News Periscope

The Diocese of Sokoto Bishop, Matthew Kukah, has berated President Muhammadu Buhari over the worsening insecurity in the country.
In his Easter message on Sunday, the vocal cleric said the Buhari-led government has polarised the nation into ethnic and religious lines and has slid into hibernation mode.
Kukah said the country had been divided by politicians and evildoers who do to want the country to grow and develop, adding that it seems like the presidency does not know that Nigeria is troubled.
He asserted that the greatest challenge for Nigeria was not even the 2023 general elections, but the process of reconstructing the nation and reconciling the people.

Aspirants contesting for the office of national chairman of the All Progressives Congress will pay N20m to obtain forms, deputy national chairman to pay N10m, zonal chairmen to pay N5m; Asuu extends strike by another two months; Court fixes March 28 to rule on DCP kyari’s bail application; Governors of Edo and rivers, Obaseki and wike, trade words over ownership of PDP; Fire engulfs shops, destroys properties worth millions in Edo; Russian troops abduct another Ukraine mayor; Australia, Netherlands start legal action against Russia for downing Malaysia Airlines flight; Ahead of Nigeria vs Ghana encounter, FIFA makes changes to match officials.

Italian and Greek boats rushed to evacuate 290 people on board a ferry that burst into flames near Corfu
The federal government makes a move towards addressing the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
Nigeria and five other African countries have been chosen to begin production of the COVID-19 vaccine
The death toll from a devastating landslide in the Brazilian mountain city of Petropolis on Tuesday rises to more than 100
Burkina Faso’s junta leader Lt. Col. Paul Henri Sandaogo Damiba sworn in as president, less than a month after the coup.
Lagos State Government to prosecute Fourscore Homes Limited, over building collapse disaster November 1, 2021.
Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare was handed a 10-year ban for doping.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has appealed to the Federal Government to honour and implement the Memorandum of Action the union entered with the government
Journalists and other members of the public were on Monday barred from proceedings of an Ikeja Coroner’s Court unravelling the circumstances surrounding the death of Sylvester.
SEPCOL has announced the recovery of two more dead bodies on the ongoing investigations into the unfortunate explosion and fire that engulfed the FPSO
Morocco on Monday held a funeral for Rayan Oram, a five-year-old boy who died after being trapped in a well for four days.
Chelsea has agreed to pay compensation to four former players who filed civil claims against the club after alleging they were victims of “racist bullying” in the 1990s.
Former Registrar of JAMB, Prof Adedibu Ojerinde, who is standing trial in an alleged N5 billion fraud, has opted for a plea bargain with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said sanctions and other measures will be ready in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, and his government will ask parliament for sanctions on Russian individuals and companies.
House of Representatives has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to suspend the four companies which recently imported adulterated fuel

Nigerian association of resident doctors has asked the federal government to expedite action on the payment of omitted 2020 MRTF
Senator Rochas Okorocha officially throws his hat into the presidential race.
Gunmen attack repentant bandits in katsina, kill over 12 persons.
The federal government identifies 96 sponsors of terror groups
On the foreign scene, roadside bomb kills six in Kenya
Like Ecowas, the African union suspends Burkina Faso over the military coup.
And for sports, Everton confirm the appointment of Lampard as Benitez replacement

Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its planned nationwide protest scheduled for Thursday against moves by the government to remove fuel subsidies.
The Founder and Chairman of the Board of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, Dr Olumide Philips and all members of the school’s Board have stepped down from office.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has postponed the planned removal of subsidy on petroleum products till further notice
A Federal High Court, Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison- Madueke believed to be residing in the UK.
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has been speaking on the importance of the Electoral Bill even as the Ekiti and Osun elections approach.
U.S. President Joe Biden has warned of severe and enormous consequences for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Restriction on flights arriving from Nigeria and 11 other African nations will be lifted on Saturday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have said.
The West African bloc ECOWAS will meet virtually on Friday to discuss the crisis in Burkina Faso, where army officers have deposed President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

After several postponements, the ruling All Progressives Congress on Tuesday has announced February 26 as the date for its national convention.
Three oil tankers exploded at an extension of Abu Dhabi International Airport in a possible drone attack.
President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmed Lawan has assured Nigerians that subsidies on petroleum motor spirit will not be removed.
Russia is sending an unspecified number of troops from the country's far east to Belarus for major war games
Two persons have been killed as rival gangsters clashed in the Idumota area of Lagos State, Friday morning.
Everton are interested in Belgium manager Roberto Martinez returning to the club

Former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu Informs Buhari Of Presidential Ambition.
Buhari Has Mourned The Demise Of Ernest Shonekan, The Former Head Of The Interim National Government; Greece Has Donated About One Million Doses Of The Johnson And Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine To Nigeria. On The Foreign Scene, Kazakhstan President Describes Unrest As Coup Attempt; Dowen College Has Reiterated That The Late 12-Year-old Pupil Of The School, SYLVESTER OROMONI, Was Never At Any Time Bullied While He Was In The College; The U.S, Russia Begin Talks Amid Ukraine Tensions. Buhari Also Pledged Support For The Establishment Of The Diaspora Intervention Fund And For Sports, World Tennis Number 1, Novak Djokovic Admits To Breaching Covid Isolation And Travel Declaration Error.

Lagos State Governor, BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU has said that the construction of the long-awaited 38km 4th Mainland Bridge would begin this year.
Sudan's Prime Minister ABDALLA HAMDOK has resigned after another day of mass protests rocked the capital Khartoum.
 President MUHAMMADU BUHARI on Tuesday appointed Dr DOYIN SALAMI as his Chief Economic Adviser.
The Lagos State Government in Nigeria cleared five students and five employees of Dowen College accused of complicity in the death of 12-year-old SYLVESTER OROMONI.

·        PRESIDENCY DEBUNKS ALLEGED RIFT BETWEEN EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATURE OVER 2022 BUDGET.
 
·        FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPLAINS WHY IT IS YET TO DECLARE BANDITS AS TERRORISTS
  
·        ON THE FOREIGN SCENE, FRANCE IDENTIFIES new coronavirus strain, B.1.640.2
 
·        AND FOR SPORTS, ROMELU LUKAKU APOLOGISES TO BOSS, THOMAS TUCHEL, RETURNS TO CHELSEA SQUAD.

President Buhari writes national assembly explain reasons for declining assent to the electoral act amendment bill
The sixth child in Australia's bouncy castle fall dies in hospital. Brexit minister resigns, deepening crisis engulfing British prime minister. South Africa’s ramaphosa recovers from covid-19, resumes work
 
The federal government has finally reinstated emirates Airlines’ 21 frequencies to Nigeria. South Africa high court Pretoria granted former president Jacob Zuma leave to appeal