January 3, 2019
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that it is set to host yet another edition of private sector interaction with governorship candidates in Lagos State.
According to the chamber, the interaction is aimed at providing a platform for the governorship candidates to discuss their manifestoes and programmes for private sector development in the state.
LCCI said in a statement on Wednesday, that the event is scheduled to hold on Friday, January 11, in Lagos. Read more
2019: God won’t allow any opposition party to win Lagos – Oba Akiolu (Tribune)
The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu (I) has said that God will not allow any opposition party to upstage the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 general elections.
The monarch made this assertion recently in Lagos, at the 11th Annual Hijrah Lecture and Commissioning of the new ultramodern House of Assembly Mosque.
According to him, the new Mosque is unique especially as it was built inside the Assembly complex where Bills are passed into Law. Read more
Airforce confirm all 5 crew members of crashed Mi-35 helicopter gunship killed in Borno (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Airforce has said that five crew members of the Mi-35 helicopter gunship which went missing while in combat against Boko Haram terrorists have been confirmed dead.
The crew members include two Pilots, two gunners and a flight technician. They are Flight Lieutenant Perowei Jacob – Pilot in Command, Flight Lieutenant Kaltho Paul Kilyofas – Co-Pilot, Sergeant Auwal Ibrahim – Flight Technician, Lance Corporal Adamu Nura – Gunner and Aircraftman Meshack Ishmael – Gunner. Read more
Court declines Melaye’s request to order police out of residence (ThisDay)
Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Thursday turned down the request by the embattled senator representing Kogi west constituency, Dino Melaye, to order the Nigeria Police Force to vacate his residence.
The Force had since Friday, December 28, 2018, laid siege to No 11 Sangha Street, off Mississippi, Maitama, Abuja, residence of the senator in a bid to arrest him over alleged attempted culpable homicide. Read more
We’ll ensure that more corrupt persons are jailed this year, EFCC vows (Punch)
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, says the EFCC is committed to ensuring that more corrupt persons are jailed in 2019.
The EFCC boss was quoted as saying this in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mr. Tony Orilade, on Thursday.
Magu said the anti-graft agency secured the conviction of 312 persons in 2018 and the agency was targeting double of this figure (624) in 2019. Read more
Over 7 million Nigerians are displaced says report (Guardian)
No fewer than seven million Nigerians have been displaced and are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the protracted activities of the Boko Haram insurgents, in northeastern Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a recent report by the UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, as it prepares to provide life-saving emergency assistance to the “most vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas”. Read more
2019: APC presidential campaign team converges on Abuja for inauguration (Punch)
Members of women and youth wing of APC Presidential Campaign Team on Thursday converged on Abuja for their inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PCT members comprised politicians, technocrats, captains of industries, entertainers, as well as retired military and Police officers.
Among dignitaries who arrived the venue of the event was the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari; Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Hajo Sani; and the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung. Read more
Amina Zakari heads Presidential Election Collation Committee (ThisDay)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appointed a National Commissioner in the commission, Mrs. Amina Zakari, as the chairperson of the presidential election collation committee.
Mrs. Zakari, a former acting head of the commission, is said to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s niece.
The main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described Zakari’s appointment as “outright manipulation.” Read more
How PDP will make Nigeria work again, by Peter Obi (Guardian)
Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Mr. Peter Obi, has disclosed how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would make the country work again.He said the problem with Nigerian was more because of the inefficiency in programme implementation, rather than policy formulation.
Obi stated this during a live interview on Channels Television.
According to him: “This All Progressives Congress (APC) government has for long formulated different, beautiful policies, but the problem is with implementation.” Read more
Operation Python Dance: Army pledges collaboration with security agencies (Vanguard)
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Thursday assured the Ondo State Government of the continuous collaboration of the army with other security agencies.
Buratai gave the assurance in Owo at the flag-off of Operation Python Dance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Army Staff was represented by Major General Okwudili Azinta, the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan. Buratai said that the exercise also known as Egwu Eke was meant to check the insecurity across the length and breadth of the country. Read more
PDP keeps vigil, dedicates campaign to God (Vanguard)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta on Wednesday night kept vigil in Asaba to dedicate the party’s 2019 general elections campaign to God.
Newsmen report that the party will on Friday flag-off its campaign in the state at Oghara, Ethiope Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
Oghara is the hometown of Chief James Ibori, former governor of the state under the PDP between 1999 and 2007. Read more
Ex-Kano governor, Hamza Abdullahi, 73, is dead (ThisDay)
The former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and one time Military Governor of Kano State, Air Vice Marshal Hamza Abdullahi, has died in Germany.
Abdullahi died in the early hours of Thursday after a brief illness.
He served as the military governor of Kano State from 1984 to 1985, while President Muhammadu Buhari was the Head of State. Read more
Forbes ranks Nigeria 110th among best 161 countries for business (Tribune)
Forbes, the popular American business magazine, has ranked Nigeria in the 110th position among Best Countries for Busines in the world out of 161 graded countries.
The United States was ranked 17th below Ireland and Finland, while top on the list is the United Kingdom (1), followed by Sweden (2), Hong Kong (3), The Netherlands (4), New Zealand (5) and Canada (6).
In the African region, South Africa came first in Africa, while Nigeria is in the 14th position, but on the global scale, South Africa ranks 59. Read more
Scientists develop ‘super drug’ to cure diabetes (Leadership)
Here is good news for millions of people worldwide contending with diabetes: Scientists have created a new drug cocktail that can induce insulin-producing cells to regenerate at a rate that is fast enough to work in human treatments.
This is a key step in the pursuit of a cure for diabetes that restores the body’s ability to make insulin. The recent study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, NY, reveals how a novel combination of two classes of drug can make adult human beta cells replicate at a rate of 5–8 percent per day.
The team reports the findings in a paper that features in the journal Cell Metabolism. Read more
Access Bank Marathon has buoyed Lagos’ tourism appeal, says Olopade (Guardian)
The Access Bank Marathon has made Lagos a sports tourism destination for road race enthusiasts from across the world.
Consultant to the Access Bank Marathon, Bukola Olopade has revealed that the yearly competition has turned Lagos into a huge sports tourism centre with thousands of road race enthusiasts always looking forward to the event.
This year, over 4,000 runners from 42 countries around the world have registered to participate in the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. Read more
Charlie Austin charged by FA for two-fingered gesture at Man City fans (Sun)
Charlie Austin has been charged by the FA for an alleged two-fingered gesture he showed towards Manchester City fans last week.
Austin seemed to be showing the offensive gesture while being substituted around the 68th minute in Southampton’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City at St Mary’s.
Shortly after the Sunday game, the FA wrote to Austin asking for explanations over the incident.
And now they have announced the Saints striker has been charged and has till January 7 to respond.
It read: “Southampton’s Charlie Austin has been charged following the game against Manchester City on Sunday [30 December 2018]. Read more
Super Eagles’ appearance at 2018 World Cup my greatest moment —Akinwunmi (Punch)
The first Vice-President, Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi, on Thursday said that the Super Eagles’ appearance at the 2018 World Cup was his greatest moment in the year.
Akinwunmi made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, while reflecting on the successes recorded in football administration in 2018.
NAN reports that 2018 had been a busy year for football administration as the various national teams were engaged in many international football competitions. Read more