The defence headquarters has branded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a militant terrorist organisation and urged parents to dissuade their wards from joining the group. In a statement in Abuja on Friday, John Enenche, the director, defence information, restated the commitment of the armed forces to confront “all security challenges facing the country”. Enenche assured of the protection of lives and property in all parts of the country by the military. He said the IPOB posed security challenge and had been metamorphosing from one stage to another. “After due…
Read MoreMonth: September 2017
Igbos abandon IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu in Kano
The Igbo Community Association in Kano state has dissociated itself from the activities of Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The President-General of the association, Chief Ebenezer Chima, made the position of the association known at a joint news conference in Kano on Friday. “We want to state categorically here that we, the Igbos residing and doing business in Kano state, unequivocally state that we dissociate ourselves from the activities of IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. “We are strongly advocating for peace and unity in…
Read More‘Pharma Bro’ Shkreli jailed after Clinton threat
Martin Shkreli was sent to jail on Wednesday after a US judge revoked the bail of the former pharmaceutical executive over a threat aimed at Hillary Clinton — which he insists was a joke. Once dubbed “The Most Hated Man in America” for jacking up the price of an HIV drug, the 34-year-old was convicted of securities fraud last month for mismanaging two investment funds. Freed on a five-million-dollar bail while awaiting sentencing, Shkreli was hauled back into court to answer for having offered a $5,000 reward to anyone who…
Read MoreFootball clubs spend $4.71bn in transfer window – FIFA
The close-season transfer window saw $4.71 billion (3.96 billion euros) spent worldwide, over three quarters of which were from the top five European leagues, FIFA announced on Thursday. Paris Saint-Germain’s world-record signing of Neymar from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($264 million) dominated the headlines, but many of Europe’s other big clubs also broke their own transfer records. “Between June 1 and September 1, 7,590 international transfers were completed worldwide,” FIFA said in a statement. “Global spending reached $4.71 billion, meaning clubs spent almost as much during those three months…
Read More33m children for measles vaccination campaign
Health workers are to vaccinate at least 33 million children aged between nine months and five years against measles in a campaign starting this October, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has announced. Parents and caregivers are advised to take children to government health facilities and vaccination posts sites where health workers can administer the vaccine. The push is to ensure nearly 95% out of every 100 children are vaccinated. Previous campaign in 2015 managed to reach just 85 in 100 children. Children born after the last measles…
Read More‘Nigeria spends $3.3bn on importation of steel products’
Nigeria spends $3.3bn annually on importation of steel products, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said. Fayemi stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the meeting of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources. He said with the signing of a Modified Concession Agreement between the Federal Government and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Nigeria was on the threshold of import substitution in the steel sector to stop the bleeding of the country through the importation of steel products. The minister also disclosed that the…
Read MoreCambodia Retaliates for Visa Ban, Suspends US MIA Searches
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thursday he will retaliate against a U.S. halt on the issuing of most visas to senior foreign ministry officials and their families by suspending missions by U.S. military-led teams searching for the remains of Americans missing in action from the Vietnam War. Cambodia’s pro-government Fresh News website reported that Hun Sen said cooperation with the United States on the MIA search would be suspended until the two countries resolve several issues, especially the visa ban. Government spokesman Phay Siphan confirmed the report. The U.S.…
Read MoreGoogle to launch new Pixel smartphone in October
Google on Thursday fired off invitations to an October 4 event at which the US tech giant is expected to field a second-generation Pixel as its new champion in the competitive smartphone market. The internet giant behind Android software for powering mobile devices also launched a madebygoogle.com web page that featured a playful animation that asked “Thinking about changing phones?” and then suggested waiting until October 4. Invitations to the event in San Francisco also advised the curious to follow its @madebygoogle account at Twitter. The phrase was rolled out…
Read MoreBayelsa in massive job creation
The Bayelsa Government said on Thursday in Yenagoa that it created over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs through the release of N1.88 billion loan to Small and Medium-scale to entrepreneurs and cooperatives. Gov. Seriake Dickson stated this at the 2017 African SME EXPO with the theme `Promoting SMEs for sustainable development and economic growth’. Dickson, represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), said that his administration achieved the feat in partnership with the Bank of Industry and other relevant agencies. He said that the initiative enhanced the growth…
Read MoreTunisia abolishes Muslim women’s marriage restriction
The decades-old ban placed on Muslim women from marrying non-Muslim men has been abolished by the Tunisian government. The presidency announced the lift of the ban on Thursday in Tunis. Ms. Saida Garrach, Presidency Spokeswoman posted on her Facebook wall: “Congratulations to the women of Tunisia for the enshrinement of the right to the freedom to choose one’s spouse.” The announcement comes a month after President Beji Caid Essebsi called for the government to scrap the ban dating back to 1973. Until now a non-Muslim man who wished to marry…
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