Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa

THE Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa is set to roll out a $617 Million IDICE Fund in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB). At a high-level meeting in Abuja on Thursday with the Director General of AfDB, Mr. Lamin Barrow, the Minister highlighted the huge potential of the Creative Economy to generate employment opportunities for millions of young Nigerians. “With eager anticipation from the creative community, the IDICE fund emerges as a landmark transaction, providing a strategic platform for directing additional long-term financing into this dynamic sector”. Expressing her enthusiasm, Minister Musawa affirmed, “We…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Amina Divine Arong as the new National Woman Leader of the party, four months after the death of Stella Effah-Attoe who previously held that position.  “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed a prominent Party women mobilizer, Hon. Amina Divine Arong from Cross River State, as the Party’s new National Woman Leader,” PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba said in a Thursday statement.  Arong has a diploma in Banking and Finance and a BSc in Accounting. She will serve out the term of the party’s late woman leader, the PDP image maker added. “The new…

KOGI State Governor, Usman Ododo has denied reports and insinuations in some quarters that he has approved the establishment of an ‘office of immediate past governor’ in the state. The governor reacting to the trending story of creation of an office of past governor this morning, with his predecessor, Yahaya Bello reportedly the pioneer occupant of the office. But, in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Oladele John NIHI, Ododo described the story as “fake” and ‘handiwork of psychotic mischief makers’ urging the people to disregard it. See full statement below: PRESS RELEASE IGNORE FAKE NEWS OF…

THE Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed sadness over the pronouncement by the Military authority in the Republic of Niger indicating that the Republics of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn membership of their countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, said Nigeria remained opened for engagement with the three countries. “For half a century, ECOWAS has worked to promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region. Nigeria stands with ECOWAS to emphasise due process and shared commitment to protect and…

NO fewer than 140 officials will track and assess the performance of federal ministries, departments, and agencies ahead of the first assessment exercise at the end of this month. This is as the officials joined the third technical retreat for delivery desk officers of federal ministries on the implementation of presidential priorities and ministerial deliverables in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, which began on Wednesday. A senior official working closely with the Central Delivery Coordination Unit headed by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Mrs Hadiza Bala-Usman, revealed that the officers, who would conduct the assessment, were…

MINISTER of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has berated council chairmen who have abandoned monthly security meetings. Wike, who spoke at a town hall meeting in the Abuja Municipal Area Council(AMAC), said henceforth any of the council chairman who failed to host the meeting would be declared a security threat. “How will you say you are not holding a monthly security meeting because you don’t have stipend? Henceforth, any chairman who fails to hold such meeting will be seen as a threat to security,” the minister said. He assured that the Administration would do everything possible to support security…

SPECIAL Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Coordination and Head, Central Delivery and Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala Usman, says her principal will drop ministers who do not deliver on their mandates. Usman said the president was serious about delivering on his promise to make life better and easier for Nigerians. She spoke at the opening of the technical retreat for delivery desk officers of federal ministries on implementation of presidential priorities and ministerial deliverables in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital While asking for the total commitment of delivery officers and directors of planning in ministries who were present…

THE US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has arrived in Nigeria as he kickstarts his tour of the African continent. Blinken’s African tour is scheduled to take place between January 21 and 26, 2024. The visit is a part of the US’s high-level engagement with Africa, with the Secretary of State planning to travel to Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Angola after his visit to Nigeria. During Blinken’s visit, Nigeria’s Minister of foreign affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar  shall hold bilateral talks with a focus on deepening democracy in the West African subregion, strengthening of trade relations and security cooperation.…

SENATOR Ireti Kingibe says the Senate will summon the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike and security agencies over the spike in crimes in the nation’s capital. While Abuja has been in the news owing to the rising rate of insecurity in the area, the lawmaker who represents the FCT said upon resumption later in the month, the Senate will invite them to explain his plans to secure the area. “When the Senate resumes, I plan that the (Senate) FCT committees specifically me, needs to sit with the two ministers and the security agencies for them to…

THE Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has described Nasarawa state as a worthy partner in the drive to develop mineral resources in Nasarawa state and Nigeria at large. Speaking while receiving Nasarawa state Governor, Abdullahi Sule on Thursday in his office, Alake stated that the Governor has provided immense support for the Lithium factory undergoing construction in Nasarawa state, emphasizing that the state has led the way in fostering partnership with the Federal Government for solid minerals development. “The Governor has been very supportive of the solid minerals sector, not because his state is a solid minerals…

JUSTICE Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court Abuja has nullified the power of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to impose fines on broadcast stations for alleged breaches of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Delivering Judgement in a suit instituted by the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) against the NBC, following the Commission’s imposition of fines of N5 million each on a television station and three pay TV platforms in 2022, for allegedly undermining Nigeria’s national security by broadcasting documentaries on banditry in Nigeria, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia held that the NBC, being not a court of law, acted above its powers by imposing…

FEMI Adesina has opened up on how he emerged as the Special Adviser On Media and Publicity to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, describing the feat as a “demonstration of God’s grace upon my life”. Adesina, a journalist, served in the position between 2015 and 2023. But months after he left the role, he opened up on the process that led to his selection for the post. “To me, I have always told people that working with President Muhammadu Buhari is a demonstration of God’s grace in my life,” he said on Tuesday during the launch of a book: “Working with Buhari:…

THE Directorate of Road Transport Services of the Federal Capital Territory Administration under the instruction of the minister, Nyesom Wike, has commenced the demolition of shops, eateries, and other illegal structures in taxi ranks across Abuja. The Director of the DRTS, Abdulateef Bello, had earlier on Monday, following a meeting with transport stakeholders, hinted at the reclamation of all taxi ranks within the territory, to make room for a unified mass transportation system in the FCT. Consequently, the department began the demolition of illegal structures at Area 3 and Banex Junction Taxi Ranks, in Abuja on Friday. At the Area…

NIGERIA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has commended the release of former President Mohammad Bazoum’s wife and son from house arrest by The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, the ruling military junta in Niger. Tuggar, who is also the Chairperson of the Mediation and Security Council, said it is a logical step in bringing normalcy back to the country and the region in general. In a statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Communications Strategy to the minister, Alkassim Abdulkadir, Tuesday, Tuggar reiterated the call to the government led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani…

BANDITS, who kidnapped Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar and his six children, have contacted the family, demanding N60 million ransom. The victims were abducted on Tuesday night in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. His brother, Alhaji Abdulfatai, who led policemen to foil their abduction, was shot dead by the bandits. Also, two among the three injured policemen hit by bullets during the fire exchange had reportedly died. It was also gathered that the bandits later freed the father to go and look for the ransom to secure the release of his children. Following the new development, the family…

THE federal government has approved only three airlines for the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2023 hajj exercise. The approved airlines are Airpeace, MaxAir and FlyNas. A statement by the The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Assistant Director on Public Affairs, Farima Sanda Usara, on Friday said, “the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially granted approval to three distinguished airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, they are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas and Max Air.” Usara stated that the government also approved three other air cargo…

FOLLOWING the suspension of accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo, the Federal Government has said the sanction would be extended to more countries like Uganda, Kenya and Niger Republic. “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo,” Education Minister Tahir Mamman said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria. “We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger Republic where such institutions have been set up.” We will not stop at the suspension of certificates from Togo and Benin Republic alone.…

The National Hajj Commission has extended the deadline for payment of 2024 hajj. In a statement on Tuesday, its Assistant Director on Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara said the new deadline is now January 31, 2024 as against December 31, 2023. This newspaper had reported that the commission was in dilemma over low turnout and might have to extend the deadline. NAHCON, however, insisted that it would go ahead with the number of intending pilgrims who made the payment before the December 31 deadline. But the commission has finally backtracked, admitting that the extension was inevitable. “The extension was in…

MINISTER of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo has charged Nigerians to shelve all form of differences to move the country forward. The Minister made the charge in his New Year Message signed by his Special Assistant on Media Malam Adamu Abdullahi. He said 2023 has passed as every year it comes with challenges and obstacles in life, while wishing all Nigerians courage, hope and believe to overcome all of the hurdles may be faced in the Year 2024. He assured all Nigerians that Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will work assiduously towards realization of …

A COALITION of peace groups under the aegis of Africans Against Conflict For Peace has criticized Senator Ali Ndume’s position calling for an end to the sanctions on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It would be recalled that ECOWAS under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had placed economic sanctions and travel bans on Niger following the coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, against the democratically elected government of Mohammed Bazoum. The sanctions have been variously condemned by Senator Ali Ndume, a Nigerian…