Author: David Great

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians to rally around President Bola Tinubu for the success of his administration. Tinubu was sworn on last May but since his government’s stoppage of fuel subsidy on petroleum, the cost of living has hit the rooftops, putting enormous pressure on the populace. But during the flag-off of the Kugbo Bus Terminal in Abuja, Senator Akpabio said with the support of the citizens, the Tinubu government will succeed. “I have no doubt that by the time the president is through with his tenure in the country, seven years from today, many people will…

A bill seeking the creation of Etiti State in the South-East geo-political zone was read for the first time on the floor of the House of Representatives during plenary on Tuesday. The bill sponsored by five members of the House comprising Amobi Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, Kama Nkemkama, Chinwe Nnabuife and Anayo Onwuegbu, seeks the proposed state to be created out of the present South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. When created, Etiti State will have 11 local government areas drawn from the present five south-east states with the capital to be located at Lokpanta. The bill…

By Owei Lakemfa Governors, so to speak, are up in arms against a new National Minimum Wage, NMW. Individually and collectively,  they have voiced opposition to the evolution of a new wage which may not be less than N60,000 as promised by President Bola Tinubu. While some have called for a confederate wage system, others have vowed not to pay the new salaries when passed by the National Assembly, NASS and signed by the President. Former Minister and ex-Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola, affectionately called BRF, introduced a dramatic twist when he submitted that the NMW…

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has sealed about 100 shops in Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, Enugu State for alleged dealing in suspected fake alcoholic beverages. The agency also confiscated a truckload of adulterated products as well as arrested four traders. Speaking after the raid and arrest, NAFDAC’s Director South-East Zone, Mr Martins Iluyomade, said on Monday that the suspects were already in custody and would be charged to court after ongoing investigation. He noted that the raid was in furtherance to NAFDAC’s mandate to safeguarding the health of the nation and riding the South-East of…

The sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Idi Musa,  in the trial of Ismaila Mustapha, (a.k.a Mompha)  an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, July 1, 2024, told Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos how the sum of N35bn was found in two bank accounts linked to the defendant. The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had, on January 12, 2022, arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to launder funds obtained through unlawful activity, retention of…

Anthony Gordon is reported to be turned in the head by interest from Liverpool, but Newcastle insist the 23-year-old England winger will not be sold. (Telegraph – subscription required) Liverpool remain interested in Gordon and could make another move to sign him this summer. (Teamtalk) Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for £45 million in January of 2023. (Chronicle NG) Chelsea want to sign Athletic Bilbao’s Spain winger Nico Williams but the 21-year-old would prefer a move to Barcelona. (Sport – in Spanish) Galatasaray forward Wilfried Zaha is keen to return to the Premier League, with West Ham, Wolves and former club Crystal Palace interested in the 31-year-old Ivory Coast international. (Star) A Saudi Pro League…

Nigerian Customs Services operatives confiscated more than 800 rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition hidden in a shipping container on Monday, underlining the country’s fight against firearm trafficking, which has been linked to an increase in crime. Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi stated that the firearms discovered on June 21 were stashed in a container alongside furniture and other commodities that had been loaded in Turkey. The haul contained a variety of rifle models and ammunition. “We have three suspects in our custody after securing a detention warrant from a competent court,” Adeniyi told reporters, adding that investigations were ongoing.…

Nigeria’s telecom sector saw a surge in internet data subscriptions to 164 million in Q1 2024, while voice users dropped 3 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics said. NBS Telecom Data report released on Monday, revealed, that “the total number of active voice subscribers in Q1 2024 was 219,304,281 from the 226,161,713 reported in Q1 2023, indicating a growth rate of –3.03 per cent. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, active voice subscribers fell by 2.41 per cent. Ogun and Kano followed closely behind in internet subscriptions, with 9.53 million and 9.07 million, respectively, while Bayelsa recorded the lowest figures in…

The National Bureau of Statistics has disclosed that the nation’s capital importation rose by 210% in the first quarter of 2024. The report, which was released on Monday, noted that the total importation into the country stood at $3,376.01 million, higher than $1,132.65m recorded in Q1 2023 thereby indicating an increase of 198.06%. When compared to Q4 last year, the national importation value rose by 210.16% from $1,088.48m. This, the bureau said, owes to the high Portfolio Investment valued at “$2,075.59m, accounting for 61.48%; followed by Other Investment with $1,181.25m, accounting for 34.99%. Foreign Direct Investment recorded the least with…

Third seed Aryna Sabalenka pulled out of Wimbledon shortly before her opening match on Monday due to a shoulder injury, organisers said, leaving the women’s draw short of a leading contender for the title. The Belarusian, who was set to face American Emina Bektas, was replaced in the draw by Russian lucky loser Erika Andreeva. “I tried everything to get myself ready but unfortunately my shoulder is not cooperating,” Sabalenka said on Instagram. “I pushed myself to the limit in practice today to try my best, but my team explained that playing would only make things much worse,” she added.…