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A standard gauge rail being planned from Kano State in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic is one of the projects the President, Muhammadu Buhari, plans to fund with the fresh external loans he is asking the National Assembly to approve for his regime. Buhari had asked the National Assembly to approve fresh external loans of $4.054bn and €710m ($839m) for his regime. He also sought the legislature’s approval for grant components of $125m in the 2018-2020 external rolling borrowing plan. These were contained in a letter addressed to both chambers of the National Assembly and read on the floor…

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has reacted to Femi Fani-Kayode’s defection to the All Progressives Congress on Thursday, referring to him as the ‘Judas of Oduduwa.’ In a Facebook post, Gumi on Thursday wrote: “I have for long, neglected the rantings of the Judas of Oduduwa attacking me knowing fully well that he is fake and a traitor. “Time has now caught up with him and thanks to Allah, all his vituperations are cast in the dustbin of merciless history. “It is him now, one wonders which of the seven circles of hell this duper will settle if he doesn’t…

Former Minister of Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday said he was wrong about some of his criticisms of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the past. Fani-Kayode, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, attributed his actions in the past to the fact that he did not know the President so well at the time. “It is absolutely clear to me that the perception that we had in the past, that many people had, is clearly wrong,” he said. “We can work together, we can come together, we can build bridges, we can effect unity in this country.…

Social crusader, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor has mocked former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, over his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). It was earlier reported that the former minister officially has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC. He was officially received by President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party at the presidential villa. Reacting to his defection in a chat with THE WHISPERER, Eholor who is the Global President of civil society group, One Love Foundation, said former President Olusegun Obasanjo was right in his comment about Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode.…

Governors from the south of Nigeria have expressed their support for the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT, by state governments. Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo disclosed this while reading a communique at the end of a meeting of the governors on Thursday in Enugu. Mr Akeredolu said that the governors resolved and affirmed the position that the collection of VAT fell within the powers of state governments. “We resolved to support the position that the collection of VAT falls within the powers of the state. “The meeting reaffirmed its earlier commitments to fiscal federalism and emphasised the need to…

A notorious bandit terrorising residents of Kaduna State has been gunned down by security operatives. The bandit was killed during an exchange of gunfire with security operatives around Kasarami village on Kaduna-Abuja highway. The incident happened in the wee hours of Thursday, according to a local source. A youth leader, who pleaded anonymity, said two civilians were killed while a security vehicle was destroyed by the bandits during the shoot out. The incident happened 48 hours after the Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara was abducted. The youth leader said, “A bandit was killed by security forces during the attack,” he…

Former Rivers Governor, Peter Odili has been placed on the watch list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. The NIS revealed this on Wednesday in response to a suit filed by Mr Odili, challenging the seizure of his international passport by the service. When the matter was called on Wednesday, counsel to the service, Jimoh Adamu informed the court that he had just filed a counter affidavit to oppose the suit of the former governor. Mr Adamu sought a brief adjournment to enable him put his house in order. Mr Odili’s counsel,…

Condemns destruction of lives and properties in SE Charges police, others on security The South East Caucus of the National Assembly has resolved to intervene in issue and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This was contained in a communiqué issued by the lawmakers after an extraordinary session, which held at the residence of the former Deputy President of the Senate and Leader of the Caucus, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. The communiqué, which was rendered by the Leader, South East Caucus of the National Assembly, Senator Ekweremadu, reads in part: “The South East Caucus of the National Assembly held an extraordinary session…

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill on the prohibition of open grazing in the state into law. The bill entitled, “A Bill for a law to prohibit open rearing and grazing of livestock and provide for the establishment of ranches and Livestock administration, regulation and control, and for other matters connected therewith” was passed after it was read the third time on the floor of the House during the plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aniekan Bassey. Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, and member representing Ikono State Constituency, Asuquo Udo, presented the report of…

Al-Barnawi, Notorious Son Of Boko Haram Founder And ISWAP Leader Killed Leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abu Musab Al-Barnawi has been killed in Borno State. He was reportedly killed in the last week of August, sources told Daily Trust. Al-Barnawi was the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf who was also killed by security forces in 2009 when he launched a war against the Nigerian state. More than one thousand people died during the uprising. In 2016, the Islamic State (IS) militant group announced Al-Barnawi as the leader of its West African affiliate, Boko Haram,…