News Rider

    Gov Umar Namadi The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi has enjoined Muslims to be generous and emulate the values of selflessness and sacrifice, which signified the celebration. In his Sallah message on Wednesday in Jigawa, the governor prayed for God’s blessings upon the citizens and their loved ones, hoping that the occasion would bring about harmony, happiness and prosperity to the people. He stated that Eid-el-Kabir is a significant event in the Islamic calendar that symbolises steadfastness and devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Namadi hinted that it is a reminder on the need for Muslims  to emulate the values of selflessness, sacrifice and unwavering faith in their lives. The governor pleaded with Muslims to use the sacred occasion to extend generosity and kindness to the less privileged.  “It is a time to share our blessings with the less fortunate, to foster unity and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood within our communities. “Together...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed worry over the deepening economic crisis, increased cost of living, fallen purchasing power and distress faced by millions of Nigerian families.  To this end, the party encouraged Muslims to pray for the triumph of justice and will of Almighty Allah in the affairs of Nigeria. The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, congratulated Muslims on the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.  He commended Nigerians for their resilience, urging Muslims to pray for the triumph of justice and the will of Almighty Allah in the affairs of Nigeria. Ologunagba pleaded with Nigerians to use the occasion to reinforce their patience, hope and trust in God in spite of the prevailing economic, social and security challenges confronting the nation. He urged Nigerians not to allow the hardship and present challenges to make them lose sight of the essence of the Eid-el-Kabir. The national publicity s...

The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 29, 2023 as Eid-el-Kabir holidays. In a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Oluwatoyin Akinlade in Abuja, the Federal Government also felicitated with the Muslim Ummah at home and in the diaspora on the festivity.  Akinlade encouraged Muslims and all Nigerians to make sacrifices towards the growth and development of communities and Nigeria generally. The permanent secretary was optimistic that prayers and sacrifices would restore the much-desired peace and unity that the country needs. “We are hopeful that the prayers and sacrifices that come with this great celebration as well as the message of Eid-ei-Kabir will bring about peace, unity and progress in Nigeria,” Akinlade added. 

Ebonyi State Police have killed three suspected murderers of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff during a gun duel and rescued his abducted wife. This was even as the police also arrested eight members of the criminal gang. News Rider reported that an Assistant Electoral Officer of INEC, Mr Emmanuel Igwe, was on Sunday, June 18, 2023, killed by suspected kidnappers operating along Ishiagu/Mpu road and abducted his wife. Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Mr Emmanuel Aja,  who confirmed the arrest and killing of the suspects to newsmen on Sunday in Abakaliki, hinted that the hoodlums were apprehended at their hideout in Lokpanta, Umunochi Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia state. He praised the police for their courage and gallantry, promising that the council would not hesitate in ridding the area of criminals. Aja hinted that the police had already launched a manhunt to capture the fleeing suspects, assuring that all the suspects would be arres...

L-R: Registrar/CEO of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr. Yakubu Baba, presenting a plaque to the Group Executive Director of Business Development, Media Trust Limited, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim in Abuja on Friday.  In a bid to protect the environment from harmful practices, the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) has sought the support of the media in enforcing public health laws. Registrar/CEO of EHCON, Dr. Yakubu Baba stated this on Friday when he led the management and staff of the council on a courtsey visit to Media Trust headquarters in Abuja. He noted that the council is ready to implement environmental health laws and create awareness on climate change, a task that would not be achieved without the support of the media.  Baba stated that EHCON has over 50, 000 environmental health personnels that would enforce the laws and safeguard the environment down to rural communities.  The registrar said that with the establishment of Environ...

In line with its corporate social responsibility programme, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has donated educational facilities and boreholes to Toumour community in Diffa Region, Niger Republic. Chief of Military Public Information for MNJTF, Lt.-Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this on Thursday in N’Djamena Chad. The facilities, which consist of a block of three classrooms, a staff office and four boreholes, were presented to the beneficiaries by the Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Col. Bamouss Ngarsara. He noted that the project was facilitated by the European Union through the COGINTA non-governmental organisation. Abdullahi hinted that the projects are part of the MNJTF’s Civil-Military Activities (CIMIC) meant to strengthen the existing relationship with the civilians that are recovering from Boko Haram crisis. He stated that it symbolised the commitment of the MNJTF and its partners towards pro...

     Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Francis Nwifuru  The Ebonyi State government has vowed to arrest the killers of a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr Sunday Igwe and an elderly farmer, Mr Ajah Okafor.  News Rider reports that Igwe was killed by gunmen along Mpu (Enugu)-Ishiagu (Ebonyi) road on June 18, 2023, and his wife was abducted while on transit.  The gunmen also killed Okafor, father to Leader of the Ohaneze Ndigbo socio-cultural organisation’s youth wing, Damian Okafor, on his farm while fleeing with the abducted woman.  State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor, disclosed on Wednesday shortly after the maiden state Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, that Governor Francis Nwifuru was furious by the kilings, which he described as heartbreaking. He noted that security issues are not discussed in public, assuring that the government would double its efforts  to apprehend the killer...

The Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transport Workers of Nigeria (AUATWON) has suspended its planned indefinite strike over proposed talks with government. Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the union, Jossy Olawale, stated on Wednesday in Lagos that the dialogue was scheduled for June 26, 2023.  He hinted that the meeting would involve the Ministry of Labour and Employment, app-based companies–Uber and Bolt– and the union. Olawale said: “The union and some app companies had earlier scheduled a meeting with the ministry for June 20, but got a letter that the meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, June 26. “As a result of this, we wish to announce that the strike will not hold, to allow the meeting with government as stated,“ he said. The chairman was displeased with the challenges faced by workers since the fuel pump price was increased by 300 per cent, adding that the increase impacted negatively on its service delivery. “We are also burdened by the lack of mo...

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) is expected to commence the  2023 annual vacation on July 31, 2023.  This is even as the vacation would end on September 26, 2023, as contained in a circular signed by the President of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, on Wednesday in Abuja.  In addition, normal court sitting would resume on September 27. Kanyip made the declaration pursuant to Order 58 Rule 4 (2) of the National Industrial Court Civil Procedure Rules. He confirmed that there would be no normal court sitting during the period except for urgent applications to be heard by a vacation judge. The court usually assigns vacation judges to preside in Abuja and Lagos Divisions to avoid loosing applications that the hearing fell within the vacation period.  Some of the applications include matters of national interest such as restraining orders to stop planned industrial action and stay of execution of proceedings brought via ex-parte motions.

The Federal Government has exempted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) from the recent directive on dissolution of Governing Boards of Federal Government institutions. Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja. News Rider reports that President Bola Tinubu had on Monday, June 19, 2023 approved the immediate dissolution  of the Governing Boards of all Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions and Government-owned Companies. He noted that Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, has clarified that the boards of the NDLEA and NAFDAC were exempted from such dissolution. Recall that Bassey had stated that the decision to dissolve the board was in line with the constitutional powers of the President and in public interest. He said that the dissolution did n...

                          Former Governor Samuel Ortom  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, over misappropriation of funds.  Other offences hanging on Ortom's head include money laundering and abuse of office during his eight-year tenure, between 29th May 2015 and 29th May 2023, as the state helmsman.  News Rider reports that Ortom arrived at the Makurdi zonal office of the anti-graft agency, located at Alor Gordon Street, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. He was accompanied by his former Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Terver Akase and former Principal Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr. Abraham Kwaghngu. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Former governor Ortom is currently at our Makurdi zonal office in Benue State. He arrived at about 10 a.m. this morning, and he’s still there now.  He was...

Worried by the heightened security challenges especially in the North East, President Bola Tinubu has fired the entire Service Chiefs, National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of  Police and Comptroller-General of Customs.  This was even as he approved their immediate retirement from service and named their replacements.  A statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey, on Monday in Abuja revealed that the new appointment takes effect immediately.  The appointees are National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taofeeq Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff, AVM H.B Abubakar. Others are Acting Inspector-General of Police, DIG Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Defense Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. EPA Undiandeye; Commander Brigade of Guards, Col. Adebisi Onasanya and Gua...

Nigeria is taunted with mirage of challenges that cut across all sectors of the economy. In this report, CHIKA OKEKE highlights eight priority areas that the new APC-led administration must revisit in order to redeem the gloomy tales of the country in the international space.  L-R: President Bola Tinubu, ex- Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari  As Nigeria advances both in age and size, such growth presents overwhelming pitfalls. With a population of over 200 million people, the path to development appears wobbly for the past 62 years of its existence as a sovereign nation.  From insecurity, down to unemployment, poor healthcare services, shortage of power supply, ill-equipped educational institutions, fuel crisis, poor livelihood opportunities, shortage of affordable housing and poor infrastructure, the narrative remains the same.  Regrettably, experts have attributed the daunting crisis to bad leadership, corruption, greed, ineptitude, poor...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), Dr Yakubu Baba signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Insurance Coverage in Abuja on Friday.  At least, 148, 950 Environmental Health Practitioners are set to receive free insurance coverage, courtsey of Mutual Benefits Assurance (MBA) Plc.  The Registrar of Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) Dr Yakubu Baba stated this on Friday at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Council and MBA on Insurance Coverage in Abuja.  A breakdown of the scheme revealed that 650 staff of EHCON, over 108, 300 students of Colleges of Health Technology and 40, 000 Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) would be enrolled in the scheme.  Baba noted that the first set of the beneficiaries are the 650 staff serving at the headquarters and state offices irrespective of their designations, followed by students in the 361 Colleges of Health Technology ...

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has set aside $2.5 billion to address hunger and malnutrition in the North East, North West and other selected States.  Country Director of WFP, David Stevenson, stated this at a joint press conference with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on Wednesday in Abuja.  The project tagged: "Country Strategic Plan (CSP)", would be executed in Nigeria for a period of five years, from 2023 to 2027. He said: “The country strategy is valued at $2.56 billion and it’s more than $500 million a year assistance for Nigeria to achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030." The benefitting states are Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa in North East; Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina in the North West, as well as Cross River.  Stevenson noted that the intervention was designed to support Nigeria in achieving food security and improve nutrition by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Develop...

       Manchester City celebrating their historic win at Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul,    Turkiye on Saturday.  Manchester City have won its first Champions League title by defeating Inter Milan 1-0 at Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, Turkiye.  The win placed them as the second English team to complete the treble this season.  Spaniard Rodri struck in the 68th minute on Saturday, a move that positioned the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners to clinch the trophy.  While it was the first time that City lifted the European football’s biggest club trophy, it was the third time Pep Guardiola lifted the cup as a coach.  City triumphed despite losing inspirational midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne to an injury in the first half. Al Jazeera reports that Erling Haaland, who scored 52 goals this season, went on a fifth straight match without finding the net but City had enough time to edge out their opponents who were le...

In commemoration of Democracy Day, the Federal Government has declared Monday, June 12, 2023 as public holiday.   The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.  While congratulating Nigerians on the occasion, she noted that the country’s democracy like in many other climes had  encountered both stormy and smooth sails.  It reads: “Nigeria’s democratic journey has, like in many other climes, encountered both stormy and smooth sails, but the ship of state, its institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance. “On this memorable occasion therefore, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are invited to appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate the milestones covered and look forward to a better future for the country’s democracy.  The permanent secretary wished all Nigerians a happy Demo...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele is currently cooling off in the custody of the secret police.  He was arrested on Saturday, June 10, 2023, by the Department of State Services (DSS) for some investigative reasons. News Rider reports that President Bola Tinubu had on Friday night suspended Emefiele from office with immediate effect. His suspension was contained in a statement by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. It was revealed that Emefiele was ousted following an ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector. Emefiele was directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor of Operations Directorate, Adebisi Shonubi.  Shonubi would act as the CBN governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and reforms.  But the Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya confirmed Emefiele's arrest on Sa...