Paradise News

Category: Politics

  • Creating jobs will end pipeline vandalism— Kachikwu

    The Minister of Petroleum Resources, and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday said the country would not totally end pipeline vandalism without creating an enabling environment that will empower militants in the Niger Delta. Vanguard reports. 

    Kachikwu, who spoke at a town hall meeting organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, pointed out that with the array of pipeline bombings by the Nigerian Delta Avengers, NDA, it would take nothing less than 15 to 20 years to get infrastructure in the oil sector working and full eradication of climatic effects on the environment. 
    He said: “Modular refineries are going to be the answer to our problems in the future. We talk about the militants and their agitations; the reality is that until we begin to put things in place that would have these so called ‘militants’ find opportunities in the sector, the destruction is going to continue. 

    “I have appealed to those who are breaking oil pipelines for now, the Niger Delta Avengers and everybody else, and as you know, we are engaging in negotiations for us to find peace this week and be able to enter a truce that stops all the destruction.”

    Kachikwu noted that Akwa Ibom would have an oil depot, as his ministry developed a document basically on relationship with oil producing states. 

    He said: “So we can find a direct link between what we do and the oil that we produce. Then the restiveness will go. More than just the depot, I think Akwa Ibom deserves more.”

    Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/job-creationll-end-pipeline-vandalism-kachikwu/

  • 10 lawyers to defend Buhari over ‘forgery’ after he enlisted 13 SANs

    President Buhari has enlisted the services of 13 Senior Advocates of Nigeria as well as 10 other legal counsels to appeal the May 26 ruling against an objection to a suit filed claiming that Buhari lacked the educational requirements to run for president in the 2015 presidential elections.

    According to News24, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Awaaihi filed the suit against President Buhari, claiming that he did not meet the requirements needed to run for president as he failed to present a valid WAEC certificate.

    Nnamdi alleges that Buhari lied about sitting for the Cambridge West African School Certificate(WASC) in 1961 in the build up to the presidential elections that he eventually won.

    The President’s defence team raised an objection to the suit and argued that the summons should have been served to an address in Kaduna and not to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Abuja.

    The presiding judge ruled that the objection was frivolous as even though the summons was delivered to the APC, it is inconsequential as it would still get to the president.

    News 24 Nigeria also reported that Nnamdi has requested the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return awarded to Buhari and instead award it to Goodluck Jonathan who finished second in the elections.

  • See where Barr. Joe Agi and Gov Ben Ayade beef ended

    In what appears like the beginning of  the end of road for Barr. Joe Odey Agi  SAN, the Supreme Court of Nigeria this morning struck out two motions filed by Joe Agi for lacking in common sense as the motions were merely speculative,  baseless and unmeritorious.

    The lead counsel to Joe Agi afterwards apologized and withdrew the motions stating that it has been overtaken by events.

    The Supreme Court however found merit in the motion filed by counsels to  the Governor, Prof. Ben. Ayade and after taking the introduction of the motion by the lead counsel to the Governor, Chief Whole Olanipkekun SAN who was accompanied by Mr Paul Erokoro SAN.

    The motion of the Governor through his counsel centres purely on jurisdiction of the supreme Court.

    The supreme Court in giving credence to it have agreed to take the motion on the 23rd day of January 2017.

    While the team of the Governor were seeing smiling out of court, the very learned Senior Advocate, Barr. Joe Agi was wearing a mournful face.

    Until the adjourned date in January next year, Joe Agi and his propaganda machinery will have to keep mute and contrive a new story line.

    Reported by Alhaji Musa ABDULLAHI

  • Bakassi Militant group ask the Federal Government to fulfil promises made to their displaced people

    A group of militants from Bakassi LGA of Cross River State has requested the Federal Government, FG to fulfil its promise made to addressed the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the area. 

    Speaking with news correspondent, the group leader, Simple Benjamin said government must honour the agreements reached.

    Read Also | Bakassi Peninsula refugees to attend Biafra congress

    The group made the appeal in an exclusive interview with Channels Television at the Esuk Mba creek in Akpabuyo Local Government Area. The constitutes youths from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states

    Read Also | Ex-Militants Are Causing Insecurity In Akpabuyo/Bakassi – Fadairo

    However, Benjamin, said that the Federal Government should also listen to the agitations of the Niger Delta Avengers.

  • Bakassi Militant group ask the Federal Government to fulfil promises made to their displaced people

    A group of militants from Bakassi LGA of Cross River State has requested the Federal Government, FG to fulfil its promise made to addressed the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the area. 

    Speaking with news correspondent, the group leader, Simple Benjamin said government must honour the agreements reached.

    Read Also | Bakassi Peninsula refugees to attend Biafra congress

    The group made the appeal in an exclusive interview with Channels Television at the Esuk Mba creek in Akpabuyo Local Government Area. The constitutes youths from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states

    Read Also | Ex-Militants Are Causing Insecurity In Akpabuyo/Bakassi – Fadairo

    However, Benjamin, said that the Federal Government should also listen to the agitations of the Niger Delta Avengers.

  • Cross River State House of Assembly has passed the 2nd reading of the CRS Lottery Board Bill 2015


    The Cross River State Lottery Board Bill 2015 has passed it second reading in the state house of Assembly. 

    Speaking of the Merit of the bill, the Sponsor and Member for Boki II, Mr. Hillary Bisong said the bill will create jobs for Cross Riverians as well as enhance the standard living of the people.

    Mr. Bisong stated that bill which has 2 parts and 66 sections will also enhance the economy of the state.

    Members in their contributions said when in play, the law will generate income for the state.

    The Speaker, Mr. John Lebo directed the bill to be committed to the committee on investment promotions, industries and entrepreneurship development for public hearings and stake holders engagement to report to the House in two weeks time.

    In a related development, the Speaker, Mr. Lebo has received in audience the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria. The Speaker further intimated that a bill for the law to establish the state employment and local content bureau is still with the House. Noting that government business is to better the lives of the people.

    Mr. Lebo urged them to see their youthful age as a process of development. Adding that the capacity they acquire now will be more useful at adulthood.

    Earlier, the state Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr. Ndiyo Ndiyo stated that the visit was to seek advice from the Speaker. Promising to contribute to Gov Ayade’s climate change.

  • Gov Ayade imports more waste disposal trucks to combat waste management in Calabar (Photos)

    Finally the news has reached the Governor’s ears as he’s taken into action to salvage the improper waste management in the state.

    Gov Ayade who few days back gave a statement that the state is going to partner with agencies from Israel and Dublin to tackle the waste menace surrounding the state, now has done something humongous as he imports about 30 waste disposal trucks to combat the waste management issues in Calabar and its environs.

    At the premises of the Governor’s office in Calabar, where some of the evacuation trucks and dumpsters were being received, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mike Eraye, told reporters that it was part of a well-planned programme of the Governor for a sustainable and effective waste management system in the state.

    Mr Eraye further stated that the challenge of a land space was being tackled while commending Ayade for funding the acquisition of the equipment despite the Economic challenges Nigeria was facing.

    He maintained that the Local Content Policy as well as the “Buy Naija To Grow The Naira” initiative were considered in the purchase of the evacuation trucks made by Innoson Motors.


    The vehicles are now at the Governor’s office where they are undergoing check up and screening before dispensation. The Governor promise the Cross River State Management Agency (CRSMA) will commence work as soon as possible.

    See photos of the vehicles below…

  • SSPPM sets to Honour Gov Ayade as Best Performing Governor Award 2015/2016

    It’s a pleasure to announced to you the Journalists of South-South Geo-Political zone known as the South-South Pen Pushers Forum (SSPPM) is set to celebrate Senator Prof. Ben Agade, Governor of Cross River State as the “SSPPM Best Performing Governor Award 2015/216.


    The forum in a meeting held in Abuja decided to honour Gov Ben Ayade for his exemplary performance in his first year in office which has continued to inspire a large section of the people of Cross River State, the south-south/south-east region and the nation at large.
    According to the statement as signed by the President of the Forum, Emmanuel Iriogbe;
    “Gov Ayade’s exemplary performance in his first year in office has become a focal point for the teeming youths in the country that now see him as a role model worthy of emulation.

    “We at the SSPPM, therefore feel that honouring him at this time is a well thought out proposition whose time has come”.

    The forum further stated that date of the award/ presentation ceremony will be announced soon.
    Please stay tuned! 

  • Gov Suswan – Benue People Now Appreciate Me

    It’s a thing that is common among Nigerian politicians, as the past leader is always better off the current/incoming leader. Have anyone noticed that?  

    Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam has said, following failed promises under Governor Samuel Ortom, the people of the state now appreciate what he did during his eight years as Governor.

    Suswam, who was speaking at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders meeting yesterday in Makurdi, lamented the condition of civil servants in the state.

    He stated that the economic downturn began eight months to the end of his second tenure but he was able to pay over four months salaries during that period, saying the present administration has been receiving monthly allocation and generating internal revenue (IGR) for the past six months, but has not been able to pay salaries.

    “As the governor for eight years I owned salaries for four months because the economy was not good at my last eight months and when I explained to my people.

    “The APC told them I was lying and promise Benue people during campaign that the will be paying salaries on 25th of every month but from information I gathered for the last six months salaries have not been paid even though monthly allocations has been coming with an IGR of over N1.5billion monthly. Can our people now differentiate?”

    ~Benue.com.ng 

  • FG has sacked the management of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC)

    A report reaching our office yesterday, says the Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Executive Management of Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria Limited. 

    Notice of the dissolution was contained in a statement issued by Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Abuja on Friday.

    He directed the Managing Director of the company, Mr James Olotu, to handover immediately to Mr Chiedu Ugbo, who had been appointed as acting Managing Director of the company.

    All Executive Directors of the company and the General Manager, Audit, are to handover immediately to the most senior officers in their respective departments.

    At least, this may help bolster the power issue curtailing the south and the Niger Delta area respectively.