Nigeria Latest News Today 10th January 2019
1. President Buhari Speaks on IGP’ Retirement
During President Buhari’s interview with Arise TV, he was asked specifically about the Inspector General of Police, the President said: “I don’t think I’m afraid of him, I will take action.”
The IGP, Ibrahim Idris was expected to have retired on January 3 having completed a mandatory 35 years of service but has remained in office.
According to reports, President Buhari had extended twice, the tenures of some service chiefs like General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshall Sadique Baba Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.
On that note, speculations are also high that the IGP’s tenure may also be extended.
Though some quarters like the PDP, has raised concerns that it could be a ploy to use him in rigging the forthcoming elections.
2. 2nd Niger Bridge to be Completed Feb 28, 2022
Project Director, Julius Berger Construction Company, Mr. Fredrick Wieser has informed that with the rate the FG is going, the project would be delivered on Feb. 28, 2022.
He explained that the construction would be in three different phases.
Wieser also noted that the Federal Government made advance payment of 15 per cent which was N30 billion for mobilization.
According to him, the bridge will be 1.6 km, while the access road from Asaba end is 3.3 km and 7km from Anambra end.
“Right now, we are doing foundation work in the river which will be 50 meters deep. “The pilling work in the river will be 15 meters above water level to allow free flow of ship,” Wieser explained.
READ ALSO>> Follow Buhari’s Completed Niger Bridge to Onitsha <<
3. UN Calls for Peaceful, Credible Elections in Nigeria
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called for peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in Nigeria.
He made the call in a report to the Security Council on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, UNOWAS.
In his words, “I call upon authorities and national stakeholders to work together to ensure a level playing field and to create an environment conducive to the holding of peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in 2019 in Benin, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Nigeria and Senegal.
The UN scribe also raised concerns about reported plans for vote buying and participations of IDPs in the forthcoming elections.
4. Ekweremadu, S’East PDP Govs Working for Buhari – BMO
BMO in a statement by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke noted that a sign of the President’s wide acceptability is the fact that PDP governorship and National Assembly candidates in several parts of the country are running their campaign with posters bearing Buhari’s image.
They hailed what they described as the “legendary integrity” of President Muhammadu Buhari, disclosing that even candidates of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the North are also canvassing for the reelection of the president who is not of their party.
BMO also alleged that the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu as well as PDP governors in the south-east have also aligned with the president.
READ ALSO >>The Mood of the Nation to Determine Presidency <<
5. Anyone with Info on Shady Deals Involving Aisha or My Son Should Publish It — Buhari
President Buhari has described as unfair, allegations that he was protecting some corrupt persons in his government while those in the opposition were being witch hunted.
In his words, “It is a very unfair allegation against my integrity. I don’t think… anyway you are in a position to find out and if you do so, I don’t care.
He continued by saying, “Publish it, even if my son or my wife has a company and they are involved in deals with Customs and so on, bringing in illegal goods or whatever, I challenge you to do that.”
6. President Buhari Accuses Benue, Taraba of Ethno-Religious Undertones
President Buhari has accused the governments of Benue and Taraba states of giving the killings in their states religious and ethnic undertones.
He said: “You talked of Zamfara, Benue and Plateau, You haven’t mentioned Taraba. The problem — I think, you, the press, television, radio and so on — should stabilise the country and ask for responsible reportage and leadership.
According to him,“The number of people killed in Taraba and Benue states is not up to the number killed in Zamfara State. But then what the leadership of Benue and Taraba was reporting, I may not be reading every article, they were giving it religious and ethnic (undertone) which is very unfair to Nigeria.”
The President’s accusation came in the process of his interview on Arise TV.
7. Forgive PDP – Bukola Saraki Begs
The Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki on Tuesday said that there was no way the National Leader of APC; Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu could be allowed to annex Kwara State.
He begged the people of Kwara to forgive whoever among the PDP candidates that might have offended them previously and vote for all the candidates because of him in the interest of the State.
Saraki made his plea at the flag off campaign ceremony of the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Hon Abdulrazaq Atunwa, and other contestants of the party in Bode-Sadu, Moro LGA of the state.
8. No Nigerian Player in Africa’s Best X1
No Nigerian male player was considered good enough to play for Africa, at the moment, as they missed out in Africa’s Best X1 unveiled at the annual CAF/Aiteo awards which held on Tuesday night in Dakar, Senegal.
In the selection, African Footballer of the Year, Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Liverpool leads the attacking trio comprising Sadio Mane of Senegal and Liverpool and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang of Arsenal and Gabon.
In the midfield were Riyad Mahrez of Algeria and Manchester City, Naby Keita of Guinea and Liverpool and Thomas Partey, of Ghana and Atletico Madrid.
Kalidou Koulibaly, who plays for Senegal and SSC Napoli, Eric Bailly, Ivory Coast and Manchester United, Medhi Benatia, of Morocco and Juventus and Serge Aurier of Ivory Coast and Tottenham Hotspur were in the defence.
For the goal was Denis Onyango, who plays for Uganda and South African Premier Soccer League club Mamelodi Sundowns.
9. Naira Depreciates to N359.5/$ in Parallel Market
Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N359.5 per dollar in the parallel market.
According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), the parallel market exchange rose to N359.5 per dollar from N359 per dollar on Monday, indicating 50 kobo depreciation of the naira.
Likewise yesterday, the naira, depreciated by 19 kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window even as the volume of dollars traded rose by 158%.
Also, Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the window rose to N365.87 per dollar yesterday from N365.87 per dollar on Monday, meaning 19 kobo depreciation of the naira.
The volume of dollars traded on the window yesterday rose marginally by 158% to $292.45 million from $113.23 million traded on Monday.
10. Daily Trust’ Alleged Offense is Within Police Purview – NBA
Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, condemned the invasion of Abuja and Maiduguri offices of Daily Trust Newspapers by the Nigerian Army.
The legal body, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kunle Edun, guided that neither the Army nor any agency of the government was permitted to operate outside the ambit of the law.
The statement read: “The Nigerian Bar Association views with dismay, the reported invasion of the Maiduguri, Abuja and Lagos offices of the Daily Trust Newspapers by personnel of the Nigerian Army on Sunday, which resulted in the detention of some members of staff and disruption of business activities of the organization”.
Summarily, the NBA said the Nigerian Army had no power to arrest, detain or prosecute any civil offence, guiding that such powers remained within the purview of the Police.
11. APC Challenges PDP to Open Debate
The ruling APC during the flag off its campaign in Yola, Adamawa state, challenged the main opposition, the PDP to an open debate.
The APC urged Nigerians not to fall for the ‘antics’ of the PDP, saying: “in spite of recent apologies by the former ruling party, it remained a house of thieves who are not amenable to change”.
The rally was attended by the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Director General of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Amaechi among others.
In his opening remarks, Amaechi said the APC is ready to compare its three and a half years in power with PDP’s 16 years, urging the APC supporters to not allow the PDP back to power.
In Amaechi’s words, “The only way we can show these men that we are serious is not to allow them come back because if they come back, they will use four years to recoup what they have lost.
