Watch: Donald Trump pushes NATO leader aside in order to stand in front

US President Trump moved aside NATO leader, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic of Montenegro, to return to the front of the group at a ceremony marking the new NATO headquarters in Brussels. Then seemed to ignore a handshake by a female NATO member.

Federal Government declares Monday, May 29, as Public Holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 29 as Public Holiday to celebrate the 2017 Democracy Day. A statement from the office of the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, congratulated Nigerians for witnessing yet another Democracy Day and assuring “Nigerians of the government’s continued efforts towards guaranteeing security, revitalizing the economy and tackling corruption, which are the three main focused areas of this administration.


While a lot has been achieved in the area of security, particularly in the northeast, and in tackling corruption, recent statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics have shown tremendous improvement of the country’s GDP. No doubt the nation is closer to getting out of recession, particularly with the recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which seeks to revitalize the nation’s economy soonest.

With the recently signed Executive Orders on Ease of Doing Business, we have opened our doors wider for both domestic and foreign investors”.

Look for Ramadan moon Friday – Sultan

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has urged Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Ramadan tomorrow (Friday).

The Director of Administration of the NSCIA, Ustaz Isa Christian Okonkwo in a statement on Thursday in Abuja quoted the Sultan as felicitating with the Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Ramadan fasting.

“It is appreciative to note that, since the last Ramadan fast, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) of NSCIA, advises the President-General on the commencement of every lunar month. Based upon that, the President-General, always makes monthly declaration of the commencement of every lunar month.

“Following the advice of NMSC, the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1438 AH immediately after sunset on Friday, 26th May, 2017 equivalent to 29th Sha’ban 1438 AH,” Okonkwo said.

He said that if the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable characters on Friday night and communicated to the appropriate quarters, the Sultan would declare Saturday, 27th May as the first day of Ramadan, and that if, however, the crescent is not sighted on that day, then, Sunday 28th May, 2017 automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1438 AH.

He also enjoins Muslims across the country to be on the lookout for the directive of the Sultan on the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fast and pray that Allah grant the Ummah the opportunity to maximise the benefits and blessings of the Holy Month.

He added that in addition to the established and traditional Islamic leaders in each locality, members of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) can be contacted for information and clarification.

He listed some member of the committee that can be contacted including Mallam Hafiz Wali Chairman 08036009090, Shaykh Tahir Bauchi 08032103733, 08033058201 Bauchi, Shaykh  Kariballah Kabara 08035537382, Muhammad Nasir AbdulMuhyi 08065687545,  08024333381, Shaykh  Habeebullahi Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory 08023126335, Alhaji Abdul Hamid Oyebode  08037063923, Prof. Z I Oboh Oseni 08033574431Auchi and Shaykh  AbdurRahman Ahmad 08023141752.

Other are Malam Simwal Usman Jibrin 08033140010, Alhaji Yusuf Nwoha 08030966956, Sheik Bala Lau 08037008805, Sheik Sani Yahaya Jingir 08065687545 and Sheik Adam Idoko 08036759892 among others.

Rice importation through land borders remains banned – Customs

The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) yesterday reiterated the ban on the importation of rice through the land borders just as it has heightened its fight against other forms of smuggling.

The Service Public Relations Officer (PR

O), Deputy Comptroller Joseph Attah in an interview said Customs is encouraged by  the efforts of local rice farmers who have invested their resources to ensure enough rice in the country. NCS, he said would continue to ensure the restriction of rice import through the land borders to boost local production.

Attah said the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali said with increased  production of rice from local producers in the near future, the Service  will seek a  total ban on rice importation.

He said, “Customs reiterates the ban on rice importation through the land borders. As  local rice  production increases, the Service will not hesitate to  recommend total ban on  rice importation.”

Every patriotic Nigerian should support national food sufficiency.

Why some JAMB candidates won’t get their results — Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board on Thursday vowed not to release results of candidates identified in footages of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to have indulged in unwholesome practices during the just-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, who spoke as guest on a Channels Television current affairs programme, Sunrise Daily, said his agency had been busy in the past days reviewing recorded footages of the examination across the country, and that a number of candidates had been marked out for sanction.

Mr. Oloyede, a professor of Islamic Studies, was responding to a question by one of the anchors of the programme on why some candidates were yet to receive their results despite promises by JAMB to release outcomes within 24 hours.

The registrar said, “Those who have not received (their results) are qualified not to receive for now. In all cases where there were no problems, we released results of the examination within 24 hours.

“But those who have not (received their results), they may not be culpable but we are investigating. Where we have reason to doubt anything or where we have report of anything that is not acceptable to us, we have withheld the results.

“And we will keep on releasing them as we clear them. For instance, this morning, we released another 15,000 results. But among those who sat in that centre, we have reasons, concrete evidence to say about 300 of them, their results will not be released because we know they were not in the hall where the examination took place.

“We are comparing those who sat for the examination, how long they sat in the hall, and how some of them took excuses that they were going to the toilet only to go to what they called VIP…

Breaking News : Court orders Ifeanyi Ubah’s ‘release’

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday ordered the release of the chairman of Capital Oil and Gas limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, held by the State Security Services for alleged “economic sabotage”.

The court directed the SSS and its director general, Lawal Daura, to release Mr. Ubah from detention if no criminal action is instituted against him within 48 hours of his judgement.

“An order is hereby made, directing the 4th and 5th respondent being, the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to within 48 hours of the judgement of the court in this action, initiate or institute a criminal action against the 1st applicant before a court of competent jurisdiction if he has committed any crime against the state,” said the judge.

“An order is hereby made, directing the, the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to release the 1st applicant from detention unconditionally if no criminal action is instituted against him within 48 hours of this judgement,” said Mr. Idris.

The judge also directed the Attorney General of the Federation to “ensure strict and due compliance of the judgement.”

The secret police had arrested Mr. Ubah over allegations of “economic sabotage” and diversion of petroleum products to the tune of N11 billion.

Buhari’s health has improved significantly – Embassy Source

President Muhammadu Buhari’s health has improved significantly, although only his physicians can determine when he will return to Nigeria and to work.

“Oh yes; we thank God,” a source in the Nigeria High Commission in London, United Kingdom, told this newspaper when asked if the president’s health had improved substantially.

“He is doing very good; he is ok but his doctors will determine (when he will return).”

The official, who sees Mr. Buhari regularly, asked not to be named because he had no permission to discuss the president’s condition with journalists.

Mr. Buhari left the country for London on May 7 to continue with his medical treatment.

He had returned to Nigeria on March 10 after spending 51 days in the British capital during attending to his health.

Upon his return, the president said he “couldn’t recall being so sick since he was a young man, including in the military with its ups and downs.”

He also said he could not recall ever having blood transfusion before.

The president also hinted that he would return to the UK for further treatment.

“I’m feeling much better now. There may, however, be need for further follow up within some weeks,” Mr. Buhari had said while addressing the country.

However, as soon as he returned to the UK about two weeks ago, there were rumours that he had passed on.

An SMS announcing his death soon went viral. The text read, “Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been confirmed dead in London where he was receiving medical attention…. The Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom told reporters plans are underway to transport the body of the late President to Abuja where final burial funeral rites will be held…Vice Pres

ident Yemi Osinbajo is expected to be sworn in office as the substantive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Government is yet to issue an official statement on the President’s demise. He was 74 years old.”

Our source expressed sadness that some Nigerians could wish the president dead, saying “(it is) sad that any human being will wish another dead.”

He continued, “It’s sad but God is all seeing and will always suffice and to Him we submit all our affairs. They have failed and will continue to fail.”

On the calls for Mr. Buhari’s resignation on the ground of poor health , the source said, “Well that’s their problem because it is God that gives power and takes it when He so wishes and not anybody else.”