Gist Arena

While they held sway in their respective states, three former governors of Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Taraba received waivers to buy different ranges of aircrafts that included a Bombardier private jet and a Bell 407 Helicopter, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report. The governors and other serving government officials circumvented paying duties even as they imported, under various guises, luxury automobiles that included BMW, Ford, Range Rover, Lexus and Jaguar. The waivers were granted in the names of their states. Between 2011 and May 2014, a total of N215 Billion in import duty exemptions were granted in four years under the leadership of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Data obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation detail a fiscal policy recklessness that made duty waivers in Nigeria to become synonymous with cronyism, racketeering, political patronage and outright brigandage. Whilst some of the waivers may have been well-meaning and granted for th

One of the best tweets by Senator Bruce 

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg is in Nigeria on a business research trip. Mr. Zuckerberg touched down in Lagos Tuesday afternoon and had his first stop at Co-Creation Hub, a technology innovative center in Yaba, Lagos, a short message on his Facebook page said Tuesday. Mr. Zuckerberg said he met with the owners of Co-Creation Hub and children learning how to code. “The energy here is amazing and I’m excited to learn as much as I can,” he said. Bosun Tijani, CEO of Co-Creation Hub, told siad the trip was an unannounced one but they hope to make maximum use of it. “He didn’t tell us he was coming, but we have a lot to do together as regards entrepreneurship in technological innovations,” Mr. Tijani said. “We’re a technology innovation firm and he met with us to discuss how to support those building technology locally and software developers and also listen to their challenges,” Mr. Tijani said. “He also told the children about how he started his business and impacte

Federal Government of Nigeria and the British Government today Tuesday August 30th signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the modalities for the return of Nigerian looted assets. The move is a follow up to the agreement reached at the London anti-corruption summit in May. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, who signed on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja, noted that the MoU reflected the willingness of both countries to continue cooperation and mutual support. He outlined the objectives of the MoU to include the fact that the processes of returning stolen assets was a partnership recognising the interest of both countries and based on mutual understanding, confidence and trust. That both countries recognised that they have a mutual interest in ensuring that returned assets are not at risk of being misappropriated again. "And that both countries recognised they have obligations toward their own citizens f

Zainab before she was tragically tortured to death by the stepmother This is the height of wickedness! A heartless and evil stepmother has tortured her 7-year-old stepdaughter to death after using sharp instruments to cut her flesh. The little girl identified as Zainab gave up the ghost as she could not take the beating and torture. The incident reported by Zuma Times on Facebook happened in Kaduna State. It was alleged that the stepmother of the girl was in the habit of torturing her.

The former Minister of Aviation in the last administration took to twitter to commend the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for effecting repairs on the Niger Bridge Asaba some weeks after he complained.  Before the repair

The world's 7th richest man and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg quietly came into Nigeria today to see how Facebook works in Nigeria, how it can be improved and how it can support tech development in Africa. He's presently CC Hub in Yaba and these are exclusive photos...

Star actress, Funke Akindele walked down the aisle on Tuesday, 23, August, with her beau, Abdulrasheed Bello in London, UK at a quiet wedding witnessed by immediate family members, the best man, maid of honour, and friends with strong ties. The groom, Abdulrasheed, aka Skillz is a multi-talented musician, music producer and a leading member of the JJC and 419 Squad based in London. Until his decision to marry Funke, he was blessed with three children who are grown up and living happily in the United Kingdom. The couple, in a statement signed by Funke Akindele’s publicist, Biodun Kupoluyi, chose a quiet wedding in London because neither of them wanted to be on show or at the center of attention having been on that lane before. “The decision to do it quietly was right for us and we pray for the understanding of our close friends and fans at this offer of a lifetime moment. At a good time, we shall look back and in appreciation of divine grace and your su

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), during a night operation conducted  on Tuesday , successfully destroyed a new Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) Camp located between Malam Fatori and Kangarwa in Northern Borno. The new camp is about 4-6km away from the BHT location attacked earlier on 20 August 2016 by NAF Mi-17 helicopter within the same vicinity in a similar night operation that led to the death of about 300 insurgents. The post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) mission had revealed that surviving BHTs converged at the new location. According to the Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the information was later confirmed to be true by series of follow-up Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that led to the latest strike. Recall that the general area around Malam Fatori and Kangarwa is infested with BHTs hence the need to clear the remnants of BHT in the area. The air assault is therefore expected

TOKYO International Conference on African Development, "TICAD 6" just ended in Nairobi, Kenya and in attendance were several African Presidents and Prime Ministers including our own Muhammadu Buhari and the co-convener of the conference, Shinzo Abe, the head of the Japanese government. The TICAD seeks a win-win partnership between Japan and Africa. A key objective of the conference is to build up African ownership of its own vision of growth and development.  In furtherance of this, Japan seeks to differ with the other players on the continent by placing emphasis on high quality infrastructure that do more than job creation by transferring technology through the training of youth and women. The conference held every five years from the time it started in 1993 until the last one in 2003 when it was decided that it should be convened every three years instead. The one that just finished is significant in the sense that this was the first time it took place in

The Commander, “Operation Crocodile Smile’’ of the Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen. Benbella Raji, has reassured Niger Delta residents of their safety as the proposed operation gathers momentum. Raji gave the assurance during a training to enhance the operations of the military as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria. The Commander, who is from the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army in Edo, also said that the training would help to improve the security situation in the Niger Delta. “This exercise was launched by the Chief of Army Staff a few days ago. “Today, we move round the streets to give assurance to the good citizens of Delta, especially in Warri, that the army is here for their security. “There are rules of engagement that guide exercises of this nature which are also meant to strengthen civil-military relations. “As we speak, there is free medical outreach provided by the Nigerian Army near the Olu of Warri palace. “We urge people in Niger

Fresh facts have emerged on why President Muhammadu Buhari has remained steadfast on his position that the federal government would only negotiate for the release of the abducted Chibok girls with those who are directly holding them. It has emerged that two recent attempts in recent weeks by the Federal Government for prisoners swap with the so called representative of the terror group may have reached a dead end as each time security officials arrive at designated locations with Boko Haram prisoners for the swap, Boko Haram representatives fail to show up as they are required to produce at least 50 verifiable Chibok girls for the first wave of the swap, security officials tell THISDAY. Two hundred and seventy six girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory on April 14, 2014, and although 59 were able to escape, one recently, 217 have remained in captivity, sparking global outrage over their abduction. THISDAY exclusively gathered that the federal gov

The suspected Fulani herdsman, Ibrahim Adamumale was caught with AK47 rifle The police in Enugu state has apprehended a suspected Fulani herdsman with AK47 rifle and 24 live ammunitions. The man identified as one Ibrahim Adamumale who is 20 years old was caught in Affa Udi local Government Area of Enugu State. Suspect who claimed that he is from Nassarawa state but lives at Hausa quarters 9thmile and a herdsman with some cows at Affa Udi bush was nabbed on 29/8/16 by the combine efforts of the police and the members of the public from Affa acting on a tip off. It was further gathered that the suspect before he was nabbed had expended about six shots on the air to evade being nabbed but failed to the superior effort of the police and members of the public who have gathered information about suspect's antecedents in relation to bearing of sophisticated weapon within Affa axis and its environs. Suspect is now helping the police in their i

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has once again addressed the rumour of his death which made the rounds across the country in the last two weeks, describing it as a ‘desperate act of wickedness and opposition taken too far’. Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Owerri, Okorocha said that not even the late elder statesman, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe suffered such widespread level of indignity as he was subjected to in the last two weeks. He said: “The most annoying aspect of the rumour was that a female ghost slapped me. It would have been more tolerable if a man had slapped me. I am the Governor of Imo state and I govern everything in the state, I’m above any spirit or principality. “I mean well for Imo state only that some people have refused to see beyond their biases. Nevertheless, the experience of the last two weeks has proved to me that more than 90 per cent of Imo residents support my administration and radical developmental initiatives.” Addressi

The leadership of the new pro Biafra group, the Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has named a new leader for the organization and listed eminent personalities who are expected to dialogue with the Nigerian government over the agitation for an independent state of Biafra. In a statement signed by its National Director of Publicity, Ikemba Biafra, RE-IPOB described the new leader,Jonathan Kurubo from hails from Bayelsa state as a true son of Biafra who believes in the cause and dignity ofthe marginalized people of the old Eastern region. It added that Kurubo who is a graduate of international Universities with versatile knowledge of International relations, peace and conflict resolution as well as strategic studies, will pilot the affairs of the RE-IPOB until Biafra is actualized or the Nigerian government demonstrates its sincerity to fully re-integrate the people of Biafran through negotiations. While calling on the people of Biafra living in the

This video of a 'factory' worker named Charity has been making rounds on Facebook as Nigerians watch in awe. In the 38 seconds video clip, she seems to be interrogated by an assumed law enforcement agent who filmed her at work for the purpose of an evidence for prosecution. Charity, a female worker was videoed producing bottle water in the lowest state of water production in the history of the world. She could be seen fetching water directly from the tap without sterilizing the bottles or even treating the water. She was physically ill-equipped to enter a water production environment. This action falls below the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control purification standard and is capable of spreading water-borne diseases like typhoid, Cholera and others to unsuspecting Nigerians. The details about the company as well as the brand of water are currently sketchy but Nigerians have been urged to be al

Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army on operations aimed at dealing with the menace of livestock rustling, armed banditry and other forms of criminality have killed an armed bandit, arrested some, cleared camps and recovered livestock in Kaduna and Zamfara States. Yesterday the troops arrested a notorious cattle rustler named Isah Fulani at Mararrabar Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Similarly, the troops have also killed the leader of an livestock and armed banditry gang called Guruguru Magaji at Tashar Nakau, Ikara Local Government Area, in a fierce exchange of gun fire yesterday. The troops recovered a Revolver Pistol and 6 locally fabricated 9mm rounds of ammunition from him. The troops at Anchau, Kubau Local Government Area, Kaduna State also arrested 2 impersonators that parade themselves as members of a non-existent vigilante group harassing and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public in the area. The suspects, Mallam Ha