Military redeploys spokesman, 398 officers in major shake-up

The spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, and 398 other officers have been redeployed in a major shake-up announced by the Nigerian Army on Friday.
The army, which said the 2017 Fourth Quarter Postings and Appointments would take effect on January 2, 2018, noted that the shake-up affected officers in the rank of Brigadier-Generals and Major-Generals.
Our correspondent learnt that some senior officers were retired, having completed the mandatory years of service in the army.

Moribund airlines: FG to set up aviation school to raise professionals

In response to the disturbing rate at which several commercial airline operators have gone moribund in the country, there are indications that the Federal Government would soon set up an aviation school that would groom professionals for the industry.
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Saleh Dunoma, made the disclosure in a recent interview with our correspondent.
Our correspondent, had in a report published on November 25, 2017, x-rayed reasons why many airlines had become moribund in the country. The report was titled, ‘From sky to junkyard: Sad journey of Nigeria’s 160 moribund domestic airlines’.

Wike says $1bn ECA insurgency fund illegal –Wike

 Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday described as illegal the recent approval by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for the Federal Government to withdraw $1bn from the Excess Crude Account to fight insurgency.
Wike stated this in an interview with State House correspondents shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said although he was in support of the fight against insurgency, the approval remained illegal.
The governor said, “For me, it (the approval) is illegal. However, we are talking about fighting insurgency and no right thinking individual will say that he will not support the government to fight insurgency.

Fuel scarcity: NLC, SERAP, CSOs clash over Dangote refinery

The Nigeria Labour Congress again on Friday berated the Federal Government over the fuel scarcity in the country, saying government’s energy policy was defective.
Also on Friday, the NLC and civil society organisations were divided over Dangote Refinery, which will begin operations at the end of 2018.

The NLC, which spoke through its Secretary-General, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, warned the Federal Government against allowing the Dangote Group to monopolise the oil refinery sector.
 According to Ozo-Eson, the Dangote Group currently monopolises the cement sector. He said that such must not be allowed to happen in the oil refinery sector.
The NLC secretary-general blamed the Federal Government for the current fuel scarcity in the country.

Showdown looms as Senate queries FG over unapproved subsidy payment

The Senate is set for a showdown with the Federal Government over the alleged payment of N26 per litre to subsidise the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.
The Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), which was on Thursday mandated to investigate the current crisis over supply of the product, on Friday, asked how the government was maintaining a pump price of N145 per litre when the landing cost of the commodity was now N171.
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had on Thursday directed the committee to cut short its recess and “immediately” convene a meeting with stakeholders in the petroleum sector over the current scarcity of petrol.

AFRICAN CULTURAL PROTECTION FROM INTO EXTINCTION

Obiano is committed to governing Anambra well

Rowland Odegbo

Since the governorship election in Anambra state was won and lost not much in terms of the discussion still dominates public discourse. Everybody appears to have moved on. Both the winner and the losers have since adjusted to the reality of the time. The state has also adjusted to the continuity train and shut its doors firmly against possible abandoned projects.

Suspected kidnapper caught chanting incantation, spewing alligator pepper on toddler’s head

A suspected kidnapper was caught while allegedly chanting incantation and spewing alligator pepper on a toddler’s head
The 30-year-old man, Tunde Adebiyi, who allegedly attempted to hypnotise and kidnap a toddler, was on Friday arraigned in an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Adebiyi had appeared before Chief Magistrate Mr. Tajudeen Elias on a charge for attempted kidnap, which he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to.

Fuel scarcity: Stop punishing Nigerians, PDP tells Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari, as Minister of Petroleum Resources, to find a quick solution to the lingering fuel scarcity now ravaging many parts of the country.

It called on the President to stop punishing Nigerians.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary,  Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, on Friday, in Abuja, insisted that it was wrong for the President to sit in his comfort zone and put the blames of the fuel scarcity at the doorsteps of marketers, while Nigerians continue to suffer untold hardship.

PRESIDENCY 2019 OBIANO HAS NO INTEREST

Okey Maduforo

Contrary to the rumour bruited in some quarters that the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano is nursing an ambition to contest the 2019 presidential election in the country the members of the public have been urged to discountenance such stories as they are handiwork of mischief makers.

It has been confirmed that the governor has no such plans rather he is more interested in improving the welfare of his people and expanding the frontiers of development in the state. What the governor achieved in his first term in office is nowhere close to what he intends to do in his second term and as such does not want to be distracted by idle rumours of the type making the round.

In the same vein the story that the governor is threatening that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will take over the remaining four states of the Southeast zone during the next election was unfounded. The word threatening is alien to Governor Obiano who in the face of provocation during the just concluded governorship in the state maintained dignified silence. The governor is urbane and understands