THE Minister of State for Works, RT Hon. Bello Goronyo, Esq. has reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to driving infrastructural development through well-structured Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), as he participated in the Nigeria Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Summit 2025, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja recently. The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda”, was organized by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), drawing key players across government and private sectors to chart a sustainable path for infrastructure development. The Minister, speaking during a panel discussion, highlighted the strategic efforts by the Federal Ministry…
Author: Maimuna Bashir Isa
FRESH scandal is rocking the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over spending over N1.64 billion on 400 spouses of its workers during 2025 Hajj. The amount was expended on the purported spouses of the 274 staff as subsidies for the religious pilgrimage. The outrage was triggered by the justification for selling a Hajj seat at N4.5 million to its staff members spouses and N8.7 million to regular pilgrims. The number of spouses which nearly doubled the number of the sponsored workers to Hajjj has further deepened suspicion that the bloated spouse slots were sold to highest bidders. Further findings…
THE Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy has presented its budget performance report to the National Assembly, highlighting the ministry’s achievements, challenges, and future plans. The report which was presented to the House Committee on Art, Culture and Creative Economy on Wednesday, detailed the ministry’s efforts to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, support the growth of the creative industry, and drive economic growth. The ministry’s initiatives include developing a robust intellectual property policy, investing in infrastructure, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders. The ministry’s budget performance presentation which highlighted its eight-point plan, initiatives such as Nigeria Destination 2030, skills development,…
AHEAD of next month’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting, a new research note by Renaissance Capital has revealed that Nigeria’s banking sector is facing a severe liquidity crunch following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s decision to impose a 50 per cent Cash Reserve Ratio, a move analysts say is at odds with the country’s ambition of achieving a $1tn economy by 2030. A new report by investment bank, Renaissance Capital, has warned that the higher CRR requirement, described as the highest in the world, has significantly restricted banks’ ability to lend, threatening credit growth and turning market sentiment on Nigerian banks…
THE Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday rejected the Federal Government’s request to issue an arrest warrant against the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, following her failure to appear in court for arraignment in an alleged defamation suit. The presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Umar, delivered this ruling after the federal government’s counsel, David Kaswe, informed the court that the charge had been served on her lawyer earlier that morning in the courtroom. Justice Umar stated that, as the senator had not previously been served with the charge or a hearing notice, it was inconceivable for…
KWARA State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has reimbursed pilgrims from the state who fell victim to a foreign currency scam in Saudi Arabia. This was disclosed by the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Sunday. A statement e-signed by the Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, confirmed that an investigation had commenced into “the recent incident involving some of our pilgrims who were reportedly defrauded of their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA). “Every pilgrim was given their $500 BTA in five $100 bills in the public space and under the supervision of officials of the Directorate of State Security, who…
THE Federal Government has condemned Israel’s preemptive strike on Iran that led to an escalation of hostilities between both nations, marked by sustained missile and aerial exchanges across both territories. In a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged both parties to exercise utmost restraint in the interest of regional and global peace. Ebienfa said the continued cycle of retaliation not only endangers civilian lives but threatens to plunge the broader Middle East into further instability, with implications for international security and economic development. “As…
THE Cité Universitaire de Paris, a leading university ranked as the best university in France and 12th in the European continent, has honoured Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, the President of Association of African Private Universities (AAPU) with an Award of Excellence for his outstanding contributions to education in Africa and beyond. Prof. Gwarzo, who is the President of MAAUN Group of Universities, was presented with the prestigious award on Friday, June 13, 2025, by the President of the University, Senator Jean Mac Sauve. The presentation of the award which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the institution and hosting of…
SENATE President Godswill Akpabio on Friday said opposition political parties won’t get their acts together if they keep criticising everything about the President Bola Tinubu administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Akpabio spoke at the commissioning of the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway in the nation’s capital, Abuja. The event had some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains like former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) in attendance. The Senate president referenced Tinubu’s statement during his Democracy Day address before a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, 2025. Tinubu had refuted allegations that…
BELLO El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representative and son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has admitted that he was naive in his criticism of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency said that his naivety prevented him from realising that there was governance in the country during Jonathan’s administration. According to him, he came to the realisation of his naivety in criticising Jonathan after he saw his father going to visit the former president for political talks. “I visited my father after I became a member and I saw…
NIGERIA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has declared Nigeria’s democratic tradition a stabilising force in the West African region, calling it a model worthy of emulation as the subcontinent faces growing political uncertainty. He made the statement in a press release signed by his spokesman, Alkasim Abdulkadir, on Wednesday during the celebration of Democracy Day. Tuggar noted that despite recent challenges across West Africa, including a surge in unconstitutional changes of government, Nigeria has maintained its democratic trajectory through regular elections, peaceful transitions of power, and adherence to constitutional norms. “Nigeria stands as a beacon of hope and…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has debunked a news story in circulation suggesting that the Bank has extended the deadline for the recapitalisation of Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to December 31, 2025. The CBN, through its Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, described the information as false and misleading, adding that it should be disregarded. According to her, the Bank has not granted any such extension beyond the previously communicated deadline of June 3, 2025. She consequently urged the general public, journalists, media platforms, and all stakeholders to consistently verify information directly from…
THE Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy mourns the passing of Nigeria’s highlife legend, Mike Ejeagha, who departed this life on Friday, June 6, 2025, at the age of 95. The Minister extends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Mike Ejeagha, praying that his soul rests in peace. Musawa describes the late icon as a legend whose contributions to Nigeria’s culture through music and folklore cannot be set aside. “The nation has lost a treasure trove of cultural heritage and musical genius. Mike Ejeagha’s contributions to Nigerian music are immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to…
THERE is a looming electricity blackout in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, as electricity workers under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies have declared their intention to embark on strike. The two unions who work for the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said the strike is related to the company not implementing its demand following the suspension of another strike in November 2024. This newspaper reports that AEDC supply electricity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states. The suspended strike in November saw the picketing of AEDC’s headquarters…
THE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the QNA and other stakeholders have mapped out strategies to tackle the threats posed by cybercrime and cyber-attacks in Nigeria through a national conference. A 4-day event scheduled to be held in Abuja from July 7 to 10, 2025, with the theme “Building a Resilient Digital Future”, which is the maiden edition, highlights the urgent need for strong cybersecurity measures in a rapidly evolving digital world. Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday ahead of the National Conference, the Director General…
MARYAM Abacha American University of Nigeria has achieved yet another remarkable feat as it has so far signed no fewer than 50 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with academic and institutional partners across 21 countries worldwide. These countries include United States of America, Afghanistan, Brazil, Cyprus, Cameroon, China, Chad, France, India, Iraq, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the Sultanate of Oman, Ethiopia, the Republic of Niger, Somalia, Gambia, Thailand, and Uganda. MAAUN has so far implemented a considerable number of agreements outlined in the MoU drafts signed with various agencies, universities, and research centers across the globe. Recall that the…
THE suspended Nigeria Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President asked her to harass ministers and heads of agencies in exchange for kickbacks and favours for his personal benefit. Speaking in an exclusive interview with US-based Nigerian journalist Adeola Fayehun, Akpoti-Uduaghan detailed what she noted as systemic coercion within the National Assembly, alleging that as the then chairman of the Senate committee on Local Content, she was expected to extract returns from ministries and agencies under her oversight, including the Minister of Petroleum,Gas, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). She disclosed that her…
THE Katsina State Government on Saturday called for the cancellation of the English language examination recently conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). The call was made after the examination commenced several hours behind the time it was scheduled to start. The position of the state was announced in Katsina by Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, during a visit to WAEC office in Katsina. This newspaper reports that the position was based on a petition signed by Hajiya Ummukhair Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry. NAN recalls that WAEC blamed the situation on…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states for Saturday, June 20 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, respectively. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Friday, during the swearing-in of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners, recently confirmed by the National Assembly. “For Ekiti State, the election will be held on Saturday, 20th June 2026. However, party primaries will start on 20th October 2025 and end on 10th November 2025 to enable political parties to upload their nomination forms to the dedicated portal, which automatically shuts down by 6.00 pm on…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to cultural revival, economic advancement, and global engagement. In his address on Thursday, marking the second anniversary of his administration, President Tinubu said that the Motherland 2025 Festival, billed for December, aims to position Nigeria as a world-class destination for tourism, investment, and creative exchange. “In the spirit of democracy and national renewal, we are preparing to welcome the world to Nigeria soon for the Motherland Festival. This landmark gathering will spotlight our rich heritage, dynamic creative industries, and the vibrant energy of our people. It will showcase Nigeria’s beauty through tourism,…