News Rider

The Federal Government has approved N2.1 trillion to finance the 2023 supplementary budget.  Addressing State House Correpondents shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday in Abuja, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu said that the monies would be used to fund urgent national needs.  He noted that the council considered a request for supplementary appropriation which is a second for 2023. “The FEC graciously approved the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget and this supplementary budget is to fund urgent issues including N605 billion for national defence and security. “This is to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate and these are funds that are needed by the security agencies before the year runs out," he said.  Bagudu hinted that there would be allocations to maintain previous progress recorded on national security and agriculture. The budget is expected to cover four months of wage awards for ...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has debunked claims of redenominating the legal tender, the Naira with effect from January 2024. CBN’s Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isa AbdulMumim disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. Recently, there have been rumours circulating in the social media on plans by the apex bank to redenominate the naira by cancelling two zeros from the currency. The statement reads: "The attention of the CBN has been drawn to the wide circulation of a text message suggesting that the apex bank plans to redenominate the country’s legal tender, the Naira, with effect from January 2024. “We are concerned that this narrative, which we had refuted before now, appears to be gaining traction with several debates on the implication of such policy to the economy," he said.  He reiterated that the contents of the message are misleading, saying that there is no iota of truth in the message. AbdulMumim described the originator of ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja  Prof Muhammad Pate The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has raised the alarm that up to 40 percent of patients admitted for acute strokes in Nigeria die and do not survive beyond 30 days.  This is even as he disclosed that many survivors were left with varying degrees of disability and face substantial lifetime costs due to rehabilitation and social reintegration. Pate disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the World Stroke Day with the theme, “Together we are #GreaterThan Stroke." Stroke is a cardiovascular disease that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is reduced or blocked, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients.  Symptoms include paralysis or numbness on one side of the body, confusion, difficulty speaking or swallowing, impaired coordination and severe headaches. Pate sought for heightened awareness and proactive measur...

Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the election of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduagan as the winner of February 25, Kogi Central Senatorial poll.  The three-member panel on Tuesday affirmed the judgment of the state’s election tribunal and dismissed the appeal filed by Sen. Abubakar Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court also resolved that the submission by the counsel for Akpoti-Uduagan, Mr Joshua Usman, SAN, is meritorious. To this end, the appellate court awarded the sum of N500, 000 against Ohere. The Kogi State National and State Assemblies Tribunal had on September 6, declared Akpoti-Uduagan the duly elected candidate of the senatorial poll. The tribunal also invalidated the victory of Sen. Ohere. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice K. A. Orjiako delivered the unanimous judgment of the three-man panel, adding that Sen. Ohere’s results were inflated in nine polling units in Ajaokuta Local Government Area. He sai...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has challenged stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 for positive growth in the sector.  Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote hinted this during a panel session at the just concluded Nigerian Economic Summit  in Abuja.  He warned that making unending changes to the structures set up by PIA 2021 could kill the confidence of investors and stall new projects in the oil and gas sector. Wabote disclosed that the PIA contains adequate provisions to ignite growth in the energy sector, just as he advised the Federal Government and key stakeholders to avoid the temptation of tweaking the law at every turn. He said: "Policy somersault can kill the confidence of investors. Once a nation or economic sector is known for trial-and-error initiatives, it makes the investors to adopt a wait-and-see attitude or move on ...

At least, eight members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have impeached the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and his deputy, Dumle Maol.  They also disclosed the suspension of the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Samuel Chibuzor Amadi and directed the governor to appoint an Acting Chief Judge. The lawmakers elected the impeached Leader of the House, Hon. Edison Ehie as the new Speaker, after series of meeting in one of the buildings at the Government House, Port Harcourt.  However, Governor Fubara has congratulated Hon. Ehie, who was deputy speaker of the 9th House of Assembly, on his emergence as the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Rivers state chapter, Chijioke Ihunwo also congratulated Ehie on his emergence as the speaker.  Reacting, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Edwin Clark blamed Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Ca...

Late Prof Ben Nwabueze  The former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Professor Ben Nwabueze SAN, is dead. Fondly called Professor of Professors by his  admirers, Nwabueze died on Sunday evening in his home. He was aged 90 years.  Until his death, Prof Nwabueze was a Constitutional lawyer.  He has published over 200 articles in academic journals and delivered more than 100 keynote address at both local and international fora.  Briefly  Nwabueze was born on December 22, 1932 in Atani, Ogbaru Local government Area of Anambra State. He is Nigeria’s first academic Senior Advocate of Nigeria, teacher, administrator, businessman and former Minister of Education and Youth Development. He started his educational journey at the CMS Central School Atani from 1938 to 1945. Nwabueze proceeded for his secondary education at CMS Central School, Onitsha (formerly African College) between 1947 to 1950. Upon graduation, he enrolled at London School ...

Governor Siminalayi Fubara  The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara has alleged attempt by some compromised police officers to assassinate him, as plot for his impeachment thickens.  This is coming of the heels of fire outbreak at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex on Sunday at about 10 p.m. Already, the complex has been taken over by security agents from a nearby Police Command in Rivers while a fire truck was also mounted on the facility to quench possible break out.  It is unclear if the fire is connected with the current political fireworks between Fubara and  the immediate past Governor, Nyesom Wike who is now the FCT minister.  While addressing thousands of youths at the Government House gate on Monday, Fubara revealed that he was shot at a close range with the intention to assassinate him while on his way to assess the extent of damage by the explosion that rocked the State House of Assembly complex. “The truth is that everybod...

    Late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland  President Bola Tinubu and prominent Nigerians have expressed their heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of Kogi State over the death of Ohinoyi of Egbiraland, Dr Abdulrahman Ado Ibrahim. The paramount ruler died around 2:00 a.m on Sunday, October 29 in an undisclosed hospital in Abuja after a protracted illness. He was aged 95 years.  A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on Sunday, noted that the death of Ohinoyi is a painful loss. He described the late traditional ruler as peace-loving, affable and cerebral. “The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was in a class of his own. He was highly respected and admired for his deep insights, wisdom and sophistication. “He had a masterful way of handling issues. He was very knowledgeable and wise," he said.  The President prayed that Almighty Allah will grant His Majesty Aljannah Firdaus, just as he told the people of Kogi t...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja : L-R: Prof. Oladipo Ashiru and  Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa at the 17th Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas Memorial Lecture in Lagos recently. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa has disclosed that health data would be huge source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the sector and Nigeria generally.  He stated this over the weekend at the 17th Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas Memorial Lecture and 61st Founders Day Lecture at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.  Late Prof. Thomas was the foundation Dean of the University of Lagos Medical School, which is the alma mater of the minister of State for Health and Social Welfare.  Alausa, who represented the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila hinted that since his appointment, he had worked tirelessly to interrogate the health data in Nigeria, with the aim of translating it into one critical as...

President Bola Tinubu has named new leadership that will pilot the affairs of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale revealed that the appointment of the new leadership is subject to confirmation by the Senate. The President appointed Prof. Tunji Olaopa as Chairman of the commission while Mr Daudu Jalo will represent Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States.  Other members include Ms Gekpe Grace Isu representing Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, and Dr Chamberlain Nwele, representing Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.  While Mr Rufus Godwin is expected to represent Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states; Dr Adamu Husseini will represent Niger and FCT, and Mr Aminu Nabegu for Jigawa and Kano states.  Also, Ms Hindatu Abdullahi will represent Kaduna and Katsina states; Mr Shehu Aliyu for Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states; while Ms Odekunle Aduke will represent Kogi and Kwara st...

Prof Tahir Mamman  The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman has expressed optimism that the current APC-led administration would revamp the education sector as a critical component of the Renewed Hope Agenda. He stated this at a one-day national stakeholders’ workshop on the development of a roadmap for the Nigerian education sector (2023-2027) on Thursday in Abuja. The minister stated that the Federal Ministry of Education has excellent policies on paper that are not meeting the needs of the people. When fully developed, the new roadmap is expected to address the prolonged out-of-school children, skills, and entrepreneurship education. Mamman hinted that the country’s education system does not align with the needs of society, which necessitated the development of a roadmap for change, adding that the roadmap must be implemented within the shortest timeline. He informed that President Bola Tinubu has charged the ministry to reposition the sector, though there a...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja   Delegates at the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) roundtable in Abuja on Thursday.  The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has charged African Oil Marketers to explore alternative funding sources to overcome the challenges bedeviling the oil and gas industry in the continent. This was even as the board harped on the need for the producers to come up with strategies that would enhance research and development within the continent.  Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Simbi Wabote stated this in Abuja on Thursday at a roundtable conversation with 18- member countries of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) with the theme: "Enhancing Local Content Development and Deployment in African Oil and Gas Industry”.  The two-day annual roundtable organised by the NCDMB, was conceived and first hosted at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in June 2021 and was subsequentl...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja      Engr Simbi Wabote  The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has predicted steady progress in the oil and gas industry despite shrunken investments, global quest for cleaner energy and divestments of some onshore and shallow assets by international oil companies.  Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote stated this in Abuja at the 3rd Biennial International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology, organised by the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) with the theme "The Future of the Oil and Gas Industry: Opportunities, Challenges, and Development.” He identified the positive trends in the industry to include the growth of oil reserves, gas production, gas utilisation, local refining, and skills acquisition, which he said portend great opportunities for the industry.  Wabote hinted that the manifestation of these trends and projections could lead to Nigeria achieving zero crud...

I welcome the verdict of the Justice John I. Okoro-led Panel of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Election petitions filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, challenging the ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The court has done justice to all issues put up for consideration in the petitions on the merits of the law, without fear or favour. There is no doubt, with the profound judgment of today, that our electoral jurisprudence and constitutional democracy are further consolidated and embedded more indelibly in our national identity because of the diligence and undaunted professionalism of the Honourable Justices who presided over the matter. While the verdict of today has laid to rest the agitating discourse over who truly won the 2023 Presidential election and met the constitutional requirements as laid out by law, I want to reiterate that my faith in our nation’s judiciary has never been shaken, not even for a m...

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the presidential candidates of PDP,  Atiku Abubakar and that of Labour Party, Peter Obi against the September 6 judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). This is even as the court upheld the victory of Bola Tinubu of the APC as the duly elected President of Nigeria during the February 25, presidential election.  In the lead judgment read by Justice John Okoro and supported by Justices Uwani Abba-Aji and Mohammed Garba Lawal on Thursday, the court resolved all the seven issues identified for determination against the appellants. Justice Okoro noted that scoring 25% of votes in the FCT is not a mandatory requirement for declaration of a candidate as the winner of presidential election. Section 134 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) stipulates that a presidential candidate must attain or score a majority of votes cast in a presidential election, where two or more candidate...

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) for Edo, Mr Isah Ehimeakne; Ekiti, Mr Bamidele Agbede and seven other States.  Others are Mr Jani Bello, Gombe; Dr Taiye Ilayasu, Kwara and Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi for Lagos.  Also, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa; Prof. Mohammed Yalwa, Niger; Dr Anugbum Onuoha, Rivers and Mr Abubakar Dambo, Zamfara. The nine RECs for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are expected to serve for a term of five years each. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale who disclosed this on Wednesday, said that the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate. The President noted that the appointments were in line with the powers vested in him by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, Amended) and Section six of the Electoral Act (2022). He was optimistic that the new appointees would abide by the highest standards of pr...

The Nigerian Navy has deployed 10 warships, two attack helicopters and over 500 ballistic boats to curtail the activities of illegal oil bunkerers on the waterways.  Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command (CNC) Bayelsa, Rear Adm. Umar Chugali stated this at the flag off of 'Exercise Sea Guardian' on Wednesday in Onne, Rivers State.  He stated that the joint military exercise conducted by both the Navy’s CNC and Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Calabar, was launched to reduce insecurity to its barest in the nation’s territorial waters. The warships and other assets covered both the defence and navy, and the exercise is expected to last for four days at the sea. Chugali disclosed that the exercise would be used to demonstrate the capacity and capability of the ships at sea and to secure Nigeria’s maritime space and the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). He said that the maritime space has been inundated by some threats both onshore and offshore, hence the joint exercise t...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Tinubu has named Alhaji Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji as the Managing Director / CEO of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).   This is even as the President also appointed Mr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima as the Executive Secretary/CEO of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).  The two new Chief Executive Officers were posted to the parastatals and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in line with the recommendations of the Minister, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola.  This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Wednesday.  Tinubu tasked the new appointees in the vital sector to faithfully implement the policies and programmes of the minister.  This, he said should be done in pursuit of the expeditious and efficient attainment of bolstered revenues and investments as part of the Renewed Hope agenda’s blue economy strategy. 

There is an indication that unverified civil servants will forfeit their salaries at the end of the two-week Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) verification exercise. This followed plans by the Federal Government to delist such category of workers  from its payroll by Friday, October 27, for failing  to be captured at the ongoing IPPIS exercise. Recall that the Federal Government commenced the implementation of the IPPIS in 2007, with a view to attain transparency, accuracy, safety and reliability in the management of Personnel Records. It was also targeted at curtailing avoidable excesses in personnel costs. To that end, the Federal Government delisted over 17,000 government employees in September 2023, from the IPPIS platform for refusing to comply with verification exercises spanning over five years, before additional two-week grace was granted to the unverified officers. Director of Communication, office of the Head of the Civil Service...

Supreme Court has concluded arrangement to deliver judgement on the appeals filed by the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi on Thursday, October 26. The duo are challenging the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) which dismissed their petitions on the outcome of the February 25 presidential election and affirmed Bola Tinubu as the duly elected President.  Director of Information at the Supreme Court, Mr Festus Akande confirmed the upcoming judgement to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja. The apex court had on Monday, October 23, reserved judgment after hearing the appeals of Obi and Atiku challenging the judgment of the PEPC that affirmed President Tinubu’s victory. Recall that PEPC had on September 6, dismissed Atiku and Obi’s petitions for lacking in merit and affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu. Irked by the judgment, the duo approached the Supreme Court aski...

The Corporate Affairs Commission has uncovered 189 fake companies used to secure land allocations in the Federal Capital Territory. Registrar General of the commission, Hussaini Magaji, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja. Magaji hinted that the discovery was made following a complaint from the Federal Capital Territory Administration to verify the status of non-existing company seeking land allocation. He explained that the discovery of the non-existent company led to further investigation, which resulted in the identification of other companies. The registrar general disclosed that two suspects including a lawyer were apprehended, as well as a cartel involving staff of Abuja Geographical Information System, lawyers, and the commission. “Let me use this opportunity to inform the public that one of the major milestones achieved so far since I assumed office is our ability to bust a cartel or a link of individuals that are creating havoc for the commis...

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has concluded plans to hold an interdenominational prayer for all media practitioners and their family members.  The essence of the interdenominational prayer, expected to take place at the Council Secretariat Utako, Abuja, is for the union to seek the face of God in its affairs.  Secretary of the Council, Comrade Ochiaka Ugwu said in a statement on Tuesday that the prayer session would hold on Friday, October 27 at exactly 10.am.  He noted that the prayer became imperative given the state of affairs in the union and to frustrate all evil plans against members and their families. ”The recent turn of events at the council is quite disturbing with many deaths and illnesses involving members and their relatives like never before. ”Our union is passing through very challenging times at the moment in spite of its abundant human and mental resources. “NUJ is a vibrant and virile union that is full of vigour, resourceful...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Dr Abubakar Jimoh Former Director of Public Affairs, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Dr Abubakar Jimoh has announced the maiden Dr AbdulAziz Anako Fache (DAAF) Memorial Merit Awards for Heath Journalists.  The annual awards, expected to take off from March 2024, are for Best Health Journalists in Print and Electronic Media, while the ceremony will hold in September next year. Entries for each category will attract a monetary benefit of N250,000 for each beneficiary in Abuja or Lagos, alongside a plaque and letter of commendation. Jimoh disclosed this in Abuja over the weekend at an event organised by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) in honour of his 30 years meritorious service to the nation.  He said that the Fache family instituted the awards to immortalise late Dr AbdulAziz, a Medical Doctor who died of cardiac arrest on 22nd September, 2022 at the age of 53. The former NAFDAC direc...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has retained its position as the best Federal Agency in transparency and efficiency in ease of doing business. In the 2023 Half Year Executive Order 001 Compliance Ranking, which covered from January to June 2023, NCDMB scored 83.06 percent to clinch the top position in the Federal Government’s ranking of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). This was the second time that NCDMB clinched the award in two consecutive years, as contained in the Executive Order 001 (EO1) Compliance Report released  by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) on Monday. The board’s sterling performance in 2022 during which  it emerged as the best performing MDAs was  determined by a combination of efficiency and transparency in its deliverables.  Instituted on 18 May, 2017 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the EO1 on the Promotion of Transparency and Efficiency ...

Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The court also reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi also challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu. Both Atiku and Obi approached the Appeallate court to set aside the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). The PEPC had on September 6, dismissed Atiku and Obi’s petitions for lacking in merit and affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu. Although both petitions were consolidated, they were heard separately. But a seven-man panel of justices led by Justice Inyang Okoro, after hearing both appeals on Monday in Abuja, said that the date for judgment would be communicated to the parties. Other Justices on the panel are Uwani Abaji, Lawal Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Tijani Abubakar and Emma Agim. I...

Dr Dele Alake  The Federal Government has concluded arrangement to implement the 7-point agenda roadmap, meant to transform the solid minerals sector through Public Private Partnership (PPP).  This would be achieved with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and foremost consulting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).  Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake stated this on Sunday in Lagos while receiving the PWC partner on mining, Mr Habeeb Jaiyeola.  Alake had reeled out a seven-point agenda tagged:  “Agenda for the Transformation of the Solid Minerals Sector for International Competitiveness and Domestic Prosperity”. It includes the creation of the Nigerian solid minerals corporation, joint ventures with mining multinationals, big data on specific seven priority minerals and their deposits, and 30-day grace for illegal miners to join artisanal cooperatives.  Others are mines surveillance task force and mine police, comprehens...