Blog

A US-based Nigerian Scientist, Bamidele Gbayisemore, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invest more in Biotechnology in order to stimulate growth in the sliding economy of Nigeria. Mr.Gbayisemore, a Biochemical Toxicologist elucidates that the embracing Biotechnology will transform the economy of Nigeria to a less import dependent country, because of the expanded scope and diversity in it. Speaking at the sideline during the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) 2023 Annual Meeting in New York, United States, Mr.Gbayisemore stressed on the multiplier effects of Biotechnology to the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. “I took time to study the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I would love to plead with the President to invest ...

The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major-General Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the posting and redeployment of top senior officers to commands, instructional and staff appointments across formations and units. This is contained in a statement by the director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, on Saturday in Abuja. Mr Nwachukwu said the redeployments and appointments were to reposition the Nigerian army for operational efficiency and functional administration. Those affected include Principal Staff Officers, PSOs of Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding, GOCs, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, amongst others. He said that Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Ibrahim had been redeployed from Headquart...

The Students Advancement for Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE), an international youth empowerment programme, has reiterated its resolve to create a resourceful and innovative generation of young entrepreneurs. In a statement issued by Mr Agwu Amogu, Chairman of the organisation in Abuja on Saturday, the organisation noted that its youth programme in that regard would address the major needs of youths globally. He said that the organisation had been, for many years, engaging young people in a hands-on learning process on how to create wealth, help others and their communities. Amogu said that the organisation would organise 2023 exhibitions and awards to bring together young entrepreneurs from across the country to showcase their businesses and community service projects. He said...

By Constance Athekame The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) said it had provided power supply to over 700 households and businesses in Danchitagi community in Niger to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal. Mr Ahmad Salihijo, Managing Director of the agency said this while inspecting the project on Saturday in DanchitagiHe said that the 200 Kilo Watts peak (KWp) was deployed under the Performance Based Grant programme of the Nigeria Electrification Project(NEP). Salihijo said that the project was part of the programme of the Solar Hybrid Mini Grid component of the NEP under World Bank. He said that the project was a clear demonstration of how government and the private sector can work closely to bring relief to the people as most of them relied on generators to carry...

By bridget ikyado The Nikki Udezue Foundation has distributed sanitary pads to female students of Junior Secondary School, Nyanya Gbagyi, Nasarawa State to promote their personal hygiene. The donation carried out through an individual donor, #BecauseICan, included 30 packs containing 480 Sanitary towels distributed to the students on Friday. The Foundation also conducted lectures and trainings for the girls on menstrual hygiene and how to make alternative menstrual pads. The Founder of Nikki Udezue Foundation, Nkeiruka Udezue, told newsmen that the donor contacted her foundation to carry out the project in Nigeria as part of her birthday celebration. “We got a call from an individual donor in the United Kingdom, saying the 24th is her birthday and she indicated interest to...

The owner of the Wagner private military contractor made his most direct challenge to the Kremlin yet, calling for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia's defense minister. The security services reacted immediately by calling for the arrest of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In a sign of how seriously the Kremlin was taking the threat, security was heightened in Moscow and in Rostov-on-Don, which is home to the Russian military headquarters for the southern region and also oversees the fighting in Ukraine. While the outcome of the confrontation was still unclear, it appeared likely to further hinder Moscow's war effort as Kyiv's forces were probing Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. The dispute, especially if Prigozhin were to succeed, also could have repercus...

By Kelechi Ogunleye Barr. Victor Muruako, the Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), says the culture of financial impunity in the country is gradually disappearing. Muruako made the remark while receiving the Nigerian Economics Students Association (NESA), University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in a courtesy visit and study tour to the Commission on Friday in Abuja. Muruako said the Commission which was set up by the Fiscal Responsibility Act No. 31 of 2007 and started operation in 2009, had recorded giant strides since its inception. "We have indeed made some landmark achievements from when we first began as a Commission to where we are today. "First and foremost, the culture of impunity is definitely disappearing. Although corruption cannot just evaporate like that, b...

Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party have presented certified true copies of academic and work records of President Bola Tinubu before the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC). The documents, which included a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate, a certificate from the Chicago State University and a Mobil Nigeria Oil Company Plc certificate of service, were admitted in evidence by the tribunal on Friday. Other documents admitted in evidence were a computer generated copy of a Guinean passport bearing the name Bola Ahmed Tinubu and notarised document of the judgement showing criminal forfeiture of $460,000 along with the certified cover note notarising it. The petitioners tendered the documents through a subpoenaed witness, Mike Enahoro-Eba, as part o...

Hon. E Elsudi From all indications, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is poised to keep his promise of getting down to work immediately after his inauguration, May 29th. He had said severally that everyday counts and that he can not afford to waste a day. This he has proved with the steps he has so far taken including appointments made so far. Obviously, he is injecting new blood and experienced hands into his administration in order to reform every sector of the Nigerian state.The recent retirement of service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police and appointment of replacements immediately shows he means business. In all of these appointments, no one has condemned his choice of appointees so far. They are all square pegs in square holes and good materials for the jobs. He has largely s...

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says 116 houses have been affected by flood at Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. Dr Abbas Idriss, the Director-General, FEMA, said this in a statement signed by Nkechi Isa, the Head, Public Affairs, FEMA, on Friday in Abuja. He said that 116 houses were submerged, but no life was lost, following a heavy downpour which started in the early hours of the day. Idriss said that the flood which was caused by infractions on the water channels, had made the Estate to be vulnerable to flooding. The FEMA boss dismissed social media reports alleging that a resident of the estate was missing as a result of the flood. He however appealed to residents whose houses were built on water channels to relocate. Idriss who said that the Nigeria Hydrol...

By Bridget Ikyado A group, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities(JONAPWD) has urged the new administration to consider the operations of National Coordinator, People With Disabilities under the office of the President particularly with the continuation of Mr James Lalu as the Executive Secretary of the commission. The group though it's The National President Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu made the call in a press conference in Abuja on the State of Affairs of Nigerians with Disabilities. They said achieving this would definitely serve to sustain multiple-sectoral correspondence for addressing the Syetmatic barriers militating against PWDs in Nigeria. The group further called on government to design measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal s it affected PWDs....

Three minors, were on Friday docked in an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing a peacock. The defendants, whose addresses were not disclosed, were charged with malicious damage. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Olubu Apata, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on June 11 in Usi-Ekiti. Apata alleged that the defendants killed peacock worth N1 million belonging to one Agbetuyi with intent to steal it. He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 421 and 306 of the Criminal Laws of Ekiti State, 2021. The prosecutor prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and present his witnesses. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Counsel to the defendants, Mr Eric Omotoso, urged the...

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says noodles produced in the country did not contain ethylene oxide or its metabolism. NAFDAC director-general Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed this at a media briefing organised to present the outcome of its investigation on whether noodles produced in the country contained ethylene oxide. Ms Adeyeye said the investigation was occasioned by the recall of Indomie Instant Noodles Special Chicken Flavour by Malaysia and Taiwan because of the alleged presence of ethylene oxide, a compound associated with an increased risk of cancer. “At the time of my initial press release on the issue, I assured the public that a thorough investigation of the products would be conducted both at the factory and market levels and th...

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has decorated no fewer than 200 newly promoted officers at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command. The newly-decorated personnel included: senior officers (from the rank of Deputy Controller of Corrections to Assistant Superintendent of Corrections 11) and junior officers (from the rank of inspector of Corrections to Corrections Assistant 111) alike. Performing the decoration on Thursday in Gwagwalada, the Controller of Corrections incharge of FCT Command Ibrahim N Idris, urged the officers to see their elevation as an added responsibility. He admonished the promoted officers to display utmost professionalism and hard work, as the elevation signifies that more was expected from them. In his words, he stated that "To whom much is gi...

By Gami Tadanyigbe The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has decorated no fewer than 200 newly promoted officers at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command. The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the newly-decorated personnel included: senior officers and junior officers alike. Performing the decoration on Thursday in Gwagwalada, Ibrahim Idris, the Controller of Corrections FCT Command, urged the officers to see their elevation as an added responsibility. he admonished the promoted officers to display utmost professionalism and hard work, as the elevation signifies that more was expected from them. in his word, he stated that "To whom much is given, much is expected and a new rank is a call for greater duty and to put more efforts to what you have been doing be...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Over 1,539 famers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have benefited from the 4th batch of FCT FADAMA Cares pre-disbursement capacity building training in Gwagwalada Area Council. The FCT FADAMA Cares Coordinator, Mr Usman Adangara, at the inauguration in Gwagwalada on Thursday, said the training through its capacity building component is designed to build capacities of participants in various areas. Adangara said the FCT COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) programme is a World Bank Budget support to the FCT Administration targeted at supporting existing and newly emerging poor households on agricultural value chains. According to him, the training is designed to build participants in the areas of group dynamics, book and record...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Over 1,539 famers across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have benefited from the 4th batch of FCT FADAMA Cares pre-disbursement capacity building training in Gwagwalada Area Council. The FCT FADAMA Cares Coordinator, Mr Usman Adangara, at the inauguration in Gwagwalada on Thursday, said the training through its capacity building component is designed to build capacities of participants in various areas. Adangara said the FCT COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) programme is a World Bank Budget support to the FCT Administration targeted at supporting existing and newly emerging poor households on agricultural value chains. According to him, the training is designed to build participants in the areas of group dynamics, b...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Thursday in Paris – France said ongoing reforms, starting with removal of fuel subsidy and streamlining of exchange rate, will be sustained for a more competitive economy that attracts Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), urging investors to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria. In a State House press release, Tinubu said: “We are ready for business, prepared to welcome investments,’’ he said, while receiving President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim), Prof. Benedict Oramah and President of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud–Basso, in separate meetings, on the sidelines of the Summit for New Global Financing Pact. The President assured the delegation of AfreximBank Executiv...

Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima on Thursday met with co-Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates; the chairman of the Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote, and members of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). The meeting which commenced at 11:43 am was held behind closed doors at the State House, Abuja. It is part of engagements lined up for Mr Gates’ visit to Nigeria and the Niger Republic. Though the agenda of the meeting is not yet known, it is gathered that participants would consider areas of collaboration between both foundations and the Federal Government, especially in the health and education sectors. In attendance at the meeting are the NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Adbulrazaq and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed. ...