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The Federal Government has approved the technical audit report on the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs showing that it spent N423 billion from 2009 when it was created, to 2015. However, the project execution rate by the ministry was only 12 per cent, an official said. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, made these known after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. Mr. Usani added that the meeting also resolved to make those who misapplied the funds face the consequences. “Today we received approval of the project technical audit report which was carried out by the ministry in investigating all contracts awarded and projects and programmes carried out in the ministry since the inception of the ministry from 2009 to 2015. “The revealing content of the report shows that over N423 billion had been expended in the region by the ministry alone, not other intervening agencies, from 2009 to 2015. “From this amount project execution ...

A Bill seeking to address Biafra agitation with the establishment of Development Commission for the Southeast geo-polical zone suffered a setback   on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday. The sponsors of the Bill  failed to present it for second reading. The general principles of the bill, sponsored by Chukwuka Onyema (PDP, Anambra), Uzoma Nkem-Abonta (PDP, Abia) and Henry Nwawuba (PDP, Imo) was listed for debate Wednesday but had to be stepped down. When it was time for the bill to be debated and the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara noticed that the lead sponsor Onyema, who is also the Minority Leader was not on the floor, he asked the Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Emmanuel Oker-Jev to step it down. At this point, voices were heard around the floor indicating that one of the sponsors,  Nkem-Abonta was on ground. The Speaker then asked Nkem-Abonta to take it. On his feet, the lawmaker stated that he could not present the bill...

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has scrapped two projects initiated by the previous government of Dr. Emmanuel Udaughan He said there is no enough fund to continue financing the projects even as the private partners are not showing real commitment to the projects The governor also suspended the first class scholarship scheme also initiated by the previous government, basing his decision on scarcity of funds Delta state. The two projects are the Oleri Park in Warri and the wild life park in Ogwashi-Uku. Okowa. The governor hinted that the projects which have gulped billions of naira from the state coffers cannot continue following the failure of the private partners to show commitment to the two parks. The governor gave the revelation Tuesday at the quarterly media interaction held at the Delta government house. Also, the governor suspended the Delta state first class scholarship scheme for graduating students of Delta origin to study in any country and institution of th...

    Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has asked the Presidential Adviser on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu to advise President Buhari to go back to his farm and that he should halt dabbling into matters concerning Nigeria and Ekiti State in particular. Olayinka, who was reacting to Ojudu’s comment that the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose was disrespecting President Muhammadu Buhari whom he (Ojudu) said was old enough to be his (Fayose) father, said; “Ojudu will be making the biggest political mistake if he believed that this time around, he will ride on the back of political treachery, blackmail and bootlicking to become the governor of Ekiti State.” The governor’s spokesperson said “Ojudu should rather advise President Buhari to go back to his farm in Daura, Katsina State if he has become too old to be corrected by Nigerians, who elected him and on whose sweat he is being sustai...

Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) Wednesday aimed a salvo at some of the appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari, lamenting that such appointments have done harm than good to Nigerians. Dino Melaye The lawmaker stated this while giving his remarks at the 2017 Nigeria Democracy Day Lecture organized by the Save Democracy Group Africa (SDG-Africa) in Abuja. The lecture which attracted eminent personalities drawn from politics, academia, civil society organizations and women advocacy groups, focused on the ills bedeviling the Nigerian state and strategies for tackling them to entrench a culture of patriotism and nationalism. Melaye lamented the appointment into government of people without the requisite experience, noting that the development is largely to blame for some of the ills recorded in the first two years of Buhari administration. “Democracy is defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people but what we had in the time of Jonathan was...

The Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, has said no date has yet been fixed for the signing of the 2017 budget by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Enang, in an electronic mail to our correspondent on Wednesday, in Abuja, said consultations were still being held on the budget.         He stated, “Further to several enquiries regarding action on the 2017 Appropriation Bill by the Executive, be please informed that Assent to same is not yet scheduled as consultations and engagements are ongoing.” Some online media had earlier on Wednesdayreported that Osinbajo would sign the 2017 appropriation bill into law on Thursday. The reports quoted Enang as officially informing the leadership of the National Assembly on Wednesday of the imminent signing of the Appropriation Bill. The budget was passed by the National Assembly on May 11. On May 19, it was delivered to Acting President Osinba...

  There was violence in Ikun Ekiti, a town under Moba Local Government on Tuesday as masqueraders attacked Muslims while breaking their fast in the Central Mosque. The attack took place at sunset around 7pm when the Muslims had gathered in the mosque to observe the Maghrib prayer after breaking their Ramadan fast. It was learnt that the masqueraders were irked that the Muslims had the effrontery to call for prayers when they were still celebrating their Egun festival. ‎See pictures

Unknown gunmen have kidnapped lawmaker representing Takai/Sumaila Federal constituency of Kano State, Garba Durbunde. The assailants were said to have abducted Durbunde at Jere, along Abuja Road, Kaduna, while returning to Abuja after a trip to Kano. As at the time of filing this report, the leadership of the lower legislative chambers is yet to react to the abduction of Durbunde. Details later…

Navy used a General Purpose Machine Gun to bring down a section of the Akim Police Barracks in the Cross River State capital. Normalcy has returned to Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital  after a clash between Navy and the Nigerian police in a part of the city on Tuesday. Addressing journalists after an Emergency State Security Council Meeting in Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade, urged the citizenry to go about their legitimate businesses. Ayade said, “I just met with all the service commanders on the incident that happened on Tuesday. The whole area is calm after the unfortunate incident from the misunderstanding between the officials, one from the police and a naval rating.” The governor, however, maintained that senior officers of the navy and police were proactive in arresting the situation early enough. He said that the state was totally calm, peaceful and already agog to receive the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is billed to visit the state on Thurs...

  A former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, on Tuesday said he would still take a shot at the presidency if the opportunity presented itself. Duke spoke at a programme “The Nigerian Symposium for Emerging Leaders” held in Lagos. He said though he once aspired to the position but did not emerge the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, he would still contest for the highest office in the country at the appropriate time. Duke explained that it was because of his preference for the presidential seat that he did not vie for any federal legislative seat after serving out his terms as governor. “I do not have the flair for the legislature; standing up and sitting down at the chambers to raise a point. That was why I did not contest for the Senate but the presidency, after serving out my term as governor. “I have contested the presidency before; I will still give it a shot when the opportunity presents itself . I believe I still have the energy in ...

Some people on Tuesday took to the streets in Yenagoa to show their support to the EFCC for the arrest and prosecution of George Turner, a former top aide in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Turnah was a former Special Adviser to a former Managing Director of the NDDC.  He is facing trial in Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt on a 12-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering and abuse of office. The rally took place simultaneously in Yenagoa and seven other Local Government Areas in Bayelsa. Turnah was arrested in Port Harcourt last March in connection with alleged possession of two billion Naira, suspected to be siphoned from the NDDC while he served in the commission between 2012 and 2015. The Spokesman of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwajaren, had said that preliminary investigations indicated that Turnah made deposits in his personal and company bank accounts in excess of N2 billion. It was against this ...

Seriake Dickson Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has called on the‎ Ministry of Niger Delta, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other development partners to support his massive investments in education and security by supporting the Education and Security Trust Fund in the state. ‎Dickson, according to a statement, made the call yesterday at the‎ quarterly meeting of Niger Delta Stakeholders hosted by the Ministry of Niger Delta held in Abuja. ‎ According to the statement, the meeting which is the second ‎in the series had in audience chief executives of International Oil Companies led by the SPDC’s Managing Director and Country Chairman of all Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr.Osagie Okunbor,  MD/CEO of NDDC, Special Adviser on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The governor stressed the need for synergy among key stakeholders and industry players in other to accelerate development in the region and build the capacity of...

There was total compliance yesterday in Onitsha and environs to the sit – at – home order by the indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB as business activities were grounded. Markets, banks and street shops were closed to customers as well as ministries and schools that closed offices and schools to students. Investigation by the Vanguard showed that the joint task force comprising soldiers, and police men were Monday night deployed to the River Niger Bridge Head, Onitsha and other strategic junctions like upper iweka, Owerri road, old and new market roads, Nkpor and Obosi Other security agents included Nigeria security civil defence corps and the Naval force. The story was the same in Awka as banks, markets, schools and local government secretariat were closed to workers, customers and students. But ironically at Nnewi, the country home of the late Biafra War Lord, Ezegburugburu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu the compliance was partial as some markets opened to customers just as th...

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday left Nigeria for London, United Kingdom, to join her husband who has been on medical vacation since May 7. According to a statement by her spokesperson, Bisi Olumide-Ajayi, the President’s wife thanked Nigerians who have been praying for her husband. The statement read, “The wife of the President, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari today (Tuesday) left for the United Kingdom. “Her Excellency will spend some time with her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is presently on medical vacation. “She expressed her appreciation to the millions of Nigerians who have been praying for his quick and safe return.” Mrs. Buhari’s journey came three weeks after her husband embarked on his latest medical vacation. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had announced shortly before President Muhammadu Buhari left the country that the duration of his stay in London would be determined b...

Despite his state being one of the wealthiest in the country, Governor Udom Emmanuel said on Sunday that Akwa Ibom has no money to conduct local government elections. Mr. Emmanuel said that local government elections would have to wait in view of the present financial difficulties facing the state. The governor said this in an interaction in Uyo on Sunday as part of activities marking his second year in office and 18 years of unbroken democracy in the country. He appealed to people and politicians to be patient about the conduct of local government elections as government was not in a hurry to carry out the exercise because of prevailing economic realities. According to him, government’s stance on the matter is not deliberate as it would not take loan with high interest to conduct local government elections. The governor, however, said the government would embark on the conduct of the elections once the economy improved. Mr. Emmanuel has not conducted local government ...