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President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President-elect John Mahama on his victory in the Saturday general election in Ghana, following his opponent’s concession speech. In a telephone call to Mr Mahama, Mr Tinubu hoped that his ascension to power for the second time would further bring stability to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Mr Tinubu commended the people of Ghana for their unwavering commitment to democracy. He said this was demonstrated through the peaceful and successful conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary elections, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu’s spokesman, said in a statement. Mr Tinubu applauded Ghanaians for demonstrating again to the world that democracy was the preferred path to achieving political stability, economic developmen...

By Joan Nwagwu The Minster of the Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has assured the compliance of all the Ministry’s agencies to the Employees Compensation Scheme(ECS), of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund(NSITF). Tunji-Ojo said this during an advocacy visit by Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, Managing Director of the NSITF in Abuja over the weekend. This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Nwachukwu Godson, General Manager, Corporate Affairs. NSIT The minister urged the Fund to work towards a fair and equitable work environment beneficial to both the strong and weak in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration. According to him, the Employees’ Compensation Act is a law that must be obeyed to guarantee social safety net to workers in the formal and informal ...

The commissioning of Dr Nkata Nwani Chuku medical centre at Veritas University Abuja by His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja By Jacinta Nwachukwu The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Saturday, inaugurated a medical centre built by Dr Nkata Chuku at Veritas University, Abuja, to enhance training and health care of the community. Speaking at the inauguration at Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Onaiyekan called for more support for the development of the university. While underscoring the importance of education and seeking truth in a religious context, he encouraged wealthy individuals to use their resources for the greater good of humanity. This, he said, would impact their reputations and re...

 By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  The Minister of Information and National Orientation,  Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has charged the newly inducted members of members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to uphold the highest standards of ethical communication and contribute positively to the nation's development. Idris gave the charge during the induction ceremony of new members of the institute in Abuja.  The Minister emphasised the crucial role of public relations in fostering transparency, accountability, and trust between the government and the people.  He urged the inductees to utilise their skills and knowledge to counter misinformation, promote unity, and project Nigeria positively on the global stage. Idris described the induction as a celeb...

…with no fewer than 88 members inducted into the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club Golf By Victor OkoyeAdam Yakub on Saturday emerged as winner of the maiden Tukur Yusuf Buratai International Golf Resort and Country Club (TYBIGRCC), Abuja induction kitty. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yakub played off handicap 20, with a net score of 86 and 66 gross to emerge winner of the tournament. Y.J. Sado, playing off handicap 28, with 95 net and 67 gross finished as runner-up net, while Kunle Badejo, playing off handicap 28, with 98 net and 67 gross, settled for first runner-up prize. In the ladies' best net category, Patience Abochi emerged winner after playing off handicap 17, with a net score of 84 and 67 gross. While Staff Sergeant Maureen Apute, t...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  Abuja, Dec. 6, 2024 (NAN) The National APC Women Advocacy Organisation (NAWA-ORG) has sensitised and built the capacity of no fewer than 500 students of Junior Secondary School, Durumi 1, on checkmating and addressing Gender Based Violence  (GBV). The  Chairperson of NAWA-ORG,  Dr Amina Kundiri in her remarks on Friday in Abuja said the capacity-building is part of the organisation's programme to mark the World 16 Days Activism on GBV. The programme with the theme "Voice It Out" was put together by NAWA-ORG.  Kundiri explained that both male and female students were sensitised and lectured  on the issues around GBV. "Gender Based Violence has been a generational issue. Male children also suffers GBV. We are doing this progr...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao (Allow Alao), has mourned the death of the renowned Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muhyideen Ajani Bello. Alao in a statement he personally signed while commiserating with the family of the Islamic cleric, people of Ibadanland and entire Muslim Ummah all over the world, described his death as the end of an era of an Islamic collosus. According to him, he was a towering figure in the Islamic world whose teachings and sermons brought many to Allah, stating that he lived his entire life to propagate Islam all over the world. The Asiwaju of Irokoland said his legacy as a devout Muslim would continue to be in the minds of the people, noting that he was at all times incorruptible on morals and princ...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has presented a total of N1,054,542,020,147.47 to the State House of Assembly as the State's proposed budget for 2025. Speaking at the Assembly's Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun said the budget, tagged "Budget of Hope and Prosperity," is made up of N453.56 billion as recurrent expenditure and N600.98 billion as capital expenditures. Giving highlights of the appropriation, the governor said N120.1 billion would go for personnel costs, N37.49 billion for consolidated revenue cost, public debt charges would gulp N76.07 billion, while N219.86 billion would be spent on overhead costs. On some of the key physical capital projects that would be executed in the 2025 budget, Abiodun listed the renovation of gene...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Pastor Thomas Sylvanus Ayeyilo, founder and CEO of MyCare Life Foundation and Makarious Hearttouch Ministry, has urged the Federal Government, traditional institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and key stakeholders to prioritize youth inclusion in governance and nation-building to foster sustainable development in Nigeria. Pastor Ayeyilo made this appeal during an interview and interactive session with NTA International in Abuja, themed "Youth Involvement in Nationhood." He emphasized the need for platforms that amplify youth voices and engage them in policy-making processes, noting that young people have a unique understanding of their needs and aspirations. “There is an urgent need for the government to create platforms where youth voices can be he...

By Victor Okoye Barrister Niyi Ayoola-Daniels, the founder, JURIS FC/ JURIS ACADEMY has congratulated Mallam Shehu Dikko on his recent appointment as the Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency announced Dikko’s appointment on October 23, 2024 after scrapping the ministry of sports development. The sports ministry’s functions were also transferred to the NSC. Dikko is a football administrator who served in different sporting capabilities. He was the chairman of League Management Company (LMC) from 2014 to 2022. He also served as the 2nd vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He is a member of the Confederation of African Football ...

By Jacinta Nwachukwu Some civil society organisations (CSOs) in procurement sector have stressed the need for collaborative efforts to tackle procurement fraud in a bid to drive transparency in Nigeria. The CSOs expressed the concern at a town hall meeting in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by Accountability Lab Nigeria, in partnership with Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). NAN also reports that the meeting was supported by John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation. The event, with the theme: “Tackling Procurement Fraud and its Far-Reaching Consequences: A Collective Responsibility”, was aimed at ...

By Ado Salisu, December 03, 2024, Kano Following sustained progress in preparation for the Gombe State Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Competition in 2025, the Green White Green Sports Center Ltd has successfully completed the construction of 19 new toilets and the renovation of 11 existing ones at the competition venues. The project was successfully executed by Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of GWG and Gombe State Athletics Association as part of its corporate social responsibility, this underscores a commitment to creating a hygienic and comfortable environment for athletes and officials during the championship. He said "This effort reflects our dedication to providing world-class facilities that support sports development in Gombe State. ...

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, ordered the final forfeiture of an estate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 Units of duplexes and other apartments. The EFCC said in a release that this was the single largest asset recovery by the Commission since its inception in 2003. The estate rests on on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja. "The forfeiture of the property to the federal government by a former top brass of the government was pursuant to EFCC’s mandate and policy directive of ensuring that the corrupt and fraudulent do not enjoy the proceeds of their unlawful activities. "In this instance, the Commission relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 20...

The Finnish police say Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will remain in custody until his trial. The police said the Finnish legal system does not permit his bail due to the nature of the offence he is being held for. On November 21, law enforcement in the northern European nation arrested the pro-Biafra agitator. He was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”. Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality. He is accused of instigating violence and inciting terror in the south-east of Nigeria through his social media pages. The federal government has been demanding the extradition of Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finl...

The Kano State House of Assembly, on Monday, rejected the Tax Reform bills currently under consideration at the National Assembly. At a plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Isma’il Falgore, the lawmakers kicked against the bills after extensive deliberation. The majority leader, Lawan Husseini (ANPP-Dala) introduced a motion of ‘urgent public importance,’ emphasising the need for northern lawmakers and the Conference of Speakers to prevent the passage of the bills. Mr Husseini argued that if passed into law, the bills would not benefit the northern states. He condemned the Senate’s decision to approve the bills, saying, “We view it as a deliberate effort to sabotage the economy, increase hardship and further impoverishing the region.” Mr Husseini expressed concern over th...

The West African Power Pool (WAPP), has called for collaborative efforts across ECOWAS member states to pool resources together to advance a competitive regional electricity market. Mrs Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday. Mbah said that Mr Mamadou Coulibaly, the Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Côte d’Ivoire made the call while presiding over the 19th Session of WAPP General Assembly in Abidjan over the weekend. She said that the theme of the General Assembly was “Advancing the Regional Electricity Market: Overcoming Barriers and Building a Resilient Competitive Power Market’’. According to the minister, access to electricity is a fundamental right and a vital necessity. We...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former gubernatorial aspirant, Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of using ₦11.57 Billion taxpayers money on overseas trips in 2024, without any Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), resulting from such expenditures. Alao in a press statement from his media office challenged Governor Seyi Makinde to come out and explain to the people of the State how he used ₦11.57 Billion taxpayers money on overseas trips without any investment coming to the State." "There hasn't been a single Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), you have brought to Oyo state since you came on board for the second. You have used taxpayers money for globetrotting without anything to show for. You even took members of your cabinet...

The attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), advised the media to adopt ethical journalism standards to give hope to the common man.Mr Fagbemi, who was represented by Prof. Olukayode Olatoke, gave this advice on Friday at the Gavel International Annual Lecture in Ikeja. He spoke on the theme: “The Judiciary as The Last Hope of The Common Man, Media and Legal Perspective.” Mr Fagbemi, in his keynote address, said the fight for a judiciary that would truly serve as the last hope of a common man, was one that both the media and the judiciary must undertake together. According to him, the media has a crucial role to play to hold the judiciary and government accountable. “Media should keep educating the public on their rights and ampli...

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Alhassan Yahaya on his election as the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at the 8th Triennial National Delegates Conference in Owerri, Imo State, on November 27, 2024. The President also congratulated other newly elected members of the NUJ executive. He praised the union for organising a rancour-free election at the conference, advising other unions to learn from it. Special Adviser, Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a statement on Saturday. Mr Tinubu said Mr Yahaya’s victory was a testament to the NUJ members’ confidence in his leadership qualities. He expressed optimism that Mr Yahaya’s experience, particularly as the former deputy president of the union, would be instrumental in lea...

By Victor Okoye Abuja,) Lansar Aghaji & Co. has been recognized as the Auctioneering Company of the Year 2024 by the Certified Institute of Auctioneers Nigeria (CIAN) AUC. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prestigious award ceremony took place at the International Conference Centre (Pavilion) on Wednesday in Abuja. After a thorough assessment of Auctioneers in 2024, CIAN chose Lansar Aghaji & Co as their trail blazer company for 2024 due to the large number of high profile Auctions handled in 2024. The company was recognised for its mentorship of upcoming Auctioneers as well as its leadership role in the area of Auctioneering services. A statement from the organisers said that theaward was indeed a testament to the company's exceptional work in handl...