President Bola Tinubu arrived in Lagos State on Wednesday to begin his Christmas and New Year holidays. The presidential jet landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at 3:23 pm, shortly after Tinubu presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly. The 2025 budget, tagged “The Restoration Budget: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” prioritizes key sectors with allocations of N4.91 trillion for Defence and Security, N4.06 trillion for Infrastructure, N3.52 trillion for Education, and N2.48 trillion for Health. During the budget presentation, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas,…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 1,800 officers to ensure the safety of lives and property during the festive season. State Commandant Oluyemi Ibiloye revealed that operatives have been strategically positioned in high-risk areas, flashpoints, and critical locations, including religious centres, recreational venues, shopping malls, motor parks, and government facilities, to prevent any security breaches. The deployment includes personnel from specialised units such as the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Anti-Vandal Squad, Special Female Squad (SFS), Mining and Agro Rangers, as well as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Unit. These…
Over 500 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ifedayo Local Government Area of Osun State have defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The defection took place on Monday and was overseen by the PDP State Chairman, Sunday Bisi. While receiving the defectors, Bisi attributed the growing exodus from the APC to the developmental strides of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration. He noted that many more defections to the PDP are expected before the end of the year. Bisi assured the crowd that the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for February 2025, would mark the end of the…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has filed a lawsuit against Erhiatake Ibori-Sueni, the member representing Ethiope-East/Ethiope-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ibori-Sueni is the daughter of former Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori. The PDP’s suit, filed on December 11, 2024, by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Ayo Asala, also names the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants. In the originating summons, the PDP prayed the Federal High Court in Warri to declare Ibori-Sueni’s seat vacant, citing…
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has referred to Abia State Governor Alex Otti as a “prodigal son,” expressing confidence that he will return to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Abia International Airport in Nsulu, Keyamo remarked on Otti’s political journey, recalling his move from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the APC in 2020, and later to the Labour Party, under which he won the 2023 governorship election. “Today is not the day for politics,” Keyamo said. “He strayed away, he was with us, he strayed away like…
The Delta State High Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for the murder of His Royal Majesty, Obi Edward Akaelue Ofulue III, the late King of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom. The convicted men, Suleiman Musa, Umar Mohammed, and Garba Abubakar Haruna, also known as Dogo, were found guilty of the crime, which was committed on January 6, 2016. Justice M. Omovie, who presided over the case, also sentenced Jemilu Ahmed to 14 years in prison without the option of a fine for being in possession of the monarch’s stolen handset. The convicts faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit…
An unidentified male driver has been confirmed dead following a multiple truck accident on Kara Bridge in Lagos State on Wednesday morning. The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, disclosed this in a statement signed by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu. According to the statement, the accident occurred at 4:26 AM and involved a truck carrying rolls of steel coils and a stationary 40-foot container without a truck head. “Investigations by the Agency’s Response Team revealed that the truck driver, while in motion, lost control while attempting to avoid a…
The Kano State Police Command has arrested 24 suspected thugs in a series of clearance operations conducted across the state in preparation for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed that the operations were carried out between December 13 and 16, 2024, in areas such as Kofar Mata, Yakasai, Zango, and Zage, among others. These areas had recently experienced clashes that resulted in the deaths of two residents earlier in December. “The clearance operations led to the arrest of 24 suspected thugs and the recovery of several dangerous weapons,” Kiyawa stated.…
The Zamfara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a suspected car thief while attempting to sell a stolen vehicle in Gusau, the state capital. In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, ASCII Umar Mohammad M., it was disclosed that the arrest followed a report filed by Mr. Alkasim Muhammad Kabir, a Kano State resident, on Thursday, December 12, 2024. Kabir reported the theft of his Mercedes-Benz C300 with registration number DAL68HK Kano, along with two phones, a Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and an iPhone 12. “Tracking efforts revealed multiple locations the suspect…
The Edwin Woko-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has criticized the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, over his recent remarks about the APC’s ambition to win the Rivers State governorship election in 2027. Ganduje, during the inauguration of the Tony Okocha-led APC state executive in Port Harcourt on Saturday, declared that capturing the Rivers State Government House was a top priority for the APC in the upcoming election cycle. In a swift response, Edwin Woko rejected Ganduje’s comments, asserting that “there is no vacancy in Rivers State in 2027.” He…
The Anioma Council of Chiefs has declared its full support for the creation of Anioma State from the current Delta State, stating that the move would address long-standing agitations in the country. The traditional rulers emphasized that the geopolitical location of the proposed state was inconsequential, as their primary focus is achieving a state for the Anioma people. Speaking after their meeting on Tuesday at the residence of the Ndokwa Nation’s chairman, Chief Matthew Udi, the Ezeudo 1 of Abbi, the monarchs expressed appreciation for the advocacy led by Senator Ned Nwoko, describing it as a significant step towards realizing…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has identified Eziukwu Market, also known as Cemetery Market, in Aba, Abia State, as a hub for the production and distribution of fake and substandard drinks and beverages. This declaration came during a raid conducted on Tuesday, led by Mr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s South-East Zonal Director. Iluyomade described the market as a center for large-scale production and distribution of adulterated products, comparing the situation to “weapons of mass destruction.” He noted that despite previous crackdowns, including a major operation in December 2023, illegal activities had continued unabated. “It is…
The Edo State House of Assembly has suspended all 18 elected local government council chairmen in the state over allegations of insubordination and gross misconduct. The Assembly directed the leaders of the legislature in the respective local governments to oversee the councils’ administration for the next two months. The decision followed a petition submitted by Governor Monday Okpebholo, accusing the council chairmen of refusing to submit the financial accounts of their local governments to the state government. During plenary on Tuesday, the motion for the suspension of the chairmen and their deputies was moved by Mr. Isibor Addeh, an All…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed reports claiming it invited former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2027 presidential election on its platform. Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, debunked the reports in an interview with BBC Hausa, clarifying that the PDP has not offered its presidential ticket to Jonathan nor invited him to run. “What happened is this: I had an interview with a journalist where we discussed some issues. But in the course of the interview, he mentioned President Jonathan, asking about our opinion of him, because there are reports that he is being…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has condemned the invasion of its secretariat in Oghara, Ethiope-West Local Government Area, allegedly by thugs loyal to Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former governor James Ibori, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, the party described the incident as “unlawful and provocative.” “The attention of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the unfortunate and unlawful invasion of its party secretariat in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government…
The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Yushau Ahmed Dogara, has reiterated the scheme’s zero-tolerance policy for protests and indiscipline among corps members. Dogara issued the warning during a working visit to the temporary orientation camp in Kaduna, emphasizing that the scheme’s bylaws clearly outline the consequences of such behavior, which corps members must strictly adhere to. “In NYSC, just like in the Army and the Police, we don’t allow protests because we are disciplined and law-abiding. So whenever anybody wants to deceive you, go back and read your bylaws,” Dogara stated. He revealed that in…
The Federal Government has announced free train rides for Nigerians traveling to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcomes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. Idris stated that the free train services will begin on December 20, 2024, and end on January 5, 2025. He added that the initiative will cover all routes where train services are currently operational, providing Nigerians with an affordable and convenient travel option during the holiday season. Further details regarding the free train rides are…
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has presented a N486.2 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly. The appropriation bill, tagged “Budget of Service,” was presented on Monday in Yola. Speaking during the presentation, Governor Fintiri said the budget aligns with the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) and reflects the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance. “Out of the total proposed budget estimate, the sum of N137.2 billion, which represents 28.23 percent, is earmarked for recurrent services. The balance of N348.9 billion, or 71.77 percent of the total…
A former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigeria’s drift toward a one-party state, dismissing claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or President Bola Tinubu are responsible for the weakening of the opposition. Okechukwu made this assertion on Sunday in Enugu while reacting to allegations that the APC was orchestrating the emergence of a one-party state. He described such insinuations as misplaced and accused the PDP of being afflicted by the same “culture of impunity” it established during its 16-year rule. According to the APC founding member,…
The Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the invasion of its secretariat in Oghara, Ethiope-West Local Government Area, by suspected thugs allegedly loyal to Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Governor James Ibori, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Delta State PDP Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, and made available to journalists on Sunday. According to the statement, the suspected thugs, allegedly acting on Ibori-Suenu’s orders, unlawfully took over the PDP secretariat on Thursday, repainted the building in APC colors, and attempted to appropriate…