Katsina state governor, Aminu Masari has frowned at what he called the indiscriminate release of suspected bandits, rapists and other criminals on bail by the courts. Masari made this assertion shortly after the swearing in of three newly appointed high court judges in Katsina. The governor called on the Nigerian Bar Association to implore its members that are in the habit of supporting criminals to secure bail through the instrument of fundamental right enforcement to be ethical and avoid compromise under cover. “We are in an unusual time of serious security challenges and must therefore put heads together to address…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi The Bauchi state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has begun free screening of eye diseases for 300 journalists in the state. Inaugurating the exercise in Bauchi on Tuesday, the chairman, Umar Sa’idu said that the exercise would be conducted in collaboration with the eye centre of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH). According to him, the exercise is part of comprehensive programme initiated to improve the wellbeing and health status of its members. The Medical Team Leader, who is also a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr Shahir Bello said that free screening, drugs and…
The Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, says fact checking will assist in tackling the scourge of fake news, misinformation and disinformation in the country. Ponle said this on Tuesday at the Fact Checking Course Two programme organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abuja. NOA had on August 3 held the Course One programme for selected participants from government establishments, Civil Society Organisations and the private sector in Abuja. The managing director, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Mufutau Ojo, commended the management of NOA for building capacity in the area…
The Senate on Tuesday made u-turn by giving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the sole power to determine the mode of transmission of results. The development came amid increased calls by Nigerian citizens hat election results should be transmitted electronically. The Senate had earlier decided that INEC may consider the electronic transmission of results “provided national [network] coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure” by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly. However, under a new amendment of Clause 52 (2) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate resolved that “voting at an election…
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs Sadiya Umar-Farouk has said that the federal government will develop a 10-year strategic plan for the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC). The Minister said this in Kano on Tuesday at a one-day stakeholders’ forum organised by the centre. The minister, represented by the Acting Director of Social Development in the Ministry, Mr Mansur Kuliya, said that the aim was to identify the strategic priorities, processes and approaches needed to assist older persons. She added that the aim was also to provide an impetus for the centre to achieve its…
Gunmen on Monday night attacked the Saint Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic church-owned seminary in Fayit community in Kagoma Chiefdom of Jama’a local government area of Kaduna state. The bandits reportedly invaded the school at about 8pm, shooting sporadically and creating fear among the students and staff of the school. The gunmen abducted an unconfirmed number of students before the arrival of local vigilantes who were able to prevent them from taking more students. The spokesperson of Kaduna Police Command, Mohammed Jalige confirmed the incident. According to him, the police tactical team is currently at the school…
Dr Betta Edu, Cross River Commissioner for Health on says malaria remains the highest cause of under-fives and maternal mortality in Nigeria. Edu said this in an interview on Tuesday in Calabar, while reacting to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) approval of a malaria vaccine. The commissioner said that apart from being responsible for the death of many in Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria accounts for the highest number of visits to the hospital in Nigeria. She said that vaccine was a welcome development, as it would help to lift the economic burden on families, the nation and the health system in Nigeria.…
The UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has urged the media to focus more on reportage of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and AIDS to ensure a society free of HIV children. The fund’s Communications Specialist in Nigeria, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, made the call in Calabar on Tuesday at a three-day workshop to reinvigorate and produce a work plan for journalists. The journalists are members of the Journalist’s Alliance for the Prevention of Mother-To- Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV and AIDS (JAPiN). The workshop was organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and…
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said China will take the lead by investing Y1.5 billion (about $233 million U.S.) to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. Xi made the remarks while addressing the leaders’ summit of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity via a video link in Beijing. He said the fund will be used to support developing countries in biodiversity protection. “China calls on and welcomes all parties to make contributions to the fund.” Xi said China would release implementation plans for peaking carbon dioxide emissions in key areas and…
Dubai ports giant DP World and Britain’s development finance agency CDC Group on Tuesday said they planned to jointly invest up to $1.72 billion in logistics infrastructure in Africa over the next several years, starting with modernising three ports. The investments will initially focus on expanding ports operated by DP World in Egypt’s Ain Sokhna, Senegal’s Dakar, and Berbera in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, CDC said. State-owned DP Word has committed to investing $1 billion over the next several years, while CDC has committed $320 million and potentially investing up to a further $400 million. The joint investments will…