Author: Maryam Garba

NIGERIAN students who were evacuated from war-torn Sudan have lamented the tedious processes of getting admitted into Nigerian universities. Recall that a total of 2,518 stranded Nigerians were evacuated from Sudan in May 2023. On June 7, 2023, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board unveiled modalities for the absorption of Nigerian students returning from war-torn countries, including Sudan, into tertiary institutions. The JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, said the procedures for emergency transfers of returning students required each of them to do a retroactive registration with the Ministry of Education. However, speaking with this newspaper, some of the students explained that…

IN a gesture signifying unity and continuity, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady, paid a courtesy visit to former President Mohammadu Buhari at his residence in Daura, Katsina State on Thursday. Accompanied by Hajia Nana Shettima, the wife of the Vice President, and several APC women chieftains in the state, Mrs. Tinubu stated that the visit was to check on the former president’s well-being and to express gratitude for his continual fatherly support. The First Lady prayed for Buhari’s long life and good health, and sought his continued guidance for not only the current administration led by her husband, President…

THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Kalu, has appointed THISDAY Correspondent, Udora Orizu, as Special Assistant on Press Affairs. In the letter of appointment dated July 25, 2023, Kalu said the appointment takes immediate effect. Miss Orizu, who is experienced in political and parliamentary reporting, was until her appointment a Correspondent with THISDAY Newspapers, covering the activities of the House of Representatives in the National Assembly since 2020. Her active journalism experience spanned over seven years during which she covered the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Environment. Orizu has a BSc and Diploma in Mass…

THE Senate on Tuesday resumed screening of the ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu. The second day saw nine appointees take the podium. Those screened included ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Wale Edun, Uche Nnaji, Stella Okotete, Adebayo Adelabu, Ekperikpe Ekpo, Hannatu Musawa, and Musa Dangiwa. That leaves five remaining nominees, including presidential spokesman Dele Alake; Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi; Muhammad Idris, Ali Pate, and Doris Uzoka. The Senate adjourned till Wednesday to screen the others. The Senate on Monday screened 14 of the 28-man list of ministerial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu last…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ajuri Ngelale as Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity. Ngelale, who was Senior Special Assistant for Public Affairs in the Presidency in the immediate past government, worked in the office of ex-Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. Willie Bassey, Director, Information in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who announced the appointment said it takes effect from 31st July, 2023 and would terminate at the end of this administration unless otherwise decided by the President. “The President urges him to bring his wealth of experience to bear…

THE Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an injunction restraining the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and Sahelian Power SPV Limited from naming Powercom or any other investor as a new core shareholder in Kano Electricity Distribution Company. News Point Nigeria reports that, the court also restrained the parties were also restrained from conducting or recognising any other bidding process for the sale of Sahelian’s 60 percent shares in the Kano Electricity Distribution Company. Other parties equally restrained are Patrick J.N. Ikwueto SAN (in his capacity as receiver manager of Sahelian Power), Fidelity Bank,…

AMID the impending nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Senate has issued an urgent plea, requesting that the labour union reconsiders its planned action. The Senate’s appeal stems from a deep concern about the strike’s potentially drastic impact on everyday Nigerians, warning that the nation could be plunged into a state of extreme hardship. Addressing the situation, the Senate on Monday expressed that while the legislative body respects the NLC’s right to protest, it is crucial to weigh this against the potential fallout that could greatly affect citizens’ daily lives and livelihoods. With the Nigerian economy…

FORMER President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock over the coup d’etat that toppled President Mohammed Bazoum of Niger Republic. The former President, however, said he was happy that President Bola Tinubu was already dealing with the development. Buhari said this in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Friday. The former Nigerian leader said he has confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to resolve the crisis. Buhari assured the people that Tinubu would be able to reverse the situation and ensure the safety of Bazoum and his family. “As to be expected, I, like millions of other Nigerians, am shocked…

INTERNATIONAL Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said at least 1,200 Nigerians have died while trying to migrate through the Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea this year. The acting Deputy Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap, disclosed this Thursday during the 2023 Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Nationwide Sensitization and Enlightenment Campaign at the NIS headquarters in Abuja. The event was held in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the NIS. The team visited Jabi Park, the Federal Government Boys College Apo, and Garki on Thursday. Nandap, who is in charge of the Directorate of Migration, lamented that many…

ZAMFARA State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Thursday, honoured the pilgrim who returned 80, 000 dollars to the owner during the last Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrim, Hajiya Aishatu ‘yan Guru Nahuce from Bungudu Local Government of Zamfara State found $80,000 (N64,240,000) and handed it over to the Zamfara Pilgrims Welfare Agency official for onward return to the owner. A statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that the Governor honored the pilgrim in the company of all Emirs of the State, which was held at the Council Chambers, Government House. The Governor further expressed the…

LAOLU Akande, a former spokesperson for ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, strongly suggested on Wednesday that the northern governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) might have “tremendous influence” on President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial list. Akande, who spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, asserted that the governors fought for a balance in the party’s zoning arrangement during the 2022 presidential primaries. “The governors of the APC, especially the Northern governors were able to stand for the right thing when we were almost on the verge of tweaking the zoning balance,” Akande…

DEATHS from the outbreak of diphtheria disease in Kaduna have reportedly risen to 13 according to the latest official figures. A breakdown shows 10 people have reportedly died from the disease in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, while 3 children died in Makarfi Local Government Area, while seven others were hospitalised. Confirming the outbreak in Markafi LGA, Local Council Health Secretary, Malam Aliyu Alhassan, said the suspected cases occurred at Tashar Na Kawu community in Gubuchi Ward of the area. He said: “Affected victims were children and the specimen of the victims was forwarded to Abuja for…

THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) says it shared a total sum of N907.054 billion to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Areas in June. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of FAAC meeting for July 2023. The meeting was chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, according to a statement by FAAC’s spokesman, Bawa Mokwa, on Thursday. Mokwa disclosed that the N907.054 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N301.501 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N273.225 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) of N11.436 billion,…

THE Federal Government has officially confirmed the first case of anthrax in the country. A statement released by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Monday signed by Dr. Columba T. Vakuru , Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, said animals showing signs of a possible case of anthrax on a farm in Suleja, Niger State, were reported to the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria on July 14, 2023. “The case was in a multi-specie animal farm comprising of cattle, sheep and goats located at Gajiri, along Abuja-Kaduna express way Suleja LGA Niger State, where some of…

NO fewer than two persons have been kidnapped in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory. Our correspondent learnt that gunmen stormed the area in the early hours of Sunday and whisked away two residents. A resident of the area, who identified himself as Yakubu told our correspondent that the gunmen were about six. He said, “At about 1am today, gunmen numbering six came to our area shot sporadically while the operation lasted, and kidnapped two people.” The FCT police command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident. She added that the victims had been rescued by the police…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has disclosed a plan by the Federal Government to transfer N8,000 to 12 million poor households in Nigeria for a period of six months. This was contained in a letter the President wrote to the House of Representatives regarding the 800 million dollars loan request of the Buhari administration for the social safety net programme. The president is asking for approval of the House to secure the loan. According to the President, the money transfer to poor households would have a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals. For credibility, the President said the money will be…

A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has restrained the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCDA) from demolishing Trademore Estate sited in the Lugbe area of Abuja. In an interim injunction, Justice Mohammed Zubairu ordered that the first to fourth defendants/respondents to maintain status quo and stop plans to demolish the estate. In the Motion No: M/11692/2023 dated July 12, 2023, the first to fourth defendants/respondents are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCDA, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The judge granted an order “restraining the Defendants, whether by themselves, agents, employees,…

FORMER Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been appointed Global Advisor to Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). Osinbajo confirmed the development in a series of tweets on Tuesday. “I am excited to announce that I have been appointed Global Advisor to Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet @EnergyAlliance,” he announced. “Together, we will work to unlock capital flows into the clean energy sector and boost Africa’s share in the global carbon market through #ACMI “GEAPP in such a short period has demonstrated a commitment to support developing countries shift to clean energy using models that ensure universal…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Adamawa governorship election, Aisha Dahiru, popularly called “Binani,” has, again, sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the nullification of her declaration as governor of Adamawa in the March 18 governorship election. Binani, through her counsel, Michael Aondoaka, SAN, filed the fresh suit before Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja. In the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, the APC candidate in the poll, sued INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents, respectively. Binani, again, sought a judicial review…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). “We will take democracy seriously, Democracy is very tough but it is the best form of government,” he said upon his emergence on Sunday in Guinea-Bissau. Tinubu succeeds President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau as ECOWAS chair. Tinubu’s emergence was announced at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. The 63rd Ordinary Session summit was the first engagement of the President within the African continent since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.