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The United States has warned Russia it would face North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO’s) “full force” if attacks on Ukraine strayed beyond the border after Vladimir Putin on Sunday brought his war to within 25 kilometres of Poland with a missile strike on foreign fighters, National Post reports. Russia had bragged that it killed “up to 180” foreign fighters and destroyed a cache of weaponry given by the West, after destroying the site that was within 25 kilometres of Poland. Jake Sullivan, White House national security advisor suggested NATO might go to war with Russia if Moscow inadvertently hit NATO territory in Poland. “If there is a military attack on NATO territory, it would bring the full force of the NATO alliance to bear in responding to it,” he said.  

Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, is confident that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will crumble if he leaves the party. Although Kwankwaso says he is not happy with the main opposition party at the present, he affirmed that he has yet to defect from the party. He made the remarks during an interview on a Channels Television programme, Political Paradigm where he spoke about his political ambitions. Kwankwaso later went on to speak about some of the reasons for his unhappiness in the PDP, citing the recent zonal congress in the North West. “Ideally, I should be one of the most important individuals in a party like PDP,” he said. “For many obvious reasons and from what we see, it’s like many people are turning my strength into weakness and that cannot be acceptable.  

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES RADIO NIGERIA KADUNA ON ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY   President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Kaduna, popularly known as Radio Nigeria Kaduna, on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, praising the Station for the great role it has played in uniting the people of Nigeria and in the restoration of peace and mutual trust during and after the country’s Civil War. In a video message, (recorded in Hausa), to its management in commemoration of the landmark, the President eulogises the Station for its educative, enlightening and entertaining programmes which have endeared it to its teeming listeners across Nigeria and in neighbouring countries. He urges the management of Radio Nigeria Kaduna to sustain “the Station’s legacy of uniting the nation and educating members of the public on key issues that will promote national development.” The full text of the video message is reproduced below:  “My name is Muhammadu...

EFCC Receives Five Alleged Oil Thieves, Truck, Tugboat from Navy  in Port Harcourt   The EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Command, today March 14, 2022, took over a metal barge, Kanye, a tugboat, MV BONNY RIVER, five (5) Crew members and a DAF truck with registration number JEG 206 XB, from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder at Rumuolumeni in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The crew of Victor Elias, Lawrence Atteng, Promise Barykpe, Kingsley Onatie and Israel Praise God were arrested aboard the tugboat for allegedly dealing in petroleum products without requisite license.   The Commander, NNS Pathfinder, U. A. Sidi, who handed over the suspects, said that they were arrested on the 22nd of January, 2022 at Kilometer 14 along Bile, Rivers State for alleged illegal oil bunkering activity. “At the time of arrest, the barge was laden with an unspecified quantity of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO)”, he said.   He also disclosed that the tru...

Man Bags Two Years Imprisonment in Lafia for Facebook Scam The Makurdi Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Monday, March 14 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Tarbee Destiny Tyodoo before Justice N. I. Afolabi of the Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa State on one count charge for his involvement in Internet fraud. The charge reads: “That you Tarbee Destiny Tyodoo sometime in January, 2022 in Makurdi, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court directly made false statement on your Facebook dating scam account knowing same to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (3) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act". The defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charge.   

INEC publishes final list of candidates for Ekiti governorship election The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has published the final list of candidates for the Ekiti State Governorship election in its State and Local Government offices as required by law. A statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said following the close of nominations by political parties personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) had earlier been published and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission is making the final publication. The Commission reminded political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list "shall notify the Commission in writing, signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election".  It also dre...

PERMANENT SECRETARY EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOP IN NATIONAL PLANNING   The Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Olusola Idowu, has expressed her commitment towards diligent replication, effective and efficient implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at all levels of management in the Ministry.   Idowu made this commitment, in Abuja, during the opening ceremony of the 10-day REPLICATION WORKSHOP ON STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) organized by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning (FMBNP) in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) for all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, across in country.     She acknowledged the development of a strategic document by the OHCSF back in 2016 known as the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2017-2020) with eight priority areas. This document, Idowu recal...

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has extended its warning strike for another two months. The decision to extend the strike was taken at the union’s National Executive Council, NEC meeting held in Abuja last night. Although the union has not made any public statement regarding the outcome of the meeting, a source told Vanguard that members resolved at the meeting held in an undisclosed location that the industrial action is extended for two more months. The outcome of the meeting, the source said, was being drafted to be released in a statement to the media soon.  

7 Children Die While Escaping Bandit Attack In Buhari's Home State, Katsina  The seven children who were killed in a stampede while residents fled Shinfida Village following an attack by bandits have been laid to rest. A resident of the area Abdulrazak Ahmad blamed the incident on the evacuation and withdrawal of soldiers serving in a joint security task force from the area. Ahmad said the withdrawn soldiers were initially stationed at the Government Secondary School in Shinfida – about 27 kilometres from Jibia town. No fewer than 11 persons mostly elderly women were abducted by the gunmen while on their way to join other residents, who earlier ran to a refugee camp for safety after their village came under attack by a group of gunmen suspected to be bandits. More photos below.   

PRESS RELEASE ALLEGED POLICE STRIKE ACTION: NPF DESCRIBES NEWS AS FAKE, MISCHIEVOUS • As IGP Assures of Reinvigorated Commitment to Effectively Securing Nigeria The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a news making the rounds on social media alleging that some members of the Force will be embarking on a strike action with effect from March 26, 2022. The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state unequivocally that the alleged publication is fake and a mischievous attempt by unscrupulous individuals to bring the Force to disrepute, misinform the general public and heat up the polity. It is pertinent to restate that the Nigeria Police Force is a regimented and disciplined organization with laid down rules and guidelines for addressing grievances and in no circumstance is a strike action one of such means. The men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are fully aware that a strike action or other deliberate disruption of law enforcement services by any security organization ...