Poverty, Insecurity, Infrastructure: Again, Nigeria Ranked 14th Failed Country •Ranking Baseless - Presidency

THE Presidency has rejected the ranking of Nigeria among failed states in Africa by the Fund For Peace [FFP], with a warning to Nigerians to be wary of taking such rankings hook, line and sinker.

We’ll Reposition NNPC - New GMD

THE Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu, has said that the corporation would be repositioned to place it in a better position to support the growth of the economy.

Obasanjo Questions Nigeria’s GDP Growth

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, questioned the growth of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), saying it was not realistic, given the level of poverty in the country.Speaking at the 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), he also described the country as a toddler in industrialisation.

DANA Air Set To Compensate Families

Barely 48 hours after the House of Representatives issued DANA Air to pay insurance compensation to the families of the crashed victims of one of its aircraft, the airline management said it had since set machinery in motion to ensure that compensation was fully paid.

Tonight Stretches By A Second - Experts

An agency report indicated on Friday that International timekeepers are adding a second to the clock at midnight universal time Saturday, June 30, going into July 1. That’s 8 p.m. EDT Saturday.

Al Qaida Leader Killed In Mali, Separatist Rebels Ousted

An Algerian-born leader of Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was killed in the northern Malian town of Gao on Friday, while Islamist groups claimed control of the area, local media reported.

FG Warns Contractors To Expedite Action On Road Projects

Contractors handling various roads projects in the country have been warned to expedite action on the projects or risk being sanctioned.

Curfew: Kaduna Residents Struggle For Survival

The scars left behind by the June 3, 2012 bombings of three churches in Kaduna State and the reprisals that followed, are still visible. While the residents of the state try to bear with the gloom and monumental loss occasioned by the attacks, they have been exposed to a more worrisome problem-being able to grapple with the challenges of staggered curfew that has made life almost unbearable to many in the state and its environs. 

JTF Nabs Pipeline Bomber

The Military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has arrested an ex-militant commander, Mr Seiyefa Gbereke, for sabotage on petroleum pipelines.

Crash of Okotie’s second marriage: We’re shocked, sad –Church members, celebrities

Shock, sympathy and caution still characterise the atmosphere around yuppie Pastor Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church, a few days after he publicly announced the break-up of his four-year-old second marriage to delectable ex-wife Stephanie, at a Sunday morning worship service. The news, which immediately spread like wild fire across the country, jolted many who could not help but recall the glamour and public support that followed his marriage just four years ago.

I Was Not Slapped – Davido

Nigeria’s fast rising musician, Davido Adeleke, popularly known as Davido has debunked rumours that he had a scuffle with mobile policemen.

Boko Haram: Why We Don’t Apply Full Force – COAS

The chief of army staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, said yesterday that the military had been careful to not unleash its full might on insurgents in the north because of the need to avoid collateral damage.

Amosun, Fayemi lament state of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and his counterpart from Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, have lamented the deplorable state of Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, calling for the intervention of the Federal Government without further delay.

Daniel’s trial: Court orders police to probe alleged death threat against star witness

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta yesterday ordered for a police investigation into the alleged threat to the life of Mr Adeluola Babatunde, the star witness in the 38-count criminal charge slammed against former Governor Gbenga Daniel by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

Gunmen Kill 5 Policemen In Adamawa, As NSA Clarifies Position On Boko Haram

Daring gunmen yesterday opened fire on the divisional police headquarters in Gulak community in Madagali local government area of Adamawa State, killing three policemen in the process.

$620,000 bribe-for-clearance scandal: Lawan tenders shocking evidence before committee

There were hints yesterday of the reasons behind the cofidence exuded by the embattled former Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on the Management of Fuel Subsidy, Mallam Farouk Lawan.

Boko Haram: NSA adopts new tactics, meets Shuwa, Abba Kyari, Ciroma

The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), yesterday continued his shuttle of trouble spots by meeting with elders in Borno State.

UCH gets new facility

A LEADING Turnkey medical equipment solutions company in the country, JNC International Limited (JNCI) has congratulated the Chief Medical Director (CMD) at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge, on the commissioning today of the first state–of-the-art Cardiovascular Centre in Nigeria by the Minister of Health, Prof. Christian Onyebuchi.

FG signs N2b road contract

THE Federal Government has signed a N2.2 billion contract for the construction of 14 kilometres Ada-Okere-Ukoni-Amedokhian road in Edo state.

Court voids sack of Imo judicial panel

AN Owerri High Court on Wednesday declared null and void the sack of the four-member Imo Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Stolen crude trigger crisis in Bayelsa Communities

OPERATIVES of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) yesterday averted a bloody communal clash between the youths of the Odogwuama and Tamana communities of Oporoma in the Southern Ijaw Local Council area of Bayelsa State over alleged disagreement on the proceeds from stolen crude oil and illegally refined products.

Cross River plans new housing policy

POISED to make accommodation available for all in the next few years, Cross State government is putting in place a new housing policy.

African tourism ministers seek common visa regime

TO shore up its performance in global tourism and encourage intra-travel in the region, African tourism ministers have called for a common visa regime.

Daniel sues Amosun, others for alleged defamation

IMMEDIATE past Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel has sued his successor Ibikunle Amosun and some of his aides before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta for alleged defamation of character.

Imo, U.S. group unite against drug abuse

THE Imo State government has said it would partner a United States (U.S.) based non- governmental organisation (NGO), Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), to tackle drug abuse, criminality, violence, excessive alcohol intake and cultism among youths and peer groups.

‘Heavy rain will persist till July’

ALTHOUGH many Nigerians seek respite from the heavy downpour that continues to hit some states in the Federation, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has asked the citizenry to brace up for more rains in the coming days, forecasting that the rains might not subside until the third week of July.

ICPC arrests pensions task force official, Maina faults Senate

THE Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested an official in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Mr. John Agabi Emmanuel, for corruptly enriching himself with pension funds. Agabi works directly with the Pensions Reform Task Team.

NSG tasks govt on insecurity, corruption

A GROUP of prominent Nigerians under the platform of the National Summit Group (NSG) has called on the Federal Government and the security agencies to use the carrot and stick approach on the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nigerian Embassy’s account in US not frozen - Bank

OFFICIALS of the Manufacturers and Traders Trust Bank (M & T Bank), United States (US), on Tuesday, disclosed that bank accounts of the Nigerian embassy were at no time frozen, adding that the accounts of the embassy was only closed to allow them meet up with the new government’s regulations on money arriving from abroad.

Oil theft probe: Reps threaten to arrest Petinrin, Ibrahim •As DPR boss calls for stiffer penalty for oil thieves

THE House of Representatives panel probing the upsurge of illegal oil bunkering activities in Nigeria’s coastal region, on Wednesday, threatened to wield the big sticks over the failure of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim, to appear before it.

FCMB launches “Committed to Green” campaign in Ibadan

FIRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Oyo Zone, on Thursday, launched a Corporate Social Responsibility programme tagged: ‘C2G- Committed to Green’ campaign in Ibadan, aimed at endorsing the theme of the World Environment Day, cleaning major roads in Ibadan metropolis.

Kaduna curfew: Kerosene scarcity hits Abuja

The Abuja NNPC mega station, on Thursday, said it had no kerosene to sell because of the curfew imposed in Kaduna State following the recent attacks on churches and reprisals by Christian youths.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the station has had no stock of the product for almost a week now.

Court dismisses suit against cash-less policy

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit instituted against the cash-less policy initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Nigeria loses N455bn annually to poor sanitation - UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday, has said that hundreds of Nigerians dye yearly due to poor sanitation in Nigeria, adding that the nation has been losing over N455 billion annually to the ugly trend.

Pastor runs mad while praying for mad man

PEOPLE living at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, as well as shop owners and automobile dealers along Molete road in the town, on Thursday, watched a drama involving a pastor and a mad man.

Reps worry over lack of proper alignment between gas, power sectors

The House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resource has expressed concern over the lack of proper alignment between the gas and power sectors of the economy which it said may make the National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) to run into a hitch.

4 Operation Burst members die in auto crash in Ibadan

FOUR men of the Oyo State Joint Security Patrol Squad, codenamed Operation Burst, lost their lives with five others critically injured on Thursday morning, in an accident involving a patrol van of the security outfit with number OB-11, a space bus and a motorcycle with registration numbers Lagos MH 226 KJA and OYO KEH 196 QA.

Gunmen kill Plateau PDP chief, wife, child

SUSPECTED Fulani herdsmen at Gwarim in Rim Village yesterday killed the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sharubutu Ward in Bachit District of Riyom Local Council of Plateau State, Mr. John Baren, his wife and their child.

Reps order Dana Air to pay families of crash victims

THE House of Representatives has ordered the authorities of Dana Air to commence the immediate payment of the required compensation to families of the victims of the aircraft that crashed in Lagos on June 3, 2012, killing 153 on board.

Reps oil subsidy probe report: Culprits won’t go unpunished - Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has given a strong indication that those indicted in the report of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee which probed subsidy regime will not go unpunished as the Federal Government is in the process of building a water-tight case against them.

Reps’ panel grills Lawan, summons Femi Otedola

THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Ethics and Privileges yesterday began an investigation into the $620,000 bribery allegation that resulted from the petroleum products’ subsidy management probe. The investigation, however, fell short of public expectation as the Gambo Musa-led Ethics Committee suddenly decided to conduct the hearing behind closed doors.

PHCN Defies FG Over Free Electricity Meters

Contrary to government directive that pre-paid meters would now be given to electricity consumers free under the new Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO 2),  investigation revealed that meters are still being sold to consumers in Abuja.

The only meters presently being installed by PHCN officials free of charge are pre-paid meters under the World Bank project which are said to be limited to some districts like Kubwa, an Abuja satellite town.

When visiting some PHCN offices in Abuja, officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said although they have stock of meters, but they are not for free.

“Meters are not free, if you want a meter you have to raise a draft in the name of PHCN for the type of meter you want. A single phase meter is N25, 000 while a three phase meter is N55, 000,” said an official in one of the PHCN offices.

He explained that in addition to the payment, a processing fee of N10, 000 and N25, 000 is paid on a one phase and three phase meter respectively, in addition to connection fee which will depend on the distance of the house to the electric pole.

“We buy meters and import them ourselves so why will we give them out for free. Government has not provided PHCN money to purchase meters, we have not even been paid in the last three months. PHCN does not have money, we are in dire need of money,” the official added.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC) has announced the abolition of meter fees, saying consumers, under the new electricity tariff, would no longer pay for meters as the cost has been built into the new bill.

Under the new arrangement, Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, explained that provision of meters was now the responsibility of the various Distribution Companies (discos), adding that government was providing them funds to ensure that the entire industry is metered within the next 18 months.

Efforts to get response from the Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Disco, Abdulganiyu Umar, on the matter as at press time was unsuccessful as calls made to his phone were unanswered even as there was no response to a text message sent to him.

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No Hiding Place For Gun Runners In Customs – Dikko

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko , has vowed not to harbour gun runners in the service whose activities constitute a threat to national security.

Boeing Sued By Nigeria Crash Victim’s Husband, Daughter

Boeing Co. (BA), maker of the MD-83 airliner that crashed in Nigeria on June 3, was sued in the U.S. by the husband and daughter of one of the 153 people aboard the jet who died.

1.4m Jobs Created In 12 Months – Aganga

The Federal Government created about 1, 401,242 jobs within the last one year through the implementation of trade and investment reforms, policies and programmes, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, has said.

CBN works on code to regulate activities of commercial banks

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is working on a code to assist it in regulating activities of commercial banks, Sola Awoyungbo, the CBN Director for Financial Policy and Regulations, disclosed on Thursday.

NDLEA Arrests Tailor With N29m Worth Of Cocaine At MMIA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old Lagos tailor for allegedly smuggling 2.7kg of cocaine valued at N29 million into the country, a statement said.

Fashola allays investors fear over security situation in Nigeria

Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said that in spite of the security challenges in the country, the Nigerian environment remains suitable for local and foreign investments.

US drone strikes 'raise questions' - UN's Navi Pillay

US military drone attacks in Pakistan raise serious legal questions, the UN's human rights chief has said. Navi Pillay was speaking at the end of a fact-finding visit to Pakistan.

Mitt Romney raises $17m more than Barack Obama campaign

US Republican candidate Mitt Romney raised almost $17m (£11m) more than President Barack Obama's re-election effort in May, figures show.

Crashed aircraft was not on ferry flight – Dana

Against the backdrop of speculations that the crashed Dana aircraft was the same one that was faulty two weeks before the crash and was on ferry flight, Dana Air management yesterday denied the speculations, saying the crashed aircraft was not on ferry flight and not the same one with faults.

Gunmen Kill Cleric In Gombe

Gombe State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdu, said unknown gunmen had killed a cleric, Mallam Sani Dabanfulani at Barunde quarters,Gombe.

Boko Haram denies holding dialogue with FG through Sheikh Bauchi

MEMBERS of the Jama'atul Ahlu Sunnah Lidda'awa Wal Jihad, popularly referred to as Boko Haram, have denied holding any dialogue with the Federal Government through respected Bauchi-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.

PDP carpets Lagos assembly over call for resignation of aviation minister

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State, on Thursday, berated the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly for calling for the resignation of the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, over the recent crash of DANA aircraft in Lagos.

Crash exposes poor road network in Iju area of Lagos - Residents

The recent air crash involving a Dana Airline at Iju area of Lagos, has exposed poor road network in the area, as rescue teams had tough times getting to the scene of the crash.

Alleged N2bn fraud: Court admits Sylva to bail on liberal terms

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, admitted the former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, to bail in the sum of N100million with one surety in like sum.

NCC to sanction telecoms for non-payment of penalties

Following the expiration of the deadline given to GSM service providers to pay penalties for poor service delivery, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has threatened to sanction them. Tony Ojobo, the NCC Director of Public Affairs, in an exclusive interview on Thursday, said that the commission would sanction defaulters if penalties were not paid.

Ekiti-Koya commends teachers over ‘competence test’

A socio-political group in Ekiti State, Ekiti-Koya, has commended the resolve of the state teachers to stay away from the competence test examination directed by the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Gunmen kidnap Lebanese in Benue

A Lebanese working with Rock Bridge Construction Company, Mohammed Dhabre, was on Wednesday, kidnapped by unknown men on the company’s premises on the Otukpo-Igumale area of Benue State.

Terrorism: Police auction abandoned, unclaimed vehicles in Bayelsa

AS members of the Boko Haram sect intensify their terror campaign in the North, with the recent bombing of a church in Bauchi, where over 10 persons lost their lives, authorities of the Bayelsa State police command, on Thursday, in Yenagoa, began the auctioning of abandoned vehicles to checkmate any attempt to plant Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or bomb inside such unserviceable automobiles.

Ahead Edo/Ondo gov elections...

THE 14 July governorship election in Edo State will have the highest number of monitors in the history of gubernatorial election in Nigeria, including no fewer than 20 Independent National Electoral Commissioners (INEC) officials.

Air Nigeria workers suspend strike

AIR Nigeria, on Thursday, announced the suspension of the strike embarked upon by a section of its aircraft engineers and pilots, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

10 injured in Oyo NURTW clash in Ibadan

Forty-eight hours after the Oyo State government unbanned the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), some members of the union, in Ibadan, on Thursday, engaged one another in a violent clash that saw 10 people seriously wounded.

Reps threaten Jonathan over bills •Why we can’t move against him - Senate

THE House of Representatives chairman on Rules and Business, Honourable Albert Sam-Tsokwa, on Thursday bemoaned the attitude of the presidency to non-implementation of the National Assembly resolutions and assenting to bills passed by the legislature.

Africa remains central to Nigeria’s foreign policy - Jonathan

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the centrality of Africa, its peace, political stability and socio-economic development to Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Ekiti, teachers disagree on test

The face -off between Ekiti State Government and teachers in the state over the conduct of competence and assessment test slated for tomorrow has taken a twist, as the umbrella body of the unions, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) have directed their members to stay away from the designated centres earmarked for the exams.

S-Court dashes ACN’s bid to sack Governor Akpabio

The Supreme Court, yesterday, quashed moves by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to sack Governor Goodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State through the election petition tribunal.

Extra-judicial killings in the North: We didn’t do it, JTF tells Elders

THE Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State Operation Restore Order took on Northern Elders, yesterday, over the claim that the military outfit, raised to curb insurgency, engaged in extra-judicial killings.

Catholic Bishops Meet Jonathan On ‘Worrisome State Of Insecurity’

REPRESENTATIVES of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria met with President Jonathan yesterday in Abuja with terror attacks by the Boko Haram sect, alleged discrimination against Christians in the North and corruption top on the agenda.

Car bombing Bauchi, north Nigeria church kills 3

A suicide car bomber drove into a north Nigeria church's compound Sunday and detonated his explosives as worshippers left an early morning service, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more, officials and witnesses said.

Corps members now posted to only where they are secure – NYSC D-G

Brig-Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia is indeed an army officer who says it the way he sees it. When he spoke with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, he was blunt on the contentious issue of posting corps members to volatile areas where several of them were killed by insurgents last year. According to him, female corps members now receive marshal arts training and members will no longer be posted to areas where their lives could be threatened. Excerpts:

NMA directs Lagos doctors to resume work

The national body of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, directed all doctors under the umbrella body of the association to immediately resume work including those in Lagos State.

Five dead as fire rages on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

10 vehicles burnt as tanker spills 30,000 litres of petrol. MOTORISTS had another nasty experience yesterday on the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

NNPC’s inefficiency costs Nigeria $65m – KPMG

MORE revelations emerged, yesterday, at the Senate resumed hearing in the ongoing investigation into the mismanagement of fuel subsidy in the country, as the international auditing firm, KPMG, said inefficiency in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, costs the country $65 million from 2007 till December 2010.

New electricity tariff takes off today

A NEW electricity tariff regime with potentially grave cost implications for urban dwellers, the rich and commercial concerns commences today.

Some governors suppress their legislative houses – Speaker Ikufuroji

Ahead of the commissioning of the brand new legislative complex of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday, Speaker Adeyemi Ikufuroji spoke with newsmen during which he gave an overview of the issues and challenges that have confronted the legislative branch of government in the country.

US congress rejects Nigerian lawmakers over truancy - Ekweremadu

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday, revealed that some Nigerian lawmakers were tarnishing the image of the country through non-participation in sponsored foreign training and legislative experience with US Congress,

UNN student commits suicide

TRAGEDY struck on Wednesday night at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), when Onyebuchi Okonkwo, a 300-level student of Physics and Astronomy, committed suicide by allegedly hanging himself.

Edo gov poll: INEC must guarantee security of NYSC members - DG

THE Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigaider-General Nnamdi Okore-Affia, has said he would request the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to guarantee the safety of the NYSC members to be used during the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.

FirstBank shareholders approve 80 kobo dividend, holding company

Shareholders of FirstBank of Nigeria, on Thursday, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, approved 80 kobo dividend and a new holding company (HoldCo) for the bank.

Police prosecute 45 over post – election violence in Kaduna

ABOUT 45 suspects arrested over last year’s post-election violence in some parts of Kaduna State, are presently facing prosecution for various offences, said Kaduna State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Jonathan Adamu Kish.

Lagos can accommodate 40m people, says Fashola

LAGOS State can accommodate no fewer than 40 million people if basic infrastructure are enhanced, Governor Babatunde Fashola has said.

Oyo govt to construct rail track, direct gas link to Ibadan

The Oyo State government has said it has chosen the development option of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), through which it has attracted foreign direct investment, as well as local investment for the transformation of the state economy, in view of the apparent inadequacy of the monthly federal allocation from Abuja in financing envisioned projects.

Dragon capsule ends historic mission

"Splashdown at 11:42 am EDT (1542 GMT)!" California-based private company SpaceXannounced through its Twitter account. " Welcome home Dragon!"