Renowned poet, playwright, author and Professor of English and Dramatic Literature, Prof. Olu Obafemi, will be the guest speaker at the public lecture/heroes’ day of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State. At the event scheduled for 10am this Friday March 22, …
Read More »The states and the blackout nation By Dakuku Peterside
Many Nigerians believe that restructuring the country or devolving powers from the centre to the sub-nationals is the silver bullet that will solve all our problems. This belief has sustained the debate for or against restructuring for decades. As fanciful as this claim is, I disagree with this position because …
Read More »Vladimir Putin to become Russia’s longest serving President following latest election win
Russian President Vladimir Putin has secured another six-year term, exit polls revealed on Sunday, solidifying his position as the country’s leader and potentially making him the longest-serving Russian president in over two centuries. Putin’s victory was all but certain, with his major opponents either deceased, imprisoned, or exiled, and a …
Read More »Ningi and the ‘Underground’ Budget By Olusegun Adeniyi
Since the conclusion of my ‘missionary journey’ to Aso Rock almost 14 years ago, I have written more than a dozen columns on the need to reform the budgeting process in Nigeria. Notable ones include ‘The Illusion of Budget Performance’, ‘Budget War and Dysfunctional Envelope System’, ‘Buhari and the Budget Palaver’, ‘Nigeria’s 2016 Zero Budget!’ and ‘Of Government …
Read More »Lawmaker condemns killing of soldiers in Delta
Abuja, March 17, 2024 Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has condemned the killings of soldiers, by yet-to-be identified Youths of Okuama community, Ughelli South LGA, in Delta. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Army, on Saturday said that some of its personnel who went on a peace …
Read More »Constituency projects of corruption By Bolanle BOLAWOLE
turnpot@gmail.com 0705 263 1058 French political philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu, in his seminal work, The Spirit of Laws, 1748, posited that the executive, legislative and judicial functions of government should be allocated to separate and independent bodies, with none of them superior or more powerful than the other; so, they …
Read More »Abdul Ningi and the “Apapin” fraternity By Festus Adedayo
March 17, 2024 Talented filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, recalibrated a popular Yoruba folklore in his famous Agogo Ewo (the forbidden gong) movie. A supremacy battle ensued between Eledumare – God, and Land. The two earthly ancient principalities had gone hunting and jointly killed an Emo rat. When it was time for …
Read More »Budget padding: Refer allegations to EFCC, ICPC; Reinstate whistleblower Ningi, SERAP tells Akpabio
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President Mr. Godswill Akpabio to “urgently refer the allegations that lawmakers padded the 2024 budget by irregularly inserting projects worth N3.7 trillion to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.” SERAP urged him “to immediately reinstate whistleblower, Senator Abdul Ningi …
Read More »Tinubu approves new appointments
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs. Zubaida Umar as the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Also appointed are Brigadier-General Lawal Ja’afar Isa (Rtd) as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, and Alhaji Tijani Hashim Abbas as Senior Special Assistant to …
Read More »Gunmen kidnap PDP chairman in Edo; Govt, Police, APC react
By Usman Aliyu Benin, March 16, 2024 Edo Government says it is on top of the kidnapping of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Tony Aziegbemi. The state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this in a statement issued in Benin on Saturday. The …
Read More »Celebrating LeBron James, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) By Anthony Akubue
(GOAT – Greatest of All Time – is an acronym that praises someone as the best in their chosen field or industry.) I have waited a long time to give my opinion about the man I consider the GOAT par excellence, the GOAT by merit and versatility. I am referring to …
Read More »Fear of reprisal grips Delta community following killing of military personnel
There is fear, anxiety and palpable tension in Okuama community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State following the attack by youths of the community on troops of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, in Bomadi Local Government Area that resulted in the killing of the Commanding officer, two Majors, one Captain and …
Read More »‘Illegal arms manufacturing is of national concern, but…..’ – Sen. Ned Nwoko
By Deborah Coker Abuja, March 16, 2024 Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) says Nigeria Army’s discovery of an illegal bomb and arms factory in a community in Delta on last Wednesday is of national concern. He was reacting to the discovery of the factory in an interview with the News Agency …
Read More »Peter Obi, Alex Otti, others celebrate Pastor Ezekwesili at 70
Dignitaries, from across Nigeria and beyond, came together, Saturday, to celebrate Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, the Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP), Abuja, as he turned 70. Those in attendance included Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) …
Read More »Commander-in-Chief, tackle these cows By Felix Oboagwina
When Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of then Afenifere Leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, was killed by suspected Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen around Ore, Ondo State, in July 2019, Tinubu turned up at the home of the bereaved Elder Statesman in Akure, the capital. As Tinubu made to leave the old …
Read More »Foreign postings: Aggrieved NIS officers drag CG Kemi Nandap to Industrial Court to resist recall of posting letters
Some 80 Officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) affected by the halt in their posting to foreign missions have threatened to drag the Comptroller-General, Kemi Nandap, to court over alleged violation of administrative procedure and their fundamental rights. The affected NIS officers, numbering about 80, are opposing an instruction …
Read More »Uzodimma, Oramah meet, explore investment potentials in Imo
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has met with the President of Africa Export Import ( Afrexim) Bank, Prof Benedict Oramah in Cairo, Egypt where the duo discussed in details the investment potentials of Imo State. During his inauguration for a second term in office early this year, Governor Uzodimma …
Read More »Afreximbank’s Kanayo Awani Receives African Diaspora Advisory Board Global Award
CAIRO, Egypt, March 14, 2024 The Global Woman Award celebrates exceptional women of African descent who have made significant contributions to global communities Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank at the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), has received the African Diaspora Advisory Board (ADAB) Global Woman Award in …
Read More »The famished road to Kuriga By Azu Ishiekwene
The journey to Kuriga in southern Kaduna, North-west Nigeria, did not start with the kidnap of 287 students last week. In the early 1990s a neighbouring town, Zango Kataf, was the boiling point. About a decade later, the beast of sectarian violence, which had reared its head in Kaduna, surfaced …
Read More »Flying Eagles crash out of African Games
By Muhyideen Jimoh Abuja, March 15, 2024 The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have been knocked out of the men’s football event of the 2023 African Games in Ghana after a 3-2 defeat by Senegal. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Flying Eagles took an early lead in …
Read More »Old subsidy beneficiaries may resist us, but Nigeria will overcome them, Tinubu tells APC leaders
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is deploying resources to critical sectors and areas with significant impact on the welfare of Nigerians, emphasizing that the nation’s treasury is sacrosanct and must not be abused. Speaking at a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) …
Read More »Tinubu congratulates Justice Ogwuegbu at 91
President Bola Tinubu has sent congratulations to former Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Obioma Ogwuegbu on his 91st birthday today, March 16, 2024. President Tinubu, according to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), said “Justice Ogwuegbu’s illustrious career saw him swiftly rise through the ranks, spending …
Read More »CSOs must brace up, challenge wrong actions — Sen. Umeh
L-R-, Mr Damilare Babalola the National Programme Manager EU-ACT, Sen. Victor Umeh, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), Ms. Lucy Pearson, Country Director British Council Nigeria and Rep. Victor Obuzor the Chairman House Committee on Civil Societies and Development Matters at the two-day workshop organised by …
Read More »Nigerian Army foils kidnap attempt in Kogi State; Neutralizes insurgents in Zamfara
In a recent series of operations, the Nigerian Army has demonstrated its proactive stance against criminal activities, successfully thwarting a kidnap attempt and neutralizing insurgents in separate incidents across Kogi and Zamfara states. According to a statement released by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, troops …
Read More »Undersea cable cut: Mainone declares force majeure, explains steps for restoration
By Stellamaris Ashinze Lagos, March 15, 2024 MainOne, a Digital Infrastructure Service Provider, on Friday declared a force majeure, and explained steps taken to restore internet connection to service providers. Mainone said in a statement on its website that it became necessary to declare a force majeure subsequent to testing …
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