The Federal Government has indicted eight Chinese nationals and one Nigerian with illegal mining in Lokpaukwu community, Umuchieze, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. The suspects, busted by the Mining Marshals—a security unit created under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)—were arraigned on a 3-count charge before Justice J.K. Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges include mining without authorization and obstructing lawful mining operations. The defendants were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the next trial date. The marshals, under the operation, codenamed “Operation Hayakin Kogo”, were established by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake as part of his seven-point agenda to put things in order in the mining sector. “The establishment of the mining marshals is a crucial step in our agenda to sanitise the mining environment and ensure that Nigeria benefits fully from its mineral resources,” Alak...

The House of Representatives has called for an end to attacks against journalists by security agencies. They also decided to probe recent journalist detentions and pressuring the government to uphold press freedom. This resolution came after a motion by Clement Jimbo, a lawmaker from Akwa-Ibom, who criticized the use of the Cybercrime Act by police to target journalists. Jimbo pointed out that despite amendments to the Cybercrime Act, police continue to use it to harass journalists, and such attacks have increased under the current administration. “There has been a concerning rise in the number of journalists being unlawfully arrested, detained, and harassed for performing their duties, using the offence of Cyber-Stalking within the Cybercrimes Act, 2015. Earlier this year, the President signed the Amended Act, which revised Section 24 to clarify what constitutes cyber-stalking and its penalties. However, law enforcement agents have ignored this and continued their crackdown on free s...

  The House of Representatives has raised concerns about the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, for allegedly allocating funds for unrelated expenses, including N45 million for a New Year party and N20 million for sanitary pads. Others include N1.5 million for vehicle fuel. Rep Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, led the interrogation of the Minister, over the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors in spite of the fund release in Abuja. She said that the investigative hearing was aimed at uncovering the truth and not witch-hunting the Minister and the officials of the ministry. The committee also investigated the alleged diversion of funds meant for contractor’s payments, following a petition from contractors. The committee also sought clarification on funds appropriated for the African First Lady’s mission and the whereabouts of the N1.5 billion meant for contractor payments. Neverthless, the minister disputed the allegations of misapp...

Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau, a middle-aged man who climbed a high satellite communication  mast at Aso Radio in Katampe, Abuja, in an apparent suicide attempt, has been referred for mental evaluation at the Social Development Secretariat (SDS). SP Josephine Adeh the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command said, “We have sent Shuaibu Yushau, the man who climbed a broadcast mast yesterday to the Social Development Secretariat for mental evaluation. If found mentally stable after the test, he will be charged to court for attempted suicide, disturbance of public peace and incitement.’’ Yushau, detained by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command on Monday, will undergo psychiatric assessment to ascertain his mental state during the incident. Eyewitnesses reported that Yushau's ascent of the mast caused widespread panic among residents and passersby. Upon receiving alerts, the police dispatched a team to negotiate his descent. After several hours of negotiation, Yushau descended and ...

  The  Nigeria Centre for Disease Control  (NCDC) has said the country has recorded  113 cases and seven deaths  of cholera in one week, spanning between 17 and 23 June. Cholera is a severe diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The NCDC reported that the outbreak resulted in seven deaths nationwide, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 6.1 percent in Lagos. Ogun State reported seven cases, while Katsina had one case. In the past month, Lagos alone reported 533 suspected cholera cases, contributing significantly to Nigeria's total of 576 cases. Other affected states include Ogun (19), Rivers (9), Katsina, Oyo (2), Abia (2), Bayelsa (2), and Sokoto (1). month also saw 32 deaths across the country, with a CFR of 5.6 percent, far above the national expected average of one percent, highlighting the outbreak's severity. Efforts to control the outbreak included 217 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT), with 17 positives, and 232 stool culture tests, with 2...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has blamed resurfacing of fuel queues in some parts of the country on the disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels resulting from recent thunderstorm. A statement by the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, on Monday, said the adverse weather condition has also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, disrupting station supply logistics. The clarification came following reports of long fuel queues in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country. According to reports, the scarcity has pushed prices to as high as ₦900/litre, with private depot owners reported to have hiked the ex-depot price from ₦630 to ₦720 per litre. However, while responding to the development, Soneye also said that due to flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with t...

  The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, on Saturday, clarified that Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement with the European Union (EU) to boost food security, and inclusive economic development, amongst other vital areas. He stated this at a press briefing on Saturday in the nation’s capital, Abuja, clarifying once again that none of the articles of the agreement between Nigeria and the EU showed that the former has recognized Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights. Misunderstanding has blurred the Samoa Agreement signed by the Federal Government with many frowning upon what they thought was the recognition of LGBT rights by the Nigerian government. The Samoa deal sparked a barrage of reactions online with many opposing LGBT rights, which is contrary to the anti-same-sex marriages and gay relationships law enacted in 2014 by then President Goodluck Jonathan. At the press conference on Saturday, Bagudu, alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of I...