News Rider

        Governor Hope Uzodinma The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has emerged as the Chairman of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) for the next four years. He succeeded immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.  El-Rufai noted that Uzodinma was elected at a joint meeting of immediate past governors, re-elected governors and newly-elected governors held on Wednesday in Abuja.  The PGF is an organisation which comprises governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) even as it serves as a platform for collaboration, policy development, and sharing of experiences among its members. El-Rufai said that the new Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani emerged as the Vice Chairman of PGF, while former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Abdulkadir Mayere, was appointed as the Director-General of PGF. The tenure of the new leadership commenced  immediately. 

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Determined to phase out the long queues and restore sanity to Nigeria's economy, the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol now sells from N488 to N557 per litre.  The new price takes effect from today, May 31, 2023, as announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).  This development comes barely 72 hours after President Bola Tinubu ruled out the payment of subsidy on PMS from third quarter of 2023.  Tinubu had on Monday during his swearing-in as the 16th President of Nigeria at the Eagles Square Abuja, noted that subsidy would automatically seize to exist from July this year.  He was emphatic that from the 2023 budget he inherited from the immediate past administration, that subsidy is supposed to end by June, 2023.  News Rider learnt that NNPCL and its stakeholders had at a meeting on Wednesday, May 31, approved the upward review of the PMS pump price table for Mega/Standard/Leased Stations.  To this end, they ins

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Following the announcement of an end to subsidy regime, queues are gradually building-up in fuel stations across the nation's capital.  News Rider reports that fuel stations in Lugbe, Central Business District, Wuse, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Maitama and other parts of Abuja are overwhelmed with long queues from motorists.  Aside the decision by the Federal Government to end fuel subsidy, the correspondent uncovered on Tuesday, May 30, that most fuel stations failed to open some entrance and exit points in their stations.  It was also gathered that though petrol sells at the government approved pump price of N185 per litre, that black marketers have trooped to different fuel stations to buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and resell to gullible Nigerians at exorbitant rate.  News Rider gathered that many civil servants, traders and other government officials abandoned their official assignment and businesses in search of the 'gold'.  President Bola Ahmed

        Governor Dapo Abiodun  The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun has ordered the immediate release of 49 prisoners serving in different correctional facilities across the state.  He made the pronouncement on Monday during his swearing-in for a second term in office at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the state capital. News Rider reports that the governor had signed the appropriate warrant for the release of 49 convicts, a move described as inauguration bazaar.  In addition, the governor and his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, took the oath of allegiance and oath of office, administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu. Abiodun stated that he also signed a warrant mandating  that the death sentences imposed on three persons on the death row be converted into prison sentencing. The governor noted that his administration would continue to work assiduously for the development and progress of the state, adding that he would consolidate on the success

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja         President Bola Tinubu President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ruled out the payment of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from third quarter of 2023.  Tinubu, who stated this on Monday during his swearing-in as the 16th President of Nigeria at the Eagles Square Abuja, noted that subsidy would automatically seize to exist from July this year.  Currently, Nigeria spends more than $850 million monthly on fuel subsidy as revealed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.  News Rider reports that in the last 17 years, from 2005 to mid- 2021, the Federal Government had spent over N13. 697 trillion on the payment of subsidy, just as the Organisation of Petroleum Countries (OPEC) pegged  the country's daily import of petrol and diesel at 465,000 barrels per day.  In 2022, the Federal Government spent over N3 trillion on subsidy, while in 2023 budget, N4 trillion was mapped out for fuel subsidy. The capital project for the entire country in 20

        Raymond Dokpesi  The Chairman of DAAR Communications, owners of AIT and Raypower FM, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is dead.  He died in the early hours of Monday at an undisclosed hospital in Abuja.  Dokpesi was aged 71. The media icon, who was the Deputy Director-General of Technical and Systems, Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, was said to have suffered stroke which led to his death. 

    Rauf Aregbesola  The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 29, as a public holiday for the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore.  Aregbesola enjoined Nigerians to promote democracy through adherence to the rule of law and uphold all democratic institutions. He encouraged Nigerians to shun any form of violence and other untoward acts. “Democracy anywhere is an unfinished business and the only way it can keep developing and serve its end of being the vehicle to good governance and the welfare of all the people is by adhering to its tenets of rule of law, support for democratic institutions, promotion of free and responsible press and advancement of the frontiers of freedom for all the people,” he added.

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  The Director of Center for Environmental Journalism, United States, Prof Tom Yulsman has attributed the frequent malaria attacks in Nigeria to high emissions.  Yulsman provided the insight at a one-day virtual capacity building programme for Environment journalists, organised by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Abuja recently.  Currently, Nigeria accounts for 0.23 percent of global emissions given its patronage of high emittant vehicles and other gadgets from developed countries.  Aside high emissions from Carbondioxide, there is an indication that climate change would increase malaria burden in the country.  Speaking on: "From Global to Local: An Overview of Climate Change for Journalists", he stated that anopheles mosquitoes which transmit malaria thrive in high temperatures, humidity and rainfall. Yulsman, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Journalism, University of Colorado, Boulder, US, hinted that Nigeria accoun

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has sought for $40 million assistance to rescue locals in Nigeria's Northeast from acute hunger and starvation.  This was even as the intervention would be used to provide critical production inputs to 2.3 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe known as the BAY States during the  2023 lean season.  The production inputs, which include fast maturing seed varieties, fertiliser and livestock feeds, are expected to boost their source of livelihoods at the peak of the lean season between June to August,  Country Representative of FAO, Fred Kafeero stated this at the launch of Lean Season Food Security and Nutrition Crisis, Multi-sector Plan 2023, in Abuja recently. He noted that the number of food insecure people in the northeast had remained constant since 2020, adding that timeliness is a critical factor in food production.  Kafeero requested for more assistance towards scaling up interventions that are a

Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja has thrown out the request by the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi and his Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, for live coverage of the proceedings.  The five-member panel led by the Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon, unanimously resolved on Monday that the order sought by the petitioners lacked merit and was outside the scope of the petition. In addition, the judges held that televising of proceedings was not captured in the law, adding that the court was created by the constitution and operated under the law by the Court Of Appeal. Justice Tsammani hinted that the court was created to hear and determine the petitions before it and cannot act as a vanguard. The judge held that the undue pressure of allowing cameras into the courtroom should be avoided as the impact on witnesses would be unimaginable.  “The court is created to find out the truth and should be

The Federal Government has sealed a deal with the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to resolve the pending demands.  Doctors had at 8am on Wednesday, May 17, commenced a five-day warning strike to demand for improved conditions of service.  But NARD had on April 29, 2023, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its demands or face industrial disharmony. The ultimatum ended on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Ahead of the warning strike, which is expected to end on Monday, May 22, at 8am, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the doctors on Friday, May 19.  Top officials of Federal Government agencies in the health sector and other relevant agencies signed the MoU on the part of government, while President of NMA, Dr Uche Ojinmah and his counterpart at the NARD, Dr Emeka Orji signed on behalf of the doctors.  In a press statement made available to newsme

The Labour Party (LP) and its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi have concluded plans to summon 50 witnesses that would testify against the President-elect, Asiwaju Sen. Bola Tinubu.  This, they believed was mandatory in order to reclaim their alleged stolen mandate.  At the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Saturday, Counsel to the petitioners, Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN) pointed out that there are few hiccups at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)  based on the court order of March 8, 2023.  Speaking before the five justices, Kalu said that the court had directed the INEC to allow them carry out forensic investigation of BVAs, which they have not been able to do. He noted that his clients would require seven weeks to scrutinize the BVAs and present their petition in the court. Kalu informed that his team suggested that a maximum of 30 minutes should be alloted to witnesses classified as 'star witnesses' to demonstrate any electronic eviden

Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has fixed Saturday, May 20, for pre-hearing in the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic party (PDP) challenging the February, 25 presidential election.   The five-member panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the case after listening to the agreement by all the counsels on their applications and suggestions in resolving issues. Tsammani informed that the pending issues were narrow and adjourned until Saturday for continuation of pre-hearing. In the petition marked CA/PEPC/05/2023, Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the PDP and the party are challenging the outcome of the presidential election. Respondents in the case are the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC). Counsel for the petitioners, Chris Uche, SAN had told the court that various applications served by the respondents have been answered by the petitioners. But counsel for IN

        Dr Alex Otti A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has nullified the election of the Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti. This is even as the court presided over by Justice M N Yunusa also nullified the election of all Labour Party (LP) flagbearers in Abia and Kano states. Yunusa ruled on Friday that the emergence of Otti and others was not in compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act provisions. This comes against the backdrop of Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023, filed by one Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the LP and Independent National Electoral Commission. “The party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have candidate in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election; this being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant is a wasted vote,” the judge said.  Yunusa noted that the failure of the LP to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries rendered the process invalid. Rea

A combined team of security operatives have rescued two staff of the United States Embassy in Nigeria that were abducted in Anambra State.   News Rider reports that gunmen had on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, ambushed the convoy of the consulate officials at Ogbaru Local Government Area in the state.  At least, seven persons were killed during the attack including police personnel, while two were abducted. The gunmen also set ablaze the bodies of the dead persons along Atani-Osamala road in Anambra. But the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed on Friday, that the two consulate staff were rescued.  Briefing newsmen in Awka, Ikenga failed to provide the names and identities of the rescued staff, adding that they were rescued unhurt by the joint security forces in the early hours of Friday. “In the early hours of Friday, May 19, 2023, the joint security forces rescued unhurt the two remaining victims abducted during the attack on a US convoy along Atani/Osamela road

National Pension Commission (PenCom) has recovered about N24.53 billion contributions owed to workers by defaulting employers in the last 11 years.  The recoveries were from June 2012 to March 31, 2023. News Rider reports that out of the N24.53 billion, the sum of N12.44 billion was the actual pension contribution while N12.09 billion was the penalty paid by defaulting employers.  It was also learnt that during the first quarter of 2023, N384.28 million (comprising N193.06 million contributions and N191.22 million penalties) was recovered from 34 defaulting employers. Director-General of PenCom, Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, stated this on Thursday in Lagos at the 2023 Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) workshop with the theme, “Securing the Future: The Benefits of the Contributory Pension Scheme to Nigerian Workers”. Represented by the Head of Corporate Communications of PenCom, Mr Abdulqadir Dahiru, the DG reiterated its commitment to protecting workers’ interests by c

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja R -L: Chairman/CEO of AMNI International Petroleum Development Company, Chief Tunde Afolabi; Isreali Envoy to Nigeria, Amb Michael Freeman and his wife, Mrs Sigalit Freeman; and Mrs Oluseyi Afolabi at the 75th Independence Anniversary of the State of Isreal in Abuja on Tuesday. PHOTO BY CHIKA OKEKE.  The Isreali Envoy to Nigeria, Amb Michael Freeman has assured maximum partnership with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in order to strengthen Nigeria's agricultural revolution, technology, cyber security, human capital and innovation.  Already, an Isreali company, Starcrest Integrated Farms  has commenced the cultivation of vegetables in Nigeria using Isreali technology, greenhouses, drip irrigation and seedlings, expected to provide millions of jobs and feed Nigeria and Africa.  The vegetables range from spring onions, pawpaw, lemon, seedless cucumber, assorted pepper, beetroot, mango, banana, butter nut, tomatoes and others.  Freeman stated this on

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja       Senator Elisha Abbo The Senator representing Adamawa North senatorial district at the National Assembly, Elisha Abbo, has disclosed that it is impossible to rebuild Nigeria without tackling corruption at the Federal, State and Local Governments levels.  This was even as he described corruption as the biggest enemy of Nigeria, adding that the citizens must rise up and demand accountability from the government, given the  state of the nation.  He stated this on Tuesday night at the 75th independence anniversary of Israel in Abuja.  The event was organised by the Israeli embassy to commemorate the birth of the modern state of Israel and democracy since its official declaration by the first Isreali's Prime Minister, Ben Gurion, in May 14, 1948. Abbo noted that its time for Nigerians to hold politicians and civil servants responsible for societal problems, saying that young people disagreed with the atrocities committed by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (

        Seun Kuti A Sabo-Yaba Magistrates Court sitting in Lagos State has ordered the remand of Nigeria's Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti for allegedly assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.  The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun, said on Tuesday in Lagos that Kuti should be remanded for 48 hours in police custody. She held that the defendant should be admitted to bail in the sum of one million naira with two sureties in like sum at the end of the 48-hour remand. Olatubosun noted that one of the sureties must be a landlord within the jurisdiction of the court. The chief magistrate directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice. She adjourned the case till May 22 for mention. The investigating police officer, Mr Lekan Ogundare, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 13, 2023, on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.  He stated that the defendant dro

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has revealed that  over 40,000 people die annually on Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) in Nigeria. Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dauda Biu, stated this on Monday in Abuja, in commemoration of the 7th United Nations Global Road Safety Week. He said that the figure was obtained from the statistics of road traffic crashes and injuries, which he described as the leading cause of death and disability. Biu informed that 1.3 million people were killed and 50 million persons injured each year globally. The corps marshal hinted that there is no greater threat to persons aged between 5 to 29 years than road traffic crashes, as one in every four deaths occured among pedestrians and cyclists. He disclosed that the United Nations had developed global plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030), which reflected an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries.  The FRSC boss said that road traffic deaths and injuries are expected to inc

         Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo The Federal Government has concluded the evacuation of students trapped in the war-torn Sudan and shutdown the situation room.  This was even as the government announced that a standby team would be available for any future emergencies. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Chairman of the Situation Room, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, disclosed this on Monday while briefing newsmen in Abuja. He recognised the presence of other Nigerians in Sudan, such as recent travellers and long-established families who desires to return home. To this end, he noted that the Federal Government has setup a dedicated committee to facilitate the repatriation of those that have voluntarily indictated interest to return home.  While saying that the committee would replicate the successes recorded in repatriating the students, he advised the students to report any colleague skipped  during the evacuation exercise.  ”An inspiring example of the operation’

    Cross section of resident doctors  Doctors have finalised plans to commence a 5-day warning strike on Wednesday at exactly 8a.m over poor remuneration.  This formed part of the deliberations at the just concluded National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).  President of NARD, Dr Innocent Orji, stated on Monday in Abuja, that the association had in April 29 issued a two-week notice to the Federal Government to increase the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) or risk industrial action. He noted that the increment should be 200 per cent of the current gross salary of doctors, in addition to the new allowances included in the letter written to the Minister of Health in 2022 for the review of CONMESS. Orji lamented that several talks with the Federal Government on the need for upward review of CONMESS, which was last reviewed over 10 years ago, failed to yield any tangible result.  He noted that the Federal Governm

Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 21 suspected illegal miners in Cross River State.  The suspects were arrested in Utanga community, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River on May 11, 2023, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.  News Rider reports that the items recovered from the suspects include pumping machines, shovels, diggers, and head pans. State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, who paraded the suspects on Monday at the NSCDC headquarters in Calabar, said they were arrested at the illegal mining site in Utanga community. Fadeyi hinted that illegal mining is capable of worsening security challenges and causing natural disaster in the community. “Our search light was able to identify a place in Utanga community in Obanliku Local Government Area where we raided, and caught 21 suspects in the act of illegal mining", he said.  He noted that the command is currently profiling the suspects, w

Determined to reward greatness, Dana Airline has showered Chef Hilda Bassey Effiong known as Hilda Baci with one- year free flight tickets for all her domestic travels. In addition, the airline also gifted Linda's mum, who is also a Chef with three months of local flight tickets for free.  This comes as  Akwa Ibom-born Baci broke the Guinness World record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.  Dana Air is one of Nigeria's leading airlines with daily flights to major cities in Nigeria. Baci started cooking on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the venue of the cook-a-thon, Amore Gardens in Lekki, Lagos State.  The 27-year-old had used over 100 different dishes since turning on her cooker at 3 p.m on Thursday. She had already cooked for over 98 hours as at the time of filing this report.  With the feat, she surpassed Chef Lata Tondon who set the record with 87 hours 45mins in Rewa, central India in 2019.  The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Ememobong Ettete,

In a bid to sanitise the workforce, the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has placed 80 officers on awaiting trial list and sacked eight others for engaging in passport racketering.  Part of the offences committed by the culprits include the collection of illegal fees for the issuance of new passports and renewal of old ones. News Rider reports that the eight other officers were  dismissed from service for the same offence in the last one year. The disciplinary measures were part of the three-point agenda of the Comptroller General (CG) of NIS, Isah Jere, targeted at reforming passport issuance, tightening border security and improving the welfare of NIS officers.  Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Comptroller of Immigration, Tony Akuneme, revealed on Sunday in Abuja, that Jere revamped the issuance of passports by introducing online booking for applicants within his one year in office. “We have tried as much as possible to eliminate third parties so that if you real

The much-touted coronation of King Charles ended with fanfare, mockery and denial. CHIKA OKEKE writes on the thrills and frills surrounding the historic event.   King Charles III receives The St Edward’s Crown during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London.  Streets of Britain witnessed huge colorful display on Saturday, May 6, 2023, as millions lined up on different traditional attires to witness the coronation of King Charles III as the head of the British monarchy.   The processions, pageantry and ceremonies drew visitors and tourists to London for such magnificent event that no country had ever observed.  Seen as the biggest ceremony for over seven decades in Britain, there was a sumptuous display of pageantry dating back 1,000 years.  In addition, about 100 world leaders graced the event, just as over one million persons glued to their television to catch a glimpse of the much-touted event. The historic ceremony dated back to the era of the 74-year-old’s

       Late Saint Obi One of Nigeria’s veteran Nollywood actor, Saint Obi is dead.  He died on May 7, 2023, after a prolonged battle with an undisclosed ailment. Born on November 16, 1965, the Imo-born thespian exited the earth at the age of 57.  Obi, whose real name is Obinna Nwafor, studied Theatre Arts at the University of Jos.  In 1996, he joined the league of celebrities on the big screen through a Peugeot sponsored commercial on NTA.  He had starred in over 60 movies.  But in In 2001, Obi produced his first movie, titled: 'Take Me to Maama', where he starred as Jerry, alongside Ebi Sam, late Rachel Oniga, Nse Abel and late Enebeli Elebuwa. The Actors Guild of Nigeria is yet to make an official statement about his death. 

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has disclosed that a total of 2,246 Nigerians were evacuated from Sudan since the exercise commenced in May 3, 2023.  Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun, provided the  updates on Friday in Abuja.  He noted that on May 3, 94 evacuees, comprising 78 males and 16 females, boarded NAF C130 plane, while 274 boarded Air Peace plane from Aswan Airport, Egypt. Balogun hinted that on May 5, 130 Nigerians were airlifted via Tarco Airline, while on May 6, 131 evacuees boarded the same airline from Port Sudan.  He stated that additional 102 Nigerians boarded the same airline from Port Sudan on Sunday, May 7, saying that 410 Nigerians boarded Max Air and 322 Azman Air, both from Aswan Airport on Sunday, May 7. Balogun hinted that two flights from Tarco Airline evacuated 133 passengers, including seven children and nine infants on Monday.  Also, 126 passengers, with 12 children and 41 infants