Over 1000 midwives deployed nationwide

In a strategic move to close up existing gaps in the nation’s Primary Health Centres (PHC), the federal government, Monday deployed about 1,473 newly graduated basic midwives to PHC facilities in rural areas throughout the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The deployment is geared towards improving maternal, newborn and child health care and consolidating on the gains of the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) of the federal government.

FG to spend $550m on satellites - Shittu

Barrister Adebayo Shittu

The Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, has said Nigeria was expending $550 million on two back-up satellites to put an end to capital flight.

He also explained that a dedicated account had been opened for the fine imposed on MTN in the Central Bank of Nigeria, since the money was not NCC’s to keep, adding that the government was satisfied with the process. 

HIV on the rise in IDP camp

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has alleged, in a report released yesterday, that 500 women and girls have the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) in one Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in the North East.

The group cited an unnamed medical worker in its report, who alleged that those infected with HIV in one IDP rose from 200 to 500, with more cases unreported, over fear of stigmatisation.

Tecno dominates African mobile brand

L-R:Jonathan Doerr,Mounir Boukali,Efosa Idehen and Chidi Okonkwo Deputy General Manager

Few days after it launched its new flagship smartphones, Tecno Phantom 6 and Phantom 6 plus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tecno Mobile, last week, launched the devices in the Nigerian information Technology (IT) market.

FG may sell 3 refineries

Dr. Ibe Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said that the federal government may sell the three refineries in Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt after they have been fixed and certified operationally efficient.

Reconstitute Boards of Parastatals - Reps

Dogara, Speaker of the House

The House of Representatives Wednesday urged the Federal Government to , as a matter of urgency, reconstitute the boards of agencies and parastatals so as to facilitate good governance in the country.

The House also mandated its committee on Governmental Affairs to ensure implementation and report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

Jonathan sues EFCC

ex-First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed Dec. 7 to hear a suit by ex-First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, against the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC),seeking to unfreeze her account.

Apart from the EFCC, other respondents are Skye Bank and a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripama-Owei Dudafa.

Also joined in the suit are Pluto Property and Investment company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

No plans for fuel price hike

NNPC Towers, HQ, Abuja

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Muhammad Garba-Deen, has said there was absolutely no plan by the Federal Government to increase pump price of petrol above N145 maximum level.

He said a statement people were referring to was made within the context of technical explanation, not within the context of downstream operations.

Ford, Nissan view Nigeria ...

Report coming in from Johannesburg, South Africa states that a group of carmakers led by executives from Ford and Nissan will seek to work with Kenyan authorities to develop an auto-manufacturing industry in the east African country, building on talks with Nigerian lawmakers about their own market.

'We need more Radiographers in Nigeria'

There appears to be an apparent need to be met in the number of radiographers in the Nigerian health sector as the ones on the ground have been advised to go for further training and specialise appropriately  in the field of radiotherapy, a kind of treatment for cancer using high energy radiation.

Judges Must Resign

Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria

 

In the latest development to the corruption saga that has enveloped the judicial arm of government, the Federal Government is taking a firm stand on what it expect the accused judges to do. 

The Presidency has maintained that judges facing bribery allegations must step aside ahead of their trial.

According to The Nation the presidency made its position known on Sunday night, October 23, when it stated that the affected judges should resign to clear their names instead of facing trial while on the bench.

The Presidency also faulted Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed’s claim that the judiciary had issues with the DSS, not the federal government. It was also learnt that the DSS refused to release the evidence against the judges under probe to the National Judicial Council (NJC) in order not to prejudice their trial.

A top government source, who spoke in confidence said: “The government has made its position known to the CJN on why the judges should step aside ahead of their trial. The government will not yield ground on this.

“If we go ahead to arraign them in court, the same CJN and NJC will accuse the government of desecrating the Judiciary. The right step now is to allow the judges to face trial and clear the allegations against them.

“It is unfortunate that what the CJN told the government on how to handle the case of the judges was different from the statement he issued.

“We are suspecting that the CJN might be under pressure from his colleagues or he wants to leave the fate of the judges to his successor.

“He cannot rationalise by making a distinction between the Federal Government and the DSS. The government was in support of the sting operations of the security agency. So, the DSS did not act unilaterally.

“We will not take up issues with the CJN because the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), some former Supreme Court Justices and the Body of Benchers have supported the position of the government that the judges should step aside.”

In addition, the National Judicial Council (NJC) has formally barred judges and court staff from soliciting or accepting gifts from other arms of government as part of measures to enhance the independence of the judiciary.

Oil Reserves may dry up in 30yrs

The President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Nosa Omorodion, said at a media briefing to announce the programme schedule for NAPE’s yearly conference, that the country’s crude oil reserves may dry up in the next 30 years as reported by The Guardian.

N500m MTN bribe allegation - CoS under Probe

Alhaji Abba Kyari - Chief of Staff to the President

The Special Investigation Panel at the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters has commenced investigation of the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, over bribery allegations.

According to a DAILY POST report the Presidency directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to investigate the alleged N500million bribe, said to have been paid to the Chief of Staff by officials of MTN, Telecommunications Company.

The Corruption saga: NJC says Justices to remain seated

Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice and Chairman NJC

The crisis of corruption rocking the third tier of the Nigerian government does not seem to ebb towards abating. In the face of reactions by the institutions so affected and nothing by the masses, it certainly begins to look like the 'righteousness' of the situation will be a legal tug-of-war on the platform of the media. The latest reaction has been that of the National Judicial Council which has has said that it will not ask the judges accused of corrupt practices to step down as it has no powers to do so.

Breaking: Buhari forwards non career nominees for Ambassadorial posts

Bukola Saraki, Senate President

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded a fresh list of 46 non-career Ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation as Ambassadors.

The nominees include a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade (Lagos); Yusuf Tugga (Bauchi); a former deputy governor of Plateau State, Mrs. Paulen Tallen (Plateau); a former members of the House Representatives, Hon. Usman Bugaje (Katsina); the immediate past deputy governor of Niger State, Ahmed Ibeto (Niger); and 41 others.

UBER Nigeria partners top rated drivers for vehicle loans

Uber Nigeria today announced that it is now making low-interest, used-vehicle loans available to its top-rated driver-partners. The pioneering move is the result of partnerships entered into between Uber Nigeria and First Bank of Nigeria Limited, as well as smaller financiers. This means that, for the first time, Uber driver-partners in Nigeria will be able to apply for finance for used vehicles based on their driver performance records.

ECOWAS court orders Dasuki's release, N15m

Sambo Dasuki in white flanked by security operatives

The intervention of the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS, Court has made more intricate the case of the former National security Adviser, Colonel Muhammadu Sambo Dasuki (rtd), by ordering his immediate release from detention, where he has been since December 2015.

HIV cure in view - NHS

Mark Samuels

A British man with HIV undergoing a pioneering treatment to cure him of the disease has shown “remarkable” progress, doctors have told a newspaper. Scientists treating the 44-year-old patient are now hopeful of a breakthrough in what has been described as “one of the first serious attempts at a full cure for HIV”. 

VANSO acquires Interswitch equity in Nigeria

Constantine ‘Labi Ogunbiyi

Mobile and security focused financial technology provider, Value Added Network Solutions, VANSO, has announced the acquisition of 100% of the equity in the company by Interswitch Limited, pan-African digital payments and commerce company.

With this development, the transaction will integrate the two businesses, and provide Interswitch with a market leading mobile banking and payments solution provider in Nigeria, while enabling Vanso to accelerate growth across an expanded range of geographies and products. 

Jibrin removed to deter NASS 'budget padding'

Yakubu Dogara

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, has alleged that the leadership of the House of Representatives suspended Abdulmumuni Jibrin as a ploy to sweep his allegations of corruption in the House under the carpet.

Nigerian Actress banned for holding hands

Rahama Sadau

A prominent Nigerian actress has been banned by a major industry body after she played a character holding hands and “cuddling” a singer in a pop video.

Rahama Sadau was one of the top stars in the Hausa-language film industry based in northern Nigeria.

CBN Governor's wife kidnapped & rescued

A group of heavily armed kidnappers last Thursday night abducted Margaret Emefiele, the wife of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Report has it that Mrs. Emefiele was kidnapped along the Benin-Agbor Road.

The Eagle Online quoted a police source as saying that four other women and a driver were kidnapped along with Mrs. Emefiele.

It was gathered that the abductors have since made contact with the family, demanding for a ransom of N100 million.