US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REGISTERS BRGIE AS ENTRY FOR BIAFRA INDEPENDENCE, CLAIMS SIMON EKPA BIAFRA activist, Simon Ekpa, appears not to be backing down on his movement as he announced on Friday that the United States Department of Justice has officially registered the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, BRGIE, as an entity for Biafra Independence. This is coming at a time the …

WHY PETROL, DIESEL PRICES MAY NOT DROP DESPITE DANGOTE REFINERY – EXPERTS Experts have indicated that the commencement of production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery may not lead to a substantial decrease in petrol and diesel prices. Despite the refinery’s strategic location in Lagos, Nigeria, the input costs for its operations are heavily import-dependent, and the volatility of foreign exchange …

RIVERS HOUSE OF REPS CAUCUS WANTS UGOCHINYERE SANCTIONED The Rivers Caucus in the House of Representatives has issued a stern rebuke and call for disciplinary action against Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere following his controversial press briefing on Tuesday, June 18th. The briefing, which addressed the ongoing discord between the Rivers State Governor, the House of Assembly, and Local Government Chairmen, was …

NERC APPROVES N21B FOR PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRICITY METERS AT ZERO COST The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Friday announced the approval of N21 billion for the procurement of electricity meters for Band ‘A’ customers, explaining that the purchase and installation will come to end-users at no cost. In an order signed by the commission’s Chairman, Sanusi Garba, and the Commissioner …

US POLLS: TRUMP SAYS HE’LL GRANT AUTOMATIC GREEN CARDS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IF RE-ELECTED Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, has said if re-elected his government would grant automatic Permanent Resident permits, known as Green Cards, to Nigerians and other international students who graduate from US colleges. The former Republican President disclosed this recently in his immigration …

ENUGU REVENUE BOARD SEALS 200 SHOPS IN MARKET OVER NON-PAYMENT OF FEES The Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue has sealed over 200 shops at Ikpa Market located at the university community of Nsukka in Enugu State. As at 9am on Friday, almost all the shops were still sealed. Shop owners were seen standing away from their shops discussing the …

SANUSI, BAYERO RESUME HOSTILITIES IN KANO AFTER COURT RULING On Friday, both the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, resumed their hostilities following a recent court ruling on the emirate tussle between them. Both Sanusi and Bayero conducted court sessions at their respective palaces. Each of the embattled emirs participated in Friday …

DEATH TOLL FROM HAJJ HEAT WAVE RISES TO OVER 1,000 – AFP The death toll from this year’s hajj has exceeded 1,000, an AFP tally said on Thursday, more than half of them unregistered worshippers who performed the pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia. The new deaths reported Thursday included 58 from Egypt, according to an Arab diplomat who …

550 MUSLIMS DIE AT HAJJ AS TEMPERATURES AT MECCA HIT 51.8C At least 550 people have died during the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in the scorching heat, it has been reported. Temperatures reached at least 51.8C (125F) in the shade in the Saudi Arabian city, as huge crowds of Muslims undertook the annual religious journey – …

AL-QAEDA JIHADIS FROM BENIN MOVE TO NIGERIA, SETTLE AT KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK Jihadi fighters who had long operated in Africa’s volatile Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from neighboring Benin, a report said Wednesday, the latest trend in the militants’ movements to wealthier West African coastal nations. The extremists believed to be linked to al-Qaida have …

POLICE REJECT KANO GOV’S DIRECTIVE, SAY WE WON’T EVICT DEPOSED EMIR BAYERO The Kano State commissioner of police, Usaini Gumel, has explained why his men are yet to evict the deposed emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. Recall that the attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Kano State, Haruna Dederi, had ordered the Bayero’s eviction to pave way for reconstruction …

HEAVY SECURITY AT EMIR BAYERO’S RESIDENCE AS KANO GOVT MOBILIZES BULLDOZERS There is heavy security presence around Nasarawa Palace, the official residence of the deposed 15th emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. The Kano State Government had ordered the eviction of the deposed traditional ruler. Addressing journalists on Thursday evening, the attorney-general and Commissioner of Justice in Kano State, Haruna …

AS PRICE OF KEROSENE RISES, ENUGU RESIDENTS SWITCH TO CHARCOAL As the price of kerosene continues to rise, many residents of Enugu are abandoning their kerosene stoves in favour of more affordable charcoal stoves. The current cost of kerosene has soared to between N1,350 and N1,600 per litre, prompting a shift in cooking methods among the populace. A News Agency …

RIVERS CRISIS: IGP SAYS POLICE BARRICADE OF LOCAL GOVT SECRETARIATS TO CONTINUE The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has directed the continuation of the police barricade on local government secretariats in Rivers State to prevent a breakdown of law and order. IGP Egbetokun gave the directive while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on the sideline of a …

SIMON EKPA GIVES NIGERIAN GOVT CONDITION FOR PEACE IN SOUTH EAST The self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRIGE), Simon Ekpa, has told the Nigerian government what must be done for peace to reign in the South-East region of the country. Ekpa called on the Nigerian government to dismantle and withdraw all checkpoints in South-East if it …