Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, says the agency rescued and received 21,181 victims of human trafficking In the last 20 years. She made this disclosure when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Social Duties to defend the 2024 budget. She stated that the agency would endeavour to assist victims for as long as they needed it, stressing that the procedure would take time and money. She explained that NAPTIP assists victims with legal, medical, rehabilitative, and reintegration services. Waziri-Azi stated that in 2022, “NAPTIP rescued and received 2,…

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed a request by the Republic of Niger for the Court to suspend sanctions imposed by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Niger.  The request for interim measures is part of a broader case brought by the Republic of Niger and seven other applicants challenging the legality of sanctions imposed by ECOWAS following a military coup in the West African country in July 2023 that overthrew the government of President Mohammed Bazoum. In the ruling delivered by Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the Court acknowledged that it has prima facie jurisdiction…

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has declined the request by the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to suspend the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adepele Ojo. In a statement on Thursday by the Director of Information, NJC, Adesoji Oye, the council said it would not work with the resolution of the state House of Assembly, which constituted a panel to probe the Chief Judge. Oye said, “The council considered and declined the request of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State requesting its permission to swear in the next most senior judge in the state in an acting capacity, following…

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, in Abuja expressed optimism about the prospects of increased investments from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), emphasizing Nigeria’s long-term relationship with the company, which discovered the first commercial oil field at Oloibiri in the Niger Delta in 1956. Receiving the management of Shell Group, led by its Global Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, Ms. Zoe Yujnovich, the President said his administration will continue to ensure the security and viability of existing and new investments in the country. “We have made progress since our last meeting. I will continue to support and encourage you…

The Federal Government has announced its plan to construct houses, hospitals and schools in Tudun Biri village in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna State following the military misfire that claimed hundreds of lives in the state.   Vice President, Kashim Shettima, made this disclosure while visiting some of the survivors and family of the victims of the drone misfire on Thursday. According to the vice president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed the initiation of the Pullako Initiative in Kaduna State. This comprehensive effort in the Tudun Biri community includes homes, clinics, schools, veterinary services, empowerment programs, and…

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged members of the Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communication industry, to actively engage in sensitizing Nigerians on the transformative economic reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration, which aimed at engendering economic growth and fostering a prosperous nation. Idris, made the call in Abuja on Thursday while declaring open the National Advertising Conference with the theme “Marketing Communications As An Enabler of National Transformation.” The Minister, who was represented by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Lanra Issa-Onilu, acknowledged the indispensable role being played by the advertising. Integrated marketing…

Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on social media, Dada Olusegun, has debunked the report that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has threatened to delist money transfer banks, including Opay, Kuda, Moniepoints, from transfer channel. The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), in the directive to banks, noted that having these non-deposit-taking financial institutions, such as Switching Companies, Payment Solution Service Providers, and Super Agents as beneficiary institutions on the bank’s NIP funds transfer channels contravenes the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines on electronic payment. The directive cautioned that while switches, PSSPs, and SAs may process outward transfers as inflows…

The Senate has threatened to step down consideration on the 2024 budget of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) over insufficient information. Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, said this said this at the 2024 budget defence of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Interior on Thursday in Abuja. Oshiomhole said he was unhappy with the services being rendered to inmates by the NCoS. “Your organisation has transformed from Nigeria Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service but you have yet to change in your attitudes toward inmates. “It’s not just your fault because the government appropriates…

Ekiti State Government has approved the construction of a one kilometer flyover bridge in. Ado Ekiti, the state capital. The would be second flyover bridge in the capital city and by extension in the state is to be constructed from the popular Ijigbo roundabout (Union Bank, Ajilosun) to the First Bank area of Okeyinmi roundabout of the town. The State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, who made this known, said the state government has also approved the rehabilitation of the Ikere-Ise-Emure road. Olatunbosun disclosed this in Ado Ekiti while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive…

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Wahab Hammed, a ward Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Surulere Local Government Area of the state, to a one-year jail term or in the alternative a fine of N1m. Justice Ismail Ijelu sentenced the defendant after convicting him on a two-count charge of conspiracy and bribery. At his arraignment on Wednesday, the EFCC Prosecutor, Samuel Daji, told the court that on February 25, 2023, the defendant conspired with one Segun Ijitola (who is still at large), to corruptly pay bribe to voters during the 2023 Presidential and…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of four (4) new members of the National Council on Privatization (NCP), representing the private sector in the Council. This was made known in a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. Those appointed are: (1) Oluwole Osin — South-West (2) Mohammed Mustapha Bintube — North-East (3) Olayiwola Yahaya — North-Central (4) Akwa Effion Okon — South-South The President charged the new members of the Council to bring the best of their private sector experience to bear in ensuring that Nigerians receive the greatest…

Controversial Islamic Scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said he would never support the bombing of the wives of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Gumi was reacting to the erroneous airstrike that killed some villagers in Tudun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A military drone had killed some worshippers celebrating Malaud in the village. Speaking on the attack, the Army claimed the mistake was due to erroneous intelligence. However, Gumi wondered if the bombs dropped on the people was a mistake as claimed. In his weekly lecture at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna, Gumi…