News & Announcements

Owing to what is turning a diplomatic row between Nigeria and Ghana, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, has headed to Ghana on the permission of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gbajabiamila secured the permission of President Buhari to visit Ghana as part of measures to resolve the crisis involving Nigerian traders and indigenes of the West African country.  

Shortly before leaving for Ghana, the speaker told State House Correspondents that he was embarking on “Legislative Diplomacy”, a journey over the closure of Nigerian shops in that country.
Gbajabiamila had last week said the closure of Nigerian shops in Ghana contravened the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) trade protocols and had called for a decisive solution between both countries.
“It’s usual engagement like we always say when issues come up, I see Mr. President and find out and run things by him and we discuss issues. 

“One of the issues we discussed today, I’m leaving for Ghana tomorrow to meet with the speaker of the parliament in Ghana to look at the issues on the ground, as it affects our citizens, and to try and calm things down and see if there’s a way forward.
“I’ll meet with the speaker tomorrow, I informed the president and he’s aware of every single step that we are taking, all the way and we hope that we’ll come to an amicable settlement one way or the other. 
“It’s called legislative diplomacy, if you remember very well, during the days when I was Leader of the House, I lead the delegation to South Africa during the crisis there with Nigerians and we were able to accomplish quite a bit, to simmer things down at that time,” he stated.
He said Nigeria would not make any special demand from Ghana.

“No demands; we just going to discuss in the spirit of African Parliaments and we’ll be looking at issues from time to time as they affect African countries and this is one of them.”
Also asked about his opinion on the situation in Ghana at the moment, Gbajabiamila said all that was important was finding solutions to the prevailing crisis. 
“I don’t want to make any statement at this time so that we don’t exacerbate matters. As I said, we are looking for amicable solutions. 
“The Ghanaians have their take on what’s going on, we have our own take. We’ll see how we can marry the two takes and come to a solution. 
“We are two strong West African countries and there must be symbiosis, we must work together. You don’t get anything from working at cross purposes or knocking heads together. 

“We must, at all times, as Africans, work as best as possible together and that’s what this my trip is about,” he noted. 
Recall that in recent times, the Ghanaian authorities had stood aloof while its citizens disrupted businesses owned by Nigerians. 
Sources who have been following the development have linked it to the shutting down of the Nigerian borders, an act that is believed to have negatively impacted on Ghana and other neighboring countries. 
The Federal Government had ordered the closure of the nation’s borders owing to security reasons, including the nefarious activities of saboteurs.

Ahead of the plan of the Nigerian Government to reopen universities following the relaxing of COVID-19 lockdown in the country, University teachers, under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have warned against such plan.
The lecturers thus warned the Federal Government to be ready for any possible negativity if it goes ahead to reopen the universities before certain conditions bothering on issues it had with the varsities are met.

Addressing a press conference, Monday at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, the union maintained that reopening of tertiary institutions without taking concrete steps to address issues within the universities would be suicidal.
Reading the text of the conference, Professor Olusiji Sowande, who is the Coordinator of Lagos Zone of the union, maintained that it was not enough to have the students back on campuses but that the atmosphere and conditions must also be right.
According to the union, hostel accommodation is inadequate, no facility on the ground to carry out physical distancing in large and crowded classes, adding that water and electricity supply was not reliable in the universities.

The union maintained that years of neglect of both the education and health sectors in the country had resulted in inadequate infrastructure and lack of well equipped diagnostic, testing, treatment, and research laboratories in both sectors.
The union said: “The response of the public universities to the call by the National University Commission (NUC) for their readiness to reopen indicated that public universities are not ready. 
“Presently, hostel accommodations are inadequate, no facility on the ground to carry out physical in large and crowded classes, water and electricity supply are not reliable, etc. 

“Reopening tertiary institutions without taking concrete steps to address these issues would be suicidal. 
“While the government made arrangements for special bailout funds for airline operators and other private entities, no such arrangement was made for public universities. Therefore, the government should be ready to take responsibility for any possible negative consequences after the reopening of universities.”

On the controversial payment of the lecturers through what is known as Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in Nigeria, the union said that its software, University Transparency, and Accountability Solution, was ready, adding that its efficacy had been demonstrated to the education Ministry and National University Commission.

The union said it was ready to present the UTAS to appropriate authorities for further validation, adding that it recognizes all agreements entered into between the government and university-based unions.
It also called on the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to facilitate a physical meeting where the software and other issues would be sorted out.

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has been urged to thoroughly investigate the report widely circulated that international terrorist organizations – ISIS and ISWAP – are building camps in both the southern and northern parts of the country.
One of the political parties in the country, the Action Democratic Party (ADP), made the call in a press statement made available to journalists on Sunday by Prince Adelaja Adeoye, its national publicity secretary of the party.

The party maintained that the president must take urgent steps in deploying military and other security forces to the areas where the terrorists were alleged to be operating, in order to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
ADP also made reference to an allegation by some prominent cultural leaders that over 500 power motorbikes were sighted in the thick forest around the Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State. 

It stressed that the area being connected to many international borders could have made it possible for the terrorists to invade the country. 
The press release read: “As a party, with concern for the security of Nigerian citizens, we call on the President to do the needful, and not watch, until the situation becomes ugly. Advance technology such as GPS mapping and other territorial scanning systems, can be deployed to aid investigation, and discover the exact  points these terrorist groups are building their camps.”
ADP stated further that it would be less expensive to push the group back now that they were just forming, rather than wait until they begin to unleash terror on the citizens just as Boko Haram had been doing in the North East.

It maintained that it was a wake-up call for all Nigerians, and leaders across the geopolitical zones, to be conscious of the danger of the terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, the party also reacted to the allegation that Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) was funded by some terrorist groups outside the country.  

“President Buhari and law enforcement agencies should not fold their arms, over a weighty allegation against MURIC, led by Prof. Ishaq Akintola, that his group, is being funded by ISWAP terrorist organization. 
“The allegation that Akintola’s MURIC received $200,000 from a terrorist organization, to help them recruit foot soldiers in Nigeria should not just end by his mere denial, but the extensive investigation should be carried out.

“We understand that some political gladiators promote and hide under some religious-based organizations, to achieve their sinister motives. 
“We are calling on Nigerians to keep demanding for explanations, where they are not cleared on certain national issues.”

In what is the first in the history of Southeast Nigeria, the region witnessed the first international flight through the rehabilitated Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
The region, which has noticeably suffered marginalization from successive national governments, before now, remained the only region in the six-region nation to be bereft of an international airport.

But on Sunday, the first international commercial flight belonging to Air Peace with No. 5N-BUV’ landed at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Sunday ahead of the official re-opening of the airport later today.
The flight which landed at the airport at about 1.40 pm on Sunday conveyed former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu among other National Assembly members. 

Speaking to journalists immediately the flight landed, Okechukwu described the reopening of the airport as historic, calling for licensing of more international airlines to be using the airport.
He commended the Federal Government for making good its promise of rehabilitating the airport.
He said: “Efforts should be made for the newly rehabilitated Enugu International Airport to be using more international airlines and not only Ethiopian airlines.
“We also need more runways and more international flight at the airport for further development of the airport to attract more investors for the development of the state,” he said.

It was reported that the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, took the first private jet 5N-PAZ, to the airport on Saturday, August 29, alongside Prince Arthur Eze and other government officials in preparation for the reopening of the airport.
It could be recalled that Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu was shut down in August 2019 to enable the Federal Government to reconstruct the runway which aviation experts had hitherto described dilapidated as an accident waiting to happen.

The government of Lagos, Nigerian economic capital, on Friday, announced dates for the reopening of primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced this, saying tertiary institutions in the state would reopen for academic activities on September 14, while both primary and secondary schools are expected to tentatively reopen on September 21.  

Speaking during the seventeenth update on Coronavirus in Lagos on Saturday, the governor said for primary and secondary schools, the state was “working towards reopening these institutions anytime from September 21, 2020.
“This decision is not cast in stone and is subject to a review of our ongoing modeling of the state’s response to the pandemic,” the governor added.
Sanwo-Olu said with the Federal Government’s efforts to reopen the international airspace,  from September 5, 2020, “Lagos is working assiduously with the Federal Ministry of Aviation and NCDC to put in place robust and adequate measures that will continue to guarantee the safety and well-being of our people in the light of renewed international air-travel.”

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, who had earlier tested positive for Coronavirus, “is now doing well and in high spirits, and even in isolation continues to discharge his duties as Health Commissioner and Deputy Incident Commander.”
The governor said restaurants were permitted to open for in-dining services, adding that “they must ensure the maintenance of a 50% maximum occupancy at any point in time. 
“They must also have obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission: www.lasgsafetyreg.com.”According to Sanwo-Olu, “Social Clubs and Recreational Centers that have Registered Trustees have also been permitted to open, on the condition that they have applied for and obtained a Provisional Safety Compliance Certificate through the registration portal of the Lagos State Safety Commission: www.lasgsafetyreg.com.”
Sanwo-Olu, who disclosed that Lagos State has continued to record a decline in the number of newly confirmed cases in the state, added that this is not the time for residents “to rest on our oars and completely disregard the very necessary safety precautions that have been issued for our safety and well-being.”He çounseled: “We must all continue to adhere to the guidelines as outlined by the health authorities: Wear a mask in all public places, maintain physical distancing as much as possible, and wash or sanitize your hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid handshakes and hugs, and avoid mass gatherings.”
The governor urged religious leaders to ensure that services are conducted in full compliance with the relevant guidelines as spelled out by the NCDC and the Lagos State government. He said: “We must all show commitment to protecting ourselves and other people because there can be no collective safety without individual safety. We are only as strong as the most vulnerable amongst us.”

Tragedy struck on Saturday in Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, as many persons were feared killed and unaccounted injured when a truck lost control and rammed into a commercial area.
The accident, which occurred in Oloko Street in Ikare, Akoko Council Area of Ondo State, saw a lot of people reeling in pains while ambulances were also seen evacuating the dead. The diesel truck was reportedly on top speed when it lost control.

Meanwhile, in a different report carried by Sahara reporters, an eyewitness told the online medium that the accident occurred around 4:30 pm on Saturday.
He said the truck driver lost control and rammed into shops within the area.

Another witness said the injured victims had been taken to the state’s Specialist Hospital in the town and Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
But another eyewitness told our correspondent on phone that it was obvious that up to ten persons were killed as the early arrival of police personnel another rescue experts prevented onlookers from counting the dead.”I think up to ten people might have been killed but some of those looking were eager to know the Casualties but police other government agencies arrived early.

“They prevented people from getting close and they worked tirelessly to avoid breakdown of law and order.”

Chadwick Boseman repositioned the image of the Black race when he featured in the movie the “Black Panther” and in delivering a speech to students of Howard University the US, he said, “purpose crosses disciplines, purpose is an essential element of you, it is the reason you are on this planet your very existence is wrapped up in the things you are here to fulfill, whatever you choose for career purpose, remember the struggle along the way, are only meant to shape you for your purpose; I don’t know what your future is but if you are willing to take the harder way, the more complicated one, the one with more failures first than successes, the one which has ultimately proven to have more meaning, more victory, more glory than you will not regret it, this is your time”. 

Reports have it that the 43-year-old actor had battled with Colon cancer for nearly four years until his death, which has ripped the heart of several fans both young and old across the globe.

There have been several tributes following his death, Wayne A. Frederick wrote “It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of alumnus Chadwick Boseman who passed away this evening. His incredible talent will forever be immortalized through his characters and through his own personal journey from student to superhero! Rest in Power, Chadwick!”

Major League Baseball wrote un their official page “His transcendent performance in ’42’ will stand the test of time and serve as a powerful vehicle to tell Jackie’s story to audiences for generations to come.” 

Ruffalo wrote “What a man, and what an immense talent; “Brother, you were one of the all-time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.”

Another wrote “Rest In Power Chadwick Boseman Gone too soon at 43 after the 4-year fight with colon cancer. Deepest condolences and prayers to your Family

#blackpanther #wakandaforever #chadwickboseman

Chadwick Boseman touched the lives of many with his sense of humor and his movies, even during his battle with Cancer he reached out to children at the hospital giving them hope during his short-lived life on earth was regarded as a superhero to many.

Nigerian Akinwumi Adesina has been re-elected the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Adesina, who returned unopposed, formally requested for a second term as AfDB president, saying he was “doing it with an acute sense of duty and commitment. 

“I do it to serve Africa and our bank, in an unbiased way, to the best of the abilities that God has given me.”

Adesina was cleared of controversial corruption charges after facing questions from a panel on the affairs of AfDB

An independent panel of experts, headed by former Irish President Mary Robinson has cleared the Nigerian of corruption, according to the report obtained by AFP.

Akinwumi Adesina, 60, a charismatic speaker known for his elegant suits and bow ties became the first Nigerian to helm the AfDB in 2015 — but a 15-page report earlier this year claimed that under his watch the bank had been tarred by poor governance, impunity, personal enrichment and favoritism.

The panel of three experts, led by Robinson alongside Gambia’s Chief Justice Hassan Jallow and the World Bank’s integrity vice president Leonard McCarthy cleared Adesina of all charges alleged by whistleblowers.

“The Panel concurs with the Committee in its findings in respect of all the allegations against the President and finds that they were properly considered and dismissed by the Committee,” Monday’s report concluded.

The African banking institution and Adesina — who is the sole candidate for the bank’s August’s presidential elections — has been battered by the rollercoaster of allegations after the whistleblowers’ complaints were leaked to the media in April.

The former Nigerian finance minister had always stated he was “innocent” of the charges.

Robinson — who led Ireland from 1990 to 1997 before serving as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights until 2002 — dismissed the 16 whistleblower allegations against Adesina.

The panel did not investigate the charges themselves, as that was not within their mandate.

The AfDB plays an important if largely behind-the-scenes role in African economies, financing projects in agriculture, health, energy, education, transport, and other development sectors.

This may not be the eat of time for the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nigeria as over 16,000 Nigerians have signed for the probe of its National Leader, Bola Tinubu, over alleged graft.
On the petition on Change.org, the thousands of Nigerians signed, urging the country’s Anti-Graft Agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe the former Lagos State governor.

The petition was launched by Reno Omokri former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who is a vocal critic of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Omokri titled the petition ‘Calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011, by having bullion vans ferry alleged large sums of money into his house on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election’.

The petition which had about 16,200 signatures as on Friday morning has gone viral. Below is an accompanying statement made by Omokri on the petition’s page; “Dear citizens of Nigeria, let’s take our country back by signing this petition to compel the EFCC to investigate and prosecute Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering Act, by ferrying bullion vans into his house. Don’t say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’.

“We as Nigerians must stop confusing cynicism for wisdom. If we do not fight for our country, who will? George Floyd’s death sparked a revolution in America and we joined. We did not say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’. You and I can make a difference with this petition. #EFCCMustInvestigateTinubu.”

It will be recalled that Tinubu has since responded to an inquiry about the bullion vans pictures entering his Bourdillon home last year. He told a reporter that he was free to give anyone money since he was not holding any government position.

Ten children have been confirmed dead while four others were seriously injured after lightning struck them while sheltering from a storm during a football game in northern Uganda on Friday.
Daily Post quoted the police spokeswoman, Josephine Angucia, as saying that the boys, aged 11 to 16, had been sheltering from a storm in a makeshift structure in Arua city, northwest of the capital Kampala on Thursday before the incident happened.

Angucia said young boys had been playing football when it began to rain and lightning struck them.