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The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has announced Monday, September 12th as the Eid-El-Kabir Day. The announcement is contained in a statement signed by Sambo Junaidu, Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council of Sokoto. "The committee in conjunction with the National Moon Sighting Committee had received reports from various Moon sighting committees across the country. The reports confirmed the sighting of the New Moon of Zulhijja,1437 AH, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016,  which was the 29th day of Zulka'ada, 1437 AH. The Sultan and President, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), accepted the reports and accordingly declared Saturday, Sept. 3, as the first day of Zulhijja, 1437 AH. Therefore, Monday, Sept.12, which will be equivalent to 10th Zulhijja, and will be marked as this year's Eid el-Kabir"the statement read.

Rotimi Akeredolu has emerged the governorship candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State following today’s primary election held amidst tight security in the capital of Akure. Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, who is also the chairman primary election committee of the party that monitored the exercise, announced Mr. Akeredolu as the winner of the poll at the international event center moments ago. Our correspondent found that other members of the APC Primary Election Committee include: Dr. Bruce Ugbide, Rep. Hamma Ali, Prince M. Martin, and Mr Mohammed Lawal. He described the conduct of the APC primary election producing a candidate for the opposition party in the state as transparent and credible. Mr. Abubakar, however, asked the unsuccessful aspirants in the election to pacify their supporters to join hands with Mr. Akeredolu in order to win the November 26th governorship election in the state. He di...

Mr Ogbonnaya Nta, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Abia, has confirmed the death of Mr Chinweoda Ndubuisi, a pastor with Foursquare Gospel Church in Umuahia, the Abia capital. Nta told newsmen in Umuahia on Thursday that Ndubuisi, who was in his early 40s, died in an explosion from a faulty generator in his residence. He said that Ndubuisi was trapped in the fire resulting from the explosion which occurred in the presence of a generator repairer while trying to fix the generator. Nta said that the incident occurred at Plot 100, Nkwerre Street, Umuahia, on Wednesday evening. He said that the deceased engaged the repairer to work on the generating set and that it suddenly caught fire while they were still trying to kick-start it. According to the PPRO, fire and smoke engulfed the corner under a staircase, where the generator was securely chained to an iron protector. He said that while the repairer, who reportedly stood close to the exit door managed...

The Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, on Friday evening raised the alarm that if something urgent was not done, a war worse than the Boko Haram insurgency looms in Borno State and the North East generally. Ndume raised the alarm at a cocktail organised to mark the official inauguration of ‘Get Involved Initiative’, a pet project of the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari. The project is aimed at combating malnutrition in the North East. Ndume said Nigeria might have a larger crisis on its hands if all stakeholders failed to do something urgent on the malnutrition being experienced among children in the affected area. He said about 500,000 children would die of malnutrition if something urgent was not done. He said, “The situation in Borno State particularly in the North East and in the country as liberated generally is very very serious. “If we do not do something concrete now on these children that are growing up malnourished, sick with ...

Two time African footballer of the year  Kanu Nwankwo today in London scored a heart trick as Arsenal legends defeated Milan legends 4-2. Kanu who had Arsenal legends like Kolo Toure and David Seaman as teammates was coached by Arsene Wenger while Milan Glorie that had Milan legends like Paolo Maldini, Christian Vieri and Marcel Desailly were coached by Fabio Capello. Watch the video after the cut...

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, indeed said Nigeria’s current economic recession is just “a word”, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm today, two days after the minister denied making such statement. The confirmation, based on video evidence, counters Mrs. Adeosun’s denial on Thursday, after the comment became controversial, with many condemning it as insensitive to the sufferings of Nigerians. In denying the comments, the minister had also rejected a Twitter handle that for months posted messages in her name, with its tweets frequently reported by the media. In its latest post on Wednesday, the account, @Mrskemiadeosun, responded to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics showing that the Nigerian economy contracted for another quarter and was effectively in recession. But as distraught Nigerians reacted to the verdict, the handle appeared to downplay it. “The strongest of all warriors are these two, time and patience. I know people are concerne...

Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has lent his voice in defence of his country in the ongoing Twitter feud between netizens in Nigeria and Kenya. Fani-Kayode, who gave his verdict on his official Twitter account, @realffk, stressed that Kenyans are far behind Nigerians in every aspect. Truth is that the Kenyans are v far behind us in every respect. I know their history inside out: they are just too small for us. — Femi Olu-Kayode(FFK) (@realFFK) September 3, 2016 He furthers, “Kenyans should stop attacking Nigeria on twitter. They must know their place. Truth is the worse Nigerian is better than the best Kenyan.”  When Kenyan leaders were still doing “mau mau”, swinging from trees and eating one another ours were at Oxford and Cambridge university” He noted When Kenyan leaders were still doing "mau mau", swinging from trees and eating one another ours were at Oxford and Cambridge university — Femi Olu-Kayode(FFK) (@...

Nigeria defeated Tanzania 1-0 on Saturday evening after a high tempo 2017 African Nations qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo. It was an opportunity for new foreign technical adviser Gernot Rohr to see his new squad & evaluate them ahead of Russia 2018 qualifiers as Nigeria had already missed out on AFCON 2017 qualification so the matched bared no significance to the Super Eagles. The Super Eagles attack was dominated by Premier League stars – Mikel, Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Watford), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City) and Ahmed Musa (Leicester City) Iheanacho had an early chance in the second minute but fluffed his lines at the beginning of the match after Tanzania started the kick off. Nigeria had a free kick in the 5th minute and after some indecision as to who will take it between Mikel Obi and Victor Moses , Moses flashed the free kick into the side netting. Ahmed Musa then dribbled through two defenders and ...

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday warned a factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Modu Sheriff, that the party was “dying”, and he just be responsible for its final rites. Mr. Obasanjo spoke to Mr. Sheriff who visited him in Abeokuta on Saturday. He later explained to journalists what he said had been the subject of their closed-door meeting. “He called me yesterday and said ‘where are you’ and I said, ‘I am in the country’ and he said, ‘May I come and see you?’ and I said ‘my house is open to all Nigerians of goodwill and even non-Nigerians of goodwill. And I said, he can come’,” Mr. Obasanjo said. “I have said to my brother that I wish him well with the dying baby they have put on his laps because PDP is comatose and he was of course not in PDP, he has never been in PDP until now. When I was in PDP, I tried and encouraged him to come and join PDP, but he did not come, but the PDP they have given him now is a dying PDP, a dying baby, it need...

The United Kingdom will assist Nigeria to overcome its current economic and security challenges, the British Minister for International Development, James Wharton, has said. Wharton told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja he was in Nigeria to assess some of the definite challenges. According to him, Nigeria despite the challenges has great potential in human and natural resources as well as opportunities to overcome the current problems. He said, “This is clearly a country with incredible opportunity with amazing people, with a real deep, strong link and friendship with United Kingdom but which faces challenges. “The Government of the United Kingdom must help Nigeria to overcome some of the challenges in the overall interest of the people of Nigeria and the UK. “There are the security and humanitarian issues in the Northeast. Also, there are clearly economic challenges and the price of oil hasn’t helped.” Wharton noted that there were in...

In the face of the recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics that the economy is in recession, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,  wrote this article explaining what President Buhari is doing with the economy. ‎Read below:  LET me start by asking an important question: who wants to kill racy introspection?xxx There is a cacophony of voices telling the Muhammadu Buhari administration to close its eyes to the past; that given the enormous tasks that lie ahead, history and its consequences for our nation should be the least of the government’s preoccupation at this juncture. I disagree. Let us keep a fiery memory of the past so that we don’t repeat its mistakes. Look back, look ahead. The future must of necessity be built on the foundations of the past.xx The Conservative Party took power in Britain six years ago from Labour. Check the British press, they are talking about Labour 24/7, is anyone complaining? Japh...

Actor Leo Mezie has been down with kidney failure for sometime now. He needs over N10million for a transplant. He has a Visa and ready to travel. Anyone who wants to help, donate to; 1... MEZIE O LEONARD 0125346916 GTB BANK. 2.... MEZIE O LEONARD 0702083428 ACCESS BANK

Following its recent cease fire from breaking pipelines in the creeks, the Niger Delta Avengers have declared their readiness to engage federal government in a meaningful dialogue that would return peace in the oil region. They however demanded that government must also be ready to show  commitment towards the proposed dialogue by withdrawing the military from carrying out further actions within the region. One of the stakeholders of the Amnesty Programme and leader from the region, Elder Timi Ogoriba made the decision known on Friday, after an indoor stakeholders meeting held in the Presidential Amnesty Office, Abuja. He said that the meeting was necessitated by the recent happenings in the Niger Delta region which had impacted negatively on the economy. “I see an end to the militancy in the Niger Delta, definitely, there is nothing that starts that does not end.  Right now, there is a cease fire because of the interfacing by some of us with t...

A Warri, Delta State-based businessman, Kingsley Agbaire, who allegedly killed his business partner, broke down as the deceased’s body was being exhumed on Wednesday and asked the victim’s ghost for forgiveness. A video posted online on Thursday showed Agbaire in handcuffs, crying out to his victim, identified as 51-year-old Lawrence Okoh, a Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based auto parts dealer, as security agents worked to extract the corpse of Okoh in a shallow grave where it was dumped in Warri. Agbaire said “Lawrence, forgive me o. It was the devil that pushed me into killing you.” He also begged the police to loosen his handcuffs so that he could beg his victim, but this request was rejected for fear that he might escape. Agbaire said in the video that his business relationship with Okoh started few years ago when he was working in Lagos and dealing in auto parts. “He used to bring parts to me which I supplied to companies. We have done busin...

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says Nigerians are right to be disappointed on the state of the economy, but that they should direct their anger to the “right quarters”. In a piece entitled: ‘What is President Buhari doing with the economy?’, Shehu attributed the poor situation of things to years of mismanagement and corruption. He advised the people to “keep a fiery memory of the past” in order to avoid repeating mistakes. “Nigerians are right to be disappointed but they must direct their anger at the right quarters. The bad management and corruption of the past are firmly to blame,” he wrote. “People are still talking about who ran governments in 1865, you want us to forget those who left government last year? “Let us keep a fiery memory of the past so that we don’t repeat its mistakes. Look back, look ahead. The future must of necessity be built on the foundations of the past,” he said. “To avoid...

Moody’s, one of the big-three credit rating agencies in the world, says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) devaluation of the naira is a positive step in building the economy. Moody’s made the disclosure in a report released on Friday, entitled ‘Government of Nigeria: FAQ on Credit Implications of Naira Depreciation, Low Oil Price and Broader Economic Challenges’. Godwin Emefiele, governor of the CBN, and President Muhammadu Buhari had initially insisted that the naira would not be devalued, but eventually decided to let the local currency float, which effectively devalued the naira. “Overall, Moody’s views the recent devaluation of the naira as credit positive. The new system should enable the naira to better absorb external shocks over time, and dollar availability should gradually increase,” the report read. “However, the depreciation implies a material loss in purchasing power given import-price inflation. Moody’s expects inflation to accelerate to 18% by ...