Senate Asks FG To Reintroduce Tollgates

The Senate, on Thursday, asked the Federal Government to reintroduce toll gates in all the federal highways in the country and channel the revenue collected for the maintenance of the roads.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration cancelled the toll gates across the country in 2004, citing loss of revenue to government and the poor maintenance of the tolled roads.

Fayose ‘Increases’ Prices Of Gravel, Sand

Residents of Ekiti State will now pay more for sand and gravel, following the stand-off between Governor Ayo Fayose and members of the Tipper Owners and Quarry Employers.
The stand-off, caused by the government’s imposition of a new tax of N1,000 per trip and a fine of N50,000 for default, was settled yesterday.

Fayose reduced the tax to N500 per trip to take effect from January.
The peace meeting held at Jibowu Hall of the Government House was brokered by the Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). It was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Etop James and Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Duke Fubara.

NIMASA Ex-Boss, Others Granted Stringent Bail Conditions

LAGOS—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, alongside nine others before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over allegation of theft of N3.4billion.
Akpobolokemi was arraigned alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Felix Bob-Nabena, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Governor Juan, Ugo Fredrick, Timi Alari and two companies, Al-Kenzo Limited and Peniel Engineering Services Limited.

ALLEGED $2bn Arms Deal Fraud: EFCC Uncovers Another N600m Acam

ABUJA—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, continued its arrest of high profile politicians and top military officers over the $2bn arms contract allegedly disbursed by the Office of National Security Adviser, ONSA.

Suspects arrested, yesterday, included the former Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi.
Atawodi was accused of alleged diversion of N600 million meant for acquisition of military boats for the use of the Nigerian armed forces.

18,000 Minimum Wage: We Are Saying We Should Tighten Our Belts – Yari

ABUJA – Zamfara State Governor and chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has said it was extremely necessary for the state governors, the presidency and the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC to negotiate over the 18,000 minimum wage. The governor said that the dwindling oil prices has drastically affected the revenue generation of most States which can no longer live pay salaries of workers.wage

He stated that therefore no need living under pretense when in reality, the revenues were not coming.
Yari who fielded questions from State House Correspondents after a private meeting with president Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the presidential villa also denied making categorical statement on pruning down the wage.

Social Media Censorship Bill: ‘Senate Can’t Be Intimidated’ To Surrender’

ABUJA – AS criticisms continue to trail the ongoing bill by the Senate to censor social media in the country, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said no amount of attacks arising from it would make the Red Chamber abandon the proposed law.
Saraki, who acknowledged the roles of the social media in the development of the country’s growing democracy, however, said the Senate would not fold its hand to allowed it abused by some elements.SO
Speaking yesterday, when Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West, raised the issue under matters of urgent importance, during the day’s plenary, the Senate President berated activities of some social media platforms, which he said, had published numerous materials to undermine the integrity of the Red Chamber.

IPOB Blames APC For Death Of 9, Names Victims

Markets, schools, banks remain shut in Onitsha
Soldiers, mobile policemen take over streets, conduct stop-and-search on motorists
MASSOB dissociates self, factions trade blames
ONITSHA—Following the three-week long protests embarked upon by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over continued incarceration of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu which led to the alleged killing of its members by members of Joint Military Task Force, markets, banks and schools in Onitsha and its environs remained closed, yesterday, in apparent solidarity with the protesters.
The Building Materials International Market at Ogidi, near Onitsha, New Auto Spare Parts market at Nkpor and other major markets remained closed, just as banks and schools remained under lock and key.

Onitsha: Pro-Biafran Protesters’ Action, Self-Serving, Says Ohanaeze

The socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned Wednesday’s pro-Biafran agitators’ violent protest that led to the death of over nine persons including a soldier and two policemen.  The Igbo leaders described the group and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s action as “barbaric and self-serving.”  Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has said that 137 of the pro-Biafran agitators that allegedly participated in the violent protest have been arrested.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ali Okechukwu, told one of our correspondents on the telephone that those arrested would be prosecuted.

PDP: We’re Not Against Arrest Of ‘Bad Eggs’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it was not against the arrest of its members who have committed various forms of crimes, but stressed that there should be fairness and transparency in the investigation and trial processes.

Reacting to Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s arrest over his alleged involvement in financial deals with the office of National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki in a telephone interview yesterday, PDP national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said that the party was completely in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption drive.
The party however said people arrested should not be presumed guilty until after investigation.
He added that the PDP was neither defending Dasuki nor exonerating him from the alleged crime but that a transparent process of investigation should be done.

I Have Inspired Many African Leaders —Tinubu

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says he has inspired many African leaders who have also gone ahead to create social change.
Tinubu, who is a former governor of Lagos State, said this at the formal launch of the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership and his investiture as the Patron at the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, according to a statement on Wednesday.
The APC leader, who was represented by his wife, Remi, said national leadership must establish the right policies, provide the necessary infrastructure and create the enabling institutional environment under which ambitious entrepreneurs can become productive.

Dokpesi Can Be Charged With Conspiracy – Sagay

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN), has faulted the excuse given by the Chairman of Daar communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, that the N2.1bn he collected from embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was for the media campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan during the last election.
He, therefore, stated that based on the outcome of investigations, Dokpesi could be charged with conspiracy to steal.

NLC Calls For Legislation To Protect Whistle- Blowers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday in Abuja called on members of the National Assembly to work out a policy to protect whistle blowers.
President of NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call while briefing newsmen on “Why the anti-corruption war is succeeding in the country.’’
Wabba said the National Assembly should rise to the challenge immediately, while the courts should ensure speedy disposal of corruption cases.
He said the on-going revelation on the $2.1 billion arms purchase deal has justified unqualified support for the fight against corruption.

Why We Must Cut Minimum Wage Or Sack Workers — Nigerian Governors

Nigerian governors will eventually reduce the federal minimum wage of N18,000 or downsize because of the current economic crunch, the chairman of the body of governors has said.
The chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Zamfara state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, said on Thursday that irrespective of public condemnations of the plan, it would not be economically feasible to retain the same workforce and pay same amount of money.

SERAP Drags Nigerian Senate To UN Over Repressive Media Bill

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, requesting him to “you use your good offices and position to urgently request the National Assembly of Nigeria, specifically the Senate, to withdraw a bill which if passed into law would undermine the internationally recognized right to freedom of expression and press freedom on the internet in the country”.

$2.1 bn Arms Deal: I Didn’t Receive A Dime From Dasuki, Says Ex-Gov. Bafarawa

ABUJA -The ongoing investigation into the $2.1 billion arms deal involving a former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki and some of his associates took another twist Thursday, with the former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa exonerating himself of any wrongdoing.
There has been a chain of revelations as to how the money was dispensed, with the ex-governor’s name featuring prominently as collecting about N4.6 billion for “spiritual purposes”.

I Will Not Reduce Minimum Wage, Other Governors Must Pay – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the state government will not be a party to the reduction of the minimum wage for workers.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday when he granted audience to the National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, Wike said that his overnment will continue to pay salaries of workers regularly because the multiple effect was critical to social stability.
He said: “Rivers State will not be a party to the reduction of the minimum wage. Rivers State will not reduce the minimum wage.
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PDP Begs Nigerians To Join Party, Holds National Convention March 2016

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that it would hold its national convention on March 19, 2016. According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, zonal congresses of the party were billed to hold on March 16, while state congresses would be conducted on March 12.

Jega To Receive Wole Soyinka’s ‘Anti-Corruption Defender’ Award.

Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede, will be honoured at the 10th Wole Soyinka award for investigative reporting. Jega and Oloyede will receive the anti-corruption defender award and the lifetime award for journalistic excellence, respectively.

The decade anniversary of the Wole Soyinka award for investigative reporting is scheduled for Wednesday 9 December, 2015, by 5pm at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
In his acceptance note to Motunrayo Alaka, coordinator of the Wole Soyinka centre for investigative journalism, Jega appreciated the organisation for finding him worthy of the award.
“Such an honour from a centre named after the great and revered Wole Soyinka is of considerable significance,” he said.

Biafra Separatists: Northern Traders Flee South-East

As the protest by pro-Biafra separatists continue unabated, Nigerians from the northern part of the country are fleeing from the South-East in droves for fear of being caught in the centre of the crisis.
Most of them residing in Onitsha, Nnewi and other South-Eastern cities doing business have hurriedly relocated to Asaba, Delta State capital seeking refuge.
Pro-Biafra protesters led by member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had last Monday intensified the protest in demand for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by locking down the South-East.

'Allah Decided to Punish Turkey Leaders By Making Them Lose Their Minds' - Putin

Russia's President said that Allah, apparently, decided to punish Turkey's leadership by making them lose their minds.

Russia's president said: "We were ready to cooperate with Turkey on any sensitive issue and were ready to go much further than [Turkey's other] allies were willing to. "

Earlier, on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had received additional evidence that oil from fields controlled by Daesh, which is prohibited in Russia, were being transported to Turkey on an industrial scale.

Strange Bedfellows: Does US' Coalition Intentionally Feed Daesh in Syria?

Russia's increased activity along the Syrian-Turkish border indicates clearly that the Syrian conflict has entered its final phase, geopolitical researcher Tony Cartalucci stresses, adding that the true sponsors behind this conflict are now stepping in overtly.

It should be clear now to those, who criticized Russia's air campaign as ineffective, that their prognosis has proved wrong, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer Tony Cartalucci underscores.

Three Mistakes Turkey Made That Dragged It Into Conflict With Russia

Turkey seems to have fallen into its own trap: its covert support of Daesh has led to indirect confrontation with Russia, but the shootdown of a Russian bomber and a further escalation of relations with Moscow have led to direct confrontation between the two, greatly annoying Ankara’s western partners, according to an article in Le Huffington Post.

Turkey has made a number of “very bad decisions”: by taking up an ambiguous position in Syria, it has started a brawl with Russia and in so doing annoying its western partners, journalist Romain Herreros wrote in his article for the newspaper.

Western Media Calls Russia 'Hostile' for Outing Turkey's Dirty Oil Secret

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry held a briefing detailing the Turkish government's involvement in the trade of Daesh (ISIL) oil. However, instead of starting their own investigations, many Western media outlets have instead attacked Russia for presenting the evidence, suggesting the revelations were 'hostile' and 'confrontational'.

At Wednesday's Defense Ministry briefing in Moscow, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov presented Russian intelligence materials, including photographs, satellite imagery, and detailed maps outlining exactly how "industrial quantities" of oil from Daesh-controlled territories in Syria and Iraq find their way into Turkey, and then on to third countries.

57 year old man dies onboard an Arik Air flight

According to multiple reports, a 57 year old man identified as Albert Nnadi died on-board an Arik Air Flight that was heading to Lagos from Owerri yesterday December 2nd. The man was on his way to Lagos for medical attention when he was found dead as the passengers were disembarking from the plane after landing in Lagos. Arik Air confirmed the incident happened and said the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Mortuary.

Photos: 6 Dangote trucks burnt during Pro-Biafran protest in Onitsha yesterday

Between 4 to 6 trucks belonging to Dangote group were burnt during the Biafra protest that took place in Onitsha, Anambra state yesterday December 2nd. The Central Mosque in Onitsha was also torched. Continue to see more photos...