Press Statement | Page 6 of 24 | African News Today

17Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Bayelsa NUJ decries Intimidation of Journalists

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Samuel Numonengi, has decried intimidation and harassment of journalists in the country. He said the trend should be nipped in the bud insisting that journalists are in dire need of support to discharge their constitutional responsibilities. Numonengi, who spoke at the weekend in Yenagoa, while inaugurating the Solalina Media Chapel of the NUJ, said efforts to gag the press would always be an excercise in futility, as the media in Nigeria were more fortified to withstand any form of oppression and attacks. He said: “The press should be free. Some people allow themselves to be gagged. That’s the truth. While in some cases, in some areas, the government tend to want to control the Press. “But as jour...

Ohanaeze warns FG Against embarking on Unwinnable War

16Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Biafra, News, Press Statement, Security

Ohanaeze warns FG Against embarking on Unwinnable War

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Thursday said those encroaching on land in Alaigbo were provoking their people and Igbo deities. Ohanaeze President General, Prof. George Obiozor, who stated this during a press conference in Enugu, declared that “there is no ‘No Man’s Land’ in Igbo land”. Obiozor warned the Federal Government to rethink, reflect and act fast before the prophecy of the “late Chinua Achebe’s book, ‘Nigeria: There was a country’ becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy of a national reality and a national tragedy foretold.” Obiozor stated, “We all are aware that we are passing through one of the worse times in virtually all aspects of our national life. General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, over four decades ago, succinctly captured the mood of our nation today in his message to...

JAMB Scraps use of Email for UTME, Direct Entry Registration

14Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

JAMB Scraps use of Email for UTME, Direct Entry Registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that the use of email would no longer be required for the processing of registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry. The Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, said this while speaking with journalists on Tuesday evening. According to him, email would only be requested at the successful completion of the registration exercise by candidates to access information on the examination. He said, “As from Thursday, April 15, 2021, candidates will no longer be required to provide any email address during registration. “Consequently, candidates will have the following options to access their profile during or after registration. “i. Mobile APP on the candidates’ phone ...

OPC Replies Dambazau, says Ex-Minister Lost Touch with Reality

11Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Press Statement

OPC Replies Dambazau, says Ex-Minister Lost Touch with Reality

The O’odua People’s Congress has attacked a former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), for comparing it with the terrorist group, Boko Haram. It accused the ex-minister of losing touch with reality. The group in a statement on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin, said Dambazau was noted for unguarded utterances. Dambazau, speaking on Friday in Abuja at the inauguration of Army War College Nigeria Course 5/2021, said the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and the OPC shared similarities with the terrorist group, Boko Haram. He added that both the OPC and IPOB were making attempts to plunge the nation into an ethnic war. Reacting to the statement, OPC noted that the ex-minister’s statement was capable of heati...

Lagos State Govt. Eases Restrictions on Social Gatherings, Event Centres

10Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Lagos State Govt. Eases Restrictions on Social Gatherings, Event Centres

The Lagos State Government has eased restrictions on social gatherings and event centres across the state. This was contained in a press statement titled ‘Lagos State Government eases restrictions on social and event centres’, on Friday. The statement was signed by Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile Yusuff, and the Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola. “The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, after due consultation and deliberations with relevant stakeholders and MDA’s including The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and Lagos State Safety Commission has approved the further easing of social centres across the State with immediate effect,” it added. Meanwhile, Akinbile-Yusuff and Mojo...

10Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Ezekwesili Threatens to Sue Omojuwa

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has threatened to sue a blogger and social media influencer, Japheth Omojuwa, for alleged impersonation. Ezekwesili, in a letter by her lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, on behalf of Falana and Falana chambers, expressed shock she was listed as a director in Omojuwa’s media firm, Alpha Reach. A foreign medium, BuzzFeed, had exposed the role Omojuwa and other influencers allegedly played in the social media campaign for the release of alleged fraudster, Alex Saab, a Colombian who has been declared wanted in the United States and is facing extradition charges in Cape Verde. Twitter suspended the accounts of some of the influencers, alleging they promoted an unjust cause. Documents circulating online show that Omojuwa’s company, which was re...

Osinbajo Calls on Media to fight Fake News

9Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Security, Terrorism

Osinbajo Calls on Media to fight Fake News

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has called on the media to join the fight against fake news. Osinbajo noted that the systemic rot engendered by secrecy and opacity in governance was no longer the main threat to a normal functioning Nigeria, but the proliferation of fake news. The Vice-President spoke yesterday at the presentation of a book, titled: The Making of the Nigerian Flagship: the Story of The Guardian, in Lagos. In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice-President, Laolu Akande, Prof. Osinbajo suggested that the media should approach the fight against fake news by realizing the import of their power as the gatekeepers of facts. The statement reads: “Even as we strive to make governance more transpare...

DSS denies Torturing Buhari’s Late Official Driver

8Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Life, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

DSS denies Torturing Buhari’s Late Official Driver

The Department of State Services (DSS) has debunked claims that it tortured Sa’idu Afaka, the President’s official driver to death. Public Relations Officer, Department of State Services, National Headquarters, Dr Peter Afunanya, said this in a statement late Wednesday evening. It reads: “The Department of State Services (DSS) denies the misleading news by saharareporters that it tortured Sa’idu Afaka, the President’s official driver to death. “While the said driver was never arrested or detained by the Service, it is a known fact that it does not torture suspects. “Its suspect handling method is usually in compliance with the tenets of criminal justice administration system and democracy. “It may be recalled that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media ...

Polytechnic Lecturers begin Indefinite Strike

6Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Polytechnic Lecturers begin Indefinite Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has commenced an indefinite strike with effect from today. The union said this followed the failure of the government to address the sorry state of polytechnics and monotechnics and the expiration of the ultimatum issued since March 2020. The action is coming less than a week after resident doctors embarked on a nationwide strike over non-payment of allowances and other issues. Announcing this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the ASUP President, Anderson Ezeibe, said academic activities had been shut shown in all polytechnics and like institutions nationwide with effect from 12am, April 6. According to him, the union’s demands were communicated to the ministries of education, labour and others as well as to state governors but ...

Fed. Govt. to Continue Administration of AstraZeneca

6Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Press Statement

Fed. Govt. to Continue Administration of AstraZeneca

The Federal Government has disclosed that it will continue the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. It said evidence has shown that asides from being 76 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19, it also prevents severe disease and hospitalisation. Head of Public Relations Unit of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Mohammad Ohitoto, stated these in a statement in Abuja. The statement said: “Nigeria is continuing in the process of administering roughly 4 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, beginning with our frontline health workers and vulnerable individuals. There has been no change to current plans or supply. “A huge number of countries around the world are administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, including much of E...