₦airaland Forum

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, has appealed to the youth to embrace dialogue in order to move the country forward.

Dare said this on Sunday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the National Youth Day celebration with the theme ”Invest in the Youth, Secure Our Future”.

He said that with the protests the country had witnessed in the past three weeks, there could be no better time than now to celebrate the youth and validate their contributions to national economic development.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/11/02/minister-urges-youth-to-embrace-dialogue/

Gombe’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Mela Nunghe has revealed that the COVID-19 palliative warehouses in the state have not been looted, was because of the distributive efforts.

Addressing journalists, Nunghe explained that unlike other states in the country who had counted various losses due to looting of their warehouses, Gombe was consistent with the distribution of palliatives before the #EndSARS protest began.

“Already, we have had the first and second phase of the distribution of palliatives, which was led by the chairman, the Emir of Gombe. We were going on with the third phase when the incidents began. We can’t proceed because the atmosphere is tense.

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/11/02/why-gombe-covid-19-palliative-stores-have-not-been-looted-official/

Higher tertiary institution lecturers across Nigeria will never agree to receive their salaries through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) of the Federal Government. This is according to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

With some lecturers receiving very poor remuneration as low as N8,000 per month, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said there are irregularities in the payment of salaries and allowances of lecturers through the payment programme.

Read Full Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/30/why-lecturers-will-never-agree-to-be-paid-through-ippis-ASUU/

Pa Churchill Oki, a prominent Itsekiri septuagenarian, has advised the Federal Government to implement recommendations of the 2014 national confab to address Nigeria’s myriads of challenges, including the #EndSARS.

#EndSARS is an ongoing agitation against police brutality in the country.

Speaking against the backdrop of the nationwide protest, Pa Oki in Warri, Delta state said the government should roll the recommendations of the confab into a small booklet that should be distributed free to Nigerians for many to read.

Read Full Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/29/septuagenarian-to-fg-implement-2014-national-confab-to-address-endsars/

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has urged all Muslims to adhere to the cardinal principle of peace upon which the religion of Islam is built. Bello made the call in his Eid-El-Maulud message to the residents of FCT, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

“On behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), I congratulate the Muslim Ummah in the FCT on the occasion of Maulud Nabiyy of our noble Prophet Muhammad for the Islamic year 1442 after Hijra.

Read Full Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/29/eid-el-maulud-fct-minister-wants-muslims-to-keep-to-principle-of-peace/

Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers has signed into law an executive order to effect the ban on Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities in the state.

Recall that some days ago, Wike proscribed IPOB, and charged security operatives to arrest anyone connected with the Biafran separatist organisation, banning any form of procession or agitation by the group or any of its affiliates in the state.

While signing the executive order, the governor maintained that while Rivers remains the home to all tribes and ethnic nationalities, the state government is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in the State.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/29/wike-signs-executive-order-to-reinforce-ban-on-ipob/

The Coordinator, CACOVID Palliatives Distribution for Zaria Local Government, Malam Sabiu Sani, said about 4,000 poor and vulnerable people have been earmarked to receive CACOVID palliative in the area.

Malam Sani disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Zaria.

The coordinator who is also the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, said the package would be distributed across 13 wards of the local government.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/28/4000-beneficiaries-to-get-cacovid-palliatives-in-zaria/

Following a report published on Newsrand, operators of the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Primero Transport Services Ltd. has explained its reason for the suspension of its service in the state.

Recall that on Monday, October 26, 2020, thousands of commuters stranded across different parts of Lagos, were left stranded, as BRT refused to operate.

Newsrand observed that no single vehicle under Primero Transport Services Ltd, operated, leaving the commuters stranded on the road. However, while some commuters couldn’t get a vehicle to board to their destinations, others were able to board the limited available vehicles, risking themselves to COVID-19 exposure.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/28/primero-explains-reason-for-brt-service-suspension-after-newsrands-report/

The Federal Government (FG) has concluded plans to take over 10 airports from state governments. This is according to Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation.

While making this disclosure when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation for the 2021 budget defence, the minister said the states in which its airport will be taken over by the FG include -Anambra, Benue, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kebbi, Osubi, and Dutse airports.

And according to Sirika, the decision is to further boost the aviation industry, having realised that it was the fastest-growing sector of the nation’s economy.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/28/fg-concludes-plan-to-takeover-airports-from-these-state-govts/

Ex-militants in the third phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme on Tuesday bemoaned the plight of beneficiaries whose training, empowerment and reintegration programmes were suspended abruptly.

Leader of the group, Mr Ebi John, said on a radio programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that the suspension of the programmes resulted from the non-payment of verified Presidential Amnesty Programme’s contractors since last November.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/27/ex-militants-demand-resumption-of-suspended-reintegration-programme/

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has insisted that armed military men are the ones responsible for the Tuesday, October 20, 2020, mayhem at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos.

Following the incident that ignited civil unrest in the state, scores of people were rumoured dead, as others sustained life-injuries from the incident in which, armed men in military uniform stormed a peaceful protest ground to rain live ammunitions.

Speaking with CNN’s Becky Anderson, Sanwo-Olu admitted that only two persons died from the onslaught.

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/27/military-men-unleashed-mayhem-at-lekki-tollgate-sanwo-olu-insists/

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has expressed the conviction that #EndSARS, the nationwide protest against police brutality in Nigeria is not genuine but political.

In an interview with Channels TV, Bello said in spite of the fact that he agreed with the demands of the agitators, he couldn’t shy himself away from saying the truth.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/27/yahaya-bello-endsars-protest-is-not-genuine/

The police in Ekiti State on Monday paraded six suspects over an alleged attack on three police facilities in Ekiti during the EndSARS protest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two of the suspects paraded are minors, Odeyemi Sina, aged 12, and Ayomide Akomolafe (13).

Other suspects paraded are Alao Emmanuel, Ojuko Tobi, Sunday Salihu, and Kosedake Olamilekan.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/27/endsars-police-in-ekiti-arrest-6-suspects-over-alleged-arson/

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River says the state will require N5 billion to repair the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC) vandalised by hoodlums.

Ayade made this known on Monday while reaffirming the curfew imposed on Calabar and its environs.

The hoodlums had on Friday and Saturday took advantage of the #ENDSARS protests and looted items in the centre after they vandalised it.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/26/cross-river-needs-n5bn-to-fix-vandalised-centre-gov-ayade/

The President of Senate, Ahmed Lawan, says the National Assembly (NASS) would ensure justice for victims of alleged abuses by the personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Lawan announced this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

He said the NASS would also ensure that the government fulfills the commitment it has made to the youths agitating for police reform and good governance.

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/26/nass-assures-justice-for-victims-of-alleged-sars-abuses-lawan/

The Kwara Governor Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq has announced the relaxation of the 24 hours curfew imposed on residents of Ilorin following protests in some parts of the metropolis.

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Rafiu Ajakaye, relaxed the curfew from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

The governor said that the relaxation became imperative in view of the peace and harmony being recorded in the state.

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/26/gov-abdulrahman-abdulrasaq-relaxes-curfew-in-kwara-state/

About six persons were feared dead, as miscreants looted a COVID-19 Palliative warehouse at Jalingo, the state capital of Taraba.

Newsrand learnt that the deceased passed away from stampede when the miscreants broke into the warehouse to cart away the palliatives.

An eyewitness who doesn’t want to be mentioned confirmed that about six corpses have already been moved to the mortuary. According to her, they were moved in the early hours of today (Sunday, October 25, 2020).

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/25/6-persons-feared-dead-as-miscreants-loot-covid-19-palliatives/

Sen. Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has appealed to youths to give peace a chance and call off the ongoing protest.

The APC leader made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, urging the youth to give the government a chance to implement their demands.

According to him, the demands for fundamental police reforms by the protesting youths are in pursuit of our aspiration in our national anthem “to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign”.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/20/tinubu-throws-weight-behind-endsars-protesters/

A coalition of nine renegade militant groups in the Niger-Delta region of the country have declared support for #EndSARS protesters across Nigeria.

Declaring support for the agitators of police brutality in the country, the renegade militants threatened to resume hostilities, attack oil and gas facilities if the Federal Government did not meet the demands of the protesters.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/20/endsars-niger-delta-militants-threaten-buhari/

Popular singer, Wizkid has revealed why the ongoing nationwide #EndSARS protest should continue, saying Nigeria’s problems are enormous and agelong.

Speaking with American media executive, Kojo Ebro, the music star said it is disheartening police brutality is a problem Nigeria is battling in 2020, adding that other problems like erratic power supply, poverty, and insecurity are challenges Nigerians are tired of.

His words: “Every young youth you see is not a criminal. I have people back home that work for me. Like I have young boys working for me every day; you would imagine I’m in London, I am in America, then my producer in Nigeria is calling me that he has just been stopped by policemen. They (policemen) don’t believe I work for you.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/16/wizkid-discusses-why-endsars-protest-should-continue/

Sen. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, has accused the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) of fuelling the ongoing nationwide protest against police brutality in Nigeria.

During a reconciliation meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU, which ended in deadlock, Ngige said the youths who were supposed to be in schools are being recruited into #EndSARS protest due to the industrial action the union embarked upon.

His words: “For the past week, we have all been on our toes, we’ve been meeting, and we pray that this meeting will yield good fruits.

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/16/how-ASUU-is-backing-endsars-protesters-ngige/

The National Economic Council (NEC) has asked governors to supervise the newly formed police tactical units and other security agencies in their states.

NEC made this resolution at the end of its fifth virtual meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The council also directed the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry across the country to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality or related extrajudicial killings.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/16/nec-wants-governors-to-supervise-new-police-tactical-units/

The Federal Government has agreed to release N30 billion as part payment of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Sen. Chris Ngige. Minister of Labour and Employment said this at the end of a meeting between the Federal Government and ASUU on Friday in Abuja.

“The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) was committed to releasing N30 billion on or before Nov. 6.

Read Story: [url]https://newsrand.com/2020/10/16/strike-fg-to-release-%e2%82%a630bn-earned-allowances-to-ASUU/[/url]

Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development says perpetrators of illegal mining in Nigeria are mostly foreigners.

Adegbite made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that all illegal mining happening in Nigeria could be traced to foreigners that came into the country illegally or with extraction permits for another purpose.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/14/foreigners-are-perpetrating-illegal-mining-in-nigeria-minister/

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has addressed the popular demand from Nigerians that policemen’s salaries in the country should be increased.

During a media parley in which Newsrand covered, Sanwo-Olu said the increment of salaries for policemen is not a thing that will happen tomorrow, adding that efforts are ongoing to ensure policemen in the country earn fairly.

Amongst the many demands by the #EndSARS protesters, the Lagos governor revealed that the demand to release all the arrested protesters has been met.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/14/sanwo-olu-addresses-salary-increment-for-nigerian-policemen/

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent a Bill to the House of Representatives, seeking their permission to enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clampdown on corrupt politicians.

The bill, according to the president, will also enable the anti-graft agency to freeze accounts allegedly holding proceeds of crime, and at the same time, enable it to come hard on money launderers.

Read Story; https://newsrand.com/2020/10/14/buhari-seeks-for-permission-to-clampdown-on-corrupt-politicians/

The World Bank on Wednesday approved 12 billion dollars to help developing countries buy COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the organization said in a statement.

“The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved an envelope of 12 billion dollars for developing countries to finance the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments for their citizens,” the bank said.

The World Bank seeks to support the vaccination of up to a billion people, the statement said.

Read Also: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/14/world-bank-approves-12bn-to-developing-countries-for-covid-vaccines/

The commencement date for the Federal Government’s 774,000 was shifted due to rain. This is according to Festus Keyamo (SAN), the Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

The new job offers, under the Special Public Works Programme (SPW), which was initially scheduled to take off on Thursday, October 1, 2020, will now kick off on Sunday, November 1.

In a statement where he made the disclosure of the new kick-off date, Keyamo said some of the proposed project sites had become waterlogged, adding that the capturing of those to be engaged was in progress.

Read Story: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/14/keyamo-fg-shifted-takeoff-date-for-774000-new-jobs-due-to-rain/

May and Baker Pharmaceuticals Company Nigeria Plc says the company will employ more youths in the South East and South-South Geo-political zones as it establishes its office in Anambra.

Mr. Valentine Okelu, the Executive Director of the company told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka that jobs would be created through the establishment of the new office.

Okelu said that the choice of building a permanent structure in Anambra was to bring the company closer to the biggest pharmaceutical market in the South East and South-South to meet consumers’ needs.

Read More: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/13/may-baker-pharm-to-employ-more-youths-in-s-east-south-south/

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Lauretta Onochie, his social media aide, as the Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

To effect the appointment, the president forwarded to the Senate Onochie’s appointment for Screening and subsequent confirmation.

Read More: https://newsrand.com/2020/10/13/buhari-appoints-lauretta-onochie-as-inec-commissioner/

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed the Police to release all those arrested during the #EndSARS protests.

To that end, the Police had released the following individuals: Nkemakolam Okpara Felicia, female; Nduka Treasure Chiamaka, female; Adefila Olanrewaju, male; Adeola Adebayo, male; Ayodeji Ayeni, male; and Adebola Ojabodu.

Read Full Story -> https://newsrand.com/2020/10/13/sanwo-olu-orders-police-to-release-all-arrested-endsars-protesters/

Security was beefed up around Osun State Secretariat, Osogbo, on Monday due to protests carried out by some youths against Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) alleged brutality.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security personnel was seen across some strategic locations at the state secretariat to forestall any form of violence by the protesters.

Many youths were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions on them as they marched from the old Nelson Mandela Freedom Park to Osun State Secretariat, Abere.

Read Full Story -> https://newsrand.com/2020/10/12/endsars-security-beefed-up-in-osogbo-as-protesters-take-to-streets/