The African Development Bank (AfDB) says the $430 million highway project linking Enugu to Bamenda in Cameroon will be completed this year. The bank in a statement issued on Monday, said that the project was part of its investments in West Africa which currently stood at $16 billion. The statement quoted the President of AfDB, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, as disclosing this in a speech at the 59th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Ghana. According to Adesina, the $430 million highway project will transform trade opportunities between the two countries. He also disclosed…
Author: Editor
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has commended the re-appointment of Mrs Amina Mohammed as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for another term of five years. A statement by the Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani made available to ASHENEWS on on Monday, also applauded the well-deserved re-appointment of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. According to CISLAC, “we are convinced that the re-appointment is an appreciation of her efficient performance, sterling qualities, credibility, integrity and track records suitable for the re-consideration. “We also observed in the re-appointment, practically demonstrated spirit of inclusiveness, equality and social justice by the Secretary General.…
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay the oil communities in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom a cumulative damages of 81.9 billion over oil spillage. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgment debt, ordered that the payment must be paid within 14 days, and failure of which 8 per cent interest would be accruable on the principal sum annually. Delivering judgment on Monday in a joint suit instituted against the two defendants by the aggrieved oil producing communities, Justice Taiwo held that the American oil…
The First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Monday said that her faith in younger generation of Nigerian women and youths remained unshakable. Mrs Buhari said this at the maiden edition of All Progressives Congress (APC) Youths Conference in Abuja. Represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Women Affairs and Administration, Dr Rukayyatu Gurin, the first lady expressed her unalloyed support and commitment to the party. She expressed hope that the event would achieve the desired objectives in ensuring greater commitment of all members towards unity and progress of APC. “I believe that the conference will achieve its aims and objectives.…
A post on Social Media, especially on Facebook is being circulated claiming that a mysterious beast with the head of a canine and human body, which had maimed four residents including a Nigerian Airforce personnel, has been neutralized by troops of Operation Whirlstroke in Benue state. But is this story true or false? Verdict: PRNigeria reveals that there is neither “Office of Public Media” in the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) nor at the Directorate of Defence Information (DDI) and that the touted video is from an original Portuguese film, “Lobisomem Morto a Tiros.” Even the signatory’s name and rank are incorrect!…
In our lackadaisical manner as a developing nation, we ignore almost every imminent disaster until it happens, then our leaders begin to shed crocodile’s tears and before you pronounce “Jack”, an investigation panel would have been put in place, if the disaster is big enough. In most cases, the hidden aim of the panel is to avoid asking embarrassing questions on preventable incidence. By the time, the panel report is submitted, if ever done, the euphoria of the incident would have gone, the victims of the disaster; the dead were buried, the injured and properties losers would have accepted their…
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has appealed to Muslims who had planned to perform the 2021 Hajj to remain strong in faith as their dreams will be realised as soon as COVID-19 recedes. MURIC, an Islamic civil right organisation, made the call in a statement, signed by its Director Prof. Ishaq Akintola in Lagos. Saudi Arabia on June 12, said restricted the annual pilgrimage to citizens and residents and set a maximum of 60,000 pilgrims in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Saudi government said those wishing to perform the hajj must be free of chronic diseases and be vaccinated…
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says Nigeria earned N79.96 billion from the solid minerals sector in 2019, according to its 2019 audit report on the sector, released on Sunday, in Abuja. It said that the figure, which represented accruals to the Federation and other subnational entities, showed a 15 per cent increase when compared to the N69.47 billion recorded in 2018. “The 2019 earnings accounted for 16 per cent of the total revenues of N496.28 billion that have accrued to the Federation, from the sector, over a period of 13 years (2007 to 2019). “And it is also…
The Consulate-General of Nigeria in New York has embarked on a vaccination programme to vaccinate Nigerians within its jurisdiction against COVID-19. The Consul-General, Lot Egopija said on Monday that the aim was to keep Nigerians within its jurisdiction safe from COVID-19. “The vaccination programme is one of our reach out programmes to our nationals and to make sure that our nationals are safe. “We are going to ensure that Nigerians within the New York City who have not been vaccinated are reached and encouraged to avail themselves of the programme. “Also, we will continue to sensitise our nationals on the…
Troops of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have eliminated more than 20 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Borno, the Nigerian Army says. Army Spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Monday, said that the terrorists were hit in their camp around Wartek in the general area of Lambua forest on Sunday. Nwachukwu said that the combined troops of Sector 2 in conjunction with the Air Task Force of OPHK that carried out the attack also captured heavy fighting equipment from the terrorists. “Acting on credible intelligence, the troops…