Author: Chief Editor

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has sought forgiveness from youths on behalf of Nigerian leaders, insisting that the political leadership had failed them. The development, he added, was behind the high level of trust deficit between government and the people. Briefing newsmen yesterday in Calabar on the #EndSARS protests that have claimed lives and properties in parts of the country, Duke stated: “I do know one thing as a Nigerian. There is a trust deficit between government and the people.” Recalling the Lekki tollgate, Lagos ugly incident, the ex-governor noted: “I had conversations with the #EndSARS people,…

• N246 budgeted for one month medical care of every Nigerian in 2021 • Concerns over no direct allocations for COVID-19, future pandemics • FG allocates 4.526% of budget to sector compared to 12.5% by S’Africa The Federal Government has provided explanation why it failed for the umpteenth time to meet the Abuja Declaration by African leaders in 2001 and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to allocate, at least, 15 per cent of yearly national budgets to health. In April 2001, the African Union (AU) countries met in Abuja and set a target of, at least, 15 per cent of…

Mr Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) party leader, has proposed that revenue from the Lekki tollgate, Lagos State, be donated to confirmed victims of the shooting that occurred during the #EndSARS protest. According to him, other identifiable victims of police brutality in the state should also benefit from the proceeds. Tinubu in a statement on Monday. also absolved himself from allegations of ordering the deployment of soldiers against peaceful protesters at Lekki toll plaza on Oct.20, 2020. “I propose to government that the tollgate be left closed for an indefinite period. “If it is reopened, revenues should be…

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has relaxed the curfew imposed on the state following the violence that occurred in the wake of the #EndSARS protests. The protest last week turned violent in Ekiti with hoodlums burning three trucks and several cases of rape and attacks reported in Ado Ekiti metropolis. In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Akinbowale Omole, on Monday, the governor said the 24-hour curfew has been reviewed and would now be in place between 8pm and 6am. It reads: “This is to inform the general public in Ekiti State that the state government…

The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has restated the federal government’s commitment to reform the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Speaking at the Sokoto State Police Command headquarters Sunday, Dingyadi stated that President Muhammad Buhari, following the outcry of Nigerians against the misconduct of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), instantly directed the Inspector General Of Police (IG) Muhammad Abubakar Adamu to disband the unit. As part of the reforms the president directed the IG to introduce in the police force, the minister said, a new unit, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, with a mandate of stamping…

•Warns looting will erode confidence of foreign investors •Coordinated attacks targeted at weakening South-west economy, say govs, ministers •Gbajabiamila: Lagos needs N1tn to rebuild damaged infrastructure As the nation continues to count its losses to the arson perpetrated by hoodlums at the wake of the protests against police brutality, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday pleaded again for peace, assuring the victims of the violence that justice would be done. A wave arson, looting and killings have convulsed many states of the federation since last week when hooligans seized the #EndSARS protests against police brutality to vandalise public and private assets. The…

•25 police stations, 20 patrol vehicles, three barracks razed With the destruction of 25 police stations, 20 patrol vehicles, three barracks and communication gadgets, the Lagos State Police Command, will require at least N10 billion to replace the facilities lost to the #EndSARS protests in the state, THISDAY’s investigation has shown. According to the state police command, the 25 stations burnt in the state are: Orile, Amukoko, Layeni, Ilasamaja, Ikotun, Ajah, Igando, Elemoro, Makinde, Onipanu, Ebute Ero, Pen Cinema, Isokoko, Alade, Cele, Igbo Elerin, Shibiri, Gbagada, Onilekere, Makoko, Daleko, Asahun, Makinyo, Amuwo-Odofin and Anti-Kidnapping unit at Surulere. Other police stations…

Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool’s ability to cope with “injustice” as the Premier League champions survived a scare to beat Sheffield United 2-1 on Saturday. Klopp’s side trailed to Sander Berge’s controversial first-half penalty at Anfield, with the Reds frustrated that VAR gave the spot-kick despite Fabinho’s foul appearing to take place outside the area. But Roberto Firmino equalised before the break and Portugal forward Diogo Jota completed the escape act with his second goal since signing from Wolves in September. After losing Virgil van Dijk to a serious knee injury in last weekend’s Merseyside derby draw at Everton, the Reds…

There are indications that a similar political gambit that upstaged Nigeria’s First and Second Republics in 1966 and 1983, as well as, aborted the Third Republic in 1993, is playing out also in the current Fourth Republic. It seems one of the national leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in the middle of the raging storm. Pundits are waiting to see how the scenario pans out ultimately from now till 2023, when Nigeria conducts another general elections. In a fashion typical of Yoruba hew and cut brand of politics, the intrigues surrounding the former governor of…

• 229 suspects to be prosecuted for arson, murder The Lagos State Government yesterday disclosed that its Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS-related Abuses and Lekki Toll Gate Incident would begin sitting on Tuesday. The state government, also, disclosed that all suspected hoodlums arrested in connection with the mayhem unleashed on the state after the Lekki shootings would be prosecuted. These are contained in separate statements the Secretary of the panel, Mr. Babajide Boye and the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Kayode Oyekanmi issued yesterday. The state governor, Mr. Babajide…