Blog

Former President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Felix Alaba Job, has said that the failure to reform the education system has created a generation who are unable to distinguish right from wrong. The cleric also blamed successive governments for ignoring genuine calls to review the nation's education curriculum. He disclose this in an interview with journalists on Saturday at the 13th convocation ceremony of Veritas University, Abuja where he was awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon.D.LITT) by management of the institution. The clergy who was the former Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan, stressed that removing subjects like History from the curriculumundermines national identity. He said despite warnings to leaders since the 1980s to do the right thin...

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates, arresting six leaders of the cartels in different parts of the country and seizing cocaine and opioids worth billions of naira. A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the syndicates, which comprise Nigerians based in Mubi, Adamawa state; Onitsha, Anambra state, and Lagos state as well as Cameroonians came under NDLEA radar after they were suspected of being major suppliers of drugs to terror groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon. Babafemi disclosed that the leaders of the syndicates so far arrested include: Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Udechukwu Anayo, Ezeh Amaechi and Adejumo Ishola. He said inte...

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has approved the rehabilitation of Uba General Hospital and the township road networks. The governor also approved the rehabilitation of eight primary schools in Uba town, including Uba Central Primary School, Mufa A Primary School, Kuma Primary School, Masil Primary School, Uba Marghi Primary School, Low-Cost Primary School, Kwarghi Primary School and Mufa B Primary School. Zulum announced the approval on Saturday at the Palace of the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali ibn Ismaila Mamza. In a similar vein, the governor announced the construction of a new palace complex that befit the status of the emir. The governor said: “You have to undertake a complete rehabilitation, provide furniture and also ensure adequate teachers are deployed.” Z...

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, led African Union delegation to this year’s G20 Ministers of Culture meeting, saying it marks a significant milestone in Africa's cultural diplomacy. Musawa was at the Salvador Convention Centre in Brazil, at the weekend, Dr. Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Media aide to the minister disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. The Minister, who doubles as the 1st Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture, and Sports in the African Union membership of fifty-five states, said “Africa's cultural diversity is our greatest strength, and we must leverage it to drive development, unity, and shared growth. “Africa’s inclusion brings our unique perspectives and priorities to thes...

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is planning the inauguration of Monday Okpebholo without input from the state government. Speaking on Friday while swearing in the caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Obaseki said the APC has not invited him to the inauguration. Obaseki described the APC’s action as lawless, adding that the state government is supposed to be in charge of the programme. Somebody has to be sworn in. Sworn into a government that exists. You just don’t come from nowhere and start a government. There is already a government. There is a way things are done,” he said. The government of Edo state is inaugurating a new governor on Tuesday. But what you are seeing now… all the posters. The gover...

The air component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has reportedly killed at least 70 ISWAP fighters in air strikes across the southern Lake Chad region. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the missiles were shot on November 5, targeting camps led by Usman Russia, a “notorious ISWAP commander”. Makama reported that the strikes hit camps in Kwallaram and Arainna Ciki, located near Jibilarram in Marte LGA of Borno state. The report added that 79 casualties were recorded at the Kwallaram camp. While the exact number of fatalities at Arainna Ciki remains unknown, the report noted that several militants were killed there as well. “Meanwhile, following the strike, on November 7, reports emerged that ISWAP had mobilised addit...

A two-day Social Norms Conference brought together leading experts, policymakers, and development professionals from across West Africa to discuss how sociobehavioral approaches can accelerate human capital development in the region. The conference held between from Nov. 5 to 6, with the themed “From Research to Reality: Sociobehavioral Solutions for Accelerated Human Capital Development,” was a platform for tackling societal norms that affect human capital growth and for translating research insights into actionable strategies. It was organised by the Anglophone West Africa Learning Collaborative,and hosted over 200 participants, including representatives from government, donor organisations, NGOs, academia, and research institutions. In attendance were influential leaders from ...

By NAN A Federal High Court in Yola, on Thursday remanded a businessman, Jabir Mohammed in a correctional facility for alleged unlawful dealing in petroleum products and illegal possession of ammunition. Mohammed who resides in Mubi, Adamawa is charged with unlawful dealing in petroleum products, attempt to export 2,000 jerrycans of petroleum products and illegal possession of ammunition. Justice Bala Usman, however, adjourned the case until Nov.11 to enable the prosecutor respond to the bail application served on her by the defence counsel. Usman said that the prosecutor was entitled to 48 hours to enable her respond to the application served by the defence counsel. He further remanded the defendantat at the correctional centre. Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Adewumi...

By Victor Okoye Efe Okwagbe, the new chairman of the Nigeria Tennis Umpires Association (NTUA), has promised to push for improved welfare for its members. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okwagbe made the remarks on the sidelines of the Association's Annual General Meeting on Saturday held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, Abuja. Okwagbe told reporters after his victory at the polls that his main agenda as chairman would be to seek improved welfare packages for all NTUA members. "Over the years, we have had challenges with the welfare of our officials. So, part of what we will be doing is to partner with the public and private sector for the funding and promotion of tennis officiating. "The truth is, without a proper tennis officiating, the gam...

By Constance Athekame The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu has attributed the incessant grid collapses to vandalism and lack of maintenance in past. Adelabu said this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving the report of the committee set up to look into the frequent grid collapses. It will be recalled that the minister had constituted a six-member Committee to advise the Federal Government on necessary solutions to make the national grid robust and reliable. The minister said that most of the incidents of grid collapses in 2024 was as a result of vandalism of power installations and theft of power equipment.c According to him, lack of good maintenance of the grid in the past and a number of other external factors was also adding to the collapses. He said that the Fed...

By Joan Nwagwu The First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, says there is the need for concerted efforts towards achieving food security in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Tinubu said this at the commissioning of the Abuja East-West Knowledge Transfer(EWS-KT) Learning Site (Vegetable Demonstration Garden) at the University of Abuja on Wednesday in Abuja. The programme was organised by the university in collaboration with EWS-KT and the Embassy of the Netherlands. EWS-KT is a non-profot corporate foundation, aimed at improving production and business skills of smallholder farmers. The first lady represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, commended the university for the Initiative. According to her, this initiative is not only uniqu...

Donald Trump has been elected to return to the White House as the 47th United States president. His victory has been met by international congratulations but is likely to add further uncertainty to a turbulent geopolitical situation. Results showed Trump beating Vice President Kamala Harris in a race far less tight than expected, as he triumphed in key battleground states. Victory in Wisconsin, following earlier triumphs in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania saw the former president clear the 270 Electoral College votes required to clinch the White House in the November 5 election. That refusal sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, and Trump was also convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. However, his campaign, which has seen ...

Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief army staff (COAS), is dead. Lagbaja died after battling an undisclosed ailment. He was 56 years of age. He was appointed COAS by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023. On October 20, the army dismissed rumours that Lagbaja had passed on, adding that the army chief was undergoing medical treatment abroad. On October 30, Tinubu appointed Olufemi Oluyede as the acting COAS. On November 5, the president decorated Oluyede with a new rank of lieutenant-general. In a statement on November 6, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, said Lagbaja “passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness”. Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by Pr...

President Bola Tinubu on Monday directed the immediate release of all minors who were arrested over their alleged participation in August’s #EndBadGovernance protests. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this to State House correspondents during an emergency briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Idris said, “The President has ordered the immediate release of all the minors who have been arrested by the Nigeria Police without prejudice to whatever legal processes they are undergoing. He has directed that they be released immediately. “Secondly, the President has also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately attend to the welfare of these minors, and to ensure their smooth reunion with their pare...

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Ifeanyi Okowa, the former governor of Delta state. It was gathered that Okowa was arrested over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion. The amount is said to be part of the 13 percent derivation fund earmarked for oil-producing states. According to insiders involved in the investigation, the funds were allegedly diverted between 2015 and 2023. It was learned that Okowa was arrested on Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, when he reported to the EFCC office following an invitation over the matter. The former governor is also being probed over another N40 billion allegedly used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas — a facility being developed by UTM Offshore Limite...

By NAN The TY Buratai Literary Initiative (TYBLI) has awarded N2.5m to the winners of the 2024 Young Adult Literature competition. The event which took place at the Tukur Buratai Research Centre in Gora, Abuja-Keffi Express-Way attracted dignitaries from the military, literary and Art sectors of the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while six zonal winners got the sum of N250,000 each, the overall winner, Olatunbosun got N1m. In his remarks, the Chairman of TYBLI, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the Initiative was born out of his passion  for literature,  recalling when he was a member of drama, debate and literacy clubs in school. “I have so many poems then; those were interesting parts as we were growing as young men. You may not necess...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The Peace (As-Salaam) Magazine has called on Muslim women across the country to continue to wear Hijab as it does not reduce them to any form of stereotype. The Director of the Magazine, Dr Mumin Alao, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ‘1st Peace Magazine Honour Roll Ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja. Alao said the essence of the ceremony was to celebrate intelligent brains under the veils. “The significance of this events is to recognise excellence among Muslim women. For a long time, we know there was issues concerning the wearing of Hijab, discouraging them from wearing it. “But in the last few years, there were a lot of education and mobilisation, that, at the end, the court decided that wearing Hijab is a rig...

The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed with some IDPs during the inauguration of Cormode Cancer Champion Club on Thursday in Abuja. By Jacinta Nwachukwu The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in collaboration with the Cormode Cancer Foundation, on Thursday, inaugurated the Cormode Cancer Champion Club at the Durumi IDPs camp in Abuja. The Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, at the programme, stressed the need to educate children about cancer and its risk factors. Ahmed said the formation of the Champion Club among IDPs was to provide knowledge on cancer, its implications, and methods of combating it, with a focus on early education and mitigation against future complications. He said plans were ...

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have agreed to partner to tackle fraudulent practices and enforce discipline. Mr Adesanya Adejokun, Technical Adviser (Media) to the Managing Director of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije said this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday. Adejokun said that the agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director of NDPHC Engr. Jennifer Adighije and her management to the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede in Abuja on Wednesday, He said that the visit was to assist NDPHC to effectively deliver on its mandate to Nigerians. The NDPHC boss told her host that she and her team were visiting EFCC first to familiarise themselves with the agency and then seek ...