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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...

By Emmanuella AnokamThe National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has applauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) for bringing to life the moribund Port Harcourt refinery. It’s Executive Director, Blessing Akinlosotu said this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja. The 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery, being managed by the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) on Tuesday began truck-out of petroleum products after years of being moribund. “The refinery’s impressive operational capacity of 70 per cent is a testament to the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of the NNPC Ltd team, led by Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer. “With ambitious plans to ramp up to 90 per cent capacity in the near future, this achievement represe...

By Constance Athekame Mr Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power says achieving universal energy access requires robust collaboration between the public and private sectors as well as international development partners. Mamman, represented by Mr Baba Mustapha, Director Distribution, Ministry of Power, said this in Abuja on Thursday at a sensitisation workshop. The workshop was on Approved Standards and Regulations for Solar Mini-Grid Components/Materials Equipment and Safety Installation in Nigeria. The workshop was organised by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP). Mamman said that achieving universal energy access was a key component of the country’s national developme...

Some participants at the 16 Days Activism Against Gender-Based Violence at Gwagwalada on Thursday By Jacinta Nwachukwu A coalition group has empowered grassroots women with tools to combat gender-based violence, focusing on financial empowerment and skill building. This initiative was announced at the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” in Gwagwalada on Thursday. Lucy Abagi, CEO of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), explained that financial independence enabled women to make informed decisions and live independently. Abagi represented by Ms Precious Adigwe, Programme Officer, Gender Mainstreaming and Inclusion, PPDC, emphasised the importance of financial empowerment, urging women to develop skills in savings, budgeting, and investing to secur...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer  The Drector general of the Voice of Nigeria (VON ), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, says his agency is set to collaborate with the  Bayero University, Kano Alumni Association (BUKAA) for development of education in the institution. Ndace described the University as a fertile ground for robust learning and constructive engagement.  The VON boss stated  this when he received the executive members of BUKAA,  Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter led by its chairman, Mr Alhassan Muhammed. Ndace strrssed that, inspite of position occupied in the society, Nigerians and alumni of higher institutions should always remember their alma mater. According to him, this will help in contributing to the development of education, research and i...

The Public Compliant Commission (PCC), has commenced a training program from November 25th - 29th, 2024, on Data Analysis and Reporting for staff members at Akwa Ibom State, for capacity building and National development of the country. Mr. Ubong Uwa, the Honorable Commissioner Akwa Ibom, in his opening address welcomed all participants, while he encouraged them to take the program seriously, stressing the importance of acquiring new skills and knowledge to improve their work. The training took place at New Point Hotel and Suites, Uyo, and was attended by 51 participants. According to him, the initiative is aimed to equiping members of staff with essential skills, knowledge, and tools to enhance their performance and productivity in addressing public complaints effectively. Th...

The Public Compliant Commission (PCC), has commenced a training program from November 25th - 29th, 2024, on Data Analysis and Reporting for staff members at Akwa Ibom State, for capacity building and National development of the country. Mr. Ubong Uwa, the Honorable Commissioner Akwa Ibom, in his opening address welcomed all participants, while he encouraged them to take the program seriously, stressing the importance of acquiring new skills and knowledge to improve their work. The training took place at New Point Hotel and Suites, Uyo, and was attended by 51 participants. According to him, the initiative is aimed to equiping members of staff with essential skills, knowledge, and tools to enhance their performance and productivity in addressing public complaints effectively. Th...

The Public Complaints Commission (PCC), on November 18th - 22nd, 2024, organized a five-day training program for all its staff at Abia State for capacity building and National development of the country. The training program inaugurated by the Honorable Commissioner, Abia State, Mr. Madukwe E.E. Ukeagbu, in his opening remarks, said it was focused on Ethics and Professionalism in the work place, aimed at enhancing the professional capabilities of the staff and improve their overall efficiency in service delivery. He emphasized the importance of the training and encouraged all staff to actively participate and fully engage with the consultants. Mr. Ukeagbu highlighted the need for open-mindedness, active involvement, and a commitment to applying the new knowledge gained to their dail...

By Jessica Dogo The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has emphasised the importance of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. Dr Abdullahi Bello, Chairman of CCB, made the call at the maiden graduation ceremony of the Behavioral Insights Network, Transparency, and Accountability (BINTA) project in Abuja on Wednesday. Bello expressed his excitement about the partnership between the CCB and private partners, acknowledging the support of the MacArthur Foundation. He believed that the knowledge and insights gained by the BINTA fellows would significantly impact the approach to governance and anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the BINTA fellowship, organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) ...

Honourable Taofeek Adebayo Aderogba (mni), a prominent aspirant for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Alhaji Fatal Ibikunle following his recent nomination as a member of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by President Bola Tinubu. In a press statement from his media office, Aderogba emphasized that Ibikunle’s nomination is a testament to his integrity and commitment to public service. He stated, "Your nomination is no doubt a significant step toward strengthening the mandate of the Code of Conduct Bureau." Aderogba highlighted that Ibikunle's extensive experience and leadership skills will be invaluable assets to the CCB. He expressed confidence in Ibikunle’s ability to contribute posit...

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to December 10 while remanding him in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC had also opposed his bail application in court on Wednesday. Yahaya Bello had earlier pleaded "not guity" to the 16 counts charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court. His case was adjourned to December 10 for the reading of his bail application. He is to remain with the EFCC. The fraud trial involving Yahaya Bello, had become chaotic on Wednesday morning when a crowd of his supporters stormed the court room. Bello, who was arraigned at the FCT High Court on Wednesday, had asked his rascally followers ...