The Presidency has described as unfair and distorted opinion the latest article on Nigeria published by the Foreign Affairs (Magazine) titled, ‘The Giant of Africa is Failing’. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made the condemnation in a statement in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the article. In a letter addressed to the publishers of the magazine, the presidential aide frowned at the way and manner facts were being bent to support distorted opinions. The letter read in part: “The latest article on Nigeria in Foreign Affairs titled ‘The Giant of…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The UK government says it is working to ensure Nigeria becomes more competitive to attract investments. Mr Ben Llewelyn-Jones, British Deputy High Commissioner, said this in a statement when Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Managing Director, UK Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), paid him a visit in Lagos. The statement said the visit was to discuss UKNIAF’s work on energy, infrastructure financing and roads. He noted that the country must have a competitive edge in order to attract investments. “We live in a competitive world where investors are looking for a location that provides adequate return on investments. “It is important, therefore,…
A professor of real estate investment at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Mr Mustapha Bello has called on federal and state governments to consider the provision of housing as social service to the masses. The Don stated this while delivering the 128th inaugural lecture of the institution titled, “Real Estate Investment Management: The Antidote to National Poverty”, on Tuesday. Professor Mustapha Bello said after the adoption of low-income housing as a social service, governments should provide machinery for its finance at low interest rate and also create a social-economic environment which is conducive enough to bring down interest…
The United Nations on Thursday warned that with vaccine deliveries at a near-standstill and lacking key resources in frontline care, Africa was poorly prepared for the third wave of COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. “Many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready to cope with a huge rise in critically ill patients,” the World Health Organization’s regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said. “The threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising,” she said. Africa has officially registered over 4.8 million COVID-19 cases and 130,000 deaths, according to the WHO, a figure representing 2.9 percent of…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday declared open the virtual 12th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA). He also called for global support to develop the resources in the Niger Basin area, which is home to over 160 million people that depend on the river as means of sustenance. According to Buhari, the Niger River, commonly called Djoliba in Guinea and Mali, offers enormous development opportunities in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, fish farming, hydropower, hydraulics and navigation. “It is, therefore, necessary to continue to promote its enormous potential for the benefit…
Seven persons, including four security operatives and four others were on Wednesday evening, killed in armed robbery attacks in Ikire and Apomu towns of Osun state. The gunmen, who stormed the towns in an attempt to attack the banks there, reportedly stormed the area in about five vehicles and attacked the police station in Ikire, as well as an armoured vehicle at Ikoyi-Osun. The spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Ms Opalola Olawoyin confirmed the incident in a statement. “Gentlemen of the press, it is true that there was attempted bank robbery in Ikire/Apomu today, Wednesday 2nd June 2021 at about…
A gold mine field collapse in northern Ghana this week, has claimed lives of nine this week, the country’s police confirmed on Thursday, as the rescue operations continue. Small-scale gold mining activities locally known as “galamsey”, have faced President Nana Akufo-Addo’s threat of crackdown to curb the country’s environmental damage. According to the Police, the latest incident, which occurred in Gbane mining area of Talensi district, in the Upper East region near the border with Burkina Faso, happened late Monday during a downpour. “We started with our rescue operation on Tuesday and by Thursday, we’ve been able to retrieve nine…
First Bank of Nigeria Ltd on Thursday announced the promotion of 1,179 employees to new grades as part of the year-end appraisal outcomes. The Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, disclosed in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday. Adeduntan said the promotion exercise was a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to empowering its employees and driving productivity against all odds. He said the resilience, sustainable performance and growth of FirstBank in the past 127 years was largely attributable to efforts of the employees. “Promotion is one of the numerous incentives we employ to reward our employees…
Against public speculations that there is mass retirement of generals in the Nigerian Army following the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Defence Headquarters says it is not true. The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko stated this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, retirement of senior officers from the military was always voluntary, adding that the military high command has yet to authorise retirement of any officer. “At this point you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya.…
The Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA) says Gastroenteritis Infection has spread from nine to 13 local government areas of the state with 28 deaths. The Chairman of the Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed disclosed this to newsmen in Bauchi on Thursday. The first index case of Cholera in the state was confirmed on April 24. Gastroenteritis is a short-term illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system. Symptoms can include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting. Mohammed said the state had recorded 732 cases from May 25 as at the time of compiling the report. He said…