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Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power, has explained while he visited the hospital after he was dropped from the federal cabinet. There have been reports that the former minister landed in hospital after he received the news of his sack. However, in a telephone interview with BBC Hausa, Mamman debunked the reports. The former minister, who admitted that he had been ill, said he has been receiving treatment since last weekend. “Even before the sack was announced, I have been seriously ill. I had not even gone to the office since earlier in the week.” “So, yesterday (Wednesday) and today…

President Muhammadu Buhari has named the current minister of Environment, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar as the new Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development. He also appointed Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing as the news Minister of Power. Both are to resume work immediately. The source on Wednesday learned that the President made the surprise move after reports of inefficiency and poor management on the path of the now ex-ministers. Justifying the move, President Buhari disclosed that it was sequel to the “tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review” through sector…

A former Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, has lost her first son, Aliyu Abubakar, in an auto crash. The deceased’s three siblings who were also involved in the accident are currently hospitalised. The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has sympathised with the former minister. Buhari’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘President Buhari mourns, as ex-minister Aisha loses eldest son.’ In a message to the father of the deceased, Kabiru Mukhtar; and the former minister, which was delivered by his aides,…

The Enugu State House of Assembly has passed the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Regulation of Cattle Ranching Bill into law. This is coming two days after the House held a public hearing on the Bill. The passage the Bill followed the consideration of the Report of Public Hearing presented by Chairman of the joint Committee, Hon. Mrs Amaka Ugwueze and Emma Ugwuerua Ph.D and Okwu Chinedu Co chairmen of the Committee The Bill which was sponsored by the leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, would forestall farmers/herders clashes as well as killing and raping of women by…

The Many Controversies Under Sacked Power Minister, Saleh Mamman Saleh Mamman, the erstwhile Minister of Power, courted many controversies shortly after he assumed office in August 2019. First of such was the sacking of the former Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi, over internal issues in December 2019. The federal government had reversed the sack to resignation. More internal crisis continued among the power sector agencies culminating in the removal of the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Usman Gur Mohammed in May 2020, a move that was frowned at by…

Saleh Mamman collapsed in Abuja and landed at the hospital yesterday after being told by President Muhammadu Buhari that he had been relieved of his job. Mr Mamman served as Power Minister since 2019 until he was fired on Wednesday as Mr Buhari conducted a minor redeployment of his cabinet members. “He collapsed yesterday and was immediately hospitalised,” a family source told The Gazette under anonymity. “He wasn’t expecting to be fired so soon.” The nature of Mr Mamman’s ailment was not immediately clarified to The Gazette, and his spokesman did not return a request seeking comments. The source said…

Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, who was relived of his duty as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Wednesday, has been under scrutiny over a number of issues, which drew adversaries to him. Since taking charge of agric ministry on August 21, 2019, Nanono has been involved in one controversy or the other. Perhaps, the most wave Nanono made as a minister since his appointment two years ago was his gaffe that a N30 meal could be enough for an adult Nigerian, in response to criticism on the economic hardship during a radio interview. Leadership change at AFAN First, his…

President Muhammadu Buhari has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, of stockpiling weapons across Nigeria. Buhari, who spoke through his mouthpiece, Garba Shehu, said IPOB members killed security agents and set government facilities in the Southeast ablaze. He stated this in response to claims by the Amnesty International on human rights violation in the Southeast. Shehu, in a statement issued on Wednesday, lamented that Amnesty International was defending IPOB which is a terrorist group. He accused Amnesty International of backing a terrorist organisation against victims of IPOB. The statement titled: “Why Amnesty entreaties should be ignored”, reads partly: “Amnesty…

Anambra state has finally joined the league of Oil Producing States in Nigeria, as it will soon start to benefit from the thirteen percent Derivation fund. This is sequel to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation And Fiscal Commission's approval of Governor Willie Obiano's request for due share of revenue accruing to the nation from oil and gas production activities in Anambra state. According to the approval letter through its secretary, Mr M.B. Shehu, and addressed to Governor Obiano, the Commission, approved the attribution of eleven oil wells wholly to Anambra state. It also approved attribution of Anambra River One, Two, and…

President Buhari to sack more ministers President Muhammadu Buhari has given a hint that more ministers may be relieved of their appointments. The president on Wednesday sacked the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono and minister of Power, Saleh Mamman. While announcing the sack of the ministers, Mr Buhari said that “that this process shall be continuous”. Rad full text of the statement is reproduced below: On Wednesday 21st August, 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn…