The Federal Government has inaugurated the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to tackle the persistent hardship and food insecurity in the country. The unit was launched by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, as part of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to curb hunger. Vice President Shettima emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The nation is facing a rare food security crisis and the sooner we come to terms with the reality, the better. Food insecurity endangers the very basis of our democratic experiment, and this is why all hands have to be…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has completed all payments for nomination forms for its chairmanship and councilorship candidates ahead of the upcoming local council elections on September 21. In a statement issued on Thursday in Ilorin, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, announced that the PDP has paid approximately N25 million to meet the procedures outlined by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC). The payments cover the nomination forms for all 16 Local Government Area (LGA) chairmanship candidates and 193 councilorship candidates fielded by the party. “The payment of N24,900,000 was made to the…
The Labour Party National Transition Committee (LPNTC), established by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has distanced itself from the planned state congresses announced by the Labour Party (LP) National Chairman, Julius Abure. In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, Tony Akani, Chairman of the Media and Publicity Subcommittee, conveyed the LPNTC’s stance. In response, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, dismissed the LPNTC as an unrecognized entity within the party. Ifoh urged the public to disregard any statements from the LPNTC regarding the Labour Party. Akani’s public notice aimed to inform the public and Labour…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has praised the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the right of local government councils to receive their monthly allocations directly from the federation account. A seven-man panel led by Justice Emmanuel Agim also upheld the federal government’s stance that state governors lack the legal authority to arbitrarily dissolve democratically elected local government councils and replace them with caretaker committees. In its Thursday ruling, the apex court condemned the practice of paying local government allocations through state governments as gross misconduct. Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, stated on Friday that this judgment is…
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the fatal shooting of Prince, a member of the local vigilante group, Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC), in Igwuruta community. Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, announced that a thorough investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those responsible for the killing and ensure they face justice. According to reports, OSPAC members were responding to a kidnapping distress call when they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen, leading to Prince’s death. The incident has sparked panic throughout the community. The victim’s body has been transported to an undisclosed mortuary as the…
An Area Court in Jos on Friday dissolved a 16-year-old marriage between Hussaina Abdullahi and her husband, Saidu Ali, citing a lack of love and peace. Presiding Judge Lawal Suleiman granted Abdullahi’s petition for divorce, awarding her custody of the couple’s two children. The court ordered Ali to pay N30,000 monthly through the court for their upkeep and to cover their school fees. Abdullahi, who married Ali in 2008, told the court that the marriage had been devoid of peace and love. She expressed her readiness to refund the N40,000 dowry Ali had paid for her hand in marriage. “I…
A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, has ordered the remand of 30-year-old teacher Josiah Alkali in a correctional facility on charges of sexually assaulting four boys. Alkali faces charges from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for unnatural offense, in violation of Section 259 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law. The victims, aged between 13 and 15 years, reported the assaults. NSCDC prosecutor Marcus Audu stated that the case was reported by the Salama Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Kafanchan on July 3. According to Audu, Alkali lured each of the boys into his room…
Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the November 11, 2023, Kogi State election, has pledged to reclaim what he terms his “stolen mandate” at the Supreme Court. Ajaka made this declaration on Thursday following the Court of Appeal’s decision in Abuja, which upheld the victory of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo as the duly elected Governor of Kogi State. In his statement, Ajaka expressed respect for the Court of Appeal’s decision but emphasized his belief that irregularities and manipulations had influenced the petition’s outcome. “We have tirelessly fought for the rights and interests…
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the immediate resignation of Osarodio Ogie, the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming September 21, 2024, governorship election. Emperor Jarret Tenebe, the acting chairman of Edo State APC, made this demand in a statement released to journalists in Benin City, just 72 days before the election. “By remaining in office while posing as a running mate in the gubernatorial election, Mr. Ogie is in violation of public service rules, which prohibit a public servant from using public resources to fund their…
Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 Enugu State election, has lauded the Supreme Court’s decision granting full autonomy to local government areas. The apex court’s ruling on Thursday ends the governors’ control over local government finances, a development that has been widely celebrated across the nation. In a statement personally signed by Edeoga, he described the landmark judgment as a significant step towards ending the long-standing constitutional violations by state governors. “During my campaign, I pledged that local government funds would be sacrosanct,” Edeoga recalled. He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ondo State has elected Olapade Ademola as their new chairman. Ademola was elected by members of the State Executive Council (SEC) of the NLC at a special meeting held at the state NLC secretariat in Akure. He replaces Comrade Victor Oladele Amoko, who retired. During the meeting, the 41 SEC members present unanimously decided that Ademola will serve as the new chairman of the NLC in the state. In his acceptance speech, Comrade Ademola vowed to enhance welfare packages for workers in Ondo State. “I want to thank the SEC members of Ondo State…
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has declared that local government chairmen have no more excuses for non-performance. The State IPAC Chairperson, Mrs. Temilola Akinade, made this statement during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of full financial autonomy for the 774 local government councils in the country, ordering the Federal Government to start direct payment of local governments’ funds to the councils’ exclusive accounts immediately. Akinade praised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to local government autonomy…
The internal crisis within the Ebonyi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened as former governorship aspirant Christian Usulor resigned from the party. Usulor, who served in the Ebonyi State Assembly representing Ezza South State Constituency from 2011 to 2023, announced his resignation in a letter dated June 8, 2024, addressed to his Ward chairman. The Ebonyi State PDP has faced significant turmoil, impacting its performance in the 2023 general election. Following the election, several party chieftains defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As the party was on the brink of reconciliation, the National Working Committee…
The Delta State Police Command has ordered a massive deployment of personnel to ensure a hitch-free local government election slated for Saturday. Commissioner of Police Olufemi Abaniwonda made this known in a statement by the Command spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, on Thursday. Abaniwonda announced that there would be a restriction of vehicular movement between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm on election day. However, those on special duties and students writing the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) exams are exempt from the restriction. “Ahead of the upcoming local government elections slated for July 13 in Delta, the commissioner of…
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday affirmed Ahmed Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the validly elected governor of Kogi State. In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel of justices held that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its governorship candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, failed to prove the allegations in their petition challenging Ododo’s election beyond a reasonable doubt, as required by law. The appellate court upheld the decision of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had ruled to expunge the evidence of the first witness called by the petitioners, deeming it hearsay.…
The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Environment has expressed concern over the unavailability of water supply in the state. This was disclosed in a statement issued by Mrs. Kehinde Fashola, Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs and Brand Management Unit of the Lagos State Water Corporation (LWC), on Thursday. During an oversight visit to the Lagos State Water Corporation, the committee, led by Adebola Shabi, raised concerns about the lack of water supply in most homes in the state. Shabi requested a comprehensive report on the ongoing projects and the challenges faced by the LWC in producing water supply. Mukhtaar…
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has revealed intelligence indicating plans by terrorists affiliated with Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) to attack the nation’s critical infrastructure. Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this during a briefing on the armed forces’ operations on Thursday in Abuja. “We are aware of some of the plans to target some critical infrastructure in the country. Accordingly, we have emplaced measures to forestall such plans because some of such plans have been frustrated,’’ Buba stated. He emphasized that the military and security agencies responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure…
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has reiterated that Aminu Sani Jaji remains under suspension. This confirmation comes amid ongoing political tensions within the party. Speaking to Journalists via telephone, the state APC publicity secretary, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, stated, “Jaji is still under suspension, and his suspension has not been lifted yet. Though he has the constitutional right as a Nigerian to gather his political supporters, he has no right to sack a constituted authority.” Jaji, a federal lawmaker, was suspended by his ward leaders for misconduct, a decision later ratified by the state leadership…
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has released eligibility regulations for political parties participating in the upcoming local government election scheduled for February 15, 2025. The commission also announced its readiness to appoint electoral officers, assistant electoral officers, and other staff for the exercise. In a statement on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Yemi Badru, OSSIEC Chairman Hashim Abioye emphasized that the commission’s actions align with the timetable and schedule of activities for the Osun local council elections, initially released in February 2024. Abioye highlighted the urgency for political parties to conduct their primaries, stressing the importance of…
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State criticized his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a solidarity visit from the people of Ogbakor Etche on Wednesday. Governor Fubara’s comments appeared to be a reaction to a video of Wike that circulated on social media last week. The video, which showed Wike dancing in a Versace blue street-style coat reportedly worth over N2 million, sparked widespread debate. Many concerned citizens criticized the former governor for spending a significant amount of money on fashion during a period of economic hardship in the country. Addressing the Etche people…