Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The media team of Senate President Godswill Akpabio has debunked reports that he collapsed on Thursday at the colloquium to mark his 61st birthday in Abuja. Reports had claimed that the former Akwa Ibom governor collapsed during the event and had to be rushed to the National Hospital. But the media team, in a statement signed by Eseme Eyiboh, debunked the reports, describing the claims as “fictionalised extensions of the Senate President’s assertion of being tired at the end of the programme”. “The rumours have been fanned by some social media news channels with notoriety for the dissemination of phony…

Nigeria’s headline inflation has risen to a 20-year high of 28.2 percent in November, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed. The NBS in a report released on Friday said the headline inflation rate increased to 28.20 percent relative to October 2023 headline inflation rate which was 27.33 percent. The figure is the highest record from data obtained on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The bank’s data started from 2023. The NBS said Food inflation rate also increased to 32.84 percent on a year-on-year basis, which was 8.72 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded…

The Supreme Court has refused to order the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention. The panel of justices of the court on Friday nullified the earlier order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which ordered Kanu’s release on bail. In the judgment written by Justice Garba Lawal and read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court voided and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which in October last year ordered the release of Kanu and also quashed the terrorism charges against him. Supreme Court held that…

Governors of the nineteen Northern States are meeting in Kaduna today to discuss crucial issues relating to the region. There is currently a heavy presence of security operatives as the governors arrive one after the other at the venue of the meeting. It is worth noting that the meeting is the first of its kind since the present crop of governors were sworn into office on May 29th, 2023. According to Channels Television, the governors would take advantage of the meeting to commiserate with the Kaduna State Government over the unfortunate military airstrike at the Tudun Biri community in the Igabi Local…

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe has empowered retirees from the Ministry with starter-packs based on area of choice to enhance productivity and remain self-reliant while out of Service. Speaking during 4th Edition of the Entrepreneurship Skills Development on Agro-Allied Enterprises held at Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, ARMTI, in Abuja recently, the Permanent Secretary noted that the empowerment workshop was part of the Ministry’s strategic effort in delivering the four priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, which includes; ensuring food security, economic growth and job creation, poverty eradication…

The Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam has pointed out that Security occupies a prime position in the government’s 8-point agenda, and the need to implement actionable strategies towards effective security, peaceful coexistence, and the welfare of all citizens. He stated this during the conference and seminar for the Nigeria Police PROs and PR experts with the theme “Enhanced Strategic Communication: Panacea for Effective Policing and Peaceful Coexistence in Nigeria” held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. In his address read by the Director Police Inspectorate Department, Mrs. Bola Blessing Aderele said that effective policing and peaceful coexistence are…

The United Kingdom Migration Advisory Committee has said foreign students on two-year graduate visas who fail to achieve high grades may be barred from staying in the UK. According to The Telegraph, the UK Home Secretary, James Cleverly, was asked to review the graduate visa as part of a five-point plan to reduce net migration by 300,000 from its record-high levels. It reported that more than 98,000 students were granted two-year visas to remain in the UK after their graduation in June 2023, an increase of 42,000 or 74 per cent in just a year. “There are fears that it…

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has formally suspended the Republic of Niger from all sub-regional bodies until constitutional order is restored in the country. This is contained in a statement by the regional organization, following the decisions taken at the summit of heads of state and government held on Sunday in Abuja. The statement said, “Until the 64th ordinary session held on Dec. 10, 2023, the Conference of Heads of State and Government considered the situation in Niger as a coup attempt and continued to consider Mohamed Bazoum the President of the Republic of Niger, Head of…

The FIFA Best men’s player award for 2023 will be another contest between Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. FIFA announced the shortlist on Thursday with the same top three in the voting as for the Ballon d’Or prize that Messi won in October. Though the Ballon d’Or voting period included the 2022 World Cup won by a Messi-inspired Argentina, he had already won a seventh career FIFA award in February that rewarded his title-winning performances in Qatar. The Women’s Best player shortlist features two 2023 World Cup winners, Aitana Bonmatí and Jenni Hermoso of Spain, plus Linda Caicedo of Colombia. The FIFA men’s award for 2023 includes Haaland’s standout season helping Manchester City win a title treble…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reassured the Nigerian public of a seamless and good travel experience during the Yuletide season.  In a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Abdullahi Yakubu-Funtua, the authority highlighted its continuous efforts to enhance security measures, aiming to guarantee the safety of life and property for all travelers. The agency advised travelers to arrive at the airport well in advance to mitigate rush and avoid missing their flights, adding that international travelers should be at the airport three hours before departure, while local travelers should arrive two hours…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has received the trophy of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ahead of the kickoff of the tournament in Côte d’Ivoire in January. The trophy, arriving from Morocco, touched down in Lagos yesterday. The AFCON trophy was presented to Sanwo-Olu by Visa team led by Vice President and Head of West Africa Cluster, Andrew Uaboi. Receiving the trophy at the State House in Marina, Sanwo-Olu said the symbolic gesture reinforced the importance the nation attached to talent development, noting that Nigerians looked forward to interesting contest and exciting moments at 2023 AFCON. Sanwo-Olu tipped…

Already-qualified Liverpool ended their Europa League group campaign with an away defeat in Belgium against Union Saint-Gilloise. Jurgen Klopp’s youthful Reds side fell behind in the 32nd minute when Mohamed Amoura scored after taking the ball around goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Twenty-year-old centre-half Jarell Quansah equalised with a powerful effort from inside the penalty area for his first Liverpool goal. But the hosts regained the lead just before half-time thanks to Cameron Puertas’ low strike, which proved to be the winner. Puertas thought he had scored again with another well-struck shot but the goal was disallowed for handball following a video…