Author: meridianspy

Report coming from Akure, the Ondo State capital said there was sporadic shootings at Pollíng Unit 11 located at Edo Lodge in Oke Ijebu, Akure, Ripples Nigeria reports. Though there are fears that hoodlums were behind the shooting, it was not yet known if they disrupted the exercise at the polling unit. However, the Ondo police spokesman, Tee-Lee Ikoro, who confirmed the incident to newsmen said that Mobile Police operatives had been deployed to the scene.

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Some elder statesmen and prominent activists say Nigeria is on autopilot, Sahara Reporters reports. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd.), Prof. Attahiru Jega, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Dr Nguyan Shaku Feese, Dr Usman Bugaje, Adagbo Onoja, Amb. Fatima Balla, Ambassador Zango Abdu, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chris Kwaja, Dr Hussaini Abdu, Kemi Okenyodo, Jim Gala, Aisha Muhammed Oyebode and Tsema Yvonne said this in a joint statement on Thursday. They spoke under the auspices of the Nigeria Working Group on Peacebuilding and Governance (NWGPG). They called themselves a group of Nigerian civic and thought leaders. According…

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An Ondo state high court has sentenced Babatunde Alfa, general overseer of Sotitobire Miracle Center, Akure, and five others to life imprisonment over the kidnapping of Gold Kolawole, a one-year-old child, from the church, The Cable reports Other convicts jailed include Omodara Olayinka, Margaret Oyebola , Grace Ogunjobi, Egunjobi Motunrayo and Esther Kayode. The convicts were found guilty on two-count charges of kidnapping, aiding and abetting to kidnap preferred against them. Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Olusegun Odusola, the judge, said the prosecution “proved circumstantial evidence” against the accused persons. The one-year-old boy had gone missing in November 2019 after his…

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The Federal Government has said it cannot afford to conduct free test for travellers coming into the country. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, made this known during a virtual town hall meeting on Saturday. The event was organised by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), for Nigerians coming into the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is not something that the government can afford. We will run out of test kits,” Aliyu said. “We appreciate the difficulties that people are going through. It will be sorted.” Recall the government, while…

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The governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scored President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressive Congress (APC) administration low, stating that the nation under the ruling party has continued on a downward slide into extreme decay. The PDP governors said they, however, must strive harder as leaders in their various states to make sure poverty is minimised in all parts of the country. This was contained in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Reflection on Nigeria @ 60: The past, present and way forward…We need a national dialogue,’ issued by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State. “In…

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On Saturday, 26 September 2020 in far away Abu Dhabi, Israel Adesanya, an illustrious Nigerian, who embodies the indefatigable Nigerian spirit made the nation proud by successfully defending his UFC middleweight title. That victory lifted our spirit, and gave us hope in a season of hopelessness when every index of life and human development in our country is trending abysmally negative. Nigerians of all hues are united in the celebration of the victory of Israel Adesanya. It is our victory. No one cares if he is from Abia or Zamfara, Rivers or Osun state. Indeed some are wont to adopt…

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Fellow Nigerians I speak to you today as your President and fellow citizen on this epoch occasion of our country’s 60th independence Anniversary. As President, I wish to renew my appreciation to Nigerians for entrusting me with your hopes and aspirations for a better and greater Nigeria. 2. Today, it is my unique privilege to re-commit myself to the service of this great country of great people with profound diversities and opportunities. We are bound by destiny to be the largest and greatest black nation on earth. 3. At this stage in our nationhood it is important that we reflect…

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As we mark the 60th Anniversary Day, the record-setting, mega roadways infrastructure development projects by the Buhari administration numbering up to 600 that are undergoing major upgradation or rehabilitation call for public attention and appreciation. The size and magnitude of the road projects notwithstanding, the clamour by Nigerians for more motorable roads is not abating, and neither is the President Muhammadu Buhari Government’s commitment to delivering on an improved national road network, which it inherited at different stages of disrepair from previous administrations. When there is a will, as the adage goes, there will be a way or two. Since…

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The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country to suspend the new increase in electricity tariff. NERC said the directive was in line with the agreement reached between the Federal Government and labour unions, leading to the botched nationwide protest against the hike in fuel price and electricity tariff. The order which was dated Monday, September 28 and signed by James Momoh, NERC Chairman, was issued by NERC to the DisCos on Tuesday night. According to the regulatory agency, from September 28 to October 11, the DisCos will revert all charges to the tariff…

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Despite the agreement reached between the Federal Government and labour unions leading to the suspension of last Monday nationwide strike, the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country say they have not received any directive on the suspension of the increased electricity tariff from the government. Recall that while the labour unions had agreed to halt the planned protest on Monday, the government on its part agreed to suspend the implementation of the new electricity tariff increase. The government also agreed to rehabilate the refineries in the country to reduce the cost of fuel. However, a top official of the…

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A commercial court in London has ordered the release of the $200 million used as a deposit in the case against Process & Industrial Development (P&ID) to the Nigerian government, THISDAY reports. The newspaper quotes Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as confirming the development on Tuesday. “Due to the substantial evidence of prima facie fraud established before the court, we are pleased that the judge has agreed to release the guarantee. We are also pleased that the court has rejected P&ID’s application to increase the guarantee, which was clearly intended to be a diversionary tactic…

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The convoy of Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, has been attacked by Boko Haram insurgents, The Cable reports. This incident comes barely 48 hours after Zulum’s convoy was attacked by insurgents on Friday. TheCable had reported how security operatives were killed when Boko Haram insurgents opened fire on the governor’s convoy and other vehicles conveying government officials to Baga, a town in the state, for the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs). However, the Sunday attack reportedly occurred along Baga-Kukawa axis of Borno. A source who confirmed the news to the TheCable said troops of the Nigerian air force were…

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