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      LETTER TO THE EDITOR, PREMIUM TIMES, BY PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (Sept 4, 2018) RE: OSINBAJO GOT IT WRONG ON RESTRUCTURING - ATIKU Dear Editor, Kindly permit me a response to a piece in your publication, titled “Osinbajo got it wrong on Restructuring,” written, we are told, by my illustrious predecessor in office, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. First, let me say that I really would have expected Alhaji Abubakar to at least get the full text of my comments before his public refutal of my views. But I understand; we are in that season where everything is seen as fair game! He quoted me as saying that “the problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring… and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems stem from some geographic re-structuring”. Yes, I said so. As the quote shows, I rejected the notion that geographical restructuring was a solution to our national pro

       Nigeria's partnership with China through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has resulted in the execution of vital infrastructure projects across the country, valued at over $5 billion in the last three years of the current administration. President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this on Tuesday in Beijing at the FOCAC Round Table meeting, attended by African leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Highlighting specific projects under FOCAC, the President said through the Chinese support, Nigeria has impressively addressed significant challenges in the areas of infrastructure, human capacity development, power, transport, agriculture and humanitarian assistance. According to him, ''For Nigeria, our partnership with China through the FOCAC platform, has resulted in the construction of the first urban rail system in West Africa. This $500 million project in Abuja was commissioned in July this year.” The President also cited the construction and ope

     PRESS BRIEFING Further to my earlier Press release on the below subject matter, please find the names of the suspects and full details of their involvement in various violent crimes they are being investigated for: PARADE OF SUSPECTED VICIOUS AND NOTORIOUS KIDNAP FOR RANSOM/ARMED ROBBERY GANGS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERAL KILLINGS, KIDNAPS, CAR SNATCHING/ARMED ROBBERIES OF INNOCENT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THE HIGHWAYS, VILLAGES AND TOWNS ON ABUJA – KADUNA – BIRNIN GWARI – FUNTUA – ZAMFARA STATE. BY Ag. DCP JIMOH MOSHOOD FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, AT TAFA KAGARKO LGA KADUNA STATE 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2018. 1st Gang – Kidnapped for ransom and Armed robbery gang (i). Shefiyu Abdullahi (gang leader) (ii) Umar Suleiman aka Wada EXHIBITS: Two (2) AK 47 rifles recovered from them. These suspects were arrested after a gun battle with the operatives of the Special Tactical Squad on the 16th August, 2018. During exchange of fire Three (3) of the suspects were killed by

       Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue state yesterday conferred leadership of the party on the state Governor, Samuel Ortom. Chairman of the party in the state, Sir John Ngbede, announced the decision of the leaders at an expanded caucus meeting held at the new Banquet Hall of the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi. Sir Ngbede stated that with the development, the party had been fused into one indivisible entity without factions. He announced the constitution of an integration committee which he said will ensure the unification of all members both old and new with him as the chairman and David Tsevende as secretary. Other members of the committee, which cuts across the the senatorial districts of the state, according to him, are Professor Jacob Omenka, Engr. Solomon Agidani, Mr. Oklo Eneje, Jerry Iorhide, Rt. Hon. Mzenda Iho, Mr. Solomon Kachina, Godwin Donko and Timothy Iorchor. Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, stated that the leaders have also mandated

            "Monday 3/9/2018 at about 07:15 AM, there was a fatal motor vehicle accident near Ozubulu Boys Secondary School along Owerri/Onitsha road involving a white Toyota Venza Car with registration number Lagos KSF 881FD driven by one Emetor Ikenna Godspower, male aged 26 years of Ubomiri Amaubo in Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State. The accident occurred when the driver of the Toyota venza while on speed lost control and ran into a stationary trailer with registration number XF 383 AWK from the rear. As a result,both the driver and and his passenger one Uwakwe Jenifer female aged 24 years and student of Federal University of Technology,Owerri in Imo State sustained serious injuries.Police patrol team attached to Ozubulu Division visited the scene and rushed the casualties to Oraifite general hospital where they were certified dead on arrival. Meanwhile, corpses have been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy and case is under investigation to ascertain actual cause

    Wife of the Nigerian President Aisha Buhari took to her social media two hours ago to share some photos with the caption  '' I had the pleasure of attending the China - Africa AIDS Prevention and Control meeting hosted by the First Lady of China Professor Peng Liyuan. I also had the pleasure of meeting with other African FIrst Ladies. I believe that together we can reverse the trend of HIV/AIDS in Africa''.More photos below.

      A Nigerian man has set the internet on fire after releasing a photo of the marriage requirement list from his prospective in-laws in Imo State. A Twitter user identified as @SpotterSuper, has taken to the social networking platform to share a photo which shows the requirements expected from a man who intended to marry in Imo state Nigeria.. According to him the picture was taken in Imo state, where a groom was delivering the requirements demanded of him to marry his bride. From the photo, one can spot several boxes filled with goodies, crates of drinks, live goat as well as several ankara print materials. The photo which has been trailed with mixed reactions and criticisms from online users saw many questioning why getting married in some parts of Nigeria costs the groom and his family so much, while others agreed that it is unfair to pay so much and still be expected to preserve the wedding. The authenticity of the viral photo or where in Imo the image was captured, were

      1. The Nigerian Army has assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its support and assistance that will enable the commission carry out its constitutional responsibility of conducting 2019 General Elections especially in North Eastern part of the country. 2. The Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division Brigadier General Abdulmalik Biu, gave the assurance in Maiduguri when the Resident Electoral Commissioner Borno State, Mohammed Magaji paid him a courtesy call in his office. 3. The Acting GOC described INEC as a critical institution to democratic process in Nigeria and promised to provide security for all INEC staff and materials in all voting areas in hinterlands of the state, during the forth coming general election. In his words, "the Nigerian Army will do all within its power to provide adequate security to INEC staff and their materials during the election". 4.Earlier in his remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner tha

      The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, on Friday, August 31, 2018 arrested a serial fraudster, Olufunmilade Adeyemi, Managing Director, Stealth Communication Limited, for fraud. The suspect, who once presented himself as Alexandra Moses, had previously been arrested in Ghana with the assistance of the Ghanaian authorities and brought back to Nigeria for prosecution, following a complaint against his all eged criminal activities.Adeyemi was subsequently arraigned before Justice O. A. Williams of the State High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, for offences bordering on obtaining by false pretence and diversion of funds. He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him and was granted bail. Meanwhile, even as he is still facing trial before the State High Court, Ikeja, the suspect, who now claims to be Aladura Moses, was said to have floated another company under a different name. He was alleged to have been recruiting unsuspecting job seekers whom he u

     The Lagos State Government at the weekend said it has begun talks with 10 major bakeries to ensure mass production of coconut bread, “Eko Bread” as a means to provide more market avenue for coconut utilisation. State Government, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode disclosed this at the 7th Coconut Heritage Festival tagged ‘AGUNKEFEST’, an event held in collaboration with the African Coconut Heritage Initiatives to commemorate the 2018 World Coconut Day at the Suntan Beach Front, Badagry. Alluding to the fact that Nigeria is ranked 18 in the world as a coconut producing country with Lagos State contributing 70 per cent of the total production, the Governor said his administration would continue to create the enabling environment for investments in coconut production, commercialization and utilization in the State.Represented by the Special Adviser on the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, Governor Ambode said his administration places high premium on sustainable food production which is th

     According to sources, an aspirant for Aba North/South federal constituency on the platform of PDP Hon. Egwuatu Egbulefu is dead. The cause of Hon. Egbulefu’s death could not be ascertained as at the time of this report. Hon. Egwuatu Egbulefu picked his Nomination form at PDP Headquarters Abuja on 31 August 2018.Before his death, Hon. Egwuatu Egbulefu was former Adviser on IGR to Abia state governor.More details later and more photos below.

      Yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari in Beijing, China met with senior officials of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation(CCECC) & the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC). The President was accompanied by Minister of Transport Chibuike Amaechi & Ambassador to China Baba Ahmed Jidda. REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND CHAIRMAN OF ECOWAS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE BETWEEN CHINESE AND AFRICAN LEADERS AND BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2018 Protocols: On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I wish to express our appreciation to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China for the warm hospitality extended to our delegations since our arrival in China. 2. The participation of so many