NIGERIAN NOTCH

  …Set to defect to ZLP tomorrow ONDO State Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Ajayi according to his Media Adviser, Allen Sowore in a statement in Akure said that Ajayi decision to resign was as a result of the call on him by a majority of the good people of Ondo State to give hope to the hopeless, provide credible and purposeful leadership in our dear State. The deputy governor has, therefore, reassured his teaming supporters to remain focused and committed as he will be announcing his next line of action shortly. Ajayi appreciated the National Leadership and members of the party for their warm reception and acceptance in the short period he rejoined the party. Credits: Vanguard

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command, says it seized 3,546.632 kilograms of hard drugs from January to July. The NDLEA, FCT Commander, Mr Lawan Hamisu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that the drugs seized comprised Cannabis sativa, Cocaine, Tramadol, Exol, Rophynol and Diazepam in a coordinated operation across the Territory. He said that the operatives of the command within the period also arrested 205 suspects comprising of 180 males and 25 females. He recalled that April and June was the period of lockdown due to COVID-19 as that clearly slow down the level of operations in the FCT. He, however, noted that the agency had been working as much as possible to operate within the safety protocol as directed by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). “This is actually what account for the number to be this slightly low but it is still a worrisome development,’’ he said. Hamisu said that

Petroleum Tanker Drivers in Lagos State have withdrawn their services as directed by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) beginning from Aug. 10.  The state Chairman, NUPENG, Mr Tayo Aboyeji made the confirmation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos. Aboyeji said that the strike began in the early hours of Aug. 10, following negotiation breakdown between the state government and the union. “Although, we met with the state government yesterday night (Aug. 9), yet we could not reach an agreement. “So, only the tanker drivers in Lagos State proceeded with the strike, because the environment is not conducive for tankers to operate,’’ he said. NUPENG had on Aug. 7 directed its members to down tools with effect from Aug. 10. NUPENG’s National President, Mr Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Mr Olawale Afolabi had in a joint statement said the directive became necessary due to failure of various authorities in the state to

The  Federal Government in its bid to help cushion the effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has supported smallholder farmers in Imo State with 20,000 Cocoa seedlings and other improved seeds. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Mr Theodore Ogaziechi, said this on Sunday in Abuja. The minister said the Federal Government was committed to improving  agriculture. Nanono said this during the official roll out ceremony of the distribution  of free agricultural inputs to farmers in Imo State. Nanono added that over 5,000 oil palm sprouted nuts and 1,500 kilogramme of cashew seeds were distributed to the farmers. He stressed that yam farmers through their national association and other cooperative groups would be supported with 20,000 one node vine cuttings and 10,000 foundation seeds of yam and 200 liters of  pathway organic growth enhancer. “Potatoes farmers will benefit from 1,500 bundles of orange fleshed sweet

The Presidential Candidate of the YPP in the last presidential election has denied claims in some quarters that he has joined the ruling party APC.  In a press release made available to Nigerian Notch, he stated thus "My attention has been drawn to a news story published by Elombah News, an online medium, with the false and misleading headline “Kingsley Moghalu has Joined APC – Anambra Spokesman” Prof Kingsely Moghalu stated that "This headline, and the claim on which the report is based, is false, mischievous, and tendentious. In late 2019 I resigned my membership of the Young Progressives Party, the party platform on which I was a presidential candidate in 2019, but I did not subsequently join, and have not joined, any other political party. I am therefore NOT a member of ANY political party in Nigeria today." He maintain that, the article by Elombah News is doubly mischievous because, despite my denying this false claim when the online news outlet contacted me, Elomba

The newly elected members of the Anambra state Football Association led by Senator Dr Ikemba Ifeanyi Ubah were yesterday sworn in by the electoral Committee presided over by Rev Fr Obinna Dike. At the swearing in, the FA chairman and others were issued with certificates of return. The FA board as well as the elected local govt FA Chairmen of all the 20 local football councils were equally inaugurated. Recall that the elections held on August 2 with Rev Obinna Dike serving as the Returning Officer for the LFC ( local football councils) while Barrister Godwin Madubuko served as the Returning Officer for the board elections.   The newly sworn in Anmabra FA Chairman as well as the board members in their remarks during the course of the inauguration took out time to specially commend the electoral panel for a job well done especially their successful exploit in being the first to hold a virtual election in football in Nigeria. The elected FA Chairman Distinguished Senator Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, w

The Presidency, has said views expressed by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew on zoning of the Presidency, does not reflect the views of the President or his administration.   Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement said the views expressed by Daura were personal to him. The statement reads: We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew to the BBC Hausa Service. It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration. At age 80, and having served as editor and managing director of one of this country’s most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guarantee

By Kamen Chuks Ogbonna The major stakeholders of football in Anambra  state comprising of all the local govt F.A chairmen,the referees chairman,observers  etc yesterday had a congress which is the constitutional requirement at the tail end of every tenure in preparation to ushering in a new tenure of executives for the  Association.  This process culminated yesterday evening with the unanimous election of Senator Dr Ifeanyi Ubah with a fresh mandate to continue from where he stopped in the last dispensation as the Chairman of Anambra Football Association. Immediately after the election, the Senator who  was a bit surprised by their gesture expressed joy, that his efforts in the past was appreciated, and assured them that he will not abandon them at this point in time but will rather take up the task with vigour in the quest to achieve maximum impact by tapping fully into the potentials that abound in football driven economy and by so doing further empower our talented youths by helping

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has withdrawn the registration certificate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other socio-cultural groups in Nigeria. Disclosing this at the weekend in Abuja, the Registrar General of CAC, Mr Garba Abubakar, said the measure was part of the reforms the Commission was putting in place to subject such applications to thorough scrutiny following security threats that may arise from such registrations. The RG noted that the reforms are a measure put together to sanitise the Commission operations which lead to the recent withdrawal of the certificate of registration earlier issued to Ohaneze Ndigbo General Assembly. He said: “Yes, we have withdrawn the certificate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo General Assembly because the certificate should not have been issued in the first instance. “We have an established protocol that all organisations; a, religious with political implication should be referred for security clearance be

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, says he has not made any form of alliance with his predecessor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, against the current Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma. Okorocha while reacting to allegations made by the Director, New Media, who pointed fingers to an alliance with Ihedioha. In a statement by Sam Onwuemedo, media adviser to the former Governor, reads thus  “To say the least, Okorocha is not in alliance with Ihedioha for crafting to remove Governor Uzodinma or for any other reason. Those behind the story should stop making mockery of the APC or the State” Part of the statement reads “Senator Rochas Okorocha cannot destroy what he had labored to build at the risk of his political Career. He planted the seed of APC in Imo, nurtured it to maturity and it has continued to bear fruits. Those who have benefited from this vision only need to appreciate and acknowledge who God used to make it possible. Since 2013, the story of APC in Imo has remained Okorocha’s Cre

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enita Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has said it is unfair to call Osun devotees idol worshippers. The monarch also said the countries will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. He made the pronouncements while playing host to Osun devotees in his palace, as the ancient city celebrated the Osun festival on Saturday. Ogunwusi, who admitted that the pandemic was still ravaging the country, urged Nigerians to always observe laid down precautionary measures and avoid circulation of fake news His words: “Unlike the way we used to have it in Ife, we were forced to restrict this celebration which is a major festival in Ife. “Our restriction made us to ensure that we don’t create more problems, while trying to solve the one at hand. “Osun festival, as the world knows, is the celebration of water and we all know that water is life. “We’re using this instance to reconnect with our creator through nature to cleanse the world, and especially to end the pandemic. “We are remembering our