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The Nigeria Immigration Service has ordered the suspension of processing of new passport applications in all passport offices nationwide. The directive, which took effect on May 17, was disclosed in a statement signed by the Deputy Comptroller General, AB Yarima. The statement described the suspension as a necessary step to ease the preparation for the commencement of a new passport regime. “This directive, which comes into effect from today, May 17, 2021, has become necessary to allow enough time to clear all backlog of applications sequel to the commencement of the new passport regime on June 1, 2021,” said the…

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, urged the Senate to approve a new external loan of N2,343,387,942,848.00, about $6.183billion, for the Federal Government to finance the 2021 budget deficit. Senate President Ahmad Lawan read Mr Buhari’s letter of request on the floor of the Senate at plenary. Details later…

Twenty-three governors have keyed into the call for restructuring, following yesterday’s decision by governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Six PDP governors from the North, have joined the clamour by the 17 governors from the South who also canvassed a national dialogue and decentralisation of police at last week’s Asaba meeting. The PDP governors are Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Dairus Ishaku (Taraba), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Balla Mohammed (Bauchi) and Bello Mattawale (Zamfara). At different fora, Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Bello Masari (Katsina) and Babagana Zulum (Borno) had reiterated their clamour…

Comrade Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been declared wanted, according to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State. Wabba was last seen publicly in Kaduna where he led members of NLC on a protest against policies of El-Rufai’s administration. NLC had led members of affiliate unions on a protest that crippled economic activities in Kaduna. Banks, hospital, train station, airport were shut while the state was plunged into darkness as electricity workers also joined the mass action. In a tweet on Tuesday, the Kaduna governor said NLC leaders had been declared wanted for economic sabotage…

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, met with members of his cabinet in Aba on Monday to deliberate on additional measures needed to ensure protection of lives and property in the state following recent attacks on police stations by yet to be identified hoodlums. Briefing newsmen after the meeting which was attended by the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu, and other members of the state executive council, the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, stated that the state government was set to organize a security roundtable involving key stakeholders in the state to review the prevailing situation…

Security operatives have arrested a dismissed army lance corporal allegedly responsible for training and recruiting people into the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the outlawed pro-Biafra group, IPOB. According to PREMIUM TIMES, He was arrested a few days after a top commander of the group, Awurum Eze, was arrested in Aba, Abia State. The group is alleged to have been responsible for killings of security agents and destruction of public properties in the South-east and South-south zones. They have, however, denied the allegations. According to sources, the 32 years old dismissed soldier, whose name was given as…

Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia state,  Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has responded to reports circulating in the media that Senator representing Abia South Senatorial zone , Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe incited members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to attack his countryhome Igbere,  Abia State Opera news recently reported that a member of the IPOB,  Chukwuma Obidike revealed how Senator Abaribe reached out to some members of the IPOB, urging them to attack Senator Kalu's countryhome. The report quoted Abaribe to have stated that the attack would send a good  signal to other stakeholders from…

House of Representatives has refuted some media reports that the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila was opposed to the call of southern governors for restructuring. A statement by the spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu on Friday, instead, stated that the 9th House of Representatives was committed to reviewing the 1999 constitution. It will be recalled that the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan had alongside the Speaker granted interview to the State House Correspondents after observing the Eid prayers on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Recalling the speaker’s exact words, Kalu’s statement emphatically stated that nothing in Gbajabiamila’s words spoke of…

The Presidency has clarified that Gimba Yau Kumo accused of $65 million fraud in the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and has been declared wanted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC) is no longer a son-in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari. A statement issued by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Friday night informed that the relationship between Kumo and the president’s daughter ended some years ago. “While at some point in time the said fugitive from justice had been linked to a family member in marriage, that relationship has ended some years ago,” Garba said. Reacting…

The alleged killer of Akwa Ibom job seeker, Iniobong Umoren, has issued a public statement on the circumstances that led to the 26-year-old’s death. Akpan Uduak confessed to killing Umoren by using a stabilizer and pressing iron to hit her during an attempt to rape the deceased. Uduak disclosed this while being paraded at the Akwa Ibom State Police Command on Friday. The police were forced to parade the suspect following reports that there were efforts to bury the case. But speaking to the press during his parade, Uduak revealed how he lures his victim with reverse psychology and how…