Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Senate has formed an 18-member committee to oversee the actions of Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.). Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, announced this during the resumption of session on Tuesday. According to Akpabio, the committee was formed to increase transparency and accountability in the state’s governance. Akpabio appointed Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele as head of the committee. He also emphasised the committee’s mandate, adding that its function is vital to maintaining effective legislative oversight in Rivers State. Akpabio also hinted that the committee’s makeup could be modified after further consultations. Akpabio urged the committee…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of Martins Otse over what it described as “grave allegations of financial malfeasance”, following his repeated refusal to honour several invitations extended to him. In a statement issued by the Commission on Tuesday, the anti-graft body said Otse was invited in connection with a series of petitions it received, all bordering on alleged financial crimes. In a tone reminiscent of previous reactions to public scrutiny, the EFCC encouraged Nigerians to refrain from speculating on its motivations and instead allow it to carry out its constitutional obligations. “The EFCC should…

The Federal Government has approved a new service by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to make it easier and safer to verify people’s identities using their National Identification Number (NIN). Kayode Adegoke, NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, announced this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos. Adegoke stated that the presidency has also directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to use the new NIN authentication service for identity verification. He explained that this step supports the NIMC’s obligation to create a dependable digital ID system for Nigerians and lawful residents. The new service, NIN Authentication, is available via…

Residents of Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have protested against excessive electricity bills from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), saying monthly rates now exceed the national minimum wage of ₦70,000. The demonstrators, many holding placards, said most houses receive bills ranging from ₦80,000 to ₦130,000—even those with prepaid meters. They called the accusations “inhumane and outrageous” and slammed EEDC authorities’ recent disconnection of power to the entire town. Some of the placards read: “N80,000 monthly electricity bill is unaffordable.” “Over 80% of those disconnected have prepaid meters.” “Stop the overbilling now!” “There is a…

A judge on Monday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to let approximately 12,000 refugees into the United States, dealing a setback to the government’s efforts to overhaul America’s immigration policy. The decision underscores the boundaries imposed by an appeals court rule, which permitted the Trump administration to pause the refugee admissions system but required it to admit persons who had already been awarded refugee status and planned to travel to the United States. The Trump administration argued at a hearing last week that it should only have to admit 160 refugees who were slated to travel within two weeks of…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted haziness and thunderstorms from Tuesday to Thursday across the country. NiMet’s weather outlook announced on Monday in Abuja projected mild dust haze over sections of Katsina and Kano states throughout the forecast period on Tuesday. Thunderstorms are expected over Taraba and Adamawa states throughout the afternoon and evening. “Sunny skies with patches of cloud are anticipated over the North Central region, with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Nasarawa during the morning period. “Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kogi, Kwara, Benue, and the Federal Capital Territory. “Over the…

No fewer than 8,000 terrorists and bandits were neutralised across Nigeria in 2024 under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, says. Speaking while reviewing the current government’s achievements, Matawalle attributed the enormous security improvements to the Tinubu administration’s revitalised operational methods and leadership concentration. He stated that beyond the fatalities, nearly 11,600 offenders were apprehended while security personnel collected more than 10,000 illegal firearms from various theatres of operation around the country. Patience Ituke issued a statement on Monday on behalf of the Director of Information and Public Relations at the…

Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, has committed to work with security authorities to bring those responsible for the deaths of 19 hunters to justice. A team of hunters from the Duguri and Gwana Districts was on a normal patrol around the Duguri Mansur and Dajin Madam Forest regions when they were ambushed by bandits. The robbers opened fire on the hunters as they sought to flee from Mansur village in the state’s Alkaleri Local Government Area. In a statement on Monday by Bala’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, the governor mourned what he characterised as…

As the National Assembly returns from its long break today, the House of Representatives and the Benue State Government disagree on the causes of the state’s recent spate of killings. While the House’s Deputy Spokesman, Philip Agbese, blamed Governor Hyacinth Alia for what he called his abandonment of the state’s anti-open grazing law for the recent increase in the killings of innocent citizens, the governor fired back, accusing Agbese of knowing next to nothing about how state legislatures suspend laws. Attacks in Benue State’s Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas have killed 56 people in the last three weeks, prompting…

The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested the suspected murderers of Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, a 50-year-old Paramount Ruler of the Kalaba community in Yenagoa Local Government Area and son-in-law of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri. The accused allegedly murdered HRH Kolibo Amabelimo, Chairman of the Kalaba Village Development Committee, and Samuel Oburo in the village. Francis Idu, the state Commissioner of Police, informed journalists on Monday during an interactive session in Yenagoa that Gideon Atama, 32, Bethlehem Nwanlia, 49, and Clever Ovo, 33, allegedly committed the crime in 2022. Idu revealed that one of the suspects, Perekebi Nwanlia, had died,…