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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Immigration authorities in Zambia on Tuesday released all the 31 Chinese nationals who were detained on Monday. The Chinese, working for copper smelting Chinese companies on the Copperbelt province, were detained by police for suspected illegal purchase of copper tailing raw materials. However, Zambian authorities failed to provide strong proof of their crimes, and released the Chinese nationals after talks with Chinese Embassy officials. The Chinese nationals were expected to be flown back to China after their release, sources said. China lodged solemn representations to Zambia on Monday following the detention of its nationals. While stating that China would not defend illegal actions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed concern over what it called “selective” law-enforcement against its citizens overseas. Zambia had detained 31 Chinese nationals for illegal mining in the African country’s copper belt on Monday, a senior Chinese diplomat said as he lodg...

http://ift.tt/2poCH53 Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, assured investors that the country would come out of the economic recession stronger and bigger with its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) policy. The acting president gave the assurance at the Presidential Policy Dialogue Session, organised by Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Lagos. According to Osinbajo, the whole objective of ERGP is to restore growth, invest in Nigerians and build competitive economy. “In order to achieve this objective, we have clarified five areas of actions. “This includes to stabilise macro-economic environment and achieve agriculture and food security. “Ensure energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products, improve transportation infrastructure and drive industrialisation, especially by leveraging on Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (SME). “Of course, we are setting up a Presidential Delivery Unit t...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Shareholders of Nestle Nigeria Plc. on Tuesday endorsed a total dividend of N7.93 billion, declared by the company, for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2016. The shareholders gave the approval at the company’s 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. Newsmen report that the dividend translated to N10 per share, compared with N21.79 billion, representing both interim and final dividend, paid in the corresponding period of 2015. Mr Sunny Nwosu, National Coordinator Emeritus, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), lauded the company for the dividend declared, in the face of challenging environment. Nwosu appreciated the board, management and staff of the company for performance posted in the period under review. He said that the company’s products quality must be sustained to maintain its leadership position in the industry. Nwosu urged the company to extend its water business production line to South-East to tap into enormous opportu...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma, Chairman, House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Nigeria-United States of America Relations/Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, has flayed Transparency International’s corruption allegations against the Nigeria Army. Agbonayinma told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that the group was collaborating with disgruntled politicians in the country to undermine the Army, in desperation to heat up the polity. In its recent report, Transparency International claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to tackle corruption and terrorism was being hampered by lack of transparency in military contract awards. “Corrupt military officials have been able to benefit from the conflict through the creation of fake defence contracts, the proceeds of which are often laundered abroad in the UK, US and elsewhere. “This makes it difficult for the military to acquire the required equipment and training to take on the militants who are armed with sophisticate...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Retired American boxer and President of The Money Gang (TMT), Floyd Mayweather reveals plans to be in Nigeria from the 12th to 14th of June 2017 . He made this known in a video put up by Tuface Idibia’s Club “Club Rumors” where he will be hosted in Victoria Island Lagos. The post Video: Floyd Mayweather reveals plans to visit Nigeria appeared first on Vanguard News . Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2qdh7QX

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), in Bayelsa has suspended its two weeks strike following the payment of N300 million by the State Government. This is according to a statement issued in Yenagoa on Tuesday by Mr Iworiso Markson, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seriake Dickson. In the statement, Markson said the resolution to call off the strike was reached after exhaustive deliberations between the state government, local governments and executives of the NUT in Yenagoa. Secretary of NUT in the state, Mr Johnson Hector, confirmed the development. Hector told newsmen, that the N300 million was to augment payment of primary school teachers in eight local government areas in the state. Hector said the money was, however, only for February 2017 salary. Newsmen report that Bayelsa government owes primary school teachers across the eight local government areas six months salaries. The secretary said the decision of the union to suspend the strike was for ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Cultural diversity, widely acknowledged as the driving force of change and development, is increasingly under threat, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said. The UN agencies, in their messages marking the 2017 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, reaffirmed support for the cultural diversity that particularly stemmed from migration. “Across the world, violent extremists have targeted cultural minorities and destroyed our shared heritage, to weaken the essential links between people and their history,” Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, said. Bokova called for a new humanism for the 21st century, to renew the fundamental aspirations to justice, mutual understanding and dignity that guide all women and men. She quoted Martin Luther King Jr., saying: “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network o...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says Nigeria is free from the “WannaCry” ransomware attack but called for sustained security from stakeholders to forestall future attacks. Dr Isa Ibrahim, the Director-General of NITDA said this in a statement issued by Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head, Cooperate Affairs and External Relations on Sunday in Abuja. Newsmen report that on May 12, the WannaCry began affecting computers worldwide, with evidence pointing to an initial infection in Asia at 7:44am UTC. The WannaCry ransomware attack is an ongoing worldwide cyber attack, which targets computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system by encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. It has affected systems of more than 200,000 individuals, more than 150 countries across the globe including Europe, America and Russia. Ibrahim, however, said that Nigeria was spared following sensitisation from relevant stakeholders...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday in Abuja, said that, contrary to the insinuations from some quarters, the 2017 budget approved by the National Assembly on Thursday was not padded by the legislators and that the budget would usher in better development in the country. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the statement in an interview with newsmen. He said, rather than criticise the budget, Nigerians should commend the lawmakers and APC leadership for making it open for public scrutiny before it was passed. Abdullahi dismissed insinuations that the budget may have been padded by the lawmakers and said that the National Assembly deserved commendation. He said that Nigerians were able to know how much was allocated to each sector of the economy, “because for the first time in Nigeria’s democratic history, its budget was open to public for scrutiny’’. This, he said, was not possible before now, adding that the A...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A ghastly accident involving an articulated vehicle along the Tsamiya-Bagudo road in Kebbi, has resulted in the death of no fewer than 24 persons. The Sole Administrator of the Bagudo Local Government Area, Abubakar Zagga, told newsmen in a telephone interview that the accident occurred on Thursday night. Although, information on the incident was still scanty as at the time of this report, Zagga said that the accident involved some people, who were mostly traders from Tsamiya, a border town with Benin Republic. The Sole Administrator said the traders were on their way to Lagos, saying that 12 victims reportedly died on thee spot. He said 12 victims on death role, were also admitted at the Koko/Besse Local Government Area hospital and six others at the Bagudo Council hospital, stressing that rescue operation was in place to save other victims. Although, effort to speak with security officials on the accident was ongoing, an eyewitness, Abubakar Magaji, also to...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J SENATOR Ifeanyi Okowa has said he will not take any Chieftaincy title while he is the Governor of Delta State. Governor Okowa dropped the hint yesterday  when he paid a courtesy call on the Odio Ologbo of Oleh in Isoko South local government area of Delta State, HRM Anthony Ovramwah who was celebrating his 80th birthday. The Governor who was also in Oleh to commission and inspect projects as part of activities to mark his second year anniversary in office, expressed gratitude to different Kingdoms that desire to honour him with Chieftaincy titles, stated that such titles would be taken after he has left office as Governor. “I will not take Chieftaincy titles during my tenure as Governor, all titles will be deferred till after I have left office,” Senator Okowa said, disclosing that he wants to concentrate on the delivery of dividends of democracy to Deltans. The Governor congratulated the Odio Ologbo for clocking 80 years and wished him happy more years on...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J A violent clash between farmers and cattle rearers in Ussa and Takum Council areas of Taraba has left at least 15 people dead while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. Alhaji Sahabi Mahmoud, the state Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Taraba and Mr David Misal (ASP), the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state Police Command have confirmed the incident. However, while Sahabi said at least 15 of his members have been killed and buried in Takum on Friday, Misal said that the police could only confirm five deaths as at the time of filing this report. Sahabi, who spoke in Jalingo on Saturday, also expressed fear that more corpses of his members might be in the bush as more than 150 of them were still missing. He claimed that hundreds of livestock belonging to the herdsmen were wandering in bush as their owners could not be traced. He called on the security agencies and the state government to com...