Tell me it’s not true: Presidency confirms attempted robbery in Aso Rock

The Presidency has confirmed that there was an attempt by armed robbers to burgle the residence of the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, at 3 am, Monday morning. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed this in a tweet on Monday night. He tweeted, “The Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has confirmed that there ‘was a foolish attempt’ to burgle his residence at 3:00am this morning but it turned out to be unsuccessful. “Professor Gambari, whose house is on…

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FG announces new COVID-19 lockdown, restricts social gathering to 50

The Federal Government has announced a partial lockdown shutting down bars, night clubs and recreational centres in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in the country. The government also reintroduced COVID-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory with a nationwide 12am to 4am curfew as part of new efforts to curtail the further spread of the pandemic. The Head of Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, said the new directive takes effect by midnight of Tuesday. He said…

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Just In: Ramadan ends tomorrow as FG declares Wednesday, Thursday public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays to mark the 2021 Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Monday. A statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, quoted Aregbesola as congratulating the Muslim faithful on the occasion. He also called “all Nigerians, at home and abroad to use the period of this year’s Eidul-Fitr celebration to pray for peace, stability and economic transformation in the land”. Aregbesola, who…

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Listing on LCFE: Heritage Bank-Dukia Gold set to unlock N344trillion market

Heritage Bank for being part of valuable private sector collaboration with Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refining Co. Limited is set to unlock the over N344trillion market worth of gold investible instruments in the solid minerals sector with the concluded plans of being listed on the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE). This move that will entrench expand revenue in the non-oil sector through diversification, by stimulating growth in solid minerals in line with the objectives of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) will also put Nigeria on the global…

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THE VOICE NIGERIA: FirstBank imprints in entertainment, youths development

By Israel Bolaji-Gbadamosi One of the key metrics that well defines a truly 21st century brand beyond profit making is its ability to connect with customers and stakeholders as a complete enabler, touching on vital aspects of their lives, creating exciting memories and enabling them to access more enjoyable and convenient lifestyle, in shopping, studying, working, traveling, family living, entertainment and aspirations. Its ability to also give back to the community through tangible corporate social investment programs that significantly translate to improved living and not just mere formality and publicity…

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NDLEA burst Abuja-based syndicate for selling drugged cake, cookies online

Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested members of an online drug trafficking cartel that sells drugged cookies, cakes, brownies and other illicit substances to residents of Abuja and beyond. The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday titled: ‘NDLEA busts online drug trafficking cartel, arrests five in Abuja’. The statement read in part, “As a result, five members of the organised drug criminal group were arrested during sting operations carried out between Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May…

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Ogun becoming gold mine as kidnappers rake in N34m in one week

Gunmen collected over N34.5m as ransom for eight kidnap victims in Ogun in a week. The kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen reportedly collected over N30m from the eight victims in three separate operations carried out in different parts of Ogun State. Recall that The PUNCH had reported that some kidnappers abducted a businesswoman and her guest in Ofada village, in  the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area; a driver and three passengers on Abeokuta-Ayetoro Road, as well as four victims  in Ibara-Orile in Abeokuta-North LGA. While the kidnap of the businesswoman and her guest…

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Hardship may worsen as Economic Advisory Council ask Buhari to remove fuel subsidy

If President Mohammadu Buhari harkens to the advice by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council to remove subsidy on petrol and adopt a pricing regime that reflects the cost of the commodity, Nigerian may be in for more hard times. The council, set up in 2019 by Buhari and chaired by Prof Doyin Salami replaced the defunct Economic Management Team led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. The council, charged with the responsibility of advising the President on economic policy matters including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global…

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NPA Probe: El-Rufai leads others to lobby Presidency for soft-landing over Hadiza Usman’s probe

Powerful Nothern political forces with the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, as the arrow head, have commenced underground moves to save the embattled Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Usman. Usman was suspended last week as part of moves to allow independent audit of the accounts and remittance of the agency. Governor El-Rufai is however making franking efforts lobbying the Presidency to rescue and secure soft-landing for Usman who is his political daughter, According to details of a letter sent to President Muhammadu Buhari by…

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