Author: darelasisi@gmail.com
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi zonal office, on Tuesday, arraigned a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha, over alleged N70 million fraud. Kucha is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office and gratification before a Federal High Court, Makurdi. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former vice-chancellor, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecuting counsel, Mr Y. Tarfa, told the court that Kucha committed the offences while serving as a public officer at the university between 2012 and 2017. Tarfa said…
President Muhammadu Buhari, has inaugurated the first set of combat and light vehicles manufactured at the Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot in partnership with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vehicles were unveiled at the opening of the 2019 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference on Tuesday in Kaduna. The theme of the conference is, “Application of the Cutting Edge of the Nigerian Army in Tackling Contemporary Security Challenges”. The vehicles, which include five Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) nicknamed, ‘Ezugwu MRAP’ and a number of infantry patrol vehicles were…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says there have been significant reductions in Nigeria’s annual Imports Bill. The CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr Edward Adamu made this known at the ongoing 28th Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Owerri on Tuesday. The theme of the three-day seminar is “Galvanising Development Finance and Monetary Policy Growth”. Represented by the Director, Corporate Communications Department, Mr Isaac Okorafor Adamu said there had also been an increase in non-oil exports. “Our Development Finance interventions have helped to bolster agricultural production by removing obstacles faced by smallholder farmers. “We have also improved…
One in four students across 36 wealthy countries are lacking basic reading skills and would struggle in an increasingly volatile, digital world, the organization for economic cooperation said. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) made this known on Tuesday in its 2018 PISA educational attainment study showed that the share of low performers had increased on average since 2009, the last time reading was the main focus of the survey. OECD added that most countries, particularly in the developed world, have seen little improvement in their performances over the past decade, even though spending on schooling increased by…
Gov. Nadir El-Rufai of Kaduna has called on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to consider the establishment of Command Secondary School in Southern Kaduna to spur more military presence in the area. El-Rufai made the call when Buratai led the top army hierarchy to pay him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Kaduna. He said that the southern part of the state had produced prominent top military officers including service chiefs, adding that citing a command school would be a tribute to their dedication. The governor pledged the state government’s commitment to providing the needed facilities to…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday submitted a list of 16 nominees of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for Senate approval. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the list of the nominees as contained in a letter addressed to the President of Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan was read at plenary. Buhari wrote: “Pursuant to Section 3 Sub-section 2 of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Act 2006; “I am pleased to forward for confirmation by the Senate the under-listed names of nominees for the positions of Chairman and members of the NAHCON. “This nominees are: Sikiru Hassan, representing…
The Oyo State Government on Tuesday warned traders in the 62 markets in Ibadan to imbibe the culture of proper refuse disposal forthwith or face the wrath of the law when caught. Mr Kehinde Ayoola, the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, gave the warning at a stakeholders meeting with leaders of associations in the markets. Ayoola said the meeting was to fashion out ways to curb the menace of indiscriminate waste dumping in Ibadan markets and road medians across the state capital. He stressed that the Seyi Makinde administration would not tolerate indiscriminate dumping of refuse. The commissioner…
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ending impunity and facilitating recourse to justice for victims, as well as ensuring punishment for perpetrators. Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said this on Monday, in a statement issued by Dr Umar Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations Office, in the Ministry of justice. Malami was speaking at the opening of the five-day 18th Session of the assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute, at the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague, Netherlands. He said Nigeria was also committed to the criminalisation of…
Borno is the epicenter of the Boko Haram crisis, and the Lake Chad region is the theatre of the war. No one dares to venture into the region where Boko Haram elements have been holding major towns and villages hostage. Reports of attacks on military and Government convoys, Non-Governmental Organizations’ workers and civilians, with attendant gory and harrowing experiences, come in from the area almost every week. Even Military Generals pay special attention to the area whenever they confront the insurgents. New Marte, the headquarters of Marte Local Government and host of the Chad Basin Development Authority, CBDA, is one…
The Senate resolution on the leadership crisis bedeviling the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) offers the country hope of a new beginning for the beleaguered agency. At its sittings last week Senate President Ahmed Lawan, while directing the committee on NDDC to scrutinize the commission’s budget, insisted that the budget must not be defended by the interim management committee (IMC) set up by the Niger Delta Affairs minister Godswill Akpabio. In his words: “As far as we are concerned, this Senate knows that we have confirmed the request of Mr. President for the board members of the NDDC and we…