The 2018 diary: April

April 1. Govt. probes role of Cambridge analytica in Nigeria’s elections: The Federal Government set up an in-house committee to investigate the activities of the data-mining firm, Cambridge Analytica, during the nation’s general elections in 2007 and 2015.

April 2. 29 killed in military, Boko Haram crossfire: It was a black Easter in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state as no fewer than 29 persons were feared killed in crossfire between the Boko Haram insurgents and the military.

The confrontation ensued when the Boko Haram first launched a co-ordinate attack on a military camp at the outskirts of Maidugiri.

April 3. Kogi Governor Bello falls from moving vehicle, sustains injury: Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello sustained primary fracture on his left foot after he slipped and fell from his official vehicle while attempting to acknowledge cheers from residents in Lokoja.

The incident left the Governor’s foot bandaged with Plaster of Paris (POP) to protect the broken foot.

**13-years-old son of policeman hangs self in Gombe: A 13 year old son of a policeman was suspected to have managed himself in Gombe State. DSP Mary Malum, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Gombe, said the boy, identified as Muhammadu Al-Amin, was found hanging in his room.

**Science says being lazy is a sign of intelligence: New research suggested that smarter people spent more time being lazy, proving the theory that brainy people spent more time lazing around than their active counterparts

April 5. Drama as sacked Kogi Police chief is reinstated: Sacked Kogi Police Commissioner Mr. Ali Ganga was restorted to his former position after meeting the seven-day ultimatum to re-arrest six suspects who escaped from custody in the Senator Dino Melaye’s case.

April 6. Bello’s chief of staff, wife, child survive auto crash: Barely a week after Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello was involved in an auto accident in Lokoja, which left his left foot on Plaster of Paris cast and forced him to walk with the aid of crutches, his chief of staff, Mr. Edward Onoja, was also involved in an auto crash along Abuja-Lokaja road.

April 7. Experts list dangers of concession, privatization: Experts cautioned the Federal Government not to go ahead with the planned concession of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL). Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, recently insisted there was to be no going back on the move.

April 8. Buhari travels to London, days ahead of CHOGM: President Muhammadu Buhari departed Abuja for an official visit to Britain where he was expected to hold discussions on Nigeria-British relations with Prime Minister Theresa May, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings scheduled for April 18 to April 20 2018.

**Nigerian teen, Olajugbagbe wins the voice UK: A Nigerian, Ruti Olajugbagbe, won the 2018 addition of The Voice UK. The 18 year-old was crwned winner beating runner-up Done1 Mangela

April 9. I’ll re-contest, Buhari declares: President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to seek re-election on the platform of All progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

He announced that during the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

**President Buhari denies $1 billion approval for arms purchase: President Muhammadu Buhari denied giving approval for the release of $1 billion for the procurement of arms for the country’s armed forces

** I have never been beaten in my 76 years, says Summi Smart-Cole: Renowned photo-journalist, Summi Smart-Cole was discharged after a weeklong admission in a Lagos Hospital, after he was treated for injuries he sustained from presidential security men during President Buhari’s visit to Lagos on MARCH 29, 2018.

April 10. FG receives $322.51 million Abacha’s loot from Switzerland: The Federal Government announced receipt of $322.51 million from the swiss government as part of the looted funds recovered from the late former Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha

April 11. How Nigerians hastened my declaration by Buhari: President Muhammadu Buhari clarified his declaration of intention to run for another term in office on the platform of the All Progressive Congressive (APC).

In the presence of Archbishop of Canterbury, Mis Grace, in London, Buhari said “Because Nigerians were talking too much and he needed to break the ice.

**Commission puts Nigeria’s population at 198 million: The National Population Commission (NPC) put Nigerian’s current population at 198 million people with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 65 percent.

April 12. US army trains Nigerian military on Boko Haram operations: Some 12 U.S soldieress trained Nigerian troops on a six-week advise and assist mission in Jaji, Kaduna State, the Pentagon said. Nigerian Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion could be the next to deploy to North East to confront the violent extremist organization, Boko Haram.

April 13. Govt/Boko Haram negotiations suffer set back, says Presidency: The Presidency, confirmed that negotiations between it and Boko Haram for the release of the remaining Chibok school-girls suffered some unexpected set backs

April 14. Real concerns Archbishop Welby raised before Buhari: The Anglican Archbishop Justin Portal Welby raised concerns about the security situations in Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian communities .

The Archbishop was very worried about the herder’s farmers’ conflicts and excruciating poverty in the country.

April 15. Tinubu meets Buhari in London: President Muhammadu Buhari met behind closed doors with the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in London, the United Kingdom (UK). The details of the meeting were not given

April 18. Suspended Omo-Agege hoodlums attack Senate, escape with mace: Armed thugs stormed the Senate to re-instate a suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege. They over-powered the security men and forcibly took away the mace around 11:30am. The mace was the symbol of authority of the legislature

**Four of five Nigerian cancer patients die: Nigeria had the worst cancer mortality rate in Africa as four out of five patients die from the ailment, according to states.

April 19. President Buhari under fire for tagging Nigerian Youths lazy: A statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari to the effect that Nigerian youths were lazy elicited angry re-actions from eminent citizens and across the country.

**Senate recovers mace, summors police DSS Chiefs: The Senate declared that its mace that was carted away by suspected political thugs during plenary was recovered.

** Swaziland is changed to Eswatini: Swaziland’s King Msati III, changed the country to the Kingdom of Eswatini

**Miguel Diaz-canel elected as Cuba’s President, ending Castre family Era: The Cuban National Assembly formally elected Miguel Diaz-canel as the country’s new President, ending Castro family era

April 20. Leaders approve Prince Charles to succeed Queen as Commonwealth Head: Leaders of the Commonwealth approved Prince Charles as the successor to Queen Elizabeth as the Head of the Common wealth, at a meeting of the group Heads of government in Windsor, United Kingdom (Uk).

April 21. 2,000 medical doctors leave Nigeria yearly. It was estimated that at least 2,000 medical doctors left the country yearly for United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, United Arab Emirate (UAE) and South Africa.

April 22. MTN picks chapel Hills, RMB, others for planned IPO. South African telecoms firm, MTN appointed a Nigeria investment firm, Chapel Hills Denham, as head manger for the planned sale of $500 million shares in its Nigerian business during the first half of 2018.

April 23. Senators, others protest police siege, to Malaye’s residence. The senate leadership condemned the siege laid by police men to senator Dino Melaye’s house in Abuja, describing it as an embarrassment to democracy.

His trip outside the country was aborted earlier at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

April 24. Suspected herdsmen kill two Catholic priests, 17 others: Suspected herdsmen attacked Ayar Mbalom Community in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State, killing 19 persons, including two priests of the Catholic Diocecese of Markurdi.

April 25. Reps summon Buhari Over nations’s insecurity: The House of Representatives summoned President Muhammadu Buhari over incessant killings and nationwide insecurity.

**National Assembly can’t re-order election sequence: The Federal High Court, Abuja, held that the National Assembly had no power to dictate to the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) on the order in which the 2019 general elections should be conducted

**El-Rufai signs law on child welfare protection: Governor Nasir El-Rufai signed into law a Bill on child welfare and protection, weeks after its passage by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

April 26. Former UN under-secretary Genera Adedeji is dead: The Former Federal Commissioner for Economic Development and Reconstruction, Professor Adebayo Adedeji, died, aged 87.

He was also the former under-secretary General of the United Nations and Executives Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). He was from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

April 27. Pastor nabbed for operating fake WAEC centre in Lagos: The Lagos State Police Command arrested a self-acclaimed pastor operating a fake West African Examination Council (WAEC) centre at 3, Oseni Adekogbe Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu. The suspect was Adeniyi Joshua of El-Supreme Church

April 29. Christians protest, urge sack of service chiefs: Christians across the country protested against killing of their fellow believers and other innocent citizens in Benue State.

Following the killing of two Catholic priests and 17 others worshippers in a church in Benue, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) directed all Christians in the country to protest peacefully on their church premises, demanding an end to the callous disregard for human life.