Gist Arena

T he Presidency last night released what it called an authoritative report on how seven suspended directors of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) allegedly stole over a billion naira, $284,000 and £95,000. A Presidency official, in a statement, said the report indicated that the immediate past NEMA Director General, Mohammed Sani Sidi, maintained 20 different accounts in various banks despite his public servant status.  The official alleged that the suspended staff had hurriedly and illegally taken the matter to the House of Representatives in a pre-emptive move to stonewall the ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hoping for a cover-up. He said an authoritative report submitted to the Presidency by agencies involved in the investigations and activities of the suspended directors, revealed clear cases of abuse of office, graft and collusion on the part of the NEMA directors. He stated: “This is in direct contr...

M r Festus Keyamo SAN have been appointed the Director, Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) for the President’s 2019 Presidential Campaigns. He made the appointed public through his official twitter handle, @fkeyamo   this morning. In his tweet, he said "With this letter below, I have just been appointed the Director, Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) for the President’s 2019 Presidential Campaigns. I will be making a formal statement on this much later."

T he #ElectoralOffencesCommissionBill , 2018 (SB. 469) was sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari of Borno North Senatorial District. The #ElectoralOffencesCommissionBill went for first reading on the 11th of April, 2017 and second reading on the 11th of October, 2017. The Bill is for an Act that is intended to establish a body known as the National Electoral Offences (NEOC) which is aimed at addressing issues that are related to electoral offences as well as the adoption of measures to prevent and eradicate the same. Functions of the Commission: The functions of the Commission include: I. The enforcement and due administration of the provisions of the Bill. II. The investigation of all electoral offences, electoral corruption and violations of electoral due process in any election. III. The adoption of measures including preventative and regulatory actions, the introduction and maintenance of investigative and control techniques to prevent electoral offence...

T he house of representatives committee on emergency and disaster management has summoned Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo over the “illegal” suspension of directors at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The committee, investigating the alleged violation of public trust at the agency, summoned the vice-president during its sitting on Thursday. The directors are said to have been suspended by the agency’s governing council — chaired by Osinbajo — without due process. Also summoned are Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — investigating the directors and Oyo-Ita, head of civil service. The trio were asked to explain their role in the alleged illegal suspension of the directors. At the hearing, the suspended officers, numbering six, said they were punished for kicking against some of the policies of Mustapha Maihaja, director-general of the agency. The officers are Akinbola Gbolahan, director of fina...

T he Second Niger Bridge is almost half completed, Federal Controller of Works in Anambra State Innocent Alumonah has said. The bridge links the West and East stretching from Asaba in Delta State to Onitsha in Anambra State. Alumonah said the contracting firm, Julius Berger Nig. Plc, had accomplished about 85 piles of 914 millimeter in diameter in different axis. “The contract was split into phases. Phases 1 to phase 3 have been successfully accomplished and we are now on early works in phase 4. Part of this early works phase 4 forms part of the main contract. “So far, the 1.2-kilometre sand filling of the road at the Asaba end has reached the height of 2.2 meters out of the expected five meters. “At the Onitsha end, we have done a lot of sand filling of embankments to a reasonable stage. We have done a lot of culverts as well. “In all, we have achieved around 44.6 per cent of phase of early work stage 4,” Alumonah said. He said the contract for the e...

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he declared his intentions to run for another term in office on Monday, April 9, 2018, during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby in London Wednesday, President Buhari said: "I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were talking too much about whether I would run or not. So, I felt I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on, like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and many others. We needed to concentrate on them, and politics should not be a distraction. The majority of Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I am re-contesting." The President recounted some successes of the administration to his guest, with whom he has built a deep friendship in recent times, and was quite particular about strides in agriculture. "We have cut the importation of ...

W elcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:48am. Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 10th April, 2018. Senator Jonah David Jang seconded. ANNOUNCEMENT Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, announced that yesterday, we recognized the birthday of our longest-serving Senator and longest-serving Senate President, Senator David Mark but he was not here. “Today, I believe that it is only right for us to once again congratulate him for the ‘young’ age that he has attained.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. “Congratulations sir. We congratulate you for your service to this great country; for your dedication as an Officer and as a Gentleman. Those of us who are politicians are always jealous that you can do ...