President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in another crucial meeting with members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the security council at the State House, Abuja. The meeting, which is sequel to the one held with the North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF), is mostly virtual, as most of the participating governors are linking via video call. Physically present at the virtual meeting are the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (Rtd); the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor…
Author: YemieFash
The Federal Government on Tuesday received the donation of 200 ventilators promised by the Donald Trump-led administration of the United States Government, to support the country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The ventilators were received by the Ministry of Health from the USAID in Abuja. In his remark, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said, “We shall be taking delivery of medical ventilators to shore up our Intensive Care response capability, courtesy of the President and people of the United States of America. “This donation consists of 200 ventilators, which, as we all know by now, are a critical…
President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia had become the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval to a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move hailed by Moscow as evidence of its scientific prowess. The development paves the way for the mass inoculation of the Russian population, even as the final stage of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continue. The speed at which Russia is moving to roll out its vaccine highlights its determination to win the global race for an effective product, but has stirred concerns that it…
The suspended management of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has said it is ready to face an investigation, if it is conducted by an independent panel of enquiry, over alleged N3.4 billion financial infractions leveled against it. The embattled management rejected any probe panel set up by Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige. The minister had, last month, inaugurated a Presidential Joint Board and Audit Investigation Panel to probe alleged N3.4 billion financial impropriety against the fund’s suspended Managing Director Adebayo Somefun and three other directors. The committee is chaired by Ibrahim Khaleel, the Treasurer of Nigeria Labour Congress…
A 30-year-old musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Upper Shari’a Court sitting in Kano State. The trial Judge, Khadi Muhammad Ali-Kani, sentenced Sharif-Aminu to death by hanging for blasphemy. Sharif-Aminu, a resident of Sharifai Quarters of Kano Municipal, was arraigned by the police on one-count charge of inciting religious creed. This, the police said was contrary to section 382 (6) of Kano State Sharia Panel Code Law 2000. The Prosecution, Insp. Aminu Yar-Goje, informed the court that the musician committed the offence February 28. Yar-Goje also disclosed that on the same date at about…
The Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) has praised Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for saying power should shift to the region in 2023. It said the call followed earlier calls by former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, on the same issue. Publicity Secretary Karounwi Oladapo, in a statement, said Southwest APC would continue to recognise strong voices in support of the southern presidency until it becomes a reality. He said: “We encourage other vocal, credible and influential northern figures to speak out and be counted. The call for southern presidency in 2023 resonated with the northern masses. None of those…
The federal government’s Solar Homes Systems (SHS) programme developed under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) targets the provision of modular solar-powered units to five million households to serve 25 million people in rural and under-served areas, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said. Osinbajo, in a keynote address at the virtual 2020 Presidential Policy Dialogue organised at the weekend by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said in response to the economic challenges posed by COVID-19, the government developed the ESP with a stimulus package of N2.3trn to lift the economy. He said, “We expect to start with assembling…
The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, Tukur Buratai on Monday declared that the Boko Haram terrorists have been expelled from most of the northern states except Borno. He made the disclosure during a meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and governors from the northeastern region of Nigeria. He also said that troops are sharing intelligence with local to flush the insurgents out of Borno. “We are coordinating with civil and traditional authorities, mobilising and reinforcing and all we need is patience. We will not relent,” Mr Buratai explained to president Buhari. Meanwhile, hours after Mr Buratai’s claim, Many communities…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will approach the Supreme Court over conflicting rulings by the Court of Appeal on its powers to deregister political parties. Its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, in a statement, said: “Faced with two conflicting judgments from the same court, the commission is not in a position to pick and choose which one of them to obey.” The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday reversed the deregistration of 22 political parties by the electoral umpire. A panel of the Court of Appeal, led by the…
The student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Afolabi Emmanuel, who tried to hack PREMIUM TIMES website in February has apologised to the medium. Between late February and early March, the hacker, who operated from FUTA, launched massive cyberattacks on PREMIUM TIMES website. The attacks happened days after the newspaper ran a series of stories detailing a power tussle between the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and the then chief of staff to the President, Abba Kyari. The attacker’s repeated attempts failed as the efforts were blocked by the paper’s security experts as well as its external security consultant, Quirium. Insiders…