Author: Festus Adeloye

Former spokesman to the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala, has alleged that there may be a foreign connection to the protest being planned by some Nigerians against the rising cost of living in the country. He made the assertion in a chat with correspondents after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday. Bwala, who said he was on a solidarity visit to the president on information, said the administration is already addressing the hardship in the country through various initiatives. The ex-PDP campaign spokesman reiterated that he was on his way to joining…

Shareholders have criticised the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, for a deliberate attempt at demarketing Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals. The Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mrs. Bisi Bakare, expressed dismay over recent allegations from the petroleum regulatory agency regarding the quality of diesel produced by Dangote Petroleum Refinery. NMDPRA boss Ahmed has faced backlash for suggesting that the diesel produced by the $20 billion Dangote refinery is of inferior quality compared to imports into the country. Bakare commended Africa’s foremost industrialist,…

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, has said the planned nationwide protest is coming at the wrong time. Uzodimma cited the EndSARS movement of 2020, emphasising the fragile political environment and warning about the potential for hijack by criminals. Speaking with State House correspondents on Wednesday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, the governor urged citizens to protect the nation’s stability and avoid actions that could worsen economic hardships. His appeal follows growing public outcry and calls for nationwide protests from August 1-10, in response to economic hardship and policy decisions. So far, no…

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained on Wednesday why the Federal Government opposed planned protests over prevailing economic realities in Nigeria. He said while Nigerians have the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, the government was aware some people were planning to hijack the demonstration to cause trouble. Idris, who stated this when he received the Charismatic Bishop Conference on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Wednesday, said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration acknowledges the rights of every Nigerian to engage in protests. According to him, the government is equally committed to ensuring that…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received former Senate President, Pius Anyim, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC). Senator Anyim was led to President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja by the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State. On why he defected to the ruling party, Anyim said: “Given the challenges the country is facing, there’s a need to put our hands on deck. The country is passing through turbulent times and it is the duty of all…

Netflix has announced an increase in its subscription fees in Nigeria. The Premium Plan will now cost ₦7,000 per month, up from the previous ₦5,000. This adjustment follows a previous price increase implemented in April of this year, making it the second adjustment in just three months. As of now, it is unclear whether users were notified in advance about this price change. However, the updated prices are already reflected on Netflix’s subscription page. Additionally, the Standard Plan has also seen a price increase, rising from ₦4,000 to ₦5,500.

The Cross River State chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Ogar Osim, has been suspended from office over allegations of embezzlement and anti-party activities. Osim who is also accused of inability to maintain a State secretariat and other sundry issues, was suspended alongside the State Secretary, Mr Felix Etim on Tuesday. Their suspension, which is contained in a press statement by the Chairman and Secretary of the State disciplinary committee, Bonnie Adie and Ibiang Igri respectively, announced the appointment of an acting Chairman and Secretary. According to the statement, Eugene Obia and Allen Ekpe are to remain in acting…

The Federal Government has announced that it is deploying reinforced concrete technology on the long-delayed East-West road, which spans the South-south region of Nigeria. This move comes after threats of protests from the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People and former agitators in the Niger Delta over the uncompleted axis of the road. In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the Minister of Works, David Umahi’s spokesman, Uchenna Orji stated that the government is committed to ensuring that segments of the road do not fail again. He explained that the use of reinforced concrete technology would end pavement…

Taiwan closed schools, suspended the stock market, and declared a typhoon holiday Wednesday as Gaemi barrelled towards the island, bringing torrential rains and whipping winds to its northeast. Typhoon Gaemi, packing sustained wind speeds of 190 kilometres (118 miles) per hour, also affected Japan and the Philippines — which announced government offices would close for the day. It is expected to make landfall in northeast Taiwan by 10 pm (1400 GMT), and President Lai Ching-te urged everyone to “put safety first” during a morning emergency briefing. “Gaemi is this year’s first typhoon to make landfall in Taiwan,” Lai said. “I…

An explosion at a factory producing Jose Cuervo tequila in Mexico killed five people Tuesday, local authorities said. “So far the deaths of five people are confirmed, workers of the company,” the civil protection unit in the western state of Jalisco said in a statement. Two others were injured, one seriously, the statement added. It was not yet known what caused the blast in Tequila municipality, with the company saying it happened during maintenance work. It impacted four containers with a capacity of 219,000 litres each, two of which collapsed, said Victor Hugo Roldan, state director of civil protection. “The…