News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   President Bola Tinubu  President Bola Tinubu has sacked four Service Chiefs in furtherance of the Federal Government's efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.   The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.  Also, the new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.  This was even as the President retained Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye.  Tinubu appreciated the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership. The President charged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that defined the Armed Forces...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi (Middle), Team Lead, Operations, Islamic Development Bank, Nigeria Regional Hub, Abuja Office, Mr. Ibrahima Chalive (Right) and Operations Team Leader of E.I, Mr. Mohaman Mamoudou Abdousalam at the Ministry’s headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has indicated interest to accelerate Nigeria’s road infrastructure development through active collaboration with the Federal Government.  This was the crux of discuss when the Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi received a delegation from IsDB on Thursday in Abuja.  Umahi reiterated the Federal Government's commitment to strengthening partnerships with international development institutions in order to fast-track the completion of major road and bridge projects across the country. The parley centred on deepening collaboration between the Federal Ministries of Works, Finance, and the IsDB, to fund and implement key components of the...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja     Engr David Umahi The Federal Ministry of Works has commenced upskilling programme for its staff, aimed at transforming civil service for national development.  Tagged Personnel Audit and Skills Gaps Analysis (PASGA), the event was declared open by the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (DOOPS), Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi on Thursday in Abuja.  The PASGA exercise, which is to be conducted in close collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), aims to revolutionise human capital management across the ministry and its agencies.  It focuses on personnel verification, data collection, workforce optimisation, and organisational restructuring, laying the groundwork for a more productive and efficient service. It is also a landmark initiative for public sector reform. The Project Manager, Coordinator and Lead Analyst for PASGA, Mr. Jonathan Yusuf emphasised the importance o...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Prince Lateef Fagbemi  The Federal Government is currently reviewing the presidential prerogative of mercy list as no inmate approved for clemency under the recent exercise has been released from custody. This followed the escalating outcry by Nigerians over the names of certain individuals included in the list for presidential pardon.  The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) in a statement on Thursday, hinted that the process remains at the final administrative stage.  It includes a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any instrument of release is issued. After approval by the Council of State, the last stage of the exercise is the issuance of the instrument for the implementation of the decision concerning each beneficiary. This stage affords an opportunity for a final look at the list...

BY CHIKA OKEKE,, Abuja   Mohammed Ndarani  Ahead of the 2027 general elections, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mohamed Ndarani, SAN has called on the government to investigate all retired Chief Executive Officers and Directors in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as public office holders.  Ndarani who disclosed this at a news briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, said the call was necessary as another set of elections and the accompanying electioneering campaigning are practically around already. He suggested that retired civil servants should be barred from contesting any elective positions for at least one year to give the anti-corruption agencies the opportunity to investigate them. "People with political ambitions are already beginning to throw their hats into the ring all the way from the local government tier to the presidency. "Among those expected to emerge as political gladiators are retired civil servants, or those who resigned from public...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Kaduna State Coordinator for NESREA, Mr. Emmanuel Hena with officials of the Nigeria Customs Service during the destruction of 700 sacks of donkey parts handed over by the Service in Kaduna State recently.  In compliance with environmental regulations and safety protocols, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has destroyed 700 sacks of donkey parts in Kaduna State.  The donkey parts were seized by the   Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and handed over to NESREA  in continuation of its determination to end illegal trafficking of endangered species.  Two facilities were utilised for the incineration of the bones, while the skins were buried in a designated area. The exercise took place on the 3rd, 4th, and 6th of October, 2025. The exercise was conducted in the presence of regulatory officers and in accordance with environmental standards. It was made possible through the collaboration...