In Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, thousands of people gathered for a march to the state office of the presidency to demand the appearance of their leader Musa Umaru Yar’Adua who has not been seen in public since his arrival from Saudi Arabia where he underwent treatment for heart problems two weeks ago. It was reported that [...]

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan has replaced Sarki Mukhtar, the country’s National Security Adviser. The move is seen as a further sign in Jonathan asserting his authority after the return of the sick President Umaru Yar’Adua. Sarki Mukhtar has been a powerful figure in the inner circle of Yar’Adua.  He has been replaced with Aliyu Gusau, [...]

According to reports coming out of central Nigeria, Hausa-Fulani herders from surrounding hills attacked villagers in Dogo Nahawa, just south of the state capital Jos, shooting into the air before cutting those who came out of their homes with machetes. At least two other communities close by were also targeted, in an area close to [...]

State Governors in Nigeria have pledged their support for the new Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. They said he should continue to lead Africa’s most populous nation while the President, Umaru Yar’Adua recovers from heart problems. This support from the governors of all 36 states is the latest sign that Jonathan is asserting his authority after [...]

As the Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua returned home on Wednesday after a three-month absence to receive medical treatment abroad, speculation is still mounting as to his actual medical condition. The secrecy surrounding his sudden return to the country has been met with anger by some opposition elements who are demanding that the government release a [...]

After three months of medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, President Umaru Yar’adua returned back to Nigeria on Wednesday. He arrived in the country when it was already dark and was whisked off from the airport by a waiting ambulance. His spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said “President Yar’Adua wishes to re-assure all Nigerians that on account of their [...]

$2 billion from oil savings has been approved for release to government by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, to help the country recover from paralysis caused by the absence of its ailing President Umaru Yar’adua.  The Acting President made the decision to release the money three days after he assumed executive powers of the [...]

The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on police and prosecutors in northern Nigeria to withdraw the threat of arrest and prosecution of Mallam Tukur, the editor-in-chief and publisher of the independent weekly, Desert Herald, based in Kaduna State. Two plainclothes police arrested Tukur on defamation charges at his office in Kaduna on February 8 [...]

Nigeria’s Justice Minister and Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, has been sacked by the new Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. Aondoakaa was among the group of ministers who were against formally transferring power to Jonathan during President Umaru Yar’Adua’s absence of more than two months. “There was a swap in the cabinet. I am now the minister [...]

After months of political turmoil, Nigeria’s Vice President Goodluck Jonathan has assumed the Presidency to fill a power vacuum that was created as a result of President Umaru Yar’Adua leaving the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. In an effort to end uncertainty that has threatened to disrupt government business, Parliament agreed to recognise [...]

President Umaru Yar’Adua has expressed his intentions to hand over power to the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan for medical reasons. The President will write a letter to the Nigerian Senate. The letter will formerly inform the Senate body that the President is on Medical Vacation. This decision comes amidst calls for the President to [...]