Author: Chief Editor

Buhari, who made the pledge at a virtual summit for democracy organised by President Joe Biden of the United States, said necessary mechanisms would be strengthened to ensure that Nigeria witness another peaceful transfer of power. “As we countdown to our next general elections in 2023, we remain committed to putting in place and strengthening all necessary mechanisms to ensure that Nigeria will not only record another peaceful transfer of power to an elected democratic government but will also ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner. “Nigeria will continue to actively support the democratisation…

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated the Federal Government commitment to flush out banditry perpetrators and protect citizens from onslaught of all forms of criminal activities in the country. Buhari gave the assurance on Friday when the Federal Government delegation paid a condolence visit to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal over the killings of 23 travellers by suspected bandits. This is contained in a statement by Malam Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, on Saturday in Sokoto. The president’s condolence message was delivered through the Head of the Federal Government delegation and National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen.…

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday that forward Karim Benzema, who injured a leg last weekend against Real Sociedad, “will play” the derby against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. “Benzema trained today, he has good feelings, he is available and he will play tomorrow,” Ancelotti told a press conference. The derby is already crucial for the race for the title. Victory would put Real Madrid 13 points ahead of reigning champions Atletico at the top of the standings. “If we win, we will simply have three points more than a direct opponent, who will be fighting with us until the…

Norwich are waiting anxiously for Covid-19 results ahead of their clash with Manchester United after Premier League sides were told to return to emergency protocols to limit the spread of the virus. Tottenham’s Europa League Conference game with Rennes on Thursday was postponed after Spurs reported that eight players and five members of staff had tested positive. Sunday’s match between Brighton and Tottenham is also off as fears rise over the potential impact of the surging Omicron variant on the English top-flight. Norwich manager Dean Smith, whose side lost 3-0 to Tottenham last week, faces a nervous wait to find…

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, on Thursday said most of the agreements reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities were under duress. Echono stated this during a retreat organised by the governing council of the University of Abuja. ASUU and the Federal Government have constantly been engaged in tussles over the latter’s failure to meet some of the demands put forward by ASUU. Echono said, “I have heard so much about the fact that the government has failed to honour the agreements with ASUU. I have a different view about that because most…

A former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Bisi Akande, said in his new book that he knew former President Olusegun Obasanjo to be a faithless suitor and an unblinking political philanderer. In his autobiography, ‘My Participations,’ which was presented in Lagos on Thursday, the former Governor of Osun State recalled how the “assassination of Bola Ige left us rudderless.” He said, “We were like sheep without a shepherd. The AD had lost its lodestar for guidance and we were left on the open sea like a floundering ship. Soon, the sharks were circling. “The man who came…

A former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described as mendacious and spurious allegations credited to Miss Precious Chinwendu, his estranged partner, over the health status of their children. A national daily had reported that Chikwendu was arraigned, alongside others, over alleged forgery levelled against her by the Nigeria police at an Abuja court. However, the counsel to the former minister, Ayodeji Sunday Ibikunle, described Chikwendu as a woman who is allegedly suffering from a degenerating mental state and prone to telling monstrous lies by making delusional statements in public. Chinwendu was in the news recently when she alleged that…

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has attributed the rise and cause of criminalities in the country to drug abuse. The Director General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, stated this yesterday at a one-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders on the dangers and consequences of drug abuse in the society held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital. Abari said that experience has shown that drugs were often associated with virtually all anti-social behaviours bedeviling the country. Abari, who was represented by the State Director of NOA, Mr. Enoh Uyoh, said the period of yuletide was usually laced with increased activities that were…

Requests for immediate situation report Concerned about recent killings by suspected bandits in both Sokoto and Katsina States, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday dispatched a high-level five-man security delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services. The presidential marching order to the security chiefs is coming barely 24 after the President inaugurated sophisticated Navy Ships, Patrol Boats, and a helicopter at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island in Lagos to boost security at the maritime borders. The delegation, according to a release by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General…

• Insecurity: I don’t sympathise with you, you applied to be President, says Akande • At book launch, Nigerians pour tributes, encomiums on Akande • Buhari commissions made-in-Nigeria navy ship, helicopter, boats to boost maritime security It was a morning of encomiums and tributes, as Nigerians from all walks of life gathered at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State, to honour Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande, whose memoir, titled: My Participations, was presented to the public, yesterday. The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Akande, said he had no sympathy for President Muhammadu Buhari…