Author: David Great

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed deep sorrow over the latest boat mishap in Niger State, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. The tragic incident involved no fewer than 200 passengers being thrown into the water, further underscoring the urgent need for safety measures on Nigeria’s inland waterways. In a personally signed statement released on X (formerly Twitter), Atiku lamented the frequency of such tragedies and called for the establishment of an Inland Waterways Guard to enhance safety and provide support for regions where waterways serve as key trade routes. “These tragic incidents are becoming one…

At least 27 people died and more than 100, mostly women, were missing on Friday, after a boat traveling from Kogi State to the Katcha weekly market in Niger State through the River Niger capsized. About 200 passengers were on the boat when it capsized, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told journalists. Rescues managed to pull 27 bodies from the river by Friday evening while local divers were still searching for others, according to Sandra Musa, spokeswoman for the Kogi state emergency services. No survivor was found about 12 hours after the incident occurred, she added.…

The Appeal Court, Lagos Division, on Friday nullified the conviction of Dr Olufemi Olaleye, the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, who had been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his wife’s niece. The court discharged and acquitted Olaleye after finding the judgement of the trial court to be faulty. The appellate court held that “the prosecution’s case was bereft of any credible evidence that she was a child. Credible and reasonable doubt was created in the prosecution’s case.” “It is on record that the trial court concluded on the age of the victim based on the…

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has disclosed that petrol produced at the Port Harcourt refinery is being sold at N1,030 per litre. This announcement follows claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that the refinery is operational. In a statement released on Thursday night, PETROAN spokesman Joseph Obele confirmed that NNPC Retail Limited had informed the association about the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) at the refinery. “NNPC Retail Ltd has officially announced the PMS price at the Port Harcourt refinery as N1,030 per litre. It was also communicated to PETROAN…

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal will today rule on the appeal filed by the Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Olufemi Olaleye, who was convicted of rape. Olaleye, who allegedly raped his wife’s teenage niece was sentenced to life imprisonment. Olaleye was convicted in October 2023 by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court. The judge found the case presented by the prosecution compelling. However, the doctor’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), filed an appeal in November 2023, arguing that there was no direct evidence to confirm the alleged victim’s…

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has announced the approval of a licence for the construction of a new refinery. The approval given to a company named Process Design and Development Limited is to establish and construct a new 27,000 barrels per day refinery. It said the facility will be located in Dole-Wure, Akko area of Gombe State. The authority in a post on its official X handle on Thursday, said, “Authority Chief Executive presented a Licence to Establish a 27,000 BPSD Refinery to the Managing Director/ CEO of Process Design and Development Limited.…

The Senate, on Thursday, passed President Bola Tinubu’s proposed tax reform bills for second reading. The bills, submitted in October 2024, were referred to the Committee on Finance, which is expected to report back within six weeks. The decision came after a closed-door session lasting about an hour, followed by a debate among lawmakers. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) initiated the discussion, emphasizing the significance of the proposed reforms. The four tax reform bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, aimed at establishing a fiscal framework for taxation, and the Tax Administration Bill, which seeks to create a…

Net migration to the United Kingdom (UK) has dropped significantly, with figures for the year ending June 2024 standing at 728,000, a 20 per cent decline from 906,000 the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics, on Thursday. The reduction is largely attributed to changes in visa policies implemented by the UK government earlier in the year. “Our latest estimates indicate a fall in long-term net migration (the difference between people coming to live in the UK and those leaving to live elsewhere). “Our provisional estimates show a 20% reduction between our updated estimate for year ending…

Aston Villa and Juventus could not be separated in an entertaining 0-0 draw at a fervent Villa Park, with Unai Emery’s men unable to break a seven-match winless streak which started after their last UEFA Champions League (UCL) home win over Bologna. While Villa’s famous victory here against Bayern Munich earlier in the league phase required a heroic defensive effort, the early stages suggested this one could well be there for the taking against a depleted Juventus side. Every pass was lauded by the home support, and they were nearly handsomely rewarded as Pau Torres glanced just over from a…

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has ordered the sale of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit at cheaper prices to Yola residents of Adaamawa State. Adeniyi disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking to journalists in Yola. He noted that the proceeds will be remitted to the Federation Account. This comes as the national coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Comptroller Hussain Ejibunu, lauded Adeniyi and the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for their support. According to him, the initiative alleviates the impact of subsidy removal in the state. Customs confiscate drugs worth N46bn at Rivers port Ejibunu explained that the seized products, intended…