As of March 29, 2018, 33 months after its inauguration, the 8th Senate had passed a total of 200 bills including Senate Bills, concorrence bills and constitution amendment bills.

From its inauguration on Juna 9, 2015 the 8th senate had surpassed the 7th, 6th and 5th Senate in the number of bills passed. While the 7th senate passed only 128 bills in four years, the 6th passed 82 and the 5th senate passed 129 bills.

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki took to his twitter handle @BukolaSaraki to make the announcemnet and to congratulate his colleagues for a job well done.

Saraki expressed optimism that in the 15 months that were left, the senate would pass more bills that will affect the lives of Nigerians.

As of today, the Senate has passed 201 Bills. We still have 15 months to go, yet, we have reached this milestone. I would like to thank my Distinguished Colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the last 33 months.

As of today, the Senate has passed 201 Bills. We still have 15 months to go, yet, we have reached this milestone.

I would like to thank my Distinguished Colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the last 33 months.

See the full list here:

Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

Below is the full list of the bills passed by the senate.

1. National Railway Corporation Act 1955 N129 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment Bill 2015)

2. Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act CAP B2 LFN 2011 (Repeal and Re-enactment) 2015

3. National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (est,etc) Bill 2015

4. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (est., etc) Bill 2015

5. Electronic Transaction Bill 2015

6. Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme Act (Amendment) Bill 2015

7. Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (Est,etc) Bill, 2015

8. Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2015

9. National Poverty Eradication Commission (Est,etc)Bill 2015

10. North East Development Commission (NEDC) (Est,etc) Bill 2015

11. Erosion Control and Prevention Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2015

12. Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous provision) Amendment Bill 2015

13. Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effuru (Est, etc) Bill 2015

14. Food Security Bill 2015

15. Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

16. Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

17. Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

18. Nigeria Football Federation (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

19. National Sports Commission (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

20. Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2015

21. Witness Protection Programme Bill 2015

22. Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2015

23. Defence Space Agency (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

24. High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja (Amendment) Bill 2015

25. Air Force Institute of Technology (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015

26. Credit Bureau Reporting Bill 2015

27. 2015 Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2015

28. 2016 Appropriation Bill

29. Federal Roads Authority (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

30. National Assembly Budget and Research Office (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

31. Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill 2016

32. Federal Capital Territory Statutory Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

33. Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun Bill 2016

34. National Lottery Act 2005 (Amendment) Bill 2016

35. Electoral Act №6 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2016

36. Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

37. Petroleum Industry Governance Bill 2016

38. National Inland Waterways Act Cap N47 LFN 2004 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2016

39. Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

40. JAMB Act (Amendment) Bill 2016

41. Nigerian Customs Service Bill 2016 and Nigerian Customs Service Act (Repeal and Re-enacment) Bill 2016

42. Warehouse Receipts Bill 2016

43. Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Bill 2016

44. Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institution Bill 2016

45. Federal University of Wukari (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

46. Maritime University of Nigeria, Okerenkoko (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

47. 2016 FCT Appropriation Bill

48. Appropriation Bill, 2017

49. Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 (SB 173)

50. National Unity and Peace Corps (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015 (SB 183)

51. National Open University of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill 2017

52. Federal University of Maritime Studies, Oron Bill, 2017

53. National Institute for Legislative Studies Act (Amendment) Bill 2017

54. National Research and Innovation (Est, etc.) Bill, 2017

55. Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016 and Universal Basic Education Act 2003 (Amendment) Bill 2016

56. Nigeria Financial Intelligence Agency (Est, Etc.) Bill, 2017

57. Institute of Chartered Biochemist and Molecular Biologist Bill, 2016

58. Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2015

59. Abduction, wrongful restraints and wrongful confinement for ransom bill 2017

60. Prohibition and Protection of persons from lynching, mob action and Extra Judicial Executions Bill, 2017

61. Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2017

62. Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015

63. Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurs (est., etc.) Bill 2015

64. Chartered Institute of Capital Market Registrars Bill 2017

65. Presidential Inauguration Bill 2016

66. National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

67. FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill 2017

68. Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017

69. Federal University of Agriculture Kaaba (Establishment, etc) Bill 2016

70. Federal Colleges of Education Act (Amendment) Bill 2017

71. Niger Delta Development Commission (Amendment) Bill 2017

72. Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017

73. Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry (est., etc.) Bill, 2017

74. Demutualization Bill, 2017

75. The Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Bill, 2018

76. 2017 FCT Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018

77. Arbitration and Conciliation act cap A18 LFN 2004(Repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2018

78. Emergency Powers (Repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2018

79. Federal University Gashua (establishment, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB459)

80. National Transport Commission (Est., etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 242)

81. Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2018 (SB. 216)

82. River Basin Development Act CAP R9 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 358)

83. National Centre for Disease Control Prevention (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 256)

See More Here: NAN

As the World celebrates Easter, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has called on Christians and Nigerians across the nation to work towards emulating the virtues of Jesus Christ as epitomized by his passion, persecution, death and resurrection.

In a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki also stated that all Nigerians must remain constant in their efforts to promote unity across all lines.

He noted that it was imperative for all Nigerians to come together in order to build a country that both present and future generations can take pride in just like the work of Christ which has endured for over 2000 years and has continued to inspire generations.

This weekend, we join our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria and across the world to celebrate the Easter festivities.

This commemoration is a time for deep reflection as it marks the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. It is a time to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need.

It is also a time for all of us regardless of faith, or ethnicity to come together to pray for the peace of our nation.

We must all remain constant in our efforts to promote unity across all lines because united, our nation remains stronger and we thrive as a people.

As we do this, we must all collectively work towards playing our part in the development of our nation and its economy, Saraki stated.

Source: NAN

The Security operatives have raised the alarm of plans by some groups to disrupt the processes leading to the 2019 elections.

The evil plan, according to security, was for the groups to create a stalemate.

They warned the media against the activities of some unregistered groups that had lately been active in trying to undermine critical institutions such the law-enforcement agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, said the security chieftains made this known at an interactive meeting with owners and decision makers in the media industry.

The meeting which was held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, was addressed by the Directors-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura , and his counterpart in National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed RufaI as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin.

The security heads, however, assured that security situation in the country was within the control of the government but could be helped where the media reduced sensation from their daily coverage.

In their own assessment, our state of national security is not as bad as it is painted by the media.

Shehu said: In seeking the support from the media towards the achievement of security for everyone, the heads of the agencies emphasized that sharing and coordination among security agencies and the media is essential to counter the ever-changing threats faced by the nation.

The security chieftains also called for closer cooperation from the media to prevent terrorists and radical ideologies directed from abroad from undermining the ongoing efforts to restore security in parts of the country facing the challenges of terrorism, economic sabotage, criminality, farmers-herdsmen clashes and the spread of illegal weapons.

In a special submission by the NIA, its Director-General, Ahmed RufaI, recalled unsavoury developments of the last one year, which had put the agency in a negative limelight, but said that such developments were not peculiar to the Agency.

Similar institutions across the world have passed through this phase. What is, however, important is for the right lessons to be learnt from these developments.

I see these challenges as impetus to reposition the Agency for effective service delivery in realization of its core mandate, as a critical component of our National Security Architecture, he said.

He appealed for media support to enable the agency to reform and remain focused on tackling the challenges of international nature facing the nation which included terrorism and violent extremism manifested in activities of Boko Haram (BH), ISIS, AQIM, Al Shabaab, Al Qaeda, Ansaru, among others.

He said the nation also faced threats from the human trafficking and illegal migration, smuggling, slavery, forced labour, prostitutions, drugs trafficking, activities of drug cartels and their networks, as well as trafficking in small arms and light weapons (SALW).

He pledged that the NIA would henceforth accord much attention toward addressing the challenges of financial Crimes, identification of financial resources and properties suspected to be obtained by corrupt means belonging to Nigerians especially Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

RufaI said Herdsmen and Farmers clashes, cattle rustling etc; Piracy and Militancy, particularly in the Niger Delta: Oil theft, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism; and Cyber Crimes/ Cyber security: activities of online fraudsters and hacking would also receive priority attention.

The intelligence and security chieftains also expressed the view that the Nigerian media has a role in securing Nigerias national interest.

This expected role of the press is in tandem with global best practices, particularly on issues that have bearing on national security, they observed.

They, therefore, invited the media as partners to continue to be security conscious and exercise restraint in disseminating information that could expose the Services to ridicule or harm our National Security.

They therefore maintained that prior consultation with appropriate members of the Intelligence Community is the best way to go.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has expressed sadness over the Jibrin, the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, who died in the early hours of Friday.

In posts on his social media pages, Saraki said that Nigeria has lost another seasoned legislator and champion of the common man.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and constituents of the late Rt. Hon Umar Buba Jibrin, deputy leader of the House of Representatives, who passed away early this morning.

As a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibrin, was a seasoned legislator and a conscientious lawmaker who always put the interests of the common man first and championed them at the federal level. He will be greatly missed.

My deep condolences go out to Speaker Dogara, his colleagues in the House of Representives and the government and people of Kogi State over this great loss, Saraki said.

My deep condolences also go out to Speaker Dogara and the government and people of Kogi State over the loss of Hon. Jibril.

May the Almighty forgive his shortcomings and grant him a place amongst the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus. Amin.

Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki)

Jibril, a three time member of the house, died in the early hours of Saturday in Abuja, one of his political associates, Mr Amuda Dan Sulaiman confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) .

He was until his death, the Deputy Majority Leader of the house, as a member of the All Progressives Congress.
He was also a former Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello expressed deep shock over the demise of Jibril, who he described as one of the states most astute politicians.

Bello described the late Jibril as a man who lived in the hearts of his people, saying the vacuum he left in the state and the ruling party will be difficult to fill, according to a statement by Kingsley Fanwo, the Director General of Media and Publicity.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Presidency has advised Nigerians to be cautious of the less-than-honest apology offered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus.

It rebuffed the opposition partys apology and instead asked it and its members to return the money stolen from the public till, during the partys 16 years in the saddle.

In a statement Malam Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, said PDPs apology should be seen in the context of a former ruling party which is desperate to recapture power because it no longer has unhindered access to national resources for private uses.

The PDP has not even acknowledged the fact that it plundered the national economy, and for a party that dismissed the anti-corruption war as a political witch hunt, it is impossible to believe that its public apology comes from the bottom of the heart.

Shehudescribed as apt an earlier statement by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that there are heavy moral duties that go with apologies if the culprits want to be taken seriously.

Even desperate thieves apologise because they are caught and not because they are incapable of repeating the crime if they had another opportunity.

We believe that the PDP should not only apologise for the imposition of candidates, and the culture of impunity, but must also come clean and acknowledge that they participated in large scale corruption and massive diversions of public funds to private pockets while poverty was ravaging the ordinary Nigerians.

We challenge individual PDP leaders to publicly and voluntarily tell Nigerians how much they stole and then agree to cough up their illegal acquisitions of wealth if they want their apology to be taken seriously.

Apology borne by desperation to recapture power without a desire to admit how much they stole and the reluctance to return the loot is morally hollow. This goes beyond rebranding. Nigerians are not interested in brands. They want their money back.

For such apology to gain acceptance, the offenders must first of all show remorse; then return that which was unlawfully taken or restore the damage caused the nation; and commit to never doing the wrong they did again. The PDP has done none of these for them to be taken seriously by anyone.

Instead of addressing this cogent issue raised by the Minister, the PDP veered off to accuse this administration of borrowing money but failed, in that regard to admit that they borrowed to steal, while Buhari administration is borrowing to set up long-delayed infrastructure.

They accused the President of unevenness, of inflaming ethnic and religious tensions, when it is on record that they gave this country its divisive president who chose the hallowed premises of places of worship to read important national statements.

President Buhari never fails in his duty as the Chief Security Officer of the nation. He acts fast whenever and wherever there are incidents by ordering law-enforcement agencies to do their job and fact-finding mission to give him actionable reports.

PDPs uncaring attitude to these matters, including the kidnapping of 270 girls from Chibok is the hallmark of the long years of misrule.

Another issue of moral and political significance is about the recent disclosure by US investigators that the PDP government engaged in massive data theft that included the hacking of Candidate Muhammadu Buharis personal data before the last general elections. PDPs continued silence on this reprehensible heist only goes to confirm their remorselessness even as more and more facts are emerging that the same unfair method was the modus operandi that they used to capture political power in the 2017 elections.

Source: NAN

Lagos is to introduce 5,000 new buses and 13 terminals as part of its plan to improve the it transport sector.

The state is also to introduce an assembly plant for the production of buses, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, said this during the inauguration of the Ikeja Bus Terminal alongside President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the plan of the government is to introduce the buses within a space of three years and also introduce 820 environment-friendly buses before the last quarter of 2018.

The Ikeja Bus Terminal is one of our flagship transport infrastructure under the State Bus Reform Initiative.

The first phase of this programme will see 13 new Bus terminals introduced including major terminals at Oshodi, Yaba, Ojota, Agege and the already completed Tafawa Balewa Bus Terminal.

We have commenced the introduction of 5,000 new buses into the Lagos economy in the next 3 years.

We will inject 820 environmentally-friendly high capacity buses in the first phase of this reform by September 2018, 300 New Bus Stops, 3 Bus Depots, and Intelligent Transport System which will aid Lagosians to plan their journeys on our public transport system, he said.

Furthermore, the governor explained that the success of the state largely depends on the efficiency of the transport system, hence the need to invest more in the sector even beyond road transport.

This according to him, will help to meet the connectivity and mobility needs of Lagos residents as well as promote healthy lifestyles.

Our concentration is not only on bus/road transportation. We are promoting Non-Motorised Transport such as walking and cycling paths to give our people modal choices while promoting healthy living.

Work is ongoing on the 27-kilometre Blue Line Rail project from Okokomaiko West of Lagos to Marina in Central Lagos. We are in discussions with various investors and stakeholders on our urban rail project, the Red Line from Alagbada to Marina.

The success of a highly populated, cosmopolitan smart city-State like Lagos is strongly dependent on the efficiency of its transportation system.

We are committed to a functional, efficient and integrated transport system which will support our population and facilitate our commerce and we will continually work till we achieve this objective and we will always count on your usual support, , he said.

Source: NAN

Clement Ogbeh, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has died.

He died last week in an accident along Markudi-Lafia Road on his way to Benue.

Until his death, he was the Principal Manager at Central Bank in Abuja. He will be buried today.

Clement was the younger brother of Chief Audu Ogbeh, the minister of agriculture and Rural Development.

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent condolences to Audu Ogbeh, Clement Ogbehs nucleus family, his friends and colleagues at the CBN.

According to a statement from Senior Special Assistant on media to the President , Garba Shehu President Buhari prays that God will comfort the family of the departed, and grant his soul eternal rest.

Source: NAN

A judge in Los Angeles, California, United States has ordered coffees globally known retailer Starbucks Corp and other coffee sellers to put a cancer warning on coffee sold in the state.

A little-known not-for-profit group sued some 90 coffee retailers, including Starbucks, on grounds they were violating a California law requiring companies to warn consumers of chemicals in their products that could cause cancer.

One of those chemicals is acrylamide, a byproduct of roasting coffee beans that is present in high levels in brewed coffee.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle said in a decision dated Wednesday that Starbucks and other companies had failed to show there was no significant risk from a carcinogen produced in the coffee roasting process, court documents showed.

Starbucks and other defendants have until April 10 to file objections to the decision.

Starbucks declined to comment, referring reporters to a statement by the National Coffee Association (NCA) that said the industry was considering an appeal and further legal actions.

Cancer warning labels on coffee would be misleading. The U.S. governments own Dietary Guidelines state that coffee can be part of a healthy lifestyle, the NCA statement said.

In his decision, Berle said: Defendants failed to satisfy their burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that consumption of coffee confers a benefit to human health.

Officials from Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds Corp , Peets and other big coffee sellers did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported.

The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by the Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT). It calls for fines as large as $2,500 per person for every exposure to the chemical since 2002 at the defendants shops in California.

Any civil penalties, which will be decided in a third phase of the trial, could be huge in California, which has a population of nearly 40 million.

CERTs lawyer Raphael Metzger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Starbucks lost the first phase of the trial in which it failed to show the level of acrylamide in coffee was below that which would pose a significant risk of cancer. In the second phase of the trial, defendants failed to prove there was an acceptable alternative risk level for the carcinogen, court documents showed.

Several defendants in the case settled before Wednesdays decision, agreeing to post signage about the cancer-linked chemical and pay millions in fines, according to published reports.

Source: NAN

The Czech Republic has extradited Russian citizen Yevgeniy Nikulin to the United States where he is accused of hacking social networks including LinkedIn.

The Czech Justice Ministry announced the extradition on Friday.

The decision by Minister Robert Pelikan defied Russia, which had also sought his extradition after Nikulin was arrested in Prague in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2016.

We confirm extradition to the United States, a Justice Ministry spokeswoman said in a text message after earlier reports. He has already flown out.

A U.S. federal grand jury in California indicted the 29-year-old Nikulin in 2016 on suspicion of hacking into the U.S.-based social media firms LinkedIn, Dropbox and Formspring in 2012.

LinkedIn has said the case was related to a 2012 breach that it previously said might have compromised the credentials of 100 million LinkedIn users, prompting it to launch a massive password reset operation.

Nikulin has in the past denied any wrongdoing in comments to Czech media. Reuters could not immediately reach his attorney on Friday.

After Nikulins arrest in Prague, a Moscow court issued a warrant for his arrest in November 2016 for the alleged theft of $3,450 via Webmoney in 2009, the Czech Justice Ministry said then.

The U.S. embassy in Prague welcomed Nikulins extradition.

We value immensely our cooperation with the Czech Republic on a range of issues including judicial, law enforcement, and police matters, it said in a statement.

Courts in the Czech Republic, an EU country and U.S. ally in NATO, ruled extradition to both countries was permissible, and the decision was up to Pelikan.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he was in favor of extradition to the United States but Pelikan said President Milos Zeman, who often takes a pro-Russian stance, had urged extradition to Russia.

Pelikans decision was closely watched because Babis needs Zemans support as he tries to build a new government after his minority cabinet lost a confidence vote last month. Zeman has the right to appoint prime ministers and has promised Babis another try at installing a government.

Pelikan refused in 2016 to extradite two Lebanese citizens charged in the United States with an attempt to sell ground-to-air missiles, cocaine trafficking and other crimes.

Another Czech cabinet minister said at the time that this decision was connected with the return of five Czechs from a presumed kidnapping in Lebanon.

Source: NAN

The Ekiti Government says it has paid N400 million as compensation to those affected by the ongoing demolition exercise in the state.

The State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Tayelolu Otitoju disclosed this during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.

Otitoju explained that governments action on the demolition was not to deliberately render residents homeless, and thereby make life difficult for them, as being insinuated.

He said that the exercise was part of the Urban Renewal programme of the present administration, aimed at giving Ado Ekiti, the state capital and other major towns a facelift that would make it wear the toga of a real state capital.

The beneficiaries received between N100,000 to N2 million as compensation, depending on the nature and size of the structure because, some of them were either built with mud while others were modern houses.

The Commissioner disclosed that more than 300 houses had so far been demolished under the exercise in Ado Ekiti, Ikere Ekiti, Efon Alaaye, Omuo Ekiti, Ise Ekiti, Emure Ekiti and Ijero Ekiti, among others.

He said the relatively high number of houses demolished by the present administration was as a result of the rapid development going on in the state.

He emphasised the level of development witnessed in the state in the last three and a half years adding that it was a confirmation of the determination of Governor Fayose to improve the lot of the people.

Otitoju said that government embarked on the project to ease traffic congestion and adhere to urban policy of any civilized society.

The Commissioner, however announced that government would not compensate owners of demolished houses that were built on waterways noting that the recalcitrant property owners had treated several government notices of contravention with disdain.

He warned developers in the state against further construction without approved building plan and enjoined interested developers to henceforth avail themselves with the status of any plot of land before the purchase.

He added that necessary title deeds must first be obtained from the Ministry before commencing construction in order to prevent avoidable embarrassment in future.

Source: NAN

An out-of-control Chinese space laboratory, Tiangong-1 that will plunge back to Earth in the coming days is unlikely to cause any damage, Chinese authorities say, but will offer instead a splendid show akin to a meteor shower.

The Chinese assurances came amidst anxieties about where the 8618.255 kg craft will make its landing.

The concern is expressed by the US-based Aerospace Corporation over possible exposure by humans to hydrazine, the deadly chemicals, used as rocket fuel. It is cancerous and may cause liver and nerve damage, the agency said.

But there is no need for people to worry, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said on its WeChat social media account.

Such falling spacecraft do not crash into the Earth fiercely like in sci-fi movies, but turn into a splendid (meteor shower) and move across the beautiful starry sky as they race towards the Earth, it said.

Chinas space agency said on Thursday that the nearly eight-tonne Tiangong-1 will re-enter the atmosphere some time between Saturday and Monday. The European Space Agency has a smaller window between midday Saturday and early Sunday afternoon GMT time.

The lab was placed in orbit in September 2011 and had been slated for a controlled re-entry, but it ceased functioning in March 2016 and space enthusiasts have been bracing for its fiery return.

Beijing sees its multi-billion-dollar space programme as a symbol of the countrys rise. It plans to send a manned mission to the moon in the future.

China sent another lab into orbit, the Tiangong-2, in September 2016 and hopes to turn it into a crewed space station by 2022.

Experts have downplayed any concerns about the Tiangong-1 causing any damage when it hurtles back to Earth, with the ESA noting that nearly 6,000 uncontrolled re-entries of large objects have occurred over the past 60 years without harming anyone.

The CMSEO said the probability of someone being hit by a meteorite of more than 200 grammes is one in 700 million.

During the uncontrolled re-entry, atmospheric drag will rip away solar arrays, antennas and other external components at an altitude of around 100 kilometres, according to the Chinese space office.

The intensifying heat and friction will cause the main structure to burn or blow up, and it should disintegrate at an altitude of around 80 kilometres, it said.

Most fragments will dissipate in the air and a small amount of debris will fall relatively slowly before landing, most likely in the ocean, which covers more than 70 percent of the Earths surface.

Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, estimates that the Tiangong-1 is the 50th most massive uncontrolled re-entry of an object since 1957.

Much bigger things have come down with no casualties, McDowell told AFP.

This thing is like a small plane crash, he said, adding that the trail of debris will scatter pieces several hundred kilometres apart.

At an altitude of 60-70 kilometres, debris will begin to turn into a series of fireballs, which is when people on the ground will see a spectacular show, he said.

Source: NAN

Still battling to put its pieces together, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , has launched an attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as confused.

APC also picked hole in the national apology tendered by PDP early in the week, describing it as feeble and unacceptable until looted funds were returned.

PDP which is still battling leadership crisis since its ouster in 2015, said on Tuesday that the confusion in National Executive Committee (NEC) further exposed the raging impunity, primitive impositions and other undemocratic tendencies in APC.

PDP which tendered a public apology early in the week for running the country aground, said that it was clear that the APC went into a chaotic mode following the renewed interest of Nigerians in the rebranded PDP.

PDPs National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the confusion in APC directly explained why the country had been in shambles in the last three years.

There is no way a party which cannot conduct its affairs in a democratic norm will be able to function in government.

We are therefore not surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari went back to his partys NEC and ordered members to reverse earlier decisions, which they had claimed conformed with the provisions of their constitution.

It is amazing that a party, which boasts of belonging to the progressive bent, does not even understand its own rules or the applications thereof.

In one breath, the party sought the elongation of tenure for its officials and then in another breath it reversed itself.

Nigerians are no longer at loss as to the reasons for failure of governance, policy summersaults and gross incompetence that have brought our nation to its knees in the last three years.

Ologbondiyan urged all democrats still the APC to immediately exit and join other good-spirited Nigerians in the rebranded and repositioned PDP to make life better for Nigerians.

The Minister of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had earlier attacked PDP for tendering a shallow apology Nigerians for the massive looting of the nations treasury.

Mohammed called on the PDP to go the whole hog with its apology to Nigerians by returning all the funds looted from the public treasury under its watch during its 16 years in power.

Mohammed, also challenged PDP to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude.

The PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.

Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologize, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit, Mohammed said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Myanmars parliament elected Aung San Suu Kyis confidant Win Myint as the countrys new president on Wednesday, a week after predecessor Htin Kyaw abruptly stepped down from the position.

Both houses of parliament voted the ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD) stalwart into the position with 403 votes from the 636 lawmakers.

The 66-year-old former lower house speaker became Myanmars 10th president and takes the position after the NLD swept to power in elections in 2015, the first fully democratic polls after decades of military rule.

Both Win Myint and his predecessor are close to Suu Kyi, who is barred from the presidency and rules the civilian government under the title of state counsellor.

Suu Kyi observed the vote from parliaments gallery alongside other ministers.

Myanmar and Suu Kyi in particular have been criticised internationally for the treatment of the countrys minority Rohingya, nearly 700,000 of whom have fled to Bangladesh during a military campaign described as ethnic cleansing by the UN.

Win Myint has been described as strong-willed in his role as speaker and an assertive politician, leading observers to predict he may take on a fuller role as president, rather than the ceremonial one performed by Htin Kyaw.

Win Myint, who represented the lower house, beat two other vice presidents representing the upper house and the military respectively to secure the presidency.

Source: NAN

Prof. Mike Ogirima, the President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Wednesday called on the members of the association to join active politics ahead of 2019 general elections.

Ogirima made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said the need for them to engage in active politics became necessary to enable them make enhanced contribution to the health sector.

We have found out that we have few medical workers in politics and bills concerning the health welfare are not receiving adequate attention, he said.

The president, who noted that not many health workers were involved in active politics, said the development was disturbing and raised serious concern for the association and the health sector.

If you dont blow your trumpet, nobody will do it for you and if you dont look for your welfare, nobody will do it for you.

That is why we are encouraging our members to participate in partisan politics.

The president said that there was need for advice and guidance before certain bills regarding the health sectors are being passed.

Ogirima said though not all members might be interested to be active politics, but a sizable part of NMA members should get involve in partisan politics.(NAN)

Source: NAN

By Edith ike-Eboh

Pope Francis has called for Ecclesiastical Cleansing of the Ahiara Catholic Diocese to intercede for Gods love and mercies for all the faithful in the diocese.

Popes directive was conveyed in a letter read at the 2018 Chrism Mass on Wednesday in Abuja.

Chrism Mass is an annual Mass celebrated in every Catholic Diocese by the Bishop, at the Mass, the priests renew their vows and the three oils used in the church are also blessed by the Bishop.

The Chrism Mass ushers in the Easter Tridum (last supper, Good Friday and Holy Saturday).

The letter, which was read by Rev Fr Rowland Nwakpuda at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, said that the Pope called for spiritual rebirth of the Ahiara Diocese.

John Cardinal Oniayekan, the Catholic Arch Bishop of Abuja said that he received the papal Letter and was asked that it should be read to all the Catholic faithful in Nigeria.

He said that certain decisions had been taken by the Pope concerning the diocese and the Church of Nigeria would continue to wait and would respect the orders of the pope.

Oniayekan said that the Holy Father condemned the irresponsible and unfortunate act of the Ahiara priests and noted that the whole church had been affected by it.

Onaiyekan said that Pope commended the humility of Bishop Peter Okparaeke who resigned his appointment as the Bishop of the Diocese.

He added that the Pope called on all Catholic Bishops of Nigeria to ensure spiritual rebirth of the church in Ahiara.

Oniayekan quoted the Pope as saying that the priest of Ahiara Diocese should renew their priestly vows with commitment and show honest solidarity to the church.

The bishop said that that the Holy Father, in the letter, noted that he received 200 letters of apology from the Ahiara priests and had responded to each person individually.

Every priest should renew their vows publicly, also the lay faithful, Pope said.

The Pope also urged the Laity to ensure that they helped their priests to do the right thing as he still had special interest in the diocese.

The Clergy and the Laity of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara-Mbaise in Imo State had refused to accept Bishop Okpalaekes appointment as their local ordinary on grounds that he is an Mbaise indigene.

The stalemate lingered as the priests of Ahiara insisted that one of the priests of the Mbaise origin should be chosen as the bishop of Ahiara.

Okpalaeke,had on February 14, 2018 written to the Vatican, asking that he be relieved of the diocese headship and be posted to any other area of assignment, where God and the Holy Father may deem fit, to enable him continue in service.

His resignation was accepted and Most Rev Lucius Ugorji, Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, was appointed as the new apostolic administrator of the Diocese.(NAN)

Source: NAN

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, has removed Ali Janga, the commissioner of police in Kogi over the disappearance from detention of six suspects, two of whom had claimed they were hired and armed by Senator Dino Melaye.

The Commander FSARS in the State, the Divisional Police Officer A Division, Lokoja and other Police officers implicated in the escape have also been transferred out of the state and are at the moment facing disciplinary action.

In addition, 13 police officers have also been detained and are facing investigation, the Police PRO, Jimoh Moshood said.

Moshood said Idris was dissatisfied with the circumstances surrounding the escape of the suspects.

Two of the suspects that broke their detention were KabiruSeidu a.k.a Osama, Nuhu Salisu, a.k.a Small). They were to serve as principal witnesses in the case against Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu.

The case of conspiracy and unlawful possession of Prohibited Firearms filed filed at the Federal High Court, Lokoja came up in court today, 28th March, 2018.

According to Moshood, IGP Idris has ordered Esa Sunday Ogbu, a police commissioner with Federal Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja to proceed and take over as the new Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command.

Furthermore, on the order of the IGP, the IGPs Intelligence Response Team and Special Tactical Squad, Personnel of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department have already arrived in Kogi State to work with the Police personnel in the State for immediate re-arrest of the escaped suspects. They are to also carry out detail investigation into the escape and bring all those involved to justice.

The Force wishes to implore the good people of Kogi State to remain calm and assist with useful information to the Joint Police Investigation Team. They can report any information they have on the escaped suspects to the nearest Police Station in the State or any other State in the country.

Earlier today, CP Janga had shocked journalists when he announced the escape of the two principal suspects in the Melaye case, along with four others.

He said that 13 policemen on duty at the A Division, Lokoja, have been detained over the incident.

He named the four other suspects as Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed.

The escape of the suspects came, even when the police were foot-dragging in arresting Melaye, who was declared wanted, but appeared at the Senate Plenary on Tuesday.

Janga said the suspects, along withMelaye and Mohammed Audu have now been put on a watch-list and red notice by the INTERPOL for immediate arrest anywhere we see them.

Source: NAN

Music mogul, Michael Collins Ajereh a.k.a Don Don Jazzy, who has not hidden his crush on famous blogger Linda Ikeji, `weeps over the news of her engagement.

According to some online reports on Wednesday, Lindas ex-boyfriend recently relocated to Nigeria and they the lovebirds decided to rekindle their affair and got engaged.

Don Jazzy, whose hidden crush on the famous blogger excited fans, posted a picture on his instagram @donjazzy as he was being consoled by some friends over his dashed dreams of making Linda his `wife.

He also wrote with a crying emojis: Kai Linda is engaged. It is finished.

Don Jazzy made several moves that he proposed to her on social media and frequently made various posts on his instagram handle; one of such was a recent photo of Linda with the caption When you re fine you re fine abeg.

Peter Okoye of the defunct PSquare, offered to sponsor his wedding with Linda if Don J made good his promise.

Meanwhile Sandra, Lindas sister confirmed the good news on her instagram handle on Wednesday.

Sandra wrote @sandra_Ikeji: congratulations @officiallindaikeji So habby sweet sis! This tells me that sometimes the wait is worth it.

Cant wait to plan your special day @eventsbysi are you readyyyy #itsagetaway.

The news was also confirmed by another sister Laura, @lauraikeji who wrote, Congrats Linlin @officiallindaikeji.

The 37 year old blogger and entrepreneur, is yet to confirm the news. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Ecuador has cut off WikiLeaks founder Julian Assanges outside communication in its London embassy, an official has said.

The official said the wanted hacker will be denied access to communications inside the Ecuador embassy in London as Ecuadorian authorities said his messages are interfering with other states matters and hurting relations with the UK.

According to reports, Ecuador government also said it could take additional measures against Assange for this alleged interference with other States, an indirect reference to UK or Spain.

According to some sources, the denial of communication privileges, may be a precursor to Ecuadors expulsion of the Australian from its Embassy, which could lead to his arrest in UK

A collaboration between Nollywood and Hollywood to showcase Nigerias best films, is now to become an annual event.

The organisers of the event revealed this as two Nollywood films THE BRIDGE and ISOKEN were showcased in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on Saturday night at The Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre Complex in Los Angeles.

The screening of the two films brought to three the Nollywood films showcased in Hollywood, with the screening earlier on Friday of 93 DAYS, a film on Nigerias resilience during the Ebola virus outbreak in the country.

The film 93 DAYS is a compelling drama of dedication, sacrifice, resilience and survival based on the true story of the people who risked their lives to stop the spread a catastrophic virus in Nigeria.

The screening of the three Nollywood films, which started on Friday and continued on Saturday, was the first collaboration between Nollywood and Hollywood.

This is also the first time that national film series, the foremost film programme in the world and the most historic of all of Hollywoods cinema houses, are teaming up to bring a film series from Africa to Hollywood.

Nigeria joined a select list of seven countries from around the world to be part of the prestigious national screening series, according to the organisers.

THE BRIDGE was a film about inter-tribal marriage in Nigeria and the challenges associated with it, as it seeks to end the inter-tribal prejudices and strengthen marriages among Nigerias diverse ethnic nationalities

Obadare, a Yoruba prince, and Stella, a young lady from a distinguished Igbo family, are a couple whose relationship is threatened by tribal prejudice and parental plans for their lives.

When the couple secretly weds against their parents wishes, the consequence shakes the very foundation and sustenance of both families.

Similarly, ISOKEN is a romantic comedy that explores cultural expectations, racial stereotypes and the bonds that unite families in touching, dramatic and comedic ways.

Everyone in the Osayande family worries about Isoken, although she has what appears to be a perfect life beautiful, successful and surrounded by great family and friends.

However, she is unmarried at the age of 34, which, in a culture obsessed with marriage, is serious cause for concern.

Things come to a head at her youngest sisters wedding when her overbearing mother thrusts her into an orchestrated matchmaking with the ultimate Edo man, Osaze.

Osaze is handsome, successful and from a good family, making him a perfect Nigerian husband material.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, Isoken meets Kevin who she finds herself falling in love with and he just might be what she truly wants in a partner.

The only problem is, not only is he not an Edo man, he is Caucasian.

The screening was a question and answer series moderated by the Chairman of the African-American wing of the Directors Guild of America and an open air, post-screening Nigerian party on the historic Hollywood Boulevard.

The film was co-presented by the American Cinematheques Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California and O2A Media Inc., the production company of Nigerian-American filmmaker, Ose Oyamendan.

Source: NAN

It was a night of trumpets, saxophones, conga, piano, drums and guitars at a concert to close the Francophone Week in Abuja on Saturday.

Fourteen musicians displayed their talents as they perform to entertain guests at the event organised by the embassies of France and Belgium in Nigeria.

The event held at the Institut Francais du Nigeria, attracted the popular Bitter Cola Afrobeat band from Lagos, one of the star attractions.

The band using the saxophone, played some of the classical Fela Anikulapo Kutis tunes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports week-long event began with the Chefs Taste Challenge under the Good France Programme at the French Embassy.

It was aimed at strengthening the cultural relationship between Nigeria and France through gastronomy.

The Chefs challenge was to celebrate the cuisines of both countries, and also to promote both local and European chefs.

There were also school performances, which involved drama, singing, dancing and a special quiz, all in French.

The event was organised by the Institut Francais, in partnership with Nigerian schools.

Also, a tasting event called Come and Taste different traditional meals from Francophone countries was held in different restaurants in the city.

The participating restaurants were Relais Cafe Restaurants and Catering Services, Zuma Grill at Transcorp Hilton, Helenes Food Co and Le Petit Square, at the Grand Square restaurants.

A student of the institute told NAN that the festival was an interesting experience which has created a platform for the students to interact with French speaking people.

She added that the night allowed them to unwind and to get to know each other, using French to communicate.

NAN reports that Attieke Republic Restaurant was all night for guests to experience the cultural cuisines of France. (NAN)

Source: NAN