The managing director of NNPC, Austin Oniwon, said on Tuesday that the Petroleum Industry Bill, which will redefine Nigeria's relationship with foreign oil firms, would be put under scrutiny by both houses of parliament in the coming days. "The Senate will begin today, the clause-by-clause debate of the bill, and in the next days, the House of Representatives will also…

Anyone applying to visit the United States on a non-immigrant visa from March 1, 2011, will have to pay their visa fees at Guaranty Trust Bank, and no longer the United Bank for Africa (UBA). The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced that applicants who have already scheduled appointments for March or April with the embassy in Abuja or the U.S.…

"They are afraid of counting kobo!" a senior public service worker exclaimed derisively at break time during a change management workshop for his agency. Someone had asked why politicians who had served terms as governors automatically sought election to the Senate. "They are not used to thinking about paying rent or buying diesel anymore!" someone said. The listeners shared a…

Many are saying that President Goodluck Jonathan has not really achieved anything in his short tenure. What do you think of this? Things have tremendously improved since Jonathan became president eight months ago. Our country had gone so far down within the last 50 years. Quite frankly, it will be unkind for anybody to judge the president just within eight…

The governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel yesterday described his predecessor, Olusegun Osoba as a coward for fleeing the state after losing the 2003 governorship election to him. Mr Daniel was reacting to a verbal attack from Mr Osoba last Tuesday during the flagging-off of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship campaign at Ake Palace, in Abeokuta. Mr Osoba…

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) Assessment Report on the implementation of the Nigerian Procurement Law, has revealed that the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Agriculture and Water Resources, Education and Health violate the procurement regulations more in Nigeria than other MDAs. The report which was launched on Monday in Abuja also warned that the continued failures in these ministries…

Notable leaders from Akure, capital of Ondo State, yesterday met to chart ways of bringing meaningful development to the ancient city. At a summit organised by the Akure Divisional Consultative Forum, leaders of the town stressed the need for unity in the effort to transform the city. The convener of the meeting, Olu Aboluwoye noted that despite the fact that…

The police have arraigned a 19-year-old girl, Jennifer Alumona, and three other male suspects before an Abuja High Court on a five-count charge of conspiracy, assault and armed robbery. Charged with Alumona, on Tuesday, for being in possession of a locally-made double barrel pistol with two live cartridges, conspiracy and robbery are Idris Olayemi, 25; Abdullahi Ibrahim, 25 and Yusuf…

The unsolicited appointment of some persons into the campaign organisation of Cross River State governor, Liyel Imoke, appears to be fetching him bashing rather than applause, following the outright rejection of such appointments by some of the selected people. Last weekend, the governor’s campaign organisation went on air to announce the names of members and non-members of the PDP into…

The name of the Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Francis Adah, is missing from the voter register even though he was duly registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the voter registration exercise. The deputy governor of the state, Efiok Cobham revealed this in Calabar while addressing those protesting the omission of their names from…

How did you emerge as PDP candidate? Well, I participated in the primaries conducted by the PDP on the 8th of January 2011 by Senator Waku and after the primaries, I was declared the winner by the returning officer. But somewhere along the line, some other aspirants claimed to have won. But the national executive committee of the PDP finally…

Arrangements have been concluded by the Osun State government to host the 4th World Summit of Mayors International Conference which kicks off in Osogbo the state capital on Friday. The Chairman Local Organising Committee of the conference, Siyan Oyeweso, disclosed at a press conference in Osogbo that President Goodluck Jonathan is expected as the Special Guest of honour at the…

The People's Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, refuted the allegation against it that it is engaged in buying voters' cards in order to manipulate the forthcoming general elections. It also noted that the unfounded allegation was perpetrated by some politicians who are bent on denting the image of the party. According to a release by the National Publicity Secretary, Rufai Ahmed…

The Nigerian Council of Primates and religious organisations in the Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State have accused traditional rulers of meddling in the affairs of a religious community in the state. According to the groups, obas in Ugbo Kingdom, Ilaje LGA, planned to install a baale in a religious community, Ugbo-nla Zion, a development which now poses…

Schools in Boje and Nsadop communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State have reopened for the first time since August 2010, when the two communities went to war over farmland. The communal clash sparked off by the invasion of Nsadop by warriors from Boje, left the two sister communities in confusion and schools were forced to close…