The House of Representatives on Thursday ordered the Presidency to immediately stop the $40 million spying contract allegedly awarded to an Israeli Firm pending completion of its investigation into the controversial contract. The said contract awarded to Elbit Systems, is expected to focus on the internet activities of Nigerian journalists, as well as monitor the activities of more than 45 millions Nigerians on the internet. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau had raised a motion under matters of urgent public importance, saying the contact was awarded secretly in wanton disregard of due process, fiscal responsibility act and bureau of public procurement act…
Author: tech
The Federal Government on Thursday empowered 53 consultants to verify remittances to the Federation Account by the 21 banks hired by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Custom Service. The verification and reconciliation exercise will cover a period of four and half years beginning from January 2008 to June 2012. Inaugurating the consultants in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam, said the lead consultant was expected to submit the final report on August 15. Mbam said the exercise became imperative following irregularities in the remittances of revenue from collecting banks engaged…
President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday pledged that his administration will take immediate steps to fully implement the report of the Presidential Committee on a National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap. Speaking after receiving the report which was jointly presented to him by the Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson and the Co-Chairmen of the Committee, Ernest Ndukwe and Jim Ovia, President Jonathan said that he was confident that the successful implementation of the National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap will help to positively revolutionize communications in Nigeria. President Jonathan said that he wholly subscribed to the committee’s view that broadband is to…
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has called on Nigerian government and neigbouring countries to provide adequate protection for the displaced people as troops of the Special Forces continue to battle the Boko Haram insurgency in the northern part of the country. The Agency claimed that more people are fleeing the north-east Nigeria and expressed concern that they are being turned back by the neigbouring countries. It therefore, urged governments of the countries that border Nigeria to allow the displaced people to enter their counties, assuring that UNCHR would be willing to assist and provide comfort as they arrive.…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday tasked political leaders to adopt practical measures to accelerate effective utilisation of human and natural resources for sustainable development in the country. Obasanjo gave the challenge while speaking at the maiden Jigawa Economic and Investment Summit in Dutse. The summit was organised by the state as part of the activities to mark the 2013 Democracy Day celebration. The major highlight of the summit was to encourage investment on agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), solid minerals and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). Obasanjo said that Nigeria was endowed with abundant…
Jose Mourinho is going to be Chelsea’s manager next season after he signed a 4-year 40million-pound contract, The Sun reports. A senior Blues source revealed: “It’s official Jose is a Chelsea man again! Everyone is delighted he’s coming back — the club, the players and the fans“We are already looking forward to next season — we are sure it’s going to be very exciting.” The Sun exclusively told you on May 3 that Real Madrid chief Mourinho was heading back to the Bridge.And we can now reveal Mourinho finally put pen to paper during a two-day trip to London…
The Delta State Commissioner for Works, Funkekeme Solomon, said the government had embarked on 851 projects at N225 billion across the state to improve socio-economic life of the people. Solomon announced this in Asaba, the state capital, at the inauguration of some of the projects to mark the 2013 Democracy Day. Solomon said that nine roads covering 11 kilometres had been completed at N3.7 billion. He said the state government placed emphasis on road infrastructure. According to him, the completion and inauguration of the projects underscored the attention and zeal with which the physical infrastructure development aspect of the…
I just read Rotimi Fashakin’s response (if you can call it that) to Reuben Abati’s statement released earlier today. While Abati’s statement was long on facts, Fashakin’s was long on insults and pettiness and one begins to wonder if his statement betrays what Nigeria should expect of his party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) if it ever assumes power. Firstly, it is befitting that Fashakin is spokesman to a party founded by a man who outlawed truthful reporting that embarrassed his government when he was in power as a military dictator. Obviously, the apple did not…
Nigerian military authorities on Wednesday announced that another set of 50 insurgents have been arrested by troops of the Special Forces as they intensify effort to completely dislodge the Islamist sect, Boko Haram from the three states where emergency rule is in place. Brig Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information however, attributed the success to the efforts of the trained military police dogs that are now part of the search team. President Goodluck Jonathan recently declared state of emergency in three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. He said the sect members were arrested while trying…
By: Bolaji Oyegunle: There is a growing concern in Europe that Nigeria may not meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 5 which deals with maternal mortality by 2015. It is believed that the country along with Zimbabwe may fall short of their pledged spending on health. Nigeria in particular is expected to fall short of its pledged spending on health by £14.9 billion pounds sterling despite earning about £35 billion from oil revenue in 2011. This is the submission of ‘One Campaign’, a grassroots advocacy movement of three million people in Africa and around the world fighting the…