Author: Amina Mohammed

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement over the alleged Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender clause. This is as the legislative chamber directed its Committee on National Planning to investigate the agreement within four weeks and report back for further legislative action. The House resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance brought on the floor of the green chamber by the Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, and 87 others during plenary on Tuesday. The Samoa Agreement is the overarching legal framework for the European Union’s relations with…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has proposed an aggregate expenditure of N1.911 trillion for the 2024 budget, tagged “Budget of Renewed Hope”. The Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, presented the budget before the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC in Abuja on Tuesday. He said that the primary objective in preparing the budget was to achieve the sustainable economic development for which the commission was founded. Ogbuku said, “A critical focus of this budget is the present management commitment to a greater future.” The managing director said that the commission’s actual aggregate revenue in inflows in April 30…

Political parties that are to participate in the July 13 local government elections in Delta State, yesterday, signed a peace accord. The peace accord was signed at the headquarters of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, in the presence of the state Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi; representatives of other law enforcement agencies in the state and the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; All Progressives Congress, APC; Labour Party and other political parties and chairmanship candidates took part in the exercise. In his remarks during the exercise, DSIEC Chairman, Dr. Jerry Agbaike, said: “So far,…

South Korean tech giant Samsung said Tuesday that production was not being disrupted despite a three-day general strike by thousands of workers. More than 5,000 National Samsung Electronic Union members stopped working Monday, the organisation said, as part of a long-running battle over pay and benefits. The union has more than 30,000 members — more than a fifth of the company’s total workforce. “There has been no disruption to production,” local media quoted Samsung as saying. Park Seol, a senior member of the union, told AFP Tuesday that production was being affected. “But more importantly, the company should understand that…

The Edo State House of Assembly yesterday expressed concern over the menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on major roads and drainages in the state which it said is a precursor to cholera. The Deputy Speaker, Maria Oligbi-Edeko raised the concern under matters of public importance and noted that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads and drains constituted health hazard. The motion was co-sponsored by the deputy speaker and 10 other lawmakers. Oligbi-Edeko said that the waste was emitting “offensive odour, constituting eyesore and reducing the aesthetic value of towns and cities in the state” noting that “The dumping…

In the ongoing investigation into the alleged N2.6 billion expenditure on Nigeria Air, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interviewed top officials from Ethiopian Airlines about the failed project. During the meeting, the Ethiopian Airlines team, led by Group CEO Mesfin Tasew, claimed that the Ministry of Aviation owes them $211,000. They also alleged that the terms of the agreement made with the Aviation Ministry under former Minister Hadi Sirika were significantly breached. Tasew indicated that the Nigerian government lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline due to the mishandling of the project by the ministry. The…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has sworn in Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara who was screened and confirmed as a commissioner by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led assembly earlier on Monday. The swearing ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt at about 5 pm. Giving his charge after the oath-taking ceremony, Governor Fubara defended his recognition of the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly, insisting that it is the lawfully recognised legislative arm. Governor Fubara, however, expressed his disappointment with the police for not doing enough to unravel the facts about the bomb explosion in Port Harcourt some weeks ago.…

Police authorities in Abuja have arrested a man who attempted suicide as a protest over the country’s biting socio-economic hardship. The man identified as Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau had earlier on Monday climbed a 120ft mast at ASO Radio in the Katampe area of the nation’s capital, threatening to take his life. “With much professional persuasion from the police operatives, the man later identified as Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau was prevented from taking his own life. He claimed to have been observing the mast for about a week before deciding to climb it. The suspect is presently in police custody and stable…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opposed an application by a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for the release of his passport to facilitate an overseas medical trip. Defence counsel, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, had filed an affidavit seeking the release of Emefiele’s passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatments which was objected to by the EFCC. Monday’s affidavit by the defence and the counter-affidavit by the prosecution was in furtherance of the ones made earlier on the matter on June 25, 2024, by both teams. A statement on Monday by the…

Admits the atmosphere of tension, the Kinsmen of the minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike from Ikwerre ethnic nationality of the state have declared unalloyed support for the Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Speaking during a courtesy call on the Governor on Monday, the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Eze Barrister Godspower Onuekwa, said as Ikwerre people, they have had their turn governing the State, and cannot sit by and watch an unknown person destroy the peace that the Governor has ensured in the State. While commending the Governor for the numerous development projects being executed across the…