Author: Editor
…Could be signed by Tinubu today Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Determined to meet the January to December new fiscal year target, the National Assembly, Saturday, passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N28,777,404,073,861 trillion into law. Both chambers of the National Assembly passed the budget in their respective plenaries after jacking up the initial proposal in some sub-heads. The lawmakers increased the budget estimate by N1.2 trillion from the N27.5 trillion initially presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to N28,777 trillion. A careful study of the passed budget showed an increase in the exchange rate from N750 to N800 per dollar while the…
By Owei Lakemfa Venezuelan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the African Union, Alex Nain Saab Morán who, against the established diplomatic practice of immunity, had been illegally detained in Cape Verde for sixteen months and in the United States for two years, was freed on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. He was exchanged for ten American prisoners in Venezuela who had been imprisoned for various crimes including an armed invasion, terrorism, kidnapping and extortion. The prisoner swap, brokered by Qatar took place in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Saab was abducted in the American tradition of extraordinary rendition…
By Azu Ishiekwene Subsidy on petrol will go, sparking initial higher prices and demand for higher public sector wages by union leaders who know the truth but prefer to play to the gallery. To tackle the scandalous difference between the official and black-market exchange rates, expect the new government to adjust the official rate from the current N430-450/$ to around N550/$ in the first instance” – What You Might Expect in 2023, December 29, 2022 This is my fourth forecast since 2019. Apart from a few occasions when I have had eggs in my face from unforeseen events like that…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu In the last week of August 2002, Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in South-West Nigeria, hosted the annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). At the conference, the Association inaugurated Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its 20th president. One of the participants in that conference was Barnabas Igwe, then Chair of the Branch of the NBA in Onitsha, a popular commercial city in Anambra State. Mr. Igwe attended the conference with his wife, Abigail. At the time, Onitsha and much of Anambra State was in thrall at the exploits of…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Two persons have died while one other person sustained serious injuries on Friday night as a tanker laden with petroleum products crashed and caught fire in Ebonyi State. The tanker driver, it was gathered, lost control of the vehicle atop the fly over at the State International Airport junction, Onueke, on the Abakaliki- Afikpo highway. The truck crashed into the bridge’s shoulders, fell sideways and caught fire killing two persons while another sustained serious injuries and was later rushed to hospital. Senior Special Assistant to Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on Petroleum, Nnaemeka John Nwafor, confirmed the incident.…
Ugo Nosiri, Owerri A ghastly auto crash has claimed the lives of eight family members at Amanwozuzu Junction in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. The incident which happened around 3pm on Friday caused traffic gridlock on the ever busy road. According to eyewitnesses, the father of the family who was conveying his wife, 4 children and 2 relatives, in a sienna vehicle ran into a truck parked by the road, carrying rods. The rods pierced through the windscreen stabbing all eight of them to death on the spot. Policemen from the Ikeduru Local Government Area Division and…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Austin Umahi, the younger brother to the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, Friday withdrew from the Ebonyi South senatorial bye election. This followed the zoning of the position to Onicha Local Government Area by the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on the orders of Governor Francis Nwifuru. His withdrawal followed a meeting by the Umahi family of Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government area where he was prevailed upon to withdraw from the race. The seat became vacant following the resignation of Senator David Umahi upon his appointment as Minister of Works. A statement…
…As stakeholders declare for peace Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Ahmed Tinubu, has warned the sponsors and perpetrators of the disturbing insecurity in the South-East, to pull back or brace up for the consequences of their actions, declaring that the Federal Government will no longer watch them destroy the economy of the zone. Tinubu who gave the warning at the formal launch of Peace In South-East, PISE-P initiative in Bende Local Government headquarters, Abia State, decried the adverse effects of the activities of non-state actors in the South-East. The President who was represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, declared the…
Agency Report The Nigerian Army on Thursday, decorated 47 newly promoted senior officers with the rank of Major General, urging them to redouble efforts at addressing security challenges. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Army Council had, on Dec. 21, approved the promotion of 47 brigadiers-general to the rank of major general. The council had also elevated 75 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier General. NAN also reports that the new Brigadiers-General will be decorated at their respective units and formations. The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said the promotion of the officers was a…
Ugo Nosiri, Owerri The Imo State police command has nabbed 23yr old Amanda Uchechi Ugo from Umumbiri in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, for allegedly shooting his lover, Corporal Cosmas Ugwu, to death. According to a statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Henry Okoye, operatives of Ezinihitte-Mbaise Police Area Command, heard three gunshots emanating from the Area Command’s Barracks on Tuesday, 26th December, and rushed to the scene where they met the deceased in a pool of his blood in his room. The release said the officers immediately rushed him to Evergreen Hospital in…