In response to the recent brutal attack on a female nurse by masquerades, the Nsukka Town Federated Union has indefinitely suspended the activities of masquerades in the nine communities comprising Nsukka town, Enugu State. The incident, which occurred as the nurse was heading to her duty call at the University of Nigeria town of Nsukka, drew widespread condemnation. Following a meeting of stakeholders from the area, including the Oha Nsukka, the Akpuruaru Nsukka, the Igwes, the PGs of the nine autonomous communities, and the youths, a decision was made to suspend the operations of the Oriokpa Masquerade until further notice.…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Yemi Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Community Engagement, has stated that the recently passed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Trust Fund Bill will create job opportunities for graduates. Adaramodu made this known during an official visit to the Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp in Iseyin, where he led a delegation of the committee on Saturday. He explained that the bill, which has passed first and second readings and other legislative stages, will soon be sent to the President for assent. According to Adaramodu, the primary aim of the bill is to ensure that NYSC corps…
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, asserted that the ‘establishment of criminality’ prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) servers from functioning during the last presidential election. Obi emphasized that the servers must eventually be made operational, citing Amazon’s testimony that there were no global glitches recorded on the day of the presidential election. Speaking in Canada during a visit for a “thank you” tour to appreciate Nigerians living in the country for their support during the 2023 campaign/general elections, Obi addressed various issues surrounding the last general election, including the INEC servers. Obi defended…
During the Jenjo Cultural Day Celebration at the Major General Boniface Robert Sinjen Sports and Cultural Centre, David Robert, the paramount ruler of Jenjo community in Karim-Lamido local government council, urged the Taraba State government to elevate the Jen chiefdom to second class status and appoint more district heads. Robert emphasized that this upgrade would instill a sense of belonging among the Jenjo people, highlighting their historical standing among neighboring chiefdoms like Zing, Kona, and Bali. He noted that while Zing has attained first-class status and Bali and Bakundi are second-class chiefdoms, Jen has remained a third-class chiefdom since the…
Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has identified poverty and lack of economic opportunities as the major causes of insecurity in northern Nigeria. In a statement released on Saturday and made available to the media, Mumuni emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the issue. According to Mumuni, the government must focus on investing in economic development projects, creating jobs, and ensuring infrastructural improvements to combat insecurity effectively. Abayomi further suggested the introduction of social reforms, strengthening of security forces, community engagement, and empowerment of women and youth in the region. Mumuni…
Dennis Idahosa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate for the September 21, 2024 election in Edo State, has filed a N2.15 billion libel suit against Olu Martins, the Deputy Director General, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign council. In the suit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with suit number CS/2259/24, Idahosa accused Martins of authoring an article that portrayed him as a fraudster. The incumbent lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency demanded N2 billion as general, punitive, aggravated, and exemplary damages from Martins for the alleged libelous and malicious…
The Kogi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Youth Frontier has rejected Mona Anyebe as the consensus chairmanship candidate of the party in the state. In a statement signed by the President, Umar Francis, the group insisted that the chairman must emerge from among the interested candidates who were screened by the committee. Francis stated, “Any individual who didn’t undergo this process cannot stand to benefit from it.” He also highlighted that a petition was submitted to the state caretaker committee and the national headquarters of the party, with evidence showing that Mr. Mona Anyebe was suspended from his Ogugu Ward…
The Benue State Urban Development Board has demolished over 40 illegal structures defacing major roads and streets in Makurdi, the state capital. The board has also identified and earmarked over 800 houses built on waterways and drainages for demolition within the Makurdi metropolis. General Manager of the State Urban Development Board, Town Planner Mede Ternongo, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi. He stated that the exercise was part of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s determination to revitalize the state capital and that the board was mandated to restore the city to its proper state. Ternongo explained that in the first phase of…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey’s decision to cease trade with Israel was solely aimed at compelling the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan made these remarks during a meeting with the board of directors of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association in Istanbul, as reported on the presidency’s website. Erdogan emphasized that the Turkish government would collaborate with the business community to manage the repercussions of halting trade with Israel. The decision to halt trade activities with Israel came in response to what Turkey described as Israel’s “non-stop violence” against Palestinians…
The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of some of its personnel allegedly involved in the kidnapping of minors in the state. The command’s spokesman, ASP Ahmad Rufai, identified the arrested officers as ASP Kulu and another officer named Elizabeth. According to Rufai, the command has launched an investigation into the alleged abduction of five children from the state. Among those abducted were three toddlers under the age of two and a five-year-old named Asmau Ya’u, who was reportedly abducted while on her way to an Islamiyya school in Sokoto. The suspects were apprehended while traveling from Sokoto…
Tragedy struck Ometan community in Okpe local government area of Delta State as an oil tanker fire claimed the lives of at least eight individuals. The incident, which occurred on Friday, resulted in a devastating fire that engulfed buildings in the vicinity. Reports indicate that the tanker lost control while overtaking another truck near the boundary bridge between Uvwie and Okpe Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses recounted that the front part of the tanker detached from the rear compartment while in motion, leading to a sudden explosion. Several buildings in the community were razed, and some residents trapped in the inferno…
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has pledged enhanced support to security operatives in the state to improve their performance and ensure a secure environment. The Governor made this commitment in a statement issued by his media aide, Mamman Mohammed, during a ceremony in his office. The occasion marked the presentation of an award to Operation Haba Maza, the state’s security outfit, which was recognized as the best police patrol unit in Nigeria by the Nigeria Police Force. Governor Buni established Operation Haba Maza in 2019 as an emergency support to conventional security agencies in the state. In his…
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has reassured Nigerian media practitioners of the protection of their rights. This assurance was conveyed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, to commemorate the 2024 World Press Freedom Day. Akpabio expressed his congratulations to all media practitioners, especially those who have courageously pursued truth and justice. He emphasized the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to strengthening press freedom and ensuring that journalists’ rights are upheld. In his statement, Akpabio urged the media industry to actively engage in setting an agenda on climate change and educating the…
The House of Representatives has announced plans to engage the media in reviewing laws and practices that restrict press freedom in Nigeria. This review aims to address issues that hinder the media from effectively carrying out its constitutional role. Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akintunde Rotimi, made this known in a statement commemorating the 2024 World Press Freedom Day. He acknowledged the Nigerian media as one of the most vibrant institutions in the country. In his statement, Rotimi said, “The Nigeria House of Representatives joins the global community of journalists and media practitioners in commemorating…
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have reportedly neutralized an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) expert believed to be working for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Orsu, Ihitteukwa, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State. The operation, conducted on Thursday, was part of a clearance operation around Udaah, Identa Ihitteukwa, and Awo Idemili in Orsu Local Government Area. According to a Facebook post by the Nigerian Army Headquarters, the troops encountered the assailants during the operation. The criminals reportedly opened fire, threw hand-held IEDs, and…
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Dele Momodu has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of actively working to dismantle the opposition. Momodu alleged that the APC employs tactics such as buying off susceptible individuals and intimidating those who resist in order to destabilize opposing parties. Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” Momodu attributed all challenges facing the PDP to the actions of the APC. He specifically criticized President Bola Tinubu for allegedly suppressing opposition despite his past as an opposition leader who successfully led his party to dislodge the PDP as the ruling party. “APC will do everything possible to…
Former Rivers State Senator Magnus Abe has disputed the notion that Governor Siminalayi Fubara can be considered the political leader of the state. Abe made this assertion during an interview on TVC’s “Politics Night,” discussing the ongoing political tensions between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Abe, who was a former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 elections, emphasized that being the governor does not automatically confer political leadership. He explained that political leadership requires building confidence, followership, support, and trust over time. While acknowledging Governor Fubara’s role as…
The Ondo State government has clarified that the allocation of N5 billion for the renovation of a daycare center in the state’s 2024 budget was a printing error. The state’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Emmanuel Igbasan, attributed the mistake to a mix-up by the printer of the budget document. Igbasan explained that the N5 billion provision was intended to reflect the expected drawdown from the Nigerian for Women Project, a World Bank-supported initiative, which had been previously included under the capital receipts section of the budget. He clarified that the actual allocation for the renovation of the daycare…
Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has urged former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to submit himself to the authorities. Clark, who leads the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), criticized Bello’s governance, alleging corruption and political violence during his tenure. Speaking on Arise Television, Clark accused Bello of stubbornness and running a rough government marred by corruption and violence, particularly during elections. He called on Bello to face the allegations against him in court, questioning the source of funds for Bello’s expenses, such as payments to an American school. Clark also criticized the current Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, suggesting…
Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve a minimum wage of N200,000 for workers. Oguntoyinbo expressed concern that the current minimum wage is insufficient to support workers. In a statement released on Wednesday to mark this year’s Workers Day, Oguntoyinbo called on state governors nationwide to prioritize the welfare of workers. He emphasized the crucial role of workers in national development, stating that no nation can achieve its full potential without their contributions. Oguntoyinbo stressed the importance of improving the livelihood of Nigerian workers, describing it…