Nigeria Latest News

  Former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd.) has shifted till next year, planned reception to honour some public office holders in the country. Gowon had planned the banquet to honour the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Minster of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, state governors and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa. A statement signed by Mr Adakole Ijogi on behalf of the Planning Committee said that the epoch-making event was originally slated for Sunday, November 19. According to Ijogi, Gowon chose to hold the planned banquet at a later date in 2024, to enable those having pending election litigations at the Court of Appeal to concentrate. “On behalf of the Banquet of Honour Planning Committee, we wish to inform all invited dignitaries and guests of a shift in the date of the banquet to another day, early next year. “This is unfortunate due to the prolonged legal matters arising from the elections yet to be resolved

  As preparations intensify for the 2024 Pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has set December 27th as the deadline for registration for individuals interested in participating in this year’s Hajj with the Board. The Director of the FCTA Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Abubakar Evuti, announced this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji. Evuti revealed that the Board had initiated a sensitisation campaign involving stakeholders to educate them about the new policies introduced by the Saudi Arabian government and relevant agencies concerning the 2024 Hajj exercise. This effort aimed to ensure that all stakeholders were well-informed about the updated regulations and procedures. He also stated that the Board has since commenced the registration of prospective pilgrims and requested that residents of the territory who have the

  The suspects were arrested by the Kaduna State zonal office of the anti-graft agency on Monday and remanded in the custody of the commission for further investigation and possible prosecution. However, the matter took a dramatic twist on Friday morning as armed NAF soldiers invaded the EFCC office located at Number 4, Wurno Road in the state capital, to enforce the release of their colleagues from detention. The soldiers, who arrived at the EFCC office in five Hilux patrol vans around 10 am, surrounded the main gate of the commission, preventing the EFCC officials from entering or leaving the office.  The soldiers, who arrived at the EFCC office in five Hilux patrol vans around 10 am, surrounded the main gate of the commission, preventing the EFCC officials from entering or leaving the office.  The incident culminated in a showdown between the Air Force personnel and EFCC security operatives, who engaged in a shouting match and threatened to pull the trigger on each other.  The situa

  The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal sacking Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State. In its judgement on Friday, the Appeal Court agreed with the judgement of the tribunal, ruling that the fielding of Abba Yusuf was in breach of the Electoral Law as he was not qualified to contest that Election More to follow….

  The Federal Government has arraigned the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, on a six-count charge bordering on alleged procurement. The original charge, which was 20 counts to the tune of N6.5 billion, has been reduced to six, to the tune of N1.6 billion. Emefiele is the only defendant in the new charge. The former CBN governor appeared in court on Friday for an application for bail, pleading not guilty to the six-count charge after it was read to him. Emefiele arrived just in time for the commencement of the day’s proceedings. According to the amended charge sheet, the charges still border on procurement fraud. The Federal Government alleged that Emefiele illegally bought 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020 worth N1.2 billion. He was also accused of awarding a contract for the procurement of 37 Toyota Hilux Vehicles valued at N854 million. Count one read, “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday, inaugurated the Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen Mosque, Adogba, Iwo Road, Ibadan, built by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde  Makinde had, on October 19, 2019, promised to rebuild the Adogba Central Mosque from his personal resources, following plans to pull down the former structure to allow for the development of the Iwo Road Bus Terminals. The Sultan commended Governor Makinde for making a commitment to build the mosque and fulfilling it, saying: “When you see the way this mosque was before and it actually turned out to be this, you cannot but thank Allah for the life of Seyi Makinde for thinking this way and also doing it “A lot of people say something but implementing it is always a problem,” he said. The NSCIA president-general, who conferred his name ‘Sa’ad’ on the Oyo State governor for embarking on building a house for Allah in suc

  The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday, inaugurated the Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen Mosque, Adogba, Iwo Road, Ibadan, built by the Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde. Governor Makinde had, on October 19, 2019, promised to rebuild the Adogba Central Mosque from his personal resources, following plans to pull down the former structure to allow for the development of the Iwo Road Bus Terminals. The Sultan commended Governor Makinde for making a commitment to build the mosque and fulfilling it, saying: “When you see the way this mosque was before and it actually turned out to be this, you cannot but thank Allah for the life of Seyi Makinde for thinking this way and also doing it. “A lot of people say something but implementing it is always a problem,” he said. The NSCIA president-general, who conferred his name ‘Sa’ad’ on the Oyo State governor for embarking on building a house for

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in the country after joining President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and the Government of Guinea-Bissau to celebrate their 50th Independence Anniversary and Armed Forces Day. President Tinubu arrived in Bissau on Thursday around 6 am for the ceremony and was warmly welcomed at the event which he attended at the invitation of President Embalo. Alongside other heads of state and government, he joined in the festivities in Bissau, the country’s capital. With them were the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa; Gambia President, Adama Barrow.

  The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that a complete restructuring of Nigeria is needed if the country must move forward. Makinde stated this in Awka, on Thursday, during the 12th Annual Zik Lecture. According to the governor, over 60 years after independence, Nigeria has managed to remain indiscernible after going through the civil war and several elections. He eulogised the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, saying that the Zik of Africa fought to ensure Nigeria remained one. He said, “A complete restructuring of Nigeria is needed at the moment if the country must move forward. What we should be talking about right now is what structure will work best for us. “Zik was a dynamic man who was determined to play in accordance with the time. If Zik were alive today and still able to influence Nigeria, what would he be telling us right now? One thing for sure is that Zik will not be saying that because someone from this part of the country did not win the election, therefore, Nigeria should

  The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that the country lost about N1.3 trillion due to granting of waivers and concessions.  The Deputy Controller of Customs, Musa Mba, who represented the Controller General of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the Customs would have generated more to the nation’s purse in 2023 if not because of waivers and concessions to investors. According to him, Nigeria lost about N1.3 trillion to waivers and concessions in 2023, this money would have added to fund servicing of debt. “We should look at alternative ways of granting incentives .this area should be looked into.” Concern about the development, the Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Sani Musa, said that the Senate would commence investigation into granting of waivers and concessions in the country. He said, “By now, we shouldn’t be taking about concession for cement manufacturers, we should not be taking about sugar importation. “We should not deny ourselves certain revenue that we

  In a significant milestone for Oyo State, the Adogba Central Mosque, which faced controversy and underwent reconstruction, is set for official commissioning today. The journey to this momentous occasion, marked by challenges and triumphs, reflects Governor Seyi Makinde's commitment to fostering unity and religious inclusivity in the state. The saga began in 2020 when the state government, in a bid to construct a bus terminal, made the tough decision to demolish the existing mosque. However, adversity turned into an opportunity as the mosque was rebuilt in a new location, emerging stronger and more accommodating than before. Controversy ensued when the mosque was initially renamed after Governor Makinde by a committee of the Mosque, drawing criticism from various quarters. In response to concerns raised, Governor Makinde, showcasing wisdom and leadership through Ace Journalist Dr. Oriyomi Hamzat, promptly ordered the reversal of the renaming, ensuring that the mosque retained its

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have called off the ongoing nationwide strike, citing the “intervention” of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The National Executive Council of the NLC and the TUC on Wednesday night suspended the ongoing strike, after a meeting which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm and lasted for close to one hour. SaharaReporters earlier reported that the unions would hold a joint extraordinary National Executive Council meeting by 7pm to decide on the ongoing nationwide strike. SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the meeting between the Nigerian government and organised labour over the ongoing nationwide strike ended with no resolution. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu had invited the labour leaders to his office in Abuja for a meeting in an effort to end the strike declared by the organised labour to protest against the attack and brutalisation of the NLC’s National President, Joe Aj

  The Federal Government on Wednesday held a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to negotiate for the suspension of the ongoing industrial action. The meeting which was held at the office of the National Security Adviser to the President, had in attendance the TUC President, Festus Osifo; the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, among others. At the end of the meeting which was held behind closed doors, both the minister of labour and the President of the Trade Union Congress said they had a robust conversation on the issues at stake. A statement from the Ministry of Labour also stated that the unionists promised to go back to their members and consider the plea to call off the strike Meanwhile, the TUC President confirmed to Channels Television that no concrete promises were about the suspension of the strike until they see action from the government on their demand

  The Senate on Wednesday called for an emergency meeting with the leadership of the organised labour over the indefinite strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) As a result of the industrial action that commenced on Tuesday, many economic activities have been grounded across the country. Worried by the situation and the adverse effect on Nigerians, the upper chamber urged organised labour to immediately halt the strike in the national interest. They also resolved that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the leadership immediately summon a meeting between the NLC/TUC. The two-pronged solution in the public interest, they stated, is to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians. In the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomole expressed concern over the way the police managed the protest. Recalling his brutalisation by the police as an activist, he asked the Senate to condemn acts of brutality against the protestants against th

The Independent Hajj Reporters, a faith-based civil society organization has advised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and Agencies (SMPWBAs) to commence the signing of long-term contracts with Saudi Arabia providers in order to bring down the rising cost of hajj occasioned by the high foreign exchange rate of the dollar to the Naira. The CSO also called on NAHCON to consider reducing the number of Saudi-based service providers to create room for effective coordination and impactful supervision by both the commission and the States. These recommendations were given by IHR in a statement on Wednesday signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohamed    “Liaising with over 20 or more service providers during hajj creates multiple operational challenges for the apex hajj regulatory body and inhibits the smooth process of systematisation,” IHR said. IHR also said Hajj services to Nigerian pilgrims like accommodation, feeding and car

  Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has felicitated the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri, on his re-election as the governor of the state, describing the victory as heart-warming for all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Governor Makinde stated this on Tuesday, following the announcement of Governor Diri as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa State. The governor congratulated his colleague, Diri, the PDP family in Bayelsa and the people of the state, adding that the governor would be able to consolidate on the good development his administration had put in place in the state since he first assumed office almost four years ago. Governor Makinde equally commended the Bayelsa electorate on their peaceful conduct before, during and after the poll. He said: “I congratulate my brother and governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Governor Duoye Diri, on his re-election as governor of the state for another term of four years. “This victory is

  President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, his Imo State counterpart Hope Uzodimma, and Usman Ododo on their victories in the just-finished governorship elections.  Diri (of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) and Uzodimma won their re-election bid while Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched the Kogi State governorship poll. Hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared them as winners of the off-cycle elections, President Tinubu congratulated them for the victories, saying they reflected the people’s wishes. “The President commends the electorate in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa for their participation in the electoral process, affirming the resilience of democratic institutions and the power of the people in shaping the nation’s political landscape,” president spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement. “President Tinubu says the outcome of the elections reflects the wishes of the people, emphas

   In a strategic move towards the forthcoming 2024 Local Government Elections in Oyo State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) convened a special meeting at the State Party Secretariat, Molete, Ibadan. The session, chaired by HON. James Olukunle, the State Deputy Chairman, brought together key stakeholders including the 33 Local Government Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship Candidates, 33 Local Government Party Chairmen, and the entire State Executives of the Party. The primary objective of the meeting was to officially hand over all Party candidates to the Local Government Party Chairmen, entrusting them with the responsibility to diligently work for the success of the candidates at the polls next year. HON. James Olukunle, in his capacity as the chair, emphasized the importance of focusing on merit and party structure, urging candidates to rise above sentiments, political leanings, and factional politics for the greater good. Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke, the State Secretary, underscored t

The Chairmanship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Oluyole Local Government, Akeem Olatunji has said that the newly installed Jagunmolu of Ondo Kingdom, Governor Seyi Makinde only received recognition for his display of rare courage, selflessness and resilience against antidemocratic forces. While congratulating the governor over his new coveted chieftaincy title, Olatunji noted that Makinde's contributions to deepening democracy and fight against injustice and inequality within the nation's political landscape. The former Publicity Secretary of PDP in Oyo state made this known in a press statement on Sunday November 12. He said Makinde's approach to governance and leadership which has continued to earn him accolades and recognitions both locally and internationally clearly espoused his depth of understanding of the political dynamics and the need to place the people at the centre of all government policies and programs. In his words: "Our chieft

  The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja has congratulated the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde, on the Conferment of the title of "Jagunmolu of Ondo Kingdom " by the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo. The conferement of the Chieftaincy title on Governor Makinde was part of activities marking the 70th birthday and 17th coronation anniversary of the Monarch on Friday 10th November, 2023. In a statement issued by Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and made available to newsmen through his Personal Assistant, Bamitale Ibrahim, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja said the honoured bestowed on Governor Makinde has further attested to the fact that his sterling performance in Oyo State is visible everywhere and recognized by all lovers of good governance beyond the shores of Oyo state.  He added that he is happy that Governor Makinde is making indigenes of Oyo state proud, both within and outside