Author: Amina Mohammed

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday declared the seat of Senator Monday Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial district, vacant. This comes as Senator Okpebholo bids farewell to the 10th Senate, following his election as Governor of Edo State. Akpabio also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections as soon as possible to fill the vacant seat. This move is aimed at ensuring that the people of Edo Central Senatorial district continue to have representation in the Senate. Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the declarations after a valedictory session for Okpebholo organised by the Senate. Akpabio urged Okpbeholo…

An Allied Air Cargo aircraft on Wednesday suffered a tyre burst causing it to skid the Runway 22 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday. The plane with registration number 5N-JRT had five passengers on board, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said in a statement. FAAN spokesperson, Obiageli Orah, said the passengers were rescued and taken to the hospital for medical attention. She explained that the airport has temporarily shut down the runway following the incident. The incident was said to have caused significant disruptions, with several departures delayed as authorities work to clear the affected…

Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence from ECOWAS Member States are meeting in Nigeria for the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council (MSC) at the Ministerial Level. The meeting is held at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission Headquarters in Abuja. The 52nd meeting of the MSC was held in July and it focused on addressing regional security and political issues. It also highlighted democratic transitions and peaceful elections in various member states. The 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council is chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador…

Katcha Local Government Council Chairman, Danlami Saku has died in an auto crash. A statement by the Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago revealed this on Wednesday. The late Saku was said to have died in a ghastly motor accident around Kwakuti, on the Minna-Suleja road. According to the statement, Bago said he received with rude shock the news of Saku’s death, describing it as “heartbreaking”. The governor said the demise of the LG chair is a sharp reminder that all creatures are from Allah and unto Him they will return at the appointed time. Bago commiserated with the family of…

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced updates to its immigration visa process, effective January 1, 2025. Applicants with scheduled interviews will now need to visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the application procedure. The embassy shared on its official X page that “For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, applicants are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process. It wrote, “This new process is designed to help you prepare for your visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing your immigrant visa.”…

The immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, has berated successive PDP-led governments in Delta State, saying that there has not been serious governance in the state since Chief James Ibori left office in 2007. Omo-Agege decried the underdevelopment of the State despite the huge revenue that has accrued Delta from the federation account as a result of 13% derivation and internally generated revenue, which has not translated to the infrastructural and economic development of the state. The Delta APC leader stated this on Tuesday at Oghara, Ethiope West local government area, where he officially welcomed Hon.…

Ademola Adeyemi-Bero has been appointed as Nigeria’s Governor for Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as well as the Chairman of the OPEC Board of Governors for 2025. His appointment was confirmed at the 189th meeting of the OPEC Conference, said Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri. In a statement by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, the minister hailed Adeyemi-Bero’s elevation as a testament to Nigeria’s active contributions to the global oil industry. Lokpobiri emphasised that this appointment provides Nigeria with a vital platform to advocate for balanced energy policies that benefit oil producers, consumers, and…

The Okuama community in the Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, is gripped with fear and anger following the death of its 81-year-old treasurer, Dennis Okugbaye, in military detention. Okugbaye’s demise comes barely six days after the community’s President-General, Pa James Oghoroko, reportedly died in similar circumstances in military detention. Pastor Akpos Okugbaye, the son of the late community treasurer, tearfully announced his father’s passing on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the already mourning community. Both leaders, alongside others including Prof. Arthur Ekpekpo, Chief Belvis Adogbo, Mrs. Mabel Owhemu, and Mr. Dennis Malaka, were arrested by the military between August…

An inmate at the Maiduguri Maximum Custodial Centre in Borno State has emerged as the winner of the maiden Chess in Prison Championship organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, walking away with a prize of N1 million. The competition, held on Tuesday at the correctional facility, featured 42 participants drawn from the state’s medium and maximum custodial centres competing across various categories. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the initiative as groundbreaking and urged inmates to use the lessons from chess to unlock their potential. Represented by his Senior Special Adviser,…

The Federal Government has pulled out of the foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed Osun State airport in Ede, following a request from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. The state governor, Ademola Adeleke, had planned the event for December 13 but the ministry has asked for a postponement until disputes surrounding the project are resolved. The planned relocation of the airport from Ido-Osun to Ede, Adeleke’s hometown, has stirred controversy and tension. A state government committee reported that the original site in Ido-Osun did not meet basic aviation requirements, prompting the move. However, this decision has reignited…