Author: Binta Kabir

THE International Air Transport Association has warned the Central Bank of Nigeria that some foreign airlines may be forced to quit the Nigerian markets if nothing is done about the $790m ticket revenue currently trapped in the country. The IATA Regional Vice President, Africa & Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, at a media presentation with African journalists at the IATA Global Media Day in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday also said Lagos and Abuja airports had been ranked the most expensive gateways in the region despite the poor state of their infrastructure. According to him, the Nigerian government is currently holding the…

THE University of Abuja (UniAbuja) says its researchers have won over N3 billion in grants in 2023 following their applications to donor agencies for research grants. The Vice Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the award ceremony for researchers and authors. Na’allah said that the 2023 grant of over N3 billion was a significant improvement compared to the N1 billion that was won in 2022. The vice-chancellor urged those leading in research to share their experiences with others, adding that they should support one another to bring in more researchers. “When you hear…

A NIGERIAN healthcare worker in the United Kingdom has been fired and deported after she was reportedly seen praying for an elderly dying patient. In a post shared on ‘X,’ popular Nigerian doctor @drolufunmilayo stated that it is unethical in the UK for nurses to bring religion into their duties. He said that although it is not customary for nurses to pray for patients, it is expected of them to ask a cleric to perform any religious service on them, even if the patient requests that they do so. Olufunmilayo said he narrated the incident to warn Nigerian doctors moving…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, said Nigeria’s national defence and internal security are some of the top priorities of the 2024 ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’. Tinubu said the nation’s internal security architecture will be overhauled to enhance law enforcement capabilities with a view to safeguarding lives, property, and investments across the country. “Defence and internal security are accorded top priority. The internal security architecture will be overhauled to enhance law enforcement capabilities and safeguard lives, property and investments across the country,” the President said while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2024 Federal budget proposal in…

THE Nigerian government on Monday said it spends N3m daily in feeding inmates in prisons across the country, a figure that further justifies the quest for the decongestion of custodial centres across the nation. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo upon assumption of office some months back, moved to decongest prisons in the country. Some 4,000 inmates are billed to be released. According to the minister, with 80,804 inmates in 253 custodial facilities, feeding the inmates takes a chunk of money from the Federal Government’s purse. “So, before you go on, let me say this. You look at the economy of scale.…

A VETERINARY doctor, Bello Lawan, has been reportedly shot and injured and his wife kidnapped in Bagama community on the outskirts of Mpape town in Bwari Area Council of the FCT. This newspaper learnt that three members of his family, including his son, who took a ransom of N13.5m, as well as foodstuff and drugs, were also held by the kidnappers. A resident, Daniel Azaki, described Bello as a philanthropist who assisted many with his veterinary services, as well as in his medical clinic and pharmacy, all located in Bagama. Bello, a converted Christian Fulani man, was said to have…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed Chief Pius Akinyelure, as the Chairman of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, this newspaper can authoritatively report. This is just as the President also retained Malam Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited. Before his appointment as Chairman, Akinyelure was a member of the board of the NNPC Limited. Akinyelure, a seasoned and distinguished administrator, and an oil industry practitioner is being appointed to Chair the NNPC Limited Board about five months after the President dissolved the board of federal government’s agencies and parastatsals including that…

GOVERNOR Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has ordered the immediate “general” renovation of the first residence of former President Shehu Shagari which was razed by fire last weekend. The governor gave the directive Monday in a statement by his press secretary, Abubakar Bawa, shortly after an inspection visit to the resident alongside Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to assess the level of damage. He described the fire as an unfortunate, catastrophic incident that attempted to deface the historic building. In a related development, Bawa, says the governor has also approved the constitution of a committee to assess the level of damage…

ONE person has been rescued from the partial collapse of a building under construction in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. It was gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday in the Central Business District, beside Taj Bank in the nation’s capital. This was disclosed in a statement by the spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Nkechi Isa, who said the agency was informed about the collapse one hour after the construction workers “unsuccessfully tried to rescue their trapped colleague to no avail”. It is, however, unclear the cause of the partial collapse of the building.…

THE Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned consumers against possible increase in fake online stores to scam them during the ‘Black Friday’ sales. A statement by Mr Babatunde Irukera, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Thursday in Abuja, said the FCCPC received credible intelligence that fake online stores would increase by 135 percent. Irukera advised consumers to be vigilant and discerning this period adding that they should demand and insist on their rights, particularly with respect to full and transparent disclosures. According to him, consumers should only patronise trusted and credible platforms and exercise caution to…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)’s motion seeking an order setting aside its judgement restraining the commission from imposing fines on broadcast stations in the country. Delivering Judgement, Justice Omotosho dismissed all the grounds put forward by the NBC, describing same as an afterthought. Justice Omotosho held that despite being served with the originating process and hearing notices in the case leading to the judgment, the commission failed to file its defence. The judge said contrary to the NBC’s argument that it was not served with court processes that led…

A COALITION of Civil Society Groups in Nasarawa State has  congratulated the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engnr Abdullahi A Sule over his victory at the Court of Appeal. The group in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Ogbu Francisca Esq and Director of Mobilisation Bulus Musa hailed the Judgement of the Appeal Court describing it as a true reflection of the wishes of the people of Nasarawa State. The group further hailed the judgement of the Appeal Court, which nullified and reversed the judgment of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Tribunal that ordered for the sack of Gov…

COALITION of Civil Society Groups in Nasarawa State has called on the Appeal Court which will be hearing the Appeal filed by Governor A A Sule of the All Progressives Congress against David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to dismiss the judgement of the Tribunal which it described as totally flawed. According to a statement signed by Spokerperson of the Coalition, Olatubosin Taiwo, Monday,  it is sad that the tribunal resorted to technicalities rather than reality in making their decision hence the split votes that necessitated a minority interpretation of the judgment. The group which comprises of Women…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Saudi-Africa Summit scheduled to be held on Friday. At the Middle-East nation, the Nigerian leader was received by ministers, members of the National Assembly as well as other government functionaries at the airport. Tinubu will use the opportunity of the summit to underscore Nigeria’s commitment to attracting more foreign direct investment and expanding business partnerships. According to the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the visit would strongly reinforce the administration’s ongoing domestic economic reforms. Discussions at the first Saudi-Africa Summit will revolve around supporting joint action, enhancing political coordination, and…

THE Federal Government, on Monday, revealed that more than N4.3tn worth of crude oil was stolen in 7,143 pipeline vandalism cases within a period of five years. It disclosed this at the Nigeria International Pipeline Technology and Security Conference in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Bolstering Regulations, Technology and Security for Growth.’ The conference was organised by the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria. In a presentation at the conference by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a Federal Government agency, the organisation revealed that oil theft and losses in Nigeria had become a national emergency. The Executive Secretary, NEITI, Ogbonnaya Orji,…

THE Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, is dead. He died at the early hours of Sunday, according to palace sources. He was 94. Palace sources told our correspondent in Lokoja the he died in an Abuja hospital where he had been receiving treatment for age-related ailment. He would be buried later on Sunday according to Islamic rites at Okene, the headquarters of Ebira kingdom. The Kogi State top monarch was born on February 7, 1929 and he ascended the throne on June 2, 1997. Dr Ibrahim was the fourth paramount traditional ruler of Ebiraland. He was a frontline businessman…

THE Senate has said it will summon the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) over the lack of funds to explore and develop new frontier acreages. The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, disclosed this to journalists after a closed-door session with the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe and his team. The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 introduced the Frontier Exploration Fund to support exploration and development in Nigeria’s frontier acreages These areas include regions like Anambra, Dahomey, Bida, Sokoto, Chad, and Benue where hydrocarbon exploration is yet to…

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has appointed Mr Olufemi Oladapo Soneye as its Chief Corporate Communications Officer. In a statement on Wednesday, the oil giant described Soneye as a seasoned journalist with full-time and freelance experience at some of the world’s most respected publications in Nigeria, Australia, and the United States of America. It stated that he “will lead our Corporate Communications team and drive our brand penetration, strategic communications initiatives, and stakeholder management.” “He is a member of reputable bodies, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists,…

THE Federal Government has pleaded with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) not to sell food items distributed to them. The plea was made in Kwara State during the distribution of food items to some affected IDPs in the state. It was gathered that no fewer than 100 households at the weekend benefitted from the exercise. Items distributed include; rice, garri, semo, spaghetti, vegetable oil and salt among others. The ceremony was held at the Federal Secretariat Ilorin; Federal Commissioner National Commission for Refugees; Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. Federal Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally…

IN the quest to finding solutions to challenges in the Power Sector, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Wednesday met with the management teams of power Generating companies (GENCOs) and the Distribution companies (DISCOs), urging them to improve on their performance. A statement by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser,  Strategic Communication and Media Relations quoted the Minister as saying the meeting was a fact finding meeting towards finding lasting solutions to the challenges in the power sector that have affected the growth and development of the country’s economy. The Minister said meeting with all the stakeholders in generating, transmitting and…