ENYA'S GIST BLOG

When news broke on Thursday of Jose Mourinho signing a new deal, Manchester United supporters weren't the only ones punching the air and shouting "back of the net!" Bosses at the snazzy Lowry Hotel in Manchester were surely rejoicing at the prospect of Mourinho securing himself a second contract. Mourinho's decision to live in the hotel since joining United has been well-documented, with some claiming it to be evidence of an apparent lack of long-term interest in staying at the club. But Mourinho put his decision to not buy a house down to his "laziness" and, presuming he doesn't irritate reception staff, Lowry bosses will no doubt be hopeful he doesn't suddenly become proactive on that front. After all, the Portuguese coach – whose new deal could keep him at United until 2021 – lives in a luxury suite that costs a pretty penny to call home. The numbers behind Mourinho's Lowry stay - Mourinho pays an estimated £816-a-...

The National Harmonised Traders Union of Nigeria on Thursday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest for the Presidency in 2019. The President of the association, Bature Abdul’aziz, made this known to newsmen in Kano. He said the decision of the union to declare its support for Mr. Buhari to re-contest for the presidency was borne out of its firm believe that Mr. Buhari would take the country to greater heights considering the achievements he recorded in the last two and a half years. “Though we are a non-partisan organisation, we will support you (Buhari) to contest for the second term and this time we will put more effort than we did before. “We advise you (Buhari) to remain resolute on your trust to Nigerians in your quest to ensure peace and unity in the country,” he said. Mr. Abdulaziz commended the president for the successes recorded in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency and the fight against corruption in the country. “Your efforts in infrastr...

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to meet the February 20 deadline for payment of $494 million for procurement of 12 A-29 Super Tucano Light-attack aircraft from the U.S., Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said. The minister made this known while briefing State House correspondents after the meeting of National Security Council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. According to him. the procurement agreement includes the aircraft, weapons, spare parts and facilities to support training and continuous servicing. He, however, said Federal Government was looking into some of the stringent conditions attached to the procurement by the U.S. State Department. He said “one of the stringent measures is that we will start having the aircraft from 2020, which is two years from now. “The U.S. State Department is also thinking of not allowing Nigerian technicians to be part of the production inspection....

The governing All Progressives Congress has released the statement below in response to Tuesday’s wide-ranging rebuke of President Muhammadu Buhari by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ex-President Obasanjo had on Tuesday released a special statement critical of President Buhari and his government. The APC, which initially declined comment on the matter on Tuesday, has now responded, cautioning the ex-President against creating the impression “that none of the political parties in the country is good enough for Nigerians and the only solution to the current challenges that we face is a completely new arrangement.” READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW. PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2018 Re: The Way Out: A Clarion Call For Coalition For Nigeria Movement, By Former President Olusegun Obasanjo The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes the statement credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo which has been widely-reported in the media and titled: ...

President Muhammadu Buhari should heed the admonition of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, drop his re-election bid, and allow a new leader with ‘fresh and progressive ideas’ to take charge, the senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has said. Mr. Sani, a member of the All Progressives Congress, said the president should emulate Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and bow out while the ovation is loudest. The senator was reacting to a letter by the former head of state critiquing the present administration of Mr. Buhari. Mr. Obasanjo, in a special press statement entitled, “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement” said Mr Buhari has performed far below expectation and should honourably “dismount from the horse” to join the league of the country’s former leaders whose “experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country.” “President Buhari is a man of impeccable character and a moral a...

Governor Samuel Ortom made his first stops at Logo and Guma local government areas on Wednesday, more than three weeks after communities in the two areas were besieged by herdsmen. Over 100 villagers were killed in successive attacks on communities across the two councils, according to witnesses. The state government buried 72 of the victims at a newly-built grave site near Makurdi on January 12. Mr. Ortom made the first stop at the only camp in Tse Ginde, Guma LGA, around noon on Wednesday, promising displaced persons better security and a lasting solution to the invasion by herdsmen. Residents complained of shortage of food, water and basic amenities. “They shared food to us but it’s not regular,” said Miracle Theophilus. “We look for what to eat and drink by ourselves.” Mrs. Theophilus, 20, said she fled to the camp with her one-year-old son after her village was attacked in Guma on January 2. Since then, she has lived with about 2,000 others at the camp without ...

The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, on Wednesday updated President Muhammadu Buhari on the approved procurement of two new satellites from China at the cost of $550 million. Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with the president in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr. Shittu said the China EXIM bank had agreed to pay the entire $550 million for the procurement of the satellites. The minister explained that the initial agreement was that the China EXIM bank would provide 85 per cent of the total cost ($550 million) while Nigeria would pay the remaining 15 per cent as counterpart funding for the projects. He, however, stated that as Nigeria could not be able to meet her obligation in paying the counterpart funding, the agreement was renegotiated with the China EXIM bank and the manufacture of the satellites, the China Great Walls. “I’m in the Presidency to see Mr. President and to brief him on three major issues. “One, NICO...

November 2017 marked two years that most of the ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet assumed office.  in 2016 reviewed the performances of the ministers after their first year in office with many of them getting average scores. This is the third part in the series for 2017. Mr. Buhari inaugurated 36 ministers on November 11, 2015 to man 24 federal ministries. However, two of them are no longer in the cabinet. While the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi, SAN, died last year, Amina Mohammed left the cabinet to take up appointment at the UN as Deputy Secretary General. In August 2017, Mr. Ocholi was replaced with Stephen Ocheni while Suleiman Hassan was sworn in as Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing. PREMIUM TIMES presents the midterm scorecard of a third set of ministers in this report based on their promises on assumption of office, others they made thereafter and whether they fulfilled them or not...

In a show of appreciation for the numerous developmental projects sited in their zone, elders fro m the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, have thrown their weight behind the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, urging him to seek a second term in office. Rising from an enlarged meeting in Calabar, which cut across party lines, the elders unanimously applauded what they described as Governor Ayade's vision to transform the state in spite of its lean resources. Elders at the meeting included former Health Minister, Dr. Emmanuel Nsan, former NDDC chairman, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, Architect Bassey Ndem, former state PDP Chairmen, Chief John Okon and Ntufam Ekpo Okon, Professor Ndem Ayara and Rev. Grace Ekanem. Others included Muri-Munene of Calabar South, Prof. Itam Ogan, Barrister Nella Rabbana (SAN), Prof. Stella Atoe. "There couldn't have been another occupier of the Diamond house, Calabar, for now than Governo...