Month: March 2020

Makinde unveils Oyo’s huge investment opportunities in US …..says we’ll not waver in determination to grow IGR

Emporium Reporters

Oyo State Governor, Engr.Seyi Makinde, has told participants at the Nigerian-American Business Forum holding in Tampa, Florida, United States that huge investment opportunities readily await them if they make Oyo State their next investment destination. The Governor, who spoke on the topic: “Improving Nigeria’s Economy: Challenges and opportunities…The Oyo State Journey,” called on investors to visit the state and take advantage of the arrays of opportunities in the agriculture, tourism, education and health sectors. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa the Governor…

Oyetola appoints Ige, former Osun CP Security Adviser

Emporium Reporters

The state of Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has named a former Commissioner of Police in the State, Mrs. Abiodun Adebola Ige as his Special Adviser on Security Matters. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, who announced this in a statement on Tuesday, said the appointment takes immediate effect. He further noted that Ige’s appointment was in line with the commitment of Governor Oyetola to the security of the State. The statement further wished the appointee success in her new assignment. Mrs Abiodun Adebola Ige, who served as…

DIASPORA: ROADS WITHOUT BORDERS By: Deborah Tochukwu Anaelechi

Emporium Reporters

One will agree that the major challenge when faced with change is adaptability. Likewise, the transition of going abroad for a first-time Nigerian traveller comes with mixed reactions. Thoughts on new neighbourhood, cuisine, culture shock, host people, time frame, language, so on, will be of concern as he begins to start the familiar, yet, foreign phase all over again to be acquainted with the new environment. One of such phases, which can be daunting, is driving a vehicle when outside Nigeria. No matter how apt your driving skills are back…

Oyetola reverses Aregbesola’s education policy ….retains opon imo

Emporium Reporters

The Osun State Government on Monday announced the abolition of same school uniform policy for students in public schools in the state, which was introduced by immediate past administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. The state government also announced the reversal of the extant 4-5-3-4 policy in public schools to the 6-3-3-4, which was also introduced by the immediate past administration. The Emporium Reporters reports that Governor Gboyega Oyetola had constituted a panel led by a renowned educationist, Prof. Olu Aina, to look at some extant education policies in the state.…

Immunity for lawmakers will leave Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda in tatters, by Kolawole Olaniyan

Emporium Reporters

When Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was named by the African Union as its first “anti-corruption champion in Africa” in 2018, he called on member states to “invest in institutions to entrench transparency and accountability.” But the recent push by many lawmakers from his All Progressives Congress party to grant themselves immunity from prosecution for corruption would seem to leave Mr. Buhari’s national commitment to tackle corruption in tatters and fatally undermined. The bill, known as: “Bill for an Act to Alter Section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic…

Buhari and Sun Tzu’s Art of War, by Philip Agbese

Emporium Reporters

Like Chinese revered war veteran, strategist and tactician, Sun Tzu, once asked the world albeit rhetorically: “Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can?” Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari is also asking Nigerians whether they have any inkling about what his Government can do with the resurgence of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism? The President is stylistically questioning the reason for the anxiety in people who seem to have gleefully forgotten the deadly blow the Nigerian Military handed down to insurgents under his administration. And why they…

Coronavirus: Prof. Iwu’s team isolates compound for treatment, gets FG’s backing

Emporium Reporters

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, said the Ministry would give all the support it could to Prof. Maurice Iwu and his team on their drug discovery project for coronavirus. The Minister said this on Monday when Prof. Iwu, former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman and Chairman of Bioresources Development Group, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. The minister said some time ago, the ministry had given a charge to Nigerian scientists knowing they were capable of providing solutions to COVID-19. Onu said he had tasked…

Pray for Nigeria, Senate President urges religious leaders …Says Longjan’s legacy will continue to unite Nigerians

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has called on religious leaders in the country to pray for Nigeria and its leadership, saying that the country will eventually overcome its tribulations. Lawan stated this in a speech delivered at the funeral mass held for the Late Senator Ignatius Dantong Longjan at St. Louis Catholic Church, Jos, Plateau State. The funeral mass was officiated by the Most Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Reverend Ignatius Kaigama. “We need prayers as a country and a people. We cannot ask for this at a better place.…

SSS trailed me for two years over unfavourable judgment – Retired Judge

Emporium Reporters

A newly retired High Court judge in Akwa Ibom State, Ifiok Ukana, said he was trailed by operatives of the Nigerian secret police, the State Security Service (SSS), for two years, after he delivered judgment on a particular case. The retired judge said he knows that times are bad in Nigeria and that he has paid for his casket, in case he was killed. Mr Ukana said this on February 25 in Uyo during a valedictory service organised for him by the Akwa Ibom state judiciary. The Chief Judge of…

SIM Card Controversy: Presidency’s directive made us detain man for weeks without trial – SSS

Emporium Reporters

The State Security Service (SSS) has told the Federal High Court in Asaba on Friday that it arrested and detained Anthony Okolie, based on a directive from the presidency to investigate him over the use of a SIM card previously used by Hanan, President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter. Mr Okolie was arrested in July 2019 and eventually detained for 10 weeks without trial despite the provision of the Nigerian law that mandates that a suspect not be detained for more than 48 hours by the police (or government agency) without bail or without charging…