Headlines

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, have touched down in Nigeria to discuss the potential of hosting the Invictus Games in the country.

Their arrival in the African nation was confirmed by their spokesperson, Charlie Gipson, after they flew in on a British Airways flight to Abuja.

Reports indicate that the royal couple will be in Nigeria for a three-day private visit, following an invitation from the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa.

While in Nigeria, Harry and Meghan are scheduled to attend basketball and volleyball matches, as well as engage with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos.

Meghan is also set to co-host an event on ‘Women in Leadership’ alongside Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The military believes that hosting the Invictus Games could aid in the recovery of Nigerian personnel who have been involved in the fight against Boko Haram since 2009.

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Baduru, who attended the event in Germany last year, is reportedly eager to host the games in Nigeria if given the opportunity.

The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry, aims to support the rehabilitation of wounded, injured, and ill servicemen and women through sports competitions similar to the Paralympics.

Nigeria made its debut at the games last year, emerging as the only African representative and winning gold and bronze medals during the event.

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The Federal government has assured that the Lagos-Kano rail freight operations would preserve the lifespan of the nation’s highways as well as save more Nigerians from dying in auto accidents.

Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’id Alkali, disclosed this on Thursday when he visited the site for an on-the-spot inspection of the project in Kano State.

Meanwhile, the minister gave his assurance that the freight operations will begin in June 2024.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the contractor handling the project announced that the line has been linked up to Zawaciki Dala Dry Port, the commercial city of Kano.

In a bid to ensure speedy connectivity and enhance transmission technologies in Nigeria, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria, to train young Nigerians on latest 4G/ 5G radio at the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Digital Parks.

The Manager, Media Relations Management, (NCC) Kunle Azeez who made this known in a recent statement stated that the signing of the MoU led by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijanni, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, advances the vision to enhance the capacity and skills-set of Nigerians.

It also stated that the young Nigerians would be equipped
with contemporary skills and knowledge needed to adapt to the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry adding that Nokia Nigeria would be setting up a fully functional 5G/4G test lab, leveraging their latest radio and transmission technologies.

“In tune with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s goal to drive digital literacy and build a pipeline of technical talents across Nigeria, Nokia Nigeria would also set up an Entrepreneur Learning Programme where it would deliver high-quality vocational trainings to 200 Nigerian students chosen from across the six geo political zones of Nigeria.”

Some unknown gunmen have invaded the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTEC) in Okene area of Kogi State.

Eyewitnesses say the armed men invaded the university around 9pm on Thursday, May 9, abducting dozens of students who were preparing for their exams.

An eyewitness who craved anonymity said that the bandits came in through the bush, went into three lecture halls and began to shoot into the air.

“They trapped the students inside the halls and started taking them; the school was thrown into total confusion as fear-stricken students in other halls scurried to safety, scampering in various directions,” he said.

“By the time local security guards and the conventional security men at the gate engaged the bandits, they had already succeeded in abducting some students. But the efforts minimised the damage as the attackers didn’t go beyond the first three halls.”

According to the source, the students were preparing for their first semester examination expected to commence on Monday, May 13, when the bandits struck.

A student who spoke on the condition of anonymity noted that he and some colleagues ran to the bush and hid there for over an hour”

“We only ventured out when everywhere became quiet,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulraman Asipita, confirmed the incident but did not give details of the attack.

“I don’t talk to journalists on incidents like this, but I want you to know that we are on top of the situation,” he said.

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has sealed off the premises of Residency Hotel, Area 11, Deogratia School, Games Village, Kaura and four other firms for non-compliance with the tax law.

Other firms sealed are Odyssey Educational Foundation, Gwarimpa, Rural Homes Limited in Utako, Trevari and Phenomenon shops at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The Leader of the FCT-IRS Task Force Team and the Director Legal Service, Festus Tsavsar, said the team was out to effect court order for non-compliance with tax laws particularly filing of annual tax returns and tax payment.

He said before the Service approached the court, it had served the defaulted taxpayers Demand Notices but they turned a deaf ear by ignoring the tax authority hence the service went ahead to seek court orders to seal them off.

According to him, FCT-IRS will continue to go after defaulters until they comply with tax laws by discharging their civic responsibilities.

Recall that on May 3rd, 2024, FCT-IRS obtained a court order from 2 Magistrate Courts sitting Abuja directing the tax authority to seal the defaulting firms for non-compliance.

Senate on Thursday, May 9, approved the death penalty for those convicted on the charge of drug trafficking in the country.

The punishment prescribed in the extant NDLEA Act is a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of a report of the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Drugs and Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters presented the report during plenary, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno North).

The bill, which passed its third reading, aims to update the list of dangerous drugs, strengthen the operations of the NDLEA, review penalties, and empower the establishment of laboratories.

Section 11 of the current act prescribes that “any person who, without lawful authority; imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life” was amended to reflect a stiffer penalty of death.

Although the report did not recommend a death penalty for the offence, during consideration, Senator Ali Ndume moved that the life sentence should be upgraded to the death penalty.

During a clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, put the amendment on the death penalty to a voice vote and ruled that the “ayes” had it.

But Senator Adams Oshiomhole objected to the ruling, saying that the “nays” had it.

He argued that matters of life and death should not be treated hurriedly, but Barau said it was too late, as he failed to call for division immediately after his ruling.

The bill was subsequently read for the third time and passed by the Senate.

Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stormed the Rivers State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt on Thursday, May 9, amid alleged plot by lawmakers to impeach him.

This was revealed in a video posted by Channels TV.

The video shows Fubara and his entourage driving into the Assembly quarters.

The governor said he was there as the governor of the state. He, however, took a three-minute stroll around the grounds before leaving.

More details to come………

The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to investigate the procurement process in the award of the contract of the  ₦15trn Lagos-Calabar coastal road.

The motion was moved by Honourable Austin Achado on Thursday as a matter of urgent national importance.

The House said the 2007 Procurement Cct was violated and that certain approvals by the National Assembly as required by the law were not given.

In light of the above, the House has asked the minister of works, finance, attorney general, and minister of justice, to avail the National Assembly copies of the documents for award of the contract.

The fresh development by the Reps comes following the demolition of buildings and structures on the right of way of the project.

The Minister of Works Dave Umahi recently said the Lagos-Calabar coastal road construction, will cost N4bn per kilometre.

The 700 km Lagos-Calabar coastal road will be constructed for N15trn, and a kilometre of the road will cost N4 billion. It is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states, before culminating in Cross River.

The project has been heavily criticised by many Nigerians including the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who described it as a misplaced priority by the Federal Government.

The House of Representatives on Thursday directed the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to halt the implementation of the cybercrime levy in compliance with the provisions of the cybercrime Act.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, PDP Rivers.

Chinda said section 44 (2a) of the Cybercrime Act listed those to pay the stipulated fees as GSM and telecom companies, Internet providers, Banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies and stock exchange.

The lawmaker explained that the circular from the CBN has raised apprehension across Nigeria, stressing that it has given the impression that the levy is to be paid by Nigerians in an era when they are still battling with an increase in the price of petroleum products, among others.

The House subsequently asked the apex bank to withdraw its earlier circular on implementing the levy immediately and issue another circular in line with the provisions of the Act.