Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani

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.…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja, the nation’s capital, after spending two weeks abroad. The President arrived back at the Presidential Villa in the early hours of Wednesday. The Nigerian leader had travelled to the Netherlands on April 23 for a summit on economic growth. After the three-day event, he proceeded to Saudi Arabia, where he joined other leaders from around the globe for the World Economic Summit (WEF). The Nigerian leader did not immediately return to Nigeria after the event, spending more days abroad. No official reason was given for the extended stay that has aroused speculations from…

Says If They Don’t Repent, Tinubu’ll Attend Their Funeral A CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress, Jesutega Onokpasa, has revealed that certain appointees of President Bola Tinubu are plotting to succeed him before the end of his tenure and are seriously wishing that the President will not make it to 2027 for their selfish reasons. Onokpasa, a lawyer and former member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who lamented the alleged hypocrisy, pull him down mentality and anti-party activities going on in the governing party, laid curses on those he accused of wishing Tinubu dead, saying,…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has condoled with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, over the passing of his brother, Salihu Ahmadu Ribadu, who died on Sunday in Yola, Adamawa State. The President was represented by his Chief of Staff, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, who led a federal government delegation on a condolence visit to Yola, on Tuesday. Speaking at the Ribadu family home in Yola, the Chief of Staff said President Tinubu is saddened by the loss and describes it as “painful and irreparable.” “Mr. President has mandated us to come to Yola and condole with a valued member of…

TEN years after the launch of the Abuja centenary city, the Senate has opened up an investigation into the failed $18.5bn public-private sector-led project. It is seeking a revival of the lofty project under the 10th Assembly. The Senate has therefore set up an ad-hoc committee to be chaired by the deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Yisa Oyelola representing Kwara South, noted that the original estimated investment for the Abuja Centenary Economic City project in 2014 pegged at $18.5bn, was designated as a free trade zone under the regulatory oversight of the Nigerian…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested six senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps over alleged N6bn fraud. The senior officers are currently being grilled by EFCC interrogators at the commission’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, this newspaper can confirm. Though details of the probe are still sketchy, our correspondent gathered that the NSCDC officers were handed over to the EFCC on Monday on the order of the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi. Impeccable sources privy to the development but who were not authorised to speak to the press revealed that the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, had…

THE Presidency says Seyi Tinubu has a right to pursue his business interests in Nigeria and anywhere in the world within the limits of the law. This is in response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who in a statement, faulted the award of the contract for the Lagos-Calabar coastal road to Hitech Construction Company Ltd. According to Atiku, the award of the contract to Hitech Construction Company Ltd constitutes a conflict of interest because Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, is a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, which…

THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced a reduction in the price of electricity tariff for Band A customers from N225/kWh to N206.80/kWh. The AEDC made the announcement in a tweet on Monday, May 6. It reads: “We are pleased to share with you the revised tariff for our Band A feeders, which will decrease from N225/kWh to N206.80/kWh effective today, May 6th 2024. “We assure customers on our Band A feeders of continued availability of electricity supply for 20-24 hours daily. “Please note that the tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E remain unaffected.” Similarly, the Kaduna…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is expected to receive a report on the performance status of the Federal Government’s ministries, departments and agencies for the first quarter of 2024 this week. Presidency sources with knowledge of the developments said the report will form the basis of the President’s assessment of his ministers will be submitted on Wednesday. “What I know is that the report on the performance of the ministers has been submitted to the President and the report for the first quarter is being prepared,” a source who preferred to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak told this…

THE trial of a former Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, was stalled on Friday after his lawyers sought an adjournment following the service of additional proof of evidence served on them in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, granted the adjournment after he agreed with the defence team that the reasons given for the adjournment had merit. The judge adjourned till May 9th for a continuation of the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness, John Ayoh, a former Director of Information Technology of the CBN. Emefiele is facing a…

A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Kano issued an order stopping the National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) and the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO)from implementing the new increased electricity tariff for Band A consumers, News Point Nigeria reports. Recall that NERC recently mandated electricity distribution companies to charge Band A consumers increased tariffs in a move aimed at ensuring a stable power supply for those who can pay for it. However, many Nigerians accused NERC of migrating most consumers to Band A even as they complained of epileptic supply. But, on Thursday, presiding judge, Justice A M Liman gave a…

THE Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, narrated an incident where a 17-year-old successfully hacked into his personal computer and bank account while being interrogated at his office in Lagos. The anti-graft agency chairman made this known in a chat with editors at the EFCC Headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, last Tuesday. Olukoyede recounted inviting the 17-year-old for questioning at his own office, only to witness the young hacker effortlessly bypass the security measures of his locked computer right before his eyes. He said, “I brought into my Lagos office a seventeen-year-old boy who is studying History and…

THE Federal Government says although the Tripartite Committee On National Minimum Wage is yet to conclude its negotiations, workers will not lose anything as the new minimum wage will take effect from May 1, 2024. The Minister of State Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, stated this on Wednesday while addressing Nigerian workers at the May Day celebration in Abuja. She said it is regrettable that the new national minimum wage is not ready before today, but that a wide consultation is ongoing to ensure that the document is out together as soon as possible. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade…