Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

House Of Representatives Removes Danladi Umar As CCT Chairman. The House of Representatives has removed Danladi Umar from his position as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), invoking constitutional provisions despite lacking the required two-thirds majority. During Tuesday’s plenary session, lawmakers relied on Paragraph 17(3), Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 22(3) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. This stipulates that the removal of the CCT Chairman requires a two-thirds majority vote from both legislative chambers. With the House comprising 360 members, the required threshold stands at 240; however,…

CBN Adjusts Monetary Policy Rate To 27.50%. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised its monetary policy rate (MPR) to 27.50%, an increase from the previous 27.25%. The decision was made during the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) final meeting of the year, held at the bank’s headquarters in Abuja. Announcing the adjustment, CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso emphasised that the move aligns with the bank’s commitment to tackling inflation and ensuring economic stability. The MPR, a critical tool in shaping interest rates, has a direct impact on the cost of borrowing and the broader economy. The decision reflects…

President Tinubu Orders Swift Restart Of Warri And Kaduna Refineries. President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to expedite the reopening of the Warri and Kaduna refineries as part of ongoing efforts to revitalise the nation’s energy sector. This directive was issued as the President commended NNPCL for successfully restoring operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push for energy self-sufficiency. President Tinubu expressed gratitude to former President Muhammadu Buhari for initiating the rehabilitation of the country’s refineries, highlighting the importance of continuity in governance. He also acknowledged…

Governor Sanwo-Olu Suspends Senior Aide Over Misrepresentation. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the suspension of his Senior Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr. Wale Ajetunmobi, following the misrepresentation of facts on his personal “X” account regarding a past incident. The suspension comes in the wake of concerns over the inaccuracy of Mr. Ajetunmobi’s statements, which have raised doubts about his conduct. In response, the Governor has reiterated his administration’s firm stance against any form of extrajudicial punishment, emphasising that such actions have no place in the state’s values. Governor Sanwo-Olu stated, “We categorically denounce any…

NACA Reveals 160,000 Children Living With HIV In Nigeria. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has revealed that approximately 160,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV in Nigeria. This figure highlights the country’s challenge in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus, which currently has a coverage rate below 33%, far short of the 95% target. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja ahead of World AIDS Day 2024, NACA’s Director-General, Dr Temitope Ilori, quoted data from the UNAIDS 2023 report. She emphasised that Nigeria’s overall HIV prevalence is 1.4% among people aged 15-64 years, with…

Port Harcourt Refinery Commences Crude Oil Production. The Port Harcourt Refinery, owned by Nigeria, has officially begun processing crude oil after years of delays and missed deadlines. Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), confirmed the development on Tuesday, stating that the refinery is operating at 60% capacity. This translates to a daily processing output of 60,000 barrels of crude oil. The refinery, which has a total capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s efforts to reduce its dependence on imported petroleum products. The commencement of operations…

Carragher Criticises Salah’s Comments On Contract Situation. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has labelled Mohamed Salah “selfish” for publicly expressing his disappointment at the club’s failure to offer him a new contract. The 32-year-old forward, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, made the comments after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Southampton on Sunday, where he scored twice to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League. Salah, Liverpool’s top scorer this season with 12 goals in all competitions, told reporters, “I’m probably more out than in” and revealed he had not yet been offered…

Spurs’ Vicario Undergoes Surgery After Playing With Broken Ankle In Manchester City Victory. Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has undergone surgery after bravely playing 60 minutes with a broken ankle during Spurs’ remarkable 4-0 victory over Manchester City on Saturday. The 28-year-old Italian was injured in the first half following a collision with City winger Savinho. Despite the injury, Vicario continued to play through the pain, helping his team secure a stunning win at the Etihad Stadium. “Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don’t expect,” Vicario shared on social media…

Trump Vows Day-One Tariffs On Mexico, Canada, And China. Donald Trump has pledged to introduce significant tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China immediately upon assuming the US presidency on 20 January. The president-elect claims the measures aim to curb illegal immigration, drug smuggling, and the trafficking of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl into the United States. Trump announced he would sign an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada, maintaining the levy until the two nations effectively address these issues. Similarly, he proposed an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, which would…

Israel To Discuss 60-Day Ceasefire Deal With Hezbollah In Cabinet Meeting. Israel’s cabinet is set to convene on Tuesday to discuss a proposed 60-day ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, following nearly two months of intense military action. The ongoing conflict, sparked by a year of rocket attacks from Hezbollah, led Israeli troops to launch a land invasion of Lebanon in a bid to secure its northern border. Reports suggest that the ceasefire agreement would involve a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, while Hezbollah would retreat from areas near the Israeli border, marking a significant…

Hezbollah Launches Rocket Barrages On Israel Following Beirut Strikes. Tensions in the Middle East escalated as Hezbollah launched approximately 250 rockets into Israel from Lebanon, marking one of the heaviest bombardments since hostilities surged in September. The attack injured several people and caused significant damage to buildings in northern and central Israel, with some areas near Tel Aviv affected. The assault came in retaliation for an Israeli air strike on central Beirut on Saturday, which, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, resulted in the deaths of 29 people and injured many others. The strike reportedly targeted Mohammed Haydar, a senior…

Mohamed Salah Discusses His Liverpool Future, Remains Uncertain. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has addressed speculation surrounding his future at the club, revealing that he has not yet received any proposals to extend his stay beyond his current contract. In a candid statement, Salah expressed his uncertainty about remaining at Anfield, stating, “I’m probably more out than in. I didn’t receive any proposal.” The Egyptian forward further clarified that with December fast approaching, he has not received any offers from the club to extend his contract, adding, “We’re almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in…