Troops belonging to the Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army have successfully neutralized six fighters of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) during a raid on a “notorious enclave” in Goniri, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. This achievement was disclosed by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, through a post on his social media handle on Friday. Makama reported that the operation was carried out by troops from the 81 Division Task Force Battalion, who collaborated with the Civilian Joint Task Force on Thursday. According to the security expert, intelligence…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has stated that employing new individuals into the state’s civil service is not currently a priority for his administration. Governor Otti made this known during a monthly interactive session with the media in Umuahia on Thursday. He emphasized that the issue of employment would only be considered after the government had addressed existing matters within the civil service. Otti highlighted that there is an existing embargo on employment that he has maintained, and it remains in force. He expressed concern over the high number of personnel in the civil service, even after verification processes have…
The House of Representatives has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of misinterpreting the Cybercrime Act and has called for the suspension of the policy based on this misinterpretation. The House made this declaration following a motion by Kingsley Chinda and 39 others on Thursday. Chinda stated that contrary to the circular issued by the CBN, the Act did not place the burden of paying the cybercrime levy on bank customers. The CBN had issued a circular to banks mandating them to charge 0.5 percent on certain transactions in an effort to implement the policy. However, this move by…
Dr Afeez Abolore Alabi, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development in Kwara State, has called for enhanced collaboration between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to combat illegal mining activities in the state. Alabi made the plea during visits to the EFCC and DSS headquarters in Ilorin, the state capital, on Wednesday. He highlighted the necessity of these visits in light of the ongoing illegal mining operations in the state and their adverse effects on revenue generation. The commissioner stressed the need for concerted efforts to address the issue and prevent further…
A socio-cultural group representing the Igala nation, Ane Igala Restoration (AIR), has taken legal action against Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, over accusations of using the Atta of Igala for political purposes that could tarnish his esteemed position. In a lawsuit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with the number W/1896/24, the AIR listed the Attorney General of the Federation, Kogi State Attorney General, the Hon Minister of Steel Development, Kogi State Traditional Council, and the Chairman Igala Area Traditional Council as defendants. The lawsuit seeks to restrain the defendants from involving the Atta Igala…
The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its missions. The decision came after a motion was moved by lawmaker Ben Etanabene of the PDP from Delta State during Thursday’s plenary session in Abuja. Etanabene highlighted the ongoing reforms in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its parastatals, agencies, and missions, aimed at enhancing service delivery. Despite these efforts, he expressed concern over the general and urgent Consular Services Challenge faced by Nigerians worldwide. He noted that many Nigerians are unlawfully detained in…
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, located in Ikeja, Lagos, handed over fake $1.2 million notes and five cryptocurrency machines to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday. Additionally, the Command delivered 148 pieces of Unmanned Area Vehicles (UAVs) also known as drones, 112 military hardware and accessories, two bulletproof helmets, and two Army vests to the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos. The counterfeited foreign currencies were handed over to the EFCC’s Assistant Commander, Oguzi Moses, while the UAVs and other military hardware were received by the General Officer Commanding…
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has announced plans to pass a bill aimed at developing a framework of action to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state. Dr. Nasiru Ahmed Ala, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and representative of the Madara/Chinede constituency, made this known during a two-day Regional Stakeholders Engagement Meeting on Out-of-School Children and Retention, Transition, and Completion Models in Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa states. The meeting was held at Emerald Hotel Hall, Gombe, Gombe State on Thursday. Expressing deep concern over the estimated 1.2 million out-of-school children in Bauchi, Ala emphasized the…
The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has sealed two hotels, an event center, and several other business premises in Kaduna metropolis over unpaid taxes amounting to approximately N422.6 million. The sealed businesses include Seals Admiralty Naval Suites owned by Navy Travels and Tours, Abuja, Deluxe Suites located at Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, Big City Event Centre, Bijo Surgical & Scientific Limited, Zedvance Finance Limited, TXTLight Power Solution, Lek Dental & Maxillofacial Hospital, Azaka, and Enyo filling station, among others. Aysha Ahmad, the KADIRS Board Secretary and Legal Advisor, stated that the exercise aimed to enforce compliance by businesses that…
Dauda Aboki, the chairman of Bali Local Government Council in Taraba State, has responded to allegations regarding the delay in workers’ monthly remuneration, clarifying the situation during a press briefing in Jalingo, the state capital, on Thursday. Aboki refuted claims that some staff had not received their salaries for over four months, dismissing the allegations as unfounded. He explained that most of the workers in question are not officially recorded on the council’s payroll due to incomplete documentation. According to Aboki, these employees were meant to replace their retired or deceased parents, but their documentation process had not been finalized,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly lack the authority to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as they are no longer members of the House. PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made this statement during a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday. Ologunagba stated that the directive from the state APC chapter for the lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor is futile. He explained that the APC lawmakers forfeited their seats in the House when they defected from the PDP, the party under which they…
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have rejected calls for the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The call for impeachment came from APC state chairman Chief Tony Okocha, following the political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. Members of the APC, under the Solidarity and Development Forum, described the impeachment call as “reckless and irresponsible,” stating that it threatens the country’s democracy. The group, believed to be loyal to Fubara, stated that the crisis was unnecessary, highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in settling the matter. They emphasized that Governor Fubara has shown commitment…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denounced Russia’s early morning missile and drone attack on energy facilities across Ukraine. Zelensky, writing on his social media handle, stated that more than 50 missiles and 20 drones were used in the attack, which targeted seven regions across the country. The attack occurred on a major national holiday commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two. Zelensky drew parallels between the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime as “Moscow Nazis.” Russia’s defence ministry claimed that its attacks were in…
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style, attributing it to the hardships faced by Nigerians. Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, the NNPP leader and former gubernatorial candidate in Jigawa State, made this statement after receiving thousands of defectors from the APC and PDP who joined NNPP in his house in Dutse. Malam Aminu described Tinubu’s administration as dictatorial and expressed dismay that despite Nigeria’s abundant resources, citizens are suffering under the APC-led government. He stated that as an opposition party, they had given the ruling party almost a year to show improvement, but seeing no…
Victor Oko, the newly elected Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has affirmed his loyalty to Governor Sim Fubara. Oko assured that the new state assembly, under his leadership, would collaborate with the Governor and the people of the state. After being inaugurated in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Oko addressed journalists, stating the Assembly’s commitment to serving the people. He emphasized transparency, public engagement, and clarity in the legislative process. Oko stated, “We will brief the press and communicate our proceedings to the public and engage them. We will ensure that there is transparency and clarity in…
The Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has condemned Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent statement, where he described the lawmakers as “non-existent.” During Wednesday’s plenary session, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Major Jack, raised the issue, labeling the Governor’s statement as “unguarded” and a direct insult to Nigeria. In response to Governor Fubara’s statement, the pro-Wike lawmakers merged several local government laws to form a new Local Government Law. This new law encompasses the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law of 2023, and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment)…
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, representing Ondo South in the Senate, has taken legal action against the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the disputed primary election that produced Aiyedatiwa as the APC candidate for the November election. In a suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja and represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chris Uche, Ibrahim alleges that the April 20 primary election that produced Aiyedatiwa was unlawful and marred by irregularities. He claims that sections 221 and 228 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 84…
Bode George, the former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest, has suggested a path to resolve the rift between the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Speaking on Arise Television, George acknowledged that there was a trigger for the face-off between Wike and Atiku but emphasized that Wike is not working against the party. He described Wike as a bona fide member of the PDP. George called for an in-depth analysis by party leaders to understand what caused the rift between Wike and…
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a warning to motorists, advising them against transporting petrol in jerrycans while in transit to prevent fire disasters. Mr. Samuel Oyedeji, the FRSC Sector Commander in Kogi State, emphasized this caution during an event commemorating the West African Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) day in the state. He highlighted the dangers associated with carrying fuel in jerrycans while traveling, pointing to recent fatalities in the state resulting from road traffic crashes. Oyedeji urged both passengers and drivers to avoid this practice, particularly during the current fuel scarcity, in order to ensure their safe…
The House of Representatives has taken a significant step in investigating the tragic death of four-year-old pupil Miguel Ovoke from Brickhall School, Abuja. The House has resolved to form a special Ad-hoc Committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the untimely demise of young Ovoke within a four-week timeframe, with further legislative action to follow upon the committee’s report. The decision to launch this investigation came after Hon. Kelechi Nwogu moved a motion during Wednesday’s plenary session. Nwogu highlighted that Ovoke was dropped off at the school by his mother on April 24, 2024. Sadly, the young child was reported dead…