NIGERIAN NOTCH

Former Nigeria forward Finidi George will occupy the chief’s corner in the dugout when the Super Eagles confront West African arch-rivals Ghana in an international friendly in Marrakech on Friday. The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) winger, who made a scoring debut in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, has been appointed by the NFF to hold the reins in the meantime as a group of 22 players take on Ghana and Mali in this month’s international window. On his debut in 1991, George, who also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC in the domestic scene before heading to Europe, scored one and made four assists for legendary ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), and also assisted the latter to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994. Actually, George scored the goal that took Nigeria to her...

The Leader of IPOB Nnamdi Kanu has spoken on the Insecurity in the South East and advised Igbo's to disregard anyone or group of people killing Igbo's in the name of IPOB, saying they are common criminals.  Attached is the video of his speech at the court today

By Abdulahi Maikiyari As controversy continues to rage over Nigeria’s 2024 Appropriation Act, which a ranking Senator from Bauchi State, Senator Abdul Ningi, said was padded to the tune of Three Trillion Naira, Nigerians must have begun to see the real issues and the motive behind the "revelation" by Ningi With different groups, especially from a particular section of the country, now jettisoning the smokescreen to make assertions against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, it is becoming clear that Senator Ningi’s  statement, which he has denied, but refused to apologize to his colleagues and Nigerians, was actually a light wind heralding another anti-Akpabio blitzkrieg. On Tuesday 12th March, when the Senate held its Plenary Session where Senator Ningi was taken up on what he said about the padding of the 2024 Budget, I watched as Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, presented a picture of how the whole controversy was a coordinated move against Akpabio because ...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has advised the Nigerian public to educate themselves and their children on the activities of fraudsters and scammers, as a means of protecting their money from such criminals. The Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability (FSS), Mr. Philip Ikeazor, in a message at the 2024 Global Money Week (GMW) celebration, in Abuja, this afternoon, said that children should be educated on how criminals dupe unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money and that people should take every necessary step to protect their money from fraudsters. According to him, “The theme for this year’s edition is ‘Protect your Money, Secure your Future’, and it captures the importance of learning, from an early age, to always think about your future when making financial decisions and plan accordingly. “It emphasizes the importance of not only making money, but understanding frauds and scams, saving, and investing for your future. Equipped wi...

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday rejected the bail application by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, however, granted an accelerated hearing instead. Counsel for the IPOB leader, Alloy Ejimakor, had at the last adjourned date urged the court to admit Kanu to bail before the commencement of the trial. Ejimakor stated that Kanu’s health condition was deteriorating, adding that his continued detention by the DSS was a threat to his life. Ejimakor also argued that the continued incarceration of Kanu would not enable him to put up a good defence in the matter. Awomolo also accused Kanu of once jumping bail, adding that he failed to declare on oath in the affidavit filed by his lawyer that if granted bail, he wouldn’t jump bail. He was earlier granted bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017, after spending 18 months in detention but he fled the country after an invasion of his residence by the military in S...

The Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in conjunction with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, is set to hold its 2024 Colloquium and Mega Empowerment Rally in Nnewi. A statement by the media office of the party disclosed that the events which would be powered by the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District and the only elected official of the party in the state, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, CON are meant to enrich the minds of the party members, the people of Anambra South and ndị Igbo in general with a lecture on ‘De-Marginalization of the South East and Integration to National Politics’ that would be delivered at Anaedo Hall Nnewi on Friday March 22, 2024, by the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Charles Esimone, FAS. The statement also disclosed that the Colloquium shall be followed by a mega empowerment rally, which shall hold at the Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadi...

Clerics have advised the federal government and National Assembly not to succumb to the pressure of legalising gay marriage in Nigeria. They spoke at the 16th edition of St. Patrick Archdiocesan Feast Day celebration and cultural fiesta and launching of N70 million for community bus, organised by St. Patrick Edo/Delta Catholic Community, Holy Rosary Parish, Wuse-Abuja. Addressing newsmen at the event, Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Donatus Ogun, said homosexuality was against God’s plan of creation. He said:  “Naturally, homosexuality is contrary to the divine plan. Homosexuality for many reasons opposes God’s plan because it doesn’t lead to procreation. “When God created man and woman, he said be fruitful and multiply. To multiply is one of the vocations of the human person. The supposed orientation of people going after the same sex, is not part of God’s plan. “I think personally we are managing a crisis of global economy, those who call themselves the bigger economies, are...

…denies borrowing N144 billion …promises to wipe out pension, workers’ salary arrears by end of March Governor Alex Otti has revealed that Abia State Government, had received approval for a $125 million loan facility from Islamic Development Bank, but added that the state had not drawn the loan. He said the necessary documentations were being done before the funds would be drawn. Otti who disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen during a media parley in Umuahia Monday night, also said that the State had received approval for loans from another bank although he did not disclose the name of the bank. He further said that the state had been receiving loan offers from many other commercial banks but added that non of the facilities had been drawn. According to him, even though the state needs loan to finance its 2024 budget, it will not rush to withdraw any loan until it is needed. “We are financially enlightened as a state that we will not draw any loan until we ne...

Troops from Combat Team 3 stationed in Maraban Maigora, Katsina State, on Monday, rescued 10 women and 6 minors who had been held captive by bandits since 3rd February, 2024. A credible source from the military disclosed that the victims were rescued during a routine patrol at the Rimi community after being held by the hoodlums for 46 days. According to the military source, the rescued victims were among the 54 women abducted along the Gamji-Dandume road in early February 2024. Following their rescue, the women and children were promptly handed over to the Chairman of Sabuwa LGA, who in turn reunited them with their relatives. While confirming the development, Governor Dikko Radda in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, on Monday, commended the troops for their bravery and decisive action. The Governor acknowledged the gravity of the situation, reassuring the public of his administration’s unwavering commitment to eradicating banditry wit...

Contrary to the expectation that the undersea cable cut which disrupted banking and telecom services in Nigeria and some parts of Africa, will last for about two weeks more, indications are that services are almost 100 percent back. Telecom companies in Nigeria which mostly bore the brunt of the disruption confessed yesterday that services were over 90 percent restored as engineers worked beyond schedules to ensure the disruption did not last more than necessary. Chairman of the umbrella body of Nigerian telcos, Association of Licensed Telecom Operator in Nigeria, ALTON, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, told Vanguard exclusively that whatever little disruptions experienced in the services of his members could only be as a result of backlog of congestions, occasioned by the cut. He said: “As we speak, service is almost restored. When the problem happened almost every operator re-routed to alternative platforms and the effect of the congestion is what subscribers could be experiencing no...