THE Nigerian Communications Commission has suspended its plan to bar Glo subscribers from calling MTN lines for 21 days. In a statement on Thursday, NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, said the commission decided to suspend the action after the telcos agreed to resolve all outstanding issues between them. Earlier the regulatory body said it has approved MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited with effect from January 18, 2024, due to a long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties. However, the commission in the latest directive, said it is suspending the partial disconnection…
Author: Hamza Rufai
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GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, said the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate of a mining company indicted for Tuesday’s explosion in the Bodija area of Oyo State showed some foreign names as owners. Makinde, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday night monitored by News Point Nigeria, also said the death toll in the unfortunate blast had risen to three as one more victim died in a hospital today. “We recovered one individual alive today (Wednesday) under the rubble. 60 of the 77 people hospitalised have been discharged,” the governor said. “We are trying to…
THE Kaduna State Fire Service on Wednesday confirmed a fire incident at the popular Panteka market in Kaduna. Director, Kaduna State Fire Service, Mr Paul Aboi, told newsmen that the fire incident affected the timber section of the market. Aboi said that the fire department received the first distress call from one Mr Sadiq Mohammed, who rushed to the fire department at 1 a.m. on Wednesday. He said several calls were also received. Aboi, however, said the fire incident did not result in any loss of life or injuries to the traders. According to him, the cause of the fire…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, eulogised his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for not interfering in the appointments of his 48-man cabinet last August. The President spoke in Abuja at the venue of the launch of a book, ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of A Special Adviser, Media, and Publicity (2015-2023)’, authored by ex-presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina. Addressing Buhari, who handed over power to him on May 29, 2023 upon the completion of double terms of eight years, Tinubu thanked his predecessor for being a statesman. Tinubu, who addressed the room crowded with serving and former political office holder, said, “After handing…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and other dignitaries are attending a book launch in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari. In addition to Buhari were former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who gathered in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Also in attendance are the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, among several others. The book titled ‘Working with Buhari’ is written by the former Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, This is one of the rare occasions where the incumbent, who is the special guest of honour,…
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Chief Bisi Akande, the first National Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, on his 85th birthday, describing him as a true statesman and a man of the masses. In a congratulatory message issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu on Monday in Abuja, the president paid homage to the sacrifices of one of the champions of the nation’s democratic struggle. He noted that Mr Akande rose from humble beginnings to occupy the party’s highest constitutional position through hard work and discipline. According to him, Mr Akande will continue “to bask in the sun as…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Ugwuh, for alleged conspiracy and loan fraud to the tune of N3.6 billion. According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, the ex-minister was arrested with Chief Geoffrey Ekenma on January 11, 2024, at No.2, Musa Yar Adua Way, New Owerri, Imo State. The arrest of the two suspects was said to have followed “a petition to the commission from a new generation bank on the alleged fraud perpetrated through a company, Ebony Agro…
BANDITS, who abducted 10 persons from an estate, Sagwari Layout, Dutse, Abuja, on January 7 have reportedly killed three more of their victims as a warning to their relatives negotiating ransom. Thereafter, the bandits increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million. The total sum is now N700 million. Residents said the victims were allegedly killed over the ‘delay’ in raising the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. This newspaper had reports that the kidnappers dumped the remains of four victims they executed, around a former military checkpoint behind Idah Junction along the Bwari-Jere SCC Road…
THE 14th Emir of Kano and leader of Tijaniyya in Nigeria has rallied support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the president took over at an extremely difficult time. He therefore called on political officeholders to end politics and concentrate on governance. Sanusi spoke in Lagos at the weekend during the special Maulud Nabiyy celebration organised by Jam’iyyatu Ansariddeen (Attijaniyya). This was as Vice-President Kashim Shetima said President Tinubu understands the burden of trust handed to him by the people of Nigeria and promised that he would lead with compassion, fairness and Justice. He pledged that the…
BORNO State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Sunday, led a delegation of Borno people to attend the funeral prayer of his spokesperson, Isa Gusau, which was held at the National Mosque, Abuja. The delegation comprises the senators representing Borno Central, Kaka Lawan, Borno North, Barr. Mohammed Monguno, members of the House of Representatives from Borno, Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijjani and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari. Before the prayers, accompanied by the Vice President President, Kashim Shettima, Zulum personally conveyed the remains of his late spokesperson from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport to the National Mosque…
FORMER Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, has announced the raising of N50 million ransom for the remaining abducted sisters of Al-Kadriyar family by a friend. This newspaper had reported how bandits invaded Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday night, and abducted a man and his six daughters. They had released the father and asked him to raise N60 million for his daughters freedom. The criminals had given an ultimatum of Friday for ransom to be paid, but the family raised N30 million, which they rejected and killed Nabeeha, the eldest child.…
THE Borno State government says the late spokesman of the governor, Malam Isa Gusau, would be laid to rest today after janazah prayers at the Central Mosque, Abuja. Isa Gusau passed away on Thursday at a hospital in India after a prolonged illness. A statement released yesterday by the Borno State commissioner for information and internal security, Prof Usman Tar, said the remains of the deceased are expected to arrive Abuja today afternoon while the burial is scheduled for 4pm. The statement added that the Borno State governor expressed gratitude for condolences already received and would appreciate the presence and…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of star actor, Ali Nuhu as Managing-Director of Nigerian Film Corporation and ten others as CEOs of agencies under the Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Friday. According to the statement, “the president mandates the appointees to discharge their duties in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, diligence, and patriotism with a view to making the creative sector more vibrant and robust The statement read in full: STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU…
BANDITS said to number around 40 stormed the Kawu community in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday and abducted 23 people. This newspaper reports that Kawu shares boundaries with Niger and Kaduna states. Speaking about the development, the Councilor representing the area, Abdulmumini Zakari, who is the deputy speaker in the council, said the gunmen arrived in the community on Wednesday, from the Kuyeri Forest in Kaduna State. He explained, “They divided themselves into groups and some went into the palace of the district head, Abdurrahman Ali, where they abducted his son, Lukman, and his wife,…
THE Supreme court has affirmed the election of Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Bauchi State governor. The apex court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal and dismissed the appeal by Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress for lacking in merit. The appellate court had in November affirmed the victory of Governor Bala Mohammed in the March 18 governorship election. This followed earlier judgement by the tribunal upholding Mohammed’s victory. In the Court of Appeal judgement, the panel of three justices were unanimous, awarding no cost as the court ruled that each party…
THE Special Adviser Media and Publicity To Borno state governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, Malam Isa Gusau is dead. Gusau, reportedly died late Thursday in India after a prolonged illness. He was a Correspondent, Bureau Chief, Regional Editor and Deputy Editor with Daily Trust Newspapers. At the Daily Trust, Gusau was the first to win the Board Chairman’s Star Award and cash prize for integrity in the journalists’ category. He resigned from Daily Trust in March 2012, the same week he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Editor, to venture into public relations activities following his appointment by the then…
THE Henley Passport Index has listed the most powerful passports in the world on Thursday. HPI is a global passport-ranking website with an original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Their index is often based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team. The passport ranking website listed Nigeria as 95th out of the 104 countries with the most powerful passports. Nigeria sits behind Ghana, Guinea,…
THE Supreme Court will deliver judgements in seven governorship appeals on Friday, January 12, 2024, beginning 9am. The states are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Cross River. Yusuf VS Gawuna Late December, the apex court reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, challenging the verdict of the Court of Appeal and the State Election Petitions Tribunal, which removed him from office. The five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro reserved the judgement after the parties adopted their brief of arguments. In September, the tribunal nullified the victory of Yusuf, the candidate of…
THE Nigeria Police Force has cautioned Nigerians not to use the viral new slogan “No gree for anybody.” The Force spokesperson, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a press conference at the police headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. He said, “The new slogan for 2024 for our young ones is; ‘No dey gree for anybody’”. “According to our intelligence, the slogan is coming from a revolutionary sector that might generate difficulties across the country. “‘No dey gree for anybody’ is considered as just a typical talk, but in the security world, we see it as a highly dangerous term…
A FEW hours after dissolving the board of directors governing Polaris, Union, and Keystone banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria has appointed new executive directors to oversee the affairs of the deposit money banks. The apex bank, in a statement signed by the acting Director of Corporate Communications, Sidi Hakama, released on Thursday morning, said the appointment takes immediate effect. According to the statement, Yetunde Oni, the first female CEO of the Standard Chartered bank in Sierra Leone, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, while Mannir Ubali Ringim was selected as the Executive Director of the…