Author: Opalim Lifted

Members of the Nigerian Armed Forces retirees under the umbrella of the Coalition of Military Pensioners in Abuja shut down the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday morning over the non-payment of their 20% to 28% salary increment from January to November 2024. The retired military officers who came from different chapters lamented the failure of the Federal Government to pay them their entitlements. Their demands are payment of palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, payment of N32,000 added to pension, payment of Security Debarment Allowance (SDA) in bulk and refund of deductions made from the pensions of medically…

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group has announced plans to open a branch in Saudi Arabia and expand its presence across Africa in 2025. This was disclosed by the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, during a send-forth dinner held in honour of the bank’s retired non-executive directors in Abuja on Wednesday night. Alawuba also revealed that the bank employs over 25,000 staff and serves more than 45 million customers across 24 countries. He said, “The UBA, which has over 25,000 staff and serves more than 45 million customers across 24 countries, is the legacy you…

The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is set to establish five mini-liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State. Akpoti-Uduaghan made the revelation at the Practical Nigerian Content Forum organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in Bayelsa State. She said the projects would be flagged off next year, describing it as the largest concentration of such projects in one district. “I would like to appreciate NNPC and the industry experts who have also considered and humbled us at…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has insisted that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is up and running, with loading operations in full swing. The Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, gave the confirmation at the commissioning of the NUPENG Towers in Lagos on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye. There has been serious contention over the operation of the newly rehabilitated refinery after its much-celebrated commencement of production. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) said the plant, operating at 70 per cent capacity, will deliver 200…

Cuba’s energy grid has collapsed, leaving millions without power, the latest in a series of failures on an island struggling from creaking infrastructure, natural disasters and economic turmoil. The state-run utility company, the Cuban Electric Union, said workers were attempting to get the grid back online but local officials warned residents the difficult process of restoring power to aging Soviet-era power stations could take days. Cuba’s top energy producer, the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, suffered an overnight failure, prompting the grid’s collapse on Wednesday, the company said. The government has ordered the “suspension of work and teaching activities,”…

The Senior Special Assistant to the Presidency on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi on Wednesday, has shed more light on the controversial tax bills. This was after President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, directed the National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice to work together to address the concerns raised on the bill. Criticisms have greeted Tinubu’s transmission of the Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly. The move has pitted the president against some governors with the most vocal criticism coming from the northern region. Some critics believe the bills are against the northern region while others argue that they…

Human rights groups in Guinea say at least 135 people died from the stampede that happened at a football stadium in Nzerekore.   The final of a local football competition turned violent after rival fans invaded the pitch in protest of the referee’s penalty decision, on Sunday. Police attempted to curtail and disperse the pitch invaders with teargas, and a stampede ensued. The Guinean government announced that only 56 people died from the mayhem. However, human rights groups in the Guinean claimed that the number of casualties exceeds the official figure. Tinubu, Guinean President Mbasogo seal gas exploration deal According to…

Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi has been remanded in prison for allegedly defaming a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN. Chronicle NG earlier reported that Farotimi was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti on Monday. The activist was accused of maligning and defaming the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charges. Police prosecutor, Samson Osun called for the remand of the suspect in prison custody pending further investigation and its outcome for…

Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court. Farotimi, who was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Ekiti state police command was brought to the court at about 10:25 am Wednesday. Chronicle reports that the activist lawyer is being prosecuted on a 16-court charge of defamation of character against a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola SAN. He was accused of having malign and defame the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book titled, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’. The Ekiti…

Namibia has elected Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as its first female president following a disputed election. Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, would become the first woman to rule the southern African country governed by the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) since independence in 1990. The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) announced that she won with over 57 percent of ballots cast. Panduleni Itula, candidate for the main opposition Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), polled second with 25.5 percent of the votes. The presidential election was extended twice because of logistical and technical challenges which led to a shortage of ballot papers and long…