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The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has assured of leading a broad-based and holistic anti-graft war that would not spare anyone linked with economic or financial crime. We will not spare anyone. We will not spare the mega thieves. As we are doing the mega, we will also do those at the lower end,” Mr Olukoyede said in a statement on Monday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale. The EFCC boss gave the assurance in Abuja at an anti-corruption concert organised to create greater awareness and public involvement in the fight against internet crimes. “In the last two months, we have arraigned two former governors. So, it is not true that we are only focused on internet fraudsters. “Of course, internet fraud is bad enough, but our focus is on every form of economic and financial crime,” h...

President Bola Tinubu is set to attend the inauguration of Senegal’s president-elect, Bassirou Faye, as substantive president in Dakar on Tuesday at the invitation of the West African country. His spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, stated on Monday in Abuja that the president would leave Abuja for Dakar on Tuesday. Mr Tinubu, chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Governments, will join other regional leaders at the event. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and other senior government officials will accompany him. Mr Ngelale stated that the president is expected to return to Nigeria after the conclusion of the inauguration.

Breaking the Barriers (BB), a Non-governmental organisation (NGO) has urged the Federal Government to provide support systems that would enable women to thrive in their undertakings. Miss Lolade Ipele, Project Lead, BB made this call at a one-day capacity building workshop for women and girls on Friday in Abuja. The theme of the workshop was: Breaking the Barriers, Active Participation of Women in Leadership and Civic Engagement. Ipele said the federal government should be more involved in building the capacity of Nigerians, especially women and girls. “We are saying that the government should provide a support system for women to enable them to build on their potential. “…systems, that create capacity building programmes, trainings to sensitise them on how they can take up...

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder of its officers who were on a fact-finding mission in the Ughelli area of Delta state. In January, gunmen abducted three mobile police officers who were responding to a distress call, at the Ohoro community in the Ughelli north LGA of the state. A few weeks after the incident, some police officers mobilised to rescue their abducted colleagues, were ambushed and killed around the Ohoro forest in Ughelli LGA. In a statement on March 23, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, confirmed that six police officers were slain in the incident, adding that the bodies had been recovered while the search for another six was ongoing. Giving an update on the development on Saturday, Adejobi said po...

The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration has embarked on a journey of transformation in the capital territory. Wike, who stated this in his Easter message to residents of FCT in Abuja on Saturday, urged the residents to contribute to the realisation of the vision for a better Nigeria. He explained that the efforts to transform the FCT were driven by a renewed sense of hope and optimism under the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Bola Tinubu. “As residents of the FCT, let us keep faith with President Tinubu and his administration, and let us actively contribute to the realisation of his vision for a better Nigeria. “On our part, the FCT Administration remains deeply committed to ensuring the welfare and well-being of all res...

The federal government has approved the disbursement of N25 billion through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to bolster healthcare infrastructure in states. Prof. Muhammed Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, made this known on Saturday in Abuja at the sixth meeting of the BHCPF ministerial oversight committee. Mr Pate said that the funds were designated for direct facility financing and workforce incentives across states. The minister said that the initiative was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for Nigerian women, children, and vulnerable populations. He said that the disbursement would be facilitated through gateways, including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency ...

The Voice of Nigeria (VON), in collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) is ready to enlighten citizens on the Nigerian Sustainable Cooling Project to reduce energy consumption by air conditioners. VON Director-General, Jibrin Baba-Ndace, revealed this when he received the National Coordinator of the Project, Mr Samaila Zaku, on a courtesy visit on Thursday in Abuja. Ndace said that climate change was causing serious environmental challenges with the heat remaining intense even when the air conditioners are put on. He added that the kind of turbulence during flights as a result of global warming was so scary that it could discourage people from travelling by air. “I am happy that ECN has seen us as a partner to achieve the Nigerian Sustainable Cooling Project. ...

The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Nasarawa State University on migration studies in Keffi . By Jacinta Nwachukwu National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) to establish a centre to address migration issues. Addressing journalists in Keffi, the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed explained that the principal purpose of the MoU was to establish an International Centre of Excellence for Migration and Humanitarian Development Studies (ICEMIDS). Ahmed said that the Centre would be a vehicular instrument for facilitating strategic collaboration between the Parties in the are...

By Victor Okoye Ebere Benard, the Youth Director, Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) says they are organising an International Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event to promote peace and unity in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event would witness 16 professional martial artists trade blows and kicks against each other in eight blockbuster, intense bouts on Saturday at the Mo Arena in Abuja. Benard who doubles as the CEO, Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior, an MMA Organisation and sponsors of the event said it was geared towards promoting peace and safety of lives and property in the country through sports, dialogue and entertainment. He said the Abuja MMA Fight Night tagged "The Battle of Paikokun Mountain" was inspired by one of the mountains l...

A socio-political organisation, the Social Rehabilitation Gruppe ((SRG) has applauded the peaceful coexistence among religious groups in Ondo State, describing it as pivotal to socio-economic growth. The group passed the remarks while doling out iftar refreshment worth several millions of Naira to Muslim faithful in Akure, the state capital, as disbursed by its National Convener, Dr. Marindoti Oludare, a United States-based medical practitioner. Oludare, who was represented by Prince Demola Obadofin in the four mosques earmarked for the gesture in the state capital, said he was enthused that Islamic religion had become more endearing through proper devotion, forbearance, and an atmosphere of love, as displayed by its adherents. "I feel humbled to be considered worthy of doing thi...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised the benchmark interest rate for the second time in the last two months. This was announced during the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting between March 25th-26th, 2024. The interest rate, also known as the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) was raised by 200 basis points from 22.75% in February to 24.75% in March 2024.According to the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, “the committee’s decision to adjust the monetary rate was focused on addressing the current inflation rate and the need to sustain exchange rate stability. “Members of the committee highlighted the continued rise in headline inflation driven largely by food prices because of supply shortages and high cost of logistics and distribution. The committee, therefore, submitted ...

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has assured that the naira will continue stabilising in the coming weeks and months. Mr Shettima gave the assurance at the inauguration of the National Design and Innovation Competition, which was held on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) organised the event to spur youth entrepreneurship and creative ventures. In February, the naira was exchanged for as much as N1,900 to a dollar, but the currency gradually appreciated following some monetary policies taken by the government. The naira is exchanged at N1,396 to a dollar in the official market and N1470 in the parallel market. The vice-president assured that the government will continue implementing policies and programmes to stabi...

The Christian Association of Nigeria in Ile-Ife has called for religious tolerance, kicking against a curfew imposed by traditional worshipers in Ile-Ife. The CAN chairman, Sam’Leye Onitiju, stated this at a press conference in Ile-Ife at St Paul Anglican Church, Ayegbaju Area. Mr Onitiju said CAN’s attention was drawn to a press release by Obalesu Dada, the chief priest in charge of Obatala traditional worshippers, stating that people should stay indoors between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for the Oro-Owa Ilare festival, which is coming up during the period. He recalled that on May 15, 2023, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, held a peaceful meeting in his palace with religious leaders and the then-police commissioner. According to him, the meeting was attended by A...

Adedayo Kolawole, 36, a filling station manager has been arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court in Ibadan for stealing N6 million belonging to the station. Kolawole, the manager of Taoliyya Filling Station, Dalute on Akala expressway, Ibadan, was charged with theft and pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, Insp Olalekan Adegbite, told the court that Mr Kolawole committed the offence between March 2023 and March 25, 2024. Mr Adegbite said the defendant fraudulently used his position as manager to convert the company’s money to his personal use. The magistrate, Oluwabusayo Osho, granted the defendant bail of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum. Ms Osho said one of the sureties must be the defendant’s blood relation. She adjourned the case until April 4 for a h...

The Federal Government has pledged to support the training of personnel in its teaching hospitals and other tertiary health institutions to meet emerging challenges of healthcare delivery. Vice-President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance when he received the management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, on Wednesday at the presidential villa, Abuja. He said enhanced healthcare delivery was a top priority in the President Bola Tinubu's administration Renewed Hope Agenda. Shettima commended the current management of the institution for the giant strides recorded over the years. The Vice-President assured that Tinubu's administration was committed to supporting human capacity development in hospitals across th...

By Salisu Sani-Idris Vice-President Kashim Shettima says the Federal Government plans to create nutrition departments in designated federal ministries and improve funding of nutrition activities. Shettima said this on Tuesday during an interaction with members of the Nutrition Core Working Committee in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the committee were in the Presidential Villa to brief Shettima on the critical challenges and potential solutions for scaling up nutrition in Nigeria. The Vice-President said measures would be adopted to frontally address some of the issues raised by the committee, particularly the establishment of nutrition departments in designated ministries. He said the government would prioritise advo...

By Ismail Abdulaziz President Bola Tinubu says individuals involved in the kidnapping of innocent citizens must be treated as terrorists. The President, at a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal Judiciary, also condemned the reprehensible acts perpetrated by kidnappers across the country. At the dinner with the judicial members led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the President reiterated government's resolve to defeat banditry. The dinner was also attended by serving and retired judicial officers, including two former CJNs, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen. President Tinubu said those who resorted to kidnapping children were cowards, incapable of confronting the might of the Nigerian Armed Forces. "We must treat...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the urgent resuce of the textile industry in the country. Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President made the call at the 13th National Delegates Conference of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) on Tuesday in Abuja. The theme of the conference is, "Building Union Power for Sustainable industrialization and the future of work,''. Ajaero said that it was imperative to resuce the industry as there was no nation that jokes with its textile sector due to its value chain and the great potentials for job creation both directly and indirectly. According to him, we must all join hands to rescue our nation’s textile sector as its holds a pivotal position in the tapestry of our nation's development...

The death toll from Sunday’s Bauchi alms-giving stampede has risen to seven, the state police command has stated. The police spokesperson in Bauchi, SP Ahmed Wakil, said three more women died. Four people were reportedly trampled to death on Sunday during an attempt to participate in an almsgiving exercise at Shafa Holdings Company Plc on Jos Road in Bauchi, Bauchi State. The police said the incident happened at about 10:20 a.m. when the company was holding its annual Zakat exercise, otherwise known as almsgiving, to help the less privileged in the state. ”The medical doctor at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) confirmed that two more women died at the hospital among those brought for treatment. “The other woman was conveyed home by her famil...

The arraignment of four suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping of University of Abuja (UniAbuja) lecturers and their children in 2021 was, on Monday, stalled due to the commencement of the Federal High Court (FHC) vacation. The matter, which was number one on Justice Donatus Okorowo’s cause list, was, however, fixed for May 13. Gunmen had, on November 2, 2021, invaded the UniAbuja staff quarters in Gwagwalada and abducted six persons, including Joseph Adavani and Ferguson Tobins, among others. The abductors, who contacted the families of the victims a day after their kidnap, demanded a ransom of N300 million. However, the police public relations officer of the FCT Command, DSP Josephine Adeh, confirmed their release on November 5, 2021. According to her, the developm...