The Senate has said that in spite of the high budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Works and Housing, its current debt profile is about N392 billion. Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Adamu Aliero, made the revelation during the 2021 budget defence of the ministry held in the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday. The ministry got the highest projected allocation of N404 billion out of the N13.08 trillion 2021 budget estimates. According to Aliero, the fact that the budgetary allocation to the ministry and its agencies remains one of the highest, it is like a drop of water in…
Author: Editor
The trial of former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, before Justice Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, could not continue on Wednesday, October 21, due to his absence in court. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Fani-Kayode on a five-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N26 million. At the resumed trial today, defence counsel, Wale Balogun, told the court that the defendant was unable to make it to court from Lagos as a result of the curfew imposed in the state by the Lagos State government due to the ongoing #EndSARS protests…
The International Press Centre, IPC, has condemned #EndSARS protesters’ attacks on media outlets and journalists. In a statement by the Executive Director, Mr.Lanre Arogundade and made available to AsheNews on Wednesday, the Centre expressed concern “about the latest happenings in the country with respect to the #EndSARS and #EndSWAT protests, especially the targeting of media institutions and harassment of journalists. “IPC particularly condemns the Wednesday October 21, 2020, arson attack on Television Continental (TVC) as well as the molestation of the journalists and other media professionals working in the establishment by a mob. “IPC equally condemns the assault on some…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will hold meeting with its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to evaluate the situation across states and constituencies where bye-elections have been scheduled for October 31. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, said the meeting was in view of the current situation in the country. According to him, INEC has scheduled the conduct of bye-elections in 15 constituencies in 11 states on October 31. “These consist of six Senatorial and nine State House of Assembly seats. The vacancies were as a result…
Sokoto state government has enrolled a total of 75,650 out of school children, comprised of 44,550 girls and 31,100 boys into the Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA, programme. Governor Aminu Tambuwal, during the launch of BESDA on Tuesday, also said that the state government also established 1,513 learning centers. According to him, there has been an improved literacy rate of 60,159 children across the 23 local government education authorities in the state. Tambuwal said this is an effort to increase equitable access to out-of-school children, improve literacy rate and strengthen accountability in basic education. The governor, who also…
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, refused to grant the application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), seeking the revocation of bail granted to Omoyele Sowore, Convener of #RevolutionNow, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who turned down the request of the AGF’s Counsel, Kayode Alilu, adjourned the matter until December 10 and December 11 for trial continuation. The Federal Government had, on February 13, re-arraigned Sowore and Bakare on fresh charges. The charges include: “Conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38 Laws…
The Minister of State, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, says the $750 million World Bank loan is an intervention towards helping Nigerians quickly recover from the effect of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Agba stated this at the appraisal meeting of the proposed Nigeria Cares (N-CARES) programme organised by the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), an initiative of the Federal Government, on Tuesday in Abuja. The minister explained that the Federal government had created windows of interventions as captured in the Economic Sustainability Plan. He urged states to leverage on the N560 billion and N462 billion available for…
Former U.S. Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, says the U.S. must stand with Nigerians “who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy.” “My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one in the violence,” Biden said in a statement made available on his official campaign website. The statement came shortly after security agents allegedly opened fire on protesters on Tuesday night, in Lagos. Biden encouraged the Nigerian government to engage in a good-faith dialogue with civil society. This, according to him, is to address…
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has expressed worry over the continued silence of President Muhammadu Buhari in the face of the destructive #EndSARS protests that have now engulfed the country. This is contained in a statement by the National Secretary of the Union, Shuaibu Leman made available to AsheNews on Wednesday. “Nigerians, mainly the youth are protesting against Police brutality that had characterised the operations of the dreaded Special Anti-Rubbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police. The disbanded SARS was legendary in its abuse of human rights. “Although the Inspector General of Police quickly disbanded SARS and substituted it…
The Kano state Police Command, says no death was recorded during Tuesday’s protest in Sabon Gari area. It however said that 15 vehicles were destroyed by the protesters. The command emphasised that the protest had no link whatsoever to the #EndSARS agitations. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Habu Sani, also said on Tuesday night in Kano that a suspect was arrested while shooting gun during the protest. Sani explained that, of the 15 vehicles destroyed, seven were burnt and eight vandalised, while shops were also destroyed and looted by the protesters. The disturbances were not connected to the #EndSARS protest, he…