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The Coalition of Arewa Youth Development Foundations (AYDF) has said it is planning a meeting aimed at mounting pressure on Igbos residing or carrying out business in any part of the North to relocate to the South-east and all Northerners residing in the South-east should return back to the north, and they have two weeks to comply. The coalition of Northern youths explained that its action is necessitated by the renewed threat of secession by Igbo secessionist group which is being backed by some of their governments and leaders by humiliating and harassing petty Northern traders and others residents in the South-east. The Coalition also urged the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to as a matter of urgency act quickly by taking a position on the humiliation of northerners in the hands of Igbo Biafra in parts of the South-east geo-political zone and their governments. The group, in a letter jointly signed by Barr. Aliyu Usman of AYDF, Hon. Aminu Ada...

United Bank for Africa Plc says it has introduced contactless payment cards to boost electronic payment transactions across the country and beyond. According to a statement by the lender, the contactless payment cards offer its customers a more convenient way of paying for goods and services. “With our contactless cards, you can make payments for everyday essentials and other things that money can buy the contactless way” the Divisional Head, Digital Banking, UBA, Dr. Yinka Adedeji, said. He said the contactless payment cards works with Near Field Communication-enabled Point of Sales and Automated Teller Machine terminals by simply touching the card against the reader without slotting it into the terminal. Customers can also use the cards to pay on regular PoS terminals. “UBA contactless payment cards can be used across all the channels where you use your regular card – ATM, PoS and Web,” Adedeji added. He explained that “Ideally, for low value transactions, contactless paym...

None of the 109 Senators attended an online  training organised on Monday by the office of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. The workshop was organised for the senators and their aides and it was aimed at strengthening their use of Facebook and Social media for effective communication on issues relating to Public Policy and Good Governance. Punch also observed that less than 10 percent of the aides of the senators attended the event. Only 25 out of about 500 senators’ aides, actually turned up for the programme, with majority of those in attendance from the senate president’s office. The Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Isa Galaudu, had in a statement issued on Thursday, said the training  was in line with the promise of the senate president to bring about,  a more representative legislature through the use of technology and e-parliamentary tools. He had said that the training,  would be conducted by the Head of Policy at Facebook Africa and ...

Another point has been won in favour of the Nigerian army in the fight against the terrorist sect Boko Haram. The Nigerian Army today, Monday the 16th of November said its troops of 7 Division Garrison in Operation Lafiya Dole arrested a Boko Haram kingpin, John Trankil. Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar, the Theatre Commander operation LAFIYA DOLE commended the efforts of the troops while also reminding members of the general public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities. In a statement released, the arrest was said to have been made at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis while the suspect confessed that nine of them had been sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each in a Hilux vehicle with containing 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city.

The Nigerian Army, on Monday condemned on-going protests by pro-Biafra groups, vowing to invoke its rules of engagement in order to protect Nigeria’s Constitution. The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Hamza Gambo, who addressed a press briefing on behalf of the GOC, condemned recent protests by the pro-Biafran groups, warning them to stop further unlawful conduct. He stated that “in the past three weeks, there has been a marked increase in the activities of pro-Biafran groups in some parts of the South-South and the South-East of Nigeria. “These activities include protest marches, demonstrations and some reported cases of outright lawlessness and threat to lives and properties. These demonstrations are being orchestrated by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, and the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, and other affiliated groups. These agitation and protests have led to an increased sense of insecurity across the regions.” On human...

The chairman of Silverbird Groups and lawmaker representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District , Ben Murray Bruce, has challenged anyone with evidence that he stole money to publish it. The #commonsense advocate said that he founded Silverbird with a loan of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) from his father in 1980 and he is happy that it has become a business empire, employing and creating jobs for thousands of Nigerians and others. The company is celebrating her 35th anniversary. "I founded Silverbird in 1980 with a ₦20, 000 loan from my father and on November 21st we will be celebrating 35 years. Thank you Nigeria!" "Silverbird is evidence you dont need to steal to make it in Nigeria. If anyone has evidence (not innuendo) that I stole, please publish it," he posted on his Twitter handle. Some of his critics have alleged that the media mogul might have enriched himself during his days as Director General of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, but he has denie...

The Nigerian Army on Monday said it had arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu area of Maiduguri. Col. Tukur Gusau, the Media Coordinator, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this in a statement in Maiduguri. “Troops of 7 Division Garrison Nigerian Army in Operation Lafiya Dole, made a remarkable progress by arresting a Boko Haram Terrorist kingpin, Mr John Trankil, at Kasuwar Shanu in Maiduguri metropolis. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect said that nine of them sneaked into Maiduguri armed with AK 47 assault rifle each and a Toyota Hilux vehicle laden with 20 Improvised Explosive Devices meant to be detonated at some selected targets in the city,” he said. “The Theater Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Yusha’u Abubakar, commended the efforts of the troops and renewed call for the troops and the public to be more vigilant and security conscious. Gusau said that troops of the 21 Brigade of the army had a...