News Rider

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government have resolved on military and financial showdown against the unconstitutional takeover of government in the Republic of Niger. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray stated this at the end of the extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS on Niger.   News Rider reports that General Abdourahmane Tchiani also known as Omar Tchiani, who is the Chief of Niger’s presidential guard declared himself leader while the elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, was detained by the military since the coup commenced last week. To this end, Heads of State and Government converged in Abuja on Sunday to deliberate on further actions against the unconstitutional seizure of power by the military junta in Niger.  Touray agreed that a military action would be taken against the junta of Niger Republic if they fail to restore President Bazoum within one week. He hinted that the authourity also resolv...

Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme and Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) have concluded plan to empower 50,000 residents with operational grant.  At the Performance and Technical Review Workshop  for Livelihood Support Officials on Saturday, the Coordinator of NG-CARES Lagos Unit, Mr Basit Baruwa stated that the programme would be extended for a year to strengthen the livelihoods of Lagos residents.   He noted that the well coordinated profiling and impeccable operation which was expected to run from 2021 to 2023, was extended for a year to support vulnerable businesses in Lagos communities. Baruwa hinted that NG-CARES Lagos unit performed excellently and was rated fourth in the country for empowering indigent and vulnerable residents who were captured in the Social Register of Lagos state.  The Coordinator enjoined the officials to exhibit professionalism when carrying out t...

       Pix caption: El-Rufai, Wike and Fagbemi The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has  unveiled the 28-man ministerial list during plenary today.  News Rider reports that President Bola Tinubu forwarded the ministerial list to the Senate in the early hours of Thursday. The development comes barely two days before the deadline for the President to transmit such list  as stipulated by the constitution.  According to the 1999 constitution as amended by the ninth Senate, Tinubu is expected to unveil  his cabinet members within 60 days of swearing-in.  Section 42 of the constitution states that “(a) the nomination of any person to the office of a Minister for confirmation by the Senate shall be done within sixty days after the date the President has taken the oath of office; "(b) not less than ten per cent of persons appointed as Ministers shall be women; "Provided that the President may appoint a Minister at any other ti...

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele a N20 million bail with one surety in the like sum. The governor who pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, July 26, is facing a two-count charges bordering on alleged illegal possession of firearms. Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the order following the banker’s not guilty appeal on the charges filed against him by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation under the Ministry of Justice. In the first count, Emefiele is accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. In the second count, the suspended CBN governor is accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the sa...

Worried by the hike in price of petroleum products, the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) has taken steps toward establishing petrol to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in all its service centres before the end of 2023.  With over 200 percent increase in petrol, IVM is currently converting only vehicles produced by the company from petrol to CNG in order to suit the current economic situation, triggered by the removal of the fuel subsidy. Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, Mr Cornel Osigwe said on Monday in Onitsha, Anambra State that cars or vehicles converted to CNG are more environmentally friendly, more durable and easier to maintain than petrol vehicles.  He noted that gas is cheaper than petrol, adding  that Nigeria has large deposit of gas.  Osigwe pleaded with automobile companies to take advantage of the opportunities created by CNG and invest in Nigeria so as to bolster the economy.  When asked about the cos...

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was on Monday, May 29, 2023, sworn-in as the 16th President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in a colorful ceremony laced with tight security. CHIKA OKEKE highlights the expectation of Nigerians in the next four years.  Nigerians have persistently expressed dismay over the State of the Nation during the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari's regime. It was an administration dotted with many challenges such as hardship, over-bloated exchange rate, hike in food prices and prolonged industrial action, which dilapidated the economy.  But as President Bola Tinubu mounted the saddle, Nigerians are optimistic that the new APC-led Federal Government would revamp the economy.  Below are their reactions: Mr Ayeni Toyin Stephen, Businessman, Abuja  This is a government that is known for transparency, accountability and productivity. The government is focused and know what to do at the right time. He is the government of the people,...

 The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has generated about N5.5 trillion as tax revenue for the half-year period, beginning from January to June 2023. This formed the crux of discussion at the presentation of 2023-2024 tax revenue outlook during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Executive Chairman of FIRS, Mr Muhammad Nami noted that the revenue was the highest  collection recorded by FIRS in any first six months of a fiscal year. He stated that FIRS 2023 Half-Year Collection Report revealed that the agency achieved over 100 per cent of its target for the first-half of the year when compared with a mid-year target of N5.3 trillion. “Tax revenue collected from the oil sector from January to June 2023 stood at N2.03 trillion as against a target of N2.3 trillion, while non-oil tax collection stood at N3.76 trillion as against a target of N2.98 trillion", the boss added. Nami hinted that FIRS collected N1.65 trillion tax re...

      Senator Stella Oduah  A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed July 21 for the arraignment of former Senator Stella Oduah and others over alleged N5 billion fraud.  Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date following the request by the Counsel to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Hassan Liman, SAN, to allow the defendants to take their pleas.   News Rider reports that the EFCC had on December 17, 2020, sued Oduah alongside Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi and Chukwuma Irene Chinyere.  Others were Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and others. The senator, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District at the 9th National Assembly, was scheduled to be arraigned on alleged N5 billion fraud and financial misappropriation while she served as a Minister during the Jonathan administration. In the 25-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020, ...

    Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Abubakar Kyari The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Abdullahi Adamu has resigned from his exalted position.  To this end, the Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Abubakar Kyari, took over the affiars of the National Working Committee (NWC).  It was reported that Adamu tendered his resignation to the party’s National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore over the weekend.  However, at about 10:40 am on Monday, Kyari led a team of seven other members of the NWC to a meeting in his office. News Rider gathered that Kyari’s car was parked in the slot reserved for the National Chairman, an indication that he had taken over the affairs of the party.  But at exactly 11:20am, Omisore arrived at the secretariat for the meeting. Others are the National Organising Secretary of the party, Suleiman Arugungu Duru; Disable Leader, Tolu Bankole; Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Eneukwu; National ...

The Senate has approved $800 million World Bank loan requested by President Bola Tinubu for poverty alleviation among vulnerable Nigerians.  This followed the consideration of the loan by the Committee of Whole during plenary on Thursday.  Recall that the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari had towards the end of his administration, forwarded same request to the 9th Senate in May, 2023. But the 9th Assembly failed to approve the request before the expiration of its tenure in June 11. In a letter read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio during plenary, Tinubu pleaded with the 10th Senate to approve the same borrowing request. Tinubu explained that the loan would be used to scale up the National Social Safety Net Programme. The letter reads: “Please note that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) led by President Muhammadu Buhari approved an additional loan facility to the tune of $800 million. “This is to be secured from the World Bank for the National Social ...

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 19-year-old student, Nnamani Daberechi for attempting to export 7.2 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in crayfish. The suspected was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on his way to Europe for undergraduate studies. Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said on Sunday in Abuja that the suspect was intercepted on July 15, 2023, during an outward clearance of passengers on Turkish Airlines, flight TK 0624. He noted that upon interrogation, Daberechi claimed that he was a student on his way to Cyprus for studies. Babafemi hinted that when the suspect's luggage was thoroughly searched, he was found to be in possession of 7.2kg of whitish substance neatly concealed inside a sack of crayfish. “A field test of the substance however proved positive to Methamphetamine, ” he added. In a related development, operatives of the Tincan Port Command of the NDLEA intercepted 11...

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has concluded plans to invest $3.5 million in mitigating the impact of climate change in Niger and Kogi States.  National Programme Coordinator of FG/IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu stated this on Wednesday at the inauguration of the 2023 wet season inputs distribution to VCDP farmers in Minna.  News Rider reports that VCDP is a Federal Government project  funded by IFAD and domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It is targeted at improving the income and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava on a sustainable basis. Aliyu stated that IFAD-VCDP approved the $3.5 million grant to enable Adaptation for Smallholders Agricultural Programme (ASAP) farmers enhance their resilience to climate shocks.  She explained that IFAD-VCDP would not give cash to farmers or g...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians against the consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide, adding that it causes cancer, heart, kidney and liver failure. Director General of NAFDAC,  Prof Mojisola Adeyeye stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the official flag-off of the agency’s media sensitisation workshop on the 'Dangers of Drug Hawking and Ripening of Fruits with Carbide'. She listed other problems associated with the consumption of fruits ripened with carbide as frequent thirst, irritation in the mouth and nose, weakness, permanent skin damage, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting and skin ulcer. Also, diarrhoea, burning or tingling sensation in abdomen and chest difficulty in swallowing, irritation in eyes and skin, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, and numbness.  Adeyeye noted that calcium carbide generally contains impurities such as arsenic, lead particles, phosp...

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has intercepted a vessel conveying 800,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at an offshore location heading to Cameroon. The vessel and its crew members were uncovered on July 7, 2023, by operatives of Messrs Tantita Security Services, a private security contractor engaged by NNPCL. Named MT TURA II, IMO number: 6620462, the vessel was owned by a Nigerian company, HOLAB MARITIME SERVICES LIMITED with Registration Number RC813311. Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Mr Garba Muhammad stated on Monday in Abuja that preliminary investigations revealed that the crude oil cargo on-board was illegally sourced from a well jacket offshore in Ondo State.  He noted that there was no valid documentation for the vessel or the Crude Oil Cargo on-board at the time of the arrest. Muhammad hinted that further investigation into the activities of the vessel at NNPCL Command and Control Centre also revealed that it has ...

        Hudu Yunusa-Ari A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has halted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari.   Justice Donatus Okorowo gave the order on Monday following an ex-parte motion moved by Mr Michael Aondoaka, SAN, counsel to the defendant.  News Rider reports that Yunusa-Ari declared the candidate of  All Progressives Congress (APC) Aisha Dahiru popularly called Binan as winner of the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial election while results were collated only in 11 out of 20 Local Government Areas. But in the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/935/2023, the APC candidate sued INEC, Attorney-General.of the Federation (AGF) and another as respondents. While moving the motion, Aondoaka argued that until the election petition tribunal decides the fate of his client in accordance with Section 149 of the Electoral Act, 2022, t...

Nigeria has clinched the trophy for the 2023 U-21 African Nations Women’s Volleyball Championship Zone 3.  The team defeated Ghana 3:0 (25-10 25-15 25-10) in the finals held on Sunday at Niamey, Niger Republic.  They had earlier eased past local rivals, Ghana in their first match of the tournament with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-8) win. The girls continued their winning run in the second match against host Niger, winning 3-0 (25-4, 25-11, 25-4). The team also swept aside Benin Republic with a dominant display in their third match, claiming a 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-9) win to secure a rematch against Ghana in the final. In an interview shortly after the match, Coach Rakiya Mohammed thanked God for the victory. “We bless God because this is the first time Nigeria is clinching a trophy at the underage level. I feel so happy. “The Ghanaians came all out but the girls proved their worth and we have now qualified for the world championship in Thailand", she added.  The t...

At least, nine persons were killed and six houses razed down when gunmen attacked Sabon Gari community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State. The incident, which occurred on Saturday night left the community shattered as some persons are still missing.  One of the community leaders, Mr Jerry Datim, who is also the National President, Global Society for Middle Belt Heritage confirmed the attack.  He said: "Last night (Saturday) gunmen attacked my village, Sabon Gari in Mangu, burnt six houses and destroyed many other properties. ”So far, we have recovered nine dead bodies; we are still searching because some people are still missing." Datim commended personnel of Operation Rainbow, a local security outfit in the state, for responding swiftly to the attack. He pleaded with the government to support them with necessary logistics for prompt response. Datim hinted that the residents vowed to remain in the community and defend their ancestral lands. The Spokes...

      Late Joe Irukwu  The former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof Joe Irukwu is dead. He died at the age of 89. The President-General of Amaokwe Item Welfare Union, Prince Harrison Okorie, announced the death on Saturday in Enugu. He said: “The Amaokwe Item Welfare Union on behalf of the entire Amaba Ukwu kindred and the immediate family hereby announce the glorious but painful demise of our great patron, father, grandfather, son and brother, Prof. Joseph Ogbonnaya Irukwu. “The Union on behalf of the Amaokwe Community, commiserates with the family and prays God to grant his soul peaceful rest." Okorie enjoined all Amaokwe sons and daughters to mourn the exit of the giant, while also praying for his family in this moment of grief. Briefly Irukwu, a lawyer, lecturer, author and insurance guru, was the founding Managing Director of Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation. He thereafter established the African Development Insurance Company which...

      Abba Kyari A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted N50 million bail to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari.  This comes 17 months after he was arrested in February 14, 2022, by the officials of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged links with an international drug cartel. In a ruling on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho said that the charges against Kyari and his two siblings – Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari – over non-disclosure of assets were bailable. Omotosho granted conditional bail to Kyari at the sum of N50m with two sureties in like sum. The judge added that the sureties must have property worth N25 million within the court’s jurisdiction. Omotosho also ordered that Kyari and his sureties should deposit their international passports, statements of accounts, title deeds of the sureties’ properties and recent passport photographs with the court registrar as part of the bail conditions. But th...

          Senator Peter Nwaoboshi  The Supreme Court has squashed the conviction and sentencing of Peter Nwaoboshi to seven years imprisonment over fraud and money laundering offences. News Rider reports that the former Senator representing Delta North was convicted by the Court of Appeal in Lagos on a two-count charge of fraud and money laundering.  The suit was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  Delivering his judgement on Friday, Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Nwaoboshi from Ikoyi prison in Lagos, where he is currently detained.  The court held that Nwaoboshi and his two companies – Golden Touch Construction Project Limited and Suiming Electrical Limited– were unjustly prosecuted by the EFCC. Justice Agim said that Nwaoboshi was subjected to needless criminal trial in respect to civil transactions.  The apex court set aside the July 1, 2022, judgment ...

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has promoted 3,248 personnel and honoured 12 commands and 148 personnel for outstanding performance. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated this on Thursday in Abuja while decorating some of the newly promoted officers. He noted that the agency entrenched a culture of excellence by recognising personnel that excelled in their respective places of assignment.  Among those decorated were three Deputy Commanders General of Narcotics and four Assistant Commanders General of Narcotics.  Marwa hinted that NDLEA has improved its performance given the reduction in weekly drug supply, adding that Nigerians should commend their actions.  “The intricate and effective intelligence we deploy to track drug barons and dismantle cartels is a testimony to the capability of the new NDLEA we have collectively forged, ” he added.  He stated that the successes recorded in the prosecution of cases, was an indication ...

         Chief Frederick Nwajagu A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos has deferred the trial of Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Frederick Nwajagu till July 25. News Rider reports that Nwajagu was docked on a nine-count charge of attempting to commit terrorism, financing terrorism, participating in terrorism and meeting to support the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Babajide Martins, told the court that he would invite additional witnesses. He informed the court that he had served some relevant documents on the defence. But Counsel to the defendant, Mr Emeka Obiagu (SAN), said that he was served the documents only on Wednesday morning and had not gone through them. Presiding Judge, Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the trial to July 25. Recall that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Nwajagu over his alleged threa...

  Late Ajose-Adeogun The Federal Government has condoled the family of late Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, who died on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the age of 96.  Ajose-Adeogun was the first Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the regime of Gen. Murtala Muhammed. Until his demise, he was the Chief of Ita-Aladan, Obun Eko, Isale Eko, Lagos. As the former FCT Minister, he was mandated to draw the Abuja Masterplan.  Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Sen. George Akume, conveyed the condolence message on behalf of the Federal Government on Wednesday in Abuja. The condolence, which was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Information, Office of the SGF, Mr Willie Bassey, described Ajose-Adeogun as a technocrat, boardroom guru, entrepreneur and an initiator of developmental projects in the country. He also commiserated with the government and people of Lagos State, while praying to God to grant the soul of the departed...

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Nigeria is expected to build 3.9 million toilets annually to attain the open defecation-free target by 2025. UNICEF Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Dr Jane Bevan disclosed this on Tuesday at a two-day Maiden Toilet Business Owners Conference in Abuja. News Rider reports that the conference was designed to showcase and create awareness on the contributions of private enterprises in scaling up sanitation service delivery in Nigeria. Bevan pointed out that the current construction of toilets in Nigeria stood between 180,000 – 200,000 annually, describing it as inadequate. She hinted that the conference was timely as toilet business owners are key to ending open defecation challenges in Nigeria. While harping on the need to create demands for toilets, she stated that the private sector could play huge roles in sustaining and strengthening sanitation markets in the country. Quoting the 2021 WASH National...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Despite assurances by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that the 2023 general elections were free and fair, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has faulted the credibility of the exercise.  This was even as the EU EOM disclosed that the election exposed enduring systemic weaknesses,  which signaled the need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness and accountability. Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the Chief Observer of EU EOM, Barry Andrews, said that his team carried out its work between January 11 and April 11, 2023, on the invitation of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC).  News Rider reports that INEC had declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the February 25, 2023, controversial election, just as the Presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP) and  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi and Atik...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Federal Government has attributed the flooding in Trademore Estate, along Airport Road in Abuja to haphazard construction by developers and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the drainage channels.  News Rider reports that 116 houses were affected after an early morning rain flooded the estate on June 23, 2023. Permanent Secretary of Ecological Project Office, Malam Shehu Ibrahim disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment tour of the estate over the week.  He promised to liaise with Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, and Environment on comprehensive plan of action to ameliorate  subsequent flooding.  Ibrahim said the assessment was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to come up with a lasting solution to flooding in the area.  While lamenting the level of devastation on the residents and their livelihood, Ibrahi...