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  • Nigeria will benefit from Pamo University of Medical Sciences – Abubakar

    Nigeria will benefit from Pamo University of Medical Sciences – Abubakar

    Former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar has declared that the establishment of Pamo University of Medical Sciences will help the country conserve foreign exchange as highly trained medical doctors will be educated locally.

    Abubakar who is the Chairman of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Pamo University of Medical Sciences said that the new institution will offer more Nigerians the opportunity to study medicine.

    The Former Head of State spoke at the Government House Port Harcourt on Saturday during a Courtesy Visit by the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Pamo University of Medical Sciences to Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

    He said: “At present, only five percent of students who seek admission to study medicine gain admission into existing institutions “.

    He said that the Board of Trustees will work with the management  of the university to make it the best in the country.

    Abubakar urged the Rivers State Government to support the new University in its quest to develop medical education in the country.

    He further praised Governor Wike for his outstanding developmental strides, saying  that Rivers State is wearing a new look.

    Read Also: Abubakar advocates legal backing for traditional rulers

    Dr Peter Odili, former Rivers State Governor and Founder of Pamo University of Medical Sciences, assured that the university will live up to the expectations of Nigerian students.

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike described the establishment of the university as a commendable effort.

    He said Rivers indigenes who are interested in studying medicine would benefit from Pamo University of Medical Sciences because of admission slots.

    The governor noted that the Rivers State Government will sponsor eligible Rivers students to be trained as medical doctors in the university.

    He said: “I am encouraged by the quality of the university.  The Rivers State Government will partner with the university to train Rivers children “.

    He commended the Founder of Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Dr Peter Odili for his contributions to the development of Rivers State.

     

     

  • Kiprotich wins 2018 Lagos City Marathon

    Kiprotich wins 2018 Lagos City Marathon

    Abraham Kiprotich has won the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon 42km race.

    The Kenyan born Frenchman finished in a time of 2:15:04 and will take home the $50,000 prize money.

    Ilya Pam wins the indigenous race with 2hours 27minutes.

    Read Also: Okocha, Oyedeji participate in Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

    Speaking during the prize presentation, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said, “We’re at the Bronze level of marathons, but we want to get it to the Gold level, in the next two years.

    “We’re tired of giving these trophies to the East Africans. We’ll be committing resources to training our Nigerian athletes so they can win the marathon”

     

  • Suspected drug seller arrested in Ondo

    Suspected drug seller arrested in Ondo

    A suspected drug seller,Chidi Ebere has been arrested and handed over to an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Olagoke Balogun (Deputy Commander)in Ikare- Akoko Unit of Ondo state.

    The Unit Commander,Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC)Ikare-Akoko,Jimoh Basiru reportedly caught Ebere with 20 packs of substance neatly sealed in a carton suspected to be Indian hemps.

    According to Basiru, his men went to an accident scene in Oba Akoko along the busy Abuja road where they evacuated some goods just for the owners to claim.

    The driver of the ill-fated vehicle was said to have been rushed to Iwaro-Oka General Hospital where he was being treated.

    It was learnt that the accused came to Ikare Office of the FRSC to claim his goods and its men asked him to show evidence of ownership.

    Read Also: NDLEA seize tons of illicit drugs, nab 324 suspects

    Besides,they asked him what was inside the carton,but he lied.

    Sources said they forced him to open the carton and in an attempt to obey the order,he escaped, but was later apprehended by some FRSC officials.

    In his confessional statement,he said,Ebere said he was selling spare parts in Abuja and was financially down which prompted him to contact a friend in Lagos who went the drugs to him to raise money.

    According to him, this is the first time he would involve in such act.

    The police from Oba-Akoko were at the scene of his arrest.

  • Ganduje gives N100 Waivers to Tricycle Operates

    Ganduje gives N100 Waivers to Tricycle Operates

     

    The Kano State government has given N100 waiver to tricycle operators with immediate effect.

    He lifted the N100 levy,initially imposed on tricycle operators in the state, ostensibly to improve its internally Generated Revenue(lGR).

    Ganduje, while presenting empowerment tools to the tricycle operators, at the government house said the waiver became imperative, despite the prevailing economic situation in the state.

    Read Also: Kano Govt. empowers 2,500 tricycle operators

    The governor said the gesture was sequel to the request by the associations of the tricycle operators for him to consider their plight by purchasing machines for them at avoidable price.

    He added that the government would look into possibility of providing the machines, in view of the economic crunch bidevilling the country.

    He added that “But, for the time being, we have lifted the N100 levy you have been paying. This will enable you to continue running your business with ease, in order to fend for your families, ”

  • Dalung urges UN to create Commission for youth development

    Dalung urges UN to create Commission for youth development

    The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Friday in Abuja urged the United Nations to create a Commission which would address issues related to youth development.

    Dalung said this when he received the UN Secretary General’s Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, in his office.

    “The absence of this has led to our not having a meaningful development in the youth, because there is no platform for the young people to operate.

    “The Nigeria youths are facing poverty, not only material poverty but also poverty of the mind. Unemployment and lack of inclusion in governance.

    “Once the UN runs an inclusive policy of having a specific budget for the youths, it will go a long way in addressing some of these problems,’’ the minister said.

    Read Also: CHAN:  Dalung congratulates Super Eagles

    He said the UN should ask all member-states to dedicate a specific percentage of their annual budget for youth development.

    Dalung noted that the world had over time been gambling with its future, which happens to be the youths.

    Earlier, Wickramanayake had said she was in Nigeria to work to expand the UN’s youth engagement and advocacy efforts such as sustainable development, human rights, peace and security, and humanitarian action.

    Our reporter says that Wickramanayake has worked extensively on youth development.

    She has also played a key role in transforming the youth development sector in her home country of Sri Lanka.

     

  • NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny weather on Saturday

    NiMet predicts cloudy, sunny weather on Saturday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet ) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions over the central States of the county on Saturday.

    The agency said that the states would record 33 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius day and night temperatures.

    In the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Friday, it also predicted chances of thundery activities over Nassarawa, Ilorin, Minna, Bida, Abuja, Lokoja, Makurdi, and Lafia in the afternoon and evening.

    The agency predicted that southern States would experience partly cloudy conditions in the morning, with day and night temperatures in the range of 34 degrees Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius.

    It also stated that localised thunderstorms were probable over Shaki, Ado-Ekiti, Awka, Owerri, Umuahia, Oshogbo, Akure, Enugu and the coastal cities during the afternoon and evening.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience sunny and hazy conditions throughout the period with day and night temperatures in the range of 36 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    “Sunny and hazy conditions are expected over the north with increase cloudiness over the central cities and prospects of thunderstorms activities over the south and part of central cities within the next 24 hours,” it predicted.

     

  • We must unite to dislodge APC in 2019 – Salvador

    We must unite to dislodge APC in 2019 – Salvador

    The Lagos State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Moshood Salvador on Friday, charged members of the party to unite to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in the state next year.

    Salvador gave the charge while inaugurating the party’s Caucus and State Leaders Council at the party secretariat in Lagos.

    He said it would be difficult for the party break the jinx of consistent failures at the polls in the state if members work at cross purposes.

    The party chairman asked members to cast aside their differences and be more committed to the party for electoral victory in 2019.

    “I want all of us to see the best in PDP now and get the best out of the PDP in the next election,” he said.

    “This is only possible with strong unity. No matter how many times the teeth bite the tongue, they are still together, and that is forgiveness.

    Read Also: Salvador elected Lagos PDP chairman

    “Therefore, I call on you to show more commitment to the party and see its success as paramount, to defeat the APC in 2019,” he said.

    Salvador urged members not destroy the party, no matter their grievances.

    Speaking at the occasion, a former governorship candidate of the party in the state, Mr Jimi Agbaje, urged party men to stay together to defeat the APC in the state in the election.

    He said the APC had failed the people of the state and it was time for the PDP to take over government.

    “The APC has failed in the state, making one to ask if anything is working now in Lagos.

    “It is time for the PDP to take over government. However if we must win, we must be united.

    “If we must win, we must say no to impunity. We must put our acts together and work with unity of purpose; that is the only way,” he said.

    Agbaje commended Salvador for bringing everybody together, saying it was a sure step to record victory in 2019.
    Another former governorship candidate, Dr Samsideen Dosunmu, also urged members to close ranks and be united.

  • Ozubulu killings: Witness opens up in court in Anambra

    Ozubulu killings: Witness opens up in court in Anambra

    ….says I was drafted to kill Bishop 

    One of the four suspects alleged to have participated in the August 6th, 2017 mayhem in Ozubulu,  Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State,  Mr Chukwujekwu Eze,  yesterday to the court in Nnewi that he was drafted to kill Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu.

    The confession of the suspect  heightened tension yesterday at the court premises in Nnewi which was filled to the brim.

    Following the shooting and killing of 13 persons and injuring 29 at Saint Phillips Catholic Church at Ozubulu,  police arrested four suspects allegedly involved in the massacre.

    The suspects were Great Chinedu Akpunonu, 44; Vincent Ike, 57; Chukwudi Ugwu, 30, and Onyebuchi Mbanefo, 46.

    They were arraigned on a 24-count charge in Suit No: HN/36C/2017 bordering on conspiracy and murder, while  Others allegedly involved in the shooting were still at large.

    The commotion in the court yesterday,  made the presiding judge,  justice FI Aniukwu ordered that no pictures would be taken in the next adjourned date,  while nobody would also allow to stand in court.

    Meanwhile,  justice Aniukwu would on 23rd February,  2018 rule on the bail application of the suspects,  while the next adjourned date was fixed for March 3rd, 2018for further hearing

    Eze, the second witness, who hailed from Ugbawka in Enugu State, told the court that he lived in South Africa for 11 years before he was deported, adding that he had remained unemployed since his deportation.

    He was Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Jay Jay Ezeuko, SAN.

    According to the witness, “There is a boy named Okpanda who told me that they were going to the Bishop’s place at Ozubulu to execute a job. I asked him the nature of the job and he told me that they were going because Bishop was owing some people some money in South Africa”

    Read Also: Ozubulu: Shooting into the heart of the matter

    “He said they wanted to go and destroy everything in Bishop’s house and shoot at every living thing”

    “I asked him who was sponsoring the job and he told me it was Obrocho”

    ” When I mentioned it Okpanda, he said he would assist me if I would agree to follow in the hit job at Bishop’s place”

    ” I told him I would be involved because I won’t want to shed any blood”

    “Okpanda invited me so he could explain the whole thing to me and when I went the following day, he told me it was only if I took part in the job that he would help me to go back to South Africa”

    “It was in Okpanda’s place that I met Dobby (Onyemaechi Mbanefo), the 4thaccused and two of them tried to convince me to join in the job. I refused to join”

    “After the shooting in the church, I saw Okpanda again and he told me that they had done the job and when I asked if he could help me since they had made the money, he told me he couldn’t help me since I refused to join in the job”

    “I then told him I was going to approach Bishop since I didn’t have any other person to help me. He told me not to go to Bishop because the Bishop would arrest me”

    “I later decided to approach Bishop because of the level of massacre in the church in which the Bishop’s father was among those killed.”Eze said

    While Cross examining the witness, counsel to the first accused person, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN put it to him that it was in his desire to return to South Africa that made him approach Bishop after the shooting

    He further put it to him   that Bishop may have already concluded arrangement for him to travel to South Africa.

    He however denied that Bishop had made arrangement for him to travel, adding that he didn’t even have  any international passport.

     

     

  • Forex: CBN intervenes in retail SMIS with $325.64m

    Forex: CBN intervenes in retail SMIS with $325.64m

    The Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) today intervened in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) to the tune of $325.64 million.

    Figures obtained from the bank  showed that the amount released was for requests in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors.

    The figures were confirmed by the bank’s Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, who noted that the continued intervention were in line with the assurances made by the Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to sustain market liquidity in order to boost production and trade.

    According to Okorafor, the feedback from the wholesale and retail segments of the Nigerian Forex markets showed that customers were satisfied with their level of access to foreign exchange. He said the degree of optimism displayed by all players underscored the fact that everyone was happy with the level of transparency in the market.

    Speaking further, Okorafor assured that, with the recession now over and foreign reserves now standing at $42 billion, the CBN had enough in its arsenal to maintain the international value of the Naira as well as guarantee access to forex by those requiring it to meet genuine needs.

    Read Also:  CBN lifts forex market with $210m

    He also reiterated that the desire of the Bank to ensure that all, particularly low end users, had access to foreign exchange to meet genuine needs prompted the Bankers’ Committee, in its first meeting of 2018, to agree to sell United States dollars to those requiring it for invisibles at the rate of N360/$1, without any commission whatsoever.

    It will be recalled that the CBN in its last SMIS, in January 2018, injected the sum of $304.4 million in the inter-bank foreign exchange market. Meanwhile, the naira exchanged at N361/$1 in the bureau de change segment of the market on Friday, February 9, 2018.

  • Buhari approves retirement, dismissal of justices

    Buhari approves retirement, dismissal of justices

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the compulsory retirement of Honourable Justice A. F. A Ademola of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court and the dismissal from office of Honourable Justice O.O Tokode of the Benin Division of the Federal High Court.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the President’s approval followed recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC).

    Read Also: Buhari condoles with Buratai over father’s death

    The statement reads “The disciplinary actions on the two Justices are in pursuance of section 292 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    “Justice O.O. Tokode is also to refund all salaries and allowances earned illegally from 2nd December, 2015 when he was sworn-in as a Judge of the Federal High Court to date.” he said

    The President urged judicial officers to be alive to their responsibilities and eschew corruption in the discharge of their duties.