News Rider

        Buni The crisis of leadership in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took a turn for the worse on Monday following the purported disbandment of the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC by one of the support groups in the party, the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM). Consequently, the movement named its leader, Prince Mustapha Audu as Chairman of the new CECPC, with a mandate to conduct the party’s national convention on February 26. The youths also named Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila into the new CECPC as representatives of the National Assembly. However, Gov. Buni immediately fired back, asking for the arrest of Audi and his co-travellers for treasonable felony. Mustapha is the son of a former governor of Kogi state and late chieftain of the party, Prince Abubakar Audu. Since it came into power in 2015, the APC has always broken into factions ahead of the gen...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja In a bid to stem the barrage of oil spills in the riverine areas, the federal government has shut down AITEO Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited (AEEPCo) oilfields located at Santa Barbara in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State over spillage. This was intended to pave the way for proper investigation in order to guarantee the safety of lives and properties in the area.   A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Saghir el Mohammed, revealed that the unfortunate oil spill occured on November 5, 2021, within Opu Nembe community at Well 1, Well Head, located at the Southern Field of Sant Barbara in form of a fountain.  He said that as soon as the incident occured, that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) comprising the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regualtory Commissio...

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has increased its examination fee per candidate from N13,950 to N18,000 for the 2022 West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE). Head of WAEC National Office (HNO), Mr. Patrick Areghan, announced this yesterday while addressing reporters on the release of this year’s WASSSCE at the council’s office in Yaba, Lagos. Areghan said the increase became necessary because of rising costs the examination body was incurring in conducting its examinations. “We have received approval from the appropriate quarters, with effect from the WASSCE for school candidates 2022, to charge N18,000 per candidate. We are, therefore, asking all school principals to collect N18,000 per candidate for registration. A part of this new fee has been dedicated to the enhancement of the remunerations for the various examination functionaries,” he said. Areghan announced that 81.7 per cent of the candidates who sat for the 2021 WASSCE f...

        Baba Suwe Adesola Omidina, a son of the late veteran Nigerian comic actor, Baba Suwe, has announced the burial arrangements of his father who died on Monday. The young man who is also an actor, took to his Instagram page to announce that his father’s interment would hold on Thursday, November 25, 2021. In a statement e-signed by Adesola, on behalf of the family, the interment will commence at the deceased residence at 26, Oluwatimiro Street, Ewu Elepe Bustop, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, by 10 am prompt. Adesola also stated that the final funeral ceremony for his 63-year-old deceased father would be announced at a later time. The statement revealed that Baba Suwe is survived by children, grandchildren, his aged mother, and other family members. Born Babatunde Omidina, Baba Suwe became popular after he featured in Iru Esin, produced by Olaiya Igwe in 1997. He also featured in and produced several Nigerian movies such as Baba Jaiye Jaiye, a movie tha...

        Baba Suwe Veteran Nollywood actor and comedian, Babatunde Omidina (aka Baba Suwe) is  dead. The actor, who died yesterday after a prolonged battle with an undisclosed illness,  was aged 63.  His death was announced by one of his daughters, Adesola Omidina. “This is to announce the sudden death of my father, Babatunde Omidina, the legend and rare gem, Baba Suwe, on November 22, 2021. Details and other arrangements will be announced shortly,” she said. Baba Suwe became popular for his comic roles in several Nollywood films and television productions between late ‘80s and mid-‘90s. The actor and film producer became famous for his TV series, Erin Keeke, which had Yoruba as the language of communication. The series made waves on NTA Channel 7 in the ‘90s and featured popular film stars, like Opebe, Madam Saaje, Suwe, Emukay, and others, until it stopped airing in 1996. The veteran actor went on to make an impact on the home video scene ...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja          Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Climate Change Act and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Amendment Act into law that was  recently passed by the National Assembly.  This was disclosed by the president’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu in Abuja yesterday.  He said the climate change act derived its origin to a bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo, and provides for, among other things, the mainstreaming of climate change actions and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change. The act also paved the way for environmental and economic accounting and a push for a net zero- emission deadline plan in the country. Buhari had during the world leaders summit at the just concluded 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, United Kingdom made a commitment...

Troops of Joint Task Force, North East (NE), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have neutralized over 50 Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and destroyed several of their combat equipment in a fierce counteroffensive in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu yesterday. He said that the troops eliminated top commanders of ISWAP as well as foot soldiers. “The gallant troops also unleashed massive destruction on the terrorists’ Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and several Gun Trucks,” the statement partly read. It would be recalled, that 115 Task Force Battalion had an encounter with ISWAP terrorists in Askira Uba on 13 November 2021, during which the troops aggressively defended their location and followed up with a ferocious counter-attack. Unfortunately, the Commander of 28 Task Force Brigade alongside three of his soldiers...