JTownGist

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd) has decried agitations for a military takeover in the country.  In the last few days, there have been calls for coup by some of the protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance demonstration.  Some of them hit the streets waving Russian flag, while calling for foreign intervention.  The military high command had described the act as treasonable and vowed to crack down on those responsible.  A combined team of Police and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had also raided some spots and made a series of arrests.  Speaking with journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday, Al-Mustapha, who was Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha, late Head of State, said, “I am by definition today, a politician. I am looking at this country today from a democratic sense. We have invested in it and we are investing in it. Our researches are all towards the investment of democratic excellence in Nigeria.  “Military subo...

Minister for Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, has accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State of re-bagging food items from the federal government to give the impression that the state government  sponsored such relief materials  for the people of the state  Momoh, who spoke in an interview with Channels TV, was reacting to claims that the federal government failed to deliver on its promise to distribute 20 trucks of rice to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to cushion the effects of food inflation in the country.  The minister, an indigene of Edo State, said he watched on television how protesters broke into some warehouses and looted bags of rice which some state governors refused to share to the masses.  Although he did not mention the affected states, protesters recently looted bags of rice in a warehouse in Edo.  He expressed anger that Obaseki, while addressing protesters recently, reportedl...

Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has dismissed allegations that staff of the company are behind substandard importation of petroleum products into the country.  Speaking Wednesday when he appeared before a Senate Ad-hoc Committee over alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry, Kyari said he as the CEO, as well as the NNPCL had faced undue media attacks from persons doing everything to create the impression that the company is sabotaging the nation’s economy.  “NNPCL is faithful and will not lie to the country. We are not criminals and we are not thieves. We will protect our dignity so we can serve this country,” he said.  Speaking further, he revealed that the oil and gas industry is bleeding, adding that there were things they knew but could not talk about in public until “the time comes”.  This comes following recent controversies trailing the company and its operation...

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, has advised state residents against attacking protesters.  Fayoade gave the advice while addressing traditional rulers and community leaders in Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe and Lagos Island local government areas during a town hall meeting on Saturday.  There have been reports of a planned nationwide protest by some Nigerians over hardship in the country. The protest is planned to begin on Aug. 1 and end on Aug. 10  Fayoade said that although police and other security agencies had met and declared that there should not be any protest in Lagos State, the residents should not attack any group or groups that might come out to protest.  The commissioner of police said that attacking them would mean taking laws into one’s hands.  “If there must be a protest, it must be peaceful. We want to know those who want to protest so that we can make arrangements for their security.  “It is your right ...

Mobile phone users in Kano are increasingly steering clear of pre-registered SIM cards, citing concerns over their legality and associated risks.  Industry experts note that the illegal trade of pre-registered SIMs has been a longstanding issue, with some vendors offering them as a convenience to customers who want to bypass registration requirements.  However, authorities have cracked down on the practice, emphasising the risks associated with anonymous SIM usage.  On Thursday, July 25, this reporter posed as a customer at the Farm Centre GSM Market to buy pre-registered SIM cards but found no willing sellers. Vendors at the market insisted they did not engage in the illegal trade.  Al’ameen Hassan Tsamiya, a SIM card seller working with Airtel, said, “It is a very serious crime, we all know. I try my best to avoid offering pre-registered SIM cards for sale as my shop is an authorised shop. It will be easy for us to be located and dealt with. And Airtel ...

Islamic scholars have criticised parents and school owners for allowing their children to skip Basic Six and promoting them directly to  JSS1. The condemnation came during the tenth-year graduation ceremony of Al-Azeemant School and Ibtidaiyah. The Chief Imam of Daaru Na’im Central Mosque, Sheikh Imran Abdulmajeed Eleha, emphasised the importance of adhering to educational standards in faith-based institutions.  “In Islamic faith, our standard is based on understanding the Quran, and it is crucial that faith-based schools set the right educational standards for their students,” he stated.  Sheikh Eleha cautioned parents against allowing their children to skip Basic Six, citing its negative impact on their academic performance. He urged Nigerians and educators to align with the government’s educational policies.  Professor Abdulrazaq Abdulmajeed Alaro from the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), noted that non-compliance with the 6-3-3-4 educa...