Author: Festus Adeloye

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, under the leadership of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has addressed over 1,000 petitions in the past five years, focusing on issues such as emergencies, stranded citizens, consular matters, trafficking, and deportations. These efforts were part of NiDCOM’s mandate, which includes fostering diaspora investments and strengthening the connection between Nigeria and its citizens abroad. Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this as the commission was established five years ago in 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. The NiDCOM boss expressed gratitude for NiDCOM’s contributions and outlined future aspirations. She also acknowledged the challenges faced by the agency while emphasising the role…

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has mourned the death of a renowned Islamic scholar, Muhydeen Bello, saying that he received the news with shock and sadness. The Muslim community has been thrown into mourning following the passing of one of its most revered figures, Alhaji Muyideen Bello. Born in 1940 in Ibadan, Alhaji Bello was widely respected for his profound teachings and unwavering dedication to Islamic scholarship. His death was made known by another prominent Islamic scholar, Alfa Aribidesi of At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’awah, on Friday morning. Corroborating the news of the demise, popular cleric and follower of the late…

The German government on Friday rejected Amnesty International’s accusation that Israel is committing “genocide” against Palestinians in its military campaign in Gaza. Asked for a response to Amnesty’s report, German foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer told reporters: “The question of genocide presupposes a clear intention to eradicate an ethnic group. I still do not recognise any such clear intention and therefore I cannot share the conclusions of the report.” “We take the accusations in the report very seriously and are currently analysing them,” he said. “We have repeatedly urged the Israeli government to adjust its military operations in Gaza and…

A popular Muslim scholar and preacher, Muyideen Bello, has been confirmed dead. The prominent scholar, who over the years been an opinion moulder on governments’ policies, was said to have passed on Friday mourning. His demise which has sent shock wave across Muslim community in Nigeria was confirmed by his son, Basit Bello popularly known as Aponle Anobi in a post made on his official social media handle. He posted crying emoji with the picture of the Sheikh but no other details was provided.

The Police on Friday morning confirmed the attack on Wukari -Kente road allegedly involving the family of Governor Agbu Kefas on Thursday. Social media had on Thursday evening reported that gunmen attacked the mother and sister of Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area. According to the report, the Chairman of Wukari Local Government, Dauda Samaila Agbu, had earlier disclosed that the Governor’s sister, Atsi Kefas, sustained gunshot injuries and was initially treated at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Wukari and before being flown to Abuja via helicopter for advanced medical care. But in…

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the release of funds for the payment of pension arrears, salary increases, and other entitlements owed to retired military personnel, following two days of peaceful protests at the Federal Ministry of Finance by military veterans. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, announced the development on Friday, expressing gratitude to the President for his swift intervention. Matawalle commended Tinubu for ensuring the prompt payment of the three-month salary increase and the release of funds for the settlement of pension arrears and other owed entitlements to retired military personnel. In a statement issued by…

Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, on Thursday, ordered Chidimma Ojukwu’s co-defendants to open their defence. Ojukwu, charged with the murder of the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Usifo Ataga, alongside Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu, are standing trial for Ataga’s murder. She and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga. The two were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15,…

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Bayo Onanuga, has said work is currently ongoing at the 150,000 barrels per day plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Rivers State. PHRC has two plants including the 60,000bpd facility, and the 150,000bpd plant. Onanuga also said the 60,000bpd refinery is operating at 70 per cent of installed capacity and plans to increase production shortly. He further said the refinery receives regular crude oil contrary to claims of lacking the product. He disclosed this after joining a fact-finding team at the 60,000 barrels per day refinery…

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi will reportedly face no formal action from the Football Association despite adding a Christian message to his rainbow armband in defiance of a warning regarding the display of religious messages. The player and the club had been reminded of FA kit regulations after Guehi wore an armband with the handwritten message “I love Jesus” during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle. On Tuesday, the 24-year-old wore one stating “Jesus loves you” during Palace’s 1-0 win at Ipswich, but British media reported on Wednesday that the FA would still not take action. The club and the England…

The Senate has constituted a special committee to meet the executive to work with the Federal Government to resolve the issues around the tax reform bills. This was made known by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided during plenary on Wednesday. Barau noted that the delegation will meet on Thursday at the National Assembly to resolve all the issues that have been the cause of the uproar. He said, “We don’t want the country disunited. So, the delegations will meet to resolve the gray areas.” The committee members include all the Senate leadership, including other members like Tahir…