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While Buhari is away, Senate moves to strip President, Minister of power to allocate oil blocs The President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources may be stripped of power to allocate oil blocs, even as the Petroleum Governance Bill (PIGB) is undergoing legislation before the Senate. While Buhari is away, Senate moves to strip President, Minister of power to allocate oil blocs According to New Telegraph, the chairman, National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Petroleum Industry Reforms, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, confirmed the development on the sideline of the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) conference in Abuja. He said that oil allocation would, henceforth, be executed by the Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC) subject to ratification by the National Assembly. He said that the bill would be passed “by March or latest April”. Alasoadura added that the aspect of the petroleum law, which gives the president and the minister the absol

FG has been more active since Buhari went on holiday – Reno Omokri A former Special Adviser on New Media to immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has opined that the federal government has been more active in recent days since President Muhammadu Buhari went on holiday. The ex-adviser expressed this via his twitter handle @renoomokri on Thursday. He tweeted, “It seems FG has been more active since PMB went on holiday. “Is it only me seeing it? “CBN, N-Power, etc. Should he go on vacation more often?” He mocked.  

President Buhari’s administration will work well if Nigerians are peaceful – Saraki Nigeria's Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has called on all Nigerians to strive for peaceful and harmonious coexistence to facilitate the developmental agenda of the present administration across the country. Saraki, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, on Saturday, March 4, gave the charge in his speech during the coronation of the Tor Tiv the 5th, His Royal Highness, Prof. James Ortese Ayatse, in Gboko, Benue state. He congratulated the new Tor Tiv on ascension to the throne of his ancestors and noted that the presence of many highly placed Nigerians at the coronation ceremony underscored the wide acceptance of the new Tor Tiv by his people and across the country. Saraki lauded the Tiv nation, the government and people of Benue state for the rancour-free selection and installation

Trump flashes anger over Sessions recusal, Russia stories in tense Oval Office meeting Before heading off to his so-called "winter White House" in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, President Donald Trump summoned some of his senior staff to the Oval Office and went "ballistic," senior White House sources told ABC News. The president erupted with anger over the latest slew of news reports connecting Russia with the new administration -- specifically the abrupt decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign. Sources said the president felt Sessions' recusal was unnecessary and only served to embolden Trump's political opponents. The attorney general made his announcement Thursday just as Trump returned to Washington from a trip to the U.S.S. Gerald Ford in Virginia for a speech about his agenda as president. Hours earlier, aboard the ship, the president had told report

Falana condems arrest of Peace Corps Commandant by Police Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has condemned the recent arrest and parading of Dickson Akor, the national commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, by the Nigerian Police. Mr. Falana spoke with journalists on Saturday in Abuja after securing the release of Mr. Akor from police custody. The police in a combined operation with the State Security Services and the Nigerian Army on February 28, raided the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in Abuja. During the operation, they arrested Mr. Akor and 48 other members of the corps. A statement issued by the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said intelligence reports showed that the Peace Corps and other similar groups were acquiring weapons and conducting covert trainings in different locations across the country. Mr. Falana, who described police invasion of the headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria as illegal and unconstitutional, said the organisation

Nigerian government moving towards authoritarianism - Senator Sani Senator Sani representing Kaduna central has lamented the growing anti-people policies of government in Nigeria. Senator Sani is concerned that the policies of government in Nigeria are growing authoritarian In a brief statement on his social media accounts late on Friday, March 3, Sani said the banning of processions by Nigerians and other policies of government are a clear indication that the government is slipping towards authoritarianism. He also noted that the refusal of government to obey court orders and its preventing the gathering of people in an assembly as provided by law are other signs of authoritarianism. Although Sani did not mention the name of the President Muhammadu Buhari in his statement nor state if he was also referring to state governments who have done some of these things, the present administration ha

Peter and Paul Okoye family share adorable photo The talented brothers, Peter and Paul Okoye share the most adorable of father and child moment Peter and Paul Okoye family Peter and Paul Okoye popularly known as Psquare are the dynamic duo that have used style, dance and pop music to win the hearts of many Nigerians. Since the twins started family life, it's been nothing but pure. Like most fathers, Peter and Paul make an effort to be the best fathers. When they are not making music, they are spending time with family, so when they shared this lovely photo, they had our hearts all warmed up. Peter and Paul Okoye family

Nigeria Police denies being snubbed by Obasanjo The Nigeria Police has denied that former President Olusegun Obasanjo stormed out of an event it organised in Lagos state on Thursday, March 2. The Police say Obasanjo did not abandon their event but was understanding and did his part. Premium Times reports that the police made the denial on Friday, March 3 in a statement by Kayode Aderanti, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone II. While Aderanti admitted that the event did not kick off on time, he noted Obasanjo understood their situation and stayed behind to perform the functions delegated to him before leaving. Aderanti said: “Former president Olusegun Obasanjo in his usual fatherly manner and once being a uniformed personnel himself, came into the hall and still went ahead to deliver his remarks as earlier scheduled." The police chief added that Mr. Obasanjo s

Labour leader lists 7 ways Nigeria can sanction South Africa over xenophobia The recent xenophobic attack against Nigerians in South Africa has drawn the ire of a senior labour leader, Denja Yaqub. Yaqub, who is an assistant secretary with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), listed the seven ways South Africa should be sanctioned saying this would send a strong message to the country’s government that Nigeria can no longer tolerate the killing of its citizens. Xenophobia in South Africa. Some Nigerians have been reported killed by South Africans. For several days currently, Nigerians in the country have lived in fear as citizens of South Africa have continued to attack and kill them. The South Africans argue that Nigerians in their country peddle dr*gs and engage in prostitution. Abike Dabiri, an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora, recently accused the opposition party and leaders in South Africa as encouraging attacks on Nigeria warning that if noth

Xenophobia: No fewer than 100 ransacked shops overnight in Johannesburg - Police Police on Monday said no fewer than 100 people ransacked shops in Johannesburg overnight, in the latest wave of looting incidents in South African cities. “We are following up on leads and we are expecting to make more arrests,” police spokesman Brig. Mathapelo Peters said. She said she did not know the nationalities of the shopkeepers and police were waiting for owners to come forward, so that they could open cases of violence and damage to property. Similar incidents have taken place in Pretoria this month, but police have been reluctant to characterised the attacks as being directed against foreigners. Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in South Africa against a background of near-record unemployment, with foreigners being accused of criminal activity and taking jobs from locals. Home Affairs

TUC asks Nigeria to recall its high commissioner in South Africa over xenophobic attacks The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has asked the Nigerian government to immediately evacuate its citizens from South Africa following xenophobia attacks on its citizens. This is as the South African police announced that over 100 youths raided business centres owned by Nigerians between Sunday, February 26, 2017 and Monday, February 27, 2017. South Africans have continued to destroy Nigerian businesses in a xenophobic attack. The TUC further asked the Nigerian government to recall its high commissioner to the country as part of moves to sanction South Africa. Recently, Nigerians in South Africa have experienced xenophobic attacks with some allegedly killed while business places have been destroyed. “From all indications, it appears there is a grand conspiracy by the government and state security apparatus to continue to mindlessly waste lives and take over people&

As CBN Pumps Another $221m, Analysts Expect USD’s Slide to N400 As part of efforts to sustain its defense of the naira, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Thursday sold $221,371,218.04 to banks in its second special wholesale intervention forwards since the new foreign exchange (FX) policy actions were announced a week ago. A breakdown of the amount sold by the CBN showed that it auctioned $162,850,000 to 10 banks in a transaction with 30 days tenor, while six banks participated in a separate auction with 60 days tenor in which $58,521,217.04 was sold. Owing to the new measures introduced by the central bank last week, the naira which had fallen to as low as N525/$ penultimate Friday , strengthened remarkably by N75 in just five days, to close at N450/$ last Friday. With improved FX liquidity, some market analysts were cautiously optimistic yesterday that the naira could climb to N400-N425 to a dollar in the coming days. Should this happen, the CBN would

Stop troubling God, he is not responsible for Nigeria's problems - Obasanjo - Olusegun Obasanjo said until Nigeria gets the right leadership, its problem will continue - He said Nigerians should stop troubling God as he was not responsible for the country's problems - He took a swipe at one of the presidents that came after him who unbanned the importation of toothpick Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria is where it is today because of the kind of leadership it has had. Speaking on Monday, February 27, at the 38th Kaduna International Trade Fair Seminar with the theme; ‘Promoting Public Private Partnership as Panacea for Accelerated Growth and Development’ he noted that God is not responsible for Nigeria’s problems and Nigerians should stop blaming him, The Nation reports. He said the problem of leadership must be corrected because the leaders lack focus, commitment, continuity and sometimes proper knowledge about economic and development i

Ojudu denies Osinbajo performs better than Buhari - Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria's acting president, has been earning accolades from Nigerians following his recent actions - But President Buhari's aide, Babafemi Ojudu, has said those thinking Osinbajo is doing better than Buhari are just planning trouble for the duo Those who say acting President Yemi Osinbajo is performing better than Buhari are not only mischievous, but thoughtless and aiming at causing friction between the two leaders, Babafemi Ojudu, the president’s special adviser on political matters, has said. Osinbajo discussing with President Muhammadu Buhari Ojudu, a former senator, who spoke with correspondents of the State House in Abuja, Nigeria on Monday, February 27, 2017, said Osinbajo still consulted with Buhari who is in London on a medical leave. Nigerians and even the opposition had been commending Osinbajo.

Trump is already walking back his most important promise on the economy trump (Then-President-elect Donald Trump at an event at Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on December 15.Lucas Jackson/Reuters) President Donald Trump rose to power in a surprise electoral victory after promising a disaffected electorate that he could more than double the US's rate of economic growth to 4%. Barely a month into Trump's presidency, his advisers have already downgraded that rather elevated forecast. Steve Mnuchin, Trump's recently confirmed Treasury secretary who is a former banker at Goldman Sachs, has been making the rounds talking up plans for a round of tax cuts. At the same time, he has substantially downgraded the White House's goal for economic growth — to just 3% . The White House website still boasts that "to get the economy back on track, President Trump has outlined a bold plan to create 25 million new American jobs in the next decade and re

Nigeria Eases Entry Visa for Foreigners W ith an eye on making it easier for foreigners to do business in the country, Nigeria has eased its visa processes for persons who wish to visit Nigeria for business and tourism by removing some of the bureaucratic bottlenecks. Nigerians are also beneficiaries of the review. Henceforth, passport re-issuance has been decentralised and Nigerians no longer need to travel to Abuja to get this done. In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the measures were part of the action plan for the ease of doing business as well as efforts to boost tourism within the overall context of the administration’s economic diversification agenda. “The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has reviewed the requirements for Nigerian vis

Muhammad Ali's son embarrassed at Airport Immigration officers detained and questioned at a Florida airport because he was muslim - Camacho Ali was returning from a Black History Month event in Jamaica with his mother - Donald Trump's ban forces Muslims go through rigorous screening at American airports Muhammad Ali's son was detained by immigration officials at a Florida airport and questioned about his ancestry and religion despite identifying himself as the son of the boxing great. According to the Times, a family friend who spoke on Saturday said the officers at the airport proceeded to go tough on him after revealing he was a Muslim. Muhammad Ali's son (right) Camacho Ali was returning from a Black History Month event in Jamaica, with his mother, Khalilah Camacho Ali. They were pulled aside and separated from each other while going through the immigration checkpoint

President Trump, first lady host governors for dinner at White House While Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for the Oscars tonight, the president and first lady hosted a night of glamour of their own. But instead of movie stars, the guests at the White House tonight were the nation's governors. It's an annual tradition for the president to invite the nation's governors to the White House for a dinner. Tonight's Governor's Ball was a first for President Trump and first lady Melania Trump as host and hostess at the White House for a gala event. "I hear this is a record number of governors, 46, and that's the highest that have ever showed up for this evening," the commander in chief said during a toast. The theme of the dinner was Spring's Renewal, with the first lady saying in a statement, "The scents of jasmine and roses fill the air as we give thanks for this great nation and the glory of renewal." She also said

President Buhari condoles Emir of Katsina over mother's death - President Muhammadu Buhari is very much in touch with Nigeria - The president called the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman on Sunday, February 26 - The call was to offer condolences to the Emir whose mother died on Saturday, February 25 President Muhammadu Buhari has placed a telephone call from London to the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman. President Buhari is constantly in touch with Nigeria The call was to offer condolences to the Emir whose mother died on Saturday, February 25, a statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said. President Buhari condoled with the traditional ruler, urging him to take solace in the fact that Hajia Aminatu Mai Babban Daki lived a good life, devoted to serving Allah and humanity. "Ple

Tales of sorrow, anguish in southern Kaduna (photos) - The southern Kaduna people have been subjected to sufferings in their own land - This is due to the incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen in the area - The area has been under siege from the rampaging herdsmen since last year It all started on Saturday, December 24, 2016. In most villages of southern Kaduna, the people were in joyous mood being the eve of Christmas. Around 5pm in the evening, suddenly gunshots rented the air, houses were in flames, and the people of southern Kaduna were surrounded. People ran in different directions, adults, men, and women, children, aged, they all ran for their dear lives. At this point, nobody knew the plight of the other. These attacks were going on simultaneously at different villages. Southern Kaduna was on fire; Pasakori, Mile One, Goska, Dangoma, Jagindi Gari, Dalle, Banawuje, Kariyo, Arusuwa, Nimbia Forest, Baya Gidan Waya, Kafanchan, Godogodo, Kagom, Akwa, Angwa

Professor Femi Williams analyses of President Buhari's health through his recent photos - A fresh perspective is evolving on the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari - The president is currently on medical vacation in the United Kingdom - A certified physician in Anatomic pathology from London and Ireland, has analysed the president’s health using his recent pictures Professor Femi Williams, a certified physician in Anatomic pathology from London and Ireland, has analysed President Muhammadu Buhari’s health using the president’s recent pictures. Professor Femi Williams Professor Williams, an eminent professor of medicine who graduated from Trinity College, University of Dublin in 1961 arrived at a preliminary clinical diagnosis of what may have gone wrong with Buhari’s health using the pictures. In a statement obtained by The Nation, Professor Williams called for further investigation on the history of Buhari’s ear infection with