Author: Khadijah Olowode

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has said that the upgrade of the forensic laboratory of the agency by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will enhance operational standard and optimal performance of the anti-narcotics agency in its renewed fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. Marwa who stated this at the commissioning of the agency’s newly refurbished forensic laboratory in Lagos on Wednesday, said “With this facility, we are now anticipating the provision of state-of-the-art analytical equipment, which will enhance optimal…

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in charge of Kaduna State, Mallam Aminu Kasimu Idris, on Wednesday, 10 January, 2024, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on its role in curbing electoral fraud. He gave the commendation in Kaduna while on a courtesy visit to the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Commission. According to him, ” EFCC has no doubt helped tremendously in curbing election fraud in the last elections, the Commission is a major stakeholder to INEC, because of the vital role it played during the last electioneering exercise which was…

Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigations into the activities of eight suspected oil thieves in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The investigations are coming on the heels of the Hand- Over of the suspects to the EFCC by the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Akiama Road, Bonny Island, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, 10 January, 2024. According to the Navy, the vessel, MV Cabrini, and her eight crew members were arrested during an operation on Wednesday November 8 2023. They were arrested with an unquantified amount of illegally acquired Automotive…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 arraigned a former Minister of Power and Steel Development, Olu Agunloye beforeJustice J.O Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja. He was arraigned on seven count charges bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption One of the count reads: “That you, Olu Agunloye, whilst being the Minister of Power and Steel on or about the 22nd of May, 2003 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court awarded a contract, titled “Construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis”…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed sadness over the death of His Eminence, Sheikh Abdul-Hafeez Aṣhamu Abou, the Baba Adinni of Lagos and Chairman of the Executive Council of Lagos Central Mosque, who passed away last night at the age of 100 years old. He described the death of Sheikh Abou as a great loss to Lagos State, the Muslim community and his immediate family. In a statement issued and signed on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Wednesday morning, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the late Baba Adinni of Lagos lived an exemplary life…

Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has described the book by Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, as “very wise and proactive”, as it gives the “the most reliable account’ of his experiences at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. Professor Osinbajo made the comment in Lagos over the weekend when Adesina formally presented a copy of the book, entitled: Working With Buhari; Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023), to the former Vice President. The book will be launched on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja…

Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have resolved to strengthen collaboration between both countries to enhance the development of solid minerals as the world transitions from fossil fuels to cleaner energy. Meeting on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Bandar AlKhorayef, led the delegations of both countries to the bilateral meeting. In his remarks, Dr. Alake harped on the need to forge partnership, emphasizing that global energy transition is contingent on critical minerals, which he stated exist in…

The Center for Consumer Concern Initiatives (CCCI), a leading civic organisation dedicated to consumer protection, fair, and safe marketplace in Nigeria, has noted with unease the removal of Mr. Babatunde Irukera as executive vice- chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC). The CCCI had collaborated with FCCPC on various occasions during Irukera’s tenure, resulting in significant initiatives. One of such initiatives is the sustained advocacy for responsible borrowing and lending, done jointly by CCCI and the consultancy firm Consumertrics with the aim to protect borrowers against the unethical recovery tactics employed by loan sharks. As stakeholders in…

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has announced a plan to reactivate the South Chad Irrigation Scheme aimed at providing a livelihood for the resettled communities of people affected by age long Boko Haram insurgency. The Governor made the announcement on Monday, 8 January, 2024, in Wulgo, a community in Ngala Local Government Area. He said: “Borno State Government will see how to open up and expand the irrigation activities on the shores of Lake Chad. We will resettle new communities and we shall reactivate the South Chad Irrigation Scheme in order to address food crises in Borno State.” The…

Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum has facilitated a truce between Fulani herders and farmers in Gamboru Ngala town in the central part of Borno State to foster peace and harmony. The truce, was brokered after weeks of tension and uncertainty during a peace meeting convened by Governor Zulum on Monday. The Governor, while commending all parties for reaching a consensus during the meeting, urged people to shun all acts that could lead to violence. He said: “Borno is a state with agrarian communities. We have Fulanis, we have Shuwas, and we have Kanuris who are nomads as well. We…

A private organisation, Diamondsmith De’Great Universal Petroleum Company Ltd, has underscored the need for proper prosecution of fraud related cases, noting that this would ensure sustainable growth in the ongoing fight against financial crimes. Director of Operations/CEO of the organisation, Mr James Abidemi gave the advice at the news briefing on Tuesday in Abuja. According to him, there is the need for government agencies like Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation and Nigerian Communication Commission to intervene through their Cyber Control Room (CCR) to ensure that publication of allegation of fraud passed prescribed standards. He said: “This will help to wipe-off detrimental publications…

The Federal Government has announced plans to formalize one million businesses across Nigeria at a discounted rate. Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024, when he launched the Expanded National MSME Clinic in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, marking the first stop on a nationwide journey to empower small and medium-sized businesses. MSME Clinic, the first of its kind under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, aims to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by breaking down barriers and providing crucial resources. Benue’s pioneership of the MSME Clinic sets the stage for a nationwide rollout…

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has ratified the agreement between the government of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj operations; the signing took place Sunday, 7 January, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tuggar, in a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr Taofiq bin Fawzan AlRabiah, also affirmed that the 2024 Hajj Operations will be guided by a new culture of precision that will ensure that pre-Hajj, Hajj and Umrah activities are carried out on time. The bilateral meeting also touched on the areas of airlifting pilgrims, Nigerian government-endorsed…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede has assured that there will be no hiding place for the corrupt in Nigeria, given the political will of President Bola Tinubu to frontally tackle economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption. He gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024 when the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. According to him, President Tinubu is offering the right atmosphere for anti-graft…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should appoint a Special Investigator to lead a Commission of Inquiry into the causes, as well as expose the sponsors of the religious insurgency that has bedeviled Nigeria since 2009, a coalition of Christians under the aegis of National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF), has demanded. The elder statesmen also picked holes in the description by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar that the genocidal attacks in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State were “clashes.” The Chairman of NCEF, Dr. Samuel Danjuma Gani, raised the issues in a statement in Abuja,…

By Abdulaziz Abdulaziz “I took an oath to serve this country and give my best at all times. Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough…Within the first quarter of this new year, Ministers and Heads of Agencies with a future in this administration that I lead will continue to show themselves.” – President Bola Tinubu, 2024 New Year broadcast The mother hen, goes a Hausa proverb, stomps on its chicks not because it doesn’t love them. It is a gesture aimed at passing life lessons and…

In alignment with the Federal Government’s agenda for food security and economic stability, major sugar refineries across the nation have pledged to not increase sugar prices during the Ramadan. This decision resonates strongly with the objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 8-Point Agenda and was highlighted during the recent tour by Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment. During her visits to leading sugar producers such as Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, BUA Sugar Refinery Ltd, Flour Mills Limited, Bestaf Ltd, Golden Sugar Company, and the Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CHBN), Dr. Uzoka-Anite observed…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condoled with the immediate family, entire Muslim community in Lagos State and the state government over the death of Sheikh Abdul-Hafeez Abou. The Baba Adini of Lagos died on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024, at the age of 101. Until his death, Sheikh Abou was the Baba Adini and Chairman of the Executive Council of Lagos Central Mosque. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that the President received the news with heavy heart. The President celebrated the inspiring legacy of service, duty, and sacrifice of Baba,…

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024 visited the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe and the Commissioner for Insurance of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Sunday Olorundare Thomas at their respective offices in Abuja. The visit by the new NCDMB boss was aimed at familiarizing himself with chief executives of institutions that are represented on the NCDMB’s Governing Council as well as exploring areas of collaboration. In his remarks, the Executive Secretary conveyed the willingness of the…

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (CON) on Tuesday, 9 January, 2024, pledged continuous support for the judicial arm of government, including in the area of infrastructural development and welfare. The Governor said rehabilitation of courtrooms, among other efforts of the administration, will continue within budgetary limits in the new year. “Our administration will continue to partner with the judiciary to sustain the rule of law, public order, and safety. Along with some other supports that ease the dispensation of justice, I assure you that infrastructural development in the justice sector, including rehabilitation of courtrooms that we have started, will continue…