Author: News Editor
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has slammed some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, labelling them as “political buccaneers”. Wike, who was governor of the oil-rich South-South state from May 2015 to May 2023, blasted PDP leaders in the state for declaring support for his former political son, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. PDP leader in Rivers State, Abiye Sekibo; ex-PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus; ex-governorship aspirant, Celestine Omehia; and ex-lawmaker, Austin Opara; had last week declared support for Fubara and called on President Bola Tinubu to caution Wike. However, reacting on Tuesday, Wike said Sekibo,…
Bishop Matthew Kukah has faulted the distribution of palliative to Nigerians in the wake of the biting hardship facing the country. The government’s floating of the naira and the removal of fuel subsidy have pushed inflation levels to a new high leading to a hike in the cost of living. Governments across levels have rolled out palliative measures including the distribution of food items to the vulnerable as part of moves to cushion the hardship in the country. But Kukah, who is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, says such moves are undignifying and governments should map out…
As the world celebrates Easter, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged Christians to imbibe Jesus Christ’s spirit of humility, love and sacrifice during and even after the celebration of His death and resurrection. Akpabio, who stated this in his Easter message through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, congratulated all Christians at home and in the diaspora for successfully completing the 40 days Lent and witnessing yet another Easter celebration. He said, “Just as Jesus Christ in His humility and love offered Himself for the redemption of mankind, I admonish us all to emulate Him…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a one week ultimatum to Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike to account for loan agreements and spending details of some N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT. SERAP’s request also includes details and locations of projects executed with the loans. SERAP also urged them to “promptly invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the spending of the domestic and external loans…
The Rivers State House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of dishonesty, threatening to resume impeachment proceedings against him if he continues to breach the constitution. Martin Amaewhule, the Speaker of the House, made this known on Saturday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Amaewhule, who was accompanied by 26 members of the Assembly, read out a communique issued after the briefing. The lawmakers accused the governor of refusing to hold up to his end of the Presidential Peace Accord which he wilfully signed without coercion. Furthermore, they explained that they withdrew their impeachment notice against…
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigeria’s leaders to be selfless and consider it an opportunity to serve the people. Obasanjo stated this on Saturday during a courtesy visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital. According to the former Nigerian President, leadership is an opportunity and privilege. He said the current economic realities require that those in authority make sacrifices and not think of themselves alone. Obasanjo described as unfortunate, the present situation in Nigeria but was optimistic that the present situation would eventually turn around for good with time.…
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said that he inherited a huge debt burden of $587m, N85bn and 115 contractual liabilities from the immediate past administration of Nasir El-Rufai, lamenting that the huge debt has eaten deep into the state’s federal allocation. The governor, who disclosed at a town hall meeting on Saturday, to give account of his stewardship, said he remained resolute in steering Kaduna to the path of progress using the available lean resources. In attendance at the meeting were traditional rulers and religious leaders, politicians, members of the Organised Labour, civil society organisations, youths and women…
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has successfully restored the national grid following a system disturbance at 4:28 p.m. on Thursday. In a statement on Friday evening, the TCN said full recovery was achieved by 10:00 p.m. that same day. The TCN said that a report from the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo, indicated that the system disturbance was triggered by a significant reduction in generation capacity, primarily due to gas constraints. It noted that the reduction led to a rapid decline in system frequency, creating a sudden grid imbalance. It added that the imbalance in grid…
President Bola Tinubu has declared that individuals involved in despicable crimes such as kidnapping must be treated as terrorists. The President made the declaration on Tuesday at a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Reiterating the government’s resolve to defeat banditry, the President said those who resort to kidnapping children are cowards, incapable of confronting the might of the Nigerian Armed Forces. ”We must treat kidnappers as terrorists,” the President said, according to a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale. “They are cowardly. They have been degraded.…
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, as the new Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The appointment of Kokumo was announced in a statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale. The retired DIG is a seasoned and accomplished law enforcement professional with over 30 years of experience in crime prevention, management, analysis, and control. Kokumo was DIG, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, from 2022 to 2023. The…