The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Thursday, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to resuscitate and ensure functional airstrips all over the country. The Director, Public Affairs, in the ministry, Mr James Odaudu, quoted Sirika, in a statement, as saying that the airstrips would help combat insecurity and boost commercial activities. the statement said that Sirika was speaking to a delegation sent by the Emir of Hadejia on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. Speaking specifically on the Hadejia airstrip, the Minister said that there were many reasons for airstrips to be resuscitated, which included historical purposes…
Author: Editor
Finally, the President sacked or “retired” his Service Chiefs off on Tuesday and appointed new ones. As is usually the case for our “Baba Go Slow” President, because he procrastinated for two years before acting, he gets no accolades for removing them after the country had been driven into a frenzy of belief that our President was keeping the Service Chiefs because he did not care about the deteriorating security situation in the country. I believe that the President does care about our security and safety and I am glad he finally removed them. In response to the standard question…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging in Africa as new, more contagious variants of the virus spread. The UN health agency disclosed this in a statement posted on its website. It stated that over 175,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 6,200 deaths were reported in Africa in the last week, while infections rose by 50 per cent on the continent. It added that “infections rose by 50 per cent between Dec. 29, 2020 and Jan. 25, 2021, compared with the previous four weeks. “In the past…
By Tina George, Minna Towards reducing drudgery as well as encouraging more women and youths to embrace agriculture, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD Value Chain Development Programne (VCDP-AF), has distributed agro production and processing equipment to six agro-processing groups and 10 farmers. The equipment include, power tillers, rice reapers, sprayers, rice polishers, destoners, rice paddy cleaner, steam parboilers, rice milling machine, gari fryer, cassava presser, cassava grater, cassava siever, mini combined harvesters, sprayers and UDP applicator. According to the Niger Coordinator of the programme, Dr Mathew Ahmed, each of the agro-processing groups has 25 members while 10 other…
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege has expressed condolences over the death of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s father, Sir Arthur Okowa. In a statement issued on Thursday, Senator Omo-Agege noted that Sir Arthur Okowa led a fulfilling life and endeared himself to his people who continue to appreciate his worth. “I was shocked to hear of his passing in the early hours of Thursday, January 28. “As a father to many other than his biological children, Sir Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa meant a lot to the people of Owa Alero in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta…
By Tobore Ovuorie Analysis of data from 38 African countries indicates very few, if any, are on track to reach the UNAIDS targets for HIV testing and condom use, respectively, by 2030. This was one of the major highlights in HIV prevention research announced Tuesday at the 4th HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P), convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS). The annual gathering of researchers, thinktanks, amongst others in the HIV field holds virtually this year, due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Based on 114 nationally-representative datasets representing more than 1.4 million sexually active people, the study presented by Phuong…
The Police Service Commission, PSC, o and Thursday said it promoted of 20,356 senior police officers. A statement by the spokesperson of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani made available to ASHENEWS, said nine commissioners of police were promoted to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General, AIG, of Police and another nine were promoted from the rank of Deputy Commissioner to Commissioners of Police. “The promotion is one of the decisions of the 11th Plenary Meeting of the Commission held in Abuja on Wednesday, January 25th, 2021 and presided over by its Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police.…
The Ibadan zone of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested eight men suspected to be internet fraudsters in Osogbo, Osun state. This is contained in a statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwajuren and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan. The statement said among the suspects were two brothers and six others arrested during an early morning raid on their hideout at Ayegbami area of the ancient town. It said that operatives of the commission had kept surveillance on the suspects for days after receiving intelligence about their alleged use of the internet for…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed conduct of by-election for Kafin Hausa State Constituency, Jigawa State for Saturday, March 6. The commission disclosed this in a statement and election timetable issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, on Thursday in Abuja. Okoye said that the commission met and deliberated on a number of issues including the conduct of the state constituency by-election. The vacancy arose as a result of the death of Adamu Baban-Bare, member representing Kafin Hausa State Constituency and the subsequent declaration of vacancy for the Constituency by…
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja met with the leadership of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs led by its President-General, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar. The agenda of the meeting which went into closed door session was unknown to State House correspondents as at the time of filing this report. The Sultan may brief the president on his ongoing sensitisation programme on COVID-19 vaccine for Muslim scholars and Imams in Nigeria. The sensitisation programme is being facilitated by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency. President Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as well as the governors of Nigeria’s 36…