Award-winning music producer, Cobhams Asuquo, has called on Independent National Electoral Commission to provide structures to enable persons living with disability to participate in the 2019 electoral process unaided.

Asuquo, who is visually impaired, made the call on Thursday at the Maiden edition of INEC Campus Outreach at the University of Abuja in commemoration of Europe Day 2018.

The producer, known for producing some of the finest artistes in Nigeria, including 2face Idibia and Asa, said that his last experience at the polling unit in 2015 was bad.

“The day I voted, people at the voting centre knew whom I was voting for because of the type of set up, obviously I did not have access to choose whom I wanted to vote for without assistance.

“I could not do secret voting, of which I understand that the practice of voting is supposed to be in secrecy, where you and you alone ought to know who you are voting for.

“I think voting and the right to register is the right of every Nigerian and for whatever reason, we haven’t seriously considered the need to include persons living with disabilities in the process of voting,” Asuquo said.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/05/04/2019-make-sure-disabled-persons-participate-in-election-asuquo-tells-inec/

Prof. Banji Akintoye and Major General Zamani Lekwot, retd., have said clearly that without restructuring Nigeria will break up.

According to them, for one to keep saying ‘Nigeria will not break up’ is a self-deception, adding that the country will one day collapse.

They spoke on Wednesday at the 10th anniversary symposium of the late Senator Abraham Adesanya held in Lagos, where the issue of restructuring was prominent.

Lekwot said Nigeria must be restructured “otherwise the structure will one day collapse on us and future generation and God will not forgive us.”


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/05/03/why-nigeria-may-soon-collapse-break-up-gen-zamani-prof-akintoye/

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central has said that the state of hopelessness in the economy is responsible for the abuse of codeine by Nigerians.

The lawmaker said this in reaction to an investigatory video by BBC recorded in Nigeria showing abuse of codeine by youths and its consequences.

Newsmen reports that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday directed the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

Adewole said the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of Codeine usage in the country.

However, reacting through his Twitter handle, Shehu Sani said creation of a stabilised economy and system to give hope to the youths will hinder them from finding solace in Codeine.

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/05/03/drug-abuse-handiwork-of-a-hopeless-nigeria-economy-shehu-sani/

A former Aviation Minister,Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was behind the ordeal the embattled Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye case.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain claimed that Buhari was behind the humiliation and disgrace of Melaye.

Fani-Kayode said Buhari was against Melaye because the lawmaker was opposing the current All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.

He made the allegation while sharing a photograph of Melaye being wheeled into an ambulance on a stretcher.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/05/03/buhari-behinds-dino-melaye-case-fani-kayode-alleges/

The embattled, Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye, has been remanded in prison till June 11, 2018.

Melaye was ordered remanded in prison by a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

This followed his arraignment on charges of gun running, conspiracy and aiding of jail break by the police.

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/05/03/just-in-dino-remanded-in-prison/

An Elder statesman, Olusegun Obasanjo has urged members of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) he is championing to drive away the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and President Muhammadu Buhari from power through the 2019 general elections to be prepared for the task by getting their permanent voter cards.

Mr Obasanjo spoke in Ibadan on Saturday at the inauguration of the Itinerary State Chapter of the movement attended by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former deputy governor of Oyo State, Taofeek Arapaja, controversial businessman, Oyewole Fasawe and among others.

“Everybody must be determined to rescue Nigeria, it may not be easy, however, the God who performed wonders some time ago, will again perform wonders. We have (seen), in this country, where five political parties endorsed a single person and God was laughing and knew what he would do. If we are leaving everything to God, we must do our best. Get your PVCs and encourage others” Obasanjo told members of the Coalition.

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/29/2019-be-prepared-to-remove-buhari-obasanjo-tells-members/

the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which led to the suspension of some directors by the current Director General of the agency, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja.

As a reporter of an emerging news platform (News Digest) who follows and tracks stories of events as they unfold, I observe the divergent media coverage of the saga from two different perspectives, especially as being reported by the traditional (print) and online media.

With interest in investigative reporting, I am aware of the importance of primary and secondary sources for credible information. I therefore, rely on two major news distribution agencies in Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), a government owned organisation and PRNigeria, an independent Press Release platform for mostly security outfits.

However, in analysing the media coverage of NEMA, I have noticed to my amazement that the news reports from traditional media seem to defend the positions of the Director General of the agency, while the online media are more concerned about addressing the plights of the staff, including those suspended.

For instance, when the staffs of NEMA embarked on the nationwide strike last year, most of the online media, reported the protest from the perspectives of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) of NEMA Unit.

On the other hand, the traditional print media reported the efforts of the embattled NEMA boss, Mustapha Maihaja to sanitize the agency with his appeal to the National Assembly to pass the bill seeking to amend the act establishing the Agency.

With different reports on the protest, it is evident that the online media platforms provide timely, speedy, sometimes not fully edited reports on the saga, especially from the public hearing at the National Assembly.

I realise too that the mainstream or the traditional media, delay their reports and sometimes provide different perspectives from the initial online reports.

I also observe that journalists, especially in the print media, tend to engage in more in-depth research before publications in the limited spaces.

A further scrutiny indicates that two major media seem to be the arrowheads in reporting the NEMA scandal from different, if not opposing perspectives. The Nation Newspaper has a pattern in promoting the activities of the current management of NEMA under Maihaja, while PRNigeria Online News Release platform provides contrary views which protect the interest of the staff of the agency.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/29/nema-scandal-analysing-the-divergent-media-coverageby-gidado-yushau-shuaib/

-A GREAT JOURNALIST AND PR PROFESSIONAL, IMAM IMAM DEPARTS OUR SINFUL WORLD

Until his death, Imam was Spokesman to Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal

I woke up to receive a rude shock this morning on the sudden death of a beloved journalist-colleague, PR professional and Government Spokesman, Mallam Imam Imam.

Until his death, he was the Spokesman of Governor Aminu Tambuwal, incumbent Governor of Sokoto state. He has served with his principal right from his days as Speaker of House of Representatives (2011 – 2015).

During the 2015 General Election, I spent much of my time reporting from Sokoto state and Imam was very instrumental in helping me to interview contending politicians and government sources to balance my news stories.

A thorough-bred professional, he had earlier been planning to join the political league in 2019 to contest for a seat into the House of Representatives in his native Taraba state but unfortunately the cold hands of death have snatched away our dear colleague.

Until his death, Mr Imam was the Special Adviser on Media to Sokoto State governor.

He is survived by two wives and four children.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/27/gov-tambuwals-spokesman-imam-imam-is-dead/

Senator Dino Melaye’s brother and some other persons have been remanded in Kuje prison as the lawmaker remains in hospital.

It has been reported that a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Mpape, Abuja, has remanded a brother of the embattled Senator Dino Melaye, Mr. Samuel Melaye, and three others in Kuje Prison, Abuja.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/26/dino-melayes-brother-others-land-in-prison/

Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti State, has said that Nigeria was drifting towards a state of anarchy and has therefore called on the international community to intervene and rescue the country.‎

The governor said this in a statement released on his behalf by his special assistant on public communications and new media, Lere Olayinka on Tuesday in...

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/26/nigeria-descending-into-anarchy-under-buhari-says-fayose/



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or a man whose main preoccupation is steering the ship of Nigeria’s biggest university and West Africa’s only Open Distance Learning institution to academic and administrative high seas, squeezing out a time from his tonnes of pressing engagements to plan a sticking celebration of his birthday anniversary is difficult.

It goes without saying that the biggest task of Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, the vice chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, at the moment, is taking the university to even greater heights, the recent leaps in the university’s status since his assumption notwithstanding.

But amid this seeming onerous, yet arduous task, came the birthday anniversary of the man who pulls the strings in the roller coaster transformation of NOUN within just the two years in the saddle.

Professor Adamu, who clocks 62 years today, is a man of his words, an action person, whose main preoccupation is to move things forward, delve into an uncharted territory to explore and reap the positives to the maximum; a man of uncommon focus, who exudes respects once he sets out to bare his mind.

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/25/abdalla-uba-adamu-celebrating-62nd-birthday-the-unusual-way-by-abdulrahman-abdullahi/

Human rights lawyer and activist, Barrister Femi Falana, has urged the National Assembly to investigate the unconstitutional withdrawal of $496million from the excess crude account (ECA) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The presidency had confirmed that Buhari gave anticipatory approval for the withdrawal $496million to the United States to pay for Tucano Aircrafts.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said, “Since 1999, anticipated approvals have been the order of the day.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/24/falana-asks-n-assembly-to-probe-buharis-withdrawal-of-496m-from-eca/

Dino Malaye, Senator Representing the good people of Kogi-West, has reported injured while allegedly jumping off a police vehicle around Area One that was conveying him to court in Lokoja, Kogi state.

More:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/24/photo-dino-melaye-rush-into-zankli-hospital-in-abuja/

A combined team of mobile and regular police officers are laying siege to the Abuja home of Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West, in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory.

The senator who made this known via his twitter handle said “Over 30 heavily armed fierce looking mobile policemen have just stormed My residence in Maitama, Abuja.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/24/my-house-under-police-siege-dino-melaye-cries-out/

A religious group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said President Muhammadu Buhari’s characterization of Nigerian youths at an event in London last week is ‘apt, precise and succinct.’

The group, in a statement released by Professor Ishaq Akintola, its Director on Monday also accused the media of deliberately twisting Buhari’s statement as it argued that the president did not use the word ‘lazy’ in his speech.

The group said, “Nigerians need to contextualize the president’s comment. We have seen many youths functioning as political thugs as the 2019 general elections approach.

They have started vandalizing properties and disrupting political gatherings.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/24/buhari-right-about-nigerian-youths-muslim-group/

The Senator representing Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye has been released from detention.

The Senator was released after he was detained by officials of the immigration service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to Morocco.

Senator Melaye told Channels Television that immigration officials told him that he is on the Interpol watch list and cannot be allowed to travel out of the country.

He took to his Twitter page to confirm his arrest.

The police had on April 3, warned the Senator to appear in court ahead of his arraignment on May 10, 2018.

He is to be arraigned on a case of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms already filed before a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State.

STORY http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/23/dino-melaye-released-from-detention/


STILL ON DINO

Dino Melaye: How I was arrested

The Embattled senator Dino Melaye, From Kogi west, has narrated how he was arrested by the police and Immigration officers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja this morning.

In an interview with Punch, Dino said

”‎Myself and the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, and others were to be on an official trip to morocco but while some have gone through the Lagos airport today, others are to depart tomorrow.

I got to this airport i was checked in and was already in the lounge waiting for departure. Immigration officers invited me that there is a directive from the police that i can’t travel; that i am on their watch list.

And i said it was not true, that the interpol said they had not issued an alert on me. I opened interpol’s website and showed them the denial. But they insisted that it was based on the directive from the police.

I was disembarked and asked me to go to their office (at the airport). They snatched my passport but i snatched my thing back from them.


STORY http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/23/dino-melaye-how-i-was-arrested/


visit our site for more Nigeria Stories: www.ybtcnews.com

The police in Lokoja on Sunday confirmed the death of 10 persons when gunmen invaded Kpanche community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ali Janga, told newsmen that the dead included five residents of the community, while five of the armed bandits were killed during a cross fire with security agents.

He said that the bandits invaded the sleepy agrarian community in the early hours of Sunday.

but they were quickly repelled by a combined team of policemen and soldiers. “Yes, five lives were lost in the village; but operatives of the police mobile force and soldiers repelled them and succeeded in killing five bandits and recovered some weapons.

“So far, normalcy has been restored in the area,” Janga said in response to a message sent to him on the incident.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/23/10-killed-in-fresh-gunmen-attack-on-kogi-community/

The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has blast President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration over the unending killing of innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen.

The Bishop, who exploded during today’s Sunday service, said he was very angry with the government for having no feeling for human lives.

He also attacked the government following the epileptic power supply, dead refineries and high rate of dollar to naira.

He said, “Can I tell you my anger against this government? No feeling for human lives. You can’t be destroying the work of my father and I will be happy with you. You know what God said? I am angry with the wicked everyday.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/22/your-government-is-a-failure-god-is-angry-with-you-bishop-oyedepo-blasts/

The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, says Nigeria is seriously bleeding and divided more than ever.

He said the continuous killings by suspected herdsmen across the country is symptomatic of a failed state. The governor called for prayers for the country to surmount all the challenges facing it.

A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dickson, Francis Agbo, noted that the governor stated this during the National Prayer Conference organised by Nigeria Prays at the Ecumenical Centre, Yenagoa, with the theme: Lord Rend The Heavens.

He said Nigerians must unite in prayers and resolve to work together to ensure fairness, justice, equity and equal citizenship.

The governor lamented that the country is bleeding and urged leaders across the nation to take the responsibility to stop the bloodletting. He said the emergence of Nigeria Prays was more critical than ever before, as it encourages the different denominations to pray fervently for the nation.

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/22/nigeria-is-divided-more-than-ever-before-gov-dickson-says/

Apostle Alfred Williams,General Overseer of the Christ Faith Tabernacle, has said that it was Olusegun Obasanjo and Former President Goodluck Jonathan that want to Islamize Nigeria.

The United Kingdom-based pastor said the two leaders, who are Christians, had the opportunity to withdraw Nigeria as a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries, OIC, but failed to do so.

Apostle Williams in an interview with Vanguard also said that Christian leaders in the country had not done anything to remove Nigeria from the IOC.

He said this while responding to questions on the suspicion among Christians that there is a grand plot to Islamize Nigeria.

Williams said, “That’s another scam. Who says there is a plot to Islamize Nigeria? Let them give us the blueprint on TV and show us the plan so that all of us will know there is a plan.

“Let me tell you this, Ezekiel 22 is the problem and solution of Nigeria. It talks about the godless prophet and government officials and there’s no one to inter-cede so God said I’ll pour my wrath.

“So, if they want to Islamize Nigeria, are you just knowing that Nigeria is a member of Organization of Islamic Countries OIC? Did Nigeria not have Christian presidents?



MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/22/obasanjo-jonathan-islamized-nigeria-apostle-williams-says/

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has announced that his administration will soon begin to demand the Permanent Voters’ Card from indigenes of the state as a condition to engage in certain socio-economic activities, such as salary payment and admission into schools.

Okorocha said this while addressing journalists at the Government House, Owerri, on Saturday.

According to him, the non-challant attitude, exhibited by indigenes of the state to the collection of their PVCs, had made it necessary for the government to adopt certain measures to effect a change.

He said, “The government is going to initiate the policy of ‘operation-show-your-PVC’ before you can enter the market to buy or sell and before you can do business or get anything from the government, and before your child can be admitted into schools.

MORE: http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/22/2019-no-pvc-no-salary-in-imookorocha-says/

Chief Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman of the United Progressives Party, UPP, has reminded Ndigbo that President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, never promised to hand over power to them in 2023.

Okorie described the offer being carried about by some South East APC leaders as the ‘worst form of deceit’; stressing that only the unintelligent would fall for it.

Okirie who spoke with Sunday Sun, noted that Buhari would rather handover power to his Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has been loyal to him, to compensate the Southwest region.

Okorie said, “It’s a very unintelligent proposal by mostly Igbo politicians in APC because it’s not an APC agenda. Buhari or his close aides never alluded to anything like that; you always hear of it from Igbo people who do not know what they want from APC.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/22/igbo-presidency-buhari-will-rather-handover-to-osinbajo-okorie-says/

Nigerian taxpayers need to know this.

Their representatives at the National Assembly, led by Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have just illegally received and shared a hefty N10billion from the national treasury.

The money is not part of the obsceneN125billion appropriated for the federal legislature in the 2017 fiscal year for recurrent and capital expenditures.

It is also not part of the N100billion allocated for the controversial zonal intervention projects through which lawmakers have always enriched themselves. This N10billion, more than enough to pay a year’s salary of 45,000 civil servants on the minimum wage of N18,000 per month, was not appropriated, and insiders say it was not even approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It was arbitrarily and illegally approved for the lawmakers by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, in collusion with the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

MORE: http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/20/shocking-minister-adeosun-saraki-dogara-accountant-general-in-n10-billion-fraud-scandal/

The Ekiti state Governor, Ayodele Fayose has urged
President Muhammadu Buhari
to stop behaving like a “weeping
president” by lamenting about
what his predecessors failed to
do, and blaming past leaders for
the inability of his administration
to fulfil his campaign promises.

Fayose posited that only a
leader like President Buhari,
who lacked competence and
is challenged by knowledge
and exposure, would blame
his predecessors for over three
years.

He described the president’s statement on
Sunday while receiving some
members of the Buhari Diaspora
Support Organisation in London
as shameful, said: “It appears he
(Buhari) has forgotten that he is also
among the past leaders of Nigeria;
because blaming past leaders for
the country’s economic problems
amounts to blaming himself.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/17/stop-lamenting-and-fufill-your-campaign-promises-fayose-tells-buhari/

Reno Omokri, an ex-media aide to the former president of Nigeria, Mr Goodluck Jonathan, has reacted to the statement credited to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye, that people who don’t pay tithes won’t make heaven. Pastor Adeboye had reportedly at this month’s Holy Ghost Service told his congregation that, “I want to give every one of you pastors an opportunity to repent tonight.

“And then to go back, immediately after this convention, to restitute your ways with your congregation. Make it clear to them…Anyone who is not paying his tithe is not going to heaven, full stop.” But Omokri who also claimed to be a pastor in a series of tweets on Sunday disagreed with the postulations of the General Overseer. He argued that payment of tithes is not one of the conditions stipulated in the Bible for ‘making heaven’

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/16/no-pastor-can-set-a-financial-qualification-to-entering-heaven-reno-omokri/

Nigeria’s former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.) has said if not for his old age, he would have joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a political party being led nearly mostly by those who worked with him as a military president.

Speaking when he received the executive of the party led by its national chairman of Chief Olu Falae who was Babangida’s Secretary to the Government of the Federation, at his Minna residence, however, endorsed the party as an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/16/im-too-old-to-join-sdp-babangida/

Member of the Islamic movement group Popular known as the Shi’ite group on Monday had  a clash with the Nigeria Police at Maitama in Abuja.
YBTCNEWS Exclusively got the Video from a friend that works within that Area via whatsapp which read;

"Please avoid the following area;Exclusive store, Dangote House, IBB way due to ongoing "protest of Islamic Movement of Nigeria."


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/16/just-in-violence-as-police-el-zakzaky-protesters-clash-in-abuja-video/

Member of the Islamic movement group Popular known as the Shi’ite group on Monday had a clash with the Nigeria Police at Maitama in Abuja.

YBTCNEWS Exclusively got the Video from a friend that works withIN that Area via whatsapp group which read;


MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/16/just-in-violence-as-police-el-zakzaky-protesters-clash-in-abuja-video/

The National Information Development Agency,NITDA,has trained 111 women on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Jigawa, the agency’s Director General, Dr Isa Pantami, said on Sunday.

Pantami made the disclosure at the closing ceremony of the training in Dutse.

He said the beneficiaries were drawn from seven states of North West.

He added that the training was part of the agency’s initiative on ICT capacity building for women in the North West and NITDA’s intervention to develop the capacity of women in ICT.

The director general, who described ICT skill as critical for prosperity and economic wellbeing of the nation, noted that the training was also to create jobs and promote self-reliance among women in the seven North West states.

He announced that each of the 111 trainees was given a mini laptop computer by the agency. Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa said the state government would continue to partner with the agency in areas of digital job creation and e-learning.

MORE:http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/15/nitda-trains-111-women-on-ict/

The House of Representatives has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to follow due process in obtaining one billion dollars from Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account,ECA, to fight insurgency.

Spokesman of the House, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa-APC), gave the advice in an interview with Newsmen, Wednesday in Abuja.

Namdas said that the National Assembly had not received any notice on such need of government, nor had it given any approval for one billion dollars to be taken from the ECA for the military to fight insurgency.

MORE: http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/11/1bn-security-fund-follow-due-process-reps-to-buhari/

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has raised the alarm over a plot by the Federal Government and her agents to frame him up by planting illegal items on him.

Wike claimed that the government would do this in any of his trips outside the shores of Nigeria, and have him quizzed and embarrassed by foreign security agencies.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, revealed that investigations by the Rivers State Governor revealed that the Federal Government was using her security agencies to plan the set up anytime the governor traveled abroad.

The statement read: “My investigation reveals that the Federal government, using her security agencies, is planning to set me up anytime I am travelling outside the country. They plan to organise security to storm the hotel I am staying and say they found xyz cash in my possession; after which they would say I was arrested for currency trafficking or whatever offences outside the country


[b]MORE:[/b]http://ybtcnews.com/2018/04/08/fg-planning-to-treat-me-like-alamieyeseigha-wike-cries-out/