Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for the bombing of villagers during a Maulud Nabiy celebration at Tudun Biriin in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The army, however, said the airstrikes were inadvertent, saying operatives were targeting terrorists. About 30 residents were feared dead in the airstrikes on Sunday night. Samuel Aruwan, Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, said in a statement on Monday that the Army claimed responsibility for the unfortunate incident. “The Kaduna State Government has received briefings on Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured. In…

UEFA says it is investigating after nookie sounds were transmitted during the broadcast of the Euro 2024 draw on Saturday. Lewd noises could be heard as Switzerland were drawn in Group A with Scotland, Hungary and hosts Germany. YouTube prankster Daniel Jarvis claimed responsibility for the prank. Jarvis broadcast himself live on X, formerly Twitter, ringing a mobile phone at intervals to trigger the noises as the Euros draw, which was streamed on the BBC, took place in Hamburg, Germany. He told viewers: “Listen that was us, that was us. We got it in there, we put the phone in…

The Management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has announced an increase in the university’s tuition fees for undergraduates by over 100 per cent. It was gathered that the announcement was made in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Monday. In the statement by the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Effiong Eyo, said the upward review of the fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate on Friday. The release disclosed that the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions. According to the increment, freshers, returning students and final-year…

House of Representatives lawmakers have commenced the Citizens’ Town Hall meeting on the 2024 budget and appropriation in Abuja. The gathering, organized by the House Committee on Appropriation and the Programmes Coordinating Unit under the Office of the Speaker of Representatives, witnessed the presence of numerous notable individuals. Among those present were the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Kabir Abubakar, and his deputy, Iduma Enwo, and also the former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore, alongside other distinguished personalities. Kabir, in his opening remarks, expressed that the objective of the assembly was to increase the participation of citizens…

Some parts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will be without power supply for hours on Monday following planned maintenance by the Transmission Company of Nigeria in its Kubwa substation. The General Manager of Public Affairs, TCN, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night. According to her, the maintenance of its three 33kV feeders in Kubwa Substation is expected to commence from 10:00 am Monday through 5 pm. Consequently, the power supply from Abuja Distribution Company to Kubwa, Bwari and its environs will be interrupted for maintenance. “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) wishes to announce that…

The Contractor in charge of 2nd Niger Bridge, Julius Berger has handed it over to the Federal Government. This comes six months after it was commissioned by the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 23. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, while addressing journalists, shortly after he was conducted around the bridge said that he was satisfied with the level of work done. Umahi was led round the bridge by the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr. Lars Richter. The minister commended the previous and present administration for doing a lot to bring the work to a…

The Federal Government has said President Bola Tinubu did not speak at the COP 28 Climate Change Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as planned because it was unnecessary. Tinubu was billed to speak at the Summit on Friday alongside other heads of state but did not, which raised questions about the country’s position at the conference. Speaking with Premium Times on the summit’s sidelines over the weekend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said Nigeria is tired of fancy statements and is now more action-oriented. Tuggar stated that it is not about just giving fancy speeches but…

The Federal government has announced the disbursement of N150 billion small grants and loans to business owners in Nigeria. The two disbursement programmes are the Presidential Conditional Grant and the Presidential Palliative Loan. The programmes, according to a statement signed by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, are targeted at alleviating the impact of the fuel subsidy removal which came into effect on June 1. The statement reads: “In the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme, the Federal Government will disburse a grant sum of N50,000.00 to nano businesses across the 774 local government areas in the country.…

The Federal Government has earmarked a total of N13.8bn for the upkeep of former presidents, vice-presidents, heads of state, Chiefs of General Staff, retired heads of service, permanent secretaries, as well as retired heads of government agencies and parastatals in the 2024 fiscal year. The beneficiaries include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as ex-vice-presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Also expected to benefit from the windfall are ex-military Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdusalami Abubakar, as well as a former dictator and self-styled military President, General Ibrahim Babangida,…

Nigeria will rollout 100 electric buses in a step towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future, President Bola Tinubu said Saturday. The “pioneering initiative” is to “significantly” reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint and modernise the country’s transportation systems,” Tinubu said in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the margins of the COP28 climate summit. ”This initiative stands as a testament to our dedication to environmental stewardship as clearly exemplified through our collaboration with the Africa Carbon Market Initiative. Our visionary plan is a strategic guidepost, directing Nigeria towards becoming an investment-friendly destination for carbon market investments,” presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale quoted his principal…

The Federal Government has approved the promotion of 32,361 personnel across the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Federal Fire Service, all services within the Ministry of Interior. The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who was represented by the Comptroller General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, at a press briefing on Friday night, gave the breakdown of the promotion in the various service as: NIS, 4,598; NSCDC, 21,398; FFS, 1,680; NCoS, 4,498. The Minister expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his concern for the…

Arsenal moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table with victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, 6-0 winners over Lens in midweek, took an early lead when Bukayo Saka got the better of Craig Dawson in the penalty area before firing low into the bottom corner. It was 2-0 not long afterwards, Martin Odegaard finishing a magnificent team move involving Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to double the hosts’ advantage. Gabriel Martinelli struck the outside of the post with a low shot, while Leandro Trossard and Jesus both went close as Arsenal pressed for a…