NIGERIAN NOTCH

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong is saddened by the killing of three people at Rafin Bauna, Bassa local government area and subsequently mandated security agencies in the State to “go after the assailants” who attacked and killed the people on Sunday, 2nd January 2022. Governor Lalong who condemned the act, described the attack as “yet another callous attempt by the enemies of peace to begin the new year with violence,” stressing, “the Government will resist such attempts with all resources available to it.” The governor equally warned kidnappers to leave the state as “anyone who is caught and convicted for kidnapping will face the death penalty.” The warning may not be unconnected with the recent spate of incidents which have seen the kidnapping of a traditional ruler, a former local government Chairman, a lecturer with the State University and two other citizens within a space of eight days. Speaking at the Catholic Cathedral at Shendam, the Governor in a statement issued by his

The Anambra state Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Markets and Wealth Creation, Hon. Uchenna Okafor, and the caretaker committee members at Ogbaru main market, are now on warpath over the Commissioner's resolve to conduct election in the market on 25th January next year despite the committee members' insistence that the composition of the electoral committee is illegal and as such should be reconstituted. The Commissioner who made this disclosure through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Commerce. Mr. Ike Samuel, also denied allegation of imposition of the chairman of the committee members, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu, on the traders on the payment of #10million inducement . He also described as false the aggrieved caretaker committee members' claim that the Commissioner, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu and Chief Ogbogu Nwanodu, are now the three-man executive of the market including payment of #1million monthly by Ochiogu as loyalty to Commissioner. Hear him, "It is n

  The 24-year-old was recently recalled by United from his third loan spell at Aston Villa. Villa boss Steven Gerrard was keen for the player to return to the club. Instead, Tuanzebe will join a Napoli outfit currently third in Serie A and due to face Barcelona next month in the play-off round of the Europa League. Tuanzebe, who has made 45 appearances for Villa but has struggled for playing time under Gerrard, left Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a child to build a new life in the UK. He joined United aged eight and has made 37 senior appearances for the club since making his first-team debut in 2017.

A Premier League classic, some sensational goals, a red card controversy and two title contenders a little further off the pace - it's fair to say Chelsea and Liverpool's 2-2 draw started the new year with a bang. Not only were there magnificent individual goals from Mohamed Salah and Mateo Kovacic, there was some inspired goalkeeping from Liverpool stand-in Caoimhin Kelleher and Chelsea number one Edouard Mendy as well. And while the return of a single point apiece did little for either side's pursuit of leaders Manchester City, both bosses said it was a spectacle to behold. "A brilliant match of football, everybody not in the stadium missed something," Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel told Sky Sports. "We turned it around, we were close to winning it. To coach in that game was high level - it was on the edge and could have gone either way. A good Sunday afternoon and new year." Liverpool were forced into changes by Covid - not least the absence of manager Ju

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has mourned the death of the former Presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention in the June 12, 1993 election, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, saying his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remained indelible. In a statement signed by the commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, the governor noted the sacrifices of Tofa, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, when he was elected councillor, in his late 20s. He had remained vibrant and dynamic up till the time of his death. He said as a businessman, trader and philanthropist, Tofa touched the lives of many people, especially the down-trodden, and he expressed the belief that the legacies of the deceased will be approximated for posterity. “The legacy of his political beliefs and triumphs will be important footnotes in the literature of Nigeria’s government and politics for generations yet to come. “He was a great man, a quintessential democrat

The World Bank has said Nigeria may have one of the highest inflation rates globally in 2022, with increasing prices diminishing the welfare of Nigerian households. According to the World Bank, Nigeria is projected to have one of the highest inflation rates globally and the seventh highest among Sub-Saharan African countries in 2022 “In 2022, Nigeria is expected to have one of the highest inflation rates in the world and the seventh highest in Sub-Saharan Africa,” it said. The bank said this in the November edition of its Nigeria Development Update. According to the global financial institution, high inflation hampers the country’s attempt to achieve economic recovery and erodes the purchasing power of most vulnerable households. The document read in part, “High inflation is frustrating Nigeria’s economic recovery and eroding the purchasing power of the most vulnerable households. In the absence of measures to contain inflation, rising prices will continue to diminish the welfare of Ni

A man has been arrested after a large fire severely damaged the Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town. The suspect, who is not a parliamentary employee, will appear in court on Tuesday, facing charges of arson, housebreaking and theft, police said. Firefighters worked for hours to extinguish the blaze. President Cyril Ramaphosa called it a "terrible and devastating event", as he vowed parliament's work would continue. Footage from the scene on Sunday showed a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from the roof of the building. Officials say the fire started on the third floor offices and quickly spread to the National Assembly (the parliament's lower house) chamber, reports the BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Cape Town. The parliament is not currently in session because of the holidays, and no-one was injured. However the building is home to thousands of treasures including historic books, photographs and important works of

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the last truly global figure from an era when South Africa taught the world what courage and reconciliation could achieve. The last of an extraordinary generation of moral giants - of men and women who, in the 1980s and 1990s, steered a turbulent, traumatised country away from cruelties of racial apartheid and the cliff-edge of civil war. With Desmond Tutu gone, South Africa finds itself not quite rudderless or leaderless, but fully untethered, at last, from the years of its greatness. The contrast between those times of sacrifice and glory, and today's far shabbier political realities can certainly appear stark. The country Tutu finally leaves behind is a troubled one, gripped by deep economic malaise, by chokingly high unemployment and enduring inequality, and governed by a former liberation party, the African National Congress (ANC), which is at open war with itself. Tutu was too frail to comment on the political violence that erupted in July this yea

  As Omicron cases continue to surge across the world, health experts have raised concerns over the detection of the first case of  “Florona disease” –  a double infection of COVID-19 and influenza – in Israel. Reports say the first case of Florona was detected in an unvaccinated pregnant woman admitted to the Rabin Medical centre to give birth. However, there has been no confirmation that the woman was diagnosed with either COVID-19 or influenza. The ‘Florona disease’ it was gathered is not a new variant of COVID-19 and so far, there has been no fresh information available on the symptoms. According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, it is possible to catch both COVID-19 and the flu at the same time as the viruses share similar symptoms, and both can be fatal.   Israeli doctors said the disease is being studied as the country witnessed a spike of influenza cases believed to be fuelled by the Omicron variant in the last few weeks. Dr Nahla Abdel Wahab, a doctor at Cairo University

All is set for the Imo State Stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, 4th January 2022 at Sam Mbakwe Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri as all relevant stakeholders have been invited and Imolites expectant of the outcome. In running an all inclusive governance, His Excellency the Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma had upon resumption of office, announced a routine Stakeholders Meeting with Ndi Imo across board. The meeting which is in series presents an opportunity for the Governor of Imo State to account to Ndi Imo the activities and direction of the Government in fast-tracking development to the State and as well, a discuss on the recent events in the State.  The Governor has kept to his pledge of running an all inclusive Government with transparency to the people. The meeting usually held periodically has greatly contributed in the policies and programs of the administration as reactions form the participants  are usually taken into account afterwards by the Gove

GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA of Imo state has advocated a renewed and collective effort by the people of Imo state to stamp out violence and other forms of criminality in the state this year. In his  new year Message to the people of the state, Uzodimma pledged that the government will work in concert with the security agencies to ensure a safer Imo state in 2022 and beyond  He also pledged that his administration will this year redouble efforts to redress the infrastructural deficit it met on assumption of office. According to him, the huge capital outlay in this year's budget of over 74% of the total budget, was a sign that there would be more developmental projects in the state. Uzodimma however noted that progress could only be made in an atmosphere of peace. He noted that some opposition elements had sought to destabilize the state and arrest its progress, but expressed gratitude to God that they have been overwhelmed. He also expressed appreciation to all the patriotic citizens who