PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has urged the Senate to review and approve a bill aimed at prohibiting athletes from using substances that enhanced their performances. Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter read on Thursday on the floor of the upper legislative chamber by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau. The President stated that the bill would establish a legal framework for the formation of the National Anti-Doping Organization. He further emphasized that the establishment of the agency is essential for Nigeria to meet the standards set forth in the World Anti-Doping Code. “In accordance with the provisions of section 58…
Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has welcomed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal to the State House, Abuja. The President was flanked by senior members of his cabinet who were on hand to receive the Senegalese leader to the nation’s capital. Faye, who was just sworn in as the President of the West African country in April, is in Abuja on an official visit. Tinubu was in attendance when Faye was sworn in April as Senegal’s youngest president after sweeping to a first-round victory on a pledge of radical reform 10 days after he was released from prison. The 44-year-old has never…
THE Senate on Thursday passed the North West Development Commission bill to address the challenges facing the seven states in the geopolitical zone. This followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Special Duties on the NWDC (Establishment). The bill which scaled the third reading was sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin, and 20 other lawmakers from the seven states in the North West geopolitical zone. The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Shehu Kaka (representing Borno Central) who moved the motion for the presentation and consideration of the report, said the intent…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives seeking the preparations and approval of a N24.6 billion Promissory Notes to reimburse Nasarawa and Kebbi States on the costs of their Airports taken over by the Federal Government. Nasarawa is to be reimbursed N9.5 billion while Kebbi is to be reimbursed to the tune of N15.1 billion. In the letter read by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the Plenary on Thursday, the President said, the takeover of the qirports was in line with Item 3 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)…
THE House of Representatives has raised concerns over the status of the Presidential Air Fleet after President Bola Tinubu had to charter a private aircraft during his recent official trips to the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. After a motion of urgent importance by a lawmaker, Ahmad Satomi, the House feared that this puts the security of the President at risk and doesn’t speak well of the country to the international community. This followed reports that a presidential jet developed some faults while the President was in the Netherlands in April. The Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, in his contribution, said there…
THE Federal Government says payment for access into airports across the country is now compulsory for all. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, stated while briefing State House Correspondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Tuesday. The FEC meeting was adjourned on Monday May 13, 2024 to Tuesday. According to the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, the Council could not take all the memos that were to be presented by members. Keyamo said no one would be exempted paying for access into the airports including foreign guests. According to him, the situation where some persons…
THE scheduled arraignment of Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika; and his brother, Ahmad Sirika, for yet another case of contract fraud in the sum of ₦19.4 billion didn’t go ahead as the defendants were absent from court on Tuesday, and out of Abuja. Counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed the presiding judge, Justice Suleiman Belgore, that the ex-minister and his brother have also not been served with the charge in the case. He, therefore, prayed for an adjournment, which was granted by the judge. Justice Belgore subsequently fixed Thursday May 23, 2024 for arraignment.…
THE Federal Government may need to raise a supplementary budget to accommodate the proposed minimum wage increase for workers. This is because the negotiated amount may surpass the budgeted amount in the original 2024 budget. The International Monetary Fund gave this recommendation in its latest staff country report for Nigeria. “The authorities noted that a supplementary budget may be needed to accommodate the outcome of the ongoing wage structure negotiations which may exceed what they had included in the 2024 budget,” the report stated. It also noted that the government might need to raise the domestic and external borrowing ceilings…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to arraign former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and his brother, before Justice Belgore of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Garki, on Tuesday. The duo were slammed with 8-count charge different from the previous charge against the former Aviation minister. It could be recalled that the anti-graft commission had arraigned Sirika alongside his daughter, Fatima, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the FCT, Maitama, last Thursday. Also arraigned was Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for alleged abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion. According to the charge…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the purchase of compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicles by all government ministries, departments, and agencies. Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale said this in a Monday statement. “In line with his commitment to ensure energy security, drive utility, and cut high fuel costs, President Bola Tinubu has directed the mandatory procurement of compressed-natural-gas-powered vehicles by all government ministries, departments, and agencies,” Ngelale said. According to him, the move is part of the country’s efforts to transition to cleaner energy as CNG-enabled vehicles have been adjudged to produce lower emissions, even as they present a more affordable alternative for Nigerian energy…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Monday, launched a campaign to promote inclusive education, skill development, and gender equity.’ The campaign tagged, #WeAreEqual, is an initiative of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD). A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, and made available to Channels Television said the campaign focusing on health, education, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence, has been launched in 15 African countries in different iterations. The Nigerian component of the programme is tagged, ‘Education as a Powerful Tool for Change’, championed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu,…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has sworn in two commissioners from Ogun and Osun States as members of the National Population Commission. The two commissioners, Hon. Fasuwa Johnson from Ogun State and Hon. Amidu Raheem from Osun State, were sworn in just before the Federal Executive Council meeting commenced in the Council Chamber on Monday. The short ceremony, which entailed their citations being read and oath of allegiance being administered, was witnessed by the Vice President, Kassim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, cabinet ministers and other government…
THE International Monetary Fund has warned the President Bola Tinubu to remove what it called implicit fuel and electricity subsidies. In a report published recently by the IMF, the organisation told Tinubu that the subsidies would guzzle three per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024 as against one per cent in the year before. According to the report, the IMF commended the Federal Government for, among other things, phasing out “costly and regressive energy subsidies”, saying this was critical to creating fiscal space for development spending and strengthening social protection while maintaining debt sustainability. IMF noted, however,…
TWENTY-NINE generals of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army have retired from active military service. Of the 29 retired infantry officers who pulled out of active service at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State on Friday, 19 were major generals, and 10 were brigadiers general. Among them is Major General Victor Ezugwu, who spoke on behalf of the retirees. He said the war against terrorism banditry will end if the proposed establishment of army aviation succeeds and the night fighting capabilities of the army infantry corps are improved. As the threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty are becoming asymmetric in…
THE US Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has unveiled 56 distinguished young Nigerians selected for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a programme of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, administered by global education and development group, IREX. The prospective fellows will travel to the U.S. as part of the 10th Anniversary of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the U.S. embassy spokesperson, Aishah Gambari, said on Friday. They will travel to 28 U.S. cities from June 19 to Aug.1, and engage with U.S. leaders in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors at…
A WITNESS, Victor Onyejiuwa, has testified against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in his trial over alleged abuse of office and accepting of gratification to the tune of $4.5bn and N2.8bn. Onyejiuwa, the Managing Director of The Source Computers Limited, said he was allegedly pressurised by the management of CBN to pay the sum of $600,000 for the payment of contract which he had executed. This was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has tendered more documents against Emefiele on Thursday. The bundles of documents were tendered through the third prosecution witness,…
THE Presidency has released a video of President Bola Tinubu walking in a relaxed manner to his duty post at the presidential villa in Abuja . This follows the speculations that generated over the refusal to release any picture or video of the president’s return to the country after two weeks abroad. In a 27 seconds footage, at least 15 aides were seen accompanying Tinubu to his office from his official residence within the villa. President Tinubu traveled to the Netherlands on the 23rd of April at the invitation of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. While in the Netherlands,…
A FORMER Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika and his daughter Fatima have arrived at the Federal Capital Territory High Court for their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud and abuse of office. They arrived at the court around 9 am on Thursday. They are facing a six-count amended charge to the tune of N2.7bn. The charges are presently being read to them. Al-Duraq Investment Limited is also a defendant in the case. They all pleaded not guilty to all the count charges. The counsel to the EFCC Rotimi Jacobs is, however, asking that the…
THE Federal Government is set to commence a fresh audit of the N2.8tn fuel subsidy claim by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. An audit firm, KPMG had conducted an initial audit reducing the claims from N6tn to N2.7tn. The Federal Government is also considering either engaging an external audit firm or directing the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation to verify the claims made by the corporation regarding the amount the government owes the oil firm. The latest plan was revealed in the minutes of the Federal Account Allocation Committee meeting held in March 2024, a copy…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, his daughter, Fatimah, and two other suspects in court on Thursday. The suspects are facing charges over alleged N2.7 billion contract fraud uncovered in the Aviation Ministry under Sirika. The embattled former Minister would be arraigned for trial for the first time, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. Sirika is billed to appear in court with his three co-defendants, his daughter, Fatima and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, on charges of abusing their positions to launder over N2.7 billion.…