War Against Insurgency On Course – COAS

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured that the war against insurgency is on course in spite of recent attacks by insurgents on remote communities in Adamawa and Borno.
Buratai gave the assurance on Wednesday when he visited a military location at Gajigana in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno, which was recently attacked by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the recent attacks would not have much effects on the operation geared toward destroying all terrorists’ enclaves on Nigerian territory, describing them as a minor setback that was being addressed.

Transparency International Rates South Africa As Africa’s Most Corrupt.

In a report released by Transparency International (TI), a watchdog group, on Tuesday, South Africa came first among countries where corruption is on the increase.
Citizens of Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana were also said to have witnessed the highest levels of corruption.

SSS Disobeys Court Order, Ejects Ex-DG, Kayode Are, From Lagos Home

Operatives of the State Security Service on Wednesday stormed the Lagos residence of one of its former Director Generals, Kayode Are, ejecting his family and throwing out his properties.
“They are right here in my house,” a distraught Mr. Are told PREMIUM TIMES on telephone. “They have pulled down the doors, chased my family away and are throwing out our properties. They are not even giving us time to remove our things.”
The secret police took the action despite a court injunction served on it Tuesday barring it from ejecting Mr. Are from his Ikoyi home.

Kachikwu Replaces Diezani As OPEC President.

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, has replaced Diezani Alison-Madueke as conference president of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Speculations were that Nigeria’s minister of petroleum resources, President Muhammadu Buhari, would take the top seat at OPEC, but the body in a recent update named Kachikwu as the head of the OPEC conference.

We Can Confidently Announce That Fuel Scarcity Will End In A Few Days – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, following the approval of the subsidy payment by the National Assembly.
”We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the National Assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval,” the Minister said during a visit to the headquarters of the Daily Trust newspaper in Abuja on Wednesday.Lai-Mohammed

U.S Ready To Help Nigeria Overcome Electricity Shortfall

The United States, U.S, Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle has advised the Federal Government to create an enabling environment that will make big private companies invest in the nation’s power sector, insisting that such remained the solution to the challenges crippling the nation’s energy industry.
The envoy stressed that his country identified the private power players as the solution to the several challenges facing the country as regards electricity.

Okonjo-Iweala Tells Buhari To Call Oshiomhole To Order

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has requested the Federal Government to call Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole to order over the Governor’s recent efforts to link her name to the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue.

The Minister stressed that she had absolutely nothing to do with the issue.
She stated that it was an abuse of public office, the judicial process and her human rights for Governor Oshiomhole, whom she stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan, to make false allegations against her while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors.

Biafra: MASSOB,IPOB Deny Setting Onitsha Central Mosque Ablaze

ENUGU – Following ground swell protests at Ontisha,Anambra State and other states of the south-east geopolitical zone staged by members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra,IBOP,last Tuesday,calling on the Federal Government to release their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the two pro-Biafra groups, Wednesday, disassociated selves from acts of arson and violence that culminated in the razing down of Onitsha Central Mosque and burning of some vehicles.

South Africa: Buhari, Xi Jinping To Discuss Railway, Power Projects

President Muhammadu Buhari will be in South Africa , Thursday to participate in the Forum on China/Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) taking place in Johannesburg, December 4-5, 2015. At this forum President Buhari will follow up his meeting with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in November in New York.
President Buhari had indicated to Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader at the bilateral meeting in New York that he wanted China to re-commence stalled rail projects under new terms that would see China providing nearly all the financing required.

PDP: We’re Battle-Ready For APC In Bayelsa.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is ready to combat any attempt of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa state.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the PDP, said members had been instructed to defend their votes and counter any attempt to rig the election by the ruling party.
He also alleged that the APC had concluded plans to rig the Bayelsa governorship election “just as it did in the November 21 Kogi governorship election”.

Fuel Scarcity Will Not Happen Again, Says FG.

Federal government has assured Nigerians that the current fuel scarcity in the country will be over in a matter of days, vowing that the situation will not happen again.

“We can confidently announce here today that the scarcity will end in a few days. Subsidy payment till the end of the year has been approved by the national assembly. As you know we can’t spend money without approval,” Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, said in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Segun Adeyemi, special adviser to the minister, Mohammed explained that the N521bn that had been approved by the national assembly, as part of the passed supplementary budget of N574.4bn, would be enough to cover the fuel subsidy till the end of the year.

Oshiomhole After Me Because I Blocked His ‘Dubious N15bn Loan’ Bid — Okonjo-Iweala

A former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged the federal government to call the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, to order, saying Mr. Oshiomhole is seeking how to link her to the $2.1 billion arms probe. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said she had “absolutely nothing” to do with the arms issue. The Nigerian government has made high profile arrests in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged $ 2.1 billion arms contract. Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was arrested Tuesday. Mr. Oshiomhole was quoted Wednesday by Leadership newspaper as saying the immediate past finance minister, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, should also be prosecuted as they gave approval for funds to be released.

Dasuki Lists Ex-Governors, PDP Chiefs In $2b Deals

FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki has made some “mind-boggling” revelations on the $2billion “phoney” arms contracts, a source said yesterday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a Federal Government committee are probing how huge sums of money meant for procurement of arms went down the drain during the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Fayose Bans Tipper Owners

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has banned tipper owners from operating in the state, following their refusal to comply with the new N1,000 per trip tax imposed on them.
The governor also banned sand excavation in the state, following alleged reported cases of destruction of farmlands, farm produce and other valuables.

Enough Is Enough, IGP Tells MASSOB, IPOB

… Orders massive deployment of mobile police personnel to South-East states, others
INSPECTOR General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, yesterday warned members of Movement for the Actu­alisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), not to provoke the will of the police and other security agencies with con­tinuous threat to public peace.
Arase said the warning became necessary follow­ing alleged increasing acts of brigandage by MASSOB and IPOB, which threatens national security and public peace in the South-East and conterminous states.

2016 Budget Will Address Nigerians Yearnings – Lai Mohammed

The 2016 budget by the federal government would address the yearnings of Nigerians just as the issue of fuel scarcity will soon be a thing of the past.
The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the declarations yesterday when he visited the headquarters of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust newspapers, Abuja.

I Will Discipline, Jail Corrupt Officers – Customs CG

Retired Col. Hameed Ali, the Comptroller -General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday warned that he would either discipline, dismiss or jail any officer found guilty of corrupt practices.
Ali gave the warning while addressing officers and men of the NCS in Calabar, capital of Cross River.
He said that there was the need for them to be of good conduct and show professionalism while carrying out their duties.

Minister: We Are Awaiting Buhari’s Decision On MTN $5.2bn Fine

The $5.2 billion fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) six weeks ago over regulatory infraction has not been waived, the Federal Government said yesterday.
There have been speculations that talks on waiving the fine for the MTN may be on the agenda in the meeting between presidents Muhammad Buhari and Jacobs Zuma of South Africa when the former visits the latter later during the week.

Reps Plagiarize Bills, Says Gbajabiamila

Some members of the House of Representatives usually copy bills that had been passed and gazetted by previous Assembly to re-table them for consideration on the floor of the lower chamber, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila revealed yesterday.
Gbajabiamila who came under matter of privilege at plenary said it was appalling that despite their level of education, some of his colleagues engage in serious plagiarism at the country’s highest lawmaking body, thereby bastardizing and mocking the legislative process.

Okonjo-Iweala: I Have No Hand In $2.1bn Arms Deal

Former coordinating minister of the economy and minister of finance under Goodluck Jonathan administration, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said she has no hand in the arms purchase deals facilitated by the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
Nkwonjo-Iweala dismissed the allegations by the Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole who accused her of participating in the deal, calling the Federal Government to call the governor to order.
The Federal Government is currently investigating the arms purchase deal and many prominent persons were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. President Muhammadu Buhari ordered for Dasuki’s arrest on November 17, after a military investigative panel report indicted him in the $2 billion arms scandal.

N200bn Education Fund Diverted In 2 Years –Senate

Orders probe of Jonathan’s govt
SENATE, yesterday, re­vealed that about N200 bil­lion education tax collected between 2012 and 2013 were diverted to unknown and unspecified uses not recognised in or permitted under the Act setting up the Education Trust Fund.
The funds were diverted during former presidnt Goodluck Jonathan’s ad­ministration. A probe was subsequently ordered.

Making the same Mistake ? FG Seeks US, Israel’s Aid To Crush Boko Haram

Is this not making the same mistake as the Previous administration seeking U.S help and Isreal. Why not go straight to Russia and China for help ? Read bellow.

DETERMINED to crush Boko Haram, the Federal Government yesterday made a passionate plea to the United States and Israel for urgent assistance.
The Minister of Interior, Lt- Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (retd), made the plea when he hosted the ambassadors of both countries in his office in Abuja. He spoke of government’s readiness to collaborate with the two countries to defeat Boko Haram.
According to the minister; “as you know, this is the hub of internal security arrangement in the country. With five strategic security institutions, there is no doubt that the ministry has a major challenge of dealing with internal security.

Dasuki: Buhari Seeking Vengeance With Corruption Fight –Fayose

EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has de­scribed the arrest yester­day, of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) by men of the De­partment of State Services (DSS), as continuation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of vengeance. He also said, “disobeying court order and later arresting and detaining the same person the court ordered to be allowed to travel abroad for medicare is the peak of dictatorship.”

Nigeria Has Become A Police State – Fani-Kayode

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode on Wednesday, in a statement issued, raised an alarm over the safety of former Director General, State Security Services, Col Kayode Are whom he said was under attack from some gunmen suspected to be security operatives.
Are who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the acting National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Saraki Clarifies Claim On Senate Bill Proposing Two-Year Jail For Social Media Users.

The Senate has denied introducing any bill aimed at jailing social media users.It made the explanations in a a statement signed by Bamikole Omishore, SA New Media to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, entitled “Clarification on false claim that Senate passed a bill proposing to jail social media users for two years”.