Curator

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Abiola Gbemisola It is easy to quickly dismiss the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, as one who doesn’t get his priorities right when you consider the news that he has appointed 192 Special Assistants from all the 192 wards in the 18 local government areas of the state to “serve as representatives of the government at the grassroots”. But such conclusion can be reached when one is only thinking on the surface or doesn’t understand the sense in the governor’s action. If Governor Obaseki’s decision appears as madness, to borrow the Shakespearean axiom, I bet there is unclouded method in it. In that connection, I don’t think the Edo governor should be flailed for walking his talk on making the government he heads closer to the people. While we can’t roll out drums and celebrate this move, it’s also untoward that we dismiss the man as confused. That he has chosen to appoint men and women from each ward in the state in order to distil valuable information on ...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, has urged Nigerians to ignore the media reports on Coup plot, saying it should not be stretched beyond what the military authorities had said. Adesina stated this at a media chat with State House correspondents to mark two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Tuesday in Abuja. According to him, what the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, said about the issue was a “routine warning that goes to military officers.’’ The presidential aide addressed the correspondents alongside the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Laolu Akande (Office of the Vice-President). Adesina said: “The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don’t hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position. “Let’s take th...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J African Union Directors-General of Customs have been urged to resolve to implement Free Trade Area agreement (CFTA), to boost trade on the continent. Sen. Hope Uzodimma, Chairman Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, made the call when he spoke to newsmen at the ongoing first extra-ordinary meeting of African Union Sub-committee of Directors General in Abuja on Tuesday. He said the implementation of CFTA would facilitate trade in Africa, adding that this can only happen if the CFTA was implemented with utmost transparency. “I wish to encourage you to adopt a strong resolution, urging African heads of states and governments to implement CFTA which in Jan. 2012 they agreed to establish in 2017. `This agreement was inspired by the initiative of an African plan for boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIATA). “ The focus of the leaders at the 2012 summit was to boost intra-Africa trade. “This is to be done by increasing productive capacity, trade related infra...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 4, 2017 secured the conviction of a Supervisory Councillor from Mafa Local Government Area, Umar Ibrahim and one Bulama Ali Zangebe, who were prosecuted before Justice F. Umaru of the State High Court Maiduguri on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy to sell and misappropriate the proceed of rice meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mafa Local Government. Ibrahim was arrested alongside Zangebe and Modu Bulama, for allegedly diverting180 bags of rice donated by Danish Refugee Council (DRC), a Non Governmental Organization, for victims of insurgency in Mafa Local Government, In his Judgment, Justice Umar held that “The EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt as there was an agreement to do illegal act. The convicts conspired to do illegal act to sell rice meant for the IDPs”. He therefore sentenced both convicts to two years and a fine of N1m each on the charge of criminal ...

http://ift.tt/2e2ufEm By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor Lagos—President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Mrs. Funke Ebgbemode yesterday decried the subtle strangulation of the media through economic means even as some of the country’s leading media persons expounded on how the media can tackle challenges opened by the new media. Mrs. Egbemode spoke at the World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Lagos organised by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate in collaboration with Lagos Television (LTV) . Among leading media lights at the occasion were the publisher of Premium Times , Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of The Cable , Mr. Simon Kolawole, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye of the University of Lagos,  Consul-General at the United States Consulate in Lagos, Mr. John Bray, himself a former journalist among others. Noting the challenges facing the media,  Egbemode said that though the media was still grappling with physical frontal attacks across the count...