Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of diverting public funds through petrol subsidy, hence the refusal of the government to reveal how much is being spent on subsidy. Atiku said this in a statement on Thursday in reaction to a statement from the presidency. The former Vice President said the clandestine subsidy regime was one of the reasons investments in the oil sector had refused to come in. He said, “Tinubu has brought the shady nature of running Lagos to the federal level. He claims…

Popular socialite Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, has revealed that the insecurity in the southeast made him move his business to Lagos. The nightlife promoter also revealed that concerns about kidnappings and violence were major factors deterring customers from the southeast. He made this known during a recent interview with BBC Igbo. “Why I came to Lagos to do business is that most of our siblings are scared to go home… cause if they come home, I will do my business. “There is widespread hunger in the South-East. It is our own community members who provide criminals…

Spain said on Thursday that it will join South Africa’s case at the UN’s top court in which Pretoria has accused Israel of “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. “Our sole goal is to put an end to the war and to advance on the road of applying the two-state solution”, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said at a press conference. His statement came a week after Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognised the state of Palestine, sparking fury from Israel. South Africa brought the case before the International Court of Justice last year, alleging that Israel’s Gaza offensive, launched…

The Presidency has cautioned the public and the media against the use of two fiscal policy documents circulating on social media platforms, describing them as unofficial and subject to review. The documents titled: “Inflation Reduction and Price Stability (Fiscal Policy Measure etc) Order 2024” and “Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (ASAP)” are said to contain proposals on economic policy, including customs tariffs and fuel subsidy. However in a statemen on Thursday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency clarified that none of the documents has been approved or finalised, reminding all that policymaking…

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has revealed that the technical hitch experienced on the Abuja-Kaduna train route on Wednesday evening was due to the removal of the track fastening clips by vandals. In a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, explained that the vandals had removed the track fastening clips which led to the derailment at Asham Railway Station in Kaduna State. “This minor hitch is attributed to the removal of track fastening clips by vandals. However, the NRC Management remains resolute towards ensuring the safety of our valued passengers in the entire system”, he…

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to planting 25 million trees by 2030. This is a crucial step in achieving carbon neutrality and promotion of a green economy. In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu emphasised the importance of protecting the environment and ensuring a prosperous and clean economy future for all. He stressed the need for urgent action to address land degradation, desertification, and drought resilience, particularly in Nigeria, where drought threatens parts of the country. The President’s commitment to planting 25 million trees by 2030…

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has called for the complete autonomy for local government councils across the country. The commission said it was lending its support to Federal Government’s legal efforts to free the local governments from the control of state governments by enforcing the Constitution’s provisions. In a statement, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Bello Shehu said the local governments, as the third tier of government, should operate independently of state and federal governments to ensure effective grassroots governance. He noted that the Nigerian Constitution recognises federal, state, and local governments as distinct tiers, each drawing funds from…

Against the backdrop of continuing interest in the ongoing trial of rogue online platform, Binance, and one of its Chief Executives, who illegally trade in cryptocurrency in Nigeria, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said due processes are being applied in all stages of the trial by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “At all stages, due process has been followed, and prosecutors are confident of their case, based on the facts and evidence gathered. Binance will have every opportunity to defend itself in court against these severe charges of financial crimes against the…

The meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage has resumed talks at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja on Wednesday, June 5, to continue discussions over a new minimum wage for workers in the nation. The federal government was represented by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance; Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and National Planning; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of Labour; and representatives of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, along with the Head of Service of the Federation. Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Festus Osifo, the President of the…

British banknotes bearing the image of King Charles III entered circulation for the first time on Wednesday, nearly two years after he succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II. The four banknotes with the king’s portrait on the front carry values of £5 ($6.4), £10, £20 and £50 and will be used alongside those bearing the image of Elizabeth, who died in September 2022. Coins bearing Charles’s head entered circulation in December 2022. The updates come as Britons increasingly use physical and online bank cards, rather than cash, to make payments. But Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey called it “a…