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Vice-President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the country’s 65th Independence Day anniversary. Newsspecng.com reports that Senegal marks its Independence Day on April 4, commemorating its 1960 freedom from French colonial rule. The event features national pride, parades, and cultural celebrations.This year’s ceremony will hold at Place de la Nation, Dakar, with President Bassirou Faye hosting Shettima and other dignitaries from Africa and beyond. Shettima is attending in response to an invitation from Faye, reflecting the strong ties between both nations. The Vice-President is expected back in Nigeria on Friday after the one-day event.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the petition seeking to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduahan, senator representing Kogi central, failed to meet the constitutional threshold. In a statement on Thursday, INEC cited section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines the conditions for recalling a lawmaker, noting that the petition failed to fulfill these requirements. "The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” the commission wrote.

US President Donald Trump has announced that exports from Nigeria to the United States will now be subjected to a 14 per cent tariff. The decision, which was made public during a ‘Make America Wealthy Again’ event in the Rose Garden on Wednesday, is part of a broader strategy aimed at rebalancing global trade and addressing perceived unfair trade practices. The newly introduced 14 per cent tariff marks a significant shift in U.S.-Nigeria trade relations, with the U.S. government citing an ongoing trade imbalance. According to the Trump administration, Nigeria imposes a 27 per cent tariff on U.S. exports, a disparity the U.S. claims has long been detrimental to American businesses and consumers. In response, the U.S. has now imposed a new tariff on Nigerian exports to mitigate ...

By Gami Tadanyigbe Aisha Achimugu Foundation, in collaboration with Tasth Foundation and the Rachel Own Enoh Empowerment & Care Foundation, has trained over 50 women in Lugbe, Abuja, on various vocational skills, including soap and Vaseline making, lip gloss production, Ankara bag, shoe making, and makeup artistry. In a bid to support women’s economic empowerment at the grassroots level, these non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are dedicated to empowering vulnerable communities by providing women with the skills needed to achieve financial stability and self-sufficiency in the country. The Program Director of Aisha Achimugu Foundation, Mrs. Kiema Ogunlana, at the event said that Women Empowerment Initiative 2025-Abuja Edition was the first of its kind at this scale. Ac...

Pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) have raised concerns over persistent delays in monthly pension payments by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), alleging systemic inefficiencies and possible corruption within the agency. According to the pensioners, for over five years, pensioners have reportedly endured delays of up to a week or more in receiving their pensions, contrary to a presidential directive issued in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari mandating payments by the 28th of each month. It was gathered that despite assurances from PTAD, payments of pensioners now occur after the 30th to another month day of the month, with PTAD attributing the delays to technical issues with Nigeria’s GIFMIS system. Investigation revealed that these d...

The Olu of Warri Kingdom His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III charged the Transition Town Warri initiative on community revitalization by using the project to promoting Itsekiri /Iwere development agenda using local resources. The revered traditional monarch who gave the charge when the team sought his blessings said the Transition town Warri team should engage with communities, listening to their challenges and supporting their efforts and using their local resources towards development while also preserving Itsekiri rich culture and history. The Transition town Warri initiative began its training by first giving an overview on the concept and then explaining the its purpose, vision and the goals. The current environmental, social, and economic challenges facing communities wer...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a sweeping change in the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited board, removing the chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure and the group chief executive officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari.President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023.The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.Adedapo Segun, who replaced Umaru Isa Ajiya as the chief financial officer last November, has been appointed to the new board by President Tinubu.Six board members, non-executive directors, represent the country’s geopolitical zones. They are Bello Rabiu, North West, Yusuf Usman, North East, and Babs Omotowa, a former managing d...

President Bola Tinubu has sacked the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) including its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari and board chairman Pius Akinyelure. The sack was announced by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga in an early Wednesday morning statement posted on X. “President Tinubu removed all other board members appointed with Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023,” Mr Onanuga wrote. Mr Kyari was first appointed NNPC chief by former President Muhammadu Buhari but was reappointed in 2023 by President Tinubu. According to Wednesday’s statement, the president also appointed a new board including a new GCEO. “The new 11-man board has Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the Group CEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman,” Mr Onanuga w...

There is paipable fear and disbelief in Benin City the capital of Edo State as documents alleged to be the judgement of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal have surfaced online. The documents surfaced barely 24 hours after the panel summoned all parties involved in the case. The leaked documents has sparked confusion and debate over the tribunal’s final ruling The three-member panel, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had on March 3 reserved its judgement on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the result of the September 21, 2024, governorship election. On Tuesday, the tribunal directed both parties to appear the next day for the verdict. But copies of what seemed to be the judgement circulated...

Following the failure of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to pay the N25 billion arrears owed to pensioners of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), now Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), a human rights group, The Democratic and Human Rights Centre (TDHRC), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the agency over the delay in payment. In a press release, TDHRC emphasized the need for EFCC and ICPC to probe PTAD for its inability to settle the N25 billion arrears owed to NEPA/PHCN pensioners. "We were informed by these pensioners that Samuel Agbogun, the former Executive Director of the Nigerian Electricity Liability M...

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar II, has announced the sighting of Shawwal crescent, marking the end of Ramadan fasting. The Sultan said they received reports of sighting from Borno, Zazzau, Dutse, Maru, among other places within the country. “My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, today 29th day of March, 2025 AD, equivalent to 29th day of Ramadan 1446 After the Hijra of our Most Noble Leader Prophet Muhammad (SAW) brings us to the end of 1446 Ramadan fast. Today 29th day of Ramadan, we received reports from various Muslim leaders and organisations such as Shehu of Borno, Emir of Dutse, Emir of Argungu, Emir of Maru, Emir of Daura and Emir of Zazzau as well as JBWIS in Jos of the confirmation of the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal 1446 after the Hijra of our Most Noble L...

A human rights group, The Democratic and Human Rights Centre (TDHRC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene by directing the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to immediately pay the outstanding pension arrears of former employees of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), now known as the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), which have been pending since 2017. The group, in a press release signed by Comrade Aderemi Adebisi, stated that PTAD's refusal to pay former employees of NEPA/PHCN accumulated pension arrears since 2017 has not only caused hardship to them but has also led to the deaths of many members. "These people have served this country meritoriously and do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens. The refus...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chair, Tony Elumelu, to its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, convened by IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. Mr Elumelu made the appointment known on his verified twitter handle @TonyOElumelu on Friday. At the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council on Wednesday, the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, told the guests, that the Council brings together a group of leading thinkers and practitioners in business, finance, academia, and policymaking to share their views and experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies can provide entrepreneurs, and the private sector. Elumelu is Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship and he has used his Foundation ...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) on Wednesday sought the collaboration of the media in promoting social safety for Nigerian workers. Mr Olawaseun Faleye, the Managing Director of NSITF, made the call during a briefing with members of the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN). The briefing also marked the inauguration of a mass advocacy and sensitisation campaign in Abuja. “It is my hope that, as we embark on this journey, members of LACAN will be key partners in advocacy, progress, and the commitment to advancing social safety for Nigerian workers. “The engagement with the media is crucial as NSITF enters a new phase of transformation,” Faleye said. Faleye acknowledged the importance of the media, particularly labour correspon...

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had notified the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, of a recall petition initiated by registered voters in her district. The notification, dated March 26, was issued by the INEC’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran Anthony. In the letter addressed to the senator and copied to the presiding officer of the Senate, INEC confirmed receiving a petition from her constituents seeking her recall from the National Assembly. Pursuant to Section 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I write to notify you of the receipt of a petition from representatives of registered voters in your constituency seeking your recall from the Senate. “This notification is in line with the provis...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  The National Assembly and the UK Government have promised to support the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu  on Policy and Coordination, Hajia Hadiza Usman, in implementing the new Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework.They made the pledges at a Stakeholders’ Validation Session on the Draft National Policy Development and Management Framework on Tuesday in Abuja.Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks said that the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly stands not as a mere observer, but as a secretary, guiding the principles of sound governance, holding the executive to account, and forging a legislative foundation upon which policies and programmes of government must rest.Akpabio was represented at the event by the Deputy...

By Joan Nwagwu The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has donated food items under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Social Investment Programme, worth millions of naira to vulnerable groups in Delta. Mrs Tinubu made the donation during a symbolic presentation of the food items to the vulnerable groups in Asaba on Tuesday. The first lady, represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice-President said the presentation was to formally handover the essential food commodities to Delta State through wife of the state governor and RHI’s State Coordinator for onward distribution to the vulnerable groups. “The food outreach scheme began on March 8, 2024 at the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) to provide vulnerable households with food items to support their families. “So far, we h...

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Sylvester Nwakuche as the comptroller-general (CG) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The approval followed the presentation of a report by the senate committee on interior, chaired by Adams Oshiomhole, senator for Edo north, who moved the motion for Nwakuche’s confirmation at Tuesday’s plenary. Presenting the committee’s findings, Oshimohole said the nominee was “thoroughly” screened on March 12. as one with an impeccable character, full of exposure, experience, intellect, energy, drive and worthy of the nomination,” Oshiomhole said. “The man is not only qualified in terms of academic qualification, he has been involved in several command positions and has benefitted from training and retraining. The committee found the ...

The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has recaptured five of the 12 inmates who escaped from the medium-security custodial centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi. This is contained in a statement by Abubakar Umar, the service’s public relations officer (SPRO), on Monday. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, March 24. During the incident, some awaiting trial inmates in a section of the facility allegedly manipulated the padlocks, leading to the escape of 12 inmates. Mr Umar stated that upon receiving reports of the incident, the acting controller-general of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, in collaboration with heads of sister security agencies, including the senior special adviser to the governor of Kogi, immediately mobilised to the facility. He said personnel were also dep...