Month: July 2022

Abducted Italian priest freed in Edo, three suspects killed

Emporium Reporters

Abducted Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Luigi Brena, 64, has been freed.   Three of the suspected kidnappers were killed in a gun duel with policemen.   Rev. Fr. Brena was seized around 5:45 pm on July 3, by hoodlums along Ogunwenyi Road through Usen community in Ovia Southwest Local Government Area of Edo State.   Deputy police spokesperson Jennifer Iwegbu said: “In our continous efforts to curb crime and criminality in Edo State, most especially kidnapping, the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has massively deployed operatives to most of the…

FCTA POLICY ON CLOSURE OF PARKS IN ABUJA FROM 7 PM IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BASELESS, SADISTIC AND SHOULD BE RESISTED by Frank Tietie

Emporium Reporters

The recent announcement by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) that recreational parks which are mainly privately operated should close by 7.00 pm is a barbaric attempt to curtail constitutionally guaranteed freedoms to freely move and associate in Nigeria. Recreational parks where persons relax and often socialise by eating grills and taking choice drinks, including alcoholic beverages have not in any way contributed to the gross insecurity currently cascading the larger part of the Nigerian landscape. These parks are the main visible signs of nightlife in the Federal Capital City…

Rain of Tributes as Asaju, Spectrum Expert, bows out of NCC

Emporium Reporters

After 17 years of meritorious service, former Director of Spectrum Administration Department of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Engr. Oluwatoyin Asaju, has bowed out of the regulatory body, with encomiums from management and industry experts, after turning 60. Engr. Asaju who led the team that managed the 3.5Ghz Band Auction process that attracted fame and fortune to the Federal Government through the transparent auction process for the sale of the 5G licenses conducted by the Commission, was hosted to a valedictory session to celebrate his performance, by the leadership and staff…

BANDITS ATTACKS: Niger Govt Suspends Mining activities, directs security agencies to profile mining sites

Emporium Reporters

Following bandits’ attack on a mining site in Ajata Aboki Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi Local Government Areas of the State over continued bandits’ attacks until further notice.   A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, stated that the decision to suspend mining activities became necessary as a result of escalating insecurity in those areas in recent times.   It is…

Gatekeepers of empty mansions in Abuja turns quasi-landlords, by Abdullahi A Maiwada

Emporium Reporters

Those in the middle class and lower class living in Abuja will understand the concept of ‘arrangee’. We have a lot of mansions in Abuja lying fallow worth billions of naira, and not in any way utilized by owners.   These owners have accumulated wealth that one have every reason to doubt the credibility of their source. If not, how on earth will one labour hard to construct/purchase houses with state-of-the-art facilities, then spend years without a facility visit, not talk of occupying or renting out the building, leaving the…

She can keep me, for one month, by Azu Ishiekwene

Emporium Reporters

Until she asked, I didn’t know it was a problem. Her problem, I mean. When people say whatever gets your time and attention gets you, it’s often true.   For as long as I can remember, 38 weeks every year, this thing gets my time and attention.   It starts slowly, usually on weekends, at the beginning of the season. And then, as the fixtures pick up tempo and the men separate themselves from the boys, weekends morph into weekdays. Other chores become placeholders yielding to just one desire: watching…

Let’s talk hope, by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future, someone once said. Even though there are enough reasons to continue with the treatise on banditry and shared sovereignty – such a depressing fact of our national life – however, today I want to look at the other side – the side of hope. Hope is to believe with an audacity that better days are afoot, the ability to see light at the end of the tunnel. Yeah, hope is tough at the moment – what with the massacre of about…

Yoruba: From restructuring to àwa l’ókàn, By Lasisi Olagunju

Emporium Reporters

A professor friend who works abroad is home-sick. He recently asked me: “I want to visit home. I am scared. What do you think? Will I be safe?” I didn’t know what to tell him. Those of us at home carefully select where to go in Nigeria and when to go there. Our country is a jungle: people get killed; people get captured for ransom; people come out unhurt. Who gets what is not made known to us. Going to the farm, to the mosque, to the church, to the…

BREAKING: Buhari sacks acting Accountant General, Anamekwe over alleged corrupt practices

Emporium Reporters

The Federal Government, under President Muhmamadu Buhari has reportedly sacked Chukwuyere N. Anamekwe as the acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF). According to The Nation reports, has been replaced with AGF Mr. Okolieaboh Ezeoke Sylvis, a former TSA (Treasury Single Account) Director. It was gathered that Anamekwe’s replacement followed allegations that he was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). It was also said that the government was not comfortable with his revelation that it was borrowing to pay salaries. Anamekwe was appointed acting AGF on the…

Untreated Malaria May Lead To Mental Disorder – Expert

Emporium Reporters

Mr Tobias John, a public health expert, on Friday warned that malaria might lead to Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) if left untreated.   John, who is the Northeast Zonal Coordinator of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe.   He said that the warning was imperative in view of the dearth of proper awareness about malaria and the different health complications that untreated malaria could lead to. He said that malaria was sensitive…