The Federal Government has reacted to United States decision to blacklist Nigeria for “engaging in systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations”. While no reason was given for blacklisting Nigeria, Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State who announced the measure, said his country will continue to act when “religious freedom is attacked”. Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, reacting in a statement on Tuesday, described the allegation as a case of “honest disagreement between the two nations on the causes of violence in Nigeria”. “Nigeria does not engage in religious freedom violation, neither does it have a policy of religious…
Author: meridianspy
The Nigerian government deregulated the downstream petroleum sector with effect from March 19, 2020. The key argument was that the fuel subsidy regime which gulps billions of Naira annually, had become unrealistic and unsustainable. One or two months later, with the impact of COVID-19 biting hard, disruptions in the global demand and supply chain turning everything askew and the corresponding effect of these factors on government revenue which had dipped terribly, government pointed to additional justifications for its action. It was further argued that the subsidy regime benefits the rich at the expense of the poor. The effect, as explained…
Security operatives have laid siege around the Lekki Tollgate Plaza over possible resumption of ENDSARS protest in the country. Commuters confirmed to MERIDIAN SPY armed police officers and soldiers were deployed to the area around Sunday midnight and set themselves in strategic places in the plaza. It was also learnt that youths have started gathering around the area to resume the protest. It would be recalled in October, youths across some parts of the country had marched out against police brutality and abuse of human rights. After about two weeks of peaceful demonstration, the protest ended following hijack by hoodlums…
Two adhoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recruited for the House of Assembly bye-election in Zamfara have been reportedly declared missing. A’isha Bawa, Registration Area Supervisor of Bakura ward 001, confirmed the development while presenting her report. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bawa said she did not receive results from two polling units and she did not see either the staff or the election results. Bukura was said to have recorded incidents of violence and ballot-box snatching. The poll in the constituency was declared inconclusive by Ibrahim Magawata, the returning officer. Magawata said the results…
Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, says spiritual warfare helped prevent deaths during military intervention at the Lekki toll plaza, Lagos state, on October 20, The cable reports. Controversies have trailed army involvement in the #EndSARS protests against police brutality, particularly the shootings in Lekki. Speaking on Friday at the decoration of 39 newly promoted major-generals, Buratai said a spiritual warfare seminar held by the army helped in preventing deaths at the protest ground — although there are still controversies on the casualty figure. The army chief said most of the newly decorated generals are also graduates of spiritual warfare…
On January 22, 2015 at Chatham House, London, Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), baited the whirlwind. He said he had suggested to Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to postpone the general election scheduled for February 14 by six weeks – which is within the constitutional 90-day election window – to give more time for voter-card distribution. “It costs you nothing, it’s still within the law,” Dasuki was reported to have told the INEC chairman. Being a spy chief, Dasuki secreted the underlying reason for his startling suggestion away in election contingencies. But the…
Anil Vij, Health Minister of the northern Indian state of Haryana, has tested positive for coronavirus days after participating in the trial of coronavirus vaccine Covaxin. Vij had on November 20, participated in a trial of Covaxin COVID-19 Vaccine trial. However, the Health Minister took to Twitter on Saturday to advise those eho had close contact with him to get themselves tested for coronavirus. “I have been tested Corona positive. I am admitted in Civil Hospital Ambala Cantt. All those who have come in close contact to me are advised to get themselves tested for corona,” he wrote. Hours later, the…
The ongoing three-day national convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) was on Thursday disrupted by violence, Sahara Reporters reports. About 20 members of the association, who gathered at the old parade ground in Abuja for the convention, sustained wounds from gunshots and machete after thugs loyal to a factional coordinator of the association in Zone D (Southwest) began attacking delegates. The thugs, numbering over 20, stormed the venue with dangerous weapons while accreditation of Students Union Government (SUG) Presidents under NANS Zone B and Zone D was in progress. Meanwhile, DSS operatives have allegedly arrested the National…
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), at Kuje correctional centre until his trial is concluded. Justice Okon Abang of the court gave the order at the resumed trial of the ex-pension boss on Friday. Maina is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on N2bn money laundering charges. He had jumped bail and fled to the Republic of Niger but was arrested on Monday and extradited to Nigeria on Thursday. The defendant is already on bench warrant, his bail having been…
The Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has launched a special operation, code-named operation Akpakwu, to flush out criminals from the state, especially kidnappers, Channels TV reports. Speaking at the event, Governor Ayade said though statistics indicate that the state remains one of the safest in the country, he decried recent incidents of criminality, especially kidnappings in the state. Handing over 100 patrol vehicles fitted with cutting edge communication gadgets, power bikes, and drones to service commanders in the state, Ayade vowed to return the state, particularly Calabar, to the paradise it once was. Upon distributing the vehicles to…
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it has not yet suspended its strike action that has lingered for months. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU president, told Vanguard the union is still consulting with its members nationwide to determine its response to the recent offer by the federal government. “We have what the government is offering and have transmitted the same to our members nationwide, and we are consulting on what the next line of action will be. You know a tree does not make a forest, and our union is democratic in nature and practice,” said Ogunyemi. “As for…
On Saturday, November 28, about 43 farmers who had gone to their farms during the current harvest season were attacked by Boko Haram terrorists. They were tied up; their hands behind their backs, one after the other their throats were slit. The United Nations puts the number of casualties at 110, not 43. Amnesty International says over 10 women and others are missing. The people of Zabarmari were so outraged they refused to bury the dead. They asked that the Governor of Borno State, Professor Baba Gana Zulum, must show up to witness the tragedy that has befallen their community.…