Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Category: News

  • EndBadGovernance: FG Releases six Polish students

    EndBadGovernance: FG Releases six Polish students

    A group of Polish students and their teacher arrested in Nigeria during protests against government policies and soaring living costs have been released, Poland’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
    The seven Polish citizens were detained earlier this month in the northwestern state of Kano “over their suspicious role in the protest and flying of Russian flags”, according to the Nigerian national security agency.
    The Polish authorities, however, said they were University of Warsaw students and a teacher, who found themselves “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
    Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the group had now been released.
    “I would like to confirm that the young people are already free, back in Kano, on campus, with passports,” Sikorski said in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter.
    “I think the young people received an accelerated lesson in African studies… I hope they will be back in the country soon,” he added.
    Nigeria is struggling with its worst cost-of-living crisis in years after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu introduced reforms to help revive the economy and foreign investment
  • Ajaero summon: Labour prepares for a showdown with the NPF

    Ajaero summon: Labour prepares for a showdown with the NPF

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has directed all national officers and 54 affiliate unions to accompany President Joe Ajaero to the Force Headquarters tomorrow, Thursday in response to the police invitation.
    It should be recalled that the Labour leader is facing allegations of involvement in terrorism financing.
    The police invitation, which was extended to Ajaero through the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), alleges “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
    In response, Ajaero’s lawyers, Femi Falana’s chambers, requested an extension of the invitation till Thursday, August 29.
    Meanwhile, in a fresh circular signed by NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union called on members to mobilize and assemble at the National Headquarters in Abuja or their respective state secretariats.
    From there, they will embark on a peaceful procession to the State Police Headquarters, where they will hold a prayer session until Ajaero’s interaction with the police is concluded.
    The circular added, “This peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers. We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session.
    “If for any reason, the President is detained, all workers nationwide shall proceed on indefinite strike. Your unwavering support and solidarity at this critical time are crucial to defending Civic rights and the integrity and rights of the labour movement.”
    “Together, we shall overcome these challenges and continue to uphold justice, fairness, and democracy in our dear nation.”
  • Fire Razes Secondary School In Ondo

    Fire Razes Secondary School In Ondo

    A community-owned high school at Ore, in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has been gutted by fire, disrupting academic activities.
    The fire badly affected the administrative blocks of the school, accommodating both the principal and vice-principal’s offices.
    The inferno also damaged the school library, destroying documents, property and learning materials worth millions of naira.
    The main cause of the fire could not be immediately ascertained, but sources in the school revealed that the inferno started while it was raining.
    The Vice Principal of the school, Aremu John, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, describing the fire as a rude shock to the authorities of the school.
    John, whose office was badly ruined by the heavy inferno, said he could not trace the cause of the fire, saying there was no electric power supply to the school before the incident.
    “We were shocked by the inferno because there were no traces of an electric power supply in the school when the fire started. We were able to save some chairs,” he added.
    Daily Trust gathered that the fire incident has been reported to the state ministry of education for inventory and assessment
  • President Tinubu appoints new DGs for NIA, DSS

    President Tinubu appoints new DGs for NIA, DSS

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Amb. Mohammed Mohammed as the new Director General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Mr. Adeola  Oluwatosin Ajayi as the new head of the Department of State Services (DSS).
    Both appointments are sequel to the recent resignation of erstwhile chiefs of both agencies.
    Background of the new DGs
    Both Directors-General are round pegs in round holes, having been seasoned security experts who rose through the ranks.
    Ambassador Mohammed, a 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, has had an illustrious career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. He had served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to the rank of Director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya.
    He  had served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House, Abuja.
    The new DSS Director-General, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, also rose through the ranks to attain his current post of Assistant Director-General of the Service. He had, at various times, served as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.
    Presidential Mandate
    While appreciating the outgone DGs for the services to the nation, the President charged the new chiefs of the nation’s apex security institutions to build upon and endeavour to surpass the successes of their predecessors.
    President Tinubu expects that the new security chiefs will work assiduously to reposition the two intelligence agencies for better results and charges them to bring their experience to bear in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the country.
    A statement by the President’s adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale disclosed that President charged them to establish enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and in surgical alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
  • Dangote, Otedola Get FG Appointment 

    Dangote, Otedola Get FG Appointment 

    In furtherance of the effort to reduce the scourge of malaria in Nigeria, the federal government at the weekend, appointed Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, astute businessman Femi Otedola, and renowned banker Tony Elumelu to lead the effort.
    Speaking at the inauguration of the team in Abuja, the minister of state for health and social welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the country currently contributes over a quarter of global malaria cases and about a third of the over 600,000 malaria deaths worldwide, mostly affecting children and pregnant women.
    Describing the situation as sad, the minister noted that the ailment contributes about 25 per cent to 30 per cent of childhood mortality and about 60 per cent of hospital attendance.
    According to him, malaria is also a major cause of absenteeism in schools, markets, and workplaces, as well as a significant out-of-pocket expense for most households in the country.
    Dangote is the chairman of the Dangote Group, Otedola is chairman of FBN Holdings Plc, Geregu Power Plc, and several other business concerns, while Elumelu is the chairman of UBA Group, founder of Heirs Holdings, and also chairs Trancorp Group.
    At the inaugural meeting of the Nigeria End Malaria Council (NEMC), which also includes John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the minister stated that the industry heavyweights would collaborate with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Assembly joint Health Committees and women’s organisations to drive the fresh efforts.
    The minister noted that it was common knowledge that Nigeria, which currently has a population of over 200 million, has its entire population at risk of malaria, a situation that puts a huge challenge on the government.
    He lamented that the implementation of the various interventions, such as the provision of antimalarial medicines, protective interventions such as chemo-preventive treatments, and treated nets and insecticides for indoor and outdoor spraying, had remained inadequate to meet the targeted population.
    “While malaria cases and deaths are shrinking in other countries, Nigeria has continuously recorded a higher number of cases. The bulk of the support for the interventions is donor-driven, hence inadequate and not sustainable.
    “Aware of the fact that no country ever eliminated malaria through donor support, the African Heads of State launched the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) during the African Union Summit of 2009 and the Malaria Scorecard was developed in 2011 to monitor the country’s performance and also to be used as an advocacy tool for heads of government,” the minister added.
    He recalled that the council was established in 2017 and was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari on August 16, 2022, stressing that the inaugural meeting was long overdue.
    According to him, the End Malaria Council was set up to advocate for malaria to remain high on the national and state agendas through strong political commitment from leaders at all levels and mobilise financial and in-kind resources from new sources, including the private sector, to help close resource gaps in the national malaria strategic plan.
    “By reason of your positions in Nigeria, your passion towards health issues, especially malaria, and the interest groups you represent, your membership to this council is inevitable for the benefit of the larger society, and especially children and pregnant women who are the most affected and would remain forever grateful,” he added.
    As part of the event, the minister handed over the leadership of the council to Dangote, who has served as Nigeria’s Malaria Ambassador as well as a member of the Global End Malaria Council.
  • Batch B Stream II NYSC call up letters out

    Batch B Stream II NYSC call up letters out

    The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 call-up letters for prospective corps members.
    The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.
    It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on August 28, 2024 and closes on September 17, 2024.
    According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.
    “While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”
    The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp
  • 100 Sacked Staff Sue Nigeria’s Central Bank

    100 Sacked Staff Sue Nigeria’s Central Bank

    …Claim Damages
    About 100 sacked staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have sued the apex bank at the National Industrial Court seeking payment for damages.
    About 200 staff of the CBN were sacked in May, by the Yemi Cardoso administration as part of the bank’s re-organization strategy.
    The sacked staff are, among other things, seeking full payment of their monthly salaries, allowances and all other financial benefits they should have been entitled to if they were still in the employment of the bank, from the time their employments were terminated to the time they should have retired from the apex bank.
    The former CBN staff’s Lead Counsel, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), on Thursday, made the court documents available to select journalists in Jos, Plateau State.
    Olanipekun stated that the sacked staff approached the court to enforce their right to fair hearing as workers who had been unjustly sacked by CBN.
    According to Arise TV, the sacked staff’s lead counsel said, “the unlawful action of the apex bank has caused monumental damages to his clients running into hundreds of millions of Naira, adding that they are praying the court to ensure that the defendant pay all the claimants their monthly salaries, allowances and other emoluments/entitlements.”
    Olanipekun added that “one of his clients who still has nine years of service left with the Bank would have earned, if his employment had not been unlawfully terminated, a sum of ₦1,621,455.70 monthly as evidenced by his salary payment, and such other monies in that regards as his current or subsequent promotion position/grades would be entitled.
    “He is praying for an order of the court to ensure that the defendant pays forthwith, all monthly salaries and allowances that the claimant would have earned in the course of his service/employment, being the sum of ₦178, 360,127.00 or such other sums in that regard, from the effective date of unlawful termination of his appointment up and until his due date of lawful retirement on 4th August, 2033.
    “The counsel said that the claimant is also praying the court to ensure that the sum of N100,000,000 million is paid to him as General Damages against the defendant, for wrongful termination of his contract of employment.
    “The sum of ₦30,000,000.00 as the cost of litigation/prosecuting the suit is also demanded from the defendant with 21 percent post-judgment interest, per annum, on all judgment sums awarded, from the date of judgment until the entire judgment sum is wholly defrayed/liquidated as well as further orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case.”
    Olanipekun explained that the Originating Summons dated 22 August 2024, is supported by a 27 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by the Claimant himself.
  • Atiku gives out daughter in marriage

    Atiku gives out daughter in marriage

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Friday married his daughter, Laila Atiku to Saleh Maitala at a ceremony held at the National Mosque in Abuja.
    The union was a culmination of a traditional process that began last year when Atiku hosted the groom’s family as they formally requested Laila’s hand in marriage.
    Sharing the news on X.com on Friday, Atiku wrote, “The joy of giving away a daughter in marriage supported by family and friends is priceless.
    “I wish Laila and her husband, Saleh Maitala, a blessed marriage. My gratitude also goes to all the dignitaries, associates, and friends who honoured my family with their presence at the wedding Fatiha in Abuja today.”
  • RFK Jr. Ends Campaign, Endorses Trump

    RFK Jr. Ends Campaign, Endorses Trump

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmental activist and vaccine sceptic, has endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidency, ending his own independent bid.
    Kennedy’s campaign filed to have his name removed from the Pennsylvania ballot, according to the Associated Press.
    While the filing didn’t explicitly confirm a campaign suspension, Kennedy is expected to make an announcement in Phoenix, just hours before a scheduled Trump campaign event where Kennedy is the anticipated “special guest.”
    Kennedy, a member of the illustrious Kennedy political dynasty, made a big change of direction with this move. Last October, he launched an independent effort in place of his initial pursuit of the Democratic nomination.
    Kennedy’s campaign had recently faltered, with dwindling poll numbers and fundraising. His endorsement of Trump follows months of warming relations, culminating in a meeting after the recent assassination attempt against the former president.
    “If he endorsed me, I would be honoured by it. I would be very honoured by it. He really has his heart in the right place,” Trump stated on “Fox & Friends.”
  • Tinubu Set To Return To France Less Than 24 Hours After Arriving in Nigeria

    Tinubu Set To Return To France Less Than 24 Hours After Arriving in Nigeria

    Barring any last minute change in plans, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart for France today, Friday, August 23, 2024, barely 24 hours after arriving from Paris to swear in the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

     

    Tinubu had returned to the country this morning to swear-in Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

     

    Tinubu swore-in Justice Kekere-Ekun at about 11:38 am at the State House in Abuja, making her the second Nigerian female jurist to serve as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, after Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who was the Chief Justice of Nigeria between July 2012 and November, 2014.

     

    She will operate in an acting capacity until confirmation by the Senate.

     

    Justice Kekere-Ekun takes over the new role following her recommendation for the position by the National Judicial Council and the retirement of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

     

    Among the dignitaries who witnessed the swearing-in event were other Justices of the Supreme Court; the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the leadership of the House of Representatives, represented by Prof Julius Ihonbvere; the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu; and immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

     

    Also present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

     

    Recall that President Tinubu had cut short his trip to France, returning to the country early this morning to swear-in the new CJN.

     

    The decision of the President to return to France has made some to wonder about the reason for Mr. Tinubu’s predilection for Paris, France at this critical time of national socioeconomic ad security challenges.