Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

POLICE authorities are still searching for six officers who went missing in Delta State, according to Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi. Six police officers were gruesomely murdered in Ohoro Forest, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State and the same number declared missing after they were ambushed during a rescue mission of their colleagues. Weeks after the incident, Adejobi said security operatives are still in the hunt for the missing officers. “Up till now, according to the provisions of the law, we are still searching for the six persons. Nobody can declare them dead. Hopefully, we are going to get…

THE Federal Government, on Monday, announced that the new price of natural gas for power generation companies is now $2.42 per metric million British thermal unit, higher than the previous rate of $2.18mmbtu. Nigeria generates over 70 per cent of its electricity from thermal power plants that are fired by gas. Therefore, the rise in the cost of the commodity may lead to a hike in the tariff payable by power consumers once the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission carries out another tariff review. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, an agency of the Federal Government, unveiled the new…

SIXTEEN power plants are currently performing below capacity as the country grapples with the reality of constant grid collapses. Data obtained by this newspaper from the electricity market operator (NERC) on Monday, revealed that some power plants- Afam IV-V, Sapele ST, Olorunsogo NIPP, Omotosho NIPP, Sapele GT NIPP, Ihovbor NIPP, Geregu NIPP, Omotosho, Olorunsogo, Ibom Power, River IPP, Omoku, Trans Amadi, Paras, Taopex Energy and Dadin Kawa- currently produce just about 1,053MW (below 37 per cent) of the power consumed in-country. On the other hand, only 10 power plants classified as major, including, Egbin ST, Delta GS, Kainji Afam VI,…

ABOUT 107 companies including Dangote and Mikano International are currently enjoying tax exemption from the Federal Government despite its insistence to discontinue the programme and drastic steps to improve its revenue base, findings by this newspaper have shown. It also increased the number of beneficiaries enjoying Pioneer Status under the Industrial Development Income Tax Act by 24 from 83 in the first quarter of 2023 to 107 firms by the fourth quarter of 2023. This was disclosed in the latest Pioneer Status Incentive reports released by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and obtained by our correspondent on Sunday. An analysis…

IN the first six months after taking office, 13 new state governors collectively borrowed N226.8bn from domestic and external financiers. This emerged as findings by this newspaper showed that 16 state governors also increased the debt profile of their states by N509.3bn with domestic and external debt of N243.95bn and $298.5m (N265.37bn), respectively. The external debt was calculated based on the exchange rate of N889/$ used by the Debt Management Office in its report. This is according to an analysis of the latest sub-national debt reports released by the DMO. The sub-national debts are classified into domestic borrowings from local…

SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has said the Red Chamber will soon lift the suspension on Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central). This is coming 24 hours after the lawmaker wrote to Akpabio, threatening to take legal action if his suspension is not lifted within 7 days. Ningi was suspended following his BBC Hausa interview in which he alleged that the budget for the 2024 fiscal year was padded to the tune of N3.7 trillion. After a heated debate by Senators on the floor during plenary on the matter, Ningi was suspended for three months and asked to write a letter…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has felicitated Christians in Nigeria and around the world as they celebrate the Easter season. Easter is an event that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It also symbolises Christ’s victory over sin and death. To mark the day, Tinubu in a Friday statement called on Christians to imbibe the virtues of love, sacrifice, and compassion associated with the season. “The President warmly greets Christians in Nigeria and around the world on this occasion, emphasising love, sacrifice, and compassion as the patent themes of this solemn season,” presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said in the…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has called on religious leaders to refrain from vilifying or denigrating the nation in their sermons. Speaking during Ramadan Iftar with traditional rulers and religious leaders at the State House on Thursday in Abuja, the President emphasized the important role of religious leaders in shaping public opinion and fostering a sense of unity among citizens. He urged the leaders to be more constructive in their criticism of those in elective positions. President Tinubu also declared that his administration is determined to turn Nigeria’s challenges into prosperity. He reiterated that no terrorist can defeat the collective will of…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), pending confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, Thursday. According to the statement, Dr. Bello is a consummate professional with more than 25 years of work experience in consulting, banking, law enforcement, financial services, and academia. The statement read in full: PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN OF CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abdullahi Usman…

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Wednesday disclosed that that 17 troops of the Nigerian Army, who were killed in Delta State on March 14, 2024, left 10 widows among which were 3 pregnant women as well as 21 orphans. This is as just the President, Bola Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour at the burial ceremony at the Military Cemetery, declared that the deceased officers would be awarded posthumous national honours. Speaking in an emotional-laden voice where the slain military officers were being buried, Lagbaja revealed that the 3 women were 4, 5 and…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) and the Economic Management Team Emergency Taskforce (EET) to tackle the prevailing economic challenges in the country. Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement said the two bodies were a strategic move to bolster the nation’s economic governance frameworks and ensure robust and coordinated economic planning and implementation. The PECC is made up of President Bola Tinubu as Chairman and Vice-President Kashim Shettima as Vice-Chairman. Other members are, President of the Nigerian Senate, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, conferred national posthumous awards on 17 slain military personnel killed in the Okuama area of Delta State. At the burial of the officers and soldiers at the Military Cemetery, Abuja, the President also announced scholarships and house gifts for the children and families of the slain military personnel. The officers and soldiers were murdered by criminals of the riverine community on March 14, 2024 when the men in uniform were on a peace mission to warring Okuama and Okoloba communities in the area. Four slain officers were awarded the honour of Members of the Order…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has arrived at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, for the burial of the 17 soldiers who were murdered in Delta State while on peace mission. The President, who arrived the venue exactly 4:10pm, was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. State governors on his entourage include: Abba Yusuf (Kano), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and their Bayelsa State counterpart, Duoye Diri. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa; Chief…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has declared that individuals involved in despicable crimes such as kidnapping must be treated as terrorists. The President made the declaration on Tuesday at a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. Reiterating the government’s resolve to defeat banditry, the President said those who resort to kidnapping children are cowards, incapable of confronting the might of the Nigerian Armed Forces. ”We must treat kidnappers as terrorists,” the President said, according to a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale. “They are cowardly. They have been degraded.…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Major-General Adamu Garba Laka as the new National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre. Laka is to serve in his new position under the Office of the National Security Adviser, the presidency said in a statement on Tuesday. Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who signed the statement said General Laka served in various capacities in the North-East, Nigeria, where he deployed tactical means to degrade terrorist groups. “He also served in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo under the United Nations and was part of the Nigerian contingent in the US…

THE Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit has exposed the alleged funding of terrorist activities in Nigeria by the Indigenous People of Biafra, bandits, and other terror groups through global crowdfunding and on sports betting platforms. The financial intelligence unit revealed how IPOB received funds through affiliates in 22 countries that have registered at least 27 entities under the group’s name. The NFIU noted that seven of the registrations were made in the United States, while six were in the United Kingdom. It added that over $160,000 raised by IPOB through crowd-funding was funnelled to transmission, media and broadcasting companies in Bulgaria,…

THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the construction of 28 roads and bridges across the country worth over 1.2 trillion Naira. The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this shortly after the FEC meeting held on Monday. He said the projects were approved by FEC having gone through the Bureau of Public Procurement and Certificates of No Objection secured. Umahi also said FEC approved the construction of Buruku bridge across Katsina Ala River in Benue State worth over 83.7 billion Naira while an approval was given for construction of 91.432 road at Saki in Oyo State worth 144 billion…

THE Federal Government, on Monday, insisted no ransom was paid for the release of the abducted Kuriga children in Kaduna State. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who briefed State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting, said the victims secured their freedom through the concerted efforts of security agencies in the country. The minister said, “President Bola Tinubu is determined to end this cycle of payment of ransom to kidnappers. The government believes that this continues to encourage these kidnappers, these criminal elements to perpetrate this act within the Nigerian nation and it is the official position of…

THE Federal Government says it has invited Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country. This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja. Idris said Gumi is not above the law, noting that the government has deemed it necessary to invite him for questioning. This newspaper reports that the cleric offered to dialogue with bandits who abducted about 287 schoolchildren (137 as claimed by the Kaduna State Government) from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in…

THE Office of the National Security Adviser has confirmed that the detained Binance executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, escaped from custody. The ONSA on Monday said Anjarwalla, who was a suspect in the probe into the activities of Binance, escaped on Friday. Earlier, this newspaper quoted Premium Times as reporting that Anjarwalla escaped from custody on Friday. Confirming the development in a statement the Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, said a preliminary investigation showed that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. He noted that efforts were ongoing to arrest the suspect. The statement read, “The Office of the National Security…