has fired three short range ballistic missiles towards the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula, South Korea’s military says. This latest volley comes five days after North Korea flew drones into South Korea’s airspace for the first time since 2017. North Korea has launched more missiles this year than ever before. Washington said the latest missile launches do not pose an immediate threat to the US or its allies. The three short-range ballistic missiles were fired from around 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT) from North Hwanghae Province, south of the capital Pyongyang, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs…

Liverpool 2 – Leicester 1 WOUT Faes scored two own goals as Liverpool came from behind to beat Leicester in their final Premier League game of 2022. The Foxes made the ideal start when they took the lead after just four minutes as poor defending by the hosts allowed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to race through on goal before firing past Alisson. With seven minutes to go the break, Faes stuck out a boot to try and divert Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross behind but instead the ball looped over goalkeeper Danny Ward and into the back of the net. It got worse for…

AS the Spanish League returns, Athletico Madrid (Thursday) and Real Madrid (Friday) both made winning return to the World Cup break with 2-0 wins over Elche and Valladolid respectively. stay top of the table as the Spanish La Liga returns last night. Karim Benzema scored twice in the final seven minutes to earn Real Madrid a hard-earned win at Valladolid. The late strikes by the Ballon d’Or winner lift Madrid top of La Liga, a point clear of Barcelona. Benzema, who missed the World Cup through injury, put Real ahead with an 83rd-minute penalty after a highly disputed handball decision.…

KADUNA State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has appointed his commissioner of finance, Muhammad Bashir Saidu as the new Chief of Staff. Saidu held the position before he was appointed as finance commissioner in 2019. A statement issued on Thursday by the special adviser to the governor on media and communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, said El-Rufai also appointed Dr Shehu Usman Muhammad as counsellor political, while Jamila Haruna is special assistant on intergovernmental relations. It said, “Governor Nasir El-Rufai has approved the following political appointments: Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu as chief of staff. Dr Shehu Usman Muhammad as Counsellor (Political). Jamila Haruna as…

A MYANMAR military court has sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to a further seven years in prison, taking her overall jail time to 33 years. The country’s former democratically-elected leader has been under house arrest since a military ousted her government in a coup in February 2021. Since then she’s faced 18 months of trials on 19 charges – which rights groups say are a sham. The UN Security Council called for her release last week. On Friday she was sentenced on the final five charges she faced. A court found her guilty of corruption because she had not followed…

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the return of Benjamin Netanyahu as head of the most far-right Israeli government the country has known and signalled an intention to strengthen cooperation, the Kremlin said. “I hope that the new government under your leadership will continue the line of strengthening Russian-Israeli cooperation in all areas for the benefit of our peoples, in the interest of ensuring peace and security in the Middle East,” Putin said in a message to Netanyahu, quoted in a statement on Thursday. “In Russia, we greatly appreciate your personal and longstanding contribution to strengthening friendly relations between our…

THE Federal Government said it has not considered imposing mandatory COVID-19 testing or restrictions on travellers from China until there is a need for it. The government, however, admitted that Nigeria was at risk of a fresh surge of the virus. It, therefore, advised Nigerians to go for vaccination. The Coordinator of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Dr Muktar Muhammed, disclosed this to one of our correspondents in Abuja on Thursday. But virologists warned that there could be a fresh outbreak of the virus in the country. There are reports that countries are imposing COVID-19 testing and restrictions on…

A Zaria-based businessman, Pius Egwuekwe, has been kidnapped by gunmen shortly after he arrived at his country home at Ibughubu Umuchu Community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to Punch ,the incident happened late on Friday, December 23, 2022, shortly after he arrived the village with his driver from Zaria to celebrate Christmas.A source in the community said the Managing Director of People’s Bookshop was whisked away by the gunmen in front of his house and taken to an unknown destination and no contact has been established since then. Following the incident, the community had been thrown…

THE Federal Government is exploring avenues to probe some digital loan apps over what has been described as alleged sharp practices and abuses. The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Banking and Currency, Financial Crimes and Telecommunications to commence investigation into operations and loan administration of the fintech companies and online mobile digital loan apps in Nigeria. The resolution followed the consideration of a motion under matters of urgent public importance titled “Need to Investigate Sharp Practices By Unregulated Online Fintech Lending Companies and Abuse of Mobile Digital Loan Apps in Nigeria”, moved at the plenary by Hon.…