Latest news from Nigeria on Nigeriaa2z.com. catch up with A-Z news and information from Africa’s most populous country in West Africa via our teams in Kaduna, Warri, Lagos, Abuja and Kano.

Gov. Imoke Has Returned To Calabar – Aide

Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River returned to Calabar on Friday after several months of absence, an aide said on Saturday.

Imoke's Special Assistant on Media, Mr Christian Ita, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar the governor arrived after 10 p.m aboard a chartered flight.

``The governor arrived in Calabar through the Margaret Ekpo International Airport late last night,’’ he said.

Sources at Government House, Calabar indicate that Imoke would make his first public appearance immediately.

NAN reports that he was being expected to watch the friendly match between the Golden Eaglets and Botswana Starlets’ at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

The Eaglets, who have been camping in Calabar for months, are scheduled to host their Botswanan counterparts in two matches scheduled for Saturday and Monday.

NAN recalls that Imoke was last seen in Calabar on Dec. 6, 2012.

He was said to have proceeded on a two-month accumulated leave, after he had earlier written to the State House of Assembly on his intention to proceed on leave.(NAN)

Continue ReadingGov. Imoke Has Returned To Calabar – Aide

PDP Chieftain Scores Orji High On Road Rehabilitation

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia, Chief Goodluck Njoku, has scored Gov. Theodore Orji high on road rehabilitation, particularly in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

Njoku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Friday that the residents of the city were now experiencing a new lease of life as a result of the governor’s giant strides in giving the roads in the city a facelift.

``Aba now looks like a huge construction site with work going everywhere. The governor has kept his promise to rehabilitate the roads in Aba.

``The Obikabia road leading to Mgboko, headquarters of Obingwa Local Government Area has been completed.

``The Aba-Ikot Ekpene, and Ehere roads are now wearing new look. I score the governor high because he is tackling the basic problems facing Aba,” he said.

The PDP chieftain described security and good road network as the `pivot’ on which economic activities revolved.

He said that if the Federal Government could fulfil its promise of stable power in Aba, the city would witness a boom in industries and small scale business.

``I am appealing to President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfil his promise of partnering with the governor to change the face of Aba as he said during his election campaign in 2011.

``Since the governor has restored security, if the Federal Government can ensure stable power, unemployment will be reduced and Aba will regain its lost glory,’’ he said.

Njoku urged the residents of the city to support the governor's efforts to clean up Aba by ensuring that they do not drop refuse in drainages. (NAN)

Continue ReadingPDP Chieftain Scores Orji High On Road Rehabilitation

Ajimobi Commends Journalists For Entrenching Democracy

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Friday commended journalists  for their  role  in entrenching democracy in the country.

Ajimobi  made the commendation  while declaring open the 2013 National Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Ibadan.

The governor, however, said that online journalism posed a threat and challenge to mainstream  journalism.

The governor said this was because the profession had been infiltrated by non-professionals who malign the reputation of people.

Ajimobi urged the NGE and other journalists in the country to convene a Media Reform Conference to find solutions to the challenges facing the Nigerian  media.

In his valedictory speech, the outgoing President of  the NGE, Mr Gbenga Adefaye,  said his administration performed excellently in building the capacity of editors through training.

Adefaye said his executive successfully refocused editors on national issues through different annual conferences between 2009  and 2012.

He said that the proceedings of the annual conferences had been compiled into a book.

``The material achievements are okay. But what I consider our greatest achievement was the fierce defence of press freedom and expansion of the frontiers of free speech which in my view is the number one mandate of the Guild,'' he added.

Adefaye said the media successfully halted the passage of  the Nigerian Press and Journalism Council Bill ``  through a very innovative approach of lobbying.''

He also said the NGE  took the lead in getting the sixth National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill which President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law.

In his report, the General Secretary of NGE, Mr Isaac Ighure, recalled the activities of the secretariat in the last four years.

He said the secretariat had gone a long way in improving ICT facilities and ensuring  that it was able to reach editors operating even in areas considered remote in the country.

``It is gladdening that we have been able to achieve that goal with the provision of a new HP computer by the secretariat to reach a lot more editors anytime.

``Regrettably, however, we have yet to attain the zenith of our ambition to reach every editor in the land at the touch of a key on the computer,’’ Ighure said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Ray Ekpu, described  journalism as a difficult profession.

Continue ReadingAjimobi Commends Journalists For Entrenching Democracy

Commercial Motorcyclist Bags 2 Years For Stealing Mortar, Pestle

An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Friday sentenced a 45-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Shola Oniyide, to two years imprisonment for stealing mortar and pestle and other items valued at N 14,000.

Oniyide was not given an option of fine.

Magistrate Idowu Olayinka, who gave the judgment, said Oniyide would serve the two years with hard labour.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict, whose address is unknown, was not represented by a lawyer.

Oniyide had pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of house breaking and stealing.

He told the court:``My Lord, please have mercy on me. I have a wound on my back and anytime I scratch it I find myself stealing."

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini, said the offences were committed on Dec. 21, 2012 at 1.30 a.m. at Isaga-Orile in Abeokuta, Ogun capital.

According to him, Oniyide broke into the house of one Paul Olusegun and stole items such as a mortal, a pestle, a small Tiger generator and a DVD player all valued at N 14,000.

Ozimini said the offences contravened Sections 383, 390 (9) and 411 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006. (NAN)

Continue ReadingCommercial Motorcyclist Bags 2 Years For Stealing Mortar, Pestle