The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has cautioned personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces to avoid causing harm to innocent citizens during operations. General Musa issued the warning on Friday during an official visit to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna State, where he inaugurated several completed projects aimed at enhancing cadet welfare and training. “We must understand that the Armed Forces of Nigeria exist to serve Nigeria and its citizens. Our duty is to protect the country and its sovereignty, whether within or outside, not to harm innocent people. This is a responsibility that must be…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the new Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to prioritize addressing cultism and kidnapping, which have plagued the state. The governor gave the directive during a courtesy visit by Adepoju and senior officers of the State Police Command to the Government House in Port Harcourt. Fubara stressed the need for the new Commissioner to leverage his extensive knowledge of the state’s terrain to combat crime effectively. He also advised Adepoju to steer clear of nocturnal meetings that could escalate political tensions within the state. The governor’s charge follows a tragic incident in Eleme Local…
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, reiterating that its earlier judgment recognizing his leadership remains valid. In a judgment delivered on Friday by Justice Hamma Barka, a three-member panel of the appellate court held that its decision of November 13, 2024, affirming Abure as the party’s chairman, has not been overturned by any court. The ruling was made while delivering judgments in two separate appeals filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and the caretaker committee, as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Leadership Issue Not Justiciable…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged to comply with an Appeal Court order restraining it from appointing anyone as acting National Secretary in place of Senator Samuel Anyanwu. This was disclosed by the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, during a press conference titled “Just so the PDP may have a breather” on Friday in Abuja. Abdullahi explained that the party had received two separate court orders in recent days concerning the position of the National Secretary. According to him, the first order, issued by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama on Wednesday in a…
The House of Representatives has announced with deep sorrow the passing of Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, the Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly and representative of the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. She passed away earlier today, January 15, 2025, after a brief illness. Born on December 2, 1965, Rep. Onanuga was a distinguished lawmaker and an advocate for her constituents. She was first elected to the House in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). During the 9th Assembly, she served as Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social…
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has approved the recruitment of 2,000 teachers as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s education sector. The announcement was made during an Executive Council meeting on Thursday at the Government House in Gusau. According to the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, the initiative fulfills campaign promises and underscores the administration’s commitment to revitalizing education, which ranks second on its priority list. Phased Recruitment Plan Governor Lawal revealed that the recruitment will be carried out in phases to ensure the selection of qualified candidates who will address the critical needs of schools. “The government will…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the September 2024 Edo election, Asue Ighodalo, has condemned what he described as “deliberate acts of violence and harassment” aimed at disrupting the ongoing tribunal proceedings over the disputed election. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Ighodalo expressed confidence in the judiciary and thanked Edo residents for their continued support despite the challenges. Condemnation of Violence Ighodalo criticized recent acts of intimidation, including a viral video showing an armed man demanding justice from the tribunal. “These acts of violence and harassment are deliberate distractions meant to make us take our…
With just 48 hours to the local government election in Ondo State scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2025, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has announced its withdrawal from the exercise. The opposition party accused the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) of lacking transparency and credibility, asserting that the electoral body cannot be trusted to conduct a free and fair election. Party’s Position Communicated to ODIEC Confirming the development, the acting chairman of the PDP in Ondo State, Bakita Bello, stated that the party’s decision had been formally communicated to ODIEC. The PDP had previously expressed readiness…
As Osun State gears up for local government elections on February 22, 2025, political actors are shifting focus to the 2026 gubernatorial contest. The zoning of the governorship ticket within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked intense debates and divisions among party stakeholders. Factional Tensions Emerge A group within the APC, operating under the aegis of Majiyagbe Progressives, is reportedly planning to split the party over alleged plans to impose Bola Oyebamiji as the APC gubernatorial candidate. Oyebamiji, the current Managing Director of the National Inland Waterway Agency (NIWA), hails from Ikire in Osun West Senatorial District. Sources claim…
The Cross River Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested no fewer than 126 individuals for various offences between January and December 2024. Command spokesperson, John Eremi, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday. According to Eremi, 11 of the cases were charged to court within the year under review, resulting in three convictions. He added that while one case is currently on appeal, the command successfully secured two convictions. The spokesperson highlighted that the command recorded zero arrests for crude oil theft in 2024 but achieved…
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said that Nigeria is yet to recover from the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, and other leaders during the 1966 military coup. In a social media post on Wednesday, Sani described Bello’s murder and that of others as the “seed of evil” that continues to plague the country. He highlighted Bello’s selfless service to his people and the nation, noting that the former Premier of Northern Nigeria died a materially poor man. “For those of us in Kaduna, where the Late Premier of Northern Nigeria lived, led, and was…
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called on Nigerians to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls in 2027, accusing the ruling party of failing to address the nation’s growing insecurity. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mark Adebayo, the CUPP expressed outrage over the recent massacre of 40 farmers in Borno State by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on January 12. Adebayo described the incident as a tragic example of the Federal Government’s inability to protect its citizens. “The escalating insecurity across Nigeria, with thousands of lives lost and millions displaced due…
The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has expressed deep concerns over the resurgence of terrorism and worsening security challenges in northern Nigeria, alongside the nation’s deteriorating economy. In a statement by its National Vice Chairman for the North-West, Abba Sule Namatazu, the PRP described the insecurity in parts of the north as alarming. Namatazu criticized the Federal Government’s approach to engaging in dialogue with terrorists, stating that such negotiations only embolden violent groups. “Vast tracts of productive farmland across the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions remain abandoned, resulting in a severe food crisis nationwide. The PRP believes all stakeholders must collaborate…
Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Bafarawa, who served as the executive governor of Sokoto State from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007, made the announcement in a letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman. In the letter, Bafarawa revealed his decision to rededicate himself to a new youth movement with a transformative agenda, emphasizing his commitment to youth empowerment while avoiding potential conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, as political activities heat up ahead of the 2027 elections, InfoStride News reports that Abbas Sani Abbas, a former Commissioner for Rural…
The Kano State Police Command has arraigned Abdussalam Lawan, one of the suspects accused of killing a police officer, Murtala Auwalu, on France Road, Kano, while on duty on January 1, 2025. Lawan appeared before the Magistrate Court in Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano, presided over by Magistrate Haulatu Magaji. He faces charges of conspiracy and murder, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code. However, the suspect denied the allegations. According to the police, Lawan and several accomplices, who are still at large, were directly involved in the officer’s murder. Magistrate Magaji adjourned the case to February 11, 2025, for further advice…
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan has sentenced a 23-year-old security guard, David Nanbur, to six months imprisonment for stealing mattresses valued at ₦450,000 from his employer’s house. Nanbur pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of stealing and malicious damage during his arraignment. Presiding over the case, Magistrate M.M. Olagbenro convicted the defendant and sentenced him to six months imprisonment. However, she gave him the option to pay a fine of ₦30,000 to the Oyo State Government. The magistrate also provided an alternative of one month’s community service for the convict. Earlier, the prosecutor, ASP Foluke Adedosu, informed the…
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has revealed a significant reduction in tension in the Southeast following the arrest of Finland-based Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa. General Musa made this disclosure on Tuesday while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence to defend the 2025 budget proposal. According to him, the enforcement of Operation Udoka by the Defence Headquarters, along with Ekpa’s arrest, has led to the gradual fading of the sit-at-home directive in the region. “With the arrest of Simon Ekpa, it has greatly reduced the tension. Also, with Operation Udoka, we’re picking up most of…
The Nigerian Senate and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc on Tuesday resolved a dispute concerning abandoned projects handled by the construction firm. Following the resolution, the Senate withdrew the warrant of arrest earlier issued against the company’s Managing Director, Peer Lubasch, for failing to appear before its Committee on Works. The Senate had, on December 12, 2024, issued the warrant after Mr. Lubasch repeatedly declined invitations to explain delays and cost escalations in ongoing projects. The resolution followed a motion moved by Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West), and co-sponsored by Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South) and Mpigi…
The National Assembly has stepped down the 2025 budget proposal for the Ministry of Information and National Orientation due to concerns over inadequate funding. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Senator Kenneth Eze, disclosed this in a video shared on X on Tuesday during the ministry’s budget defense. According to Senator Eze, the proposed budget allocation for the ministry is insufficient and amounts to a “national embarrassment.” “The budget is nothing to write home about. It is more like a national embarrassment to give the ministry what is being budgeted for,” he stated. Supporting the decision,…
The Federal Government has confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in Kano State, sparking concerns over its potential spread across Nigeria’s northern region. A circular issued by the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Columba Teru Vakuru, emphasized the urgency of containing the outbreak and outlined measures to mitigate its spread. “We urge all state veterinary offices and relevant agencies to activate their surveillance systems immediately. Strict biosecurity measures must be implemented, and public awareness campaigns intensified to curb the spread of the virus,” the circular read. Bird flu affects various bird…