Author: Abimbola Ogunnaike

Dangote Refinery has claimed that the Federal Government has not met its target to supply oil to the domestic refinery under the Naira-for-crude deal. Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, disclosed this in a recent interview with Reuters. According to Edwin, the amount of crude received from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is “peanuts” compared to the volume needed to ramp the production of refined products. He stressed that the NNPCL hasn’t met the target to deliver a minimum of 385,000 bpd since the commencement of the programme in October. “We need 650,000 barrels per day. NNPCL…

A recent survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), revealed that two-thirds of households in Nigeria do not have enough money to afford healthy and nutritious food. The survey, titled “Nigeria General Household Survey–Panel (GHS-Panel) Wave 5 (2023/2024),” found that 71 percent of households were affected by rising prices of major food items, leading to significant food shortages, particularly in June, July, and August, which worsened the food insecurity crisis. “Approximately two out of three households indicated being unable to eat healthy, nutritious or preferred foods because of lack of money in the last 30 days”, the survey…

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has assured that President Bola Tinubu is determined to end insecurity in the Southeast and Nigeria. Badaru said a secure environment is crucial for business growth and peace, hence the need to end insecurity in the region. Addressing military officers during an operational visit to Enugu, the Minister urged the military personnel to intensify efforts to combat the region’s insecurity. This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday, 23 November, 2024 by the Ministry’s spokesman, Henshaw Ogbuike. “There is a renewed determination to intensify our efforts against all forms of insecurity under President…

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called on the federal government to do a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s education system in order to address the disconnect between educational institutions and the needs of industries. The Governor made the call during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr. Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, in a statement, indicated that Zulum expressed concern that many graduates produced by higher institutions lack the necessary skills to drive innovation and technological advancement. He urged NELFUND to…

An irate mob on Friday, 22 November, 2024 set ablaze two men said to be revenue touts working with Anambra State Government. The duo were set ablaze for causing the death of an innocent bystander at Old Market Road along Venn Road by Egerton in Onitsha, Anambra State. It was gathered that the tipper driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed into the by-stander, killing him immediately, as the revenue touts dragged the steering of the vehicle with him. A gory video circulating on the internet showed the mob beating two of the revenue agents with objects and setting…

Following the result of fire outbreak at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching hospital, Ogbomoso in Oyo State which destroyed property worth millions of naira, patients have been evacuated for safety. It was gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 23 November, 2024. It was also gathered that the fire outbreak started at about 5am in a paedriatrics consultant office. Sources within the hospital also say that the fire also gutted the Emergency and Accident Unit of the hospital. It was learnt that some office equipment, books, engines, electronic gadgets, roof and ceiling worth millions of…

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar has convicted and sentenced the quartet of Itoro Eno Akpan, Abasifreke Uwem, Elisha Asuquo Nnah (a.k.a Jong Seck) and Ezinwa Emmanuel Ikenna to various jail terms for internet fraud. The convicts were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC, Uyo Zonal Directorate on  two-count  charges bordering on cybercrime, money laundering and impersonation. The charge against Akpan reads: “That you Itoro Eno Akpan, sometime in 2024 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did take possession of the sum of $400 (Four Hundred Dollars) which you reasonably ought to have known forms proceeds of an unlawful…

Workers in the Ministry of Solid Minerals under the aegis of Federal Mines Officers have sought the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in the fight against illegal mining activities. Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Commission on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the President of its Port Harcourt Branch, Engr. Naku Romos, who led the delegation stated that the officials came to seek the collaboration of the Commission in their desire to see the curtailment of activities of  illegal miners from the country’s mining sector. They noted that activities of illegal miners are not only illegitimate but constitute economic crimes and destructive to the already heavily compromised Niger Delta ecosystem. “We…

Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court, Maiduguri, on Monday, November 18, 2024, convicted and sentenced one Mpada Ishaku Dzarma to nine years imprisonment. Dzarma was first arraigned on May 4th, 2024 by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering and cybercrime to the tune of N 9 million. Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Mpada Ishaku Dzarma between 2023 and 2024 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did directly take possession of aggregate sum of N9,000,000.00 (nine million…

The Chairman of Alimoso Local Government Area of Lagos State, Honourable Jelili Sulaiman has assured residents of the local government his administration will not relent in delivering dividends of democracy to them even at their doorsteps, reports thegazellenews.com The Alimoso LG boss spoke on Friday, 22 November, 2024, during the Stakeholders’ Forum with the residents to deliberate on the 2025 budget proposals. The event took place at the council secretariat in Akowonjo. The council boss informed residents that most of the projects embarked upon in this year as stated in the budget have been completed while some are about 90%…

Nigeria will tackle two North African teams: Tunisia and Algeria; as well as Botswana, in Group B of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals taking place in Morocco next summer. The Falcons will surely relish another meeting with Algeria’s Green Ladies, whom they defeated 2-0 and 4-1 respectively in two friendly matches in Nigeria last month. Botswana eliminated Gabon in the qualifying series and Tunisia were quarter-finalists at the last edition also hosted by Morocco. At the draw conducted on Friday evening at the Technical Centre of the Mohamed VI Football Complex in Sale, outside Rabat, host nation…

A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Ekerete Akpan on Friday, 22 November, 2024 ordered the remand of 109 foreigners, charged over allegations bordering on cybercrime, in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres. Justice Akpan gave the order following an application by one of the defence counsel, James Onoja, SAN, for an adjournment to allow the prosecution to reflect the defendants’ names correctly on the charge sheet. The foreigners, who are said to be citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia and Myanmar, were recently arrested by the police. They were arrested in their residence at…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged former Chairmen of local governments in Nigeria to use their wealth of experience and knowledge to chart the way forward for the development of governance at the grassroots, the state, and the nation in general. He said the association of former chairmen, which he described as stakeholders, is relevant to building democracy in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots level. Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit by the representatives of the Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria led by its President, Hon. Albert Ashipa, at the Lagos House Marina on Friday.…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court has held the Federal Republic of Nigeria accountable for the unlawful detention and mistreatment of Nigerian student Glory Okolie. The Court in a ruling on Thursday awarded ₦10 Million in compensation and issued directives to safeguard human rights. The case arose from the detention of Glory Okolie on 13 June 2021, by Nigerian police authorities without judicial authorization. According to the Applicants, Okolie, along with One Love Foundation and Incorporated Trustees of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, she was denied access to legal counsel, subjected to forced labor, and physically abused…

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Yemisi Asagbra debunked some allegations level against the agency by some non governmental organisations (NGOs) concerning negligence and compromise. Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Asagbra said: “The negative statements circulating are misleading and lack credible scientific backing. The agency asks these organisations to present verifiable scientific evidence for their claims and we relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognized protocols to make informed decisions. It is part of the Cartagena Protocol with over 180 parties, our mandate is to…

The arrest of Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa in Finland has been confirmed by the federal government. A statement on Friday, 22 November, 2024, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested by Finnish authorities on Thursday. According to the statement, Ekpa wascharged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence.  The Finnish District Court ofPäijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The Finnish authorities alleged that Mr. Ekpa used social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence…

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has approved the allocation of N465 million and a designated space for establishing a National Orthopedic Hospital in the state. Designated for the project is Azare, headquarters of Hawul local government area in southern Borno. The hospital is aimed at addressing the pressing need for specialised orthopaedic care in the northeast region when established. Zulum stated this on Thursday evening when he received members of the accreditation team from the Federal Ministry of Health led by the Director of Hospital Services in the ministry, Dr Jimoh Saludeen. Zulum explained that the state government would…

Justice F. Giwa Ogunbanjo of Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday, November 21, 2024, expressed displeasure upon discovery that a defendant, Nicholas Mutu has been jetting out of the country with an undeclared passport and without the express permission of the court in violation of his bail conditions. Mutu, who served as Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), between August 2014 and August 2016 is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on 13-count charges of money laundering to the tune of N320 million. Justice Ogunbanjo during proceedings noted that the defendant’s overseas travel without the court’s permission was intolerable and that such contempt of her court would not be overlooked. “There is no justification for the defendant to flout the order of this honorable court. The order is that the…

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, 21 November, 2024, urged the graduating class to continue to seek new knowledge, embrace the challenges ahead, and strive for excellence in every endeavour. The President who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad made this statement at the 36th convocation ceremony of Yaba College of Technology held at Dr. Philip Adegbite Sport Complex in the Institution. President Tinubu told the graduates that as they move forward into the next chapter of their lives, learning is a lifelong journey, therefore, they…

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) has charged the Nigerian elites to key into the whole-of-society strategy by the NDLEA to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country. Marwa gave the charge in his keynote speech at the Island Club Business Forum in Lagos on Tuesday. He said: “This is not a challenge for government alone. All of us are stakeholders on this issue and it is an assignment for all Nigerians. The standard whole-of-society approach to the drug issue is such that everyone…