Blast Naija Media

The Enugu state command has commenced a full scale investigation into the incident of attack of a commercial bus and abduction of some victims by hoodlums along Agbani Ugbawka road of Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. It was however gathered that yet to be identified hoodlums had on 14/6/19 along Agbani-Ugbawka road allegedly struck at a commercial bus with some passengers plying towards the road and abducting three female persons after allegedly robbing the said bus and zoomed into the bush. It was further gathered that the operatives of the operation Puff Order acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Sulaiman Balarabe promptly raced to the scene and embarked on aggressive combing of the bush which forced hoodlums to abandon their victims without payment of any money just as no ransom was demanded.  However, no injury was sustained by victims and they have also re-united with their various families. The Enu...

Finally, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued Certificate of Return to ex-Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha. A Federal High court in Abuja last Friday directed the commission to issue the former governor the certificate. The commission obeyed the directive after its management meeting on Tuesday. The meeting also discussed other sundry issues .

Ahmed Lawan The Senator representing Yobe North constituency, Ahmed Lawan, has won the leadership position of the ninth National Assembly. Senator Lawan defeated his opponent Ali-Ndume with 79 votes from the lawmakers, thereby making him the Senate President. His victory was announced by the clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, who added that 107 senators cast their votes. He was immediately sworn-in by the clerk of the National Assembly. Senator Lawan who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999, at different times Lawan chaired the House Committees on education and agriculture. He later became a Senator in 2007 and in 2008, he became a member of the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Constitution Review. In 2009, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Lawan initiated and sponsored the Desertification Control Commission Bill. On June 6, 2019, another contender for...

President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chris Isiguzo, Dr Quasim Akinreti, Lagos NUJ Chairman and NUJ National Secretary, Mr Shuaibu Leman during a stakeholders meeting on Monday in Lagos The National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chris Isiguzo, on Monday in Lagos called for legal termination of a stalled housing project for journalists in Lagos. The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ)/NUJ in 2016 had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build 800 housing units for journalists at Abaren Village in Obafemi Owode Local Government, Ogun. However, the agreement incorporated the NUJ which mapped out a portion of land sold to its members for the estate to be constructed by Primewaterview Ltd (PWV). Isiguzo during a stakeholders meeting with subscribers, developer and members of NUJ and NAWOJ, said that the project was marred by irregular...

Justice Inyang Ekwo, has halted the attempt of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to shut down the operations of the African Independent Television (AIT), by ordering that the status quo before the closure be maintained. Though he rejected the prayer by DAAR Communication, the parent body of the television station and its radio counterpart, RayPower FM, that the NBC should not disturb its operation, Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered that the status quo ante bellum, should be maintained as at May 30, effectively cancelling the closure order. The order came against the backdrop of challenge of the closure, which the NBC boss, Modibbo Kawu, explained on Thursday, was necessitated by the organisation’s refusal to keep to the rules after several warnings,  by the management of DAAR Communications, in court. Delivering his ruling on an order ex-parte for the maintenance of status quo, pending the determination of a motion filed by DAAR Communications.E...

The National Broadcasting Commission on Thursday announced the suspension of the licences of the African Independent Television and Ray Power FM belonging to the Daar Communications Limited. The NBC Director-General, Modibbo Kawu, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja, saying the shutdown of the media houses was until further notice. The DG said the infractions committed by the media houses included their inability to pay their licence renewal fees and the airing of a Presidential election documentary while the matter was still before a tribunal, among others. REACTIONS Closure  of AIT, Raypower shocking, says  NGE The Nigeria Guild of Editors described the closure as shocking and unbelievable. President of the guild, Funke Egbemode, told one of our correspondents that the action of the NBC and the Federal Government was unbelievable. “This action is unbelievable.  Why would government do this in a democracy? This ac...

“PRESS BRIEFING ON SUSPENSION OF LICENCE – DAAR COMMUNICATIONS, HELD TODAY 6TH JUNE, 2019 AT THE NBC HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA.” “Following monitoring reports and complaints from concerned Nigerians about the broadcast contents of Daar Communications Plc’s AIT/Raypower broadcast stations, the NBC have over the last 2 years  summoned on several occasions management of the company to address issues regarding the operations of AIT/Raypower with the company, particularly, Political Platform and Kakaaki aired on AIT. In one of our meetings, held on 2nd June, 2017, the Commission expressed its disappointment with the way and manner Hate Speech, divisive and inciting comments are applied in discussion of national issues in breach of the provisions of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code. Again, on 15th August, 2017, it became imperative to invite the company for yet another meeting on almost same issues.  Furthermore, while addressing another meeting on 7th February, 2018 w...

Senate President Bukola Saraki’s delivers speech at today's Valedictory Session. 1. Distinguished colleagues, as we come to the final plenary and the last few days of the eighth Senate, it is a victory in itself that we are seeing the journey to its momentous end. That I am here today, that you are here today, is a victory for democracy. It is a testament to what people can do when they come together for the greater good. This is also one of those occasions when the Supreme Creator reminds us, once again, that power does not reside in any one person. 2. Before I proceed, let us pause to honour the memory of colleagues with whom we started this journey but who sadly are not here with us today. We lost the late Senators Ali Wakili (Bauchi South), Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke (Osun West) and Bukar Mustapha (Katsina North) in the line of duty in this Senate. I ask that we observe a minute’s silence for the continuing repose of their souls [Minute’s Silence]. May the Almighty gr...

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, June 3, 2019, sentenced  Calistus Obi, a  former acting  Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to 42 years imprisonment. Also sentenced to 42 years imprisonment is Alu Dismas, an aide to Patrick Akpobolokemi, a former Director-General, NIMASA. Justice Olatoregun found the defendants guilty on counts two, three, four, six, seven and eight and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment each on each count. The sentence would, however, run concurrently.  The Judge, however, gave the convicts an "option of fine" of N42 million on each of the count. Justice Olatoregun also imposed a N10 million fine on the third and fourth convicts: Global Sea Investment and Grand Pact Limited. The convicts were arraigned on April 12, 2016 on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, conversion, and mon...

As Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, to mark the end of Ramadan, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, has enjoined all Nigerians to take advantage of the celebration to offer special prayers for the peace, unity, security and progress of the country. Gov. Ugwuanyi in a message, congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful on the successful completion of Ramadan, stating that Nigerians stand to benefit immensely from the spiritual rebirth offered by the fast.   He therefore emphasized on the compelling need for all Nigerians to continue to live in peace and harmony, to love and cherish one another as a people of “one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity”. While wishing Nigerians a pleasant and peaceful celebration, Gov. Ugwuanyi urged them to “remain committed to the core values that strengthen the bond that brought us together as a prosperous nation”.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has called on the Muslim Ummah to keep praying for the nation and also sustain the virtues imbibed in at Ramadan beyond the holy month. Ekweremadu said that continually praying for the peace, security, and progress of Nigeria and walking in the right direction would surely turn the fortunes of the country around. He made the call in his Eid-Al-Fitr message to the Muslim Ummah on Monday. “I congratulate the Muslim Ummah on their successful journey of faith, discipline, peace and love throughout the month of Ramadan. Going forward, I urge them to ensure that the great virtues of peace, love, forgiveness, sacrifice, and patriotism imbibed during the Ramadan Fast are felt in every aspect of our national lives beyond the holy month. “I urge the Muslim Ummah and indeed all Nigerians to continually pray for the nation in the face of the worrisome security and daunting national challenges. I have no doubt that...

The Enugu state Commissioner of Police, Sulaiman Balarabe has  warned against cases of extortion and unprofessional conduct by any member of the force in the command. The Commissioner who was speaking on  Monday during his weekly conference with senior officers and Divisional Police Officers at the conference room of the state headquarters, Enugu  gave out marching orders to the men of the IGP''s X-Squad to constantly fish out those in this habit for immediate trial and commensurate punishment.  He further warned that any one found wanting will be dealt with in accordance with provision of Police Act and Regulations while any affected senior officer will be queried accordingly. . He further advised motorists,tricycle operators to desist from succumbing to the evil act of giving money to personnel on stop and search but to promptly report to the nearest police Division about  any case of unprofessional conduct by police personnel.  Suc...

Enugu  state governor,  Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi , has been commended for implementing his  four -point agenda to ensure continuity, consolidation and good governance in the state. Speaking during  Solid Fm’s  current affairs programme on Monday, a journalist and public affairs analyst,  Chukwudi Achife , said the governor has through the four-point agenda spread development to rural communities, and ensured construction of access road in remote communities. Achife  lauded Governor  Ugwuanyi , for flagging off a contract of one hundred million naira for local governments’ development, which according to him will ensure that every part of the state enjoys dividend of democracy. On the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR , he noted that the state government within  2016  and  2017 boosted its  IGR  to  twenty-two billion naira , hinting that the governor has set up a revenue board to further increase the sta...