INEC receives additional 4.1m PVCs

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has disclosed that the commission had taken delivery of additional 4.1 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for distribution to registered voters.

Jega disclosed this while responding to questions at the launch of ``Mitigation of Violence in Election’’ organised by the International Foundation for Election System (IFES) in Abuja.

Naira hits N208 to the dollar at BDCs, Black Market

The Naira on Friday depreciated against the dollar as it traded at N208 from the N191.50 it sold for on Monday, Jan. 19.

The new rate has made the naira to lose N16.50 within five days.

The CBN’s website, however, put the Naira against the dollar at N167.50, while the Pound sold for N253.20 and the Euro stood at N193.89S

February Elections: Buhari Support Organisation kicks against postponement

The Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has kicked against the suggestion by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, for the postponement of February general elections.

The Director, Media Management of the organisation, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, said in a news conference on Friday in Abuja that the advice contravened the Abuja Accord recently signed by President Goodluck Jonathan and 11 other presidential candidates.

UNILAG lifts ban on students' unionism

Authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Friday said they had lifted the ban on students’ unionism.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, made the announcement at the institution’s 2014/2015 matriculation in Lagos.

MTN Nigeria unveils insurance scheme for SMEs

The Acting Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr Tsola Barrow, said on Friday that the company has unveiled an insurance scheme for the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs).

A statement in Lagos, signed by Mr Barrow, said that the insurance scheme, under the MTN Y’ello Biz, was being offered in collaboration with Mansard Insurance Plc.

My Sister died of heart related ailment -- Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan said his sister, late Madam Nancy Oleic- Jonathan died of a heart related ailment.

The Oleic-Jonathan died on Jan. 4 at the age of 52.

Jonathan and his wife, Patience, made the remarks when they led other members of the family to a funeral service in honour of the deceased at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke, Bayelsa.

Sultan, JNI condole with ‎Saudi Govt. over demise of King Abdallah

The‎ Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar, on Friday condoled with Saudi Arabian Government over the demise of the paramount ruler of the kingdom, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul'Azeez Al-Sa’ud.

Abubakar, who is also the President General of Jama'atu Nasril Islam (JNI), expressed the condolence in a statement issued in Kaduna by its Secretary General, Dr Khalid Aliyu.

The Sultan said Saudi Arabia recorded remarkable progress during the reign of Abdullah.

Mbu promises to reply APC at the appropriate time

The outgoing AIG Zone 7, Mr Joseph Mbu, has promised to respond to allegations by the APC that he was deployed to Zone 2 for a political hatchet job at the appropriate time.

Mbu made the remark in Abuja on Friday while reacting to question during an interacting with newsmen.

Zone 2 comprises Lagos and Ogun states.

IPMAN in Enugu still sell petrol above N100 per litre

The members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Enugu are yet to comply with the new pump price of premium motor spirit approved by the Federal Government.

When a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent monitored the stations on Friday, five days after the pronouncement by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, most of the filling stations were selling the product between N100 and N105 per litre.

At N87 per litre, FG still subsidises petrol – PPPRA

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) on Friday said that Federal Government was still subsidising the current pump price of petrol at N87 per litre.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by PPPRA spokesman, Mr lanre Oladele.

The statement said that the Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr Farouk Ahmed, gave the clarification.

Revealed: Why Emir Sanusi puts on red royal regalia to receive Jonathan in Kano

The red coloured-robe put on by the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, now known as Alhaji Muhammed Sanusi has been revealed as a sign of receiving an unwanted guest.

A prominent Kano indigene, who would not want his name to be mentioned, told Mega StarNews that traditionally, there are robes of different colours put on by the Emir to carry a particular message at every occasion.

Buhari’s WASC controversy: Cambridge confirms Hausa was a subject in 1961

The University of Cambridge has confirmed that Hausa Language was one of the examinations undertook by students for the University of Cambridge West African School Certificate Examinations back in 1961.

The subject of whether or not Hausa could have been a subject back in 1961 has been one of the talking points of Buhari’s statement of result available to public, with claims that the subject was not offered in the examination until the 1970s.

Don’t disrespect Jonathan, Shettima urges Borno citizens, as PDP flags off campaign in Maiduguri

Governor of Borno State and Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress,APC, Kashim Shettima on Friday made a strong appeal to his supporters and all citizens of the State not to show any form of disrespect to President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, planned to hold its Presidential and Governorship campaign in Maiduguri on Saturday.

Shettima made the call in a statement he personally signed in Maiduguri which was made public by his media associate, Isa Gusau.

New SEC DG assures Nigerians of vibrant market

The acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Mounir Gwarzo,  has assured Nigerians of the commission's readiness to ensure a vibrant capital market that will attract both local and international investors.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commission in Lagos on Wednesday.

APCON demands vetting of political advertisements before publication, broadcast

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) on Wednesday in Lagos reaffirmed its demand to preview all election campaign advertisements for approval before they are aired or published.

APCON’s registrar, Alhaji Garba Kankarofi, in a statement, appealed to all mass media owners and managers to comply with the directive in order to checkmate any unfounded attacks against personalities through campaign messages.

Re-denominate currencies into coins to increase bargaining power, FG urged

The Director-General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf, has urged the Federal Government to re-denominate N5, N10 and N20 into coins to increase their bargaining power.

Yusuf said that the re-denomination would also prevent the coin from going into extinction.

According to him, apart from the re-denomination, the government should embark on campaign to re-orientate Nigerians on the benefits of coins.

WASC Certificate: PDP accuses Buhari of perjury

The presidential campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of perjury.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, urged Buhari to withdraw from the contest and to apologise to Nigerians.

At last, Katsina College releases Buhari’s WASC results

Buhari's photograph with classmates and staff of Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, 1961

The controversies surrounding the whereabouts of the West African School Certificate Examinations of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, might have finally been laid to rest as the Government College, formerly Provincial Secondary School, Katsina today confirmed that Buhari graduated from the school in 1961.

Fayose on his own, as PDP disassociates self from death-wish advert against Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, has disassociated itself from Monday’s attack on All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, by Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, at a news briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, said that Fayose`s views on Buhari were not representative of the PDP.

Iwuanyawu urges INEC to postpone February elections

The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT ), Labour Party, Mr Dan Iwuanyawu, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone forthcoming general elections to enable eligible voters to collect Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Iwuanyawu, who made the call while exchanging views with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the postponement was necessary in view of the fact that only 38 million voters, out of 68 million registered by INEC, had collected the PVC.

Nigerian Army denies being in possession of Buhari’s original certificates

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Tobiah Minimah

The Nigerian Army has said it does not have the original, certified true copy or statement of results of retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate for the February general elections.

 Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-. Gen. Olajide Laleye, said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

Use of temporary cards will create problems in the elections - Jega

For those wishing to make use of the temporary voter cards during the coming elections, this might not be possible as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said reverting to the use of Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) in the general elections would create more problems in the electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, made this known at a stakeholders’ workshop on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and 2015 General Elections organised by the commission on Tuesday in Abuja.

INEC confirms ownership of ballot boxes intercepted in Ogun

The Ogun Police Command says INEC has confirmed its ownership of the ballot boxes that were intercepted by soldiers on the Benin-Sagamu Expressway.

The spokesperson of the command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, told newsmen on Tuesday in Abeokuta that soldiers attached to the 35 Artillery Brigade, Abeokuta, on Tuesday intercepted a truck containing 3,600 ballot boxes.

New fuel price: DPR seals 10 petrol stations in Kwara

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on Tuesday shut down 10 petrol stations in Ilorin, the Kwara capital, for refusing to dispense fuel at the new rate of N87 per litre.

The Federal Government had on Sunday night reduced petrol pump price from N97 to N87 per litre.

The Operation Controller of the DPR in Kwara, Mr Amos Jokodola, who led the enforcement team, said the excuse given by the affected stations for failure to comply with government's directive was unacceptable.

MPC retains interest rate at 13 per cent

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has retained the nation's interest rate at 13 per cent.

Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, told newsmen during the MPC meeting that the committee was of the view that the rate, which was fixed in November 2014, needed time to have the desired impact on the nation’s economy.

Buhari’s Certificate: Don’t destroy the military, APC warns

The All Progressives Congress has warned that those who are bent on destroying its presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, on the basis of his certificates may end up destroying the country’s military.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party warned that the Peoples Democratic Party and the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration are playing a dangerous game by trying to compromise the military in order to satisfy selfish political objectives.

#FayoseHasGoneMadAgain, Nigerians cry out

….. lambast the Ekiti Gov. for placing death-wish adverts against Buhari in Punch, Sun newspapers 

Cross section of Nigerians have condemned the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose for sponsoring what they called death-wish advertorial against the All Progressive Congress, APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) in some national dailies on Monday.

 The advertorial, which ran on the front pages of Punch and The sun, had put Buhari on the same list with past Nigerian leaders from the north-west zone who died in office and therefore put a question mark on Buhari and apparently his ability to survive his term in office if elected.