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The Nigerian Army has vowed to act against criminal elements disturbing the nation’s economic prosperity in the Niger Delta and the peace of communities in the South-East. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai said this in Lagos, yesterday. Buratai warned the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and herdsmen in the Niger Delta, South- East as well as in the North-Central to toe the line of peace or have the military to contend with. Buratai, who was on tour of formations of 81 Division in Lagos, said the military would not reveal its tactics but assured that the force would fish out insurgents in the North-East. The general said the military would continue in its push to rout the insurgents and ensure that peace returned to the area. The army chief also addressed troops at the Bonny Cantonment warning them to desist from actions that could make them disloyal to the government. “Remain loyal, disciplined and perform your duties ...

Bayelsa: Election didn’t hold in Southern Ijaw on December 6 –Witnesses From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa and Godwin Tsa, Abuja BAYELSA State Gover­nor, Seriake Dickson declared, yesterday, that members of the mili­tant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) are criminals. Dickson, who made the declaration during a meeting with represen­tatives of international oil companies and se­curity chiefs at the conference room of the Governor’s Office, said a solution must be found to criminal activities in the Niger Delta. Dickson declared the meeting open and de­cried killings of security personnel, innocent cit­izens and the vandalism of oil installations by the NDA. He insisted that members of the militant group are criminals and economic saboteurs. He called for concert­ed efforts to arrest the ugly trend, adding that the activities of criminal elements are sending wrong signals to foreign investors. “The way forward is for all stakeholders to discuss the issues and the nee...

The Federal Government, state governments and local councils received a net statutory allocation of N207.878 billion as federal allocation for April which was shared among the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government 52.68%, States 26.72%, Local government 20.60% and 13% derivation of Mineral Revenue for oil producing states. A communique released by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris indicated that the gross revenue of N213.817 billion received for the month was lower than the N232.619 billion received in the previous month by N18.802 billion. Oil Production increased slightly between December, 2015 and January 2016 despite explosions at Escravos Terminal, Force Majeure declared at Brass Terminal as well as Shut -in and Shut down of Pipelines at other Terminals for repairs and maintenance. However, there was revenue loss of $45.90 million as a result ...

I n its renewed determination to rid the society of crimes and all forms of criminality, the police have  arrested five of the suspects involved in the midnight raid on Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. The suspects, alleged to be herdsmen, had on April 25, 2016, attacked the sleepy community, killing over 40 persons and inflicting injuries on scores of others. They were said to have been arrested by operatives of the  Inspector-General of Police, IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, IRT, based on credible technical intelligence. SUSPECTED HERDSMEN / KILLERS ON PARADE: From left: Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Sale Adamu, Suleiman Laute, and Haruna Laute, all suspected herdsmen who attacked Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 25, 2016 as paraded by the Police, in Abuja, yesterday. The suspects include Mohammed Zurai, Ciroma Musa, Sale Adamu, Suleiman Laute and Haruna Laute. One Gionee L...

Omg! Has one of Hollywood’s most in-love couples called it quits? Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are dunzo, according to a new report, after the ‘Pillowtalk’ singer ditched her after her birthday! Click through for the crazy details! We never saw this one coming!  Zayn Malik , 23, reportedly dumped  Gigi Hadid  just two weeks after her 21st birthday, according to a source who spoke to  Life & Style  magazine. How did this couple,  who seemed so incredibly happy together , suddenly call it quits? Read on for the deets! Despite the fact that Zayn was so loving and romantic throughout Gigi’s 21st birthday celebrations (hello, he hung out with her family!), he allegedly was hiding his unhappiness. “Zayn broke the news to Gigi two weeks after her birthday,”  a source told  Life & Style . “He sat her down at dinner and told her how he felt.” Wow! So what happened? Why would Zayn allegedly break up with Gigi?  Gigi never saw Zayn’s ...

Islamist fighters loyal to Somalia’s Shebab group perform military drills at a village in Lower Shabelle region, outside Mogadishu (AFP Photo/Mustafa Abdi) A Ugandan court is due Thursday to give its verdict on 13 men tried for masterminding a 2010 bombing by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab that killed 76 people. The July 2010 suicide bombings claimed by Somalia’s Shebab targeted football fans watching the World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain at a restaurant and a rugby club in Kampala, and were the region’s worst attacks in more than a decade. “There are 13 suspects and the judgement is expected to be delivered today,” judiciary spokesman Solomon Muyita told AFP Thursday. All have pleaded not guilty. Judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo is expected to deliver his verdict at the High Court in Kampala, and could apply the death sentence if the men are found guilty. “It has been a long trial, but all will come to end today when the judgement will be delivered,” Muyita said...

Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung Team Nigeria’s hope of making an impact in the track and field event at the Rio Olympics Games may be hanging in the balance. Reason: an alleged ‘cold war’ is said to be brewing between some top Nigerian athletics coaches and the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, over an alleged attempt to impose two American coaches, Angie Taylor and Eric Campbell, on the Olympics team. Taylor and Campbell are among four athletics coaches on the payroll of the sports ministry in Abuja since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. While Taylor is said to be on a monthly take home of $12,000, Campbell is said to be receiving $10,000. The duo were employed by former Sports Minster, Bolaji Abdullahi, shortly before London 2012 Olympics Games. Some of the coaches who spoke with The Guardian yesterday at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, during the annual Pastor D.K Olukoya’s U-20 Athletics Championship, alleged that the minister wants to ‘i...

Study identifies barriers limiting further growth Although, it is still plagued by inadequate levels of awareness, poor banking culture, lack of trust and a love for the status quo, the value of e-transactions recorded in 2015 hit N48.93 trillion, up by 11.6 per cent from 2014 in Nigeria. This disclosure was contained in a White Paper report titled “Africa on the Verge (AoV) Convergence Series”, put together by AfricaPractice, a strategy and communications consultancy firm, with offices in Nigeria and abroad. A copy was made available to The Guardian. The report, which observed that the establishment of the e-commerce industry has taken place as the wider digital value chain has expanded, with the availability and efficiency of e-payments becoming a crucial load bearing segment, observed that based on the significant link between the e-commerce and e-payments sectors, an adoption of similar advocacy methods supported by favourable government policies could help customers feel pr...

Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin • War not a solution to pipeline vandalism, says committee • Panel urges Tompolo,  Ayiri  to end feud Ootraged at the increasing threat that militants in the Niger Delta posed to the economy, the Nigerian Military declared war on them yesterday. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, the service chiefs from the Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Nigerian Army (NA), Vice Adm. Ibok Ette-Ibas and Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, respectively, made the declaration of war at different military functions in Lagos. The CDS, who was the guest of honour at the navy’s 60th diamond anniversary in Lagos, said the military would continue its onslaught against militants’ activities in the Niger Delta region and insurgency in the Northeast. But about a fortnight after it was inaugurated by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to move into the creeks and halt the increasing spate of pipeline bombings through advocacy, the Delta State Advocacy Com...

• Lawmakers bemoan absence of policies to cushion hardship • Nigeria’s recession inevitable, say experts With the spectre of recession hanging over the nation, the Senate is deeply worried. Taking into cognisance the shrinking economy underscored by rising inflation, unemployment, poverty, dwindling oil revenue and other symptoms of recession, the upper legislative chamber yesterday summoned the Finance Minister, Mrs., and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele. The senators want the duo to brief the upper legislative chamber on the monetary and fiscal policies adopted to salvage the worrisome economic situation. Adopting without debate, a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom), the chamber expressed concern about revelations from several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have roles to play in the economy regarding the gloomy picture of the nation’s economic condition. Alre...

• Biotech firm seeks approval to market product as pesticide to prevent spread of diseases • Warmer temperatures quickens spread of cholera as risk identified in procedure for ‘three-parent babies’ The United States (U.S.) could soon become the first country to approve the commercial use of a common bacterium to fight the spread of mosquitoes that can transmit viruses such as Zika, dengue and Chikungunya. According to a report published in Nature, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing an application from the biotechnology start-up MosquitoMate to use the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis as a tool against the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). The company plans to market Wolbachia as a pesticide — one that kills only mosquitoes, and leaves other insects untouched. The EPA’s decision on the matter will come after a public-comment period that ends on May 31. MosquitoMate’s strategy involves rearing mosquitoes infected with a particular strain of Wolbach...

The fact that one Chibok girl basically rescued herself last week shouldn’t make any of us feel better. The family of Amina Ali Nkeki has a reason to celebrate. The rest of the world does not. The response from the Nigerian government and the Obama administration to one abducted Chibok girl’s escape last week is symptomatic of a larger issue. Real action – not just posturing and attention seeking – is needed to rescue these girls, now missing for more than two years. I was hardly surprised to see the Nigerian government immediately attempting to celebrate (and take credit for) the purported rescue of a second Chibok girl just days after Amina’s escape – the second girl, it turned out, was not actually among those taken in the mass kidnapping in 2014. After all, the Nigerian government has been more preoccupied with securing positive international impressions than they have been about securing freedom for the Chibok girls. Now more than ever, we need to refocus attention on Ami...

The "Confident" singer proudly wore a shirt showing her support for the transgender community during her performance at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. The black top featured an inclusive bathroom symbol. Lovato's shirt was a direct hit against North Carolina's anti-queer legislation, House Bill 2 (HB2). The bill, signed by North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on March 23, prohibits transgender people from using the public restroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Getty Getty Getty "Demi Lovato continues to be a fearless ally for LGBT equality and acceptance," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a press release after Lovato's performance. "By wearing her support for the transgender community, Lovato is raising critical visibility for vulnerable LGBT North Carolinians and sending an invaluable message of support to transgender people everywhere." Both Lovato and fellow singer Nick Jonas...

Enyimba players warming up for the group stage of the CAF Champions League, which draws will hold in Cairo, Egypt… today. Africa’s football ruling body, CAF, will today in Cairo, Egypt, decide the opponents for Nigerian side, Enyimba, in the group stage of the continent’s Champions League. The Nigerian champions defeated Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia 7-6 on aggregate to qualify for the group stage of the competition. CAF will today hold the draws for the group stages of both the Champions League and Confederation Cup, which, according to the body, would be steamed live on website,www.cafonline.com. The draws will hold at the CAF Secretariat in Cairo, Egypt at 2.30 p.m. local time, which is 1.30 p.m. Nigerian time. In the hunt for this year’s Champions League trophy alongside Enyimba are Al Ahly, Zamalek (both Egypt), AS Vita (DR Congo), ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire), ES Setif (Algeria), Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco) and Zesco (Zambia). Aspirants in the Confederation Cup are ...

U.S. President Barack Obama (left) during a press conference with Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace Compound in Hanoi, Vietnam…yesterday The United States (U.S.) has lifted a decades-old arms embargo on Vietnam in a historic move that follows the country’s growing assertiveness against China’s influence in the region. Speaking on a visit to Hanoi, President Barack Obama said Washington had fully lifted “the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some 50 years”. Obama is the third American president – after Bill Clinton and George W. Bush – to visit since the war ended in 1975. “At this stage, both sides have developed a level of trust and cooperation,” he added during a joint press conference with the Vietnamese president, Tran Dai Quang. Quang said the end to the embargo was “clear proof that both countries have completely normalised relations”. Despite a shared communist ideology, Vietnam is one of several ...

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (left); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Adelaja Agbabiaka and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson during the unveiling of a plaque to formally commission the newly constructed Ago Palace Way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos…yesterday.  President hale and hearty in Abuja • Nigeria on economic recovery path, says leader Amidst speculations on why President Mohammadu Buhari cancelled his scheduled official visit to Lagos, the presidency yesterday insisted it had nothing to do with an illness. It maintained its official position that scheduling difficulties led to the postponement. Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said yesterday: “People are free to express whatever they want to say, but the truth is constant and we stay on our story.” Asked to explain what he meant by scheduling difficulties he said:  “If you are challenged with scheduling, then you reshuffle things and see how best you can use...

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday revealed how the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its sub-units either lost or refused to remit a total of N2.23 trillion, consisting of $9.75 billion and N378.67 billion, to the federation account as earnings from various aspects of its operations in 2013. The Chairman of the NEITI Board, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the presentation of the report yesterday in Abuja, said some revenues that should have gone to the Federation Account in 2013 didn’t make it . He said: “These outstanding payments were due from unpaid consideration from the divested OMLs, cashcall refunds from NAPIMS, and NPDC lifting from NAOC (AGIP) JV etc, sum of $5.966 billion and N20.4 billion as revenue losses to the federation. These losses were due to Offshore Processing Agreement, crude swap, crude theft etc, sum of $599.98 million as under-assessments/under-payments of petroleum profit taxes and royalties by oil and gas...

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan delivers her speech during the World Health Assembly, with some 3,000 delegates from its 194 member states on May 23, 2016 in Geneva.  Country tops list of seven countries infected with vaccine-derived polio virus • Japanese women live longest at 86.8 years with Swiss men at 81.3 • Sierra Leone has least scores for both gender Despite worldwide increase by five years in life expectancy with Africa seeing the biggest improvement, Nigeria is among the seven countries with the lowest scores with average of 54.5 years for both men and women. The other countries in decreasing order are: Lesotho at 53.7 years; Cote D’Ivoire at 53.3 years; Chad 53.1 years; Central African Republic 52.5 years; Angola at 52.4 years; and Sierra Leone at 50.1 years. The World Health Statistics 2016 published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and first reported in DailMailUk revealed that life expectancy worldwide has increased by a...

Delay stalls recall of construction workers Contrary to the Federal Government’s promise last week, it is yet to release about N362.639 billion for capital projects in the 2016 budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). A source in the Budget Department of the Ministry of Education who pleaded anonymity said yesterday that they were yet to get any release of funds from the nation’s accountant general as is the practice. “We are yet to get any money. We only got to hear of the release in the press,” the source said. The Minister of Budget and National Planning , Udoma Udo Udoma had last Thursday, during the breakdown of the 2016 budget declared that government was to commence the release of funds from the capital project envelope, by May 13, to fast- track the implementation of the 2016 budget. When The Guardian visited the Finance and Account Departments of MDAs across the Federal Secretariat in Abuja yesterday, it was discovered that none of them had receive...