The Zamfara State Government on Tuesday announced that there were no plans to dialogue or negotiate with terrorists or any other criminal group but would wage war against them until they were banned from the state. The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Nakwada stated this while addressing journalists about the activities of the present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal and that of his immediate predecessor, Bello Matawalle. Matawalle’s government had initiated a peace dialogue with the bandits which was later stopped in September 2021 due to persistent bandit attacks on rural communities in the state. Nakwada however stated that the current administration had no plan to initiate any reconciliation efforts or have discussions with the terrorists. Rather, the SSG said the mission of Lawal’s government is to go after the such criminals wherever they may be hiding to flush them out of the state and restore order and peace. He expressed the administration’s commitment to ens...

  The World Bank has clarified that the 800 million dollar loan from the bank was approved as of December 2021, a time when the government of Muhammadu Buhari contemplated the removal of fuel subsidy. Its Nigerian Country Director, Dr Shubham Chaudhuri, made this known on Tuesday. at an event organised by the World Bank to assess the nation’s economy in the last six months. Chaudhuri explained that the fund is a loan and not a grant as speculated. He said that the funds will be channelled into ameliorating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable owing to the removal of the fuel subsidy.

T he Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Hassan Abubakar has approved the redeployment of 98 officers of air rank. Prominent among the new appointees are Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service Establishments, and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) institutions, according to a statement by NAF spokesperson, AK Famuyiwa. The newly appointed senior officers are expected to assume office not later than Monday, July 3, 2023. The newly reappointed senior officers comprise 52 AVMs and 46 Air Commodores (Air Cdres), among whom are the former Commandant Air Force War College (AWC), AVM Abraham Adole now the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans (CDPP) at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ); while AVM Nkem Aguiyi takes over as the Chief of Defence Transformation and Innovation (CDTI) at the DHQ; and AVM Ahmed Shinkafi becomes the Chief of Defence Space Administration (CDSA). At the NAF Headquarters (HQ NAF), former Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command (...

  Sub operator, OceanGate says all five people onboard a missing submersible near the wreck of the Titanic have been lost. “We now believe that our CEO Stockton Rush, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, have sadly been lost,” the company said in a pensive statement on Thursday. The company said the “men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans” while sending condolences to “every member of their families during this tragic time”. “We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew. This is an extremely sad time for our dedicated employees who are exhausted and grieving deeply over this loss. “This is a very sad time for the entire explorer community, and for each of the family members of those lost at sea. “We respectfully ask that the privacy of these families be respected during this most painful time,” OceanGate solemnly sa...

President Bola Tinubu has arrived at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, the venue of New Global Financing Pact summit. Upon his arrival in the company of his Aide-de-Camp, Nurudeen Yusuf, the Nigerian leader was received by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Catherine Colonna. Having departed Abuja for France on Tuesday, President Tinubu will also use the opportunity of the summit to hold bilateral meetings with various countries including officials of France, US and Switzerland to discuss possible ways of attracting foreign direct investments. The financial summit which is hosted by France seeks to establish a system that will be more responsive, just and inclusive. It also seeks to fight inequalities, finance the climate transition, and biodiversity protection, and move closer to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). About 39 heads of state from around the world are expected to be part of the summit. Also expected to be in attendance are seve...

  Cristiano Ronaldo scored a last-minute winner on his historic night as he became the first men's player to win 200 international caps in their Euro 2024 qualifying win over Iceland. The 38-year-old turned home Goncalo Inacio's header from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for an Inacio offside but was awarded by the video assistant referee. That was Ronaldo's 123rd international goal, extending his world record. Al-Nassr's Ronaldo broke Kuwait forward Bader Al-Mutawa's 196-cap record in March - and was given a certificate by Guinness World Records before kick-off to mark this latest landmark. "For me it's an unbelievable achievement, it's amazing," he said after the match. "And, of course to score the winning goal, it's even more special. "We didn't play so well but sometimes football is like that but we scored a goal and, in my opinion, we deserved it. I'm so happy because of 200 caps, but this is even more spec...

  Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has been taken into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Ortom was invited for questioning by the anti-graft agency for alleged misappropriation of funds, a month after leaving office. Channels Television reports that the ex-Benue governor arrived at the Abuja office of the EFCC on Tuesday morning and was sighted walking into the building of the anti-graft agency. Benue State is said to have a debt profile of N187.7 billion.

The Federal High Court sitting in Akwa-Ibom has set aside its judgment delivered On May 19, 2023, restraining the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, from parading himself as the office holder. Justice Fatun Riman set aside the judgement on the ground that the Originating Processes in the suit filed by a journalist, Okechukwu Nwafor, were not served on the IGP. The judge had, in the judgment, declared as unlawful and unconstitutional the continued stay in office of Baba, after attaining the statutory age of retirement, holding that it is a clear violation of the provisions of the Police Act, 2020. The court had also ordered former President Muhammadu Buhari to convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to appoint a new Inspector General of Police who will occupy the office for four years. It will be recalled that Buhari had, in January 2023, extended the tenure of Baba even though he clocked 60 on March 1, 2023. Dissatisfied with the verdict, the IGP approached the cour...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly told Deposit Money Banks to freely float the naira against the dollar and other international currencies. This is as the naira trades at N730 to N755 per dollar at the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window on Wednesday. On the other hand, the apex bank is yet to release an official statement on the matter, bankers and customers who traded in Foreign Exchange on Wednesday said that the naira now trades between N730 and N750. The development came just two weeks after President Bola Tinubu vowed to unify the exchange rates and remove fuel subsidy in his inauguration speech on May 29, 2023. “Monetary policy needs a thorough housecleaning. The Central Bank must work towards a unified exchange rate,” the President had said. “This will direct funds away from arbitrage into meaningful investment in the plant, equipment, and jobs that power the real economy.” The development is also in spite of the denial by the apex bank on June 1, 2023 that ...

  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) has signed into law, The student loan bill, will provide for interest-free loans to indigent Nigerian students. The proposed act was signed into law on June 12, 2023, shortly after inspecting guide of honour at the presidential villa in commemoration of Democracy Day. Tinubu, during his campaign, had promised to give student loans as part of efforts to develop the education sector and also build the youth capacity. “Youths are the greatest asset of tomorrow,” Tinubu said in Chatham House while fielding questions from participants at the event. He that they will be part of his “all-inclusive” government, pointing to the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. “The education system is to change. We would overhaul it and tinker with some areas with the philosophy that no one would be left behind. There will be student loans for all. We are going to reform the Almajiri system, We are equally going to build more schools, recruit more teachers and t...

  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have uncovered a secret laboratory producing deadly illicit substance, Methamphetamine, in a residential community located in Ikeja Lagos state where already packaged sachets of the drug and various precursor chemicals used in the production were recovered. The concealed factory located at No. 4 Bode Oluwo Street, Mende, Maryland Ikeja was stormed by anti-narcotics officers of the Agency on Tuesday 6th June after credible intelligence and surveillance confirmed the illicit substance was being produced in the duplex building. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, notes that at the end of the search, one kilogram of already produced and packaged methamphetamine, quantities of precursor chemicals and other items used for the production of the deadly drug were recovered from the house while efforts are on to apprehend the fleeing owner of the house. Similarly, officers of the Lagos Command of the Agency the previous day, Monda...

  Despite earlier denial,  Department of State Services has finally  confirmed that suspended Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele is in its custody. Peter Afunnaya, the Agency Spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday, June 10, 2023 The statement reads, “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is now in its custody for some investigative reasons. “The public, particularly the Media, is enjoined to apply utmost caution in the reportage and narratives concerning this.” President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect,” the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Willie Bassey said in a Friday statement.

NIGERIA: The Federal Government has declared Monday June 12, a public holiday. This was confirmed in a statement on Thursday, from the office of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior. According to the release by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, the holiday is in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day celebration. Dr Akinlade while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians on this occasion. “Nigeria’s democratic journey has, like in many other climes, encountered both stormy and smooth sails, but the ship of State, its institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance. “On this memorable occasion therefore, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are invited to appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate the milestones covered and look forward to a better future for the country’s democracy”. The Permanent Secretary wished all Nigerians ...

  The Christians Association Nigeria, CAN said the former governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was only playing game with his remarks in a recent video earlier in the week. The CAN chairman in Kaduna state, John Joseph Hayab said this while speaking in an interview on Asrise TV on Wednesday. According to the Kaduna state CAN chairman, El-Rufai was only pushing his own personal agenda and not speaking for the Kaduna and Nigerian Muslims.  A  video  of Nasir  El - Rufai   was online,  where he was speaking on Muslim-Muslim ticket.  El-Rufai, who was addressing a congregation of Muslim clerics (In Hausa) in Kaduna in the viral video, had said, “Despite all the ethic gathering and despite the use of religion that was used , God gave Asiwaju Tinubu Victory. “We successfully did in Kaduna (Muslim-Muslim ticket) has now been replicated all over the country…” he said But, reacting to El-Rufai’s claims, Hayab said, “This video in the first place...

  Residents of Enugu State have defied the state government’s directives on the Monday compulsory sit-at-home order issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as roads, schools, banks, markets and other public places were completely deserted. The State Governor, Peter Mbah had on June 1 declared “no more sit-at-home in Enugu,” effective Monday, June 5, asking individuals and corporate organisations to ensure full-scale business activities in the state. Mbah stated that his government would be ready to engage in dialogue with people who have genuine grievances so as to foster lasting peace and security in Enugu State, adding that the order dwindles creativity and productivity of the people. Meanwhile, the Finland based leader of the autopilot, an arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Simon Ekpa responded to Governor Mbah,  saying that no Nigeria government  operates in Biafra land and insisted that the Monday sit-at-home must continue to be observ...

The Nigeria Labour Congess (NLC) has announced a nationwide strike from next Wednesday. This comes during fuel shortages across the country generated by President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural speech in which he stated that “fuel subsidy is gone”. NLC President Joe Ajaero made the announcement after an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja. He said the government, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited had up until Wednesday next week to revert to the old price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise referred to as petrol. Ajaero added that failure of the Federal Government to meet the ultimatum would attract an indefinite protest across the country.

  Late American Award-winning rapper  Tupac Shakur, will be honoured with a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Los Angeles, United States. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 7, around 10:30 am PT at 6212 Hollywood Blvd, Daily Mail reported on Thursday. This is following the unanimous vote by the city council to honour the rap legend by renaming a street in Oakland after him in California. Tupac's sister, Sekyiwa 'Set' Shakur, on behalf of her brother, will receive the honour of the star in the 'recording' category which will be the 2,758th to be dedicated on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Filmmaker Allen Hughes, director of the acclaimed docuseries “Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni and Tupac Shakur” will join Professor Jamal Joseph and emcee Big Boy for the star unveiling celebration. Tupac died from a drive-by shooting in 1996 when he was just 25.