On June 26, 2024, operatives from the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended 27 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud at various locations within Benin City. The arrests were made based on credible intelligence indicating their involvement in computer-related fraud activities. During the operation, the EFCC seized several items from the suspects, including N590,000 in cash, nine luxury vehicles, laptops, and phones. The suspects will face charges in court following the completion of the ongoing investigations.
Author: Adewale A.
From the track records of Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, his appointment into the hitherto moribund National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) is well deserved. Given his pedigree, experience and previous positions, expectations are high that Oyebamiji’s good leadership style will ultimately impact inland waterways in a way to makes the Marine and Blue Economy relevant and fulfils its mandate. In the past, not much has been heard about NIWA as it has just been a job-for-the-boys kind of establishment. But now that a technocrat, famously called Bola Oyebamiji, has been put in the saddle, it’s…
My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society. Going through this passage was hard and dangerous. During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator. We lost great heroes and…
In a significant boost to the infrastructure development of Rivers State, the Kalama Development Initiative, a socio-political pressure group, has praised Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara GSSRS for approving the construction of a bridge that will connect Kalama to the rest of the state. The group, founded in 2018 to address the socio-political concerns of youths in Kalama, hailed the Governor’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and improving the lives of the state’s residents. In a statement signed by founder Sobere Opusunju, MBCS, and Head of Administration Comrade Inyie Okpukpo, the Kalama Development Initiative expressed gratitude for this vital infrastructure project. “This…
Professor Ben Nwabueze analysed the National Assembly’s power to replace the Nigerian Constitution in the article below: THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY’S POWER TO REPLACE THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION: AN ANALYSIS OF PROFESSOR BEN NWABUEZE’S ARGUMENTS Introduction A bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria” has been circulating online for some time. Drafted by Dr. Akin Fapohunda, the bill proposes a new Constitution to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.” It…
Engr. Emeka Woke, the newly appointed Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Spillage, Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has reiterated his commitment to align the agency with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. During a meeting with management staff at the agency’s headquarters, Engr. Woke emphasized his mandate to refocus, redirect, and revitalize NOSDRA to impact communities affected by oil spills positively. Engr. Woke commended the management staff for their warm reception and asked them to continue performing their duties diligently. He also promised to address the immediate challenges faced by staff, including regular and…
BudgIT, a leading civic-tech organisation promoting transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery in Nigeria, has expressed concern at the Country’s performance in the 2023 Open Budget Survey (OBS) conducted by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), where Nigeria scored lower than the global average of 45 (out of 100) in the Open Budget Index, ranking below Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Benin. The Open Budget Survey is the world’s only comparative, independent, and regular assessment of transparency, oversight, and participation in national budgets. It is designed to help local civil society organisations and the public evaluate government reporting on public…
During the meeting held on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, the tripartite partners, including government representatives and the organised private sector, presented their proposals for the new national minimum wage. Before the shutdown: the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) demanded N494K as the minimum wage: Read the response of the Tripartite Committee to the unreasonable demand At the last meeting on Tuesday 28 May 2024, all tripartite partners were invited to make their offers. Employers made up of the Government side and the Organised Private Sector made offers of N60,000.00 per month which is a…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the heinous killing of soldiers in Aba, Abia State, according to the statement issued below: Statement on the Killings of Soldiers in Abia I have received yet another disheartening news story about the killing of five soldiers by suspected militants of the proscribed terrorist organisation, IPOB. The slain soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia State, on Thursday when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama, Delta State. These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts are condemnable and should never be condoned or tolerated in our country.…
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has announced that the N494,000 national minimum wage demanded by organised labour, which totals N9.5 trillion annually, is economically unfeasible and could jeopardise the welfare of over 200 million Nigerians. Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Idris responded to the organised labour’s strike threat should their demands remain unmet. He highlighted that the Federal Government’s offer of a N60,000 minimum wage, representing a 100% increase from the 2019 wage, has been accepted by the organised private sector, part of the tripartite negotiation committee. “The Federal Government’s new minimum wage proposal represents…
Starting this Saturday, 1st June 2024, skilled workers from non-EU countries will have the opportunity to move to Germany and search for employment for up to a year, provided they meet certain criteria. This new visa programme called “Opportunity Card” is part of a broader legislative initiative to address Germany’s pressing shortage of skilled labour. “We are ensuring that the workers and specialists our economy has desperately needed for years can come to our country,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Saturday. What Does the New Scheme Involve? Eligible individuals can apply for the Opportunity Card, or Chancenkarte in German,…
As a young person living in Ogun State, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The contentious issue of who should lead the party in the state has created a state of unrest and instability within the party, which has great implications for the political landscape of the state as a whole. The PDP is a major political party in Nigeria, and its internal conflict in Ogun State is troubling. As a youth who is eager to see positive changes and progress in my state, I worry about the impact that this conflict…
Volvo Trucks is developing trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen. On-road tests with trucks using hydrogen in combustion engines will begin in 2026, and the commercial launch is planned towards the end of this decade. Trucks that run on green hydrogen provide a significant step for Volvo to achieve its net zero goal and support customers in reaching their decarbonization targets. Volvo will launch trucks with combustion engines that can run on green hydrogen. These trucks provide a significant step to decarbonize heavy transport. Trucks that run on green hydrogen instead of fossil fuels provide one way to…
The World Poultry Foundation (WPF) has released a series of new training materials to help small-scale poultry farmers improve their farming methods and incomes. The WPF explains that small-scale producers are farmers who typically start with just a few birds in their gardens, but who later grow their flocks over time and start selling chicken meat and eggs in addition to producing for home consumption. By following a few basic principles when it comes to rearing poultry, small-scale producers can reap benefits for their families in terms of improved poultry productivity. These visual training guides aim to teach just that:…
Northern Governors went to America for a security meeting for 3 weeks, came back to Nigeria to hold another meeting in Kaduna, then issued a communique signed by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya whose state the people are crying for portable water and blackout while he is building a N14billion Governor’s lodge. In the communique Not even a mention of their US trip and what the states they used their resources stand to gain. Nothing! The forum expressed sympathy with Katsina, Plateau, Niger, and Kaduna over insecurity, Do they need a meeting to do that? The Northern Governors also said…
The issue of lack of electricity that has pervaded almost all northern states is a national security risk that Northern Governors are playing with, if they do not do something to resolve it, it has the potential to unite the masses with a call to action across the North and even Nigeria. Recall how Endsars started from complaints to mobilizing to civil disobedience that almost brought Nigeria to its knees. Electricity supply is an important economic issue, life of every Nigerian is tied to it. Toying with it is playing with fire. Most of the state Governors that should be…
A former pastor from Kildare, found guilty of multiple counts of theft and fraud totalling over €125,000 from his church, has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison. Ebenezer Oduntan, once a pastor at the City of David Church in Naas, Co Kildare, faced 87 charges of theft and fraud following a three-week trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court. The church, a branch of the Nigerian-based Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has been located in Naas Enterprise Park since 2015. Oduntan, aged 58 and a resident of Curragh Grange, Newbridge, Co Kildare, denied 54 charges but admitted guilt to…
Nigeria’s economy has gone through very challenging times over the past year. Inflation reached 28.92% in December 2023, the highest in 27 years. Food inflation rose to 33.93% in December 2023. The naira depreciated significantly, losing 25% of its value in a single day in June 2023 when the government removed pegging to the US dollar. This made imports much more expensive. Removal of fuel subsidies in May 2023 caused petrol prices to jump by 196% practically overnight, from ₦189 to ₦557 per litre. Prices went through the roof! According to the World Bank, accelerating inflation pushed an additional 24…
On Friday, April 5, 2024, the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction of Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, before Justice Abimbola Awogboro at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for the improper handling of Naira notes. Bobrisky was charged with four counts of mutilation of Naira notes amounting to N490,000 (Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira). One of the charges stated: “That you, OKUNEYE IDRIS OLANREWAJU, on the 24th day of March 2024, at Imax Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a…
Officials from the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have initiated an inquiry into the actions of Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, for allegedly indulging in the improper use of Naira notes. The EFCC’s interest in the 31-year-old was sparked by a video depicting him extravagantly spraying and displaying bundles of new Naira notes during the premiere of the movie “Ajakaju,” produced by Nollywood actress and producer Eniola Ajao. The premiere took place at the Film One Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos, on March 24, 2024. Further investigation uncovered that this alleged offence wasn’t…