Update News

  Oby Ezekwesili, the former minister of Education, has called for an assessment of the physical and mental capability of President Muhammadu Buhari over the affairs of the nation.  Ezekwesili demanded that a medical panel be set up to assess the President, adding that the condition of Nigeria has become too grave for citizens to sit still.  The former Minister said this on her official Twitter page, stressing that the State house physician cannot be trusted hence the need for an independent panel.  She tweeted, “I think that at this stage and depth of fragility of the Nigeria-State, Privacy has to yield ground to our right to know as citizens, the state of health of Buhari.  “We really must assess the physical or mental capability of Nigeria’ President to carry on the duties of office. “Citizens can collectively push for an Independent Panel to help us make the critical medical determination of the state of mind and body of our President Buhari.  “The cond...

 The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has declared that he can't be arrested.  He made the declaration in response to reports of manhunt for him and his followers by the government.  Shekau explained that security operatives can't arrest him because he was doing God’s work.  The Nigerian Army had released 86 names, including that of Shekau as those wanted for terrorism in Nigeria.  All the names released are members of the Boko Haram sect.  However, Shekau, in his latest 30 minutes video, said God would protect him.  He also warned that the war against the government would continue even after him.  “Nobody can apprehend me because I’m doing God’s work. He will protect me like those doing similar work and seeking His protection.  “I’m very sure God will protect my commanders,” he added. 

 The Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) has again increased the ex-depot price of Premium motor Spirit (PMS) petrol. A litre has been jerked up to N155.17 per litre from N147.67.  PPMC is subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The new ex-depot price was contained in an internal memo with reference number PPMC/C/MK/003, dated November 11, 2020.  The circular signed by Tijjani Ali said the change is effective Friday November 13.  Ex-depot price is the cost the product is sold by the PPMC to marketers at the depots.  The approximately N8 increment would cause an increase in pump prices to about N170 per litre nationwide.

 Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, has said that he is disappointed with the President Muhammadu Buhari government for rehabilitating repentant members of Boko Haram.  Ndume spoke on Wednesday at the closed-door budget defense session with the Nigerian Army.  Ndume, who has always seen the government's deradicalizing of ex-Boko Haram members as a misplacement of priority, insisted that it was wrong for this administration to be resettling and pampering former terrorists while the country is still at war.  “I am in disagreement with the government,” Ndume reacted.  The lawmaker, who represents Borno South, noted that members of the dreaded terrorist group who are captured during military operations can be kept as prisoners of war and later tried in accordance with the law.  Ndume pointed out that the recent “Damboa attack was carried out by a repentant Boko Haram member. ” The lawmaker said that “the repentant Boko Haram member was...

  Former Governor of old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, is dead. The Second Republic governor reportedly died early Wednesday morning.  His death was confirmed by former Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani. According to him, “Alhaji Balarabe Musa has died. May Allah forgive his souls and grant him Aljanna Firdausi. Amin.”  “Balarabe Musa; Inna lillahi wainna Illayhir rajiun. May Allah grant him Aljanna Firdausi. Amin.” 

  Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, are currently living in fear due to the mysterious death of about 11 people.  The cause of the sickness has not been ascertained as of the time of filing this report.  Caretaker Chairman, Lagelu local government, Mr. Abdullah Kelani confirmed that 11 persons have lost their lives so far.  He added that five persons are currently hospitalised. Kelani said that four persons have been discharged.  He said that part of the immediate action taken by the government was to investigate the cause of the sickness.  Kelani added that investigation revealed that it was due to lack of access to clean and potable water by the affected persons. Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello said the tests carried out on the affected persons are still premature and the samples collected have not confirmed the sickness to be cholera.

  Nigerians have kicked against the call by  the House of Representatives that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel should carry guns.  The Committee on FRSC made the demand on Thursday in Abuja.  They spoke when FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi appeared for the 2020 budget performance and 2021 budget defence.  The lawmakers noted that firearms will help the personnel curtail the excesses of road users.  Committee Chairman, Akinfolarin Mayowa, explained that the 1992 Act of FRSC allowed the corps to bear arms.  Mayowa added that the implementation was urgently required to ensure laws were obeyed and to allow the officers function effectively.  Oyeyemi, while commenting, recalled cases where motorists threaten personnel on duty.  But citizens have opposed the idea. They warned that allowing more paramilitary arms access to weapons might cause problems.  In mockery of authorities, some respondents said other traffic agencies li...

  A Magistrate court in Port Harcourt has remanded a father, Chinedu Anthony in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt for alleged attempt to murder his five-year-old son.  The Court also remanded Anthony's partner, Chiwendu Nwokoike, under whose watch the five-year-old boy was domestically abused.  Anthony and his partner were arraigned for the attempted murder of little Goodluck Chinedu who they locked up in a cage at the back of their home for more than a week in Port Harcourt.  Both of them were arrested after their neighbours alerted a lawyer who contacted the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA) to rescue the boy. Magistrate Nnenna Ezeobuzuor who declined jurisdiction to entertain the matter advised that the case file be transferred to the DPP for legal advice. Speaking to journalists after the court sitting, FIDA Vice Chairperson in Rivers State, Nnenna Igbokwe said, “The victim was locked-up in a cage for more than a week to the extent th...

  The Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has revealed that police officers who lost their lives and those injured following the violence that erupted during the End SARS protest will be promoted to next rank.   Adamu said this after assessing burnt police stations in Edo state on Wednesday.  According to him, police officers across the country will continue to enjoy health insurance even after retirement. The IGP also said that families of those who lost their lives and those injured will be compensated.  “While in service, we registered for Health Insurance Scheme but it stops when we retired.  “However, this government said it is not encouraging and it is now part of the law that those that have retired from the force will continue to enjoy health insurance scheme, ” he added. 

  Joe Biden, Democratic candidate in the United States presidential election, has declared that he is confident of victory.  Biden addressed the nation on Thursday.  He noted that it was clear that he had won “enough states to reach 270 electoral votes to win the presidency ”.  “Now, every vote must be counted. No one’s going to take our democracy from us...not now, not ever.  “I’m not here to declare that we've won, but I am here to report when the count is finished, we believe we will be the winners. “I’m confident that we will emerge victorious. But this will not be my victory alone. It will be a victory for the American people. Official results as at 9:50am Nigeria time, shows Biden is slightly ahead of President Donald Trump.  But the race is too close to call as votes are still being counted in many states.  However, the former vice president has launched a transition website. A message on the portal reechoed Biden’s comment that Americans will d...

  The Centre for Human Rights and Anti-corruption Crusade, CHURAC, has said that the recent parley by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Northern leaders is a threat to Nigeria's corporate existence and unity.  This is contained in a statement signed by CHURAC’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Oyinkedi Fuofegha.  The group said, “The Northern leaders are not sincere to our corporate coexistence. ” According to the group, “For them to blame the End SARS protests on separatists means that the Northern region is the biggest problem of the country.  “They always tag every genuine struggle for the betterment of the country as a threat to breakup. What an impudence? It's very wrong to call the recent protests a separatist movement.  “Even if some of the protesters called for Buhari’s resignation over his acute failure in leadership, we see nothing wrong in the protests. After all, the youths were very peaceful. That is a time tested practice known all over the ...

  The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Tuesday advised federal and state governments to ensure justice and fairness to all Nigerians. The President of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) spoke at an emergency meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria in Abuja.  The parley was on nationwide unrest in the aftermath of the End SARS protest.  NAN reports that the Sultan told all politicians to work towards a better country.  “If really we want this country to move forward we must change the way we do things . My message to President Muhammadu Buhari is that I urge him to be just always in whatever he is doing. I also advice governors to always be just in whatever they are doing.  “Justice is very important in any developing society, community even in our homes without justice there will be no peace. If you see problems cropping up everywhere, there is a problem with justice and that is why we don't have very good soluti...

  Shehu Sani, the former senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district, has berated Northern Governors for calling for the censorship of social media. Shehu Sani in a Tweet on Tuesday said northerners live in fear due to banditry but their Governors were more concerned about social media.  According to him, “Northern Governors; their kinsmen are being slaughtered daily by bandits & insurgents, their people are daily being kidnapped & impoverished by ransom ,their women raped & their villages are under siege.  “Their people live in fear & funerals. Yet, Social Media is their  problem.” Recall that the Governors made the call to “avoid the spread of fake news”.  According to them, the effect of uncontrolled social media is devastating.  They also condemned the “subversive” actions of some End SARS protesters, saying some people took advantage of the Peaceful protest to push their “separative agenda”.

 The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, (AMEN), Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari government to apologise to Nigerians.  The outspoken Catholic priest is angry at Buhari for failing to address the numerous challenges facing the country which resulted in the End SARS protests across the country.  Mbaka, who had always thrown his weight behind President Buhari, expressed his anger when he addressed congregants at this year’s All Saint’s Mass in Enugu on Sunday.  The cleric also alleged that security agents killed several End SARS protesters in Enugu State and their bodies thrown into the Onyeama Valley.  Mbaka called on President to apologise to Nigerians for leadership errors of his administration and that of past governments.  “The present government needs to apologise, and they should also apologise for the errors of past governments. It is not a case of #EndSARS or Biafra,” he added.  “God is telling thes...