Author: Chief Editor

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Sunday said his administration inherited about N100 billion unpaid pensions under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Okowa disclosed this at the third session of the 8th Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Ughelli Diocese. The session was held at Bishop Agori-Iwe Memorial Church, Ughelli. Okowa said that the financial burden forced 18 state governments out of 26 that enlisted on the scheme to withdraw, leaving only eight state governments, including Delta, in the Programme. The governor explained that the major challenge which forced the states to withdraw and others not to enrol…

A former Nigerian diplomat has told the Federal Government to embrace negotiated settlement option to save Nigeria about N1.2 trillion being spent annually to defeat Boko Haram. Foreign policy expert, Dr Nnamdi Onochie, gave the advice on Monday in Abuja while speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sudden death of President Idris Deby of Chad. Deby, a key ally of France in the fight against jihadists in the Maghreb, died in battle in southern Chad on April 19, throwing his nation into fresh political uncertainty. Onochie argued that Deby’s death and the unfolding…

Across the globe, emerging technologies and innovation continue to affect day-to-day activities, from the way people communicate to the way organisations carry out their activities. With this trend, it’s safe to project that digital technology will further transform the working environment of Nigeria Immigration Service in the next 10 years. To address the problem of scarcity of international passport, Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior has commenced decentralisation of international passports in the 774 local government areas. The process started with inauguration of Passports Express Centre at Maitama District, Abuja. International passports, according to the minister, will now be available within…

*Seeks end to ethnicising, religionising crime Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi at the weekend urged Nigerians to look beyond religious divides and sentiments to elect the next president in 2023. Fayemi, also Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), warned against giving ethnic colouration to crimes just as he urged Nigerians irrespective of their religious and ethnic backgrounds to join hands to defeat evil merchants. He gave this advice while delivering the convocation lecture at the graduation of Good Shepherd Major Catholic Seminary, Kafanchan, Kaduna State on Friday. The lecture was titled “The Church, Politics and Future Elections.” At the attendance…

A former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and a presidential candidate in the last general election, Kingsley Moghalu, has accused the presidency of double standards in the matter involving the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, over his past radical Islamic views and supporting the Boko Haram terrorist group. While accusing the presidency of setting two criteria for officials serving in the same government, Moghalu said the minister should just go. Moghalu, in several tweets yesterday said Pantami should be sacked, wondering how he passed through the Department of State Security (DSS) screening before…

“Government’s printing of Naira simply means loans advanced to states to pay salaries and survive; and not the literal interpretation of printing money from the factory and sharing to the public,” according to Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was Emefiele’s initial reaction to a recent comment by Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo that the CBN printed about N60billion to augment Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) subvention to states in March. Speaking at the Edo Transition Committee stakeholders engagement, Obaseki had raised concern that the step the apex bank took was an indication that the…

Bayern Munich blew the chance to clinch the Bundesliga title for a ninth successive season on Saturday as the club world champions crashed to a 2-1 defeat away to Mainz. First-half goals by Jonathan Burkardt and Robin Quaison sealed Mainz’s third straight win, pulling them away from the relegation fight and forcing Bayern to wait to be crowned champions. On his return from a knee injury, Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski scored just before the end to leave him four short of Gerd Mueller’s all-time record of 40 Bundesliga goals in a season. “We just have to put the game behind…

Chelsea took control of the battle to secure Champions League football next season as Timo Werner’s goal earned a 1-0 win over West Ham on Saturday, while Liverpool conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 with Newcastle. After a week dominated by England’s ‘big six’ aiming to guarantee top-level European football every season via a breakaway Super League (ESL), Chelsea and Liverpool turned their attentions to trying to earn a top-four Premier League finish on the field. Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Tottenham were the other four English clubs involved in proposals for the ESL, which collapsed within 48…

Jurgen Klopp admitted Liverpool is not playing like a side who “deserves” Champions League football next season after blowing the chance to move into the Premier League’s top four with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle on Saturday. Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring after just three minutes, but Liverpool wasted a host of chances to extend their lead and paid in stoppage time. The Reds even had a reprieve when Callum Wilson’s equaliser was ruled out after a VAR review for handball, but still could not hold on as Willock’s deflected strike secured a vital point in the Magpies’ bid…

A businessman, Dr. Andrew Warri Foubiri has demand for N5 billion, retraction and apology from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged defamation and malicious damage for declaring him wanted without due legal process. Fuobiri who is the Managing Director A.M Projects, A.M Project Consultancy Limited, Medical Director Ranez Medicals and Director of Health and Missions International made the demands through his counsel, Chief Nelson O. Imoh and Kini Inemkpo Marcus, in a letter dated April 14, 2021. The EFCC had made a publication in a national daily declaring Fuobiri wanted for allegedly obtaining N125 million under pretence…