Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The federal government has issued a stern warning to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), urging its officials not to compromise national security by issuing e-visas to terrorists, persons of interest, or any other criminals. This is even as it emphasised that the NIS must prioritise the nation’s security if it truly has the country’s best interests at heart. The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while officially opening a two-week intensive training session on electronic visa applications for selected 162 NIS officers, underscored the critical role of visas not only as a tool for migration but as an essential element…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), as adviser and coordinator of the Presidential Livestock Reform. President Tinubu announced the appointment Friday, hoping to drive meaningful progress in the livestock sector and further strengthen national development efforts. Jega, former vice chancellor of Bayero University, co-chaired the Presidential Livestock Committee with President Tinubu. The committee delivered comprehensive recommendations that underscored sustainable livestock reforms. One recommendation was the creation of the Livestock Ministry, which now has a minister. Jega, 68, is a member of the International Elections Advisory Council and the…

As Lagos State joined the rest of the world on Saturday to celebrate the 2025 International Women’s Day, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the state is committed to bridging the gender gap. He noted that the occasion underscored the urgency of addressing persistent inequalities and barriers that hinder women from realising their full potential. The governor spoke on Friday at the carnival ceremony organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation with the theme, ‘Accelerate Action’ held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in the Onikan area of Lagos. He said the occasion remained a reminder…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of Dr Doyin Okupe, the former spokesman to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. He described the death of Okupe, a physician and co-founder of Royal Cross Medical Centre, who passed away at 72, as a great loss to Nigeria, particularly the people of Ogun State. Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, said Okupe was an accomplished politician and strategist known for his bold positions and unfiltered opinions on political and national issues. Sanwo-Olu, who is the Chairman of the…

The wife of Anambra State governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has said her husband, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is not arrogant and unwilling to listen to others, contrary to the claims made by the opposition politicians, insisting that her husband is a jovial and a family man. The First Lady, while dismissing the claims, described them as politically motivated falsehoods designed to mislead the public, especially as the governorship election in the state is fast approaching. Speaking to journalists at the Anambra Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia on Friday, Mrs Soludo painted a different picture of the governor, describing him as a jovial…

The national grid experienced a system disturbance on Friday, leading to power outages in several parts of the country, including Lagos. The incident occurred as the Federal Government was celebrating what it described as a historic increase in power generation to 6,000MW. However, power generation suddenly dropped below 1,000MW at 2 p.m., falling from about 4,000MW recorded earlier in the day. The peak generation for Friday stood at 5,284MW at 5 a.m., but by 4 p.m., it had plummeted to 803MW as several generation plants had yet to restore supply to the national grid. The Transmission Company of Nigeria has…

The United States Mission in Nigeria has expressed deep distress over the killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu in Kaduna State. Okechukwu, who was abducted on Tuesday, was later found dead. He served as the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Tachira, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed his death on Wednesday. In a statement on its X account on Friday, the US Mission condemned the killing and extended condolences to the priest’s family, congregation and community, describing the loss as immeasurable. “The US Mission is distressed by the brutal and senseless…

TotalEnergies Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) has partnered with the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to equip 200 students and teachers in Lagos and Rivers States with essential first responder skills. Mr Paschal Achunine, Executive Director, HEI, in a statement on Friday in Lagos, said the collaboration underscores the urgency of strengthening Nigeria’s emergency response network. According to him, the initiative is to foster a proactive approach to medical emergencies among young Nigerians. He said the programme would deliver hands-on training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, trauma care and other prehospital skills. Achunine emphasised that the skill was to ensure…

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has confirmed that she honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to clarify financial expenditures during her tenure. On Thursday, the EFCC interrogated Kennedy-Ohanenye over allegations related to N138 million fraud. In a series of posts on X on Friday, the former minister detailed her visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, stating that she arrived at 2:15 p.m., engaged in discussions from 2:50 p.m., and left by 6:50 p.m. She said she provided “comprehensive clarifications” regarding her actions while in office and commended the EFCC for its professionalism.…

The Labour Party (LP) has said that its door is open to the 36 members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who on January 13 supported the removal of Hon. Mudasiru Obasa and installed his deputy, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, as the new speaker. The LP said the 36 lawmakers should join the party and its 2023 governorship candidate, Architect Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to rescue Lagos State from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which it said was populated by “democracy assassins”. According to the LP, APC should be voted out of power in Lagos to prevent complete annihilation of democracy by…