Author: David Great

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has vehemently condemned the recent Appeal Court ruling on Rivers State Assembly lawmakers’ defection, saying that the judgement has a semblance of a verdict procured from the black market “meant to destabilise the state, leading to a parallel State House of Assembly, which is a very dangerous development for Nigeria’s democracy.” CNPP, an umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the country expressed concerns and called for “an end to politically influenced court verdict in Nigeria if our democracy must survive.” According to a statement signed by its Deputy…

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta has uncovered two illegal refining sites with 45,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil in the Warri South Local Government Area of Delta. Navy Commander Patrick Ali, the base operations officer (BOO), representing Abba Muhsin, the commander of NNS Delta, on Monday led naval personnel to the sites in the coastal communities of Ajasolor and Ogbukoko. Addressing reporters, Ali said five metallic storage tanks, four ovens and five dugout pits were uncovered, adding that a suspect was apprehended with a wooden boat. “Based on credible intelligence, the NNS Delta Gunboat team…

The Federal Government has announced a suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on certain essential food items imported via land and sea borders. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, revealed this during a Monday press briefing at the National Press Centre in Abuja. Kyari detailed that maize, wheat, husked brown rice, and cowpeas will benefit from a 150-day Duty-Free Import Window. This measure is part of the Presidential Accelerated Stabilization and Advancement Plan, aimed at securing food supplies and promoting economic stability in Nigeria. The minister emphasized the government’s efforts to tackle the current inflation crisis, which has…

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has said his government will not tolerate any group suspected to be promoting and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in the state. The governor’s directive came on the heels of rising tensions over the activities of groups allegedly promoting same-sex marriage in the state. The state Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, made the disclosure to newsmen on Sunday in Kano, while addressing concerns of an alleged agreement by the Federal Government related to LGBTQ rights. Dantiye said the state government will not accept any agreement that promotes the activities of gays…

The Special Investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu, Jim Obazee, has called on lawmakers to address the issues of corruption, inefficiencies, and waste in government operations. Obazee made this call during his speech at an award ceremony hosted by ThisNigeria, where he and four other distinguished Nigerians were honoured. He emphasised the crucial role of lawmakers in ensuring that government ministries, departments, and agencies effectively deliver on their mandates by eliminating financial mismanagement. A statement on Sunday also quoted Obazee as stressing the need for effective distribution of Federal Government palliatives, saying lawmakers at both the federal and state levels…

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that students attending 36 state-owned tertiary institutions are now eligible to apply for student loans starting Sunday, July 7, 2024. The was contained in a statement via the Fund’s X handle on Sunday. NELFUND confirmed that the management of these institutions has successfully submitted student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS), enabling the loan application process. NELFUND had previously postponed the student loan application process for students enrolled in state-owned tertiary institutions by two weeks due to many institutions failing to upload the required student data and fees information to…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a couple, Mmadu Agbakoba and Ijeoma Agbakoba and their associate, for trafficking cocaine worth N2.1 billion. In a statement on Sunday in Abuja, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said they were arrested during a raid of the Lagos base of a high-profile cocaine syndicate led by the couple and their associate, Ifeoma Okoye. The director said large consignments of the class A drug meant for export and local distribution were recovered from the suspects. He said the raid was carried out by a special operations unit of the agency following months of…

Liberian President, Joseph Boakai, has announced a voluntary 40 per cent reduction in his salary. This was disclosed in a statement shared on the website of the Liberian Government on Saturday which said the move aligned with Boakai’s commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security. This is coming days after some lawmakers arrived at the parliament in tricycles popularly known as ‘Keke’ in protest against the non-payment of funds for their vehicles by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Boakai said the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with…

Spain midfielder Pedri will miss the remainder of Euro 2024 after suffering a ligament injury in his left knee early in his side’s dramatic 2-1 quarter-final win over hosts Germany on Friday. Pedri left the pitch in tears in the first minutes of the match after a heavy challenge by Germany midfielder Toni Kroos. “Following tests, Pedri has a grade two sprain in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee. The player will remain with his team mates until the end of the current training camp, which is focused on the Euro 2024,” the Spanish FA (RFEF) said in…

In a recent special clearance operation in Sambisa Forest, troops of the Nigerian Army eliminated 11 members of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). The Nigerian Army announced the success of the operation on its official X handle on Saturday. According to the statement, the operation was executed in coordination with a hybrid force targeting a terrorist enclave in Jongo Village, located within the notorious Sambisa Forest. During the operation, the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, resulting in several fatalities among the insurgents while others fled. Following the battle, the troops advanced further into…