Nigeria To Lift Twitter Ban
Microblogging platform, Twitter may soon resume operation in Nigeria.
In November 2021, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, said that Twitter has agreed to all the conditions presented to it by the Federal Government regarding its operations in Nigeria.
However, The Nation reports on Tuesday, that the Technical Committee raised by the government to resolve the impasse between the two parties is fine-tuning the offers by Twitter before making a final recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the report, President Buhari is also awaiting the recommendation of the committee to lift the ban, imposed on Twitter on June 4, 2021.
Recover 109 Anti-Aircraft Ammunition In Katsina
The police command in Katsina, says it recovered 109 Anti-Aircraft Ammunition (AA) and arrested 999 suspects in various operations across the state in 2021.
Spokesperson for the Command, SP Gambo Isa, made this known on Tuesday in Katsina.
He listed some of the arms to include four GPMG, 44 AK-47 rifles, one LAR rifle, one G3 rifle, 20 locally made guns and 689 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
Isa said that 1,243 domestic animals including 867 cows, 352 sheep, 24 goats and one donkey were also recovered.
Akwa Ibom Police Command Nabs Notorious Fraudster
Akwa Ibom Police Command has arrested a notorious fraudster, Mr Imaobong Kelvin Akpan for impersonating the State Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pst. Umo Eno to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko MacDon disclosed this on Tuesday, while parading the suspect at the Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia.
According to MacDon, the suspect who was arrested by the detectives of the General Investigation Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, was based on a petition to the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Andrew Amiengheme warns fraudsters, imposters as well as those engaging in criminality to henceforth desist from the act, adding that the command would spare no resources in clamping down the perpetrators.
Ozigbo, Anambra Guber Candidate loses father
Chief Nwafor Ozigbo, father of Mr Valentine Ozigbo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 2021 governorship election, is dead.
Ozigbo announced the passage of their patriarch on behalf of the family in a statement in Awka, Anambra, on Tuesday.
He described his father as a leader, hero, mentor and trailblazer in the family, adding that his death is a sad reality for them. According to him, his father was everything to them, and was married to their mother for 66 years.
Navy Warns The Public Against Fake Recruitment Websites
The Nigerian Navy has alerted the public to fraudulent websites currently claiming to offer recruitment opportunities for unsuspecting applicants wishing to join the force
It urged the public to ignore the fake websites and only link up with the authorised and authentic Nigerian Navy website for such exercise.
A statement by Director of Naval Information, Commodore Suleman Dahun, said, “The attention of the Nigerian Navy (NN) has been drawn to the existence of fraudulent websites offering innocent and unsuspecting members of the public recruitment opportunities in the ongoing Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) Batch 33 recruitment exercise.
The NN advice members of the public of the public to only visit official website. He also reiterated that the online registration for the NNBTS Batch Recruitment Exercise has commenced on 3 January and will close on 13 February 2022.
Singer Teni Reacts To Rivers Gunshot Incident
Nigerian artiste, Teniola Apata, better known as Teni, has opened up concerning the gunshot scare that ended her performance in Rivers state.
The singer fled for safety after ear-splitting gunshots made everyone scamper for safety at the event which was held at Buguma Town, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Reacting to the incident, the singer took to her Instagram story on Monday saying that it could’ve been a different story.
She wrote, “(It) could have been a different story entirely but I’m grateful to God. Myself and the entire team are safe and back home now. Thanks for the calls and messages.”
IPAC Says Nigeria Not Yet Ripe For Direct Primaries
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), a pressure group of the 18 registered political parties on Monday said Nigeria is not politically mature for a mandatory direct primaries in the selection of flag bearers for political parties.
National chairman of IPAC, Yabagi Yusuf Sani stated this in Abuja during a maiden press briefing on Monday.
He said, “We are of the view that, much as we may cherish its perceived benefits, the country, at this stage of the progress of its democracy, does not appear to be sufficiently ripe and prepared for the direct primary election model in the selection of political party flag bearers.
He therefore recommended that legislature should accede to the expunging of the clauses regarding direct primary election thereby, saving the other equally important provisions among which, is the one on the mandatory electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
At least 6 dead, 12 injured in Lagos-Abeokuta expressway motor accident
Six persons died while 12 sustained injuries on Monday in an accident involving a Mistubishi canter and a Mazda bus, around Lala/Kere area of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.
Mr Ahmed Umar, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the incident in Abeokuta. Umar said that the accident occured at 2:10pm, with the likely cause being dangerous driving.
“A total of 38 people were involved in the accident which comprised 20 men, 13 women, three male children and two female children.
Umar said that the injured victims were taken to State Hospital, Abeokuta for medical attention. He said that the deceased were deposited in the hospital’s morgue.
Haitham Al-Ghais becomes OPEC New Secretary General
Cartel group, Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has elected Kuwait’s former OPEC governor Haitham al-Ghais as new Secretary-general.
Al-Ghais, who acted as the first-ever chairman of the OPEC+ Joint Technical Committee (JTC), was elected by majority vote at an extraordinary ministerial OPEC meeting held on Monday, after delegates said no other candidates emerged to succeed outgoing Mohammed Barkindo, who will have served the maximum two three-year terms when he leaves office at the end of July.
Backed by OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and welcomed by Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Ghais will be the first Gulf official to serve as the organisation’s top diplomat since his countryman Sheikh Ahmad Fahad al-Ahmad al-Sabah was secretary general in 2005.
Meanwhile, OPEC ministers will meet with their non-OPEC counterparts on Tuesday to discuss and decide on production policy for February, specifically whether to press ahead with a 400,000 b/d increase in the OPEC+ group’s production quota, as planned under the roadmap it agreed in July.
Gov Dapo Abiodun Mourns Olubadan’s Demise
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has expressed his condolence to his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde and the entire people of Ibadan over the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Oba Adetunji had passed on at the age of 93 at the University College Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, after a brief illness.
Abiodun, in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, described the death of Aje Ogungunniso 1, as a great loss not only to Ibadanland, but the entire Yorubaland. He said the monarch was an embodiment of peace, whose reign witnessed great development of his domain.
The governor, while urging the people of Ibadanland to take solace in the fact that the late king’s reign was peaceful and progressive, prayed Allah to grant Oba Adetunji Aljanah Firdaus.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Infected with COVID-19
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday with mild symptoms.
He said he would attend meetings virtually as he quarantines at home for the next five days.
Lloyd in statement issued late Sunday said, “I tested positive this morning for COVID-19. I requested the test today after exhibiting symptoms while at home on leave. My symptoms are mild, and I am following my physician’s directions.
News of Austin’s positive test comes after the Pentagon last week tightened restrictions at its headquarters over concern about the highly transmissible Omicron variant that has led to a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections throughout the world.
Oyetola Mourns Ex-Osun, Abia Military Administrator, Anthony Obi
In a condolence message addressed to the family, Oyetola mourned the demise of the former military administrator and hailed his contributions to governance in Osun.
Former military administrator of Osun and Abia states, Colonel Anthony Uzoma Obi, died on Saturday, January 1, 2022. Obi served as the military governor of Osun between August 1996 and August 1998.
The statement reads: “The death of Colonel Anthony Obi (rtd) is painful and a huge loss not only to his family but to the nation. He was a brave, committed and experienced military officer who served Nigeria and Osun selflessly and passionately.
“As a military administrator, Obi made remarkable contributions to governance in Osun and was one of the leaders who laid the foundation of our State. We will remember him for the legacies he left behind.