Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

EFCC Links Frequent National Grid Failures To Corruption In Power Sector Contracts. The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, has identified corruption among contractors as a major factor behind the repeated failures of Nigeria’s national grid. During an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoyede voiced concerns over the detrimental impact of financial crimes on the nation’s development. He highlighted that corrupt practices in the power sector, including the procurement of substandard materials, have contributed significantly to frequent equipment failures,…

Federal Government’s Committee On Local Government Autonomy Finalises Report For Presidential Approval. The Federal Government’s Committee on Local Government Autonomy has concluded its deliberations and signed a key technical document affirming local government independence, set to be submitted to President Bola Tinubu by the end of November. This development, announced by Hakeem Ambali, the National President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), marks a significant step toward strengthening local governance in Nigeria. The push for local government autonomy began in May, when the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, filed a lawsuit…

President Tinubu Returns To Nigeria Following Arab-Islamic Summit In Riyadh. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Riyadh Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, where he joined other leaders in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. During the one-day summit, held to address pressing issues in the region, President Tinubu advocated for an end to the prolonged conflict in Gaza, highlighting the severe suffering endured by Palestinians. In his address, Tinubu called for immediate cessation of hostilities, urging for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. He expressed Nigeria’s commitment to peace and underscored the impact of…

NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko Vows To Collaborate With NAPHER.SD To Address Sports Competency Gaps. The Chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has committed to partnering with the National Association of Physical, Health Education, Research, Sports and Dance (NAPHER.SD) to enhance expertise and professionalism within the sports sector. Dikko made this pledge on Tuesday during a meeting with NAPHER.SD officials at his office in Abuja. Dikko acknowledged NAPHER.SD’s vital role in advancing Nigeria’s sports landscape, especially their contributions to the development of the NSC Bill. “We must be deliberate in bringing true professionals into various NSC…

Arsenal Extend Unbeaten Streak With Dominant Win, Manchester City Maintain Perfect Champions League Record. Arsenal’s impressive form under interim manager Renee Slegers continued as they secured a decisive victory over Juventus in the Women’s Champions League. Goals from Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey, and Caitlin Foord saw the Gunners triumph in style, extending their unbeaten run to five matches since Slegers stepped in after Jonas Eidevall’s departure. With this win, Arsenal solidify their second-place standing in Group C after three games, now three points clear of third-placed Juventus and trailing group leaders Bayern Munich by the same margin.…

Trump Appoints Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy To Lead New ‘Department Of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE). President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to jointly lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” alongside former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The advisory body aims to streamline government processes and reduce bureaucracy, with Trump calling it potentially the “Manhattan Project of our time”—a nod to the World War II initiative that led to the creation of nuclear weapons. Musk and Ramaswamy’s roles are expected to focus on modernising government functions, with the objective of making federal operations more…

Nigeria Recovers Over $5 Billion In Stolen Assets In 25 Years – CAPAR Report. In a major development for anti-corruption efforts, Nigeria has successfully reclaimed over $5 billion in stolen assets over the past 25 years, according to a report presented in Abuja on Tuesday. The findings, unveiled by international expert Vaclav Prusa, form part of the “Common African Position on Asset Recovery: Implementation in Nigeria” report, a project commissioned by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). The report assesses Nigeria’s adherence to the African Union’s Common African Position on Asset Recovery (CAPAR), a framework established in 2020…

IPMAN Secures Direct Supply Deal With Dangote Refinery To Ensure Steady Fuel Supply. The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has finalised an agreement with Dangote Refinery to procure petroleum products directly, marking a significant step towards stable and affordable fuel distribution across Nigeria. This announcement was made by IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Garima, during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, following a meeting of the Association’s National Working Committee. According to Garima, the agreement follows extensive discussions with Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Refinery management. “We are pleased to confirm that Dangote Refinery has agreed to…

Tragic Incident In Zhuhai China, As Car Attack Claims Dozens Of Lives. At least 35 people have been killed and 43 others injured after a driver rammed his SUV into a crowd exercising at Zhuhai Sports Centre in southern China on Monday night. The local authorities have described the incident as a “serious and vicious attack.” The driver, identified as Mr Fan, 62, allegedly drove through a barrier at high speed, targeting groups who regularly use the stadium’s walking paths for exercise. Among those injured were elderly individuals, teenagers, and children, according to Chinese media. Mr Fan was detained…

Monday Okpebholo has been sworn in as Edo State Governor amid festive inauguration ceremony. Monday Okpebholo, a serving senator and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was officially sworn in as the governor of Edo State on Tuesday. The ceremony, held in Benin, the state capital, took place at around 1 pm, with Okpebholo taking his oath of office before an enthusiastic crowd. Okpebholo emerged victorious in the off-cycle governorship election on 21 September, securing 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 247,274 votes. Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party…

NLC Issues Ultimatum To States On Minimum Wage Implementation, Criticises Fuel Price Hikes. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has set a deadline of 1 December 2024 for state governments to implement the new minimum wage of N70,000. In a communique released on Sunday, following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the NLC highlighted widespread economic hardships affecting Nigerians and issued a strong warning to states lagging behind on the wage increase. The communique criticised fuel marketers, accusing them of inflating petrol prices and driving up costs beyond the true market value. The NLC alleged that Nigerians are being exploited,…

Explosion Rocks Jos, Leaving Many Feared Dead. A powerful explosion shook Jos on Tuesday morning, causing widespread panic and fear in the bustling Terminus market area. The blast, which occurred around 10:30 am, left several people injured, and there are fears that it may have resulted in fatalities, although the exact toll is still unclear. Eyewitnesses described the scene as devastating and chaotic, with people running in panic amidst the destruction. Gyang Buba, a clothes vendor near the site, recounted the moment: “I was nearby when I heard a loud bang. I saw people running and screaming. It was…