Year: 2018

ACTING PRESIDENT OSINBANJO SIGNS THREE BILLS INTO LAW

Emporium Reporters

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, on Friday, 17 August 2018, signed into law three Bills transmitted by the National Assembly, which are now Acts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Acts were the Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2018; the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018; and the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018. The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2018 provides the framework, as envisaged by Section 303 of the Constitution, for the administration of…

Saraki Lauds Akwa Ibom Gov for Refusing to Be Distracted

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Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has commended the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom for rising above the recent distractions created by certain aggrieved politicians while rallying his people for the job of developing the state.   Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, spoke in Uyo when he led a delegation of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators on a solidarity visit to Governor Udom. He noted that the Governor has succeeded in sustaining the stability, unity, infrastructure development and economic…

Saraki Mourns Koffi Annan, Says His Death Symbolises End of Golden Era in Global Politics

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President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described the demise of a former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Koffi Annan, as the end of a golden era in global politics and international relations. Saraki in a statement signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late Annan as the quintessential African diplomat on the global plane and a citizen of the world, who deployed his vast capacities to tackle intractable global challenges ranging from hunger, conflict, epidemic and restoration…

Ilorin is an Ethnogenesis: Response to Kawu’s Anti-Saraki Ilorin Purism By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. Twitter: @farooqkperogi

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This is a difficult column to write because Malam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission whom Premium Times of August 5, 2018 reported to have questioned Senator Bukola Saraki’s claim to Ilorin origins, is my friend and brother for whom I have the profoundest respect. It hurts to publicly call him out.   At the same time, I entirely align with the angst that inspired his tirade against Saraki. Like Kawu, I’m from Kwara State and find Saraki’s arrogance and suffocating control of the state insufferable. In…

Ogundipe: Police Asked Me To Implicate Saraki Before I Could Be Released

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PREMIUM TIMES journalist, Samuel Ogundipe, who has been detained by the Nigerian Police Force since Tuesday has revealed damming details of his interrogation at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.   Ogundipe, while giving account of his 3-day agonising stay in police dungeon alleged that his interrogators had asked him to implicate the Senate President as the source of what the Police described as ‘classified’ documents as a precondition to his release from cell.   “There is nothing under the sun that they didn’t do to me to reveal the identity of…

BREAKING: One killed, children trapped’ as 3-storey building collapses in Abuja

Emporium Reporters

A three-storey shopping complex under construction in the Jabi area of Abuja has collapsed killing, one person and leaving 12 others trapped.   The incident occurred around 1:30pm.   A witness said children and food hawkers were among those trapped in the building. Eight people were said to have been rescued, including the site engineer, whose leg was reportedly broken.   At the time of filing this report, rescue operations were ongoing. Officials of federal capital territory (FCT) fire service and National Emergency Management Authority ( NEMA ) are currently…

IBB@77: GOV Sani-Bello Pays Tribute To Ex -Ruler , Commends His Nationalistic,Patriotic Disposition

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Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has paid glowing tribute to Nigeria’s former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who turned 77 years of age today. In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, Governor Sani-Bello said General Babangida’s life has remained a testimony to the power of good leadership and purposeful living. The Governor noted that the former Military leader has continued to demonstrate great statesmanship and patriotism as he has remained resolute on the path of promoting national unity, integration and development.…

We Didn’t Pay a Dime To Free Dapchi Girls, FG refutes UN Council Claim

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The Federal Government has insisted that it did not pay any ransom to secure the release of the abducted Dapchi girls. In a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, challenged anyone who has any evidence of payment to publish such ”It is not enough to say that Nigeria paid a ransom, little or huge. There must be a conclusive evidence to support such claim. Without that, the claim remains what it is: a mere conjecture,” the Minister said

Osun declares Monday public holiday for Isese festival

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The Osun State Government has declared Monday a public holiday.   Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Adebisi Obawale, said in a statement on Thursday in Osogbo that the holiday was to commemorate the 2018 Isese Day (Traditional Worshippers Day).   “The holiday is in recognition of the annual Isese festival’s grand finale which allows adherents of traditional religion to come together for the annual celebration.   “Also known as Traditional Worshipers Day, Isese Day is the celebration of the peak of festivities among adherents of traditional religion,’’ he said.  …