Reps ask Osinbajo to swear in ministers-designate

The House of Representatives has asked Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to swear in the ministers-designate from Kogi and Gombe states. The lawmakers who gave the directive at Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja asked the Acting President to induct the ministers-designate, as well as allocate portfolio and official duties to them within the next one week. The directive followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by one of the lawmakers representing Kogi State, Honourable Sunday Karimi. In his motion, Honourable Karimi informed the House that the Federal Executive Council, as constituted,…

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NNPC pledges steady product supply

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has pledged that despite challenges in the downstream petroleum sector, petroleum products would continue to be available in all parts of the country. The NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru, made the pledge on Tuesday at the end of the 24th, 25th and 26th Annual General Meeting of its downstream subsidiaries, the Nigerian Products Marketing Company (NPMC) and the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) in Abuja. In a statement by Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Baru…

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I am not fighting with National Assembly – Fashola

The Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has said that he is not fighting with the National Assembly but only had a mere misunderstanding with them. Mr Fashola told State House correspondents on Tuesday that his disagreements with the lawmakers over the ministry’s budget should not be misconstrued as a personal fight but one geared towards finding best ways to implement the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. The arguments began when the minister criticised the National Assembly for allegedly inserting projects outside the purview of his…

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Nigeria’s economy will bounce back In 18 months – Osinbajo

The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has promised a major turnaround for Nigeria in the next 12 to 18 months. To achieve this, Professor Osinbajo has asked the private sector to partner with the Federal Government and help upscale the nation’s economy. The Acting President made the call on Tuesday at the fourth Presidential Quarterly Business Forum at the State House in Abuja. Addressing private sector stakeholders at the forum, he stressed the need for Nigeria to make progress despite obvious budgetary constraints. On her part, the Minister of Finance,…

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11 persons killed as multiple explosions hit Maiduguri

At least 11 persons were killed in multiple bomb explosions on Tuesday night in Maiduguri. A reliable security source, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the first and second explosions occurred at about 9.45 p.m. at Mulaikalmari, some six kms away from Maiduguri. The source said that eight persons, including the suicide bombers were killed in the attack. Three persons were also killed and five others wounded in the third and fourth explosions, which occurred about 20 minutes later at Polo-Sabon Gari area of Maiduguri, according to the source, who…

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VP Pence distances himself as Russia probe threatens Trump

US Vice President Mike Pence sought Tuesday to distance himself from the snowballing scandal over possible collusion with Russian election interference that increasingly threatens President Donald Trump. After Trump’s son Donald Jr. admitted to meeting a Russian lawyer offering dirt on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton last June, Pence declared in a statement that he knew nothing of the meeting — which took place well before he became Trump’s running mate in the election. “The vice president is working every day to advance the president’s agenda, which is what the American…

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Europe rights court bans full veil in public

The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday upheld a Belgian ban on wearing the full-face niqab veil in public, calling the restriction “necessary in a democratic society”. The veil is controversial across Europe, with some countries banning the garment in public in the name of safety and rights groups arguing that this amounts to a violation of civil liberties. The court ruled that the ban sought to guarantee social cohesion, the “protection of the rights and freedoms of others” and that it was “necessary in a democratic society”, a…

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If Serena wants to rule again, she will – Henin

Justine Henin tipped her old rival Serena Williams to come back after her pregnancy and reign supreme once again saying what Serena wants, she usually gets. Henin, who won seven Grand Slams, said Serena’s absence opened the door for a new champion to step up and seize this year’s Wimbledon crown. But the 35-year-old Belgian, who retired in 2011 and two months ago had her own second child, has no plans to make a stellar comeback of her own and do battle with Serena once more. “We could have a…

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Gonorrhoea: Hope for possible vaccine

For the first time, a vaccine a vaccine has tested positive to abilities to act as protection against gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection. Sscientists in New Zealand say study of 15,000 young people, published in the Lancet, showed infections were cut by about a third. This is coming after the World Health Organisation in a recent publication said that the infection was fast becoming a challenge as antibiotics seemed to have minimal effect in treating the infection. WHO expressed worry as many developing countries have reported that their last resorts…

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Osinbajo keeps mum after meeting Buhari

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo spent one hour with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in London and then swiftly left to begin the journey home. According to Reuters, Osinbajo arrived in the night at the Abuja House, where Buhari has been living since he arrived 8 May, from Nigeria for medical vacation. Osinbajo spent one hour and left without making any comment on his meeting with President Buhari. Spokesman for the Acting President tweeted after the visit that information about what transpired will be made known soon. He said “it was…

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