Author: darelasisi@gmail.com

Till his demise in Abuja on September 25, Chief Ufot Joseph Ekaette, CFR (1939-2019) achieved many firsts in his lifetime. He was the longest serving Principal Secretary to the Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR (8years), a post equivalent to Chief of Staff to the President. He was the pioneer Director General of the Directorate, Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI). He was the first deputy governor of Akwa Ibom state. He was the longest-serving Secretary of the Government of the Federation. He was the first Minister of the Niger Delta. He was a simple man from Ikot-Edor in…

Britain was on Friday, urged to step up its efforts to protect girls and young women from Nigeria becoming victims of trafficking and slavery in the light of research published by a London charity. Plan International UK said the impact of militant group Boko Haram — which has subjected large numbers of young women to abuse and forced marriage — was combining with poverty and unemployment to push women and girls into the hands of traffickers. Some are being moved abroad, including to Britain, to be exploited, while others are being trafficked internally and subjected to mistreatment including “sexual abuse…

ABUJA – In its last intervention for the month of November, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday, November 29, 2019, made an intervention of $323.5million in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) and CNY 17.9million in the spot and short-tenured forwards segment of the inter-bank foreign market. The CBN Director in charge of the Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said that the intervention was for requests in the agricultural and raw materials sectors. The Chinese Yuan, on the other hand, was for the Renminbi denominated Letters of Credit. Mr. Okorafor further expressed satisfaction over the stability…

Sen. Godiya Akwashiki, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs has said that the Senate would not have anything to do with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Caretaker Committee because it was not a legal entity. Akwashiki said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday. She said that the Senate was waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the newly confirmed members of the NDDC board. “There is no confusion in the NDDC. Mr President sent his nominees who are people of impeccable character to the Senate for confirmation to occupy offices in the commission. “We have…

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday said that the Federal Government would soon commence the construction of the 600-kilometer Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline which would move gas from the Southern part of the country to the North. The Nigerian leader, who disclosed this while addressing the 5th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit at the Sipopo International Conference Hall, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, added that the viability of extending the gas pipeline to North Africa was also under consideration. Describing the theme of the Summit, Natural Gas – Energy for Sustainable Development as most appropriate, President Buhari noted that the one-day meeting was “taking…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about HIV and AIDs among African youth amid their vulnerability to the disease. WHO launched the campaign as of Dec. 31, the 31st World AIDS Day approaches. Matshidiso Moeti, the organization’s Regional Director for Africa, said. Senior officials said the campaign dubbed #TheTeaOnHIV aims to reach out to one million adolescents and youth in Africa with information on how they can prevent themselves from contracting HIV. And also on how to live positively with HIV/AIDs. “This social media campaign aims to equip young Africans with…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed two Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHTs) gun trucks and killed some fighters at Borgozo in Borno. He explained that this was achieved when NAF Jets and a helicopter gunship were scrambled to provide close air support to ground troops as they repelled a BHT attack on the location. “The aircraft, upon arrival overhead the target area, tracked and engaged three of the BHT gun trucks that were involved in the attack. “The BHTs moved the vehicles under some trees, while some of the fighters…

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Friday destroyed over 5,000 substandard Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders worth N51.3 million. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the cylinders which were imported by different businessmen were destroyed at the SON warehouse in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos. The destroyed cylinders, commonly referred to as cooking gas, were in sizes of 50kg, 12.5kg, 6kg, and 3kg and had branded names such as Anadolugaz, Royaltek, Setro, Repsol and Safic. The Director-General of SON, Mr Osita Aboloma, said the cylinders were seized by SON during the first quarter of 2019. Aboloma , represented by…

The Nasarawa State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has tasked journalists to uphold professional ethics in reportage. Muhammad Mahmoud-Fari, State Commandant of NSCDC, gave this charge on Friday in Lafia while playing host to the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nasarawa State Council. He said the media played a critical role in societal development, hence the need for journalists to exhibit a high sense of professionalism. Mahmoud-Fari also stressed the need for the chapel and NUJ to tackle the issue of fake journalists with the seriousness it deserves. According to the commandant, the activities of…

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has described his victory at the Appeal Court as validation of the will of the people. Lalong in a statement on Friday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Simon Macham said that the affirmation of his victory was yet another collective victory for the entire people of the state. The governor said that he was not surprised by the court verdict as he never doubted the validity of the people’s mandate reposed in him and the All Progressives Congress (APC). “This is not a victory for me but for the entire people…