National Watch

12/09/2023

MV Maersk Karun@Onne, Nigeria.

15/06/2023

Arrival at Onne Port.

15/06/2023

12/09/2022

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo on Saturday said that despite the enormous challenges facing Nigeria, he would need a maximum of 18 months to kick out poverty from the country and boost economic growth.

02/09/2022

Factional Niger Delta militants protest against federal government pipeline security contract to Tompolo.

31/08/2022

Wike: I won’t step down, PDP chairman insists

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, has disclosed that he is not bothered about the calls for his resignation, saying the proponents of such moves are youngsters who do not have a grasp of the goals of the party when it was formed.

Ayu said that PDP members and stakeholders elected him based on the laid down rules of the main opposition party.

In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, the national chairman pointed out that even if there would be another election, those calling for his resignation would not be replacing him.

The PUNCH reports that the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has allegedly been calling for the resignation of Ayu as a condition to mend the fractured relationship between the governor and PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The relationship between Atiku and Wike worsened a few months ago after the PDP presidential primary, which was won by the former Vice-President.

Wike became resentful after Atiku chose the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate. Although the PDP set up a panel to reconcile the two men, Wike insisted on the removal of the party’s chairman.

Atiku had last week met with the governor in the United Kingdom as part of the reconciliation process.

But reacting during an interview with BBC Hausa, the national Chairman stated “I was voted as PDP Chairman for a four-year tenure and I’m yet to complete a year. Atiku’s victory doesn’t affect the Chairman’s position. I won my election based on our party’s constitution.

“I didn’t commit any offence; I’m only reforming the party so I’m not bothered with all the noises. I know I’m doing my work and I didn’t steal any money so I see no reason for all these talks. When we started PDP, these children were not around. They are children who do not know why we formed the party. We will not allow any individual to destabilize our party,” he said.

Weeks back, a news medium (not PUNCH) reported that the PDP national chairman has signed a resignation letter which was in the custody of a former President of the Senate and chieftain of the party, David Mark, but Ayu debunked the report.

29/08/2022

Akeredolu makes u-turn to Ondo teachers: It’s an offence to enrol your wards in private schools

The governor of Ondo state,Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu has made a u-turn on the statement he made on Friday that criminalised public school teachers enrollment of their wards in private schools.

The said statement received backlash from Ondo state indigenes on social and traditional media.

The governor made a u-turn through a statement released on Sunday by the chief press secretary to the governor,Mr Olabode:

Our attention has been drawn to a news story making the round particularly on the social media with the above headline. It is imperative to enlighten our people and shed light on the perspective of the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, who made the statement.

Undoubtedly, the Ondo State Government under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has made huge investment in the education sector in the state, especially in Primary and Secondary Schools. Tertiary institutions not excluded. The rot, which pervaded public schools in the state before the Akeredolu administration assumed office is fast disappearing. This has also led to increase in student enrollment in most of the schools.

Under the Akeredolu administration, over 800 Public Primary Schools have been reconstructed and renovated with perimeter fence, ICT center and play group equipment. The students now enjoy modern desks and chairs procured by the Akeredolu administration. Besides, Governor Akeredolu recently recruited one thousand two hundred teachers in the Public primary schools.

It is based on this background that teachers in the public schools were urged on moral ground to enroll their wards in public schools for confidence building. This will subsequently increase enrollment and further encourage government to embark on more upgrade of public schools.

Succinctly, there is no policy or law in Ondo State that forbids anyone in the service of the government, including teachers, from enrolling their wards in any school. However, there is always a place for moral burden. It is, therefore, not an offence for teachers to enroll their wards in any school of their choice. But, it will be morally wrong for teachers, who are proud of their works and teachings to put their wards in a private school.

Finally, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, will continue to prioritise education and develop it for the overall interest of the people of the state. It is the belief of the Governor that qualitative education is the key to a better tomorrow.

29/08/2022

Atiku, others receive Shekarau back to PDP today

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and national leaders of the party are expected in Kano on Monday (today) to receive the Senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, and his political associates back to the party.

Shekarau had, in 2019, dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress.

He was subsequently elected into the Senate on the ruling party’s platform.

However, he fell out with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and defected to the New Nigeria People’s Party where he only spent a few months in the new party before his relationship with Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso went sour after some staunch loyalists of the senator did not get NNPP tickets to contest elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

Speaking to journalists on the development on Sunday, the state chairman of the PDP, Shehu Sagagi, said Shekarau had agreed to return to the party.

Sagagi said, “I am delighted to tell you that Shekarau, being the highest political office holder as provided by the constitution, has accepted and we have welcomed him back to our dear party, the PDP.

“All arrangements are in top gear in preparation to receive Atiku Abubakar who will be in Kano today (Sunday), hopefully to receive Ibrahim Shekarau. We have accepted to follow him and we shall succeed, God willing.”

28/08/2022

NURTW leader killed as cultists clash in Lagos

A National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader at Mile 12, Lagos, Suleman Lawal alias Akiru, was on Sunday killed after violence broke out in the area.

It was gathered that the violence was as a result of lingering rivalry between the Aiye and Eiye cult groups.

Lawal was alleged to be the leader of Eiye cult group in the area

Residents and motorists in the area who took to social media to request intervention by security operatives, expressed fears over escalation of the situation.

Raising alarm about the clash, one Valerian Nwadike, said: “I got information that MILE 12 is boiling as I type. The chaos is as a result of a cult clash, I’ve informed the relevant authorities, please everyone should take notice and apply caution if you are at that axis.”

Other posters lamented that the violence may linger for many days except urgent steps were taken by security agencies to prevent retaliation.

It was learnt that it took the intervention of operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and reinforcements from the area command to contain the situation.

Confirming the incident, police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said: “The command is aware of the violent clash going on at Owode-Elede area of the state. DPO Owode-Onirin is handling the situation. Reinforcement has been readied. We are monitoring the situation.”

Hundeyin dismissed claims that the violence has escalated to Oshodi but confirmed only one person died in the clash.