Several APC members in Benue decamp to PDP

Some members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State.

The members who celebrated their defections on Saturday in Otukpa, headquarters of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state, said they were exiting the APC because of the “federal government’s poor handling of the incessant attacks and killings of the people by Fulani herdsmen”.

Zamfara Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper, Recover Arms

The Zamfara State Police Command said on Sunday it had killed a notorious kidnapper, arrested eight others and recovered arms.

Its commissioner, Mr Kenneth Embrimson, who displayed the corpse of the said kidnapper, told newsmen in Gusau that he was killed in a gun battle with security operatives.

Niger Government Reduces Cost Of Motorcycle Number Plates

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has approved a reduction in the cost of number plates for motorcycle owners, pegging the fee at N3,500 from N6,200, a government statement said on Sunday in Minna.

The statement signed by Malam Jibrin Ndache, Bello’s Chief Press Secretary, said that motorcycle owners had been given up to April 1, to register their vehicles.

3,000 Repentant Bandits Surrender Weapons In Zamfara

No fewer than 3,000 repentant bandits have surrendered their arms following the peace and dialogue committee initiated by Zamfara State Government, the Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala has disclosed.

Wakkala, who is the Chairman of the state’s Dialogue, Reconciliation and Disarmament Committee, disclosed this in Gusau on Saturday at an interactive session with the National Economic Council (NEC) Committee on Farmers/Herdsmen Clashes.

Divorce Diaries Season 5 Episode 3

MY NAME IS TALATU TARAUNI. I AM 32 YEARS OLD. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY DIVORCE DIARIES WITH YOU.

I married my husband out of poverty. Life was hard in Kano. I grew up in the ghettoes of Rijiyar Lemo selling shinkafa da wake and tin moin moin to help my mother out. My father was alive o just that he only cared about marrying new wives and having more of us than actually providing. There were days we went to bed hungry so our younger ones could have dinner. In our family, there never seemed to be enough anything for anyone. My mother tried to provide but it just was not enough. She had eight of us while in total my father had 27 of us, from different mothers. 

900 Nigerian Pilgrims Absconded After 2017 Hajj – NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Saturday revealed that 900 Nigerians absconded after the 2017 hajj.

Mr Yusuf Adebayo, the NAHCON’s Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel Management and Finance disclosed this on Saturday at a stakeholders’ meeting on the 2018 Hajj in Lagos.

Why Kwankwaso can never be president – Ganduje

•Says ex-Kano gov a day-dreamer

•Over 17 attempts to reconcile us have failed

The political feud between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state, and his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, both of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) is not about ending anytime soon. Ganduje in this interview in Abuja, admitted that though there is no permanent friend or foe in politics, he doubts if APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been saddled with the responsibility of reconciling aggrieved party leaders by President Buhari, will be able reconcile him and Kwankwaso because, according to him, the former Kano governor has frustrated over 17 of similar attempts in the past.

Dapchi School attack getting every attention it deserves, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the families of students reportedly abducted from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi in Yobe State that no effort would be spared in bringing succour to them.

“When I received the devastating news of the attack on the school and the fact that the local authorities could not account for all the students, I immediately dispatched a high-level delegation on a fact-finding visit to the town.

Missing schoolgirls: Ortom expresses shock, describes it as attack on country’s future

Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has expressed shock over the abduction of school girls from Government Technical College Dapchi, Yobe state, noting that such attack on children is an attack on the future of the country.

Ortom who expressed his grief in a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, he sympathized with the government and people of Yobe over the

Kogi Govt. Warns Principals Of 108 Schools Against Exam Malpractice

The Kogi Government has warned the principals of 108 secondary schools involved in examination malpractice across the state to desist from cheating or face the full wrath of the law.

Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in the state gave the warning at a meeting with principals of affected schools on Friday in Lokoja.

According to her, stiff penalties as prescribed by law will be used to curb the menace of examination malpractice in the state.

Tinubu: Buhari Meets Oyegun In Abuja

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the embattled National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The meeting was held less than 24 hours after a letter written by a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in which he accused Odigie-Oyegun of sabotaging his efforts aimed at reconciling aggrieved party members as directed by Buhari was released.

Three herdsmen jailed for open grazing in Benue

Three herdsmen are to spend the next one year in jail after a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Friday found them guilty of violating the Benue  State Anti-Open Grazing Law, 2017.

Jailed are  Iliya Garba, Hassan Abdullahi, and Lanshak Lonfalk who were all charged with criminal conspiracy and open nomadic livestock rearing and grazing.

Kaduna APC crisis: El-Rufai slams N2bn defamation suit on Sani

The crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State on Friday  took a twist after  Governor Nasir El-Rufai dragged Senator Shehu Sani before  the state High Court in a defamation suit.

El-Rufai wants N2billion as damages from Sani – N500million for  each of  the four attacks the defendant allegedly launched against him.

Kaduna APC Crisis: Shehu Sani reacts to El-Rufai’s suit

The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has reacted to legal action taken against him by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The lawmaker said he cannot be intimated by such move as he has ‘endured’ and ‘overcame’ several of such actions by the governor.

Mr. El-Rufai on Friday filed a suit at the Kaduna State High Court demanding N2 billion from the lawmaker for four charges, one of which is defamation of character.

Gowon, Obasanjo, Abdulsalami attend Council of State meeting, as IBB, Shagari, Shonekan, Jonathan absent

The third Council of State meeting under President Muhammadu Buhari is currently underway inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.

The three former Heads of State in attendance are Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, were in attendance.

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria in attendance are: Mohammed Uwais, Idris Kutigi, Alfa Belgore and Aloma Muktar.

Former leaders absent are Shehu Shagari Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Earnest Shonekan and Goodluck Jonathan.

Two Pupils Die In Abuja After Allegedly Eating Biscuits From Classmate

Two pupils of Local Education Authority Primary School, Kubwa 2, Abuja have reportedly died after eating some biscuits shared by an unidentified classmate.

Confirming the incident to journalists in the school premises, the Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr Musa Dikko gave the names of the two Pupils as Nehima Yahaya (14years old in primary five) and Yahaya Garuba (14 years old in primary four).

He disclosed that the two students partook of the biscuits from an allegedly organised birthday party in the school premises by a person yet to be identified.

Kogi APC crisis: Gov Bello announces parallel Exco, opens new secretariat

Crisis rocking All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi State got messier, yesterday, as Governor Yahaya Bello opened a new secretariat and announced the constitution of new state executive to pilot the affairs of the party in acting capacity.

Members of the appointed state  executive were, yesterday, inaugurated by the factional chairman, Ahovi Ibrahim.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, had denounced the sacking of the Hardy Ametuo-led executive in the state, but the opening of new secretariat and constitution of 27 acting executive changed the narrative.

Corruption Getting Worse In Nigeria’ — Transparency International Releases 2017

Corruption is getting worse in Nigeria, according to the latest corruption perception index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI) on Wednesday.

While the country scored 27/100 and was ranked 136th in 2016, the latest CPI scores Nigeria 28/100 but with a rank of No. 148 out of 180 countries surveyed — a significant 12 places below where it was the previous year.

This will come as a blow to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration who came into office on the strength of his anti-corruption credential.

Sultan: Corruption At A Very High Level In Nigeria… Things Are Not Okay

Sa’ad Abubakar III, the sultan of Sokoto, has lamented that corruption is at a “very high level” in Nigeria.

“Things are bad,” the monarch said while adding that Nigerians must fight the scourge of corruption to a “terminal end”.

The sultan made the remark on Wednesday while speaking at the public presentation of ‘Dynamics of Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences’, a book written in honour of Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Publish properties recovered by EFCC, before sale, Fayose tells FG

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has called on the  Federal Government to publish all the properties it claimed to have recovered and their owners as well as buyers of the properties when they are eventually sold.

The governor, who said this in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday told President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians were no longer interested in being governed with propaganda.

Fayose said: “Nigerians want to know how many properties were recovered and who bought the properties. Who authorized the sale? Nigerians want details, not propaganda because most of these properties have been sold and resold.”

I will only return to that school if Buratai is the gateman, says pupil

The Boko Haram attack on Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, may have created a setback for the efforts to get girls to remain in schools in Yobe State.

One of the pupils, Faiza Mohammed, said yesterday that she would not return to school except Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai is the gateman.

The attack on the school has also caused some level of panic across the northern part of Yobe State which witnessed fewer attacks of the insurgents in the last seven years.

UBA Foundation Brings Comfort to Students of Usman Danfodiyo University, Commissions Link Bridge

UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility Arm of Pan- African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has completed the construction of a pedestrian bridge primarily for students of the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, thus bringing comfort to students of the institution.

The construction of the bridge, valued at about N13m was commissioned on Monday, by the Governor of Sokoto State, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,

Sokoto Farmers Get N1.4 Billion Fertiliser Subsidy

Sokoto state government said it will spend the sum of N1.4 billion to subsidise the price of fertilizer for its farmers in the 2018 cropping season.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this Tuesday in Sabon Birni LGA at the flag off of fertilizer sales for dry season farming and distribution of improved seeds to farmers across the state.

“We have bought 500,000 bags of fertilizer at the cost of N6,800 per 50kg bag but we have decided to sell the product to our farmers at the subsidized cost of N4,000 per bag. In all, we are spending the sum of N1.4 billion to subsidise the product.

Nasarawa Govt. donates N200m to Army for construction of Doma barracks

By Isaac Ukpoju

Nasarawa State Government on Tuesday, donated N200 million to the Nigerian Army to facilitate the construction of its barracks in Doma Local Government Area of the state.

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura announced the donation when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who paid him a courtesy visit in Lafia.

Operation Cat Race Discovers Action Rifle

Troops of 93 Battalion, 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, on exercise AYEM AKPATUMA (Cat Race) deployed in Bantaje ward of WUKARI Local Government Area of TARABA STATE, while on patrol on Tuesday 20th February 2018, discovered a Pump action Rifle

Taraba State Government Suspends Anti-Open Grazing Law

The Taraba State Government has temporarily suspended the Anti-Open Grazing law in the state to allow for some amendments as farmers and herdsmen agree to shield swords.

The decision came after three days of interactive sessions between the National Economic Council Technical sub Committee on ending herders/farmers crisis, and key stakeholders in the state.

Dr Zainab Bagudu laments 6 million out-of-school girls

Wife of Kebbi state governor and Founder, Medicaid Cancer Foundation/CEO Medicaid Diagnostic Center, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu on Tuesday, lamented the 6 million figure of out-of-school girls, saying this is rather appalling.

She said this is largely due to lack of awareness of personal hygiene and changes they experience as a result of puberty.

Dr Bagudu made the assertion at the 25th anniversary of Procter and Gamble (P&G) existence in Nigeria and its “Always keeping girls in school” programme, held at the Government Day secondary school, Karu, Abuja.

PDP Seeks Resignation of INEC Chairman, Yakubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of no confidence on the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

The opposition party said recent events in the polity showed that  INEC could  announce false results, cancel elections, alter polling procedures and allow any irregularities during the 2019 general elections once it is threatened by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other group.

Senate rejects state of emergency in Zamfara

The Senate yesterday rejected move by Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara) seeking declaration of state of emergency in Zamfara State.

The senator had prayed the Senate to declare a state of emergency on the state over incessant killings by bandits in Zamfara communities.

Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura ( APC, Zamfara) has moved a motion on the recent killing of 42 persons in Birane village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Yobe girls school attack: 94 students missing

Ninety four students are still missing following attack by suspected Boko haram members on Government Giris Secondary School Dapchi, in Yobe state on Monday.

A source in the school told Daily Trust that the number of missing students was realized after an afternoon roll call on the students.

"After the roll call, 610 out the total number of 704 students have returned. We are still searching for the remaining 94 students", he said.

I have fulfilled on my major promises – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday visited Yola where he insisted that he had fulfilled major promises made to electorate during his political campaign.

Buhari, who paid homage to Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo at his palace, said that the fight against corruption and maintaining peace and security were among the priorities of his administration.

“We appreciate security progress in the North East and the country at large.

Ganduje approved the appointment of HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has appointed the Kano Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to chair the newly inaugurated Kano Investment Advisory Committee, with the view to identifying strategies for making the state economically viable.

The governor hinted that the overall wisdom behind the Committee was to take the advantage of the personality of the Emir, arguing that, “We need to take the advantage of his personality around the globe.”

Divorce Diaries Season 5 Episodes 2

MY NAME IS ABDULLAHI JAKOLO. I AM 33 YEARS OLD. I AM FROM SOKOTO STATE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY DIVORCE DIARIES WITH YOU.

I met my wife Rahila on Face book in 2011. I had just finished serving the nation and was doing nothing waiting for a job to come. It was not a good time at all, because I had become accustomed to getting money at the end of every month to cater for my needs and all of a sudden I had no income. I had an older brother who was a civil servant and I hated depending on him seeing as he too was struggling to make ends meet.

Heartbroken Or Sad? Here Are Four Reasons You Should Let The Tears Flow

There are a lot of healthy reasons to cry. Whether you’re happy, sad or heartbroken, shedding tears can bring a lot of positive energy that you need from time to time. Be it at weddings, funerals, watching a romantic movie or feeling nostalgic about a past memory, shedding tears help to relieve the stress and emotions you have within. The importance of crying is made even more prominent with some hotels and guest rooms having dedicated crying rooms for people who feel the need to cry!

Video of underage voters from 2015, says Kano Govt

The Kano State Government on Monday insisted that the trending video clip of underage voters supposedly in the just concluded Kano Local Government elections was actually shot on the March 30, 2015 election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, made the clarification while addressing the members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at its two-day National Conference in the northern state.

Boko Haram Attack Dapchi In Yobe

Yobe Commissioner of Police, AbdulMaliki Sumonu, on Monday confirmed an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari local government area.

Sumonu confirmed the attack in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said “at about 5.30 p.m yesterday, Monday, the suspected insurgents attacked Dapchi, headquarters of Bursari local government area.

CCT chairman’s trial: Why FG queried Magu, Keyamo

The seeming rift between the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, and the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has been reinforced after Malami issued a query to the EFCC boss.

A private lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Festus Keyamo, was also queried by the attorney-general.

Niger ex-governor, Aliyu debunks FG’s claim of 7000 electricity megawatts

A former Governor of Niger State, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has debunked Federal Government’s claim of generating 7, 000 megawatts of electricity. He countered the declaration yesterday, at a socio-political movement by his former appointees in Minna, the Niger State capital.He said contrary to the statement, the country is presently generating only 5, 000 megawatts of electricity.

At the event titled: ‘Servant Leadership Forum’ Aliyu said Nigeria has the potential to generate 36,000 megawatts of electricity through solar power alone.The former governor urged the Federal Government to muster the political will to grant $1million to each state of the federation for the project.He also enjoined the Federal Government to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release the money from the excess crude account and monitor its utilisation.

All recovered assets to be sold off, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Daura, his hometown, said all mismanaged and misappropriated national assets recovered would be sold off and proceeds paid to the treasury for the benefit of the country.

Buhari, who gave the assurance when he received representatives of social groups in Daura Emirate, said his administration would continue to pursue a robust, effective and legitimate anti-corruption campaign that safeguards the treasury and commonwealth of all Nigerians.

Nigeria frees 475 Boko Haram suspects for lack of evidence

Nigeria has freed another 475 Boko Haram suspects following a series of mass trials in which most cases were dropped for lack of evidence, the justice ministry said Sunday.

Over the course of the week, hundreds of suspected Boko Haram extremists have appeared before a court at the Kainji military base in central Niger state.

The release order was issued on Friday, with the 475 suspects to be returned to their home states for “proper rehabilitation” before being sent back to their families, ministry spokesman Salihu Othman Isah said.

Governor Ortom: Miyetti Allah wants me dead

The Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has hinted that there is a plot by the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the state led by one Gaurus Gololo to allegedly eliminate him.

He stated this when he spoke with journalists in the state after a meeting with his predecessor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, and paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse.

El-Rufai salutes Christians at Lent

Malam Nasir El-Rufai has saluted Christians as the holy season of Lent begins today. In a statement issued in Kaduna today, the Governor wished Christians a peaceful celebration of Lent, and appealed that prayers be said for peace in Kaduna State and Nigeria.

“On behalf of the good people of Kaduna State, I salute our Christian community as the holy season of Lent begins today, this Ash Wednesday. I wish all the Christians in this State a peaceful and fruitful spiritual exercise in preparation for the grand celebration of Easter and its lesson of sacrifice, hope and renewal.

Gombe Gender Bill Not For Supremacy War – Perm Sec

Gombe state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare has said that the state Gender and Equal Opportunities for All Persons is not for men and women to struggle for supremacy.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Ishiaku Mohammed, disclosed this while speaking at the two-day review meeting of the state gender committee organised by the UN-Women in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs yesterday.

Buhari, Jega, Sanusi, others for Lagos-Kano economic summit

President Muhammadu Buhari is among dignitaries expected to discuss the strategic importance of collaboration among key institutions to national growth at the first Lagos-Kano Economic and Investment Summit.

The summit, which is scheduled to hold at the Jubilee Chalets, Epe, Lagos, between February 28 and March 1, is to focus on thematic areas such as security, governance, ease of doing business, agriculture, tourism, internally generated revenue, education and infrastructure in key areas of power, transportation and urban waste management.

Aside the President, other lead discussants at the summit are the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi; Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu; former National Chairman of Independent National Electoral

January inflation drops to 15.13%, says NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s official data agency, has said January’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, again dropped to 15.13 per cent, up from the December 2017 level of 15.37 per cent.

Breaking down the January CPI report released yesterday, the NBS said the new figure is 0.24 per cent points lower than the rate recorded in December, making it the 12th consecutive disinflation in headline year on year inflation since January 2017.

Uproar as Senate reverses election sequence of 2019

• Wants N’Assembly poll first, presidential last
• Dissenters walk out, say move anti-Buhari 
Intrigues ahead of next year’s general election took a fresh twist, yesterday, with the Senate’s approval of a new sequence for the polls.

The schedule released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 16, 2019, while governorship and state Assembly elections come up Saturday, March 2, 2019.

The Senate, however, reversed the order, demanding the National Assembly election come first while the presidential hold last.

Run for president, Benue coalition tells Bafarawa

Coalition of Benue Youths has called on a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, to consider contesting for the presidential ticket of the PDP ahead of the 2019 general polls. 

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Ejeke Shagari, said Bafarawa would make a better president by stabilising the nation and delivering dividends of democracy to the people if given the mandate. 

Herbalist arrested over death of Katsina lawmaker’s wife

A woman who allegedly administered traditional concoctions on the late wife of a Katsina lawmaker has been arrested by the police.

Binta Safiyanu, the first wife of a member representing Musawa constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Yunusa Idris Jikamshi, was said to have contacted the suspect for traditional medicine to assist the flow of her breast milk.

Safiyanu, a mother of six, was said to have recently delivered a set of twins.

Death of 21 Bauchi students, a monumental loss, national tragedy – Dogara

Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Hon. Yakubu Dogara,  Tuesday evening broke down in tears after receiving the sad news of the demise of 21 students of Government Secondary School Misau, Bauchi state in a ghastly motor accident.

The students, who were accompanied by three teachers and their driver, were on their way to Kano State for an educational excursion when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Kano bus crash: 21 students, 3 teachers buried

Funeral prayer for twenty one students and three teachers of Government Day Junior Secondary School, Misau, Bauchi state, who died in a ghastly automobile accident, was held in Misau, amidst sobs by parents and relations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prayer, held at the palace of the First Class Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman, was led by the Chief Imam of Misau Central Mosque, Usman Baba.