The 2017 diary: November

November 1, Fed Govt directs Malami to recover $321 million Abacha loot from Switzerland. The Federal Government authorized the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to endorse an agreement between Nigeria and Switzerland to facilitate the repatriation of $321 million Abacha loot at the then approachin g global forum on asset recovery in the United States in December, 2017.

November 2. APC governors split over ticket for Buhari. Differing with his colleagues, Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha said that there would be no automatic ticket for Buhari in 2019, if he decided to re-contest. That position indicated that the entire APC structure was not united behind the re-election bid of the President.

November 3. Buhari approves Ekwueme’s emergency treatment abroad. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the immediate medical treatment of former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme, outside the country.

The approval covered the immediate charter of an air ambulance for the emergency movement and the cost of treatment. Ekwume was the vice President in the Second Republic.

November 6. 149 stranded Nigerians return from Libya. Another batch of 149. Nigerians that were stranded in Libya returned to Lagos by the efforts of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
**EU budgets $10 million to boost mineral exploration in Nigeria and 18 African countries.

November 7. Buhari presents =N=8. 612 trillion Budget for 2018. President Muhammadu Buhari presented to a joint session of the National Assembly a Budget estimate of =N=8.612 trillion for the 2018 fiscal year.

November 8. JAMB loans wristwatches, eyeglasses, pens in 2018 UTME. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) banned the use of electronic devices in its examinations. The ban would take effect from the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this.

November 9. Assembly investigates 26 girls’ death in Spanish warship. The National Assembly resolved to investigate the death of 26 young Nigerian girls found in a Spanish warship on the 26 young girls en route Italy, sponsored by Rose Oko.

November 10. Take Nigeria from OIC, others, CAN tells Buhari. The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) demanded the exit of Nigeria from International religious organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) to maintain the country’s secularity status.

November 11. Buhari approves =N=6 billion for Maritime University take-off. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of =N=6 billion for the effective take-off of the Maritime University, Okorenkoko, Delta State. The grant was included in the 2018 Budget presented to the National Assembly.

November 12. Editors caution Avengers over threat to resume attack on oil facilities The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) expressed worry over the threat by Niger Delta Avengers to resume attack on oil facilities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The Guild called on the Avengers to drop the threat and embrace dialogue in resolving their grievances.

November 13. Buhari backs sack of 22,000 unqualified Kaduna teachers . President Muhammadu Buhari threw his weight behind Governor Nasir El- Rufai’s decision to sack 22,000 teachers in Kaduna state who failed competency test and recruit 25,000 new ones.

** Govt loses =N=300 billion to National Theatre decay.

For the most part of 30 Years in which Nigeria’s foremost culture edifice, National Theatre, was in comatose, Government lost over =N=300 billion.

November 14. Buhari in Ebonyi state, stands on one Nigeria . President Buhari described his presence in Ebonyi state as a demonstration of strong belief Nigerians unity. “Our diversity is almost unique and sure”, he said.

**IGP redeploys Obiano’s police aides, Anambra CP, others.

Anambra Police Commissioner, Umar Abu baker was redeployed, less than a week to its governorship election. Also reshuffled were the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of operation, DCP in charge of administration, ACP in charge of administration, state officer in charge of Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) and aides to Willie Obiano.

November 15. Buhari reinstates Obiano’s aides. President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the reinstatement of the securities aides of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state. The Inspector –General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, earlier withdrew Obiano’s security aides

**The Guardian’s Toke Alex-Ibru named man of the year.

The Executive Director, Guardian Newspapers Limited, Toke Alex-Ibru was announced the 2017 Man of the Year at Ebong life TV Sisterhood Awards Organized by Ebony life Television in partnership with Women In Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ)

November 16. Eight feared dead, 19 injured in Lagos train, Ogun road accident. It was a tragedy in Lagos as three passengers were crushed by a train in which they were traveling when it collided with a truck that was making an illegal turn on the railway track at Fagba Ojurin, Ifako Ijaye, Abattoir Lagos State.

November 17. 605 journalists accredited as Anambra votes for governor . About 37 Candidates from different political parties were expected to scramble for votes of 2,158,171 registered voters in the state at the polls. No fewer than 605 journalists were accredited to cover the day’s governorship election.

November 18 123 million Nigerians in the open, says Water Aid. As the world commemorated Toilet Day, Water Aid’s world toilet report 2017 reveled that 123 million Nigerians were defecating in open, making it the third worst country in the world in number of people without the facilities. The report was made available in Abuja.

November 19. Governor Obiano’s clear victory thrills opposition: Opposition political parties praised the re-election of Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, saying it held hopes for the country’s democracy. He beat his nearest rivals, Tony Nwoye (APC) 98, 752 and Oseloke Obiza (PDP) 70, 593. Willie Obiano contested on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (234,071).

November 20. Immortalise Ekwueme, Igbo, others tell FG, The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaeze Ndigbo, called on the Federal Government to immortalize former Vice- President, Dr Alex Ekwueme. He passed on at 85 in a London clinic on the night of November 19, 2017.

November 21. Suicide bomber kills 50 in Mubi. Boko Haram demonstrated gruesome ability to hit back, staging a suicide attack that killed 50 people. A youth detonated an improvised explosive device strapped to his body as the Muslim faithfuls observed prayers at a mosque in Mubi, Adamawa state.

November 22. Army introduced new language policy for officers, soldiers. The Nigerian Army introduced a new language policy for officers and soldiers as the policy would encourage them to be multi-lingual in the discharge of their duties across the nation.

Ability to speak the three major Nigerian languages would be an added advantages for recruitment or commissioning into the Army. All personnel were given up to December 2018 as the deadline to learn the three major Nigerian languages.

November 23. Federal Govt brings back toll gates. The Federal Government concluded toll gates across the country, according to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. He said that the facilities would be managed by the private sector.

November 24, Atiku dumps APC, calls it dying party. Former vice President Atiku Abubakar formally dumped the ruling all progressives congress (APC). He was believed to be on his way to PDP. In reply, the APC said there were no hard feelings over the decision by Atiku to dump the party.

November 25 Lulu Briggs escapes assassination attempt. The acting chairman of Aboema Council of Chiefs, Chief O. B Lulu- Briggs escaped an assassination attempt at his home town, Abonnema, in Akuku- Toru Local Council of Rivers state.

November 26 NFF to facilitate fans’ trip to Russia 2018 World Cup. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) planned to help as many fans as possible to cheer the Super Eagles in Russia during the 2018 World Cup, an official of the team revealed.

November 27 Buhari orders governors to clear workers’ outstanding salaries. President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, to facilitate release of 50 per cent from the balance of the first tranche of Paris Club re-fund to the 36 state Government. The President emphasized that the amount must be used to clear all outstanding workers’ salaries before Christmas

November 29 Government to bring back stranded Nigerians in Libya. Nigerians who were stranded in Libya and other parts of the world would be brought home and rehabilitated, President Muhammadu Buhari stated. He spoke against the backdrop of reports that hundred of African refugees and migrants in Libya were sold into slavery.