By Ikenna Uwadileke

A Non-Governmental Organisation, the SchoolMe Foundation, has called for increased private sector participation in the provision of quality education for Nigerians to support governments efforts.

The organisation made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while unveiling the SchoolMe scholarship lottery programme.

Representative of the Foundation, Mr Jacob Momoh said that the educational support programme was designed to provide financial aid to young people and also fund educational projects across the country via lottery.

According to him, the lack of fund should never be a reason for not getting quality education.

Pooling resources from the public to make funds available to anyone who is interested in going to school is our main focus; at the same time, we are rewarding players through the lottery.

The idea is to give everyone a chance to make a little sacrifice by playing the lottery which will help fund education for others; there is the possibility of winning some cash, Momoh said.

He further explained that the education funding initiative will not only check the increasing financial constrains mitigating against students dreams, but would go a long way in addressing the dwindling access to quality education in Nigeria.

The initiative is designed to creatively raise funds to mitigate the high cost education and support the academic dreams of the citizenry.

The SchoolMe scholarship lottery is poised to provide a viable scholarship initiative with a two-prong approach which are instant financial reward and scholarship, Momoh said.

In his remark, Prof. Damian Ogbonnaya of Engineering Science Department, State University, New York, urged Nigerians to participate in the programme in order to generate income to promote academic goals of young Nigerians.

According to him, the cost of education is getting astronomically high and many are finding it very difficult to access quality education.

Some who have accessed, are finding it difficult to go through school because of financial constraints.

Countless numbers are dropping out of school; others want to further their studies but do not have the means.

This has led to increased number of miscreants who become a menace to the society, Ogbonnaya said.

Similarly, a Nollywood actor, Francis Duru, while commending the initiators of the project, urged Nigerians to explore the opportunity to liberate themselves from poverty.

Duru said: education is the most powerful tool in which you can use to change the society.

There exists a parallel correlation between education and development.

The school fund initiative will create a pool of enlightened and educated citizens that will form the base of human capital resources for the development of our country Nigeria.

Source: NAN

By Isaac Aregbesola

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, says a UN joint delegation will visit Maiduguri, Bama and Abuja first week of October, to scale up its humanitarian intervention in the crisis affected areas.

Onyeama said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after a meeting with the UN team leaders on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York.

The minister said that the team would be led by the UNDP Administrator, Mr Achim Steiner and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Head of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Mr Mark Lowcock.

He said that the joint UN Development Programme (UNDP)-OCHA Principal-level mission was part of the world ogranisation efforts to support the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the region.

Onyeama said that the visit was sequel to the High-Level Conference on the Lake Chad Basin Crisis in Berlin, where the international community committed to a comprehensive crisis response in the Lake Chad Region.

He explained that the conference was held at the beginning of September in Berlin on the humanitarian and development efforts on the Lake Chad Basin area.

Onyeama said that the visit was aimed at discussing with senior government and donor officials in Nigeria on how to further strengthen humanitarian and development responses, including national and local ownership in the northeast.

We are looking essentially on how to build on the humanitarian programme and the UN has been very much involved and supportive on the humanitarian front in the northeast

We realised that we have to now move towards the development stage; they also want to hear from the Nigerian government what they should be looking at.

And of course, it is about reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement; it is about creating an environment for economic growth which will require school education and also jobs.

This is what we are looking at and UN where they can invest the resources and the technical aspect, he said.

The UN had said in a statement that the objectives of the joint UNDP-OCHA Principal-level mission, was to address humanitarian, resilience and stabilisation needs of communities to prevent a protracted crisis in northeast.

The urgency to make progress on the New Way of Working (NWoW) by the UN Country Team and the Humanitarian Country Teams (UNCT/HCT) has been amplified by large-scale humanitarian needs and the related imperative to address the root causes of the Lake Chad Basin crises in a comprehensive and sustainable way.

Accordingly, the Nigeria UNCT/HCTs are jointly working on formulating collective outcomes which will guide planning and interventions of humanitarian and development actors, he said.

The world body said thatpragmatic pilot projects were currently being set up,where several agencies can work together in a defined geographic area to address immediate support needs in the area.

It stated that this would also help establish the foundations for community recovery and resilience.

It said that the mission to Nigeria would provide a unique opportunity to create momentum for the NWoW and to identify additional opportunities for a comprehensive crisis response in the Lake Chad Region.

Source: NAN

British firm has received the nod to commence work on the $2 billion contract to construct the High Grand Falls Dam in Kenya.

London-based GBM Engineering Consortium won the tender in a process featuring seven international construction firms, five of them Chinese, for a fund, design, build, own, operate and transfer contract.

Kenyas Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, a state agency that handles disputes arising from government tendering, upheld an earlier decision for firm that won the contract.

The dam on River Tana, straddling Kitui and Tharaka Nithi Counties, is part of the Lamu Port and South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (Lapsset) projects.

The National Irrigation Board which was the procuring entity on behalf of the Kenyan government, was directed to conclude the tendering process within 30 days by carrying out the technical and financial evaluation of the bidders.

Paul Gicheru, the PPRB chairman ruled that the government had no legal basis to cancel the tender or delay its award to the British firm.

The PPRB Board had earlier heard and determined the dispute in favour of the British construction firm on July 4, and was hearing its appeal after the irrigation board disregarded its ruling and cancelled the tender.

The project will begin after the National Treasury agrees with the contractor on the implementation timelines, projected at six years.

Kenya will not be required to mobilise any resources for the project as the contractor will operate the dam after construction for 20 years, before handing it over to the government.

The next phase will be land acquisition.

The High Grand Falls Dam was conceived in 2009 as part of an ambitious effort to build 1,000 water reservoirs across the country and boost irrigation-based farming.

The project is projected to cover 165 square kilometres and the dam will hold 5.6 billion cubic metres of water and add 700MW to the national power grid.

While at least 45000 households will be displaced, the project is expected to provide water for irrigation of more than 250,000 hectares of land in Kitui, Garissa and Tana River Counties, and help address the perennial flooding menace in the Coast region.

It will be the largest water storage facility in the country with a holding capacity of 5.6 billion cubic metres, said Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui.

The benefit to the region is enormous; first, it will form a large man-made lake, where fishing and tourism activities can be introduced.

Source:

Source: NAN

Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu, who is jostling to oust Governor Akinwumi Ambode from Lagos state government house, on Tuesday stormed Island to the warm embrace of supporters.

The aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was in his ward in Lagos Island where he pledged to be loyal to the people.

In his tweet, he told the crowd: Today at my ward in Lagos Island. Thank you Lagosians for the massive support and endless outpouring of affection. I pledge to be loyal to you, the people of Lagos. Your mandate is sacred and it must be to the benefit of the generality of our people.

The aspirant had also tweeted warning amorphous groups to desist from tarnishing his reputation.

Good morning dear Lagosians, it has come to my attention that a group by the name Sanwoolu Support Group has been claiming to speak for me. While I hope to be the governor of all, I denounce the activities of any amorphous groups. Their opinion does not represent me. Thank you.

He came out apparently for the governorship primary which held in many local governments in Lagos state on Tuesday, an exercise some described peaceful, fair and credible.

Aye Dee @MrAyeDee tweeted that contrary to what @AkinwunmiAmbode was hoping and praying for, APC Lagos primaries have been Credible, Free, Fair
and devoid of Violence.

No one can come forward later and say @JideS did not get the legitimate mandate of the people

Source: NAN

Dr. Umar Mantu, an aspirant to the Mangu/Bokkos Federal Constituency seat, has congratulated Sen. Jerry Useni for clinching the PDP ticket to contest the Plateau governorship seat in 2019.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Useni, senator representing Plateau South, clinched the ticket after defeating 12 other aspirants in the primary elections held in Jos on Sunday.

According to the results announced Monday morning, Useni, former FCT minister and military governor of old Bendel State, garnered 1,018 votes to floor his closest opponent, Rep Johnbull Shekarau, who got 340 votes.

Useni will slug it out with Gov. Simon Lalong of the APC, who emerged unopposed as the candidate of his party on Sunday.

Mantu, in a statement on Monday in Jos, said that Usenis leadership experience as military governor, FCT minister and Army General had made him the best material to govern the crisis-ridden north-central state.

Plateau needs someone who understands security, politics, economy and mutual co-existence. The state is facing some serious security challenges and the people want a peaceful atmosphere to forward. Useni will provide this, he said.

The statement signed by Mr Emmanuel Macham, on behalf of the Umar Mantu Campaign Organisation, said that Useni had proved a unifying force over the years and would deploy such unifying skills to steer Plateau through its trying times.

Mantu urged the aspirants to unite around the winner and work toward victory in the 2019 general elections.

Since the ultimate dream is a united, prosperous and peaceful Plateau, we must all work for it. Useni is just the rallying point. So, we must rally round him to achieve the Plateau of our dream, he said.

The aspirant described the primary election that produced Useni as the best ever, in Plateau, and commended the State PDP Chairman, Chief Damishi Sango, for keeping to his promise to conduct a transparent and credible election.

Mantu also commended the delegates for making the right choice, and equally hailed the aspirants maturity and calmness throughout the exercise.

Source: NAN

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled the Lagos governorship primary billed for today.

Also rescheduled are primaries for Enugu and Adamawa states.

The mode of primaries for Enugu and Adamawa states has been changed from indirect to direct.

The party, in a statement by Publicity secretary Yekini Nabena said the Lagos Governorship Primaries will now take place on Tuesday, while the Enugu and Adamawa governorship Primaries will take place on Thursday 4 October.

The Lagos direct primary was initially scheduled for today,

The APC did not give any reason for the postponement of the Lagos primary, where incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is locked in a battle with Asiwaju Bola Tinubus candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

In Adamawa, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Malam Nuhu Ribadu withdrew from the governorship race, complaining that the direct primary mode was changed abruptly to indirect.

It was not clear whether he will get back on track with the decision to stick to the direct primary mode, to pick the governorship candidate.

Source: NAN

A member of the House of Representatives, Emmanuel David Ombugadu has emerged the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State.

Emmanuel Anyanwu, Chairman of the state PDP Primary Committee announced the result at about 5:30 am on Monday at Keffi Local Government secretariat, venue of the primary.

According to him, Ombugadu got 745 votes to defeat his closest rival Solomon Ewuga who got 551 votes.

He therefore declared Ombugadu as the winner of the election and the candidate of PDP in the state.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that out of the 1, 502 delegates, only 1, 490 were accredited to vote.

Ombugadu thanked the delegates and leaders of the party for the confidence reposed on him and promised not to let them down.

He also appealed to all members of the party to join hands with him to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 election.

Ombugadu, who is 40 years old, graduated from Government College, Keffi in 1995 and went on to study economics at the University of Jos, graduating in 2001.

Source: NAN

Senator Jeremiah Useni, 75 years old, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau in the 2019 general elections.

Useni will face incumbent governor Simon Bako Lalong, 20 years his junior. Lalong belongs to the All Progressives Congress, APC. He also bagged the second term ticket of his party, unopposed on Sunday. Lalong, who is from Shendam LGA was born on 5 May 1963.

Useni polled 1018 votes to defeat 12 other candidates at the partys primaries.His closest rival Johnbull Shekarau got 340 votes.

In all, 2,097 delegates from the seventeen local government areas voted at the primaries.

Useni a serving senator representing Plateau south senatorial zone in the Senate was once the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and a former minister of transport. He was also between 1984 and 1985, the military governor of the old Bendel state , now made up of Edo and Delta state.

He was also a very close ally of former military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

He was born 16 February 1943 in Langtang and joined the army after his early education. He rose to the post of Lt. General before retiring in 1999.

Prior to the commencement of voting, Senator Victor Lar, on behalf of the aspirants promised promised to support whoever emerges as the winner in Plateau state.

Other parties will also sooner announce their candidates.

Source: NAN

By Rita Iliya

Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has granted unconditional pardon to four prison inmates on death row and two others convicted and kept in prison custody as part of Nigerias 58th Independence anniversary.

He also commuted the death sentence of 20 inmates to various term of imprisonment, discharged 40 others and ordered payment of fines for 221 convicts held in various prisons across the state.

A statement by Malam Jibrin Ndace, Chief Press Secretary to the governor in Minna on Monday quoted Bello as saying that the gesture was in the spirit of the season.

He directed the Attorney General of the state and the state Council on Prerogative of Mercy to effect immediate implementation of the pardon.

He reiterated that his administration would continue to ensure the progress and development of the state in line with the visions of the nationalists who fought for liberation and sovereignty of the country.

We are committed to making our state better than yesterday so that tomorrow will be more comfortable for ourselves and the next generation.

I called on our people to resist any overt or covert attempts by individuals and or groups to cause disharmony in the state as we enter into the next phase of state and national political activities, he said.

Bello also called on politicians and political parties to avoid acts capable of infringing on the right of the people even as democracy admits protests, rallies and demonstrations.

He said that though democracy admits protest, rallies and demonstrations, such activities should be carried out in a responsible and peaceful manner.

He commended members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for affirming his candidature to contest the 2019 governorship election in the state.

He also congratulated President Muhammad Buhari on his affirmation as the APC Presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections.

Source: NAN

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, phase 2, has urged the youths of Niger Delta, especially the ex-agitators, to support the planned review of the blueprint of the Amnesty Programme by President Muhammadu Buhari.

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the coalition, quoted its leader Stephen Ebisintei, as saying that the review is the only way the programme can be all encompassing.

Ebisintei said the planned review of programme is sacrosanct to the peace and security of Niger Delta, saying it is also in the best interest of the youths as well as critical stakeholders.

More importantly, it will increase choices for targeted beneficiaries of the programme and indeed the youths of Niger Delta.

We have to reciprocate the kind gesture of Mr President by supporting him in 2019 so as to enable him see through his lofty and robust plans for the region in the next four years, the statement quoted Ebisintei as saying.

He cautioned the people of the region to beware of those he called fair weather politicians, who he said are deceitfully promising the people of the region heaven on earth ahead of the 2019 elections.

Ebisintei pointed out that supporting the Buharis re-election bid remains the best option for Niger Delta as far the amnesty programme is concerned.

According to him, as the race for 2019 hots up, youths and critical stakeholders of the Niger Delta should beware of politicians whose stock in trade is promises without any intention of fulfillment.

We should as a people be more circumspect and use the 2019 election to take our destinies in our own hands; it is in our considered best interest to queue behind the president and work for his re-election bid.

If we fail in this, we may not have this rare opportunity again to lunch our beleaguered region on the desired path of sustainable growth and peace as we are witnessing now.

In the past, all we have received were promises, but we can see and testify that with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, our region has greater opportunities and is well placed to roll back the injustices of the past.

We have seen that he has not denied the region what is due to it in terms of appointment into key positions of government, especially with the appointments of Prof. Quaker Dokubo and Dr. Ibe Kachukwu as the head of the Amnesty Office and Minister (State) for Petroleum respectively.

It is without doubt that these individuals are fits in their respective offices and are working assiduously to empower youths and of course ensure development of critical infrastructure in the region.

Ebisintei also said that Buhari is the only Nigerias President who has allowed his appointees the freedom to do their work without interference, a quality that Nigerians have desired for so long.

Source: NAN

By Muhammad Auwal

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has indicated interest to participate in the rescheduled Adamawa APC governorship primaries election, hours after he withdrew from the race.

Alhaji Salihu Bawuro, the Director-General, Ribadu campaign organisation, made the announcement at a news conference in Yola on Monday.

The state APC governorship primary is rescheduled for Thursday.

Ribadu withdrew from the primary election on Sunday evening as the exercise was about to start but the exercise was cancelled and rescheduled.

Bawuro said the Ribadu campaign organisation was satisfied with the decision taken by the partys national headquarters on the cancelation and rescheduling of the governorship primaries in the state.

Now that the national headquarters had intervened to correct the abnormalities surrounding the Sundays unsuccessful primaries, Malam Nuhu Ribadu will be in full contest now that it is the direct primaries, Bawuro said.

He said that the organisation was well prepared to participate in the election, adding that it would do everything possible to ensure free and fair primaries.

Source: NAN

By Jessica Onyegbula

The Convener of the Red Card Movement and one-time Education Minister, Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, has called on Nigerians to come out in their numbers to vote and protect their votes, come 2019.

Ezekwesili made the call at a one-day conference organised by The Church Must Vote an NGO, on Monday in Abuja.

She said that it was time for Nigerians to determine the quality of leadership they get through massive voting.

The theme of the conference was The Church Stand Against Vote Buying and Selling, with the slug My Vote Is Not For Sale, My Vote Must Count.

Ezekwesili said that nobody should be comfortable to sit at home during the upcoming 2019 general elections, because it was time to get rid of the old order of politicians in the country.

The former minister, an activist, said that the quality of democracy was dependent on quality of vote, and INEC must protect the vote of Nigerians.

We must compel INEC to gather some of the cases of vote buying and selling that they have identified and take them to court.

We must compel the Judiciary to act and not to defer judgement on such matters, because our democracy is under existential treat.

Citizens must understand the power they possess, and through that power, you determine the quality of leaders to lead the country, she said.

Ezekwesili said that it was time to build a nation with leaders who were elected on the bases of character, competence and capacity.

So, I support The Church Must Vote to say your vote must count because your vote does count, if it didnt count, they will not pay for it.

It is time to decide that nobody can pay for your vote because it is priceless, the people are dependent on the quality of leaders that they get for themselves.

So, let our vote count; we must cry out if we see our vote being bought or stolen, she said.

Rev. William Okoye, General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission, said that some people sell their votes due to hunger and starvation.

Okoye stressed that it was better to endure hunger which was immediate in order to better their future, as any hunger that has hope does not kill.

If you are hungry today and have hope that tomorrow will be better, you will be able to manage, so we are trying to send that hope to Nigerians through the church.

We want Nigerians to know that the future will be bright if we endure the pains of now and ensure that we dont sell our vote and use our vote to bring about the better future that we are expecting, he said.

Ikechukwu Nmor, Founder, The Church Must Vote, said that the voting right of every Nigerian was priceless, and as such, shouldnt be traded for anything or any amount.

Nigeria is a great nation but with little performance; something must be done now to change things for the better.

I am here to say I stand against vote buying and selling and no amount of money is enough to sell my vote and mortgage the future of our generation.

It is important that the elections and the outcome reflect a representative and inclusive decision of all demographics, age, gender and beliefs, he said.

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has not endorsed Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the Lagos All Progressives Congress governorship primary scheduled for Monday.

Contrary to the impressions created by a photograph that shows the Vice President with Sanwo-Olu, Osinbajo is neutral in the election.

He merely came to plead with the party leaders to allow a level playing field for the two contestants, including the incumbent Akinwunmi Ambode.

According to a statement by Osinbajos office, Osinbajo yesterday attended a meeting of the Lagos State General Advisory Council, GAC, where he had been invited by the elders on the council.

Before the meeting, the Vice President who had been in Lagos to participate in the Presidential primaries in the State had met with Governors Akin Ambode and the APC National Leader Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

APC gubernatorial aspirants Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat were also at the premises of the GAC meeting ahead of the Vice Presidents arrival.

At the GAC meeting, Prof Osinbajo, who is believed to be supportive of a second term bid for Ambode, conveyed the view of the Buhari presidency that there should be a level playing field in the overall conduct of the primaries.

Informed sources at the meeting said the purpose of VPs attendance at the GAC was to report on a previous meeting held between him and Gov Aregbesola on how to resolve some of the outstanding issues around Governor Ambodes second term bid and its fallouts.

It was while he was coming out of the meeting that Mr. Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Hamzat took advantage of the VPS presence to take the photos which are now being falsely paraded as proof of endorsement.

The VP did not go to endorse the candidate, they only took advantage of his presence, a source at the meeting confirmed last night.

Source: NAN

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday afternoon literally went for broke, throwing all his arsenals into the ring ahead of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress taking place Monday.

He said he is ready for a free and fair primary elections, but he warned party thugs to keep away from the wards.

He said he would ensure security at all the wards.

The incumbent believed to have the support of Aso Rock then threw in the bombshell: his only rival in the primary, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was once arrested in the United States for spending fake dollars in a night club.

In addition, he said, Sanwo-Olu, who is being backed by APC national leader, Bola Tinubu and some special interests in the state, has psychiatric issues and is not well.

Sanwo-Olu is not a fit and proper candidate for the position of Lagos governor, Ambode said.

He has been arrested for spending fake US dollars in an American night club. He lacks competency and health wise, he has gone through mental rehabilitation.

The governor disclosed that Sanwo-Olu served time in US prisons in connection with a string of counterfeit bill-passing incidents in the country.

At the press conference in Lagos the governor said he is under no illusion about the battle ahead in the APC primary for governor, but said We shall overcome.

Watch the Full Press Conference here:

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's Press briefing on APC governorship Primaries – 20:42
— TVC News Nigeria

Source: NAN

A menacing Boko Haram fighter, with the nickname SpiderMan, has been killed by Nigerian troops.

The man who always mounted a gun truck, wearing the spidermans mask met his Waterloo 26 September.

He, along with his ragtag squad was killed in the encounter with Nigerian troops.

Spiderman was among the Boko Haram fighters who attacked Garshigar community of Mobar Local Government Area in Borno on Wednesday.

Texas Chukwu, Army Director of Public Relations, said the insurgents, who were in nine gun trucks, were repelled by troops of 145 Battalion deployed for Operation Lafiya Dole following superior power of the vigilant troops.

He added that preliminary battle damage assessment reveals that the overwhelming superior power of the troops devastated the insurgents, inflicting human and equipment casualty on the insurgents which forced them to withdraw in disarray.

The director said that the gallant troops regrouped after the fierce encounter and dominated the general area of Garshigar and its environs with fighting patrols.

The good people of Mobar Local Government are urged to remain calm and be assured of troops commitment to provide adequate security in the general area, he added.

Source: NAN

By Mercy Osajiugo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger has endorsed Gov. Abubakar Bello as the Partys flag bearer for 2019 governorship elections in the state.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the party from the 274 wards trooped out in their number to affirm Bello as the partys flag bearer.

Bello, thereafter, expressed appreciation to party members for the confidence reposed on him by returning him unopposed.

It is appealing when your people have confidence in you, when they support you, when they overwhelming endorse you.

In politics this is what is needed and I really appreciate this gesture.

Their action has continued to humble me and I am compelled to do more in the years ahead. By 2019 our administration will continue the good works we had started, he said.

Bello assured party faithful and people of the state of his resolve to be more committed to the actualisation of the restoration agenda of his administration.

No doubt, there have been challenges in the years past but we had tried to accomplish some vital aspects of our set goals.

We may have not been able to cover all sectors, this time we are determined to cover more grounds when APC is returned in 2019, the governor said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions with prospects of thunderstorms and rainfall activities over most parts of the country on Monday.

NiMets Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Sunday, predicted cloudy morning over the central States with thunderstorms in Mambila Plateau, Jalingo, Yola and Jos.

It added that there are chances of scattered thunderstorms over most parts with day and night temperatures of 25 to 32 and 18 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

It predicted chances of scattered thunderstorms over Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Lokoja, and Niger later in the day with day and night temperatures of 26 to 33 and 16 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.

The agency predicted that Northern States would experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions during the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 30 to 35 and 21 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

It also predicted that Southern States would experience cloudy morning with chances of thunderstorms over Calabar and Eket axis.

Rains accompanied by storms are likely over the inland and the coast in the afternoon and evening period with day and night temperatures of 27 to 31 and 21 to 24 degrees celsius respectively.

There are prospects of thunderstorms over the central and the inland cities with chances of rain along the coast within the next 24 hours, NiMet predicted. (NAN)

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the resignation of Mrs Aisha Alhassan as Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development from the government with immediate effect.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

In a letter he signed on Sunday, President Buhari said, I have received your letter offering your resignation as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I accept your resignation with immediate effect.

On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, I thank you for your past services to the nation.

The presidential aide revealed that the president had directed that Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment to oversee the affairs of the Ministry with immediate effect.

Aisha Alhassan had on Saturday announced her resignation from President Muhammadu Buharis cabinet and from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alhassan hinged her resignation on her disqualification in the screening for the 2019 Taraba state governorship contest by the APC National Working Committee.

She said she was axed without any viable or genuine reason.

If I am not good enough to contest elections in the APC, then I feel I am not also qualified to remain a minister in the APC government, she stated. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday evening paid a get-well-quick visit to the two Nigerian Air Force pilots involved in a crash last week, at the Defence Intelligence Agency hospital in Abuja.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidential spokesman in a statement in Abuja, said the President was at the hospital as a morale booster to the injured officers.

The president rejoiced with Sqn. Ldr. Batuba, and Flt.-Lt. Andy and gave glory to God for sparing their lives.

He also commiserated with them on the loss of their colleague, Sqn. Ldr. Bello Baba-Ari.

He prayed that God would give the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

Chief of Medical Services at the hospital, AVM Saleh Shinkafi, assured Buhari that the medical condition of the officers was improving steadily.

He added that they were being kept for further rest and counseling, as part of the rehabilitation process.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was also on hand to receive the President, explained that the three pilots ejected successfully from their jets after the collision.

He, however, added that the helmet of Baba-Ari flew open, which led to a head injuries that turned fatal. (NAN)

Source: NAN

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday prayed fervently for Nigeria and called down Gods blessings for the nation and its citizens.

Osinbajo made these supplications at an Interdenominational Church Service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja as part of activities marking Nigerias 58th Independence celebration.

The first scripture reading at the service taken from Exodus , Chapter 13 Vs 8 to 13, was read by Justice Walter Onnoghen, Chief Justice of Nigeria, while the second reading taken from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12 Vs 14 to 18, was read by former Head of State, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

The vice president, who is also a pastor, said that God deserved praises for preserving Nigerians to witness another anniversary of their great nation.

This anniversary is an opportunity to bless our nation; it is an opportunity to declare some blessings upon our nation and upon the people of our nation, of all gathered here and everyone.

Nigeria, this 58 years of your independence will mark a great new beginning of peace, of prosperity, of abundance.

Citing Psalm 75 Vs 6 to 7, Osinbajo said that Nigeria would be exalted.

Nigeria, you will be exalted; you will excel; you will rise beyond imaginations.

You will be a pride to Africa and the world; in the mighty name of Jesus; this is the season for your exaltation, Nigeria.

This is the season of your renewal; the season of your restoration; all that you have lost will be restored; where you have failed, you will succeed in the mighty name of Jesus, Osinbajo prayed.

Earlier in a sermon titled: Harnessing Our Diversity for National Development, Pastor William Kumuyi, the General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Worldwide, cautioned Nigerians against carrying an air of superiority toward one another.

Kumuyi expressed regret that Nigeria had not been able to achieve its full potential in spite of enormous human and material resources.

Likening Nigeria to the Biblical Corinth, he said that it had not achieved greatness because of selfishness, contentions and divisive tendencies.

According to him, every section of Nigeria has a role to play in national development.

In the nation, mutual support and encouragement, sincere recognition and involvement of all well-meaning and qualified citizens are necessary to avoid wastage of lives and resources.

There is no disdain for one another, no rivalry or unhealthy competition, no false humility or fatal pride, no inferiority or vain superiority, no retaliatory indifference or reactionary independence.

We can, we must and we have to put the past behind us to build a great nation for the present and coming generations.

Interdependent, interconnected, interrelated, we are on our way to national greatness: we are unstoppable, he said.

The general superintendent said that Nigerians must put the past behind them in order to build a great nation for the present and the coming generations.

In a prayer on behalf of the group, Nigeria Prays, Gowon prayed for unity, good governance and for peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections.

Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that because of uncertainties, Nigeria had not been able to have a full-fledged Independence Day celebration since 2010.

He thanked God for giving Nigeria the enablement to celebrate in full, its 58th Independence anniversary.

Service chiefs, members of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians from all walks of life attended the service.

Also in the service were Mrs Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi, wife of former Head of State, Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Dame Beatrice Ekwueme, wife of former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme.

There were also special renditions from the choir to spice up the service and rendition from the Brigade Band in honour of the Nigerian Air force pilot who died in an air mishap involving two jets rehearsing for Independence parade.

Source: NAN