By Daniel Idonor ABUJA—THE Federal Government yesterday engaged the United States,US, at high level of diplomatic talks when Vice President Goodluck Jonathan met with visiting US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security, Ms. Jane Holl Lute. The Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, at the meeting held behind closed doors urged the United States government to de-list Nigeria […]

The Action Congress, AC, has described President Umaru Yar’Adua’s ‘interview’ with the BBC, to show that he is alive and recovering from his illness, as the latest example of the contempt which Nigerians leaders have for their people. In a statement in Abuja, yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered […]

*External debt hits $42.409bn By Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor The Federation Account Allocation Committee has disclosed that a total sum of US$5.5 billion was distributed from the Excess Crude Account savings last year. It also said a total of  N4.174 trillion was distributed from the Federation Account among the three tiers of government in 2009. […]

By  Anayo Okoli Umuahia—Abia State Government will commence the demolition of illegal structures in Aba and Umuahia in February, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Mr Emeka Nwachukwu, has said. Nwachukwu made the disclosure in Umuahia, yesterday while briefing newsmen on the activities of his Ministry. He said that some of the buildings […]

By Demola Akinyemi Ilorin — A seventy -year-old suspected ritualist, Hassan Ajala and four others were paraded, yesterday, at the state headquarters of the Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin following the discovery of a fresh human head in their custody. The other suspects are Ibrahim Adamu, Afisat Raji, Umaru Kure and Samuel Kure. At […]

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo LAGOS — The Lagos State Government, yesterday, said the Land Regularisation Directorate was created to give legal protection for all landed property owners who initially did not acquire such from the state government. Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, stated this during a retreat for Scheme/Land Officers in […]

By Gbenga Olarinoye OSOGBO—Action Congress, AC, gubernatorial candidate in the April 2007 election in Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola yesterday formally closed his case before the Osun State elections petition re-retrial tribunal. After six months of legal firework, Aregbesola closed his case after calling 82 witnesses. His last witness was Mr Tunde Yadeka, an Information […]

By Godwin Oritse, Godfrey Bivbere, & Yemie Adeoye LAGOS—THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is to meet with shipping firms over a debt of  N168.9billion  owed NIMASA  from the three percent freight rate paid on all in and out bound cargoes. Disclosing to Vanguard in Lagos yesterday, NIMASA’s Director General, Mr Temisan Omatseye, […]

By Chinyere Amalu ABUJA—The Russian government has blamed security failure for the attempted bombing of an American plane by Abdulfaruk Mutallab, even as it condemned the action taken by the US to punish the entire country. This came on a day  the United States Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Jane Holl Lute, […]

By Jimitota Onoyume & Anayo  Okoli PORT HARCOURT— THREE Britons and a Columbian were yesterday taken hostage at Owaza junction, close to Obigbo, while a Police Corporal attached to their vehicle was shot dead by the kidnappers. This happened just as Abia State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Loveday Nwuba has been reported kidnapped […]

By Abdulwahab   Abdulah LAGOS — an  Ikeja High Court yesterday refused an application by some media houses to tender the recent judgment of another sister’ court which convicted Chief Olabode George of impropriety to buttress their publications in a libel case. Two media houses — The News magazine and the Daily Independent— were dragged before […]

By  Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief ABUJA—The Chairman of the  Independent National Electoral  Commission, INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu, yesterday dismissed insinuations that he is working towards ensuring that Dr. Andy Uba wins the gubernatorial election of Anambra State, slated for February 6. Fielding questions from senior journalists at a parley in Abuja, he said he […]

By Victor Ahiuma-Young LAGOS — PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff, PENGASSAN, has warned on  the far-reaching implications of the decision by the United States to blacklist Nigeria as a terrorist country,  saying the action could  jeopardise the relationship between the two countries. President and General Secretary of PENGASSAN, Messrs Babatunde Ogun and Bayo Olowoshile, […]

By Emeka Mamah Kaduna — The Federal Government has commenced the disbursement of the N100 billion bail-out loan to distressed textile industries in the country. Secretary-General of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu made this known in Kaduna, yesterday. Aremu, who spoke at a one-day induction […]

Abuja—The INEC Chairman. Professor Maurice Iwu, yesterday  expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Commission to ensure a hitch-free governorship election in Anambra State slated for February 6. The chairman, who spoke at a luncheon organised for Bureau Chiefs of media houses in Abuja, commended the governorship candidates for their issue oriented campaigns, adding […]