Author: Amina Mohammed

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has called for an independent audit of business dealings between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Dangote Refinery. This is as the Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group and owner of the Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, last week, revealed that NNPCL had capped its equity in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery at 7.2 per cent instead of the speculated 20 per cent. “The agreement was actually 20 per cent which we had with NNPC, and they did not pay the balance of the money up till last year; then we…

The Federal Government has scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday morning in response to a planned nationwide protest set for August 1. This follows President Bola Tinubu’s plea for the organizers to cancel the protests and allow his administration more time to implement people-oriented programs. A circular distributed on Tuesday indicated that all ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and several special advisers, including Hadiza Bala-Usman, Bayo Onanuga, and former Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, were invited to the meeting. The circular, signed by Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwah, was titled, “Planned Nationwide Protest.”…

A passenger plane carrying 19 people has crashed during takeoff from Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. The flight operated by Saurya Airlines involved a small aircraft bound for Pokhara, Nepal’s second-largest city and a major tourist gateway for trekking and adventure sports. The aircraft crashed at around 11am local time on Wednesday, according to The Kathmandu Post. Premnath Thakur, spokesperson for Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, said the 19 people on board the plane included crew members. Police and rescue teams are currently at the site, where initial pictures shared on social media showed a large fire. Local media are reporting that five…

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has given Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, a 72-hour ultimatum to apologise for his claim that Obi was behind the planned nationwide protest. Obi vowed to file a defamation libel lawsuit if Onanuga failed to apologise. Obi, through his counsel, Alex Ejesieme, demanded that the public apology be published in four national newspapers – Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable – as well as Onanuga’s verified X handle #aonanuga1956. The demand comes after Onanuga alleged on July 20, 2024, that Obi’s supporters…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the planned national protest dated August 1 as politically induced. Wike stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during an inspection tour of the Apo Karshi Road, saying the planned protest is to divert the attention of Nigerians from efforts by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government as modalities are being worked to bring succour to the masses. Speaking further, the minister also issued a seven-month ultimatum to the contractors of the Apo-Karshi Road to complete the project. Dissatisfied…

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Tuesday sentenced a 24-year-old man, Sunday Asere, to 14 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl. Asere was arraigned on March 22, 2022, on one count charge of rape. The charge read, “The defendant sometime in January 2020 at Moferere in Ado Ekiti, did rape a six-year-old girl. “The offence is contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child Rights Law, Cap. C7, Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012,” it stated. The six-year-old girl, who said she was a primary one pupil at that time, said that the defendant, who…

The Lagos State Government says that the Red Line rail operation will commence by the end of the third quarter of 2024. This is according to the Director of Rail Transport from the state Metropolitan Area Transport Authority Olasunkanmi Okusaga who spoke during a media parley organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation. Okusaga says the train trial test run has commenced, and passenger operations will kick off fully by the end of September. The issue of irregular parking was also discussed, and the General Manager of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) Adebisi Adelabu says the agency is…

Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has faced backlash following his controversial statement regarding potential protests in Nigeria. Olusegun’s comment, which many perceived as a threat, has ignited controversies about the right to protest and the current economic hardships faced by Nigerians. Olusegun in a post on Tuesday via X stated, “Those who want to burn the country down under whatever guise will meet the strongest resistance of their lives. Not from security agencies, but from the silent majority that gave their mandate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for four years in the first instance.…

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, approved the Police Act Amendment Bill to allow the occupant of the Office of the Inspector General of Police to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment. The House’s decision followed the consideration and approval of President Bola Tinubu’s request, seeking an amendment to the Principal Act to reflect on the tenure of the IGP. The proposed legislation to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020 seeks to guarantee the tenure of the IGP and enhance police operations by promoting accountability, modernising policing methods, and fostering a…

The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination on Tuesday arrested four representatives of the West African Examination Council (WAEC). The officials arrested were, Amos Josiah Dangut, Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria, who represented the Registrar; Angus Okeleze, Senior Deputy Registrar; Victor Odu, Acting Director of Finance; Segun Jerumeh, Deputy Director of Finance were held in custody at the National Assembly The officials were arrested after they failed to answer questions from the lawmakers to their satisfaction, This followed a motion moved by a member of the Committee, Hon Uchenna Okonkwo, during an investigative hearing. The lawmakers during the…