The Joint Committee on Livestock Development of the Senate and House of Representatives has rejected the proposed N11.8 billion budgetary allocation for the takeoff of the newly established Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in the 2025 fiscal year. Committee Chairman, Senator Musa Mustapha, noted that while lawmakers understand the challenges associated with establishing a new ministry, they will review the budget with the aim of making necessary adjustments. The Federal Government had allocated N10 billion for capital expenditure and N1.8 billion for overhead costs in the 2025 budget of the ministry, which began operations three months ago. The Minister of…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbodiyan, has stated that the participation of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) poses a significant threat to the PDP’s stability. Ologbodiyan claimed that ongoing attempts to align the PDP with the APC could reduce the opposition party to a mere extension of the ruling party. He made these remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Tuesday amid the leadership crisis within the PDP. Addressing the issue, he said: “As a member of the…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has officially nominated former Governor Samuel Ortom as a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT). The nomination, which follows the expiration of the tenure of previous BOT members, marks a significant leadership shift within the party in the state. This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor. “In compliance with Sections 32(1)(g) and 32(4) of the PDP Constitution, the nomination was communicated via correspondence from the party secretariat to Chief Ortom, signed by the party Secretary, Comrade Dan Nyikwagh,” the statement read. The…
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure the 2025 national budget aligns with Nigeria’s development priorities. In a statement issued by its Secretary, Peter Ameh, CUPP emphasized the need for resource allocation to maximize impact and drive meaningful progress. “The success of the 2025 budget will depend on the government’s ability to implement its priorities effectively and efficiently,” the statement read. The 2025 budget, valued at ₦49 trillion, has sparked concerns regarding the nation’s capacity to achieve sustainable development. According to CUPP, ₦16 trillion—approximately 32% of the total budget—has been earmarked…
Operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have arrested a suspected internet fraudster, identified as Ajayi, for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Salome Enejo, for ritual purposes. The arrest followed an incident on Sunday in Agwan Sarki, Orozo, a boundary area between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the suspect was caught with a fresh human head. Confirming the incident on Monday, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ramhan Nansel, revealed that the suspect was rescued from an angry mob attempting to lynch him. “On Sunday evening, police operatives attached to the Karshi Division rescued one…
Governor Uba Sani has called on states facing security challenges to adopt the Kaduna State Model, emphasizing the success of its non-kinetic approach in addressing insecurity. Speaking on Sunday as the Special Guest of Honour at an event organized by the Association of Zamfara State Indigenes Resident in Kaduna, Governor Sani, represented by his Special Adviser on Community Engagement, Malam Mohammed Jalal, highlighted the positive impact of the strategy, particularly in previously volatile areas like Birnin Gwari. He noted that the non-kinetic approach, which focuses on dialogue and community engagement, has contributed to the restoration of peace in Birnin Gwari,…
The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise on Monday expressed displeasure over the refusal of heads of key government agencies to appear for an investigative hearing on the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the management of Nigeria’s borders. The hearing, which was jointly convened by the Committees on Customs and Excise and Interior, sought to examine the modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service (e-Customs) and the role of Webb Fontaine in the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP). The investigation also aimed to address issues related to illegal migration and border security through the adoption of modern…
Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu has officially resumed office as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite ongoing controversy surrounding the party’s national leadership. According to Lancelot Obiaku, Publicity Secretary of the PDP Imo State Chapter, Anyanwu marked his resumption by inspecting the party’s national secretariat complex before addressing reporters who had gathered at his office. Obiaku noted that Anyanwu’s arrival was met with applause from party members, staff, and a crowd of supporters present at the complex. However, Anyanwu’s resumption comes in the wake of a contentious legal battle. A Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had…
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has refuted claims that his criticism of certain federal government policies is politically motivated. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, Governor Mohammed clarified that his stance is rooted in constructive feedback aimed at national progress. This response comes after remarks by Mr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, suggesting political undertones in the governor’s comments. The statement noted that Governor Mohammed’s critique of the Tax Reform Bills is informed by his extensive experience as a former Federal Capital Territory…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a 40-foot trailer loaded with 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, in the Kagini area of Kubwa, Abuja. FCT Operation According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, the trailer was apprehended at an abandoned fuel station where the illicit consignment was being distributed into six vehicles for onward transportation to northern states. The intelligence-led operation, conducted on Saturday, January 11, 2025, also led to the seizure of the trailer and six vehicles, including a Toyota Van, Camry, Sienna bus, JAC Hilux truck, Corolla,…
The Lagos State Police Command announced the arrest of 2,176 suspects between September 2024 and January 2025 for various offenses, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and cultism. Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, disclosed this during a press briefing on Saturday, highlighting the Command’s achievements over the period. Breakdown of Arrests Murder Cases Uber Driver Murder: Four suspects — Emeka Akwara (19), David Segun (21), Samuel Ariori (21), and Lukman Ariori (19) — were arrested for allegedly killing an Uber driver on January 9. The suspects ordered a ride from Chevron in Lekki to Obalende, where they robbed and fatally stabbed…
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday hosted a memorial service in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in honor of the late United States President Jimmy Carter. The memorial service was organized to pay tribute to Carter, who was a close ally of Obasanjo and served as the 39th President of the United States. In a statement issued earlier through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo had expressed his intention to honor his friend with the service. Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away on December 29, 2024, in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100. He…
The Commissioner for Public Procurement, Project Monitoring, and Evaluation in Kano State, Comrade Nura Iro Ma’aji, has expressed concern over the substandard execution of the Kwankwasiyya Gida-Gida blocks of four classrooms in Sumaila and Garko Local Government Areas. During an inspection of primary school projects in his hometown on January 11, 2024, Comrade Ma’aji expressed disappointment with the quality of the projects. According to a statement issued by Sagiru Ado Abubakar, Information Officer for the Ministry, and shared with journalists on Sunday in Kano, the Commissioner criticized contractors for failing to comply with the project specifications and designs provided to…
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has expressed concerns over the Federal Government’s fresh allocation for the renovation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. In President Bola Tinubu’s N49.7 trillion 2025 “Budget of Restoration” presented to the 10th National Assembly, over N12 billion was earmarked for upgrading the stadium’s main bowl. The allocation is part of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) N94.9 billion total budget. The breakdown of the budget includes: N12.77 billion for upgrading the stadium’s main bowl. N4.5 billion for the construction of a sports secretariat at the Abuja Stadium. N3.65 billion for the procurement of official…
The Borno State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old suspected drug peddler in possession of 116 wraps of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp. In a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, disclosed that the arrest was made by the Anti-Vice Squad following credible intelligence. “On January 10, at about 11:30 a.m., the squad apprehended Kabura Kayuram, a resident of Jajeri Ward in Maiduguri, with 116 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp,” the statement said. According to the police, the suspect and the recovered exhibits have been handed…
The Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) has rejected the outcome of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidential election held recently in Enugu, alleging that southeast governors manipulated the process that led to the emergence of Senator John Azuta Mbata as the new President-General of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization. In a press statement issued by its Director-General, Rev. Obinna Akukwe, the IMC accused the governors of conspiring to keep the election venue a secret and installing a preferred candidate. The statement read: “The venue of the election was kept top secret until Friday morning when delegates were informed it would hold at the Old…
A High Court sitting in Katsina, on Friday, dismissed a case filed by 7,095 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants challenging the conduct of the party’s congresses in the state. The case, filed by a faction led by Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, alleged that the congresses denied some party members a level playing ground. Counsel for the plaintiffs, Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, argued that the ward, local government, and state-level congresses violated democratic principles and the PDP constitution. He urged the court to nullify the congresses and order fresh, fair elections. However, the defence counsel, Isaac Nwachukwu, countered that the congresses were internal party…
An Enugu High Court has restrained Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the sacked National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from parading himself as the party’s scribe. The court warned that failure to comply with the order could lead to his imprisonment for contempt of court. The judgment, delivered by Justice C.O. Ajah, followed a suit filed by Emmanuel Aniagu against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Iliya Umar Damagun, Anyanwu, and the PDP National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Ali Odefa. The court’s order stated: “Unless you (Anyanwu) obey the directions contained in this order, you will be guilty of contempt of…
The former Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in Kano State, Abbas Sani Abbas, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Abbas, who was previously a card-carrying member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was dismissed from his position as commissioner by Governor Abba Yusuf. His dismissal, along with that of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi, and other cabinet members, followed calls from NNPP leaders urging the governor to assert greater control over governance in the state. Ismail Mudashir, Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President on Media and Publicity, disclosed Abbas’s defection…
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been sentenced to an unconditional discharge, meaning he will face no penalties despite being found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records last May. The verdict, delivered on Friday by Justice Juan Merchan, concluded a highly publicized case centered on allegations of hush-money payments and their legal and political ramifications. “This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of judgment or conviction without encroaching on the highest office in the land is an unconditional discharge,” Justice Merchan stated during the proceedings. The sentencing had been delayed multiple times…