Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Politician and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has called on the Federal Government to give an account of its dealings and operations regarding the old and new presidential jets. Obi’s stance comes following recent controversies around the Ogun State government’s contract with a Chinese company over the jets, leading to the seizure of three aircraft. Reacting to the development, Obi urged the federal government to give details on how much the jets are purchased, their total numbers, and other information not in the public domain. “Now that the Jet is here,…

As part of efforts to further weaken the activities of remnant of terrorists operating in the Northeast, while also protecting innocent civilians and own troops, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has executed an air interdiction mission on 16 August 2024 in Arina, Southern Tumbuns, Borno State. A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigeran Airforce,  Sir Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet says five key terrorist commanders believed to have been present at the location during the operation include Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, and Bakoura…

Jennifer Lopez has filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, US media reported Tuesday, two years after the Hollywood power couple officially gave love a second chance by tying the knot. The pair, who were nicknamed “Bennifer” when they first dated in the frenzied tabloid celebrity days of the early 2000s, had rekindled their relationship almost two decades later. But Lopez on Tuesday filed divorce papers at a Los Angeles court, Hollywood trade outlet Variety and celebrity gossip website TMZ said. A representative for Lopez declined to comment. Affleck’s publicist did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. It…

Barack Obama told fellow Democrats in Chicago Tuesday that “the torch has been passed” to Kamala Harris and that the United States was ready for her to become president. Former president Obama, who was greeted with rapturous applause and cheers at the packed arena hosting the party’s nominating convention, said Vice President Harris would fight for Americans, and called her November poll rival Donald Trump “dangerous.” “Kamala Harris is ready for the job. This is a person who has spent her life fighting for people who need a voice,” he said. Obama called Harris “someone who sees you and hears…

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has suspended four key officials of the state government with immediate effect. This was announced in a statement on Tuesday by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere. He said the governor approved the officials’ suspension, without further explanations on the reasons for the action The affected officials include the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chrysanthus Dawam and the Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Jamila Tukur. Others affected are the Special Adviser on Rural Development, Dio Lamul and the Liaison Officer for Mikang Constituency, Moses Sule. In another development, the governor…

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has won the Professional Footballers’ Association men’s player of the year award, while Chelsea winger Cole Palmer was named young player of the year. It is the first time since the 2009-10 campaign that both men’s awards have gone to English players. Wayne Rooney and James Milner won the player and young player of the year prizes respectively for that season. Foden scored 19 goals in 35 top-flight appearances in 2023-24 as City won a historic fourth successive Premier League, and – aged 23 – he became the youngest player to have won six league…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, affirmed the lower court judgment that reinstated Philip Shaibu as the Deputy Governor of Edo State. The appellate court, while delivering judgment in the appeal brought before it by the Edo State House of Assembly, dismissed the appeal seeking to uphold Shaibu’s impeachment. Shaibu was impeached on April 8, 2024, following the adoption of the report of a seven-man committee set up by the state Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to investigate allegations of misconduct against him. The House Majority Leader, Charity Aiguobarueghian, had said that while the report of the…

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member committee to enforce the recent Supreme Court ruling that granted financial autonomy to local governments in Nigeria. On July 11, the apex court declared that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold onto funds meant for LG administrations. Five weeks on, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, set up the inter-ministerial committee to implement the verdict. Disclosing this in a statement on Tuesday, the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, said Akume…

The Central Bank of Nigeria has announced a significant increase in remittance inflows, reaching $553m in July 2024. It said the amount is a 130 per cent increase from the corresponding period in 2023. A statement by the apex bank’s acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Ali on Tuesday, noted that the figure represented the highest monthly total inflows on record and reflects ongoing efforts by the CBN to enhance liquidity in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. The statement read, “The CBN has reported a significant increase in remittance inflows, reaching $553 million in July 2024, a 130 per cent increase…

Oil producers, represented by the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), have voiced strong objections to being compelled to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in Nigeria. In a letter dated August 16, 2024, addressed to Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Abdulrazak Isa, Chairman of IPPG, argued that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) should reallocate its intervention crude oil volumes to address the current shortage affecting local refiners. Isa emphasised that this volume of 445,000 barrels per day, historically used to import refined products, should now be…