Gist Arena

T he Senate has approved the request to seek a $5.5 billion foreign loan made by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a letter sent to the house last month, President Buhari said that $2.5 billion of the loan would be used to finance the 2017 budget while $3 billion is to be used for refinancing domestic debts. After approving the loans, the Senate promised to properly oversight all the projects that the loans are meant to support in the outgoing 2017 budget.  The approval followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts whose Chairman, Senator Shehu Sani asked that the loan be approved as they are in line with the borrowing plan of the 2017 Appropriation act.

W elcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu took the official prayer and led the Senate into today's proceedings at 11:01am. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Senate moved into its Executive Session at 11:04am. The Senate in its Executive Session deliberated on the workings of the Senate and the National Assembly as a whole and also discussed the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume. He is recalled without prejudice and billed to resume on Wednesday, 15th November, 2017 after 90 legislative days suspension. The Senate Plenary resumed from its executive session at 11:19am APPROVAL OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS Senator Dino Melaye moved for the approval of the votes and proceedings of Thursday, 9th November, Senator Danjuma Laah seconded. ANNOUNCEMENT The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu welcomed people who are present in the gallery to observe plenary. PETITIONS Senator Ovie O

A new video produced by Boko Haram showing insurgents maneuvering tanks seized from the Nigerian military and graphic images of troops being killed has been obtained by SaharaReporters. The video also shows insurgents in a gun battle with Nigerian soldiers.  The seven-minute 48-second video, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, provides proof of the group's claim that it successfully ambushed Nigerian troops when they ventured into the Sambisa Forest on 10 November. It also provides proof that the insurgents made away with arms and ammunition belonging to the military.  Earlier on Monday, SaharaReporters had obtained a screen grab supportive of the group's claim of success against the military, which is carrying out clearance operation in the area.  At some point, the video shows a very young Boko Haram commander, who claimed to have led the attack, praising the group's fighters and boasting that they are firmly settled in Sambisa Forest. The young

T he President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari, today reiterated his commitment to address the issue of bad roads in South East geopolitical zone. The president made this known in Abakaliki while addressing stakeholders of the state at the exco-chambers during his one day working visit to the state. Buhari, who is visiting the region for the first time since he became President, said the diversity of the country makes it unique among the committee of nations. President Buhari also insisted that he will continue to promote the unity of Nigeria even on the faces of challenges. “My presence here today is a demonstration of my strong belief in the unity of Nigeria. As the most populous country in Africa with over 300 ethnic groups, our diversity is almost unique among other nations,” he said. He assured the people of the South East of his administration’s commitment to carry out projects that will fast-tracking development in the re

P resident Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday reiterated his belief in the unity of the country. He spoke in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, when he paid a one-day visit to the state. Mr. Buhari, who is visiting the region for the first time since he became president, said the diversity of the country makes it unique in the committee of nations. “My presence here today is a demonstration of my strong belief in the unity of Nigeria. As the most populous country in Africa with over 300 ethnic groups, our diversity is almost unique among the nations,” he said. He assured the people of South-east of his administration’s commitment to execute projects that will lead to the fast-tracking of development in the region. According to him, in keeping with his promise to South-east leaders, the 2018 budget which he recently presented to the National Assembly, captured many projects in the zone. “When I met with leaders of the South-east last month in Abuja, they raised

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Ebonyi for his two-day working visit to the state and Anambra. Buhari was earlier received at the Enugu airport by governors of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi as well as top security officials. He was then ferried to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, where he was also received by some governors of the south east. Buhari, however, did not inspect the Guard of Honour mounted in his honour by soldiers of the Nkwoagu Military Cantonment, Abakaliki. On Monday, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, threatened to assassinate him should he step foot on the South East. In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the pro-Biafra group warned that “today will be recorded in history as a very bloody day should that Jubril masquerading as Buhari attempt to land on Biafran soil.” IPOB insisted that Buhari will not return alive from his trip to the region.

P resident Muhammadu Buhari will any time soon announce the much-anticipated rejig of his cabinet. Buhari has not effected a major reshuffle since he unveiled his ‘Change Team’ exactly two years ago. It was gathered that eight new ministers are being shortlisted. The development followed disquiet in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over failure of the president to adequately compensate top stalwarts in his previous key appointments. Those to be appointed are all likely to be politicians from across the six geo-political zones. Buhari is also considering a proposal to restructure some of the ministries. Ministry of Transportation under the leadership of former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, may be split. If this happens, a new minister will be brought in to head Marine Transportation. Amaechi may be appointed Minister of Rail Transportation while Hadi Sirika, current Minister of State (Aviation) may be promoted to full Minister of Aviation

T he Senate after a closed-door meeting today announced its resolution to allow Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, to resume duties on Wednesday November 15 after serving his mandatory 6 months suspension. Source:  @ Sumner_Sambo

M embers of the proscribed secessionist group threatened that blood will flow if President Buhari visits the South East today. President Buhari will arrive Enugu state en route Ebonyi and Anambra state today and tomorrow respectively.  Watch the video below...

O n ground to receive him are the Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi state governors as well as top security officials

H uman rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo has taunted the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over its announcement that it had sacked Nnamdi Kanu as director of Radio Biafra. Keyamo wondered why IPOB, who had alleged that Kanu was killed by Nigerian army, was still announcing his removal ‘in the grave’. DAILY POST reports that Radio Biafra upon resumption on Monday announced through one Ifeoma Okorafor that the radio was restructuring. She announced that, “Mazi Nnamdi Nwanekaenyi Kanu, the former Director of Radio Biafra is hereby dismissed and removed as Director of Radio Biafra following extensive and intensive consultations” “Kanu’s actions and his decisions to incite members of IPOB towards violence leading to the death of many innocent young people in Onitsha, Aba and Umuahia is totally unacceptable and grossly irresponsible. “Kanu privately collected £14 million and another $22 million to purchase landed properties abroad in h

T he Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday reserved its judgment on the appeal filed by the Federal Government to challenge the acquittal of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The three-man panel led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson reserved judgment after parties adopted their appellant’s and respondent’s briefs on Tuesday. The date of the delivery of the judgment is to be later communicated to the parties. The Federal Government, the appellant, had on June 22, 2017 filed an 11-ground notice of appeal against the June 14, 2017 judgment of the CCT acquitting Saraki of the 18 charges of false asset declaration and other related offences preferred against him in September 2015. More details later… PUNCH

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to carry all the sections of the country along in his administration. He said no part of the country would be discriminated against as long as he remained in power. Buhari was speaking ahead of his planned visit to Anambra and Ebonyi states. He said his administration would continue to invest in infrastructural projects that were of critical importance to the region. He made the statement via a Facebook post Monday night. He wrote, “Tomorrow I will begin a 2-day visit to Ebonyi and Anambra States. Let me reiterate my words to Southeast Leaders who visited me at the State House last month: My administration will not discriminate against any part of Nigeria. “I will again assure the people of the southeast that we are investing in infrastructure projects that are of critical importance to the region: the Second Niger Bridge, the East-West Road, the Coastal Rail, power projects – these and more will benefit the region an

T he Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has stated that the Federal Government does not want the whistle-blower who informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of the N13bn in an Ikoyi apartment to run mad. According to him, the FG deliberately delayed the payment because he needed to be adequately counselled before such amount would be handed over to him. Sagay said if the commission, which the whistle-blower claims is N860m, was given to him immediately, he probably would have squandered it within a month or two. The presidential adviser told Punch that, “What I gathered from my inquiry is that the man is not sufficiently stable to receive such a huge sum of money. He is like someone who will almost run mental when he gets the money and will use it in an irresponsible manner, attracting not only undesirable people but even danger to himself. “I think what they wanted to do for him was to provide cou