NIGERIAN NOTCH

Israeli authorities are set to unveil previously off-limits structures within King Herod’s palace-fortress Herodium, which the tyrannical Roman-era leader interred as his enormous burial plot. Herodium, a hugely popular tourism destination, is near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank but falls in an area where Israel exercises full military and civilian control. Archaeologists say Herod decided towards the end of his life to bury his palace, using ground from below the hill it was perched upon, until the outline of the structure was no longer visible. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority plans to open the revamped site on Sunday, allowing visitors to see for the first time Herodium’s arched stairway, foyer and private theatre. The Judean desert complex was built by the Roman-appointed king known both for his brutality and the magnificent structures built during his reign over Judea from 37 to 4 BC. The hilltop palace, its main entrance facing Jerusalem, was Herod’s favourite. It was

The Federal High Court in Lagos has upheld a landmark $1.7billion arbitral award in favour of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Co. (NPDC) Ltd against the Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nig. Ltd and Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd. Justice A. Faji dismissed Atlantic Energy’s application to set aside the Arbitral Award of March 5, 2020. Justice A. Faji dismissed Atlantic Energy’s application to set aside the Arbitral Award of March 5, 2020. He upheld the submissions of NPDC lead counsel Prof Fabian Ajogwu SAN and granted orders recognising the $1.7bn Arbitral Award as well as for leave to enforce same as a judgment of the Federal High Court. The landmark decision upholds one of the single largest Awards ever in a Nigerian Arbitration. Sometime in August 2015, Atlantic Energy, through its lawyer, T. Fagbohunlu SAN, took the NNPC to arbitration for alleged breach of contract. NPDC in response, filed a counter-claim for funds due to the Federal Government on account of crud

The Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, says the administration has reduced the current cost of data by 50%. The Minister who revealed this in a statement on Thursday explained that the reduction was made possible in line with his directives to the service providers through the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC. According to a statement from the Minister, this followed measures put in place by the Ministry to significantly reduce the average cost of data at an incremental rate.   He explained the average cost of 1GB data was reduced from N1,000 cost of January 2020 to N487.18 in November 2021. This, the statement explained was based on a report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) submitted to the Minister following the implementation of the directives.   The Minister had inaugurated a committee that developed the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025) on the 16th of D

The former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, who is facing money laundering charges, on Thursday, collapsed before trial Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Maina slumped shortly after the court resumed proceedings in the 12-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited. Maina had on Wednesday after the EFCC closed its case with nine witnesses, secured permission of the court to enter a no-case-submission to the charges against him. However, when the case was called on Thursday, Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Anayo Adibe, told the court that his client would not be able to proceed with his application. Abide said he was unable to prepare the no-case-submission owing to the fact that he was not availed with records of proceedings of the court in the matter. The defence lawyer was about to make further submission when his client, Maina, s

In his keeping with his promise to ensure a healthy society, Hon Engr Chris Azubuogu, the member representing Nnewi Federal Constituency has Flagged off its 4th Free Medical Outreach in conjunction with Doctors on the move and four health centres in his constituency. The lawmaker said, he initiated the annual health outreach in partnership with Doctors on the move and health institutions in order to tackle the health needs of his constituents, who ordinarily, could not afford the cost of surgeries and other medical expenses.  Azubogu, who spoke yesterday when he visited some health facilities in Nnewi, Ozubulu, Ukpor and Amichi, all in his constituency, said the health status of poor people in his constituency was the force behind the free medical outreach; as against popular speculations that it was his ambition for 2021 governorship election, that is driving the good gestures of his. “People have been saying that the ongoing free medical outreach in my constituency is a campaign stra

A few days ago,  the YPP had a Special National Convention in Abuja where it added green leaves to its symbol and logo and also approved a few other positions notable amongst which is  a position on the National Working Committee for an office of an adviser incharge of matters affecting the  disabled members of the society.  Last Saturday's event  went  down in the history books as the first time a political party would build its ideologies on how to rescue Nigeria from  the gutters where bad leadership dumped it. The colour green in the Holy book  is associated with everlasting life , growth, and fertility. It also signifies fruitfulness. Green Leaves depict hope , renewal and revival. A cursory look at the historical significance of our National Flag as designed by Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkumi also shows that the green stripes represents the wealth in the country. Our Nation, Nigeria  is filled with abundant human and natural resources and has the deficit of good leadership as the m