PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 6. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, President of the Senate Dr Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Former Head odf State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Former President, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, former CJN Hoj Justice Belgore during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently chairing a meeting of Council of State at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ABN TV reports.
PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 9. L-R; Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Mrs Folasahde Yemi-Esan, SGF Mr Boss Mustaha, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN, President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, President of the Senate Dr Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 7A&B. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, President of the Senate Dr Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Gen Yakubu Gowon, Former Head odf State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Former President, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, former CJN Hoj Justice Belgore during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023
The meeting which started at 10:12am after the rendition of the national anthem is being attended by former heads of state and presidents, including Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd) and Goodluck Jonathan. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, joined online.
Others who join virtually include Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Abubakar Bagudu, Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, of Northern States Governors Forum, Simon Lalong.
The rest are governors David Umahi, Ebonyi, Yahaya Bello, Kogi, Ademola Adeleke, Osun, Abubakar Badaru, Jigawa, Dapo Abiodun, Ogun as well as Benue State deputy governors Benson Abounu, Nasarawa, Emmanuel Akabe, and Enugu Deputy governor.
Two former Chief Justices of the Federation, Alfa Belgore and Mahmud Muhammad are in attendance.
In attendance physically are Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan
The National Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian government whose functions include advising the executive on policy making.
The meeting is expected to discuss national crises including petrol and naira scarcity, insecurity and others, ahead of the general elections.
Also present and awaiting their turn to brief the council are Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, Commandant General, Nigerian Security, and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Audi and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele on the preparation for the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections as well as March 11 governorship and state houses of assembly polls and new Naira notes respectively.
PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 3B. L-R; Former President Dr Goodluck Jinathan, Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon and President Muhammadu Buhari during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 1A&B. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Former Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Former President, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan and Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 00A&B. L-R; Former Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Former President, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon. and President Muhammadu Buhari during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 0A&B. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Former Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Former President, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan and Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023
PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING 1A&B. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, Former Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, Former President, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan and Former Head of State Gen Yakubu Gowon during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING AB. L-R; Former President Dr Goodluck Jinathan, Former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon and President Muhammadu Buhari during the Council of State Meeting Head at the Council Chambers State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 10TH 2023
On May 26, the APC declared Emenike the winner of the governorship primary in the state.
On November 11, Binta Nyako, a federal high court judge, sacked Emenike and ordered INEC to recognise Ogah as the party’s governorship candidate in the state.
Both APC and Emenike had filed separate appeals challenging the verdict delivered by Nyako.
Dan Eke, another aspirant, also filed an appeal challenging the judgment of the trial judge that recognised Ogah’s candidacy.
In December 2022, the court of appeal sitting in Abuja affirmed Emenike as the party’s candidate.
In the unanimous verdict, Olabisi Ige, who led the appeal court panel, read out the names of the party members sent by the APC national secretariat to conduct the governorship primary that produced Emenike, affirming that the exercise was valid.
Another candidate, Dan Eke, also filed an appeal in which he contested the trial judge’s decision to recognize Ogah’s candidacy.
The court of appeal in Abuja confirmed Emenike as the party’s nominee in December 2022.
Olabisi Ige, who presided over the appeal court panel, read aloud the names of the party members appointed by the APC national headquarters to oversee the governorship primary that produced Emenike and affirmed the validity of the process in the unanimous decision.
Military commander of an army camp located at Sabon Garin Dan’Ali, in Danmusa local government area of Katsina state has reportedly been killed in an ambush.
Sources said the incident happened Thursday evening and the corpse of the deceased, a major in the army, was deposited at a hospital in Katsina.
Daily Trust gathered from reliable sources that the commander, (name withheld), was ambushed at Malali village in Kankara local government area, where he was called to provide reinforcement to repel an attack on the village.
“As you know, Malali is along Zangon Pawwa road, and that area is completely taken over by bandits. Whenever there is an attack the security agents usually ask for reinforcement from the Maraban Dan’Ali camp, and this new commander would promptly respond.
“This time around, they asked for his reinforcement and he came using a Hilux vehicle, instead of the Amoured Personnel Carrier (APC), perhaps the APCs were not available at the time. Unfortunately his assailants waylaid his vehicle and shot him in the head.”
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that while retrieving his corpse from the scene of the incident, there was serious gun duel between the bandits and the military personnel during which the officer who picked the body also sustained gunshot injury.
According to the source, “when the residents of the village alerted the security agents of the impending attack, the security personnel went and shot severally in the air without any response from the bandits, and by then the commander was on his way.
“When the security operatives fired some shots at the direction suspected to have the bandits, they left, thinking that no one was there, but by the time the commander arrived, they targeted him and shot him.”
Kankara local government has come under serious attacks in recent times, with villages deserting communities there due to incessant banditry.
Public Relations Officer of the 17 Brigade in Katsina, Oiza Ehinlaidlye, neither answered calls nor responded to a message sent via WhatsApp at the time of filing this report.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization and former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu has commiserated with the government and people of Enugu state over the demise of Senator Ayogu Eze, who represented Enugu North Senatorial district in the national assembly between 2007 and 2015.
Kalu, who described Eze as a consummate politician and patriotic Nigerian, urged the family of the deceased to uphold the remarkable deeds of the late politician.
The former Governor acknowledged the contributions of Eze to Nigeria’ s democracy in various capacities, adding that the late politician will be remembered for his exemplary leadership qualities.
In a condolence message, Kalu prayed to God to grant the Eze family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
He said, ” I received with sadness the news of the passing of my former colleague in the national assembly, Senator Ayogu Eze , who represented the people of Enugu North Senatorial district in the national assembly (2007-2015).
“He was a complete gentleman who was passionate about the growth and progress of his constituency, Enugu state and Nigeria in general.
“The late politician was selfless, patriotic and committed to nation building.
“His good deeds will continue to speak for him.
“The late Eze will be greatly missed”.
Kalu prayed to God to grant the late politician eternal rest.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says logistics issues were responsible for the resurfacing of fuel queues in some parts of the country.
But it says the issues have been resolved, according to a statement by its spokesperson Olufemi Soneye.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved,” the Thursday evening statement read.
“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.”
NNPCL is therefore calling on Nigerians to “avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country”.
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW
PRESS RELEASE
NNPC Ltd Says Cause of Tightness in Fuel Supply Resolved
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.
It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing.
It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country.
Olufemi O. Soneye
Chief Corporate Communications Officer,
NNPC Ltd
Abuja.
25 April, 2024.
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has said his government will no longer wait for the Federal Government to pay compensations to landowners whose ancestral structures were affected by the ongoing reconstruction of the Calabar-Uyo federal highway.
The governor said he will effect payments so that work on the deplorable highway will no longer be delayed.
In a statement after the 4th State Executive Council meeting, he said, “In our bid to ensure the construction work on the Calabar-Itu highway, particularly the Odukpani axis is not stalled, we have undertaken to pay compensation to landowners affected by the road expansion.
“Council has approved the disbursement of Four Hundred Million Naira (N 400,000,000.00) for that purpose.
“However, the onus rests on the Federal Government to compensate dislocated persons and affected structures.”
Otu, however, maintained that only those whose properties were identified in the original demolition would be compensated.
Similarly, he assured communities within the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport of its commitment to resolving issues concerning compensation for lands acquired from them for the airport.
Commissioner for Aviation, Capt. Eno Utum Inah rtd, said plans are almost concluded to settle land owners around the project area.
“I do not want to say compensation for the acquisition of the land for the project was not paid. I think some people felt they were more entitled than others, while some others felt excluded. Notwithstanding, the Ministry of Aviation is taking inventory of those with such complaints and also liaising with relevant agencies to sort things out. I assure you, in no distant time the issue will be resolved amicably as a solution will be obtained,” he said.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, says it pains him much that Nigeria cannot boast of electricity to power even one of her major cities, while Tanzania has succeeded in powering all their major cities.
Obi said that while a World Bank report showed that about 70 per cent of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to electricity, regrettably, Nigeria’s situation remained the opposite.
The statement comes amid a report that Tanzania, an East African nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
According to the report, their decision to shut down power stations came after production became enough to power their major cities and give electricity access to the rural dwellers.
However, Obi, in a post on his X handle on Friday, said the government must sanitize and rescue the sector for the good of the nation.
He said: “Yesterday, I read a report in the Media on how Tanzania, our East African fellow nation, recently shut down five hydroelectric stations to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
“Their decision to shut down these power stations stemmed from the fact that their electricity production was already enough to power their major cities and give electricity access to the rural dwellers.
“In pain, I wondered how our nation, the giant of Africa, could not be able to power even one of the major cities, for example, the capital Abuja, while Tanzania has succeeded in powering all their major cities.
“A World Bank report showed how strong political will and commitment have been responsible for rapid electricity access in Tanzania which has seen electricity access move from 7% in 2011 to almost 40% (37.7%) in 2020, during which about 75% (73.2%) of urban dwellers gained access to electricity and about 25% (24.5%) of rural areas gained access to electricity.
“A similar report in June 2023 showed that about 70 per cent of 40 million Tanzanians living in rural areas have received access to electricity, signifying a monumental growth in the sector, while regrettably Nigeria’s situation remains the opposite.
“In Nigeria, 60% of our over 200 million people live without access to electricity, according to a 2022 Energy Progress Report.
“Considering the economic loss resulting from the lack of access to electricity in our nation, which remains immeasurable and with the recent electricity tariff increase, one would expect that we would be able, at least, to power one major city in each geo-political zone soon, and increase our overall access both in the urban and rural areas.
“The government must, therefore, sanitize and rescue the sector for the good of the nation.
“If Tanzania could achieve such a milestone in power generation, then Nigeria can do it even better, with competent and committed leadership.
“A stable power sector is very critical for the journey to a New Nigeria, to which we remain committed.”
The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC, has fixed July 20, 2024 for the conduct of local government elections.
The Chairman of EBSIEC, Barrister Josy Eze, said on Thursday that the elections are for the 13 local government areas and 171 political wards in the state.
Eze stated this during a meeting with chairmen and secretaries of different political parties and heads of security agencies at the commission’s headquarters in Abakiliki, the State capital.
He explained that political parties should actively participate in the exercise by coming to the commission to pick their nomination forms.
“Under the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999,(as amended), the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2001, as amended, and the Ebonyi State Electoral and Related Matters Law, No. 001 of 2017, as amended, and all other powers enabling her in that behalf, the Ebonyi state independent electoral commission do hereby publish and give notice of local government council elections in Ebonyi State 2024.
“Further take notice that the date of elections ( day of polls) is Saturday, 20 day of July, 2024 throughout Ebonyi state; and that Nomination papers are to be delivered at the commission’s headquarters, No.1 Onwe road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
“Also take notice that it is further published in each of the thirteen local government areas and the one hundred and seventy-one electoral wards in Ebonyi state that elections are to be held,” the Chairman said.
The EBSIEC Chairman will elapse on July 31, 2024.
It was also gathered that many local government chairmen and ward councilors have expressed worry since the announcement for the elections was made.
However, indigenes have expressed satisfaction, saying they would vote competent grassroots leaders to address their plights.
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has revealed that former Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba has been a source of inspiration for him.
The Nigerian international made this known in a chat with Il Matino, where he noted that he has always been inspired by Drogba’s physical approach to games.
Nathan Tella admitted that leaving Arsenal at a young age was a difficult experience for him.
Tella honed his skills for 10 years at the Gunners academy before he was released in 2017.
The Nigeria international was also turned down by Reading and Norwich City.
The winger however got another chance at Southampton, where he made his Premier League debut.
The 24-year-old moved to newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen Leverkusen last summer.
Tella confessed he was embarrassed after he was told to leave Arsenal.
“I couldn’t believe it, Arsenal was all I knew from the age of six when I got scouted,” he told VAVEL.
“It was tough because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Maybe stay at Arsenal, try force their hand and make another decision, or if I was to go out on trials. I spoke to my family, I spoke to my agent they said it’s best to go on trials to see what I can do and get out of my comfort zone.”
