News & Announcements

The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has disclosed that Naja’atu Mohammed was sacked from her position as his campaign’s Director of Civil Society Organisations.

Tinubu explained that Mohammed was sacked for incompetence and for being a mole in his campaign team.
The APC flag bearer stressed that Mohammed lied to Nigerians that she resigned her appointment from his campaign team.

Speaking through his campaign Adviser on Public Affairs, Mahmud Jega, Tinubu said Mohammed was planted to leak sensitive information to the opposition.

A statement by Jega reads partly: “The Asiwaju/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council received with amusement the hasty “resignation” of Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed from her position as Director of Civil Society Organisations just before she was sacked for incompetence, quarrelsomeness and after being uncovered to be a mole planted in our winning campaign in order to leak sensitive information to our desperate opponents.

“Although she deceived the gullible public by claiming that she resigned, her sack letter with ignominy from the campaign and the party had just arrived at her desk.”

Tinubu said Naja’atu’s desperation, fact-free, machination-filled and imaginary utterances after she was sacked showed that she was “unfit to serve in the first place until it was discovered that she was a mole.”

Mohammed had claimed to have resigned from her appointment due to Tinubu’s alleged ill health.

Over the weekend, Mohammed defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Mohammed said she dumped APC presidential campaign because she discovered that her values no longer aligned with the party..

The Late Philip Daniel Neville, former owner of the Standard-Times Newspaper, Star Radio, and TV – Media One Centre was on Sunday 22nd January 2023 laid to rest at the Kossoh Town Cemetery, Western Area Rural District.

Prior to this, a vigil was held at St John Church Brookfields on Saturday, a laying out at his residence at 44 Signal Hill Road in Wilberforce and at the Media One Center respectively where mourners pay tribute to the late journalist.

The Late Philip passed away on Wednesday, 28th December 2022 at the Choithram Memorial Hospital in Hill Station, Freetown, after sustaining severe head injuries in a hit-and-run motorbike accident.

Till his death, Mr. Neville was the owner of the Standard-Times Newspaper, Star Radio, and TV – Media One Centre. He was also a former Vice President and Acting President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ).

Heads of State in Africa will convene meetings to mobilize and align government resources, development partners, and private sector financing to unleash Africa’s food production potential during the three-day Dakar 2 Summit from January 25-27, 2023.

The Summit will be hosted by the Senegalese President, His Excellency Macky Sall, and the Chairperson of the African Union, and co-hosted by the African Development Bank Group in which Sierra Leone will fully participate.

The Summit seeks to bring together Governments, the Private Sector, Multilateral Organizations, NGOs, and scientists to meet the escalating challenge of food security in Africa.

It will seek to mobilize high-level political commitment around production, markets, and trade to deliver Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts for selected countries.

It will also mobilize and align government resources, development partners, and private sector financing around the Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts to achieve food security at scale in each country.

Countries will share successful experiences in food and agriculture and successful platforms to scale up support for agriculture.

Also, to be looked at is the double agricultural productivity with the state-of-the-art climate-adapted crop, livestock, and aquaculture technology and advisory services and support research and development for a pipeline of climate-resilient agricultural technologies.

Private sector actors will commit to the development of critical value chains while Central Bank Governors and Ministers of Finance will commit to the development of financing arrangements to implement Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts, working with Ministers of Agriculture, as well as private sector players, including commercial banks and financial institutions.

At the end of the High-Level Summit, it is expected that commitments will be made by Heads of State for food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts, Presidential Councils for Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts, and financing frameworks for delivering Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts to achieve zero hunger.

Despite having 65% of the remaining arable land to feed 9 billion people in the world by 2050, the continent imports over 100 million metric tons of food at the cost of $75 billion annually. Africa has the potential to feed itself and contribute to feeding the world.

Sector investments all along the food value chain can help turn Africa into a breadbasket for the world. Achieving zero hunger in Africa will require between $28.5 billion and $36.6 billion annually. With the removal of barriers to agricultural development aided by new investments, it is estimated that Africa’s agricultural output could increase from $280 billion per year to $1 trillion by 2030.

To further diversify food supply sources for the world, amid the lingering effects of the war in Ukraine and its systemic effects globally, and to secure food supplies for Africa, it is now critical to support efforts to unleash the agricultural potential of Africa, for sustainable food production.

Africa stands to gain, and the world stands to gain from such a concerted effort.

The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Friday, 20th January 2023 officially launched the Parliamentary Caucus on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), in Committee Room One, Parliament Building in Freetown.

The program was organized by African Center for Parliamentary Affairs, a Non-governmental organization with support from the United Kingdom Government.

Launching the program on behalf of the Hon. Speaker of Parliament, the Leader of Coalition of Change (C4C), Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina thanked the organizers of Freedom of Religion or Belief and went on to recall his visit to Viena, where he saw diverse religious believers.

The Leader categorically stated that he envisioned a challenge to religious tolerance in the world over and celebrates Sierra Leone with enthusiasm.

He recalled and revealed many instances of religious tolerance, adding that the Late President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah was a Pious Muslim, but his Wife was a Christian, and similarly, the current President, Retd. Brigadier General Julius Bio is a Christian and his wife is a Muslim.

The Hon. The leader of C4C used the opportunity to advise the people of the world to follow the example of Sierra Leone and be tolerant of the belief of other people.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs, Rashid Rahman who doubles as one of the organizers of the program, said that they were launching the Parliamentary Caucus on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Sierra Leone, and it comprises a group of members of Parliament who have voluntarily signed up to champion the course of freedom of religious beliefs in Sierra Leone.

The Executive Director said that the objective of the program is to have champions within Parliament who will always champion issues of freedom of religion or belief in Sierra Leone.

He informed the House that they have long started the program and have been working with MPs, media, inter-religious council, and civil society.

He reiterated that Sierra Leone was chosen on the premise of promoting religious tolerance, harmony, and peaceful coexistence.

He went on to say that the country is earmarked for that kind of practice.

In his submission, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Sama Sandy mentioned that the program is piloted in Sierra Leone and the Gambia, adding that the objective of the program is to enhance and promote more religious tolerance in Sierra Leone.

The Religious MP informed all that the process started in 2018, when they collaborated with religious organizations in Sierra Leone, so as to promote religious oneness.

The Chairman also stated that the promotion of religious tolerance is vital for the development of the State.

A representative from the Inter-Religious Councils also made meaningful contributions.

Giving the vote of thanks, the Committee Clerk to the Caucus, Hawanatu Sanjah, thanked the Leadership of Parliament and the organizers for promoting religious tolerance in Sierra Leone and urged members to be champions of Freedom of Religion or Belief.

Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the UN, has expressed shock and sorrow at the shooting spree in California’s Monterey Park.

In a statement, Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesperson for the UN chief, said.

Local authorities reported that ten people were hurt in addition to the five men and five women who were slain in the mass shooting that occurred Saturday night in Monterey Park, a city that is 16 kilometers east of downtown Los Angeles.

On Monday, the dead toll had increased to 11.
According to Dujarric, Guterres “extends his profound condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and wishes the injured a swift recovery.”

The statement further stated that the secretary-general “expresses solidarity with the Asian-American community in the United States of America.”

Bayero University Kano has refuted a letter that is now making the rounds on social media that purports to be false and announces an increase in enrollment costs.

The letter was deemed a forgery, according to a statement made on Monday by Lamara Garba, the school’s deputy registrar for public affairs.

In contrast to the social media post being shared by “unscrupulous elements,” the statement said that the university administration had not yet decided whether to hike tuition.

“Students, parents and other stakeholders should note that Bayero University has not yet decided on any school fees increase as against the social media post being circulated by some unscrupulous elements,” the statement read.

Therefore, the institution advised the general public to dismiss the material because it was false and malicious.

Two individuals were killed on Sunday by some thugs who invaded the Mgbuka-Amanzu Road in Nkpikpa, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State.

The gunmen, who appeared to number four, according to an eyewitness who identified herself as Mama Chinedu, were on a tricycle.

She told how the gang ambushed an anonymous man who was walking to church, shot him, took his possessions, and left.

She said, “The gunmen double-crossed the young man, who was going to church, with their tricycle, shot him and dispossessed him of his belongings before firing some shots as they were leaving the scene.

“We don’t know if it was a case of robbery or assassination. But as the armed men were firing the shots, the bullets hit one of the gang members in the tricycle and he died.

“They moved about 50 meters away from the scene, dropped the lifeless body of their member and zoomed off.

“The police from the Okpoko division came this morning to remove the two corpses.”

Monday’s sit-at-home order prevented some community members from going to work, so our correspondent watched as they congregated and talked about the incident in small groups.

DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police’s spokesperson, only stated, “I don’t have such a report before me. Please wait while I look into it and get back to you.

However, an Okpoko-based police source attested to the fact that two bodies were taken away from the area on Monday.

In preparation for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential campaign rally in the state on Tuesday, the Delta State government closed all schools on Monday in Asaba, the state capital.

Due to the PDP presidential candidate’s visit to Asaba on Tuesday, the administration of several schools in the state advised their students not to go back to school on that day.

However, Asaba, particularly Stephen Keshi Stadium, the location of the presidential rally, and the recently built Koka fly-over, have taken on new appearances in anticipation of the visit despite an increase in the number of security officers in the city.

Ifeanyi Okowa, the party’s vice presidential candidate and governor of Delta State, claimed that there was evidence that Nigerians were sick to death of the dysfunctional APC-led federal government.

Okowa remarked that the PDP would give Nigerians the inclusive and focused leadership that the nation so desperately needs while speaking at the Stephen Keshi Stadium shortly after touring the facility’s preparations.

He said, “The warm reception and support PDP had across the country showed that Nigerians had become optimistic about the need for positive change.

“The party is determined to rescue the nation and deliver good governance to the people. The party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, being an experienced politician knows the path to Nigeria’s recovery and I will work with him and other citizens to recover, reset and rebuild the country.

“Nigerians are already tired if the APC-led government and we are very much aware of what the situation is in this country.”Okowa expressed satisfaction with the arrangements at the venue stressing that the party would have a very successful rally on Tuesday.

In Bauchi on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated his claim that he had done his best to serve Nigeria and Nigerians, saying that no one had been let down.

When President Buhari paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Bauchi, His Royal Highness (Dr) Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, while continuing the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential and gubernatorial campaign rallies, he spoke.

The President expressed gratitude for the greeting he received and the ongoing displays of love from Nigerians, noting that the large crowds that greeted him everywhere he went were proof of their sincere devotion and love.

He said, “I normally call on emirs and chiefs, whether on political or personal tours to states to show my gratitude.

“I like to mention that between 2003 and 2011, I visited all the local governments, and in 2019, when I was seeking my re-election for a second term, I visited all the states.

“And the people that turned out to see me were more than what anyone could buy or force and there I made a promise and pledge that I will serve Nigeria and Nigerians to the best of my ability.

“And so far, I have not disappointed anybody.”

The Emir of Bauchi earlier said in his welcoming speech that it is wonderful when political leaders in a contemporary state system honor the ancient institutions with a courtesy call.

The Emir observed that this served as a tangible example of love and respect for the established institutions.

The Kolmani Integrated Project, he said, was a legacy that Bauchi State and the North-East were grateful for. He congratulated President Buhari for the historic changes that his administration had brought to Bauchi State.

“We cannot thank you enough and we follow the example of our governor to express our greatest gratitude.

“We are also pleased that you have kept your promise of reforming the electoral processes through continuous and progressive reforms and by ensuring the independence of the electoral body, of which our son, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is the current head,” the Emir said.

He added, “Your determination in this and other areas of governance has been an inspiration to all right-thinking people across the country.”

The Nodu Okpuno Mata foam depot in Anambra was destroyed by fire on Monday.

This is said in a statement provided to newsmen in Onitsha and signed by Mr. Martin Agbili, Director/Fire Chief of the Anambra Fire Service.

He claims that the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call concerning a fire outbreak at the Mata foam depot, NODU, Okpuno, about 5.39 p.m.

“We immediately deployed our fire truck and our brave firefighters to the fire scene.

“The fire fighting operation was very successful as we were able to fight, stop, control and extinguished the fire to a standstill,” he said.

The fire chief said that they were able to save a lot of mattresses in the depot.

“We also saved all the surrounding residential homes around the fire scene.

“We want to use this medium to thank the general public who assisted us during the operation and also those that put the call across to us”.

Agbili emphasized that the months of January and February are the height of harmattan, when the state typically sees a lot of fire outbreaks.