Author: Chief Editor

The Federal Government has said Nigeria is not among red-listed countries, whose citizens require mandatory quarantine for 14 days in a supervised UK facility. The UK government had in a statement on Monday said Nigerians would continue to isolate upon arrival to that country. Speaking during a COVID-19 vaccination update in Abuja, Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said Nigeria’s status has not changed. “This is similar to our requirement to have travellers from the UK isolate for seven days upon arrival in Nigeria,” he said. Shuaib noted that the Presidential Steering Committee…

As we recently marked the 61st anniversary of our nation’s independence, it seemed appropriate to do some introspection. This is appropriate not simply because it is customary so to do but mainly because after we celebrated the 60th independence anniversary last year with subdued fanfare because of COVID-19 the lessons of how to build a virile nation would have sunk into us. But as we speak today the country is still speeding its way towards the precipice. Not much has changed. Not the direction, not the vehicle, not the speed. Everyday people are being mindlessly slaughtered in the North East…

•NMA applauds move, tasks govt on faithfulness with pact True to The Guardian investigation that the National Association Resident Doctors (NARD) could call off its nine week-old strike yesterday, the body, after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, gave credence to the report. NARD President, Dr. Dare Godiya Ishaya, who told reporters in Abuja, that the suspension was informed by the substantial progress recorded in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with the Federal Government, was quick to add that his association had given the government another six weeks to implement the full decisions to avert…

A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has warned against reducing political participation to age and gender. According to him, governance should be about the heart. Oshiomhole spoke at the public presentation of a book titled, ‘Politics that works,’ in Abuja on Monday. The book was written by Babafemi Ojudu and Alex James. Oshiomhole said, “It is very dangerous to reduce governance and issues of government in Nigeria to age, and even the question of gender. “When we are talking about gender issue, what drives a woman is not the skirt or blouse that she wears,…

Tayo Oke There are three arms of government under a federal system: legislative, executive, and Judiciary. In Nigeria, however, there appears to be the fourth: the Governors’ Forum, (or Fora), as they now come in multiples. It appears to be Nigeria’s unique contribution to the modern understanding of federalism. Let us be absolutely clear from the onset, the Nigerian constitution makes clear provisions for the office of governor for each of its 36 states, but no provision for the institution of the ‘Governors’ Forum’. It has been invented by the governors for their convenience. It has no basis in law…

Azuka Onwuka When police stations, police and military checkpoints, offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, and prisons in the South-East were being attacked by an unidentified group later named “unknown gunmen,” many people from the region, especially those with sympathies for the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, applauded them. Their argument was that the police and the military had killed a lot of innocent members of IPOB and other people and deserved whatever they got. But many people warned that such attacks should not be applauded, because violence begets violence and soon gets out of hand. It happened…

•Sanwo-Olu reiterates demand for special status •Says prosperity of Lagos has multiplier effect on S’West, Nigeria Lagos State Government yesterday demanded one per cent share in the federal revenue allocation formula, maintaining that the state’s unique features and its prosperity bear on development in the South-west and Nigeria, generally. The government canvassed a special status designation for Lagos State, and proposed that the revenue sharing formula should be 34 per cent for the federal government, one per cent for the Federal Capital Territory, 42 per cent for state governments, 23 per cent for local governments, and one per cent for…

Five Governors of the South-South states have just arrived Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital for a crucial meeting. The governors were received by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, at the state Government House Port Harcourt. The governors that have arrived are Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki; Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri and Akwa Ibom Governor, Emmanuel Udom. It is believed that the forum is meeting in Rivers to discuss issues connected to VAT, politics and security. As of the time of filing this report, the Cross River Governor Prof Ben Ayode has yet to arrive the…

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that his government is working on a short and long term development plan of between 10 and 30 years for the state. Diri disclosed this at the weekend during the state silver jubilee anniversary dinner held at Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Yenagoa. The governor said the plan would serve as a template for future administrations to consolidate upon and bequeath to their successors. A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that the task of achieving the plan would be the collective…

The Anambra State candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the forthcoming governorship election, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has described the manifesto of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as empty. Soludo had recently unveiled his manifesto during a grand rally of his party in Awka. However, this came after Ubah had accused Soludo of not having a manifesto, but planning to ride on the back of the incumbent Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to power. Ubah had also challenged Soludo to a debate on their manifesto for the people of the state, noting that any delay…