The Governments of Hungary and Romania have approved visa free access to all Nigerians fleeing Ukraine, the Federal Government has said. This is contained in a statement issued by the Nigerian Mission in Hungary. The federal government that arrangements are underway for transportation of Nigerian nationals to enable them stabilize, The government advised affected Nigerians to approach the borders with their valid documents and cooperate with immigration officials to ease the process. “The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Budapest, Hungary wishes to inform nationals arriving from Ukraine, that the Government of Hungary has enacted Decree 56/2022 (24.II). “Which…
Author: Michael Adegboye
The Ngor Okpala Constituency bye-election conducted in Imo on Saturday witnessed low turnout of voters in many polling units. Eleven candidates are contesting in the by-election for the House of Assembly seat declared vacant following the long absence of the former occupant. Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise report that sensitive and non-sensitive election materials arrived at the polling units as early as 8:30 a.m. Some of the areas visited were Logara/Umuohiagu, Ndiuhu Umuokoada Logara, Umuorisha Umuohiagu, Umuchoko Jjunction, Umuohiagu, and Community Primary School, Upe. NAN reports that accreditation and voting started 9:25 a.m.…
Most fuel stations in Abuja are still clogged with vehicles and long queues as petrol scarcity continues to bite harder in the FCT. Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the situation at the federal capital on Saturday report that long queues were noticeable at fuel stations as early as 5 a.m. Fuel stations belonging to major marketers and those belonging to the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had long queues stretching to the highways in some cases. Some motorists who spoke with NAN expressed worries and anxiety as to the day the…
The Centre for Transparency and Advocacy (CTA) says the stage is set for Nigeria to have credible elections in 2023 and beyond, with the signing into law of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022. The Executive Director, CTA, Ms Faith Nwadishi made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. She said the assent to the Bill was historic as it strengthened Nigeria’s quest for a transparent electoral process that would deepen the nation’s democracy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari, after many years of waiting, on Friday, signed the amended…
public health nurse, Mrs Mojirade Kehinde, has described liver cancer as a silent epidemic that was becoming increasingly common among Nigerians. Kehinde said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, in Ibadan. “Liver cancer is an increasingly common form of cancer that can go undetected and untreated. It is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths globally,” she said. According to her, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and hepatitis infection can lead to liver cancer. She said that family history of liver cancer was also a risk factor for liver cancer. Kehinde identified some…
There is heavy presence of security personnel in Jos North and Bassa local government areas of Plateau for the ongoing by-election for Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency. Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited some areas reports that a combined team of security personnel were stationed in various polling units and other strategic locations. Commissioner of Police in the state Batholomew Onyeka said he had deployed a good number of policemen to ensure a peaceful election. He also said that the police command had banned vehicular movements between 12 midnight and 6p.m., with the exception of those on…
A marriage counselor, Mrs Tolulope Ajayi, says communication problem is the leading cause of divorce in the society. Ajayi made the assertion an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday. She said that many couples lacked proper communication when it came to decision making, which often led to argument. “Couples have problems communicating about almost everything such as the house, money, in-laws, and others. “Poor communication hinders the growth of marriage and can lead to physical altercations, separation and even divorce.” According to Ajayi, communication is how couples express their…
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B” , Kaduna said it had confiscated truck-loaded of donkey skins and other goods, worth N320 million. The Comptroller of Zone, Mr Albashir Hamisu told newsmen on Friday in Kaduna that the items were seized from Jan.28 to Feb. 23. Hamisu said the improvement in its operational capacity was as a result of support from patriotic Nigerians who gave out information to officers on the activities of smugglers. He listed other items seized within the period to includes 1,214 bags of foreign rice, 21 vehicles, 157 bales of…
The President signed the document at a ceremony held at the Statehouse, Abuja, on Friday. The National Assembly transmitted the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021 to the president on January 31, a second time, having reportedly revised the bill, which he withheld his assent, for some noted reasons. The president had withheld his assent to the bill in December 2021, citing the cost of conducting Direct Primary Elections, and security challenges as part of the reasons for his decision.
NDLEA arraigned two men, Samuel Ekomwen (33) and Thompson Okotie (50), at a Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday for alleged drug trafficking. It charged the duo of conspiracy and unlawfully dealing in Indian hemp. The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Jan. 30 at Akerele area of Agege in Lagos, where they were arrested following a tip-off. He said 24.8kg of Indian hemp was found on them, an offence which contravenes the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation 2004. No plea was taken before…
An Ikeja Hivh Court on Friday sentenced kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans, to life imprisonment for the kidnap of Mr Donatius Dunu, the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Hakeem Odhodi also sentenced Evans’s two co-defendants; Uche Amadi and Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, to life imprisonment for the same offences. The judge, however, discharged and acquitted the other co-defendants, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, an ex-soldier; and Victor Aduba, also an ex-soldier. The judge held that there was no evidence linking them to the crimes. Sentencing…
A German Catholic priest was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Cologne court for sexually abusing children. The 70-year-old has also been ordered to pay damages to joint plaintiffs of €5,000 ($5,587), €10,000 and €35,000. The prosecution had been seeking a prison sentence of 13 years for the man; his defence a maximum of eight years. The indictment of the pedophiles priest detailed allegations of abuse in 118 cases. He was said to have abused children and adolescents over many years, his youngest victim was a 9-year-old girl. The priest forced children to engage in sexual intercourse, oral…
Mr Ibrahim Tukur, Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Adamawa, has commended Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, for approving perimeter fencing of the permanent orientation camp, Damare. Tukur, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Yola on Friday, also commended the governor over the ongoing 4.6 kilometers access road project in the camp. He said that the road project, if completed would ease the hardship being faced by corps members and other people in the area. “We are elated at the twin projects of the ongoing 4.6km road construction to the NYSC permanent orientation…
A Magistrates’ Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Friday, ordered that a 50-year-old man, Kilani Alani in a correctional centre for allegedly murdering a 17-year-old girl. Alani, whose residential address was not provided, is charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and murder. Magistrate Abimbola Amole-Ajimoti, who did not take the plea of Alabi, for want in jurisdiction. The magistrate directed the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions . She adjourned the case until April 25, for mention. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Foluke Adedosu, told the court that Alani and others,…
Eleven political parties and 19 candidates are to contest in Saturday’s bye-elections in Plateau. The bye-elections are into the Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South State Constituency The political parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), African Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Others are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Also, to participate in the elections are the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Young Peoples’ Party (YPP). INEC’s National Commissioner in…
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have abducted the District Head of Pushit, Da Chief Dikyet Gupiya, in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. Sources said that the Paramount Ruler was abducted in the early hours of Friday 25 February, when the gunmen broke into his residence and met him in the sitting room watching the news. spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Gabriel Ubah, who confirmed the incident, said the command has already deployed its tactical team for possible rescue of the Paramount Ruler. As of the time of filing this report, the terrorists were yet…
A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kano on Friday, sentenced a 17-year-old to 12 strokes of the cane for receiving a stolen phone worth N45,000. Abdulsalam, who pleaded guilty is charged alongside Shu’aibu Ibrahim, 20. The Magistrate, Mr Farouk Ibrahim-Umar, admitted the second defendant, Ibrahim to bail in the sum of N20, 000 and two reliable sureties in like sum. Ibrahim-Umar adjourned the matter until Feb.28, for hearing. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Elias Ekainu, told the court that they committed the offence on Feb.4 at Tudun Murtala Quarters Kano. He alleged that on the same date at about 8p.m, Maryam…
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of a property belonging to former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha. The property which is situated at plots 1032 and 1033 cadastral zone A03, Takum Close in Garki, Abuja, is said to be proceeds of unlawful activities of the former governor. Justice Emeka Nweti, gave the order while ruling on a motion ex-parte, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The EFCC had said that its investigation had revealed that sometime in 2018, Abtisal Global Ltd and Archivisual Solutions Ltd, companies in which Okorocha is believed…
Amb. Ganiyu Lawal, the President, Association of Foreign Relations Professionals in Nigeria (AFRPN), has urged the Nigerian government to maintain neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict. Lawal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja that diplomacy remained the best way to resolve conflicts. NAN recalls that Russia had invaded Ukraine on Feb. 25. Lawal advised Nigeria not to align to any party rather join in suing for peace, adding that a war in Ukraine will not have any negative impact on the world especially smaller countries. “At this time, it is important that the Nigerian government should…
The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) says more than 800,000 million dollars (N332 million) is in the kitty for 500 participants of its special skills acquisition programme in Nigeria. Its Team Lead, Governance, Peace and Security in Nigeria, Mr Matthew Alao, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti. Alao spoke shortly after the graduation ceremony of 200 beneficiaries of UNDP’s skill acquisition programme for women, youth and victims of violence in Ekiti. He said that under the organisation’s Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Programmes, 100 beneficiaries were drawn from Kaduna, 200 in Ekiti, and 200…