Ahmad Lawan, Senate President, has reacted to the recent ban on the operations of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a subunit of the Nigeria Police Force. In a statement through Ola Awoniyi, his Special Adviser (Media), in Abuja, on Sunday, Lawan commended President Muhammadu Buhari for disbanding SARS, noting that he has demonstrated good leadership by yielding to the popular will of the people. The Senate President also commended Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), but noted that the security authorities must go beyond dissolution of the SARS operatives and come up with measures for the reformation of the…
Author: meridianspy
Women like Aisha Yesufu are like comets; they come once in a generation bearing the torch of truth, courage and resilience. They are lodestars, shining light on the path to a new world where humankind can thrive without chains and shackles. They are definers of the age; excellent species of their kind. Aisha bestrides the civic landscape like a rodeo rider, bringing to submission revilement from traducers and hangers-on of the corrupt and oppressive political class – only with her clenched fist and dauntless voice. The Chibok girls’ abduction of April 14, 2014 coerced Aisha out of comfort. She was…
Protesters who are demanding the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) were at the police headquarters in Abuja, demanding to meet Mohammed Adamu, inspector general of police (IGP), The Cable reports. Chanting “End SARS Now, End SARS Now”, the protesters vowed not to leave the place until they meet with the IGP. A senior police officer, who came out of the building to address the crowd, was interrupted as shouts of “We want to see the IG” rented the air. Abdul Mahmud, a human rights lawyer who led the protesters to the police headquarters, failed in his bid to…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…