AT LAST! PRESIDENT BUHARI ANNOUNCES MINISTERS

President Muhammadu Buhari shocked some Nigerians on Wednesday afternoon when he finally assigned portfolios to the confirmed Ministers of the Federal Republic. This happened at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja during the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council, FEC. The President however announced himself as the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Below are the newly sworn-in Ministers and the portfolios they got:

The full list includes:

1. Chris Ngige – (Anambra) Minister of Labour & Employment

2. Kayode Fayemi- (Ekiti) Minister of Solid Minerals
3. Rotimi Amaechi – (Rivers) Minister of Transportation

BOKO HARAM: Buhari Confident Stronger Military Coalition Good Enough To Overcome Insurgence

President Muhammadu Buhari said Friday in Abuja that with the formation of a stronger regional coalition, Nigeria and neighbouring countries now have an increased capacity to deal effectively with Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.

Speaking at an audience with Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa, President Buhari reaffirmed his belief that the full activation and deployment of the Multi National Joint Task Force which has been established under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission will lead to the speedy defeat and elimination of Boko Haram.

Buhari Set To Split NNPC Into Two

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally revealed what will be the fate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, saying the national oil company will be divided into two successor entities under his administration.

The President, who stated this in an interview with journalists in Washington DC during a four-day visit to the United States, an extract of which was made available to Saturday PUNCH, explained that the decision would form one of the key steps of his reform of the country’s oil and gas sector.

The NNPC is considered a cesspool of corruption and fraud signposted by the non-remission of revenues from oil sale to the Federation Account. Hence, one of the first reform moves by All Progressives Congress –led administration is expected to start at the NNPC.

BOKO HARAM: Buhari Sacks All Service Chiefs

Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari on Monday sacked his entire military top brass, his spokesman said, in a widely expected move as he tries to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

The spokesman added that their replacements would be announced later on Monday.

"The President has relieved the service chiefs, including the heads of the army, air force and navy of their appointments," Femi Adesina told AFP, adding that replacements would be announced soon.

It comes at a time of heightened activity in Nigeria by Islamist terror group Boko Haram.

Boko Haram has increased the intensity and frequency of its attacks on civilians since President Buhari came to power on May 29 vowing to crush the rebels.

Buhari Officially Resumes At Aso Villa

President Muhamadu Buhari Being Received At Aso Rock 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday resumed in his office inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the first time since he was inaugurated on May 29.

Shortly after arriving his office, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo joined him.

As Osinbajo was trekking the long distance from his office to that of the President, some State House workers were seen exchanging pleasantries with him.

Buhari and Osinbanjo thereafter met with some of their top aides.

While the meeting was ongoing, service chiefs also arrived at the premises to meet with the President.

Buhari finally relocated to the Villa on Sunday barely three days after his wife, Aisha, relocated.

Ambode Stops Toll Collection On Second Lekki-Epe Expressway

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, has assured residents that tolls will not be collected at the second toll point on the Lekki- Epe Expressway.

Ambode made the remark at an interactive session with journalists at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Ikeja, a statement said on Sunday.

The governor, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said his concern was ensuring the completion of the road.

He said, “We must start thinking of the future concerning that road. We said we will have an International Airport in Epe, and an Export Processing Zone in Lekki and a Deep Seaport also in Lekki.

Jonathan Absorption of 530 Aides Into Civil Service Unsettles Civil Servants

THE crisis in the federal civil service appeared to have worsened with career civil servants protesting against the absorption of 530 aides and cronies of former President Goodluck Jonathan into the civil service in the last days of the past administration.

The new recruits into the service were also said to have been installed in high positions, from assistant directors upward.

Already, six deputy directors in the federal civil service are in court to protest against the manner the last promotion examination to directors’ level was handled by the Federal Civil Service Commission.

The FCSC released the list of newly-promoted directors in October 2014.

The six aggrieved deputy directors – Dr. John Magbadelo, Mrs. Ada Ihechukwu Madubuike, Mrs. Ganiat Ayodele, Mr. Olusegun Oginni, Mrs. Janet Ayorinde and Mr. Otajele Musa – filed an action at the National Industrial Court on March 26, 2015 to question the exercise.

Ajaokuta Steel Complex Needs Dilverance From ‘Demons’ – Speaker Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said on Wednesday that the multi-billion dollars Ajaokuta Steel Complex in Kogi State might be bogged down by demons and requires special prayers for it to deliver on its set objectives.

He expressed his concerns when members of the Kogi State caucus in the House paid him a visit.

“I don’t know if there are demons besetting that place that is making things difficult to work out there.

“Apart from hoping that things will change in that place, I also feel we should employ prayers for the complex to be restored.

Robert Mugabe Blasts Nigeria At AU Summit For “Betraying” Africa

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe blasted South Africa and Nigeria at the African Union summit this weekend, saying Africa would never agree to them getting permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

This was because they had both voted for UN Security Council Resolution 1973 in 2011, which authorised military action against the regime of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

They had betrayed the continent which could never trust them, sources reported him as saying.

Mugabe intervened in a meeting of the so-called “Committee of 10” at the summit on Saturday which was discussing possible amendments to the “Ezulwini Consensus” which stated Africa’s position on reform of the UN Security Council.

SENATE PRESIDENCY: PDP, "Buhari" Versus Jagaban

Buhari has just proven he meant his inaugural statement when he said "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody". That "nobody" is Jagaban himself. He was allaying the fears of many Nigerians that he would not be a puppet in the hands of Jagaban. he would be a man of himself and the people.

The 'victory' of the PDP at the N'Assembly did not just start today. Like Buhari's continued failures in clinching victory in the past presidential elections before he got it this time, so have many powerful APC party members (especially those who decamped from PDP) been trying to break Jagaban's solid influence and control of the party. First they tried to break Jagaban's control at the APC presidential primaries, where others supported Atiku and Kwankaso and Jagaban supported Buhari. They failed. Jagaban won. Buhari became President. They also tried to tackle Jagaban at the APC gubernatorial primaries where Jagaban's candidate was Ambode and some persons supported Hamzat (Fashola's candidate) and Sasore. Ambode emerged winner and later became Governor of Lagos state. They failed. Jagaban won.

Saraki Wins Senate Presidency Unopposed

Senator Bukola Saraki has reportedly won Senate presidency unopposed. 51 senators were absent at the time.

The Chairman, Senate committee on Environment and Ecology had boycotted the mock election organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) where Ahmed Lawan emerged as the party’s choice for Senate Presidency. He decided to run with former Speaker and member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ike Ekweremadu, a decision that won him the support of the 49 elected Senators of the PDP.

Regent of Akungba Akoko Kidnapped!

Princess Mojisola Omosowon

Unknown gunmen have kidnapped Princess Mojisola Omosowon, the regent of Akungba Akoko township in Ondo state, According to a  palace source

The source, who claimed to be a palace errand broke the news to Saharareporters correspondent in Akure on Wednesday morning and said the regent was kidnapped along Owo-Akure road.

The palace source further disclosed that Princess Omosowon was abducted on her way to attend the inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Boko Haram Kills 50 After Chanting "Sai Buhari"

Prior to the explosion at the popular Kasuwan Shanu (meat market), residents were rudely woken up at 12:45am 
on Monday by gunshots that boomed in parts of the city till 2pm. No official reason was given by the military authorities for the gunshots which many of the residents feared they were fired by advancing 
Boko Haram insurgents. But when business and other activities were peaking in the city , a bomb went off in the meat market, sending cattle rustlers, butchers, their customers and passersby scampering to safety. 
Although theNews Agency of Nigeriaquoted the state Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Opadokun, as saying that five people died in the blast, Reuters reported 50. 

Zimbabwe Tags Nigerian Journalists "Boko Haram"

Zimbabwe has reacted angrily to Nigerian journalists who ambushed President Robert Mugabe during last 
week's inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria's president. Journalists identified as reporters from Sahara Reporters ambushed Mugabe and his African Union (AU) delegation demanding that he steps down from his position as Zimbabwe's head of state. The reporters demanded to know from the 91-year-old leader, who has 
been in power since independence from Britain in 1980, when he would step down and handover power to a democratically elected successor after more than three decades in power. 

President Buhari May Occupy Position of Petroleum Minister

There are rumours that President Muhammadu Buhari will keep the petroleum minister portfolio for himself in the new cabinet rather than trust anyone else with the ministry, which currently contributes over 80 per cent of Nigeria's revenue.

Reuters quoted some close associates of the President as saying this on Tuesday. One long-standing associate of Buhari, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the cabinet decision was still under wraps, said 

Nigeria's oil sector was so dirty that nobody's hands were clean enough to do the "surgical changes" needed. 

Reuters also quoted another political associate as saying, "He will do it. It would be stupid to give that position to anyone else." The first source said Buhari had still not decided on his cabinet and had laughed off media speculation about the figures he would appoint, joking with friends as he read out a newspaper article that mentioned possible names: "They have picked my ministers for me! Have I even told you who I want?" 

Jonathan Dissolves Cabinet Today

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) will be formally dissolved today ahead of Friday’s swearing in of president-elect Muhammadu Buhari who will form his own cabinet after he assumes power.

The session will be presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. He is expected to present a speech highlighting his achievements since he was sworn in as president on May 29, 2011.

Ministers are also expected to speak. on their experience as members of the FEC under President Jonathan. The meeting commences at 11:00am.

Embrace Peace, Stop Treasonable Comments Against Buhari – Ex-Militants Tell Asari Dokubo

Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Mujahid Asari Dokubo on Monday received flaks ‎over his utterances against the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and the country in general.

The President of the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators (NCNDE-A), ‘General’ Israel Akpodoro, expressed worry over the incessant attacks and vituperations from Dokubo on national issues saying, those threats issued by him were “empty, bear-footed and treasonable”.

Addressing a meeting of the Coalition in Ughelli, Delta State, Akpodoro argued that no section of the country wields the power to hold others to ransom.

It would be recalled that Dokubo, while speaking at the commemoration of the late Adaka Boro, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital recently, reportedly said he was ready to‎ take on the federal government if the interest of the region was not favourably considered by the incoming All Progressives Congress-led administration.

EKITI CRISIS: Ayo Fayose And Omirin In Peace Talk?

What seems to be the end of the political war between the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose and the embattled Speaker of the State, Rt. Hon. Adewale Omirin came on Monday as they held a closed door meeting at Sun View Hotel, Alagbaka in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.

In the meeting which lasted for several hours, Fayose came with other executive members of his cabinet, while Omirin was accompanied by four other All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

However, Governor Fayose and Hon Omirin refused to answer questions from anxious reporters at the end of the meeting, insisting that “we are not going to answer question, but only make statement.”

The Governor asked whether Omirin was willing to answer questions from Journalists, but the speaker also replied that “no sir, we will just make statement.”

TRANSITION COMMITTEE REPORT: FG Not Cooperating - Buhari

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday expressed regret that the federal government did not seem to appreciate his intention of setting up the Transition Committee and the terms of reference given to it. According to him, this is because of the refusal of the government to provide the committee with the needed information to carry out its duty.

Speaking at the Defence House, while receiving the interim report of the APC Transition Committee led by Ahmed Joda, Buhari said he was disappointed that “the incoming government was being misunderstood”.

EKITI KIDNAPPINGS: Fayose Should Take The Blame - Falana

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State should take the blame for the rising wave of kidnappings in the state, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has said.

The rights activist, who is from the state, was reacting to Fayose’s SOS letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

According to a statement he issued on Sunday, Mr. Falana said Governor Fayose must desist from providing official cover for armed gangs to curb kidnapping cases in the state.

He noted that the armed thugs had in connivance with the state government occupied and shut the House of Assembly since November 2014 in a bid to forestall any plans by the All Progressives Congress lawmakers to impeach Mr. Fayose.